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minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Reckless, detached, scathing.
Our MC is a recovering addict trying to manage adulting while caring for a parent with a brain injury and dealing with their anger and grief over their mother going missing when they were just a baby.
🇺🇸 Set in Denver and Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA
🐺🐕Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
🤨 Kari was such a frustrating character. I think she was supposed to be rough-around-the-edges, assertive, take-no-bull, but all I was getting was a 30-something going on 13 trying to convince others she's non-conformist, and super edgy. She is offended by EVERYTHING and so obtuse and stubborn. She wants (demands) answers but doesn't listen to what anyone says or rolls her eyes at their perspectives then whines about no one helping her.
🙄 I don't mind unlikeable/annoying narrators but so much of the story was wrapped up in Kari's repetitive angsty, martyr complex monologues and dialogues. If someone advised her to use the bridge because the path is flooded, she would use the path and complain for pages about how everyone is out to get her because she almost drowned (even if all that really happened was her feet got wet). Okay, that doesn't literally happen in the story, but it's an example of what to expect throughout and it comes at the expense of the character and plot development. For about the first third of the novel it's also ALL we get.
😐 The writing style was almost point form or something. I had to keep rereading sentences, it didn't flow well. That's fine for a good story but...it wasn't a good story (or rather was, but was told poorly). For example, Kari would be observing that there are multiple men in a room and then note that "he lit a cigarette and said _____"...with no defining of WHICH man in the room did it.
😴 Tell vs show imbalanced. We get lots of telling of how invested Kari is in solving what happened to her mother, but the actions don't back anything up. We get lots of show (often plopped in the middle of action or clues) about how she's doing things, like how she lights a cigarette, how she moves, arranges her face, gazes etc.
🫠 Not a horror. The horror is a B-plot at best, more like C-plot. I define horror as anything that could be horrific, including IRL happenings, but it's barely touched on even though so much could have been done to give voice to the indigenous experience and perspective of grief, trauma, and family.
🫥 Zero world building. She walk into a building. Is it a house? trailer? apartment? store? We know a LOT about the door she knocked on but nothing else. Real-life location name-dropping too. Sometimes we get a description but most of the time we are told lists of places she is visiting in these towns with nothing more, as if all us non-Colorado readers somehow know like, "yeah that place IS gnarly!"
😬 I can't speak at all to the accuracy or authenticity of the Indigenous rep in this book. Compared to other novels I've read, I thought this read as what non-indigenous people imagine the native experience to be. Lots of repetitive "what tribe are you?" but no progression beyond. Even if this was supposed to be a cathartic read for some, it felt off. It read more like 23-and-me + identifying other indigenous people because they say spiritual stuff or are one with nature. A lot of the characters were giving "Indian princess syndrome" where they romanticized white people but mentioned their "nativeness" when useful for getting away with things. I hope that makes sense, it's hard for me to know and I may be missing something really deep, cathartic, or symbolic. Would love to hear more from a variety of Indigenous readers and background for how they felt about this story and what it has to say.
Mood Reading Match Up:
- Character-based narrative about values, outlooks, opinions, and actions of a main character
- Off-the-rails self-sabotage and who-to-trust drama
- Murder victim paranormal/spiritual dream scenes, hallucinations, and seeing the past through their eyes
- Gritty, noir style stories
Content Heads-Up: Alcohol and drug use (intentional, self-medicating, partying, overdose, addiction). Brain injury disability. Parental abandonment (missing). Indigenous experience in US (not sure about accuracy, realism, commentary, or health). Sexual content (consenting, intoxicated). Controlling spouse. Blood.
Format: Hardcover
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cultural appropriation, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder
maregred's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Colonisation, Cursing, Cultural appropriation, and Police brutality
archaicrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
White Horse is a creepy mystery with indigenous folklore, family secrets, and some drama. I really enjoyed the unique voice in this novel and the supernatural elements were truly eerie. However, there were several subplots in this one that felt unnecessary and forced, like they were thrown in to meet page count or something. This is made the second half of the novel a slog for me to get through and I felt like the twist was very obvious.
If you’re a horror fan or want to read more indigenous fiction I would definitely recommend White Horse, but if you’re looking for something ground breaking or truly terrifying look elsewhere.
If you’re a horror fan or want to read more indigenous fiction I would definitely recommend White Horse, but if you’re looking for something ground breaking or truly terrifying look elsewhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Grief, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Violence, Alcohol, and Blood
bahyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
White Horse by Erika Wurth follows the main character Kari on a journey of grief and generational trauma. Kari is 35 and surviving rather than living because of her unresolved trauma from the disappearance of her mother and the death of her childhood best friend. After her cousin gives her a bracelet that connects her to her mother, Kari begins to unravel what happened to her mother and finally process her emotions and trauma.
The narrator, Tonantzin Carmelo, brought life to the story. While listening to the audiobook the characters felt distinct. The writing and narration went well together.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator, Tonantzin Carmelo, brought life to the story. While listening to the audiobook the characters felt distinct. The writing and narration went well together.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Incest, Sexual assault, and Cultural appropriation
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