Reviews - Alchemy of a Blackbird

97 reviews for:

Alchemy of a Blackbird

Claire McMillan

3.82 AVERAGE

bookstore_mom's review against another edition

4.0

This book was very neat, the relationships, the cards. I loved how the card’s transition into the a different point of view. Thank you Claire McMillan for a great read.

cazxxx's review

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

eceleste's review against another edition

3.25

reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

really reaally wanted to like this bc i love remedios varo's artwork and ive been extra into it the past couple weeks since i went to the national gallery and discovered that they recently acquired banqueros en acción...but this was SOOO slow and felt like it took a thousand years to read. i have mixed feelings on all the different perspectives because it did give us insight into remedios and her work from the perspective of the people around her but it also felt like it was taking time away from her story. and there really wasn't all that much time spent on remedios and leonora together for a book that's meant to be all about their friendship. but i think it's just that this wasn't the right book for me. sad:(

nrhayes16's review against another edition

2.0

lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

red8625's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective

decembermagpie's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

labyrinth_witch's review against another edition

5.0

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is historical fiction of the life of Remedios Varo, including Lenora Carrington, two of the three witches of surrealism. Beautifully written, this book will draw you into the world and make it hard to put down. Even more than the prose, the structure will captivate you. The story is told using Tarot cards in a way I have never seen perspective-switching done before. Because of this structure you have the pleasure of seeing the same scene and events through the eyes of multiple characters. For me this enriches the narrative. It makes you feel how different people must experience you even as you experience them going about your life just being yourself.

This story captures what it like for women experiencing men who fancy themselves intellectuals, women who want to desire themselves, the way women form life-long friendships, and the journey into your own authentic experience of life. It is a book that will linger in your heart long after you turn the last page.

Then you will go down a rabbit hole of Varo art, finding podcasts and reviews of her work. It will captivate you even as you consider she didn’t come into herself until her middle-age years.

And then you will get yourself a tarot deck and wonder which card describes you.

Enjoy.