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White Crow
It's summer. Rebecca is an unwilling visitor to Winterfold - taken from the buzz of London and her friends and what she thinks is the start of a promising romance. Ferelith already lives in Winterfold - it's a place that doesn't like to let you go, and she knows it inside out.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2010
45 people are currently reading
2622 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Sedgwick
107 books1,583 followersMarcus Sedgwickwas a British writer and illustrator. He authored several young adult and children's books and picture books, a work of nonfiction and several novels for adults, and illustrated a collection of myths and a book of folk tales for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
August 31, 2015
“If you wish to upset the law that all crows are black, you mustn’t seek to show that no crows are; it is enough if you prove one single crow to be white.”
– William James.
What a weird little book is the one I have just read. Markus Sedgwick sure knows how to write books that make me think so much.
You must have noticed all crows are black, aren't they? Now, imagine what would happen if one day you see not a black crow but a white crow. Your beliefs would be changed. You would not be able to say "all crows are black" because you just found a white one.
What I'm saying about the crow is actually something one of the heroines in the book thinks. Her name is Ferelith and she lives in Winterfold, a silent town somewhere in England.
One summer day, a new person arrives to the town - Rebecca. She's shy and doesn't intend on making friends. That is, until Ferelith approaches her one day and soon after they develop a not-so-sane friendship.
Supposing you wanted to prove something, something important. Supposing you wanted to prove, for argument’s sake, that there is life after death.
The moment when Ferelith thinks what the quote I shared says it's the moment when Rebecca and Ferelith's friendship turns from a little homoerotic to dangerous. Ferelith has always been intrigued by the afterlife, but now that she has a friend, she wants to try if there is indeed life after death.
Some centuries before the events I've told you happened, there was a man who tried to do the same things Ferelith and Rebecca (mainly the first one) did, with equally frightening results.
But what then, is Heaven? How does the celestial realm appear? Why, Lord, is it so much harder to bring to sight than the other place?
Life after death... I've always wondered that. I admit I am curious about whether there is something after death or not. Of course I don't want to experiment with people in order to satisfy my curiosity. And damn it if this book doesn't put you to think hard about that too.
I recently read Revival by Stephen King, another book that deals with this theme. Both of the answers these books give to the eternal questions are quite intriguing. I don't want to spoil you neither of the books, but both results frightened me all the same. However, I think I like this book more because it delves more into the philosophical side and it focuses more on the question itself than on the characters' biographies.
Ferelith was by far my favourite character. She reminded me a little to Blythe from Black Iris with her mysterious and dominating personality. She's a little weird getting to the creepy side. She can also be a little cold when it comes to feelings and interactions with people, but she won all my interest in the book. Her wonderings sounded too much like me for ignoring them too.
The doctor from the eighteenth century who experimented with death was intriguing too. His voice sounded to me a little like Charles from Revival and Victor Frankenstein from the book with his name. What do they all have in common? They play God.
You know, movies/books that deal with characters playing God usually scare me to hell. Happened to me while watching Jurassic World, and also while reading this, The Ghosts of Heaven (the last story), Revival, etc.
Parts of this book (and its message) reminded me a bit to The Isle of Blood and The Final Descent (The Monstrumologist, #3 & #4 in that order). They are completely different, but I couldn't help but think about some of Will Henry's philosophical ramblings on how we humans believe we are gods. This book does not touch that theme, but it was impossible not to remember that because what he said applied perfectly to everyone in this book.
Not everything worked for me, though. The writing, for example, wasn't exactly of my liking.
The book is narrated through three voices: Rebecca's (3rd person, present tense), Ferelith's (1st person, present tense) and the doctor's (1st person, past tense). It's easy to tell who's talking, so that was not a problem with me. Both the doctor's and Ferelith voices were messy because that's how they thought, and I actually loved to be in their heads. It was Becca's POV the one I didn't like a lot, and this is for two reasons:
1. I didn't root for Rebecca: There. I said it. she felt too childish for a 16-year-old girl. Ferelith was her same age, but she acted completely different - more mature, let's say. I know Becca went through a lot of things, - she just broke up with her boyfriend, she doesn't have a good relationship with her dad, etc. - but that doesn't justify the fact that she sounded like a 13-year-old.
2. 3rd person, present tense narration is not for me: Thing is, it sounds like a report, not an actual story. I use that tense to write my lab reports and essays and such things. Gratefully, the writing style was showing, not telling, so it didn't feel tedious.
That does not mean this book is bad, because it was really really good. Nonetheless, that's just my opinion, and if you look at the Goodreads ratings for this book you will see what I'm talking about.
The average rating at this moment is 3.39 stars. When I look at ratings like that, I immediately frown and turn the other way - it could mean the book is bad. However, I've now learned that is not always the case. What's going on is something completely different, and I believe it is what Emily May said in her review for Fell of Dark (which coincidentally has a crow in the cover) about books with not-so-impressive ratings: It requires you to think.
Not only that, but like The Ghosts of Heaven, this is not of the fast-paced fiction. It's more of the thought-provoking kind, and sometimes, it was quite difficult to follow the narration, so I can understand why the ratings are not so glowing. Also, many people said it was really odd and confusing, and that somehow disappointed them, as they were waiting for more gore and horror. Just look at the negative reviews.
I can say for myself that I liked it a lot and that I am a great fan of whatever Marcus Sedgwick writes. As I said on a previous review, I am determined to read all the books he writes because I've just discovered a genius.
February 24, 2013
With its creepy cover and synopsis, I was sure White Crow would be the perfect read for my creepy loving taste. When creepy turned to odd, and by odd I mean barf-on-some-pages-and-call-it-a-book odd, I knew I was wrong. *sigh*
A very spooky setting, White Crow lands us inside an eerie little town that is being slowly decimated by the ocean. This town inhabits only a small population and a lot of run down or abandoned dwellings. I thought right then it was going to be a fantastically creepy novel, and for the most part it was. Talk of the devil, mysterious room with a bolted down chair and mysterious visitors who never leave? Yeah I'd say that's pretty freaky. But the execution, holy mother of weird! Told in alternative point of views, we get a sinister history of one of these buildings from a past perspective. This perspective, however, immediately put my guard up when the voice of the character showed little appeal. Albeit part of it was due to it being set in such a long-ago time, and by long ago I mean the 1700s, making the language very hard to get into, but it was also due to the odd way those parts were told. They were mostly glimpses, full chapters that consisted of one paragraph, or even one single sentence, and these glimpses were truly weird, especially at first when you have no idea what's supposed to be happening. They were random passages from the past involving thoughts of the devil and God. Thoughts that derived of a mad man making little to no sense, not even interesting in a cryptic way--some parts I had to reread and still couldn't decipher what was happening. It was literally like gibberish. Even though at times it did give me the creeps, I didn't fully get the hang of this part of the story until past halfway.
The other two perspectives were much more compelling and easier to read. We have Rebecca who is the main protagonist and the first character we're introduced to. She's an average girl who just moved to this unfortunate town where she meets out other perspective, Ferelith who is an especially strange person--in looks and in personality. While I did find their story actually fairly intriguing, especially Ferelith's bizarre ways, there was something off from the whole writing style. The perspectives did not flow well together at all. Made worst by how Ferelith's was in first person, and Rebecca's in third. Although it can work sometimes, the alternating persons threw me off in his case, creating an unfortunate disassociation with them both. It was also so short that every perspective seemed to pass and shift in a blur, making it difficult to make sense of anything that was happening. On one side we have the past where we get ominous vague events thrown at us, on the other we get what basically feels like a story with no plot at all, just all this weird… weirdness. I quite honestly don't know what the point behind the plot was. There were these random elements thrown into it as well, like her father being accused of a murder, or Ferelith's foster home situation, these were spewed out and not explored in the slightest. It was all super odd!
In short, this book was just a big bucket of weird. I can't even think of who I would recommend it to. I think it does have its niche of readers would enjoy it, it would definitely need to be readers who like very ambiguous stories, but then again, I'm a big fan of cryptic reads. *shrugs* At least it was short.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
A very spooky setting, White Crow lands us inside an eerie little town that is being slowly decimated by the ocean. This town inhabits only a small population and a lot of run down or abandoned dwellings. I thought right then it was going to be a fantastically creepy novel, and for the most part it was. Talk of the devil, mysterious room with a bolted down chair and mysterious visitors who never leave? Yeah I'd say that's pretty freaky. But the execution, holy mother of weird! Told in alternative point of views, we get a sinister history of one of these buildings from a past perspective. This perspective, however, immediately put my guard up when the voice of the character showed little appeal. Albeit part of it was due to it being set in such a long-ago time, and by long ago I mean the 1700s, making the language very hard to get into, but it was also due to the odd way those parts were told. They were mostly glimpses, full chapters that consisted of one paragraph, or even one single sentence, and these glimpses were truly weird, especially at first when you have no idea what's supposed to be happening. They were random passages from the past involving thoughts of the devil and God. Thoughts that derived of a mad man making little to no sense, not even interesting in a cryptic way--some parts I had to reread and still couldn't decipher what was happening. It was literally like gibberish. Even though at times it did give me the creeps, I didn't fully get the hang of this part of the story until past halfway.
The other two perspectives were much more compelling and easier to read. We have Rebecca who is the main protagonist and the first character we're introduced to. She's an average girl who just moved to this unfortunate town where she meets out other perspective, Ferelith who is an especially strange person--in looks and in personality. While I did find their story actually fairly intriguing, especially Ferelith's bizarre ways, there was something off from the whole writing style. The perspectives did not flow well together at all. Made worst by how Ferelith's was in first person, and Rebecca's in third. Although it can work sometimes, the alternating persons threw me off in his case, creating an unfortunate disassociation with them both. It was also so short that every perspective seemed to pass and shift in a blur, making it difficult to make sense of anything that was happening. On one side we have the past where we get ominous vague events thrown at us, on the other we get what basically feels like a story with no plot at all, just all this weird… weirdness. I quite honestly don't know what the point behind the plot was. There were these random elements thrown into it as well, like her father being accused of a murder, or Ferelith's foster home situation, these were spewed out and not explored in the slightest. It was all super odd!
In short, this book was just a big bucket of weird. I can't even think of who I would recommend it to. I think it does have its niche of readers would enjoy it, it would definitely need to be readers who like very ambiguous stories, but then again, I'm a big fan of cryptic reads. *shrugs* At least it was short.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
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January 11, 2016This is the book I wish I had written. Stunning and as close to prefect as I have found.
February 15, 2017
Weird and creepy, mostly in good ways. The multiple viewpoints fractures the narrative more than I would like. There's two present day viewpoints, one in third person and one in first person, and a first person POV from the late 18th century. I'm not entirely convinced that the 18th century POV was necessary, but I liked it anyways. Neither Ferelith nor Rebecca are particularly likable characters. Ferelith is a manipulative creeper, and Rebecca is strangely immature for a sixteen year old who grew up in a major city like London. I did appreciate how the situation with Rebecca's father is never entirely clarified or settled, though.
April 27, 2011
I am really disappointed to be giving this book 2 stars! As it has been longlisted (and shortlisted shock horror) for the Carnegie award this time around I was sure that I was going to be swept away as I have been by other books by Marcus Sedgwick (Blood Red Snow White is awesome).
However. This story feels like it's been hastily written and there are three different narratives running parallel throughout the story and they never quite gel with one another. Without giving too much of the story away, the book basically starts with Rebecca who has been dragged away from London and her friends to a quiet town called Winterfold where nothing much happens and she is forced to cohabit with her father (who has a sad and unfortunate story of his own). You don't find out why she's been dragged here until quite a way into the book (see the sad and unfortunate father story) and this was frustrating. While this is happening we are whisked back to the 18th Century and the journal of the then priest of Winterfold. Strange things are happening at Winterfold Hall where the mysterious and apparently tormented Dr. Barrieux lives alone lamenting the death of his wife and child. The priest is slowly being drawn into Dr Barrieux's world, causing him to question his beliefs especially the existence of Heaven, Hell and life after death. Meanwhile in the present, Rebecca has made friends with Ferelith who has an interesting past of her own that you don't find out about until the book is nearly done and who is altogether very creepy and too clever for her own good in a psychotic kind of way.
It's only really at the end of the book that things start to get good - and don't get me wrong they do get scary and enough to creep any child out! The story comes together and all is revealed. I'm not sure if this makes up for the slow start though; I'd be inclined to say that if I was a teen I might get fed up with the book before it starts to get interesting. Rebecca is a typical teenage girl character but so little is known about her to begin with that I didn't feel that much empathy for her.
There are lots of rave reviews about this book, but as a fan of Marcus Sedgwick's novels it didn't do much for me I'm afraid and as some reviewers have already said some fans might well be disappointed.
But hey, give it a go and see what YOU think!
However. This story feels like it's been hastily written and there are three different narratives running parallel throughout the story and they never quite gel with one another. Without giving too much of the story away, the book basically starts with Rebecca who has been dragged away from London and her friends to a quiet town called Winterfold where nothing much happens and she is forced to cohabit with her father (who has a sad and unfortunate story of his own). You don't find out why she's been dragged here until quite a way into the book (see the sad and unfortunate father story) and this was frustrating. While this is happening we are whisked back to the 18th Century and the journal of the then priest of Winterfold. Strange things are happening at Winterfold Hall where the mysterious and apparently tormented Dr. Barrieux lives alone lamenting the death of his wife and child. The priest is slowly being drawn into Dr Barrieux's world, causing him to question his beliefs especially the existence of Heaven, Hell and life after death. Meanwhile in the present, Rebecca has made friends with Ferelith who has an interesting past of her own that you don't find out about until the book is nearly done and who is altogether very creepy and too clever for her own good in a psychotic kind of way.
It's only really at the end of the book that things start to get good - and don't get me wrong they do get scary and enough to creep any child out! The story comes together and all is revealed. I'm not sure if this makes up for the slow start though; I'd be inclined to say that if I was a teen I might get fed up with the book before it starts to get interesting. Rebecca is a typical teenage girl character but so little is known about her to begin with that I didn't feel that much empathy for her.
There are lots of rave reviews about this book, but as a fan of Marcus Sedgwick's novels it didn't do much for me I'm afraid and as some reviewers have already said some fans might well be disappointed.
But hey, give it a go and see what YOU think!
July 15, 2016
Yet another weird story, but I kinda liked it. The ending especially. The style wasn't my favorite, but I do think Sedgwick is an amazing story teller, and It did hold my interest enough to finish it in one sitting. Still, it's weird, and you may want to be in the mood for weird, if you choose to read it.
May 31, 2017
Не знам какво да мисля за тази история. Хем не можеш да я оставиш до последно, хем те обърква с всяка следваща страница. Атмосферата е наистина напрегната и мрачна, но и някак лека, защото неусетно стигаш края на книгата и виждаш смисъла, виждаш бялата врана. Интересно, нетипично за мен четиво. Ако искате да се разсеете от типичните заглавия на пазара, тази книжка ще направи именно това за вас :)
May 7, 2016
This was another gamble which I must admit I wasn't sure I was going enjoy or not. Okay not the best opening line I will admit but here is my logic. I the book blurb does not really give a convincing reason to read it - well at least to me. It tells of 3 narratives which appear to be interlinked with at least one of them being from a distinctly different time. So not sure what the story is but it feels like there will be a cliche or two here.
Well I was wrong, I have read a couple of books from Marcus Sedgwick in the past and I can say he tells stories which on one hand appear to be what you expect (I would not go as far as predictable) and yet he manages to hide a fair share of twists and turns. The characters are in my mind believable and human and he has a gift for description which can portray a lot in a few words.
So for a gamble this was an interesting interlude and just goes to show that when you hit a reading slump it is just as much the book you are reading as it is your motivation that gets you out of it. While reading this book I will admit I have been dipping in and out of others so lets see what else I can finish.
Marcus Sedgwick is becoming an author who I will not say I know his style but what ever it is I can say I enjoy it.
Well I was wrong, I have read a couple of books from Marcus Sedgwick in the past and I can say he tells stories which on one hand appear to be what you expect (I would not go as far as predictable) and yet he manages to hide a fair share of twists and turns. The characters are in my mind believable and human and he has a gift for description which can portray a lot in a few words.
So for a gamble this was an interesting interlude and just goes to show that when you hit a reading slump it is just as much the book you are reading as it is your motivation that gets you out of it. While reading this book I will admit I have been dipping in and out of others so lets see what else I can finish.
Marcus Sedgwick is becoming an author who I will not say I know his style but what ever it is I can say I enjoy it.
October 10, 2011
Utterly fantastic.
January 31, 2021
It is a few years since I read a novel by Marcus Sedgwick, and am now wondering why I took so long to get back to him. He knows how to tell a story, how to develop a mystery, and how to create atmosphere. ‘White Crow’ may be YA, but it kept me there from the beginning to the end, and more importantly, beyond the end.
December 2, 2013
4.5 stars. "A modern gothic thriller", the cover of this edition states, and it's certainly that.
I feel I should, by rights, include a trigger warning in this review. But if I specify, I will spoil the story badly, which I don't wish to do as it is important not to know in advance what will happen. To put it in the least spoiling fashion I can...this story contains death and discussion of death. So be cautious if any such topic is likely to trigger you.
It takes a little time to work out which voices are which, as the book alternates between three viewpoints in two forms, two of which are first person, one in the form of a diary and the other basically internal monologue, the third being third person limited/subjective. That can be a little confusing, but adds well to the tension of the tale, as do the unreliable narrators... I won't say which narrators are the unreliable ones, as I'm sure if you read it you'll learn, but I wanted to mention it as I know some of my followers here enjoy unreliable narrative. Excellent (albeit not totally flawless) gothic YA.
I feel I should, by rights, include a trigger warning in this review. But if I specify, I will spoil the story badly, which I don't wish to do as it is important not to know in advance what will happen. To put it in the least spoiling fashion I can...this story contains death and discussion of death. So be cautious if any such topic is likely to trigger you.
It takes a little time to work out which voices are which, as the book alternates between three viewpoints in two forms, two of which are first person, one in the form of a diary and the other basically internal monologue, the third being third person limited/subjective. That can be a little confusing, but adds well to the tension of the tale, as do the unreliable narrators... I won't say which narrators are the unreliable ones, as I'm sure if you read it you'll learn, but I wanted to mention it as I know some of my followers here enjoy unreliable narrative. Excellent (albeit not totally flawless) gothic YA.
July 12, 2012
White Crow is a strange and gritty read. Confusing at times, frustrating at others, but impossible to resist, I couldn't tear myself away from it and its gory and horrifying images.
Rebecca is not particularly endearing or likable, but you feel for her and her situation, especially as she is dragged into Ferelith's games. But it is Ferelith who got my entire attention and interest all throughout the book. This girl was intriguing and mysterious and you know she is dangerous, but, like Rebecca, it is impossible not to want her near.
The author worked the mystery in this story pretty well, even when there was little indication that there was actually a mystery going on. That is largely due to the several narratives going on at once. There are three different narrations, one for Rebecca, another one in 1st POV for Ferelith, those two running parallel, and an old diary from a reverend's POV that details, tantalizingly slow, the horror that Winterfold lived some centuries ago. At first it was frustrating and I even thought it would eventually take away from the whole horror aspect of the novel, but it didn't. It all becomes quite clear in the end and facilitates the reader's understanding of what is going on, while also spreading a sense of dread as speculations of what might happen begin to form.
I really liked the world-building and the particular circumstances of Winterfold, a town sentenced to be swallowed by the sea. I loved the details behind the town, the history, the creepiness that just oozed from every corner. The supernatural suggestions in the book were also brilliant. For such a quick read, the world-building was strong and detailed.
The book is nicely written, even if slowly paced at the beginning, and the very prose is alarming and chilling. I really enjoyed this book. It is a quick but disturbing read that stays with you long after you finish the book. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author.
Rebecca is not particularly endearing or likable, but you feel for her and her situation, especially as she is dragged into Ferelith's games. But it is Ferelith who got my entire attention and interest all throughout the book. This girl was intriguing and mysterious and you know she is dangerous, but, like Rebecca, it is impossible not to want her near.
The author worked the mystery in this story pretty well, even when there was little indication that there was actually a mystery going on. That is largely due to the several narratives going on at once. There are three different narrations, one for Rebecca, another one in 1st POV for Ferelith, those two running parallel, and an old diary from a reverend's POV that details, tantalizingly slow, the horror that Winterfold lived some centuries ago. At first it was frustrating and I even thought it would eventually take away from the whole horror aspect of the novel, but it didn't. It all becomes quite clear in the end and facilitates the reader's understanding of what is going on, while also spreading a sense of dread as speculations of what might happen begin to form.
I really liked the world-building and the particular circumstances of Winterfold, a town sentenced to be swallowed by the sea. I loved the details behind the town, the history, the creepiness that just oozed from every corner. The supernatural suggestions in the book were also brilliant. For such a quick read, the world-building was strong and detailed.
The book is nicely written, even if slowly paced at the beginning, and the very prose is alarming and chilling. I really enjoyed this book. It is a quick but disturbing read that stays with you long after you finish the book. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author.
November 25, 2017
So storytime. This book is an EXPERIENCE. I borrowed it from the library one time and read it all in one sitting- not because it was short- because it was GREAT. I cried from pure terror in the book. I was terrified to sleep that night and that is precisely why I enjoy horror novels for that fear it provides. The anticipation and the excitement. I was raised on horror films and so no horror media can usually affect me. But this book. I loved the feeling it provided. That's what makes it my favorite stand alone. And favorite horror novel.
October 17, 2011
Sufficiently spooky and suspenseful for YA, but the ending is not satisfying in any way. Or I just didn't get it. In this case, your explanations are very welcome.
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March 5, 2021I've read a view of the authors books, and I'm not entirely sure I could sum him up. Similarly, this book is hard to categorize. It has the feel of a YA, but a little younger than the norm possibly, say 12-14. The story is split between three narratives and two time periods. I actually liked the split and thought this would also appeal to YA readers as it allowed for a good pace of reading. The plot was a little muddled, there's more than one thing going on, and some of the things I wanted to explore, weren't explored, whilst others were. Here is where I thi k that line in the UA genre is drawn as to include these details would have lengthened the story and pushed it into the slightly more adult realm. For example, the situation with Rebecca's dad is not developed and seems a little irrelevant. Why did we need to know what had happened, why did the vandalism matter? These would have been useful if we discovered a connection between the characters and their motives, but we didn't. Equally, ferelith's home situation was irrelevant. It was as if mentioning her mum was crazy was just a gothic feature added to help categorize the story, a bit like there was a tick box of features to include. The characters themselves weren't particularly developed, we are told details about them, but nothing seems to relate to these details. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to guess who Ferelith was? I'm not even sure I know. The ending was abrupt and after the hype, anticlimactic. When a chapter is ending with comments like our world changed, and they uncover this big secret you expect something big.
Overall, I'd recommend for 12-14 with a liking for gothic horror. Enjoyable enough, easy to read and we'll paced, but not particularly scary or deep.
Overall, I'd recommend for 12-14 with a liking for gothic horror. Enjoyable enough, easy to read and we'll paced, but not particularly scary or deep.
September 15, 2017
3 stars
Mr Sedgwick, why must you always do this to me?
I love your style or writing, descriptions, and details, etc, and the stories that you conjure up are always so fantastic, unique and confusing and I enjoy reading your multiple POV's. They make you want to get to the core of what it's all about - but every time I am left dissatisfied with the conclusion.
You should be the spokesman for anti-climaxes.
I'll still read your books though. You are too bizarre to give up.
Mr Sedgwick, why must you always do this to me?
I love your style or writing, descriptions, and details, etc, and the stories that you conjure up are always so fantastic, unique and confusing and I enjoy reading your multiple POV's. They make you want to get to the core of what it's all about - but every time I am left dissatisfied with the conclusion.
You should be the spokesman for anti-climaxes.
I'll still read your books though. You are too bizarre to give up.
October 19, 2022
4.5 stars.
June 23, 2024
9Not what I expected.. I feel as though I dipped my toe into Edgar Allan Poe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2025
Provocative, eerie, thought provoking. A very interesting concept for a book with an ending that has you question everything and nothing at the same time. Incredibly interesting characters that you find yourself trying to decipher even by the end of the book and a plot that has you feeling like you might end up with nightmares.
February 7, 2022
صدا های ربه کا جیغ هایش هنوز در گوشم است و نمیتوانم تحملش کنم
June 9, 2015
Marcus Sedgwick’s YA novel White Crow is not for the faint of heart, but careful readers will certainly be rewarded by this atmospheric tale. It’s a creepy story of science and obsession, of ghosts both real and imagined.
Rebecca and her policeman father move to Winterfold, a seacoast town in England. Like many other villages along Britain’s coast, Winterfold is slowly being eroded by the sea and what was once a bustling village of thousands of people is now “storm by storm, year by year” crumbling into the sea and all that remains is “a triangle of three streets, a dozen houses, an inn, a church.”
Rebecca is none too happy about having to leave her more urban life for the much quieter Winterfold. She doesn’t quite know what to do with herself besides harbor resentment towards her father (who is, essentially, hiding out after some mishap at work) and pine for Adam, the boy who she left behind.
Then she meets Ferelith, a local girl who is, frankly, pretty strange. In fact, Rebecca notes she’s “the strangest-looking girl she’s ever seen.”
There’s something elfin about her. Everything ends in points: her nose, her eyes, her chin, her lips, her fingers, the spikes of her long tresses of black hair….her teeth, not quite a vampire’s, but not far short.
Rebecca and Ferelith don’t immediately gel, although it’s clear that Ferelith is smitten. Eventually, though, with nothing better to do, Rebecca starts to hang out with her a bit and Ferelith starts to reveal Winterfold’s somewhat sinister past.
That’s where the third narrator comes in. Entries in a diary dated 1798, reveal the strange relationship between the writer, a Reverend, and a French doctor. The two men are fascinated with the prospect of discovering if there is life after death and their methods turn out to be – well – horrifying. He writes:
And so this young man has become our first subject, and though my hopes were high, the results were low.
I scorn myself to record it herein, but we learned nothing.
Not a single thing.
But, oh!
The blood! The blood!
White Crow is like one of those old-fashioned horror movies I used to watch when I was a kid. I could almost hear the menacing music as Ferelith tours Rebecca around Winterfold, through old, decaying ruins and to the one remaining church with the missing wall. When the novel reaches its climax, it’s creepy, page-turning fun. Young readers will have to pay attention; I know I did. But the book pays off in spades.
Rebecca and her policeman father move to Winterfold, a seacoast town in England. Like many other villages along Britain’s coast, Winterfold is slowly being eroded by the sea and what was once a bustling village of thousands of people is now “storm by storm, year by year” crumbling into the sea and all that remains is “a triangle of three streets, a dozen houses, an inn, a church.”
Rebecca is none too happy about having to leave her more urban life for the much quieter Winterfold. She doesn’t quite know what to do with herself besides harbor resentment towards her father (who is, essentially, hiding out after some mishap at work) and pine for Adam, the boy who she left behind.
Then she meets Ferelith, a local girl who is, frankly, pretty strange. In fact, Rebecca notes she’s “the strangest-looking girl she’s ever seen.”
There’s something elfin about her. Everything ends in points: her nose, her eyes, her chin, her lips, her fingers, the spikes of her long tresses of black hair….her teeth, not quite a vampire’s, but not far short.
Rebecca and Ferelith don’t immediately gel, although it’s clear that Ferelith is smitten. Eventually, though, with nothing better to do, Rebecca starts to hang out with her a bit and Ferelith starts to reveal Winterfold’s somewhat sinister past.
That’s where the third narrator comes in. Entries in a diary dated 1798, reveal the strange relationship between the writer, a Reverend, and a French doctor. The two men are fascinated with the prospect of discovering if there is life after death and their methods turn out to be – well – horrifying. He writes:
And so this young man has become our first subject, and though my hopes were high, the results were low.
I scorn myself to record it herein, but we learned nothing.
Not a single thing.
But, oh!
The blood! The blood!
White Crow is like one of those old-fashioned horror movies I used to watch when I was a kid. I could almost hear the menacing music as Ferelith tours Rebecca around Winterfold, through old, decaying ruins and to the one remaining church with the missing wall. When the novel reaches its climax, it’s creepy, page-turning fun. Young readers will have to pay attention; I know I did. But the book pays off in spades.
January 2, 2011
I was totally hooked by this book from the moment I picked it up. Seriously, I grabbed it this morning and kept reading, and reading... until I finished it. Took me less than a day because I got totally carried away by Rebecca and Ferelith's stories.
Rebecca has just moved with her father into a cottage in the coastal town of Winterfold. She hates that she's forced to live here, in a place that takes her twenty-five minutes to explore. She hates that she's left her friends and boyfriend behind in London and none of them want anything to do with her. But most of all, she hates that they had to move because of something that happened to her father, the policeman. Something serious enough to force them to run, and alienate them from each other.
Ferelith is a very strange and odd girl. She's got a troubled past and believes herself to be so clever that she dropped out of school at the age of fourteen. She's odd and mysterious, very secretive, but totally taken by the new girl in town. So much that she befriends her, shows her the sights and tells her ghost stories about Winterfold, while quietly manipulating Rebecca into a very dangerous situation.
This book was one whirlwind combination of stories. Rebecca and Ferelith's tales are also joined by that of a man of the cloth. The pages of the Rector's journal--dated 1798--tell the very personal and horrifying story of how the priest slowly loses his faith and is seduced into the world of science and mysticism that the French Dr. Barrieux introduces him to. These horrid experiements are their way of finding out what happens after death--do angels or devils await? And all relate to what eventually happens to the girls during the summer they spend together, because Ferelith wants to find the answer to that question too.
White Crow is a brilliant, haunting gothic story about an unstable friendship between a troubled girl, and one who's lost. It's also about life, death, and sin--a dark, atmospheric tale about what makes people tick, how experiences shape them, and how every decision we make can affect our lives and change them forever.
It's also a great thriller, with thick tension on every page. The deeper I got into the book, the more tense I became, waiting to see what awaited on the next page. Yet, I couldn't stop. I was engrossed from beginning to end, which is always an awesome thing! Yep, loved it.
This is the first Marcus Sedgwick book I've read, but I doubt it'll be my last.
Rebecca has just moved with her father into a cottage in the coastal town of Winterfold. She hates that she's forced to live here, in a place that takes her twenty-five minutes to explore. She hates that she's left her friends and boyfriend behind in London and none of them want anything to do with her. But most of all, she hates that they had to move because of something that happened to her father, the policeman. Something serious enough to force them to run, and alienate them from each other.
Ferelith is a very strange and odd girl. She's got a troubled past and believes herself to be so clever that she dropped out of school at the age of fourteen. She's odd and mysterious, very secretive, but totally taken by the new girl in town. So much that she befriends her, shows her the sights and tells her ghost stories about Winterfold, while quietly manipulating Rebecca into a very dangerous situation.
This book was one whirlwind combination of stories. Rebecca and Ferelith's tales are also joined by that of a man of the cloth. The pages of the Rector's journal--dated 1798--tell the very personal and horrifying story of how the priest slowly loses his faith and is seduced into the world of science and mysticism that the French Dr. Barrieux introduces him to. These horrid experiements are their way of finding out what happens after death--do angels or devils await? And all relate to what eventually happens to the girls during the summer they spend together, because Ferelith wants to find the answer to that question too.
White Crow is a brilliant, haunting gothic story about an unstable friendship between a troubled girl, and one who's lost. It's also about life, death, and sin--a dark, atmospheric tale about what makes people tick, how experiences shape them, and how every decision we make can affect our lives and change them forever.
It's also a great thriller, with thick tension on every page. The deeper I got into the book, the more tense I became, waiting to see what awaited on the next page. Yet, I couldn't stop. I was engrossed from beginning to end, which is always an awesome thing! Yep, loved it.
This is the first Marcus Sedgwick book I've read, but I doubt it'll be my last.
September 26, 2011
"White Crow" was a quick read that I'll admit seemed interesting in its premise and set up, but didn't quite live up to tying things together very well. It engaged me, certainly with it's mix of murder mystery, religious corruption and questioning, scientific limitations, supernatural hints, and atmospheric prose. However, I found that in the blend of the three viewpoint characters this novel takes on (a corrupted priest, a young woman named Rebecca, and her convoluted, off-center new friend Ferelith), the meaningfulness of the novel doesn't come across as much as it promised. It certainly has a creepiness factor that lingers even after you turn the final page, but I don't know if it's the type of novel that one would read more than once.
Rebecca is a young woman who moves to the town of Winterfold against her will after her father, an inspector, is implicated in an accidental death. Rebecca doesn't really have many people to talk to until she meets the smart, but peculiar Ferelith. The two teens explore the dark corners of an old building within the town, and that's when the creepy factors of the novel come into place with unraveling. The story alternates between the two girls' perspectives as well as a priest who conducted horrific experiments during the French Revolution, involving the question of life, death, and the afterlife.
I wasn't really convinced by the relationship of the girls, and the teen drama between Rebecca and her father seemed a bit overwrought. But the dark imagery was one of the things that kept me reading, and it did freak me out in places. I wouldn't doubt that readers in the target audience would also find the imagery chilling as well. Is it the type of novel that I would say people would love? Hard to say. I understood the metaphors and the themes along the lines of the human condition, but I kept thinking that if it were somewhat longer and more time were devoted to the characters, it could've been that much stronger in its construction. Decent read, worth trying for those who like gothic/horror literature.
Overall score: 2.5/5
Rebecca is a young woman who moves to the town of Winterfold against her will after her father, an inspector, is implicated in an accidental death. Rebecca doesn't really have many people to talk to until she meets the smart, but peculiar Ferelith. The two teens explore the dark corners of an old building within the town, and that's when the creepy factors of the novel come into place with unraveling. The story alternates between the two girls' perspectives as well as a priest who conducted horrific experiments during the French Revolution, involving the question of life, death, and the afterlife.
I wasn't really convinced by the relationship of the girls, and the teen drama between Rebecca and her father seemed a bit overwrought. But the dark imagery was one of the things that kept me reading, and it did freak me out in places. I wouldn't doubt that readers in the target audience would also find the imagery chilling as well. Is it the type of novel that I would say people would love? Hard to say. I understood the metaphors and the themes along the lines of the human condition, but I kept thinking that if it were somewhat longer and more time were devoted to the characters, it could've been that much stronger in its construction. Decent read, worth trying for those who like gothic/horror literature.
Overall score: 2.5/5
August 25, 2015
When does a genius become a monster? What happens when experiments go too far? Marcus Sedgwick's gothic horror 'White Crow' gives us two characters whose explorations centuries apart endanger the lives and sanity of their sidekicks.
One of these explorers is Ferelith, who obsesses over the girl who has just moved to her crumbling seaside town, finding ways to draw her into increasingly sinister games. Judging by other reviews, Ferelith is an unpopular character - FYA describes her as a 'book killer'. I agree that she is an unpleasant character, who apparently lacks empathy and enjoys using others for her own amusement. However, while her actions are excessive, I feel that the character is written with an element of truth. Unfortunately, I have known a couple of less extreme Fereliths - teenagers in such isolating pain that they simply cannot imagine that anyone they meet is capable of suffering as acutely as them. And it certainly isn't just the skull-collectors among us who enjoy hoarding arcane knowledge, selecting when and if to show it off.
As strangely as Ferelith behaves, I increasingly found Rebecca, the girl she manipulates, to be the more interesting character. As with 'The Tulip Touch', I found myself questioning the motives not only of the predatory friend, but also those of the more 'ordinary' girl who finds herself dangerously fascinated by the ever more unsettling actions of a girl no-one else seems to have time for. What makes Rebecca all the more intriguing is that she doesn't speak to us in the first person, as other characters do, which makes her intentions more opaque and troubling.
While reading, I couldn't help wondering if I would find the manipulative and abusive relationship unbearable to read if the relationship was more of a sexual or romantic one. As it was, I found the book intriguing, unsettling and atmospheric. And I definitely didn't need to check the last few pages to relieve the tension. Nope, definitely didn't do that. Ultimately, it was an entertaining journey through the dark, though not one I'd like to repeat.
One of these explorers is Ferelith, who obsesses over the girl who has just moved to her crumbling seaside town, finding ways to draw her into increasingly sinister games. Judging by other reviews, Ferelith is an unpopular character - FYA describes her as a 'book killer'. I agree that she is an unpleasant character, who apparently lacks empathy and enjoys using others for her own amusement. However, while her actions are excessive, I feel that the character is written with an element of truth. Unfortunately, I have known a couple of less extreme Fereliths - teenagers in such isolating pain that they simply cannot imagine that anyone they meet is capable of suffering as acutely as them. And it certainly isn't just the skull-collectors among us who enjoy hoarding arcane knowledge, selecting when and if to show it off.
As strangely as Ferelith behaves, I increasingly found Rebecca, the girl she manipulates, to be the more interesting character. As with 'The Tulip Touch', I found myself questioning the motives not only of the predatory friend, but also those of the more 'ordinary' girl who finds herself dangerously fascinated by the ever more unsettling actions of a girl no-one else seems to have time for. What makes Rebecca all the more intriguing is that she doesn't speak to us in the first person, as other characters do, which makes her intentions more opaque and troubling.
While reading, I couldn't help wondering if I would find the manipulative and abusive relationship unbearable to read if the relationship was more of a sexual or romantic one. As it was, I found the book intriguing, unsettling and atmospheric. And I definitely didn't need to check the last few pages to relieve the tension. Nope, definitely didn't do that. Ultimately, it was an entertaining journey through the dark, though not one I'd like to repeat.
January 7, 2012
This book creeped me out. No. Really. There were no truly, truly graphic scenes (although blood is mentioned frequently on a few pages toward the end and a couple of descriptions of certain nastiness may gross out a few people), but it still creeped me out.
There is not much I can say to explain the book, though. Girl named Rebecca moves with her father to a very small coastal town in England that, over the years, has been literally falling apart and into the sea. The circumstances for their move are murky at first, but you know right off that it wasn't for positive reasons. Rebecca soon encounters a strange girl named Ferelith who is brilliant, seems a bit off, and lives on her own.
Chapters alternate between Rebecca (told in 3rd person p.o.v.), Ferelith (told in 1st person p.o.v.), and the journal entries of a minister who lived in the town in the late 1700's. The connection between the girls and the minister does not make much sense at first but as the story continues, I had a growing sense of dread that the connection was leading up to something terrible.
This is the first book I have read by Marcus Sedgwick and definitely not the last. While I enjoyed the heck out of it, I would not recommend this to just any reader. This is a book for readers who like a taste of the macabre and who enjoy a well-structured story. As I read it, I felt as if I had suddenly put all my faith into someone who had asked me to jump from a cliff with the promise to somewhat catch me at the bottom.
Well done, Mr. Sedgwick. You have found a new follower in me!
There is not much I can say to explain the book, though. Girl named Rebecca moves with her father to a very small coastal town in England that, over the years, has been literally falling apart and into the sea. The circumstances for their move are murky at first, but you know right off that it wasn't for positive reasons. Rebecca soon encounters a strange girl named Ferelith who is brilliant, seems a bit off, and lives on her own.
Chapters alternate between Rebecca (told in 3rd person p.o.v.), Ferelith (told in 1st person p.o.v.), and the journal entries of a minister who lived in the town in the late 1700's. The connection between the girls and the minister does not make much sense at first but as the story continues, I had a growing sense of dread that the connection was leading up to something terrible.
This is the first book I have read by Marcus Sedgwick and definitely not the last. While I enjoyed the heck out of it, I would not recommend this to just any reader. This is a book for readers who like a taste of the macabre and who enjoy a well-structured story. As I read it, I felt as if I had suddenly put all my faith into someone who had asked me to jump from a cliff with the promise to somewhat catch me at the bottom.
Well done, Mr. Sedgwick. You have found a new follower in me!
Read
June 17, 2014As I was walking through the library I found myself In the HORROR section. I thought to myself " Why not I could use a good scare". So I read tons of the backs of the books hoping to find the perfect book to give me and good scare. I finally came across the book " White Crow ". Not only did the title interest me but the cover and as well as the description. So at that point I thought I had found the perfect book that would be a great page turner and something that will always leave me wanting more.
Little did I know I was completely wrong. As soon as I started the first chapter I found myself forcing myself to sit down and read this book. I found the book weird more then creepy and didn't give me the scared feelings I was hoping to find in a book like this.
I feel like the book was very rushed. It seemed like the author was just trying to right the book in a short period of time . His style of all his books I have noticed is very creepy and he seems like he is a man who is used to writing these type of books ,but yet this one I felt very unsatisfied. If I could give one tip to the author is next time try is to make it more suspenseful for the readers.
I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Only if someone wanted a very slow book that wouldn't give you that much of a scare. I don't really know many people that would really want to read this book though.
Little did I know I was completely wrong. As soon as I started the first chapter I found myself forcing myself to sit down and read this book. I found the book weird more then creepy and didn't give me the scared feelings I was hoping to find in a book like this.
I feel like the book was very rushed. It seemed like the author was just trying to right the book in a short period of time . His style of all his books I have noticed is very creepy and he seems like he is a man who is used to writing these type of books ,but yet this one I felt very unsatisfied. If I could give one tip to the author is next time try is to make it more suspenseful for the readers.
I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Only if someone wanted a very slow book that wouldn't give you that much of a scare. I don't really know many people that would really want to read this book though.
July 14, 2011
Wonderfully atmospheric, spooky and weird, Sedgwick's newest title throws the reader into a very contemporary and complicated teen relationship, gothic horror and some parental angst on top of that. And it all works. I read the galley edition on a plane and the Kindle reader to the right of me and the Kobo reader to the left of me were nosily eyeing the gorgeous cover (which I like better than what might be depicted here as the final cover) and change of font styles as the story flips from present to past.and voice.
I'm not sure I really like any of the characters in this book, but that is clearly not Sedgwick's point. It is the story that carries you along, as curious about the survival of the village of Winterfold, being eaten by the sea, and the possibility of friendship between Ferelith and Rebecca, teens working their way through difficult times. Not a tidy tale, which is part of its charm; it will surely be a wonderful teen book club pick with equal boy-girl appeal. The nonfiction connection will be evident when readers question medical practices and religious beliefs in the late 1700s.
I'm not sure I really like any of the characters in this book, but that is clearly not Sedgwick's point. It is the story that carries you along, as curious about the survival of the village of Winterfold, being eaten by the sea, and the possibility of friendship between Ferelith and Rebecca, teens working their way through difficult times. Not a tidy tale, which is part of its charm; it will surely be a wonderful teen book club pick with equal boy-girl appeal. The nonfiction connection will be evident when readers question medical practices and religious beliefs in the late 1700s.
July 6, 2016
4.75 stars!
The beginning of the book was not very exiting. However, it gets so much better and good God! What a powerful story!
Marcus Sedgwick is a terrific author and he writes characters in an extraordinary. There is a one character in particular, who I hated and hated and HATED so much... Yet, In the end, I loved her. I understood her, and cried for her.
Marcus Sedgwick is capable of doing that, and more.
This is my second Sedgwick novel (the first one was Midwinterblood - phenomenal by the way!) and he is now one of my favourite YA authors. I can't wait to read The Ghosts of Heaven (which is standing beautifully on my shelf) ❤️
Highly recommended!
The beginning of the book was not very exiting. However, it gets so much better and good God! What a powerful story!
Marcus Sedgwick is a terrific author and he writes characters in an extraordinary. There is a one character in particular, who I hated and hated and HATED so much... Yet, In the end, I loved her. I understood her, and cried for her.
Marcus Sedgwick is capable of doing that, and more.
This is my second Sedgwick novel (the first one was Midwinterblood - phenomenal by the way!) and he is now one of my favourite YA authors. I can't wait to read The Ghosts of Heaven (which is standing beautifully on my shelf) ❤️
Highly recommended!
August 13, 2011
A treasure of a Gothic tale, which combines a modern day story of a summer friendship with the entries of an 18th century cleric who gets involved in a diabolical experiment to prove life after death.
Both stories take place in a village, inspired by Dunwich on the Suffolk coast, in which coastal erosion has reclaimed part of the town.
I sat down after lunch and just read through it in one sitting, just captivated by Sedgwick's story-telling and the powerful atmosphere he created.
Both stories take place in a village, inspired by Dunwich on the Suffolk coast, in which coastal erosion has reclaimed part of the town.
I sat down after lunch and just read through it in one sitting, just captivated by Sedgwick's story-telling and the powerful atmosphere he created.
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