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Patience and Not-Forsaken
In Harrow's eerie tale of madness and heartache, Patience, diagnosed with a "nervous disposition," is forced to take up residence in the rural, dilapidated Gravely House, in hopes that she will "calm down and get better" before her senior year begins. But when she discovers a girl living inside her bedroom mirror, the past comes back to haunt, in more ways than one.
MP3 CD
Published March 14, 2017
About the author
Alix E. Harrow
42 books20.7k followersa former academic, adjunct, cashier, blueberry-harvester, and kentuckian, alix e. harrow is now a full-time writer living in virginia with her husband and their semi-feral kids.
she is the hugo award-winning and nyt-bestselling author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY (2019), THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES (2020), a duology of fairytale novellas (A SPINDLE SPLINTERED and A MIRROR MENDED), and various short fiction. her next book, STARLING HOUSE will be out on october 3rd, 2023!
her writing is represented by kate mckean at howard morhaim literary agency.
newsletter: https://writtenworld.substack.com/
email: alixeharrow at gmail.com
insta: alix.e.harrow
she is the hugo award-winning and nyt-bestselling author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY (2019), THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES (2020), a duology of fairytale novellas (A SPINDLE SPLINTERED and A MIRROR MENDED), and various short fiction. her next book, STARLING HOUSE will be out on october 3rd, 2023!
her writing is represented by kate mckean at howard morhaim literary agency.
newsletter: https://writtenworld.substack.com/
email: alixeharrow at gmail.com
insta: alix.e.harrow
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 9, 2021
A very good long short story (or short novella) with a moderately creepy feel to it. A nice reminder that I have a copy of one of the authors novels, which I will read sometime next year.
August 5, 2021
Spotted this on the new AudiblePlus catalogue and decided to give it a bash. It’s a good not quite fantasy, not quite horror short story about a troubled girl and her friend on the other side of the mirror. Would recommend if you want a nice, short listen.
May 18, 2020
This was gay and I loved it. OMG.
I came for the appeal of Alix E. Harrow (I haven't started The Ten Thousand Doors of January yet), but stayed for the queerness, the story, and a redemption arc.
Patience Gravely is "difficult," it's the 1950s and she's sassy. She loves Wonder Woman and knows that she's hard to put up with for her father. When he inherits Gravely House, Patience's doctor suggests that the open country air would be good for calming her disposition. However there's something lurking in Gravely House's mirrors.
Patience meets a girl in her mirror without a name so Patience lets her have one of hers, dubbing her Not-Forsaken. Over the years, Not-Forsaken keeps Patience company as she navigates her teenage years and falling in love with her classmate, Lori.
First loves end as they do and we reach the climax, which I'll leave you to hopefully discover. I greatly enjoyed the redemption arc through the story, sometimes I want a bit of a harsher ending, but I will still be pleased by a happy one.
I came for the appeal of Alix E. Harrow (I haven't started The Ten Thousand Doors of January yet), but stayed for the queerness, the story, and a redemption arc.
Patience Gravely is "difficult," it's the 1950s and she's sassy. She loves Wonder Woman and knows that she's hard to put up with for her father. When he inherits Gravely House, Patience's doctor suggests that the open country air would be good for calming her disposition. However there's something lurking in Gravely House's mirrors.
Patience meets a girl in her mirror without a name so Patience lets her have one of hers, dubbing her Not-Forsaken. Over the years, Not-Forsaken keeps Patience company as she navigates her teenage years and falling in love with her classmate, Lori.
First loves end as they do and we reach the climax, which I'll leave you to hopefully discover. I greatly enjoyed the redemption arc through the story, sometimes I want a bit of a harsher ending, but I will still be pleased by a happy one.
January 6, 2022
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy The Once and Future Witches and The Ten Thousand Doors of January, so quickly read an listened to two of her novellas. Although I liked A Spindle Splintered more than this one, I have decided to rather pass on her other books. I like that she has a very distinctive and quirky writing style, but her stories are a bit juvenile for me. I did however recommend them to my daughter.
May 17, 2024
Strange, creepy little novella with patience and not forsaken? I can't say the story interested me too much, but I do love this authors style of writing.
December 31, 2019
Book: 3/5
Audiobook: 4/5
Audiobook: 4/5
November 14, 2021
Star Rating: —> 3.5 Stars
Hmmmm maybe this just wasn't for me? I kinda DID like the ending though. Had MILD Coraline vibes; which is why I gave it 3.5 Stars. Makes me nervous to read any other Alix E. Harrow books? I know they are hit or miss for most people & so i'm really not sure. 🤷🏼♀️ Anyone have advice as to which book is better to read— The Ten Thousand Doors Of January, or The Once & Future Witches? ANY comments are appreciated.
But it WAS free. So can't complain TOO much ;) haha.
Hmmmm maybe this just wasn't for me? I kinda DID like the ending though. Had MILD Coraline vibes; which is why I gave it 3.5 Stars. Makes me nervous to read any other Alix E. Harrow books? I know they are hit or miss for most people & so i'm really not sure. 🤷🏼♀️ Anyone have advice as to which book is better to read— The Ten Thousand Doors Of January, or The Once & Future Witches? ANY comments are appreciated.
But it WAS free. So can't complain TOO much ;) haha.
April 27, 2021
What an exciting little story! I wanted more! It was eerily reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper, a short story I LOVE. So much packed into 45 minutes!
February 6, 2022
Very good and beautiful twist
April 21, 2024
Beautifully written and atmospheric, par for the course for Harrow. She has yet to disappoint and remains one of my topmost favorite modern authors!
August 13, 2021
I wouldnt say this was a horror, maybe a bit more like fantasy. It reminded me of the book "Caroline" you know with the other mother and the other life. Truck you into coming to the other side.
It was a short Listen. I found it on my AudiblePlus for free.
It was a short Listen. I found it on my AudiblePlus for free.
April 2, 2023
3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Perfect mix of creepy, sapphic, and mysterious. Was great for a short listen, definitely had me intrigued the whole way through. Plus was a great little twist. Would loved to have had a longer version.
Perfect mix of creepy, sapphic, and mysterious. Was great for a short listen, definitely had me intrigued the whole way through. Plus was a great little twist. Would loved to have had a longer version.
December 3, 2021
Alix E Harrow has really grown as an author since writing this short story. It was still enjoyable though 3.65
December 31, 2020
Super gay, super good.
December 5, 2023
A fighter is born!
I loved it, but there's a lot to unpack here, don't think I can do it after the first read.
The apparent themes I've sifted through are taught inadequacy and shame, forced conformity, unattainable standards, righteous indignation, the hope and despair of first love, the comfort of impossible daydreams in the face of reality.
I would've preferred a quieter ending with loose ends, wasn't a fan of the heartwarming conclusion. Did not like the survivor-to-fighter-to-rescuer arc. It watered down the poignancy. An ending with the will to fight, restored, would've been brave and hopeful enough.
I loved it, but there's a lot to unpack here, don't think I can do it after the first read.
The apparent themes I've sifted through are taught inadequacy and shame, forced conformity, unattainable standards, righteous indignation, the hope and despair of first love, the comfort of impossible daydreams in the face of reality.
I would've preferred a quieter ending with loose ends, wasn't a fan of the heartwarming conclusion. Did not like the survivor-to-fighter-to-rescuer arc. It watered down the poignancy. An ending with the will to fight, restored, would've been brave and hopeful enough.
September 9, 2021
This was a lovely sapphic feminist gothic fantasy story, I just adore this author's writing and messages!
Read
December 25, 2021Rating: 8/10
I haven’t read any of Harrow’s work on audio, so the fact that this story was an audio-only offering from her was interesting. I’d say her themes and her style are still definitely there, though, and I liked how they were brought to life here.
I liked the anger of the female protagonist in this story. The way she talked about seeing her mother in restraints, obviously suffering from a mental illness, and her father and medical professionals treating her like she was damaged goods as a result was well done. Of course, no one ever told her that her anger about what happened to her mother and her having to witness how she was treated was totally justified. I liked how she gravitated to the girl in the mirror, and I liked the representation of other angry girls who felt trapped in this story.
This felt very gothic, more so than other things I’ve read from Harrow. Interestingly, the protagonist’s surname, Gravely, is the same surname for a character in Harrow’s next novel, so I wonder if they’re related. Maybe she just likes the name.
Anyway, I thought this was an interesting exploration of female anger and the need for freedom from restrictive expectation for girls. I love how Patience clings to her comics as a form of rebellion and escape.
Blog: awonderfulbook.com | Instagram: katiemotenbooks | Twitter: katiemotenbooks
I haven’t read any of Harrow’s work on audio, so the fact that this story was an audio-only offering from her was interesting. I’d say her themes and her style are still definitely there, though, and I liked how they were brought to life here.
I liked the anger of the female protagonist in this story. The way she talked about seeing her mother in restraints, obviously suffering from a mental illness, and her father and medical professionals treating her like she was damaged goods as a result was well done. Of course, no one ever told her that her anger about what happened to her mother and her having to witness how she was treated was totally justified. I liked how she gravitated to the girl in the mirror, and I liked the representation of other angry girls who felt trapped in this story.
This felt very gothic, more so than other things I’ve read from Harrow. Interestingly, the protagonist’s surname, Gravely, is the same surname for a character in Harrow’s next novel, so I wonder if they’re related. Maybe she just likes the name.
Anyway, I thought this was an interesting exploration of female anger and the need for freedom from restrictive expectation for girls. I love how Patience clings to her comics as a form of rebellion and escape.
Blog: awonderfulbook.com | Instagram: katiemotenbooks | Twitter: katiemotenbooks
November 20, 2022
This story is a great interlude into the style of fantasy you can expect from Fractured Fables series. I love it, the themes of loss and running away from problems, deception and love..and cats, of course.
August 31, 2022
The perfect amount of spooky atmosphere packed into such a short audiobook!
November 23, 2022
It had a fun premise but I don't think I have any strong feelings about it tbh 😅
November 30, 2023
Not my favourite of Alix’s works but still an interesting read. I’d recommend for fans of Coraline, this has a very similar feel.
October 9, 2022
Great short story on a girl struggling with her insecurities, her sexuality and growing into her own. Thrown in a little mirror madness and this was an entertaining, well written read.
August 4, 2022
Very nice. Loved the Coraline vibes.
October 16, 2022
This is a good listen to develop a good spooky feeling. Unfortunately there wasn’t as much development as I was hoping for.
December 28, 2020
That was a very pleasant surprise!
November 8, 2021
This was a short work and seemed unfinished. I wish there was more to the sotry. THe author deinitely could have expanded this wonderful idea into something that had more meat to it.
October 21, 2021
Patience Not-Forsaken Gravely's mother died in an asylum, suffering from what sounds like bipolar disorder. Patience herself has been diagnosed as having "a nervous disposition." When her father inherits Gravely doctor who treated her mother and is treating her recommends that a quiet, rural location will be good for Patience.
It's the 1950s, and Patience is "difficult." She loves superhero comics in general, and Wonder Woman in particular, to the grim disapproval of her father. In Gravely House, she meets a girl in the mirror. The girl has no name, and Patience gives her one of her own, Not-Forsaken. But who is Not-Forsaken, and why is she in the mirrheror?
Patience adopts a stray cat who doesn't like Not-Forsaken. When Patience has friends in school, Not-Forsaken shows signs of jealousy. This is most clear when Patience falls in love with Lori, her classmate. But this is a love that, in the 1950s, there is no safe space for, and first loves do end.
Patience is ready to abandon the real world and go into the mirror world that Not-Forsaken promises her is perfect.
There's a truly unexpected twist coming, and the cat is a heroic character.
Recommended.
I bought this audio novella.
It's the 1950s, and Patience is "difficult." She loves superhero comics in general, and Wonder Woman in particular, to the grim disapproval of her father. In Gravely House, she meets a girl in the mirror. The girl has no name, and Patience gives her one of her own, Not-Forsaken. But who is Not-Forsaken, and why is she in the mirrheror?
Patience adopts a stray cat who doesn't like Not-Forsaken. When Patience has friends in school, Not-Forsaken shows signs of jealousy. This is most clear when Patience falls in love with Lori, her classmate. But this is a love that, in the 1950s, there is no safe space for, and first loves do end.
Patience is ready to abandon the real world and go into the mirror world that Not-Forsaken promises her is perfect.
There's a truly unexpected twist coming, and the cat is a heroic character.
Recommended.
I bought this audio novella.
September 21, 2021
After inheriting the land, Patience finds herself moving to the countryside with her father to live at Gravely House. Her mother dead, she is deemed a troubled child and doctors believe that the country air will be good for her mind. When she arrives, she discovers all is not as it seems and there is something unnatural living in the mirrors. She meets a girl trapped inside them, who Patience calls Not-Forsaken, desperate to escape, and the two become companions of a kind.
I found this for free on AudiblePlus and listened to it while I was working. It’s short and whimsical, with a captivating world and charming characters.
I found this for free on AudiblePlus and listened to it while I was working. It’s short and whimsical, with a captivating world and charming characters.
October 20, 2021
This short gothic tale is a reflection on feminine pain and sapphic love. Through a coming of age story set within the horrors of homophobia and the treatment of mental illness in the 1950s United States, an adolescent girl learns how to courageously live in the world as a woman, saving herself and other women trapped within an illusory societal image.
I listened to the Audible Original courtesy of the Audible members library.
I listened to the Audible Original courtesy of the Audible members library.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews