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theoceanrose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Gaslighting, Car accident, and Murder
bandysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
White Horse is a spooky horror novel about a Native American woman trying to find out why her mother went missing many years ago. It's set in Colorado and seamlessly merges Indigenous culture, horror, death metal, and Stephen King references with a suspenseful dark story that will have you at the edge of your seat.
Kari, the main character, has been sort of operating in the shadows, doing her best to never really stand out. She works as a bartender and spends evenings drinking at her favorite dive, The White Horse. Though she's talked about buying it, she's never actually applied for a loan. Outside of her handicapped father and her cousin, she doesn't have much of a social life and she mostly ignores the disappearance of her mother when she was a child. She is at once likeable and frustrating. You simultaneously want her to live up to her potential and also understand the fears and anxieties that are holding her back.
There is a sort of magical realism element to this story that involves Kari having visions upon handling some of her mother's old jewelry. I really liked how this was incorporated and thought it was a bit more unique than just the typical haunting. My only critique of this aspect is that I wish it was tied a bit more into the ending.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. The creepy vibe increases at a nice pace and the who dunnit kept me engaged with the story. I also really enjoyed the focus on Indigenous culture and the overall development of the character.
Kari, the main character, has been sort of operating in the shadows, doing her best to never really stand out. She works as a bartender and spends evenings drinking at her favorite dive, The White Horse. Though she's talked about buying it, she's never actually applied for a loan. Outside of her handicapped father and her cousin, she doesn't have much of a social life and she mostly ignores the disappearance of her mother when she was a child. She is at once likeable and frustrating. You simultaneously want her to live up to her potential and also understand the fears and anxieties that are holding her back.
There is a sort of magical realism element to this story that involves Kari having visions upon handling some of her mother's old jewelry. I really liked how this was incorporated and thought it was a bit more unique than just the typical haunting. My only critique of this aspect is that I wish it was tied a bit more into the ending.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. The creepy vibe increases at a nice pace and the who dunnit kept me engaged with the story. I also really enjoyed the focus on Indigenous culture and the overall development of the character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, and Death of parent
sarahrose_a's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Alcohol, Murder, Physical abuse, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic relationship
dahlia_boo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Cursing, Incest, Colonisation, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Rape, Self harm, Gore, Grief, and Pedophilia
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Car accident
brandyrae's review against another edition
3.5
Normally, I give books that are set in Denver an extra half star for being awesome but the Lakeside scene had like 10 teeny discrepancies that were just too much. Like don't go for that much detail if you're not gonna bother to get those details perfect. So, this only got a .25 star bump.
I really have to stop reading Gothic horror. I thought this was going to be more actual horror but this was definitely gothic. Haunted mystery but in my beautiful city instead of a windswept manor on the moors. It was good. Never really scary but decent mystery, cool indigenous fun facts scattered in, some stereotypes leaned on a little heavy, too much Dave Mustaine. Some stuff that was personally really hard to read and there's more people I wouldn't consider recommending this to than i think there are people I would recommend it to but I liked it well enough overall. I wouldn't read it again but I'd give the author another shot.
I really have to stop reading Gothic horror. I thought this was going to be more actual horror but this was definitely gothic. Haunted mystery but in my beautiful city instead of a windswept manor on the moors. It was good. Never really scary but decent mystery, cool indigenous fun facts scattered in, some stereotypes leaned on a little heavy, too much Dave Mustaine. Some stuff that was personally really hard to read and there's more people I wouldn't consider recommending this to than i think there are people I would recommend it to but I liked it well enough overall. I wouldn't read it again but I'd give the author another shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Murder
adriso's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
I really enjoyed this book as a decompressing read, from lore and the mysterious atmosphere to the characters. Kari James is my favorite and an iconic resemblance of a woman I aspire to grow into. The puzzles and trials she goes through to uncover what happened to her mother while facing her past are inspirational and tense though watching her heal along the way is extremely rewarding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Murder, and Drug use
Moderate: Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship and Suicidal thoughts
ericarobyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth is a tale of secrets that refuse to stay buried…
Kari is an urban indigenous woman that wears black ripped jeans and band t-shirts, loves listening to metal, and always has a horror book on hand. Kari grew up filled with hatred toward her mother as she believed her mother had left her when she was just two days old. Filling the empty space with drugs and alcohol, Kari’s life isn’t on a great trajectory. But when her cousin brings her an old bracelet that has been in the family for a very long time, all of Kari’s core beliefs are shaken and it forces her on a new path.
Suddenly haunted by visions and the ghost of her mother, a fire is ignited in Kari. From there, it’s a rocky journey to find answers. Along the way, she’s forced to face her inner demons.
A slow-burn of a novel, this story takes it’s time winding around each of the story elements just like a car traveling up the Colorado mountain roadways. The paranormal focus was light, but it was sprinkled in just enough to keep catching me off guard!
I will admit, there were times I wanted to scream at Kari for how shortsighted and selfish she was being. She was totally wrapped up in her own things, and couldn’t see two inches in front of her to realize how her actions were affecting others. Of course, that lack of support for others finally explodes, leaving her adrift to solve her problems on her own. I was so excited that she had finally learned to think of others rather than wallowing in her own self-pity and grief. After that turning point, I couldn’t put the book down!
One quick element that I wanted to comment on before moving on is that while I’m not from the area, I have visited! On a work trip, I made it a point to visit the Tattered Cover. I was so excited to see a mention of being in Tattered Cover in one of Kari’s dreams, and then to see her visit the location as well! That is such a cool bookstore. If you’re ever in the area, make sure to stop by!
My Favorite Passages from White Horse
Daddy was brittle. His mind was like a boat lost at sea. Sometimes it came close to the shore, only to push back. I didn’t want to make it so it never made anchor again.
There was something sad and small and yet, almost otherworldly about Idaho Springs, like there were secrets in the cold, rocky ground that might spring up at any time. And take you down with them into the dark.
God, that tapping like a skeletal hand on a mirror.
Though I loved everything by King, I’d always found this particular book to be spellbinding. I remembered finding it in the library one day, after wandering the shelves, my fingers brushing the spines, trying to convince myself to check something more realistic out, something more patently educational, and failing and moving, like I was haunted, toward the horror aisle. For some reason, I hadn’t seen this book before, and finding it, a King I’d never read, felt like uncovering a magic key, one with infinite potential. One that opened doors that acted as portals to other worlds.
I feel strong by the end of that year, I am healed. But I don’t realize that healing requires scars, and I am still rough beneath them, I still have pain locked behind that ropy skin. And there is weakness there, there is vulnerability, a thing I have always been terrified of.
My Final Thoughts on White Horse
I highly recommend this story to fans of slow-burning tales that make you switch back and forth between loving and hating the main character, before settling in on how you feel about them right at the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, and Suicide attempt
mandkips's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Drug use, and Pedophilia
Minor: Gun violence and Car accident
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
cranewife's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Grief, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence