The Secret Language of Crows

by Thea Atkinson

Olivia needs to escape the abusive same-sex relationship she finds herself in. When her father suffers a stroke, she recognizes a chance to start fresh. The problem is in order to avoid self-destruction, Olivia must find a way to resolve her mother's suicide, her brother's addiction, and her father's need to be understood-- even if it means she must delve into the darkest parts of her psyche.

ebook

First published September 28, 2010

About the author

Thea is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author. She used to have a black lab at her feet when she wrote, warming up the calves. It can be cold in rural Nova Scotia. Now it's just a cuppa tea keeping her warm.

Her urban fantasy pulses with dark themes and action-packed intrigue. Her characters are always deeply wounded creatures struggling for redemption.

Hang out with her on Instagram or Facebook or follow her on Amazon. Grab a free book at her website.

Find her on the web:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0046DIT0U
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaatkinso...
TT: http://https://www.tiktok.com/@theaat...
<<<>>>

a special shout out to Brenda Levy Tate for the awesome author photo wherein I don't look too dog-lady crazy.

Reviews

[Baxter Clare Trautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew there had to be good, independently published, literary fiction somewhere out there in cyberspace. I found it in Thea Atkinson!

The novel opens in Faulknerian style with a dying father, murder of crows, the taking of a sadistic lover, the main character’s return home, and the lover then lying dead on the compost heap – all eerie foreshadowing of the changes facing Olivia Cunningham.

Olivia has grown up in an abusive family. After leaving home it is natural that she finds “the one lesbian in a 50-mile radius that would lay a cruel hand on any woman” and takes her for a lover. Not only natural , but necessary, for having left her abusive home, Olivia must now find someone else to punish her perceived failures. But even as her lover raises a fist to her, Olivia instinctively knows the abuse is wrong. As she responds to her lover’s violence in a seemingly fatal act, Olivia actually makes the first move to reclaiming her life.

Drawing out the violence of Olivia’s story, like her lover and father tenderly draw out their beatings, Atkinson immediately and effortlessly hies the reader into a dark corner where we can sympathize not only with Olivia, but with the characters around her. Worse, we come to understand them, and get squirmy at being so deeply under their skins.

Atkinson snares her character’s frailties, and holds them in her hands like panting, small-boned birds. Much of the novel’s tension comes from waiting to see if she will relinquish her characters or crush them, and though her hold is fierce, Atkinson proves merciful. With sharp plotting, skilled use of metaphor, and touches of humor that offer cracks of light in a very dark read, Atkinson produces a powerful novel of courage and compassion. Through a brutal grace, Olivia and her family discover strength in forgiveness; not only for those who have wronged them, but for the wrongs they have done to themselves.

I wish all the star rating systems, Amazon, Goodreads, etc., included half stars. If they did, Secret Langauge of Crows would get 4 1/2 instead of four. Two things kept it from five; I noticed during Olivia’s hospital stay that my attention kept drifitng to what I was going to read next, and toward the end of the book there were a lot of distracting formatting and copy editing mistakes. All in all, this is highly recommended to those who like their literature dark and deep. Ms. Atkinson proves there is indeed quality literature in the brave new world of independent publishing. http://theaatkinson.wordpress.com/

(P.S. – Love the cover!!)

[Elspeth Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across Thea on Twitter and was immediately intrigued by the title of her book, which prompted me to download the sample. Her lucid, atmospheric prose hooked me straight away, and her characterisation is very good: strong, vivid, memorable.

Pacing was good, it trips along and never wallows, though I did find the story lingered a lot on Liv's time in hospital, when I was expecting more focus on her return to the familial home and confronting the secrets in her past, but I forgave a little self-indulgence for the envy-inducing clarity and power of the scene where she photographs one of the patients. That was superb.

The revelation of the ghost that has haunted Liv didn't have quite the impact I was hoping for, and I felt poor Nate was left hanging a bit at the end, but all in all The Secret Language of Crows is an absorbing, slightly disturbing read, exploring damaged relationships and the finding of the courage to escape them.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you wake up thinking about the characters of a book you are reading, you know the author has done her job by invading your mind with her work. The main character Olivia is dealing with unresolved issues that started in her childhood and is hindering the way she copes in life. As a matter of fact, all the characters in this book are dealing with unresolved issues and some form of abuse. The author takes you back to the characters' childhood, where you get an understanding of where and why the characters behave the way they do.

A surprise ending that doesn't end on a happy note.

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written novel about siblings who must overcome their horrible childhood secret. Normally I am not a fan of this type of story, but Atkinson's characters and prose definitely won me over. I especially loved the recurring motif of the "murder" of crows outside the house, warning of danger--a powerful image as well as an accurate description (yes, crows really are that smart).

[Paula Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!

[Thea Atkinson]

I invite you to my blog to check out a post I wrote about the inspiration behind this novel

http://theaatkinson.wordpress.com/201...