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book_vorfreude's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-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? No
3.0
I think what didn’t work the most for me here was the writing itself, I just really didn’t enjoy it, and found the time jumps to be very abrupt and unexpected. The story didn't flow how I was expecting it to, but that might most definitely be a "me" problem.
I did really enjoy the story that was told, I think it was incredibly relevant and heartbreaking. I will say that I wanted more of Jeanne and Josephine, this is where I feel like everything was just very abrupt, we got so little of them before everything happened that I didn't really get the time to adjust and connect with them.
I felt like this was so much more Marie's story, despite how much of it was Jeanne, and I was really invested in Marie and her life, I almost wanted to just follow her point of view the whole way.
I did really enjoy the story that was told, I think it was incredibly relevant and heartbreaking. I will say that I wanted more of Jeanne and Josephine, this is where I feel like everything was just very abrupt, we got so little of them before everything happened that I didn't really get the time to adjust and connect with them.
I felt like this was so much more Marie's story, despite how much of it was Jeanne, and I was really invested in Marie and her life, I almost wanted to just follow her point of view the whole way.
readsbyerica's review
5.0
I want to write a more thorough review, however I will have to keep it short and sweet. For the time being, I have no words that would do the novel justice.
What a moving and informative read. While reading Daughters of the Deer, I felt extreme sorrow. It’s extremely saddening to read the present reality that many indigenous women still experience today. I gasped when reading Josephine’s experience and really absorbed Jeanne’s hopelessness.
On a lighter note, I enjoyed immersing myself through the novel on the indigenous culture. I laughed when Pierre made the mistake of turning his back on the prisoner and the result which happened afterwards.
An amazing read that I would recommend to anyone looking to dive into Indigenous literature.
What a moving and informative read. While reading Daughters of the Deer, I felt extreme sorrow. It’s extremely saddening to read the present reality that many indigenous women still experience today. I gasped when reading Josephine’s experience and really absorbed Jeanne’s hopelessness.
On a lighter note, I enjoyed immersing myself through the novel on the indigenous culture. I laughed when Pierre made the mistake of turning his back on the prisoner and the result which happened afterwards.
An amazing read that I would recommend to anyone looking to dive into Indigenous literature.
____emily____'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Sexism, Death, Racism, Outing, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Animal death, Genocide, and Domestic abuse
smalltownbookmom's review
5.0
This was such a beautiful, haunting and deeply personal debut that reimagined what life was like in 17th century New France from the perspective of the Indigenous women who were encouraged (and sometimes forced) to marry white settlers and their resulting offspring.
Very few historical fiction books have been written about this time period, a notable exception being Suzanne Desrochers's Bride of New France. But whereas that book featured the white women sent from France as 'filles du roi', this story focuses on the even more marginalized women who were often abused and in this case even murdered.
I especially loved how this story focused on the love of a mother and her daughter and the struggles with acceptance Jeanne had as a 'mixed' race woman, neither fully Algonquin, nor fully accepted by her white father's people. To add to this she is two spirited, something that her mother's culture celebrated but Western society, including her father, found shameful and abnormal.
This book was wonderful on audio narrated by Jani Lauzon with a moving author's note included at the end. Highly, highly recommended, especially if you want to learn more about this important part of Canadian history! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
⚠️CW: Read with care, this book deals with violence against Indigenous women, homophobia and cultural genocide with the early origins of the Jesuits
Very few historical fiction books have been written about this time period, a notable exception being Suzanne Desrochers's Bride of New France. But whereas that book featured the white women sent from France as 'filles du roi', this story focuses on the even more marginalized women who were often abused and in this case even murdered.
I especially loved how this story focused on the love of a mother and her daughter and the struggles with acceptance Jeanne had as a 'mixed' race woman, neither fully Algonquin, nor fully accepted by her white father's people. To add to this she is two spirited, something that her mother's culture celebrated but Western society, including her father, found shameful and abnormal.
This book was wonderful on audio narrated by Jani Lauzon with a moving author's note included at the end. Highly, highly recommended, especially if you want to learn more about this important part of Canadian history! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
⚠️CW: Read with care, this book deals with violence against Indigenous women, homophobia and cultural genocide with the early origins of the Jesuits
julia2manybooks's review
5.0
That was a beautiful but heartbreaking story. It taught me a lot about the native Americans and mixed marriages. The end made me cry.
markwdoiron's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75