This is a book drawing of folklore and countryside traditions.


The plot is slight. A nameless “wild” girl falls in love with a local boy who is son of Lord of the Manor. What sacrifices will she have to make? Will it end in happiness or revenge?


Harris draws on a deep well of folklore and tradition e.g. the importance of naming something., someone. She also links her characters firmly within the landscape (presumably the Borders of Scotland or North of England)

She also structures the book by the months and seasons to root it even more firmly in Nature.

Like the ballads on which it draws, the style is sparse and almost wild. I could see that the whole book harked back to an earlier time. However, I thought that she could have made it a shorter book and said just as much.

I’m not sure where it sits in Joanne Harris’ set of works. It doesn’t fit with the Runemarks, Gospel of Loki “set” of novels and I don’t what readers will make of it (after “Different Class”) when I say that she has a new book out.

As enigmatic as ballads of long ago.

Joanne Harris has written a powerfully magical and fantastical tale brimful of folklore that draws on the The Child Ballads. It is beautifully written, poetic and lyrical, and a short read. It reads like a dark fairytale. An unnamed wild brown girl roams the forests, free to transport herself into birds and other wildlife. She savours her freedom and is loyal to her people, who are treated with contempt and sneered by others in society. We follow the seasons, echoing the aging process. The wild girl takes an adderstone love token left by a woman with the name William on it. 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 sneered at 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. This is a wondrous and mythic story that weaves a spell over the reader. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

Taking inspiration from The Child Ballads (which I’ll confess I’d never heard of, but turn out to be a collection of traditional ballads collected by Francis Child, rather than songs about children!), A Pocketful of Crows is a lovely, if dark, fairy tale-esque story of the magic of nature, and love, and revenge.

Set over thirteen chapters, one for each month and back to the beginning again, the use of the seasons is really wonderful. We follow a nameless wildling girl, a creature of the forest, who risks her innate magic for the love of a young man from the town. The outcome of this has a real sense of dread and inevitability through the first third or so of the book, with the remainder taken up with consequences.

I really enjoyed this. It’s very immersive for a relatively short book, catching up my emotional response almost from the get-go. My only minor complaints would be the use of the terms ‘folk’ and ‘travelling folk’ for the two kinds of people in the story, which I found a little confusing at first, and the ending just seemed ever so slightly abrupt.

Maybe another few paragraphs could have lightened the mood a little, as overall it’s quite a dark tale, That’s a personal preference, though, as the cold indifference of nature, or at least its mix of dark and light, is perhaps one of the themes here.

Recommended, particularly for those who enjoy their fairy tales but are perhaps looking for something a little more unique.

Thanks Orion Publishing Group and netgalley for this ARC.

This one was not for me. Its a YA book and I just cant get into those.

https://lynns-books.com/2017/10/09/a-pocketful-of-crows-by-joanne-m-harris/
I loved A Pocketful of Crows, it’s a darkly woven fairy tale of love and revenge based on a poem called ‘The Child Ballads’.

Joanne Harris is one of my favourite authors and I must say that this is probably one of my favourite pieces of work by her so far, perhaps not surprising in that I do love a dark fairytale, and I’m also rather partial to anything that Ms Harris writes, but, this piece of work is rather exceptional and I will definitely pick up a copy of the illustrated version once it becomes available.

This is only a fairly short read, well approximately 250 pages or thereabouts, and so I practically devoured it in one day – and then deeply regretted it because I didn’t want the book to end (that’s what rereads are for you know). It’s beautifully written but more than that it’s evocative, the characters and the woodlands spring to life off the page, there’s a strange feeling of whimsy but the author has brought into focus that sense of menace and darkness that is the root of many fairytales and yet is so often lost in the pursuit of sugary sweetness.

The plot basically revolves around love. The main character, a wild young girl, one of the travelling/free folk who lives in the forest, finds herself in love with the laird of the manor. In spite of warnings she embarks on a relationship with this young man, who is intrigued by her unconventional beauty and wild demeanour. Of course he makes many promises and believing his sweet words she eventually finds herself changing in order to please him. At first this involves only small things, taking a maid to help her dress, modifying her ways, wearing shoes and jewels, but the final straw is the taking on of a name. Naming is ‘taming’ and once she agrees to this her nature is contained much like the caged bird that she has become. Unsurprisingly the young noble eventually tires of his now tamed lover and moves on to find himself another young woman to whisper sweet nothings to. There’s an old saying about hell having no fury like a woman scorned and this story certainly gives meaning to that old saying. I won’t say more about the plot.

In terms of the characters, the nameless woman of the story makes for great reading. Wild spirited and at one with nature she can transport herself into the bodies of the birds and animals of the forest, feeling, feeding and travelling as they do she makes absolutely fascinating reading. I did feel sorry for her as she became lulled by love’s young dream. There was no shortage of warnings and yet she placed all her faith into the charming young laird who was very quick to be rid of her when his guardian returned to the castle. Her journey from there, well at first is one of disbelief, swiftly followed by anger at everything she’s lost and finally revenge. From there on she becomes a much wilder and darker version of her former self. The majority of the other characters are perhaps quite not as engaging or well developed but they play their parts well. The other character who does stand out, for me anyway, is Hawthorn – I’ll leave the detail for you to discover for yourselves.

The writing is excellently done. It has a lyrical sort of feel to it which totally belies the dark nature of the story. The author has a wonderful way with words that makes it easy to envision the forest, the cold, the fear, the hunger, and even the warmth of the wolves who help our young protagonist to bear the cold of the winter months. The story gradually works it’s way through the seasons of the year and the chapters are headed with a short poem or wise saying which really brings an extra level of poetry to the reading. As with all fairytales there is a message to the ending which I thought came together in a surprising and satisfying way plus a good look at the inability of people to accept something or someone that they don’t really understand or is in any way different from the norm.

Basically, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Joanne Harris is a wonderful story teller and bringing together a delicious combination of fairytale and mythology told in her lovely prose is an excellent idea and a delight to read. Highly recommended if you fancy a dark tale to curl up with on a wintery night.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Experience the sensual narrative that we expect from Joanne Harris. Feel the moisture and cold of the winter woodlands, feel the deep frosts in the icy cave, feel the warmth of the wolves, feel the sharp spikes of corn beneath your feet.
The travelling girl can transform to animal, bird or tree, and she is as one with nature. Magic is afoot and a charm creates love between her and the son of the local laird. A forbidden love which breaks societal boundaries, and when these boundaries are enforced the witchery grows. The travelling girl must make sacrifices to restore her anonymity and gain revenge.
An intriguing and beautiful tale from Joanne M Harris. Relatively short, this is a quick read and a striking tale wreathed in folklore.

This was a truly modern day fairy tale. It is a simple story told with such beauty and depth that it belies what is essentially a story that is nothing more than love, betrayal and revenge. There is magic, there is poetry. A gorgeous book.

With 'A Pocketful of Crows' Joanne Harris delivers a poetic story about a tragic love, but also about the circle of life and nature. Weaving together a magic fairy tale and folklore we follow a nameless wild girl living in the woods, far away from the village of the 'Folk', where she lives in the disguise of animals. Until one day, she meets a handsome young man and they fall in love. However, it is not meant to be, and too late realizes the girl that her place is not among the village Folk, but in nature. But now she is bound by the name that was given to her, and in order to be free again, she not only has to forget everything, but also to bring a sacrifice. Only at the end she realizes that every end marks a beginning, and what important role she has to play in nature's circle of life.

Like a calendar, the chapters follow the months of the year with a short rhyme from the 'Child Ballads' or some old saying of wisdom introducing each one. The book was a fast read, and every now and then I had to slow down to truly appreciate the poetic nature of the story.

This is a beautiful book, about the seasons and those who live in the wilderness, intertwined with mythology, witchcraft, love, loss and revenge.

A girl with no name (for she doesn't need one), lives in the wilderness, shapeshifting into foxes, hares and other animals, free to run, and living a life she loves. The villagers know the wild folk exist, so long as they don't stray too close. Their offerings to the old hawthorn tree don't go unoticed, their seasonal festivities still pay homage to the old ways. But the village girls aren't the only ones who desire love..... the wild girl does too, and pays a heavy price for her desire. Desperate to be free again, the wild girl will do all she can. With the aid of other nameless wild folk, she once again has to sacrifice everything.

This is an enjoyable little tale that explores themes of love. It's a little predictable, if I'm being honest, but no less enjoyable for that. In fact, there is a certain tragedy to the inevitability of events that works very well.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.



Ever since reading her wonderful book The Gospel of Loki, I’ve been meaning to read more by Joanne M. Harris. She’s a wonderful storyteller and seems to favor mythology lately, a big plus in my book, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of A Pocketful of Crows.



I am as brown as brown can be,

And my eyes as black as sloe;

I am as brisk as brisk can be,

And wild as forest doe.

(The Child Ballads, 295)

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.

Beautifully illustrated by (TBC), this is a stunning and original modern fairytale.*



Don’t judge A Pocketful of Crows on its small size – it’s an incredibly vivid fairy tale that packs a huge punch. The writing is lovely and lyrical – Harris takes us on a journey into a world that is both familiar and startlingly new. Our nameless narrator lives her fulfilling life alone in the woods with her people’s magic. Then one day, she sees William, the local laird’s son, and life for her is suddenly incomplete. We see her relationship with William rise and fall as she gives up her life and her magic to be with him. It may sound like a typical tale, but what follows is what makes this book so unique as a fairy tale. Not all love is true love, and our narrator discovers how deep love can wound.

I can’t say too much about this book without giving things away. It’s well worth picking up A Pocketful of Crows and experiencing the magic for yourself. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, but perhaps wants something new and more original. A Pocketful of Crows is a dark, harsh look at love, lust, and the differences that divide us. It’s the perfect book to leaf through on a crisp October night.


*copy courtesy of Goodreads

Something of a hit and run, Pocketful of Crows isn't the strongest novel Harris produced this time around, unlike her previous works centering around various topics of mythology: Loki, a golem falling in love, and her well‐known Runelight series.

I feel that, although this is a love story in a fairy tale world, there isn't much plot progression or characrer development beyond two‐dimensional aspects such as basic laws of attraction: infatuation, attraction, innocent curiosity, etc. All in all, wild girl falls in love with a prince. I stopped reading after the first 60 pages because the tone was constant and uninteresting.

Harris displays excellent word‐play and her descriptions are gripping, she has the unique talent of effortlessly transporting her readers into a different world effortlessly. You're cast in a mesmerizing wonderland of unique characters and detailed imagery. This is especially true with her previous novels I really enjoyed.

Unfortunately, Pocketful of Crows doesn't live up to her usual fictional writing.

Just going to say that I really love this author! And this book does not disappoint. I love the addition of folk laws and quotes littered through the book and story. The ending is a tad confusing but this book is well worth another read. Will look amazing with illustrations as well!

You know sometimes you read a book and you love it so much that you want to eat it, so you can carry it around inside you? That's how I felt about this book.

I just chaired Joanne Harris's event at the book festival in Edinburgh, and she mentioned that she's working on another book in this series – and it's about selkies! Honestly, it's like she's writing specifically for me. I can't wait.

This was a lovely lyrical book. It has that beautiful feeling of being a story told around a campfire on a cold night. An extended fable that had a lot of heart. Both the character and the setting had that rustic Hannah Kent vibe which I really liked and i flowed along with the story. I love reading about superstition and the way each author interprets the rules of witchcraft. This really played into force here with the pagan charms, the ritual, the way in which she was nameless because to name something was to give ownership over it ( such a beautiful analogy made so real). The only let down I think for me was that, and this is something i have with most novella sized stories, I'm just starting to get invested in something and then oh it's over. I think that just means I need to go and read more of Joanne's books!

.This story is like a rhyme or a ballad, a folk tale and mythology. It’s a pagan story of magic, the seasons and nature and love. It’s starts telling us about this woman and her people, it’s rhythm like a rhyme or poem with it’s own beat, until it turns into a tale of a girl falling in love. But it’s not a love story, it feels like an old story, like a story of the seasons. A witch story. It’s an imaginative tale with vivid descriptions, it has a sense of a folk tale or a fearie tale. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this.
You can't really pin this story down with words, it has to be experienced for yourself, to understand the magickal quality that it has. This will be one of those stories that stays with me and that I’ll have to read again to take in.

I thought this was a great little book. I read it over a day and found it to be a compelling story. Apparently this is based on the Child Ballads which I knew nothing about, so you don't need any prior knowledge of this to enjoy this book. The writing is great and so easy to get into. I was intrigued from the very beginning. I thought the ending was done really well and the characters are well written. Overall I thought this was a great book and I would definitely recommend checking it out, if the synopsis interests you.

In a similar way to Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, this book has the feel of a creative writing exercise that progressed slowly into a book. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, but the link to The Child Ballads is reinforced so often I don’t think you could miss it if you tried!

The plot to this story was a little annoying for me, I’m never a fan of powerful women who get drawn aside by love. However, a good portion of this book is about getting rid of him and getting revenge so it is easy enough to get past. What I couldn’t understand, perhaps it was just me, was why on earth she would fall for him in the first place. Even if I had lived in the woods all my life he would still seem like a bit of a nothing in my opinion. Ah well.

As I say, the tone of this book is quite unique. I’m glad the book was short because, I think, had it been a long read I would have got quite bored or irritated with it, but a book that I could polish off in a couple of hours was just about the right amount of this intense first person narrative.

I actually ended up thoroughly enjoying reading this book, I would have liked more explanations as to how our nameless heroine got her powers and how this world fitted together but that isn’t the nature of this book. Rather, the prose is at the centre, there are some lovely elements of descriptive language (though it might be a little flowery for some people) and has the sense of poetry at its heart.

If you want something a little shorter to get your teeth into I would recommend getting a copy of this as it was definitely different to everything else I have read of late!

My rating: 4/5 stars

A Pocketful of Crows releases on the 19th of October so there is time to preorder if you’d like to better understand what I’m talking about!

By the way, I was sent a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

A Pocketful of Crows is based on one of the Child ballads -- specifically, 'The Brown Girl'. I have to say, I was pleased to see a retelling that isn't based on one of the most well known stories or songs. The Child ballads are a huge resource of stories, some of which totally need retelling to make proper sense of them, but people often go for retelling the same stories over and over again. I haven't seen anyone play with 'The Brown Girl' before, and it's refreshing.

Joanne Harris' writing has a lovely clarity to it; this book is just a dream to read, with a strong narrative voice. The things that frustrated me are things that frustrate me about the ballad as well -- how does the girl not realise her lover's insincere? Harris manages to make me believe it at times, but I still find it frustrating that she's so naive. Mind you, it also makes sense, given the extra narrative Harris draws in: the story of Mother, Maiden, Crone. I love the way she weaves the ballad into that shape and makes it more than it is on the surface.

Definitely enjoyable, and I have a feeling the physical copy is going to be gorgeous.

Review goes live on 25th August.