And my eyes as black as sloe;
I am as brisk as brisk can be,
And wild as forest doe.So begins a beautiful tale of love, loss and revenge. Following the seasons, A Pocketful of Crows balances youth and age, wisdom and passion and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless wild girl.
Only love could draw her into the world of named, tamed things. And it seems only revenge will be powerful enough to let her escape."
Joanne Harris has written a powerfully magical and fantastical tale brimful of folklore. It is beautifully written, poetic, lyrical, and a short read. I think it's fair to say that its whimsical, dark and gut-wrenching writing is without a doubt the main character. Poetry without poetry is my favourite. It reads like a dark fairytale, fully aware of it's pagan influence and origins. It has not been white washed, so their is sex and violence. This is the story of innocence, love, betrayal, loss and revenge.
Our wild girl encounters William MacCormac, a man of privilege and power, the son of a influential lord and saves him. Neither can forget each other, and William persuades her to come live with him and names her Malmuira, the dark lady of the mountains. There are ominous signs and portents but the girl ignores them. Naming means taming, and despite the warnings of her community, she gives up her freedoms to stay, all for love. She is treated with contempt and fear and by others in William's household, whilst rumours abound of her being a wicked witch who has bewitched the young lord. William's love proves to be less than enduring and the girl once called Malmuira must fight to free herself of the taming influence that the name has had on her. It is a story of reclaiming yourself, your identity and your self respect. This is a wondrous and mythic story that weaves a spell over the reader. Highly recommended.
Age Rating 16+. As I said, there is death, violence and sex though not incredibly explicit.
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