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talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
The writing ranges from dry to pointedly (in other words, unnaturally) quotable, and the dialogue is somehow even more stilted and unrealistically grammatically flawless than the narration. A few spoken lines toward the end literally go on uninterrupted and with no stuttering or backtracking for 100+ words; virtually no one, let alone who's suffered recent repeated physical trauma, is that eloquent. Information is revealed in stilted blocks and repeated ten times over. I don't think any teenager -- or person at all -- in the history of cell phones has ever texted like the teenagers in this book are written as doing.
In terms of substance, there's a lot left to be desired as well. All of the individual narrative threads -- or at least most of them -- would make interesting stories, but here they're all kind of crammed into one unbalanced mess. Is the central plot supposed to be Daunis's complex relationship with her family members and community? Her desire to pursue a career in medicine/science and unite traditional and more modern "scientific" practices? Her recovering from and learning about the factors leading up to her best friend's sudden, tragic death? Her role as an undercover informant in an FBI investigation involving meth and her community (as much suspension of disbelief as that requires)? Her and Jamie's relationship? A general critical overview of the treatment of Indigenous women in American and Canadian society? It's never really decided, and so we jump awkwardly from one to the other without more natural transitions or better multitasking, leading to really overall odd pacing.
The general emotional pacing never quite hits either. A significant medical detail about the protagonist is made explicit for the first time 70% in and never serves any real relevance (and is outright contradicted or ignored at other times). Major traumatic events like the murder of Daunis's best friend and
The characters -- including, perhaps especially Daunis -- lack depth, whittled down to one trait (not even one that is shown, but told... multiple times). The supporting cast especially kind of blends together as a result of that weird pacing and unrealistic, stilted dialogue. I couldn't get a real sense of any of their motivations, so the culprit reveal and relationships all feel more than lackluster. In that regard, the romance is particularly egregious, even putting aside the core issues with
Overall, quite disappointing execution of multiple interesting premises, and I remain bewildered by the overwhelmingly positive response. Perhaps it was a great book for many others, but nothing about it ended up clicking or sitting well with me.
(Also, urine, even your own, is not actually sterile! Please do not use it as a substitute for hydrogen peroxide. I know this is set in 2004 -- as little as there is to solidly ground it there -- and a lot of people believe that myth even today, but it just feels... irresponsible to include in a book like this, especially framed as an objective valuable fact.)
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Addiction, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Car accident, and Child abuse
jessthanthree'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
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Violence, Racism, Rape, Death, Medical trauma, Addiction, and Car accident
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Bullying, Infidelity, Stalking, Body shaming, Excrement, Torture, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, and Vomit
Minor: Trafficking, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy
skudiklier'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death, Grief, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Suicide, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Fatphobia, Car accident, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Racial slurs, Torture, Sexual content, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Ableism, and Alcoholism
lportilla's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Murder, Kidnapping, and Drug use
Minor: Suicide, Homophobia, and Fatphobia
hotbitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Murder, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Addiction, Child death, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug use, Grief, Racism, Trafficking, Homophobia, Rape, and Violence
alybwrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Much of the book is set within a Native community, but the unique experiences of what it means to be Native is portrayed through a wonderfully diverse cast of characters that each experience what that means in a different, but equally real and authentic way.
Fire Keeper’s Daughter masterfully navigates the struggles and tensions of wanting to honor heritage in a modern world that leaves little room for history or indigenous tradition. We see this immediately in our MC, who is constantly trying to balance facts, science and the scientific method that she has a deep seated passion for and the community and tradition that she loves and finds immeasurable comfort in. Figuring out how to make room for both, learning that they do not have to be in opposition, but learning not to let one blind her to the other is our character’s journey, beautifully executed.
Also had a lot of respect for the very real examination of how society at large consistently damages and hurts marginalized communities, even after making demands on members of those communities.
Definitely be aware of CWs: I would say this is a mature YA. (Additional props for showing respect, communication and consent as sexy, ongoing and working both ways.)
But if you want a book that is going to absolutely suck you in and give you a new perspective on everything, I cannot recommend this highly enough. I cannot wait for the author’s upcoming Warrior Girl Unearthed.
Graphic: Misogyny, Kidnapping, Racism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Eating disorder, Classism, Medical trauma, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
Most of the content is handled well, addressed and explicitly processed in a healthy way. But still something to be aware of.voxelbee'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? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Murder, and Sexual violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Stalking, and Vomit
marjen's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Racism, Drug abuse, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Fatphobia
snipinfool'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Addiction and Classism
useyourwordsmarisa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Death
Minor: Misogyny, Fatphobia, Racism, and Eating disorder