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buffy87's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Medical content
wordsofclover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is phenomenal for a debut novel - the combination of pain, violence and neglect as well as the love, kindness and care between all the characters is amazing. I was really hooked into this story and all the women we are following as they try and piece their lives together after a terrible violent act.
This book focuses on the lives of Métis women living in Winnipeg in Canada, and looks at the danger and intergenerational trauma lived by so many young girls and women in such societies where they are looked down upon, are abused and assaulted on regular basis and let down by any type of government authority that should be caring for them. I feel like Phoenix's story reflects this the most - the anger, and confusion she feels throughout the novel, despite at times presenting as a young, scared child who just wants to be cared for. And in parts we learn what her mother Elsie went through as a teenager and piece together what Phoenix's life must have been like because of this.
And Cheryl, Lou, Emily and Paul - along with Rita and Ziggy - are in such a community of love and kindness with one another, it feels like another world but that doesn't mean these women weren't hurt from abusive husbands to heartbreak, to witnessing terrible things and knowing at all times the danger they are in as women in their world.
But while this book is centered around a horrible act of sexual violence, the deeper story in it is about the love and hope between all these women, and how they hold on to each other throughout it all and never let anyone fade away.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Child abuse
Minor: Child death
dallyowally's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Child abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Grief
kreist's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape and Racism
amvera's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Rape, and Child death
One of the best books I've read this year. Beautifully written, though it deals with tough and sensitive subjects, so beware of all the trigger warnings. That said, I feel like it's a must read!parasolcrafter'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Child death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol, Dementia, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Racism
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Medical trauma, Blood, Dementia, Sexual violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction
jenn_m_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Rape, Addiction, and Blood
kaleys23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Medical trauma
Minor: Death of parent
emilily's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Alcohol, Torture, Sexual violence, Medical content, and Blood