Book Review of The Unraveling: The Counsel of Crows
The Children’s Book Review
The Unraveling: The Counsel of Crows
Written by Karl Buechner, Jeremy Mueller, and Keith Ward
Ages 8+ | 296 Pages
Publisher: Th3rd World Studios (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1956694178
What to Expect: Fantasy, adventure, animal protagonists, magic, dystopian themes, good versus evil.
The Counsel of Crows opens The Unraveling series with an imaginative premise: a world where sentient animals have inherited the earth after humanity’s extinction, yet struggle with the same cycles of power and prejudice that destroyed their predecessors.
The story follows Twig, a small chickadee forced to flee his home when brutal Fortress Crows attack during a storm. His unlikely alliance with Scarecrow, a mysterious crow with hidden wisdom, drives both his personal growth and the larger narrative about confronting historical trauma. Meanwhile, Sky Guard Captain Evelyn leads a parallel mission to rescue Queen Ofira from The Fortress, where the tyrannical Sorceress Koshmara rules through “cruel justice.”
Beyond the typical talking-animal fare often found in children’s fantasy novels, the author uses the cataclysmic event known as “The Unraveling”—humanity’s extinction—to explore how societies cope with collective trauma. Sorceress Koshmara’s tyranny isn’t presented as simple evil but as a twisted response to past suffering, adding moral complexity that challenges readers to consider the roots of authoritarianism. Through Twig’s Clawgra training and his discovery of historical artifacts, the author gradually reveals this world’s layered past without overwhelming younger readers with exposition. The action sequences, from airship battles to the climactic confrontation at the Autumn Feast, maintain a steady pace throughout, having a page-turning effect.
The Counsel of Crows succeeds as both an adventure story and a thoughtful examination of how prejudice and power operate across species—and generations. This opening installment establishes compelling conflicts while leaving enough mysteries unsolved to make the next book essential reading for fantasy fans seeking both excitement and substance.
Buy the Book
About the Authors
Karl Buechner is a groundbreaking musician, animal rights activist, skateboarder, and novelist. He has toured the world with his Hardcore Metal bands Earth Crisis, Freya, and Apocalypse Tribe.
Jeremy Mueller is an author, musician, and artisan. He’s worked as a pastry chef, welder, mason, and salesman. He currently lives in Syracuse, New York, with his gorgeous wife and two awesome stepsons. He also has two beautiful daughters who are flourishing on their own. Jeremy is passionate about writing, working with his hands, and spending time with his family and friends.
Keith Ward is a teacher, author, and tabletop game designer/writer. The Unraveling has been in development for ten years, and we are so excited to share our world with you. Coming this Earth Day, 2025.
