“That was how Remedios arrived in a new land - sleepless and unwashed, a blackbird with an intention to burn.”

Claire McMillans’ most recent work is a historical reimagining of the life/journey of Remedios Varos. I knew nothing about the artists featured before reading this book, and was worried I wouldn’t be into it at first. Anyway, I finished it in two days so clearly that wasn’t an issue. The story centers on art and the art world of the time, female friendships, and alchemy (obviously). Personally my favorite aspects were the interwoven tarot cards that featured different characters and the swap in perspectives - especially when it switched to the men in Remedios’ life. It was important to be able to see the differences between her and them. Overall, this was a really well written novel that featured some absolutely stunning quotes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I thought this story sounded very interesting, but I found it was very hard to read. There were too many interruptions to the main story. I was not always clear on who was speaking in the second part of the chapter. I'm sure lots of people will enjoy this book, but it wasn't a good one for me.

I thought this book had a strong start but weakened with each chapter. I wish it could have kept the momentum. going because it was an interesting story premise.

Alchemy of a Blackbird is an interesting addition to the WWII novel genre and I enjoyed the take on observing the world and life from outside of Europe. The characters are well formed and I very much enjoyed Claire McMillan's novel.

I really liked this one. Mix WWII and art and occult together and this is what you get. And let me tell you I was all here for it. I didn't want to put the book down at all. I had a great time with this book.
I just reviewed Alchemy of a Blackbird by Claire McMillan. #NetGalley
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Alchemy of a Blackbird is a historical fiction depicting the life of Remedies Varo. The story takes place in Europe during the late 1930's when many are fleeing their homeland for safety in other countries. Remedies had left her country of Spain for Paris. There she meets and becomes close friends with Leonora Carrington at the Surrealists Expo in Paris in 1939. They develop and interest in tarot cards and take lessons together with Madam Cherugi. Remedies is not confident in her own artistic ability and makes a living selling de Chico's copies while living with Benjamin Peret.

Paris becomes a dangerous place with the arrival of the Nazi's and both Remedies and Leonora flee to separate parts of the Riviera. Eventually Remedies and Benjamin make it to Mexico. Again she takes up tarot card lessons. These cards become an important part of her life as is evident throughout the book.

Benjamin decides to go back to Paris after the war. Remedies has no desire to so she stays and begins designing for Bayer, takeing up with Jean Nicolle. She still has not found her own artistic ability. She reunites with Leonora in Mexico and leaves Jean. In doing so, she is convinced by Leonora to develop her own style. She meets up with Walter Gruen and at that point, with the encouragement of Leonora and Walter, she finally comes into her own as an artist.

I found parts of the book confusing, especially where the cards were presented. I didn't realize until further into the book that the name associated with the card was the person speaking after that. I enjoyed reading about the life of Remedios but felt there was a little too much meaningless information. Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read to read this pre-release.

This was my first book by Claire. I think I’ll read more by her. This book was about two painters. It is a historical fiction. She did a pretty good job showing some true facts and when the facts she wrote weren’t true she did let you know. Which was nice. I wanted more from the friendship though! More emotion not what happened during the war but prior to it as well!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a free DRC of Alchemy of a Blackbird for review consideration! All opinions are my own.

There’s a cadence to how an author writes that grabs the reader and they happily march through the story. It’s not only what the story is about, it’s how the writer tells it. The transitions of this book from chapter to chapter, fall into a happy cadence that never loses the reader, no matter which character is telling the story.

Author Clair McMillan spins a story around her main character, painter Remedios Varo. Remedios and her artist friends flee Paris and end up in a safe house for artists on the Riviera where they await papers to get them out of Europe and the hands of the Nazis. Tarot cards are threaded throughout the story and are used not so much as a mystical tool but as a way for Remedios and her best friend and fellow painter, Leonora Carrington, to discover their true selves and reach within for their creativity.

I loved the Tarot cards and their appearance with explanations at the beginning of each chapter. The history of the Tarot was fascinating-- and while associated with the occult and witchcraft, that is not the way they are used in the story.

Thanks to Atria for the free book.
This is a character driven story about Remedios Varo, a painter from the surrealism movement. I liked getting a glimpse into how this movement was interrupted by WWII and how these artists chose to cope and continue their work. I also found the parts about the tarot and unique chapter structure super interesting. I did find this story to be a bit slow. I wished some parts had a little more time spent on them. But I learned a lot and was done many internet rabbit holes learning about Remedios and her friends. I also was so impressed with her paintings.

Alchemy of a Blackbird, by Claire McMillan, is a beautifully written historical novel illuminating the relationship of two famous female surrealists—Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington.
The story follows the artists’ budding friendship in the salons of Paris on the brink of WWII, to a safe house in Marseille, to their ultimate freedom in Mexico City during and after the war.
Laced throughout the story are nuggets of information and appearances by a who’s who of writers, artists and intellectuals of the era. There are too many to name here, but featured characters are Varo’s lover, poet Benjamin Peret, and Carrington’s lover, painter Max Ernst.
Both women were also followers of herbal mysticism and believers in the predictive and revealing practice in Tarot. To emphasize the impact of Tarot on their lives, the author has embedded in each chapter a beautifully illustrated tarot card, with its meaning explained and its symbolism represented by a real figure in the women’s lives. These characters lend extra aspect and enrich the reader’s understanding of these complex, exciting, passionate friends and artists.
The author’s notes reveal her extensive research into the artists’ lives and the history of Tarot, with an extensive list of sources provided.
I highly recommend this excellent historical novel, with its lyrical prose and its insight into Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, and their peers who were so important in the evolution of 20th century Modern Art.

Thank you to Atria/Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Pub date: 7/11/23
Genre: historical fiction, magical realism
Quick summary: Surrealist painter Remedios Varo is tired of not being taken seriously as an artist by her lover Benjamin and the rest of the community in WWII-era Mexico. Her study of the tarot helps her find meaning alongside her friend and fellow artist Leonora Carrington.

I love art history, and I recently saw a painting by Carrington in London, so I was really excited to read this book. Like a Surrealist painting, the book transported me to another world, and I loved the change to experience Mexico through Remedios' eyes. Her story covers many themes still applicable today, including the struggle of women for gender equality. I wasn't previously familiar with the tarot, but I enjoyed how McMillan wove the cards into the story - as important secondary characters are introduced, each is given their own applicable tarot card.

My only warning to the reader is that this is primarily a character-driven story, so if you're looking for a lot of plot, this probably isn't the book for you. With that being said, I think historical fiction fans will enjoy this one, especially if you like magical stories or stories with a clear sense of place. I mixed text with audio and recommend both, with a slight edge to the multi-narrator audiobook. If you don't have time to read ALCHEMY OF A BLACKBIRD this summer, it could be a good pick for spooky season!

Thank you to Atria Books for my e-ARC, which I paired with a library audiobook.

If I could define how I felt reading this book, I would only need one word: transformed. This story follows the fictional recount of Remedios Varo’s life, living through war, being a refugee, the ordeal of being a woman, wanting knowledge, and being a carrier and master of most, only to be overlooked and dismissed for the very quality that made it possible to obtain this particular understanding of the world: living as a woman. All of this is through the lenses of what is still seen as somewhat obscure: alchemy, tarot, crystals, herbalism, art, and the magic that surrounds us in this wondrous world.

I loved this story. I’m already partial to historical fiction and fantasy, but throw in some magical realism? It was hard to put down, to say the least. I was first introduced to this genre in high school and, until now, had only read Latin American authors and while the magic exists in the same realm, I’m glad I gave this ARC a chance and got to know a new voice for it. My favorite part was the introduction of the tarot as part of the storyline and as a way to know the characters better. I’ve always been interested in “magical” elements, mythology, and history and found it so refreshing and interesting to somewhat delve into this world that I’ve never fully submerged myself in but it has always piqued my curiosity.

A lot of the time, it felt more like a recount of events, and while they were incredibly interesting, it took me a while to get used to the way it was written since the characters felt very separate from the reader although I somewhat understand since it is historical fiction. Also, I felt like the storyline with Gruen was a bit rushed, it would’ve been amazing to have a more detailed account of the last great romantic love of Remedios.

This book felt like a collection of stories, even if Remedios was the obvious protagonist, watching her relationships develop through other POVs, and just having the world expand with all the others was truly magical in and of itself. I feel like my worldview expanded alongside Remedios’, many of her fears and troubles are shared on a somewhat universal level across all women; through this story, you truly get to witness the female experience. The trials and tribulations may differ in shape or form, but the feelings are all the same. I hope we all learn to alchemize and create an entirely new being out of nothing but the raw material of ourselves. It gave me hope that we can all truly be free.

I give this book a 4/5🌟 rating. Feeling very inspired.

Remedios accidentally comes across a shop. Basically, she was being chased by the gendarme and she ran in to hide! The owner of the shop ends up teaching her about the tarot cards. This becomes Remedios faith. She discovers herself in these cards and she will never let herself be changed again.

I enjoyed Remedios. She has suffered at the hands of the Nazis and it traumatizes her. But, she never quits. She also is a true believer of the tarot. It is how she stays sane during all of her trials. And Benjamin, he is just a bit passive and not my favorite person.

This book fell a bit short for me. But honestly, it was probably because I had such high expectations. I love a good book about tarot cards and the occult. This one could have been better, and this is just my opinion. I did expect more of a mystical element than the author portrays.

Need a story about the practice of tarot cards…THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

In some ways, I felt like this novel wasn't sure what it wanted to be -- a commercial historical fiction title or a more serious literary story. I did admire the friendship between Remedios and Leonora. The focus on art and tarot is also a strong point. The narrator switches are a bit jarring and took me out of the story. I did keep reading and ultimately enjoyed the writing and the story.

This is a historical fiction novel based on the true story of the 20th-century painters and tarot devotees Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. The story begins during WWII , when Remedios & her lover, poet Benjamin Peret, escape the Nazis by fleeing Paris and arriving at a safe house for artists on the Riviera, and ends after Remedios & Leonora are reunited in Mexico and their careers are flourishing.

I thought the premise of the book sounded good, but it just wasn't for me. The entire book was a slow burn, for one thing. Also, I didn't care for the format, which was the first half of the chapter is told in third person focusing on Remedios, then there is a tarot card with a description as to what that card means, and then the rest of the chapter switches to another person's voice in the first person, with no warning, and you don't know who that person is right away, always. This can be a bit jarring. I did find it interesting all of the people that she met & was friends with, that are well-known names from everything from poets, to actresses, to painters. Overall, it wasn't for me, but if you are a fan of historical fiction, or if you have an interest in the roots of tarot, then you may want to check it out.

I am a big plot person and I struggled for the first half of this book because it felt like plot was very minimal. Once I got about halfway, though, I wondered whether my struggles making progress with the book mirrored Remedios’ feeling stifled by Benjamin. The reading definitely got faster once she got rid of him. (No spoiler since it’s in the description!)

I thought this was a beautiful exploration of female friendship, art, and female empowerment and how men relate to strong women. There is a tad bit of WWII at the beginning, but it’s almost tangential to the story and there’s not a lot of trauma to it.

I loved the structure of naming a tarot card and then profiling a supporting character who fit the meaning of that card. It was a lot of perspective shifts that some people may not like. And it probably goes without saying that if you’re someone who has strong feelings against the tarot this is not the book for you. But you don’t have to “believe” or buy into tarot to enjoy this book. It’s used to great effect as a literary device to provide a fictional profile of a fascinating artist of whom I had not previously heard. I really enjoyed the book!

Beginning in the 1940’s in Paris Alchemy of a Blackbird follows artist Remedios Varos from occupied France to Mexico. This novel doesn’t do a deep dive and dwell on any one part of her story going from main event to main event with just enough details. I really enjoyed the integration of Tarot Cards and their meanings into the story and want to learn more. The structure of this book was also really interesting using the cards to introduce alternate point of views which helped to advance the story and present alternate perspectives. The story focused more on her not doing her own work than it did on her art itself which is worth looking into.

Alchemy of a Blackbird is an enchanting and visually captivating novel. Each chapter commences with a tarot card, serving as an introduction to the next narrator. The novel delves into the profound depths of Remedios' quest, immersing readers in a world of vibrant imagery and thought-provoking narratives.

Alchemy of a Blackbird focuses on a Spanish artist, Remedios Varro, who was living in France during WWII with her poet boyfriend Benjamin and their group of artists friends who take refuge in Marseilles after the Nazis invade Paris. Slowly the artists are able to escape France and she and Benjamin eventually are able to leave as well but escape to Mexico City rather than New York where Remedios slowly is able to create a new life for the couple but Benjamin never quite feels at home. During this time Remedios finds her old friend Leonora who she had been very close with in France.

Wonderfully intertwined throughout the novel are Remedios’ tarot cards and their meaning (she is a reader) and how they are reflected in each characters, this signals that another character will take on the perspective of what has just occurred in the previous chapter (never the same perspective). It’s a story of women artists, female friendships and how men can stifle women’s creativity if she allows.

I found it very hard to get into this book, and I wish I could say I enjoyed it more. I thought it was very well done it just missed something for me. I never felt the relationships that were supposed to be so close (neither Remedios with Benjamin nor with Leonora got to the depth I wanted). Since the novel was about Remedios I would have liked a bit of her past (we got some of Leonora’s so I almost felt I knew her better). I enjoyed the artist cameos in the book and learning about Remedios. I think the best part of the novel was that unique style of storytelling -I loved how the Tarot cards moved the plot along.

Three and three quarter stars for me, rounded to four.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review

A fascinating read, Alchemy of a Blackbird is a historical fiction account of the twentieth century artist and occultist Remedios Varo. The story begins with Remedios in France with her lover, Benjamin Peret. Her voice and creativity are muted by this relationship. They flee to Mexico to escape the Nazi invasion of France. Through a deep friendship with Leonora Carrington and the mentorship of Madame Carvon in using tarot cards to guide one's life, Remedios uncovers her confidence and talent as an artist.

Claire McMillan creatively incorporates tarot cards and their meaning throughout the novel; each card signals to the reader a shift in perspective to another character. I enjoyed reading McMillan's imaginative and unique storytelling using images and explanations of tarot cards to enhance the development of characters and advance the plot. The book concludes abruptly while still completing the arc of the plot. I recommend Alchemy of a Blackbird in general and in particular to people who are interested in tarot or twentieth century surrealist artists.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.