Reviews tagging 'War'

Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel

5 reviews

btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

A deeply heartbreaking novel that speaks to the use and abuse of Indigenous women at the hands of the French, among other settlers. It provides a semi-biographical story of the author's ancestors during the 1650s and beyond as the French settled in the Algonquin lands

I appreciated the nuanced perspectives of Marie, who wants to keep the memory of her people alive within her family, but is forced to leave her tribe behind; Pierre, her French husband who is extremely devoted to the church and his family; and Jeanne, their eldest daughter, who is two-spirited and in love with a woman. Every perspective was so important, and all the elements of their history and beliefs feel like they made the perfect storm for everything that happens to them over twenty years time. Absolutely heartbreaking, but also eye opening, as we journey with this couple through their lives together and the hurt and pain that comes with being who they are, but also what they believe in.

We need more books like this in the world, and I'm so thankful I picked this one up. Truly, such an important read. I'm so glad that a part of this author's family history is now forever part of the world through this book.

TW: blood, religious bigotry, war, death, colonialism, racism, sexual harassment, rape, domestic abuse, injury detail, sexism, pregnancy, death, death of an animal (hunting), grief, alcoholism, alcohol, grief, lesbophobia; mentions attempted rape, homophobia, death of a child, death of a parent, suicide

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Suicide, and Death of parent

richy_qu33r_readzz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

Gut-wrenching. 
Tells the story of a woman, a family, a people and their slow imprisonment within colonialism (patriarchy, forced religion, racism, and homophobia included). A decision made for survival shapes and eventually unravels a woman’s life, but first it traps, harms, and unravels her daughter. 
Perhaps needlessly violent for historical fiction, but tells the story as though it really happened and lends voice to the forgotten. Perhaps that’s a gift, it’s definitely a burden. I am left filled with rage and anguish. Do the queers only ever get to be happy in cheesy romance novels??

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Colonisation, and War

The queer folk are not allowed to be happy in this book. But they do exist in the 1600s

siobhanward's review

emotional informative sad 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? No

4.0

This book is incredibly sad, and even sadder when you get to the end and learned it's based in the reality of Daniel's ancestors. While I went in with a good knowledge of atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples in Canada in the name of the church, it was still a bit of a shock to read. Dividing the narrative between Marie and Jeanne added a great deal to the book - I think a whole book about one or the other would not have had the same impact as insight into both. Daniel is a talented writer and I am really looking forward to whatever comes next from her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Medical content, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pregnancy

booklover_04's review

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Sexual harassment

sandyrabanana's review

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and War