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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault
ARC by Netgalley - Kindle
I am reminded that some stories are a blog post, some are a short story, some are a book, etc. This felt like it had a lot of filler in it and would have made a great short story. Lots of running and driving around that did not advance the plot.
I am reminded that some stories are a blog post, some are a short story, some are a book, etc. This felt like it had a lot of filler in it and would have made a great short story. Lots of running and driving around that did not advance the plot.
This book had a great pace and was very atomspheric and wrapped in indigenous culture. I loved the wintery scenes, added to the spookiness of the book.
A Mystery with the pace of a thriller. Main focus was the MC who was passionate about standing up to find the kidnappers of the women and children in this community. Quill, may get involved at too much of a cost. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and all of a sudden. I enjoyed Quill's stubborn nature and standing by her beliefs but also struggled with the responsibilities required. Such a hard struggle and thought provoking. We need more books like this one.
I loved the book club questions provided in the back of the book.
A Mystery with the pace of a thriller. Main focus was the MC who was passionate about standing up to find the kidnappers of the women and children in this community. Quill, may get involved at too much of a cost. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and all of a sudden. I enjoyed Quill's stubborn nature and standing by her beliefs but also struggled with the responsibilities required. Such a hard struggle and thought provoking. We need more books like this one.
I loved the book club questions provided in the back of the book.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Powerful story! It had me hooked from the very beginning. Strong characters. Highly recommend!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I haven’t read a book so quickly in a very long time. Marcie Rendon’s writing and storytelling is captivating and drew me in quickly despite the difficult and painful subject matter about MMIW.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book taught me about missing and murdered indigenous women. I didn't realize this was a present day issue. 😞 The story was well paced and focuses on women having to help each other because the systems keep failing them.
3.5 Rounded Up. Where They Last Saw Her is a book where the message undeniably outweighs the delivery. While I felt the story itself was just okay, the subject matter is vital and deserves every ounce of attention it can get.
The book focuses on a community rising up to address the disappearances of Indigenous women and children as the system continues to fail them. This is such an important topic, and I truly appreciate that the author chose to tell this story in a fictional format. For many readers who might shy away from heavy nonfiction on these issues, a thriller or mystery like this could serve as a powerful entry point. Stories like this amplify awareness about the dangers faced by Indigenous women and the systemic negligence that exacerbates these tragedies.
That said, the execution fell short for me. The central character is introduced well—we get a sense of her place in the community, her relationship with her family, and her determination to fight back against these crimes. But the narrative never fully explores the ripple effects these disappearances have on the wider community. The fear, the heartbreak, the daily struggles of living with this danger—it felt like the author only skimmed the surface. I kept wanting more depth, more layers, and more emotional resonance.
There were moments of suspense that pulled me in completely—I could feel the tension and the fear of what might happen next. But at the same time, the plot felt a bit predictable, and I could often see where the story was going. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I think with a topic this heavy, there was room to push the narrative further and make it even more impactful.
Ultimately, I’d recommend this book for the message alone. It’s an essential conversation, and I’m glad it exists. However, I gave it three stars because I had higher hopes for how the story itself would unfold. With more character development and a deeper exploration of the community’s experiences, this could’ve been a standout read for me.
The book focuses on a community rising up to address the disappearances of Indigenous women and children as the system continues to fail them. This is such an important topic, and I truly appreciate that the author chose to tell this story in a fictional format. For many readers who might shy away from heavy nonfiction on these issues, a thriller or mystery like this could serve as a powerful entry point. Stories like this amplify awareness about the dangers faced by Indigenous women and the systemic negligence that exacerbates these tragedies.
That said, the execution fell short for me. The central character is introduced well—we get a sense of her place in the community, her relationship with her family, and her determination to fight back against these crimes. But the narrative never fully explores the ripple effects these disappearances have on the wider community. The fear, the heartbreak, the daily struggles of living with this danger—it felt like the author only skimmed the surface. I kept wanting more depth, more layers, and more emotional resonance.
There were moments of suspense that pulled me in completely—I could feel the tension and the fear of what might happen next. But at the same time, the plot felt a bit predictable, and I could often see where the story was going. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I think with a topic this heavy, there was room to push the narrative further and make it even more impactful.
Ultimately, I’d recommend this book for the message alone. It’s an essential conversation, and I’m glad it exists. However, I gave it three stars because I had higher hopes for how the story itself would unfold. With more character development and a deeper exploration of the community’s experiences, this could’ve been a standout read for me.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced