A review by nataliealane
Alchemy of a Blackbird by Claire McMillan

If you enjoy historical fiction about women, self discovery, art, or obscure figures, Alchemy of a Blackbird may be one to watch out for! I picked it up because I love books about art and artists, and I had never heard of Remedios Varo or Leonora Carrington. As it turns out, they were connected to major players in the Surrealist movement, although neither gained fame until later in life, overshadowed by the male artists of their circle. I may not be the true target audience, as the book had a lot to do with tarot and Remedios’ connection to it, and it’s not something I know much about. The book employs an unusual format, introducing each person as a certain character of the tarot deck. I personally didn’t care for so many side characters’ perspectives and thought we’d get more from Leonora and Remedios; some of the POVs added to the story while others felt unnecessary, or I at least wanted them more fleshed out. Clocking in at just under 300 pages, Alcheky of a Blackbird is a relatively quick read, but I definitely felt like it should be longer at times to fully immerse myself in Remedios’ journey. In fact, her last few chapters were some of my favorites, because she is fully confident and acting on her dreams of being an artist, and I got clear insight into her painting/creative process. I also enjoyed the deep friendship between Leonora and Remedios, a source of continual encouragement and support for them throughout the book. If you do pick up Alchemy of a Blackbird, I highly recommend looking up images of Remedios’ and Leonora’s art. It’s so alluring.