Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Neige des lunes brisées by Waubgeshig Rice

77 reviews

christinaj1021's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.75

Okay WOW. What a phenomenal read!

If you enjoy apocalyptic novels, this is a spin on the classic tropes, setting, and pacing that you would find in any others.

The setting being in a Northern Ontario First Nations community (on rez) completely shifts the focus from how apocalypse novels usually go. The threat of starvation, violence, etc., isn't front and center- something else is. (I can't give it away but it was majorly impactful!)

I must read Rice's next novel. I highly recommend Moon of the Crusted Snow to anyone who likes apocalypse/dystopian feel books. It also has short chapters and is about 200 pages overall, so it's a good read for those who don't have much time or focus!

Content Warnings

savvylit's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Moon of the Crusted Snow is an excellent addition to the post-apocalyptic survival genre. To start, Rice's portrayal of the winter weather is top-notch. From maintaining wood stoves to being buried in snow drifts, winter was incredibly present in Moon of the Crusted Snow. Almost like it was a character itself.

The pacing of this novel is perfect. Rice never dwells too long on a specific moment. By always moving the narrative past drudgery to the next memorable event, the timeline of Crusted Snow passes in a way that feels organic and true to life.

Last but not least, the plot balances the bleakness of survival with hope and perseverance. There is a moment in the book where the protagonist, Evan, speaks with a community elder. She tells Evan that she isn't too worried about current events. On the contrary, the Anishinaabe have already survived multiple apocalypses in their history. The events of Moon of the Crusted Snow are just the latest entry in thousands of years of resilience and survival.

Content Warnings

bookjungledweller's review against another edition

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tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

_rils97's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

The storytelling in this book is great and I loved the mystery aspects of it.

Content Warnings

lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Moon of the Crusted Snow is a slow burn, with a beautifully eerie setting, rewarding patient readers with its nuanced portrait of community, resilience, and uncertainty. The build-up is masterful, heavy with foreshadowing. Rice subtly paints a picture of their simple, resilient lives, making the impending disaster feel all the more chilling.

As unease creeps in and grocery shelves echo the eerie panic of the pandemic, you know something big is brewing. The constant anticipation is gripping. This is a book that begs to be read in the heart of winter, its stark prose mirroring the frozen landscape.

While undeniably fictional, the story resonates with the enduring strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples. However, for a book that lingers so long in the quiet dread, the ending felt rushed. It left threads dangling. Thankfully, there's a sequel, and I'm eagerly reaching for it to complete the journey.

Content Warnings