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lalapope's review
4.0
4 stars - A brisk read that lacked a little in explanation
I quite enjoyed my first dip in J.M.Harris.
This is quite a quick read that manages to pack a lot of story into its tiny 185 pages.
I absolutely loved the small poems and songs between chapters. They manage to perfectly hit the feeling of the chapter you've just read or the one you're about to read.
The art is also beautiful. I often don't enjoy when artists draw characters ( I like to think of how they look in my own head) , but I loved it here. It's well drawn and perfectly placed.
J.M.Harris also has wonderful prose. She evokes a forest that is profoundly wild and alien, yet warm and inviting to those who live to its rules. I think that it's extremely important to know how to make the forest home of the Fae feel this way. In a lot of stories, I often see authors that lack this capacity of the forest for this "conditional hostility" and either make the place a nightmare or way too gentle.
I also found that the comparative towns have a similar quality. The cities are lively and full of people living....and yet they never feel like home to the MC. Bravo for this.
So why 4 stars and not 5?
There are 2 things as to why.
The book lacks a little logic. The MC goes from love to hate a little too fast for my liking. I can forgive this a little due to the book's length, but I really wish J.M.Harris took her time to develop the resentment. At the same time, perhaps the MC is supposed to be impulsive and Harris is an even better author than I already see her as!
The twist at the end doesn't have the impact at the end I would have liked. I think there may have been some minor hints towards it during the book, but the "mother" in the triad feels like a huge change of character. This was certainly surprising, but after thinking about it for a little while I didn't really see how her actions in the rest of the book helped her grand plan she reveals at the end.
I look forward to reading the Blue salt Road next.
I quite enjoyed my first dip in J.M.Harris.
This is quite a quick read that manages to pack a lot of story into its tiny 185 pages.
I absolutely loved the small poems and songs between chapters. They manage to perfectly hit the feeling of the chapter you've just read or the one you're about to read.
The art is also beautiful. I often don't enjoy when artists draw characters ( I like to think of how they look in my own head) , but I loved it here. It's well drawn and perfectly placed.
J.M.Harris also has wonderful prose. She evokes a forest that is profoundly wild and alien, yet warm and inviting to those who live to its rules. I think that it's extremely important to know how to make the forest home of the Fae feel this way. In a lot of stories, I often see authors that lack this capacity of the forest for this "conditional hostility" and either make the place a nightmare or way too gentle.
I also found that the comparative towns have a similar quality. The cities are lively and full of people living....and yet they never feel like home to the MC. Bravo for this.
So why 4 stars and not 5?
There are 2 things as to why.
The book lacks a little logic. The MC goes from love to hate a little too fast for my liking. I can forgive this a little due to the book's length, but I really wish J.M.Harris took her time to develop the resentment. At the same time, perhaps the MC is supposed to be impulsive and Harris is an even better author than I already see her as!
The twist at the end doesn't have the impact at the end I would have liked. I think there may have been some minor hints towards it during the book, but the "mother" in the triad feels like a huge change of character. This was certainly surprising, but after thinking about it for a little while I didn't really see how her actions in the rest of the book helped her grand plan she reveals at the end.
I look forward to reading the Blue salt Road next.
_goldfishboi_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
arstirn_2000's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
anaidelawless's review against another edition
5.0
This was so short, yet so good. It is a dark fairy tale written so whimsically it steals your breath away. You have a wild girl falling in love with a young man from a castle, a rich man who whispers sweet words to hear ear while expecting her to tame herself so she can fit his life. This tale is bittersweet, but I swear it does not leave you with a bitter aftertaste. I loved every second of it.
rosiec's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tainan's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amotisse's review against another edition
4.0
I love the earthy seasonal magic of this story with all the weaving of myth, folklore and ancient ritual. The world is a mystical place full of wonders we can only imagine, where spirit folk can also be enticed by promises of love.
nerdybooklady's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is hauntingly beautiful. With its lyrical prose and poetry threaded throughout the text this book transports you to a world of magic and wonder and fairytales. I loved this book so much and I finished it in one sitting. It feels like a truly magical book and the story is stunning, touching on all aspects of folklore and fairytales it weaves its way into your heart and you find yourself immersed completely. I highly recommend this book if you are looking to truly escape because this will take you on a journey that by the end you will look up from the page and wonder if it was all real. Amazing.
cdrosos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This one didn’t really do it for me. The prose felt unnecessary and cumbersome for the content of the story; it was odd and, at times, interesting but not so beautiful as to bewitch the reader and be a draw to the book. And then there’s the problem of the main character. Yeah, sure, I get puppy love and being swept off your feet, but dang woman how do you keep going back? Maybe we didn’t see enough of the good, but I had a hard time sympathizing with a character who goes back to someone so awful. William is one-sided with little personality, which may be part of why the devotion seems so outrageous. I did enjoy some of the fantastical elements regarding the traveling folk and thought the plot twist at the end was interesting. Not entirely sure it makes sense in the rules of the world, but alas. I don’t think I would recommend this to a run of the mill fantasy reader due to the poetic writing style. However, if you find that charming and interesting as opposed to annoying (like myself), then this is a short read with a relatively interesting fantasy element that complements the plot.
powisamy's review against another edition
4.0
I have always wanted to read one of Joanne Harris's book and picked up this one because it looked like it was really interesting and I was intrigued by the premise. I think that Harris makes truly unique worlds for her books and this was no different. I would definitely like to read more from this author.
I have to admit that I didn't really know what was going on when I first started the book but I soon got into the swing of the story as it is quite weird but I like weird. I think that the writing definitely puts you in the character's shoes and on many occasions feel like I was in the characters head and really felt for her.
I think that I was in the mood for a fantasy when I read most of the book and it was a different kind of fantasy that I don't typically read so for me it was something different new which I really enjoyed. The book was the introduction that I needed from Joanne Harris and I can't wait to read more from her.
The Verdict:
A Pocketful Of Crows is a wildly unique read and showcases Joanne Harris's talent as a great writer working today.
I have to admit that I didn't really know what was going on when I first started the book but I soon got into the swing of the story as it is quite weird but I like weird. I think that the writing definitely puts you in the character's shoes and on many occasions feel like I was in the characters head and really felt for her.
I think that I was in the mood for a fantasy when I read most of the book and it was a different kind of fantasy that I don't typically read so for me it was something different new which I really enjoyed. The book was the introduction that I needed from Joanne Harris and I can't wait to read more from her.
The Verdict:
A Pocketful Of Crows is a wildly unique read and showcases Joanne Harris's talent as a great writer working today.