One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow: A Novel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One For the Blackbird, One For the Crow This is the kind of book that settles into your bones. A beautifully written work of historical fiction threaded with gentle magical realism, One For the Blackbird, One For the Crow is a story I will cherish—and one I desperately wish I could read again for the very first time. Set on the Wyoming prairie in 1876, the novel follows two neighboring families who coexist at a distance, connected only by occasional trades of sugar, dairy, or sewing supplies. That fragile balance shatters when Cora is discovered having an affair with the neighboring man, setting off a chain of events that leaves Cora and Nettie May—the betrayed wife—forced to depend on one another to survive a brutal winter. Nettie May is harsh, bitter, and deeply wounded, and for much of the book I truly despised her. She treats Cora and her daughter Beulah cruelly, yet paradoxically shows tenderness and devotion to Cora’s three younger children. Having lost four children of her own, motherhood comes easily to Nettie May once the families are living together—her love quiet, instinctive, and unconditional. Watching her slowly soften, forgive, and begin to heal was one of the most powerful arcs of the story. Beulah, strange and perceptive, sees and knows things she shouldn’t. Her connection to the prairie and its future unsettles Nettie May, especially when Beulah grows close to Nettie May’s teenage son, Clyde. Despite warnings to stay apart, survival demands cooperation—and the prairie allows no room for avoidance. This story is heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. Love grows where resentment once lived. There is grief that lingers, a spirit that must be laid to rest, and a quiet suspense that pulls you forward. Above all, it is a story of forgiveness, endurance, and the unexpected ways family can be formed. A perfect five-star read—haunting, tender, and unforgettable.

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow is a captivating western family saga that begins with betrayal and violence and ends with tenderness and a family bond Set in the 1870 Wyoming prairie, two families are fractured -trying to survive without the leadership of their men -and winter is looming on the prairie With one husband in jail serving time for the murder of the other, Cora and Nettie Mae have to turn to each other to keep their children safe and survive the long prairie winter. I loved how the book switched between the four main characters and I did appreciate the writing style with Beulah’s chapters written it italics. The rich descriptions of the prairie and of prairie life carried me right into the lives of the Webber and Bemis Families Since this book was gifted to me by the wonderful Book Club Cookbook, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t give a mention to some of the farm bounty mentioned in the book. The book starts right out with Beulah reminiscing about the moment everything changed: “That’s what I was doing when I heard the shot—standing with one hand on the gate and my eyes closed, thinking about those berries and how, after milking was done, I’d pick a whole basketful and share them with my brothers and my baby sister, sweet and good with cream on top, the cream still warm from the cows.” Vivid descriptions like these are what make place and the people so real, right up the to the rooster dinner that is so heartwarming: “Nettie Mae sang to herself as she diced carrots and turnips into her big Dutch kettle, as she scored the fragrant skins of spring onions…She tucked a freshly killed rooster into the Dutch oven, sprinkled it with salt and cracked pepper, then fitted the kettle’s lid and eased it down into the coals of the fire. A good chicken dinner was just the thing for a celebration.” I highly recommend this wonderful book and I’ve picked up The Ragged Edge of Night by the same author and look forward to another great read. Much thanks The Book Club Cookbook and Olivia Hawker for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker is a beautifully-written book by a fabulous storyteller. The author's use of imagery and description and emotional depth is almost overwhelming - layered but not fussy - but, wonderfully authentic to the time, the place and each character. I really enjoyed this book. The premise itself is simple and somewhat predictable - two families are just trying to survive out on the harsh Wyoming prairie, when suddenly the womenfolk find themselves on their own and must come to some sort of an arrangement in order to survive. You know from the get-go there's going to be angst and forgiveness, some people vs nature drama and probably a romance between the daughter of one and the son of the other. And there is all that, but the author does such a tremendous job of writing that you quickly forget you know how things will end, and become captive to the tale. The characters are well-formed, wildly complex and real. Cora is a fallen woman, her life a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nettie Mae has been broken by loss, and wears her scars like armor. Clyde is terrified he'll turn out like his father, and Beulah is - well, Beulah is a quirky delight, and quickly became one of my favorite fictional characters. But again, it was the writing the made this book a winner for me. The author consistently and relentlessly and wonderfully explored the resiliency of life, the humbling power of nature, the power of self-forgiveness, the strength of fear and the unrecognized magic within each of us. I tend to highlight sparkling prose when I'm reading, and flipping thru the pages of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow reminds me of a college textbook. "That was why my ma refused to love the land on which she depended for her very survival: because the land never allowed my ma to deny her insignificance." Yikes, right? I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

Olivia Hawker captures what it means to be alive - and death's part in life - in this beautiful book about the Wyoming Prairie and the people who settled there. The story of Clyde and Beulah and their respective families is totally captivating, and I found myself reluctant to put this book down, because I wanted to know what happened next. The enmity between Cora and Nettie Mae crackles with authenticity; I could feel these women's antagonism and the pain it causes them. Beulah's extraordinary gift is entirely plausible, and it imparts a magical element that serves to disclose much about the characters as well as reveal a future that ameliorates their calamities, miseries, and yearnings. Hawker's descriptive talents are breathtaking. She deftly relates the desolate emptiness - and beauties - of the prairie surroundings.She conveys the thoughts and feelings of her characters in a captivating way that is unobtrusive, yet devastatingly effective. There is an abundance of drama and excitement in this novel, but what persists is the lyrical description, along with the thoughtful explication on the continuity of life - and death - and the connection of all things. If you only read one book this year, this should be the one you pick up; it will be one to which you return again and again. I am gratefully happy that I took the time to read the authors note and acknowledgements at the conclusion of the novel. The story has a strong basis in fact, one personal to the author, and her descriptions of her family history, and her writing process, are fascinating. This is definitely a strong, five-star book.

Wonderful descriptions of nature and the prairie. Plot too predictable, however. Dialogue too simplistic. Still, I’ll recommend it to history buffs.

This was a strange book. Kind of irritating but could not put it down. This is the first book by Olivia Hawker that I have read. Her style is very “flowery”, at least to me. Her descriptions of everything were in so much detail that I could actually visualize thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I wishes she would just get to the point of the moment rather than describe minutely every thought or even the sky at that particular moment! I feel like the two-headed lamb story was the turning point of the story. Ms Hawkers description of the poor lamb was so vivid! And the death of the innocent coyote was very touching. Beulah lead Clyde to a turning point then and I couldn’t put the book down from that moment on!! Very good read and I would absolutely recommend this book to HF fans of the Old West.

When I first started reading this I was not sure if I was going to like it, but if you feel the same way, keep going, because it is a fascinating book. I am glad I read the author's comments, because she wrote the novel about people in her family. It is a study in how people and families interact and about the prairie in the late 1800s when life was difficult but rewarding. The characters are completely believable, and you decide quickly who you like, but your opinions change as the story goes on. I am really glad I read this, and I will recommend it to my friends.

Two farms on the austere Wyoming prairie, in the shadow of the Big Horn Mountains, are the setting for this story of hardship, forgiveness, redemption and love. In order to survive the perils of the impending winter two women must put aside a most serious grievance, which is that one woman’s husband is serving two years in jail for killing the other’s husband over a ‘dalliance’ between his wife and said husband. The only remaining adult male on the land is Clyde, the 16 year old son of the murdered man, who takes it upon himself to offer help to 13 year old Beulah with the harvest and the care of the animals on her family’s farm. Because there are three small children who through no fault of their own are also fatherless, Clyde realizes that without both families working together, the children will likely not survive the harsh winter. The story revolves around these two very strong characters and their mothers. Beulah’s sensitive and somewhat clairvoyant nature gives her a maturity beyond her years and her deep connection with the farm animals, the land, the harsh prairie, the wind, the sun, the waving grass, the river, the birdsong, the wildlife is beautifully portrayed. The chapter about the coyote brought tears to my eyes. This is a many layered story filled with metaphoric meanings, the circle of life being the central theme. I loved this story.