Maiden, Mother, Crone: A Collection

by Joanne Harris

Turn the page, and step into a stunning, evocative world where nature, magic and fate are inextricably linked, and one wrong - or right - step can take you from the modern world into one filled with both danger and wonder.

This beautiful volume contains the award-winning novellas A Pocketful of Crows, The Blue Salt Road and Orfeia. Fully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, with a brand new introduction by the author and three original short stories, this is a landmark collection which gloriously reimagines traditional British folktales into a timely, relevant and powerful new stories.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Folklore, Collections, Magic, Magical Realism

592 pages, Hardcover

Published November 16, 2023

About the author

Joanne Harris is also known as Joanne M. Harris

Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.

Reviews

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical collection of British folktale novellas and short stories. Beautifully written and easily re-readable. A Pocketful of Crows and The Blue Salt Road were the winners of the bunch.

[Claire Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considered rating it 2 ☆ for enjoyment, but it was themed well. I'm not the target audience as I don't tend to enjoy short stories, but I liked the title of this collection. I enjoyed the introduction in which Harris discusses subverting the original stories/tales and giving her female characters more agency. I enjoyed 'A Pocketful Of Crows' and 'The Blue Salt Road' (although the latter was deeply unsettling), but unfortunately I did not enjoy her third novella 'Orfeia'; it was too confusing (memory loss, new names, and fairy logic) and I felt just as dazed and lost as Fay did on madcap. Potentially this is because Harris blended the 2 stories of Orpheus and Elfin Knight (rather than focusing on one story) or maybe it was because there were too many characters for my liking (Fay, Daisy, King Orfeo, Alberon, The Hallowe'en King, & various supporting cast etc.). Although, maybe my true reason for not enjoying 'Orfeia' was more down to the locations (too many) and how it felt very set apart from the other novellas because it was set in modern day (Fay has a fitbit). Reading about London streets and modern technology jolted me out of my myths and legends mindframe and much like Fay, by the time I struggled my way through the end of 'Orfeia', the lands of 'A Pocketful of Crows' and 'The Blue Salt Road' were just a dream to me.

[Courtney (moyashi_girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Maiden, Mother, Crone.
This is the second book I've read by Joanne Harris. The first was The Gospel of Loki, which I loved! I've actually been meaning to reread so I can read the sequel.

Maiden, Mother, Crone is a collection of three novellas and a few short stories that are based on the Child Ballads, which I'm sad to admit I'd never heard of before this book.
The book is also full of some really beautiful illustrations that I loved!

The individual ratings for the free novellas are:
● A Pocketful of Crows (4⭐)
● The Blue Salt Road (4⭐)
● Orfeia (3⭐)
My favourite of the three was definitely The Blue Salt Road, which has Selkie!
I didn't rate the short stories, but I did like them.

I definitely recommend checking this book out, especially if you are interested in reimagined British folktales!

[Tracey Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gorgeous illustrated hardback contains three novellas and a few short stories. Based on the Child ballads, the novellas explore folkloric ideas and are lush and compelling, though I felt at times they could have been lighter on atmospheric detail to give them a little more pace. But overall, an interesting read and a beautiful book.

[Jess ☠️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

My combined rating is 3/5.

I read these three novellas separately but in this order. Leaving a review here for anyone that comes across this collection as opposed to the individual books. 


𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀
☆☆☆☆


Maybe it's just the mood I'm in lately but I was all in for that revenge. I wanted William to S-U-F-F-E-R. Harris rewrites the folktake of The Brown Girl delicately and with reverence. I was highly invested and glad to watch it unfold. 


𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱
☆☆½


Another novella based on a folktale, this time Child Ballad 113, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite grab me. Although the folktake is intriguing and fantastical, the characters never felt truly engaging. It felt longer than necessary which is saying something for quite a short novella. I will say that the Harris excelled when writing about the whaling ship activities which was genuinely hard to read. I just wish she could have made me feel more strongly about the protagonist. 


𝗢𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗶𝗮 
☆☆


My least favourite of Joanne Harris' three novellas based on the Child Ballads. This one was messy and overly descriptive in a way that read like a teenager trying to get to a word count on an essay assignment. Just really not my thing.

In the end, I'm glad that I read the three novellas in the order that I did (A Pocketful of Crows, The Blue Salt Road, and lastly Orfeia) because had I read them backwards, I might not have made it to the one I liked the best.

[Alison S ☯️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh! Bit of a letdown... There was some beautiful, poetic passages, but I found it underwhelming. I struggled to engage with any of the characters, and I felt either confused or a bit bored most of the time. All of the narratives lacked momentum and seemed overly complicated and drawn out, with too many elements and plot threads. Glad to get to the end of this one.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but was not blown away. Short story ranking:
1. The blue salt road
2. Orfeia
3. A pocket full of crows
The little stories (5 ish pages) between the big ones were actually delightful and the most fun.
It did make me want to reread Honeycomb, so we will see if I can fight the urge

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book; beautiful collection of short stories and absolutely stunning illustrations.

Highly recommended.

[Midnight Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, I rate this magical tome 100 stars. Beautiful prose intertwined with beautiful illustrations — this book is so beautifully crafted that it took me back to the magic of reading fairy tales as a child. It’s a rare and wondrous thing to capture that feeling as an adult and Joanne Harris is so very gifted. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to be transported back to the feelings of joy and wonder that they felt as a child when they first discovered the magic of the well told tale.

[Diane Woodrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this and couldn't put it down. I've still got the song from Orfeia buzzing in my head as well as my thoughts being filled with Selkies, lost memory, and much more.
It has also inspired me to look at a feminist take on Cinderella.

[angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books are stories. Others are spells. Maiden, Mother, Crone is both.

Joanne M. Harris has a way of writing that doesn’t just tell a tale—it transports you. With every page, I found myself slipping into the shadows of her world, watching its myths and whispers unfold as though I were part of them. This is a book woven from folklore and fate, where three women’s voices echo through time, carrying the weight of power, loss, and transformation.

I have always been drawn to mythology and the stories that linger at the edges of history, half-remembered but never forgotten. Harris breathes life into these echoes, crafting a narrative that feels both ancient and immediate. The prose is lush, the atmosphere intoxicating, and the storytelling as rich and layered as the oral traditions that inspired it.

Honeycomb still holds my heart, but Maiden, Mother, Crone comes incredibly close. If you love mythology, lyrical prose, and stories that feel like whispered legends, then this is a book you need to read.

[Katie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories like these are why Joanne Harris is on my list of top favorite authors. She doesn't always write about magic, but when she does it's unmatched. This whole collection was an absolute delight.

Pocketful of Crows is a delightfully witchy story about a wild girl with no name who falls prey to the fleeting love of a boy of the Folk. With the help of friends both known and unknown she struggles to wrest back her freedom.

The Blue Salt Road and The Selkie are retellings of the Celtic legends of seal shapeshifters who could be trapped on land if their pelt was taken from them. I'd only ever heard this legend told with the Selkie being a woman, but in Blue Salt Road our Selkie is a man. His journey to remember his true self is sorrowful and aching with an unexpected ending. The Selkie is a bit shorter and more traditional, but it's oh so satisfying.

Orfeia is a multilayered tale about, memory, loss, desperation, and the strength of a mother's love. This gave me Labyrinth, Neverwhere, and Hades and Persephone vibes in the best way.

[Suus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A collection of short stories/fairytales:

- A pocketful of crows ⭐️⭐️
Not to my liking. Unlikeable main characters, tedious writing style (very repetitive). Wanted to DNF. Kind of enjoyed the ending though.

- Death and the Maiden ⭐️⭐️.5
Very short, enjoyable but predictable.

- The blue salt road ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Liked the storyline and this particular folklore creature was new to me (selkies).

- The selkie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very grim, which I don’t mind in a fairytale.

- Orfeia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Wanted to read in one go. The story is set partly in a contemporary setting, which is cringe sometimes but works here.

- Death and the crone ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very short, not much to like nor dislike about it.

[Coco Smit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Halloween read. Especially the last two stories being about the Halloween king and queen. Orfeia was my favourite and really tugged my heartstrings. The others not so much but loved the fairytale feelings in all of them. The pictures definitely helped to get the old childhood nostalgia. Just read this in October, and it won't disappoint.

[Cari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the first three stories: A Pocketful of Crows, Death and the Maiden, and The Blue Salt Road. The last three stories were weak. The Selkie was too similar to The Blue Salt Road. Orfeia was repetitive and I didn't understand the ending. Death and The Crone was short and dull.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read short stories but this collection was gorgeous. I’m gutted in only the best way. The twist of old ballads and stories was incredible and powerfully evocative. I couldn’t put this book down.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Jane Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of tales based around English folklore, beautifully told and illustrated. Featuring some that have previously been published, and some new short stories, this will engage and enthrall.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
My favourite was A Pocketful of Crows.

[Sonia Koss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book in all possible ways!!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of haunting, thought-provoking tales. I couldn't put it down.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third section is by far the best. The first two have an annoying style and no likeable characters

[Kim Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical

I love a good fairy story, especially when it's written by an excellent storyteller. Joanne Harris's stories out me under a spell.

[Kelly-Rose Tulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - first 2 stories had me HOOKED. Loved the concept of reimagined folklore.

[Iben Søgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really beautiful. I enjoyed it although Orfeia was too danm long.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of these stories were very good, but Orfeia was by far the absolute best. Beautiful and dark, I really enjoyed this collection of Joanne Harris' work.

[Chelsea T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous prose and thoughtful writing!

[Nia Everitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read but kind of repetitive!!!!