Scan barcode
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book was such an unexpected surprise. Justice is served! Kari James’s mother disappeared when she was just two days old. Now in her thirties, she becomes determined to uncover the mystery of what happened to her mother. There are a lot of messy friendships in this book that come with a lot of heartbreak… but in the end, those heartbreaks simply lead to growth. This was an entertaining read complete with some Indigenous lore. It wasn’t too scary, and I think I would market this as being ‘thriller’ rather than ‘horror.’ I would recommend this Book of the Month selection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Rape, and Child abuse
symabee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit disappointed in this one. Maybe my hopes were too high after reading the premise, but it just fell flat for me.
There were things I did like about the book. The horror and supernatural elements were cool, I enjoyed learning about Native culture and mythology, how it addresses addiction and trauma, and the fact that it shed light on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women.
Now for the things I didn't like.
It all felt very disorganized and had a lot of subplots thrown in that distracted from the story. At times, this felt more like a love letter to Denver, Colorado than a horror/thriller. So much time was spent describing local businesses, their decor and signage, and how they had changed over the years. Lots of talk about gentrification and yuppies taking over the area. I understand a certain level of this is needed to set the scene for the story, but this just felt rambling at times. A large portion of this book is also spent on the main character's cousin, who is in an abusive marriage. The cousin is basically just emotional support for the main character, so I'm not sure why we needed to know so much about her marriage.
There are also many references to Stephen King, David Mustaine, Bud Light beer, and reading old paperback novels in random places like noisy bars. After a while, it started giving "I'm not like other girls" vibes.
I loved the idea of this book, and it had some great qualities, but the execution was very lackluster, unfortunately.
There were things I did like about the book. The horror and supernatural elements were cool, I enjoyed learning about Native culture and mythology, how it addresses addiction and trauma, and the fact that it shed light on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women.
Now for the things I didn't like.
It all felt very disorganized and had a lot of subplots thrown in that distracted from the story. At times, this felt more like a love letter to Denver, Colorado than a horror/thriller. So much time was spent describing local businesses, their decor and signage, and how they had changed over the years. Lots of talk about gentrification and yuppies taking over the area. I understand a certain level of this is needed to set the scene for the story, but this just felt rambling at times. A large portion of this book is also spent on the main character's cousin, who is in an abusive marriage. The cousin is basically just emotional support for the main character, so I'm not sure why we needed to know so much about her marriage.
There are also many references to Stephen King, David Mustaine, Bud Light beer, and reading old paperback novels in random places like noisy bars. After a while, it started giving "I'm not like other girls" vibes.
I loved the idea of this book, and it had some great qualities, but the execution was very lackluster, unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Gore, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Pedophilia
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Out now! [Thank you to Book Sparks for providing me with a gifted copy as part of their November Book Sparks Book Club!]
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Kari James has a difficult past, and when her cousin Debby brings her an old bracelet belonging to Kari’s long-vanished mother, that past might just come back to haunt her…in more ways than one.
White Horse is a captivating blend of literary fiction and horror, with a sometimes frustrating, but ultimately charming, protagonist, and a fascinating mythology centered on Native American lore and history. The chapters are short, and the book was a quick read overall, though I sometimes wished the plot had a bit more action.
The reviews and blurbs made me think this one would be gritty and gory, and while it definitely had its creepy moments, I wasn’t particularly scared. But I loved the mystery elements, all of the characters were well-developed and interesting, and in the end I am always a sucker for a good ghost story.
If you love horror, and particularly diverse voices and perspectives in horror, you’ll enjoy this book!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: literary horror; ghosts; Native American mythology
CW: Murder/blood; mentions of pedophilia; alcoholism/drug abuse/overdose; suicide attempt.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Kari James has a difficult past, and when her cousin Debby brings her an old bracelet belonging to Kari’s long-vanished mother, that past might just come back to haunt her…in more ways than one.
White Horse is a captivating blend of literary fiction and horror, with a sometimes frustrating, but ultimately charming, protagonist, and a fascinating mythology centered on Native American lore and history. The chapters are short, and the book was a quick read overall, though I sometimes wished the plot had a bit more action.
The reviews and blurbs made me think this one would be gritty and gory, and while it definitely had its creepy moments, I wasn’t particularly scared. But I loved the mystery elements, all of the characters were well-developed and interesting, and in the end I am always a sucker for a good ghost story.
If you love horror, and particularly diverse voices and perspectives in horror, you’ll enjoy this book!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: literary horror; ghosts; Native American mythology
CW: Murder/blood; mentions of pedophilia; alcoholism/drug abuse/overdose; suicide attempt.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Abandonment, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Murder
Minor: Car accident
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Chronic illness, Incest, and Sexual violence
Minor: Gaslighting and Car accident
More...