Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel

23 reviews

prairieraven's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

sunnie99's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Colonisation

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

lumew2's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

i need a cigarette.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Colonisation

Moderate: Incest

danimain's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, and Violence

psalm1003's review

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

2.0

This book was very depressing and the pacing was disjointed. Many characters were one-dimensional with minimal explanation for why they did what they did and would drastically change from one page to the next. The book offered a perspective on the indigenous queer experience but in my opinion lacked nuance to truly present that experience in its fullness. It felt like miserable experience after miserable experience for the non-white and LGBTQ+ characters. The white people and church were caricaturistic villains lacking any humanity. Again, no nuance. I found Marie’s perspective to be the most consistent and interesting. I appreciated the presentation of community and the mother-daughter connection that develops. The ending was very anti-climactic and sad. I’m not sure if I can say this book provided representation of the indigenous experience and I wonder if other works by native and/or queer authors would do a better job. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

daniellekat's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.25

An important story focused on colonialism in Canada that needs to be told more often. Ultimately the writing was just not for me. It was very simple and I was expecting something with more nuance and prose. The characters were flat and it was hard to understand their motivations with the changing POVs and switching from first and third person narration. I was confused by the target audience for this book because the content could be challenging but the writing was very juvenile. It would be a great novel study for high school students due to the developed themes and stylistic choices. It was fascinating to know that this fictional tale was rooted in the author’s ancestry. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Outing, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy

piakau's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was good and it was interesting to read a book from this perspective and time period. It got me thinking about how quickly things can change and the ripple effects of what happens to one generation. But much of the plot and characters felt simplistic and flat, which makes sense now that I have read a bit more about the author.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Rape

jen_again's review against another edition

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Outing, and Colonisation

Moderate: Pregnancy

shegetsliterary's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Racism and Colonisation

Moderate: Homophobia and Rape