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kinomatica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
cathepsut's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is not a typical werewolf story. If you are looking for Urban Fantasy, this is definitely not it. It is a story by an indigenous Canadian writer, based on traditional folkore about the Rogarou (from the French word for werewolf, loup-garou) and then some. And a very real topic concerning indigenous people in Canada today.
I was a little lukewarm about this throughout, but the last third of the novel made up for it. That part was excellent and I couldn‘t put it down anymore. The changing points of view made for an exciting read and the ending and epilogue gave it a great and suspenseful finish.
Things I looked up during my read — from here on there are spoilers:
Here is an somewhat spoilerish interview with Dimaline where she describes how she came to write a novel about a Rogarou: https://electricliterature.com/cherie...
The novel might be adapted for the small screen: https://deadline.com/2021/07/kai-wu-c...
Towards the end of the novel there is a quote from a poem:
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?
It’s from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. ELIOT
(https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poet...)
Some thoughts on Joan:
Joan‘s last name, Beausoliel: is that a anglicized version of „beau soleil“, aka beautiful sun?
Joan of Arcand = Joan of Arc… as in: she is supposed to deliver her region and people from the invading mining companies, etc.?
Joan‘s red coat — a hint at Litte Red Riding Hood? Considering some events in this book, it feels like a re-telling of that fairytale, at least in parts. Intermingled with that Rogarou folkore.
“What big teeth you have," said Little Red Riding Hood her voice quivering slightly.
"The better to eat you with, my dear," roared the wolf…“
Here is an online version of Little Red Riding Hood: https://www.grimmstories.com/language...
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape and Murder
onemamareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Incest
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Joan believes her husband is dead when she stumbles into a religious tent in the Walmart parking lot and finds a man that looks remarkably like him preaching. But Viktor doesn't remember her and is now going by the name Eugene Wolff. Joan knows that this man is her husband and will stop at nothing to get him back, including taking on the revival group that seems to have brainwashed him and the stories of more than wolves that are lurking in the woods.
From the first paragraph of this book, I was hooked. Dimaline has an engaging and evocative writing style that clearly paints the world she has created in stark but emotional prose. From the beginning, Joan and each of the supporting characters flew off the page as if they had been plucked from real life. Add to that an enticing mystery as the reader tries to figure out what happened to Viktor right alongside Joan and this story was near perfection. Dimaline does a great job of breathing folklore and a hint of the speculative into a world that is otherwise down to earth. I have been excited to pick up her work for some time and now I can't wait to read everything that she has written.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation
bookdragon217's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
mommarex1221's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
pdestrienne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
- This book is full of messy characters (some of whom I thought could have stood to have a little more page time) and you're rooting for Joan the whole way. I was turning pages as fast as I could, and the final showdown had me gripped.
- The ending seems to have people split, and I can see why - if you read this book, come talk to me about what you think happens!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
shaunashares's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Addiction
mikki_9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Abortion, and Murder
Minor: Blood and Medical content