I've liked some of Alan Garner's other books, but this one was just confusing. Most references to time are left out, like "The next day..." or "hours earlier...", so you have no idea what is going on, until you realize halfway into the characters conversation that this must be the next day, or they must have moved to inside the house now b/c this wouldn't make sense if they were still outside. He just leaves you guessing.

I do not understand any of these characters. Every word they say is so confusing, and I can't tell if they're joking with one another or if they're serious. Sometimes there are no helpful descriptions, like "Roger laughed." Then just when I think I have someone figured out they turn into someone else. Much like life, I suppose.

You never see Alison's mother at all. She's this invisible non-entity that everyone is afraid of upsetting. I like that artistic touch of never actually meeting her, but she has a definite influence on every character. Well done!

Many of the jokes or references may be Welsh things or British sayings that I just don't know. Perhaps that accounts for some of the confusion. I think I could have enjoyed this story more if it had just been clearly written. I really like the idea of the story and the way it moves, but nothing is ever explained.

I have no idea what happened at the end. It just ends and I don't get it. Are the feathers magically gone? Is Allison okay? Is she dead or an owl zombie or is she turned into flowers? Is she back to her normal self? Are they still fighting? Why did they act like that, but not try to kill one another at the stone with the hole or whatever? Is Roger going to be a photographer? Is Allison going abroad? Is Gwyn going to work in a shop? Where did Nancy get to? Don't know.