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aggielexi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I did like this book, I ate it up, finished it in less than 24 hours. Why, because I wanted to see this world get built out! I loved the idea of a "Big Water" catastrophe that decimated the world and we've got broken up United States, and the Diné are their own power in this world. I LOVED this idea. The book didn't deliver. I eagerly devoured this book looking for any tidbits on when "The Big Water" took place. Teeeny drops of information, even in passing. Spoiler alert (not really, just read other reviews), the world building doesn't happen.
You get maybe a paragraph on "The Big Water" and that's it. I was also excited about the Diné Gods, I loved this idea of seeing them in the real world and interacting with them. It doesn't really deliver there either. We're just kind of expected to take everything at face value. And then I thought about it after reading this book. This was a YA, plug and play book.
Go ahead and think the usual. You've got your main character, who is "your not average, doesn't know she's pretty, very angsty orphan teen girl, mentor found her in the time of need and taught her to be a warrior." You've got the estranged mentor she's in love with. The love interest who has a shady past, and isn't being fully truthful, but his roguish smile and silver tongue solve all problems.
Plug characters into some plot about needing to kill monsters, a-la Sam and Dean from Supernatural style (season 1-4) , and there's the book. I liked Supernatural the early season though, so I did really want to read the next one.
The worse part though, is finishing the book and then doing research and learning that our author is not of the Diné culture. I understand it is a book of fiction, but something doesn't feel quite right knowing now that she is not creating a character of her own ancestry and is depicting another culture that she may not be as intimately familiar with.
You get maybe a paragraph on "The Big Water" and that's it. I was also excited about the Diné Gods, I loved this idea of seeing them in the real world and interacting with them. It doesn't really deliver there either. We're just kind of expected to take everything at face value. And then I thought about it after reading this book. This was a YA, plug and play book.
Go ahead and think the usual. You've got your main character, who is "your not average, doesn't know she's pretty, very angsty orphan teen girl, mentor found her in the time of need and taught her to be a warrior." You've got the estranged mentor she's in love with. The love interest who has a shady past, and isn't being fully truthful, but his roguish smile and silver tongue solve all problems.
Plug characters into some plot about needing to kill monsters, a-la Sam and Dean from Supernatural style (season 1-4) , and there's the book. I liked Supernatural the early season though, so I did really want to read the next one.
The worse part though, is finishing the book and then doing research and learning that our author is not of the Diné culture. I understand it is a book of fiction, but something doesn't feel quite right knowing now that she is not creating a character of her own ancestry and is depicting another culture that she may not be as intimately familiar with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Cannibalism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Abandonment
coffeeandcomedy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, and Death
Moderate: Cursing
Tagged cultural appropriation as a major content warning because there is some controversy around Roanhore using Diné culture/stories/beliefs as she is not Diné.
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