Reviews

Alchemy of a Blackbird by Claire McMillan

labyrinth_witch's review

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

5.0

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. 

janelledorn's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sjr's review

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

books_yarn_and_the_moon's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

retrogirl20's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is a really cool and unique take on a historical figure. I really enjoyed this

nwells24's review

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.5

lynzee0183's review against another edition

I really wanted to like this book, but I kept trying and trying and just couldn’t get into it. DNF at page 73. 

alle_kat97's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

rebeccadiv's review

reflective slow-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

3.5

I did not realize that Remedios was a real person until the end of the book which bumped my rating from 3.25 to 3.5 and better helped me understand that pacing a purpose of the story line. The idea of telling the story through tarot cards was a lot of fun.

jenhfultz's review

inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and War