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solar_power'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
5.0
Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking
Minor: Murder and Torture
susanatherly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Dementia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Mental illness
Minor: Murder, Car accident, Grief, Stalking, and Drug use
zombiezami's review
5.0
Graphic: Stalking, Misogyny, Dementia, Violence, Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Vomit, Torture, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
savvylit'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
3.0
• Lucky and Stella's grandma-granddaughter relationship. Beautiful and believable.
• Witchy illuminati vibes.
• Queer and indigenous rep.
Cons:
• The plot meandered.
• Needed more character development from secondary characters.
• Main villain seemed kinda cheesy and merely served as a plot device.
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment
bookishcookiemonster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
SPOILER:
Overall, enjoyable book!
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Stalking, Death, Sexism, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Before getting into the ins and outs of the plot let me just say that, as always, Cherie Dimaline is a phenomenal writer. She is fantastic at creating vivid imagery without being flowery in her writing. Without even having to try, an image will come to mind while reading, and that is undoubtedly the mark of a skillful author. To evoke imagery in such a way.
For the story itself, I wanted to give four stars, and really felt it would be in the first 40% of the book, but dropped down as the story progressed. The story is full of intrigue from start to finish. We wonder who these characters are, how they play together and what their roles will be, and who is the holder of the final spoon. Histories mesh and collide, as they work as individuals in a much larger organism. However, although those elements work for an entertaining, vivid, and unique story, they fell a bit flat to me. Without giving anything away, I saw the ending coming a mile away. There were so many characters it became hard to keep track of everyone and their backstories. The world building also required a lot of explaining and questioning, because the characters in fact don't know what they're doing most of the time. They're working on a goal that is surrounded by a lot of mystery. Although it didn't come together for me, I do believe plenty of others will be happy and fulfilled with it. I suspect this book will be either a hit or miss for readers all coming down to preferences.
What was most exciting was the individual characters and who they are as people. There is so much diversity in a way that didn't feel like tokenism. There are so many queer characters and characters of different ethnic/racial backgrounds. Although their identities are a focal point for all of them, it isn't the base of their journeys. They exist in their current lives and in their identities while working on their goals which remains part of the big picture. It was a pleasant balance.
I was also quite fond of the overall messaging too. About women empowerment, community, and overcoming an oppressive patriarchy. There's a lot of sexism in the book but it is tackled in every decision and action each woman makes.
Overall, I think this will be a lot of people's new favorite book. For me it wasn't a total hit, but I liked it well enough that I will recommend to friends.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Dementia, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Ableism
Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Cancer, Suicide, Incest, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Vomit, and Terminal illness
Homelessness, necrophilia (up to interpretation), lynching,