Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel

27 reviews

donaldleitch's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Daughters of the Deer tells the story of French and indigenous cultures mixing in Nouvelle France (today's Québec).  The primary female characters are indigenous, each married to French soldiers.  Indigenous culture in the community is struggling as the colonialism of the French is ascending.  The novel also explores the "two spirit" relationship of one of the daughters of an indigenous/French couple.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

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

colleendowning's review

emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide

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

j3p's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

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

thesvnthsense's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicide

jodiviolet's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

Danielle Daniel writes of the holistic relationship between nature and human so well, it’s one of the strongest factors of the book. The plot line and dialgue wasn’t as compelling but still good. The characters’ internal dialgues about their struggles are moving. I was captivated by Jeanne’s increasing suspenseful twists towards the end, and I appreciated both Pierre’s & Marie’s development towards the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Suicide

khaben31's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Outing, and Colonisation

Moderate: Violence and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, and Suicide

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