Reviews with content warning for Grief - Empire of Wild

'Empire of Wild' by Cherie Dimaline is an emotional story surrounding one woman's attempt to save her husband.
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.

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bookdragon217's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

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burnt_amber89's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I quite enjoyed this book. I loved reading about the Rogarou and the depiction of this tale from a Metis perspective. I loved the fact that the author didn't explain exactly what the traditional tale was: it kept some sort of mystery, while making me feel part of the community by assuming I knew.
The social commentary embedded in the story is particularly enlightening.
That being said, the writing style was sometimes a little slow, and I was thrown off by the points of views switching from one character to the next.
I am still processing the ending, I applaud its audacity, but maybe it's a little too abrupt ? The jury is still out on this one.

Overall, I think I would recommend this book, it's an easy read, quite gripping sometimes, albeit a little unequal. Great book to get acquainted with traditional folklore and current social issues in indigenous communities. Some violent and/or frightening passages that may make it unsuitable to all audiences (especially at night...). Be sure to check out the trigger warning list before embarking on the journey.

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mikki_9's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-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

3.5

While this isn't a genre I normally read, I was intrigued by the premise. Plus, Cherie Dimaline is a fantastic writer. This is infused with myth and darkness. At times, it feels like there are too many characters to follow, even though Joan grounds the entire story. And that ending! Dimaline wasn't afraid to end on a bold note.

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perditorian's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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readingbetweenthenotes's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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? Yes

4.0

I can't remember ever reading a book about or written by a Native American author (something I'm ashamed of but working now to change). I'm really glad to have started with this book by Cherie Dimaline! Her writing had a hauntingly beautiful quality and I genuinely enjoyed the reading experience.

This book had such a unique premise and was unlike anything I've ever read before. I really felt for the protagonist Joan, who was desperately trying to get her husband back and facing the most fascinating of obstacles.

Empire of Wild truly captivated me from start to finish. The prologue grabbed me instantly and each chapter drew me further into this twisty story. Parts of the book read like an urban legend (with which I've always had a fascination) or an episode of Supernatural (one of my favourite shows). So if those are things you enjoy too, I'd definitely recommend this one!

The book also provided a great insight into Native American culture and I loved learning about the different beliefs and practices of these people. Dimaline did a great job of highlighting and challenging the prejudices still faced by these communities. I also really appreciated the family dynamics that were portrayed.

I won't say anything about the book's ending, other than this book was a JOURNEY! Overall, I'm just very pleased to have read this one and would definitely recommend it, if you like the sound of it!

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