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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
“Poisonous rivulets of hate and fear spread beneath the town’s sidewalks and buildings and strangled the beauty that had once bloomed through Elston.”
Another great book from Ms Winters. Though this isn't quite my favourite Cat Winters' novel, I'm delighted to see that she's finally getting some much-deserved praise from critics. Using a lot of research, with a particular focus on social injustices, Winters has now delivered four fantastic historical/paranormal novels.
As with her other novels, [b:The Steep and Thorny Way|22838927|The Steep and Thorny Way|Cat Winters|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1440446736s/22838927.jpg|42394980] is an historical ghost story, set during the first quarter of the twentieth century. However, this is a very different kind of story, as we find ourselves in a 1920s Oregon terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan. Turning her focus from women's rights and sexism onto that of racism and homophobia, we are taken into a world tainted by hatred and misunderstanding.
The author is remarkably consistent in her ability to portray strong and complex female relationships. This book is not a romance. Instead, it is about family, friendship and loyalty. It's also about the sad reality that many childhood friends could turn into enemies for African-Americans, under the KKK's influence.
The protagonist and narrator is Hanalee Denney, a daughter of a white woman and a deceased black man. Her father's killer has just been released from prison, but he's telling a very different story to the one Hanalee has been led to believe. So her only option is to contact her father's ghost and uncover the terrible truth.
The book never shies away from portraying ugly historical realities, from the miscegenation laws that established African-Americans as an "other", to the everyday suggestions Hanalee receives about hair-straightening and skin-bleaching. For a modern reader, it is nauseating, and yet I appreciate it more than a rose-tinted version of history.
We watch this story unfold through Hanalee's eyes, relating to this normal young woman who longs to be a lawyer and feeling her sense of frustration and entrapment as her dreams are laughed at. The author has a knack for creating realism out of the fantastical and I really felt it here. Both with the social injustice, but also with the fear - it was truly frightening to be taken inside this world, even more so because it is not entirely fictional.
All the way through, I got a bit of a Boardwalk Empire vibe from this book - the atmosphere, the complex characters, etc. - so it wasn't surprising when the author commented on the show's influence in the afterword. I could definitely see it.
I still think it's a bit of a stretch to call this a Hamlet retelling, though, but I suppose "retelling" is the marketing buzzword these days. And I'm good with that if more people will read it because Winters really is a great author. Highly recommended.
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This is a most exceptional historical fiction book about Oregon in the 1920s, the age of Prohibition, eugenics, and the KKK. I had no idea that even out West, the KKK was very strong for a brief period of time.
Hannalee is the daughter of an African American man and a Caucasian woman. She was born during a time when interracial marriage was illegal. Her father has died after being hit by a car driven by one of her childhood friends. Joe Adder is now released from prison, and thus begins a mystery about who really killed Hank Denney. And Joe himself has a secret that is a threat to his life.
This small town drama is extremely timely, given our current issues about differences. We can see what early 20th century intolerance was like through this story, and compare it to what is happening today. We are also introduced to the ideology of eugenics, which gave rise to Hilter’s genocide of the Jews and other “unwanted” during WWII.
Winters’ writing is exquisite, true to the time. The characters are well drawn. Hannalee’s stepfather appears to be a villain in this tale, but truth reveals something very different.
And anyone who knows me knows how much I love Shakespeare, so to have a story based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, with a Hamlet quote in the beginning, and a title with words from that quote, is just icing on the cake!
NOTE: This review will appear on my library's book review social media channel in the future.
Hannalee is the daughter of an African American man and a Caucasian woman. She was born during a time when interracial marriage was illegal. Her father has died after being hit by a car driven by one of her childhood friends. Joe Adder is now released from prison, and thus begins a mystery about who really killed Hank Denney. And Joe himself has a secret that is a threat to his life.
This small town drama is extremely timely, given our current issues about differences. We can see what early 20th century intolerance was like through this story, and compare it to what is happening today. We are also introduced to the ideology of eugenics, which gave rise to Hilter’s genocide of the Jews and other “unwanted” during WWII.
Winters’ writing is exquisite, true to the time. The characters are well drawn. Hannalee’s stepfather appears to be a villain in this tale, but truth reveals something very different.
And anyone who knows me knows how much I love Shakespeare, so to have a story based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, with a Hamlet quote in the beginning, and a title with words from that quote, is just icing on the cake!
NOTE: This review will appear on my library's book review social media channel in the future.
this book is eerily beautiful. haunting. and I loved it so freaking much. the depiction of racism, homophobia, and the overall horrors of 1920s Oregon, were spot on in my opinion.
Hanalee is a compelling character, and so well-developed. Compassionate, calculated, and cunning. Hanalee was such a gem to read from, and no other character could have told this story.
the setting was vivid, being from Oregon myself I was remembering various places that Winters sprinkled into the narrative.
Joseph Adder was relatable in many ways. and the way his character grows meant a lot to me. I just loved seeing Hanalee and his growth together.
The Hamlet references are wonderful and they don't overpower the novel. it's a novel that I would call a homage to Hamlet rather than a retelling, but retelling sells better so...
I really wish more people were picking this up. it's really well written, beautifully so, and tells a wonderful story filled with twists and turns and unpredictability while still being semi-predictable in the best of ways.
highly recommend.
Hanalee is a compelling character, and so well-developed. Compassionate, calculated, and cunning. Hanalee was such a gem to read from, and no other character could have told this story.
the setting was vivid, being from Oregon myself I was remembering various places that Winters sprinkled into the narrative.
Joseph Adder was relatable in many ways. and the way his character grows meant a lot to me. I just loved seeing Hanalee and his growth together.
The Hamlet references are wonderful and they don't overpower the novel. it's a novel that I would call a homage to Hamlet rather than a retelling, but retelling sells better so...
I really wish more people were picking this up. it's really well written, beautifully so, and tells a wonderful story filled with twists and turns and unpredictability while still being semi-predictable in the best of ways.
highly recommend.
D-d-didn't care for all the stammering EVERYONE did ALL. THE. TIME. But other than that, it was okay.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Death of parent
Moderate: Hate crime, Antisemitism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.
1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.
The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: educational, awesome glimpse into 1920s Oregon; entertaining, fun characters; a sense of mystery and flair for drama; some interesting/unforseen plot twists; complex, heart-wrenching story; subtle but easy-to-spy influence/references to Shakespeare's Hamlet; LIFE RUINER!
Huge thanks go out to Cat Winters, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered how I read or reviewed this book!
GUYS! I forgot how much I absolutely love love looooove reading historical fiction! And this?! This book is the perfect melting pot of historical, diverse, and absolutely brilliant. Also, apparently it's a Hamlet retelling, which I didn't know going in...but can definitely see now! I have to admit, when I found out that little tidbit, I squealed a bit TOO loudly in the husband's ear. I don't think he likes me very much right now; I proceeded to go on a five minute rant about how much I love Hamlet. Oops!
But seriously, let's get into this. The book starts off RIGHT in the middle: with Hanalee pointing a gun at the head of her father's murderer, threatening to kill him. I mean really...if you weren't sure about the book before diving in, by the end of the first chapter you should be hooked and dying to know what happens next! I could not slow down while reading; this was a break-neck, full-throttle tilt into the mysteries and drama of 1920s Oregon.
Cat Winters did her research, and I give her major props for weaving everything she learned/knew about this time period into a dramatic, heart-wrenching, awesome read! The characters are engaging, redeemable (in the cases that matter, anyway) and complex. They will push your buttons. They will annoy you. They will FORCE you to think outside the box...and to think about things you might not have considered before. This entire read is written in a way that pushes readers out of their comfort zones and makes them actually think about what's going on. And it will piss you off, no doubt about it. It will make you nauseaus. It will turn your blood to acid in your veins. If you're anything like me...you'll love every minute of it.
The prose is also pretty astounding—gorgeous, melodic, and descriptive in all the right places. There's a masterful blend of the realistic with the paranormal that Cat Winters pulls off beautifully—and manages to work seamlessly into the time period. The entire story is seamless—the plot is action-packed, filled with mystery, and wrapped up by the last page without holes. The character's all go through life-changing, deep growths. And hey...it's 1920s Hamlet! Where could you go wrong?!
This is a fantastic, pulse-pounding, haunting read—I promise you do NOT want to miss out on it! I'd definitely recommend to lovers of historical fiction, diverse characters, and just a slice of paranormal mixed into their reality worlds. I can't wait to dive into another Cat Winters read—it's a good thing I have a few waiting for me on my Kindle!
1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.
The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: educational, awesome glimpse into 1920s Oregon; entertaining, fun characters; a sense of mystery and flair for drama; some interesting/unforseen plot twists; complex, heart-wrenching story; subtle but easy-to-spy influence/references to Shakespeare's Hamlet; LIFE RUINER!
Huge thanks go out to Cat Winters, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered how I read or reviewed this book!
“Do you hope to get married someday?” he asked.
“As long as I don’t fall in love with a man the wrong color.”
He exhaled a steady stream of air through his nostrils. “I think love and wrong are two deeply unrelated words that should never be thrown into the same sentence together. Like dessert and broccoli.”
GUYS! I forgot how much I absolutely love love looooove reading historical fiction! And this?! This book is the perfect melting pot of historical, diverse, and absolutely brilliant. Also, apparently it's a Hamlet retelling, which I didn't know going in...but can definitely see now! I have to admit, when I found out that little tidbit, I squealed a bit TOO loudly in the husband's ear. I don't think he likes me very much right now; I proceeded to go on a five minute rant about how much I love Hamlet. Oops!
But seriously, let's get into this. The book starts off RIGHT in the middle: with Hanalee pointing a gun at the head of her father's murderer, threatening to kill him. I mean really...if you weren't sure about the book before diving in, by the end of the first chapter you should be hooked and dying to know what happens next! I could not slow down while reading; this was a break-neck, full-throttle tilt into the mysteries and drama of 1920s Oregon.
Silence reigned over the world outside the window above the sink, and only a hint of the glow of whiskey stills peeked above the tops of the trees. Or maybe I only imagined that faint glimmer of orange. Maybe the world slept uneasily, holding its breath, waiting to see what I would do next.
Cat Winters did her research, and I give her major props for weaving everything she learned/knew about this time period into a dramatic, heart-wrenching, awesome read! The characters are engaging, redeemable (in the cases that matter, anyway) and complex. They will push your buttons. They will annoy you. They will FORCE you to think outside the box...and to think about things you might not have considered before. This entire read is written in a way that pushes readers out of their comfort zones and makes them actually think about what's going on. And it will piss you off, no doubt about it. It will make you nauseaus. It will turn your blood to acid in your veins. If you're anything like me...you'll love every minute of it.
The prose is also pretty astounding—gorgeous, melodic, and descriptive in all the right places. There's a masterful blend of the realistic with the paranormal that Cat Winters pulls off beautifully—and manages to work seamlessly into the time period. The entire story is seamless—the plot is action-packed, filled with mystery, and wrapped up by the last page without holes. The character's all go through life-changing, deep growths. And hey...it's 1920s Hamlet! Where could you go wrong?!
“I brought flowering almonds for you,” she said, and she handed me the flowers, which she had wrapped in a white handkerchief and secured with a ribbon the same pink as the petals.
“Are these for luck, too,” I asked, “like the alfalfa?”
“No, for hope.” She squeezed my hand. “An entire bouquet full of hope.”
This is a fantastic, pulse-pounding, haunting read—I promise you do NOT want to miss out on it! I'd definitely recommend to lovers of historical fiction, diverse characters, and just a slice of paranormal mixed into their reality worlds. I can't wait to dive into another Cat Winters read—it's a good thing I have a few waiting for me on my Kindle!
The year is 1923 and in a small town in Oregon, hate spreads like wildfire. Life is challenging for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a black man and a white woman, but she has learned to persevere. When her father is killed by a drunk driver, she’s devastated by his absence from her life, especially after her mother quickly remarries. The boy responsible for his death, Joe Adder, is released from prison a mere seventeen months after being sentenced and once Hanalee finds out she takes her anger and a loaded gun to pay him a visit. After speaking with Joe, she leaves with her entire perception changed after hearing a vastly different story about what happened the night her dad died: he didn’t die from an automobile accident and that the man her mom remarried is the one truly responsible for his death.
I’ve read every Cat Winters book at this point but they seem to be hit or miss for me. I loved both [b:In the Shadow of Blackbirds|13112915|In the Shadow of Blackbirds|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348721608s/13112915.jpg|18286614] and [b:The Uninvited|19547848|The Uninvited|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1415313161s/19547848.jpg|27679567], but felt [b:The Cure for Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486] was slightly mediocre in comparison. The Steep & Thorny Way falls in the latter category. Much like [b:Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486], I felt that the subject matter was something I would normally welcome, however, overall it ended up feeling incredibly flat and listless. Cat Winters signature style has always been a fusion of stories with historical importance and a flair of paranormal, and it’s something that she does quite well. With, Thorny though, the Hamlet retelling comparisons as well as the paranormal aspects were elements which could have been left out entirely without affecting the story. A story about a half black/half white girl living during the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and a homosexual boy that is struggling to survive in a time where the study of eugenics has many thinking the issue of homosexuality is something that can be “fixed” is absolutely a strong enough story on its own.
I always appreciate the lesser known periods of history being given a spotlight and it’s interesting to see a story focus on the influence of the Ku Klux Klan extending far past the deep South, clear into Oregon. Tackling both race and sexuality prejudices in addition to touching on the topic of eugenics was edifying without feeling overwhelming, except I kept feeling off and on as if these characters were simplistic versions of their true potential. I suppose what it all boils down to though is Winters definitely demonstrates the ugliness of the times, yet it’s covered in a glossy veneer that hides the true grotesqueness doing the seriousness of the story somewhat of a disservice.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’ve read every Cat Winters book at this point but they seem to be hit or miss for me. I loved both [b:In the Shadow of Blackbirds|13112915|In the Shadow of Blackbirds|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348721608s/13112915.jpg|18286614] and [b:The Uninvited|19547848|The Uninvited|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1415313161s/19547848.jpg|27679567], but felt [b:The Cure for Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486] was slightly mediocre in comparison. The Steep & Thorny Way falls in the latter category. Much like [b:Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486], I felt that the subject matter was something I would normally welcome, however, overall it ended up feeling incredibly flat and listless. Cat Winters signature style has always been a fusion of stories with historical importance and a flair of paranormal, and it’s something that she does quite well. With, Thorny though, the Hamlet retelling comparisons as well as the paranormal aspects were elements which could have been left out entirely without affecting the story. A story about a half black/half white girl living during the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and a homosexual boy that is struggling to survive in a time where the study of eugenics has many thinking the issue of homosexuality is something that can be “fixed” is absolutely a strong enough story on its own.
I always appreciate the lesser known periods of history being given a spotlight and it’s interesting to see a story focus on the influence of the Ku Klux Klan extending far past the deep South, clear into Oregon. Tackling both race and sexuality prejudices in addition to touching on the topic of eugenics was edifying without feeling overwhelming, except I kept feeling off and on as if these characters were simplistic versions of their true potential. I suppose what it all boils down to though is Winters definitely demonstrates the ugliness of the times, yet it’s covered in a glossy veneer that hides the true grotesqueness doing the seriousness of the story somewhat of a disservice.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.