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tigger89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you don't already know the details of what this is about, do yourself a favor and don't read too many reviews. I'm going to do my best to keep it vague here, but some of the others I've seen have been careless. This is definitely one of those books that benefits from the reader not knowing what to anticipate. All you really need to know about the plot is that this book is about family, secrets, and community.
I loved the way the novel approached the themes of family, both born and found. I also loved the atmosphere and historical context of this book. I had no idea that lone women were a real thing that had happened in US history, let alone that the opportunity had been available to Black women! The novel acknowledges, but doesn't spend much time grappling with, the colonization taking place. If there's anywhere it falls short it's in that respect. The ending rings a bit hollow when you remember that it's taking place not just on stolen land but on newly stolen land, with homesteaders who took direct advantage of the theft. I feel like if the author was going to bring it up then it needed to be better resolved, rather than just left hanging with a "well it is what it is."
Horror elements, while present, are fairly light. I was never afraid while reading this. There's some bloody scenes, along the lines of Carrie in terms of content, though written far less viscerally than King's style. Check content warnings or sample chapters if you're concerned.
Does the horse die? There are many horses owned by a variety of characters, including the protagonist.Several background character horses die over the course of the story. The protagonist's horse is the only horse we get to know that dies.
I loved the way the novel approached the themes of family, both born and found. I also loved the atmosphere and historical context of this book. I had no idea that lone women were a real thing that had happened in US history, let alone that the opportunity had been available to Black women! The novel acknowledges, but doesn't spend much time grappling with, the colonization taking place. If there's anywhere it falls short it's in that respect. The ending rings a bit hollow when you remember that it's taking place not just on stolen land but on newly stolen land, with homesteaders who took direct advantage of the theft. I feel like if the author was going to bring it up then it needed to be better resolved, rather than just left hanging with a "well it is what it is."
Horror elements, while present, are fairly light. I was never afraid while reading this. There's some bloody scenes, along the lines of Carrie in terms of content, though written far less viscerally than King's style. Check content warnings or sample chapters if you're concerned.
Does the horse die? There are many horses owned by a variety of characters, including the protagonist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Blood, Deadnaming, Outing, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
There are multiple scenes involving vigilante justice with parallels drawn to lynch mobs.peachani's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Dysphoria, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Deadnaming, and Confinement
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Cannibalism, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Racism, and Transphobia
displacedcactus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
The first half of this book grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. I had to know what was in Adelaide's trunk (I had an inkling), how long she would be able to keep her secrets, and what would happen when those secrets eventually got out. The second half was a little less compelling but no less enjoyable, as different plot elements weave their way towards a dramatic conclusion.
Adelaide is a complicated main character. I found her loveable, as I relate to characters with a certain amount of resentment towards their family, and I admired her independence. Other people may find her a little less likeable, but I hope readers will generally enjoy her complexity.
Although this is primarily Adelaide's story, there's a few other characters who take turns in the POV seat (the story shifts from third-person limited towards a more omniscient third-person narrator in a way that feels reminiscent of storytelling). I really enjoyed a peak at the lives of the different sort of people who might have homesteaded in Montana in the early 20th century; what brought them to such an isolated place, and what they were willing to do to create a life of their own.
This book straddles the line between dark historic fantasy and horror. If you're not usually a horror reader but are intrigued by the premise or setting of this book, take a look at the content warnings. I didn't find it especially scary, personally. I'd say it's more on the level of a Gothic in terms of being mysterious and atmospheric, but there is some violence and gore.
Adelaide is a complicated main character. I found her loveable, as I relate to characters with a certain amount of resentment towards their family, and I admired her independence. Other people may find her a little less likeable, but I hope readers will generally enjoy her complexity.
Although this is primarily Adelaide's story, there's a few other characters who take turns in the POV seat (the story shifts from third-person limited towards a more omniscient third-person narrator in a way that feels reminiscent of storytelling). I really enjoyed a peak at the lives of the different sort of people who might have homesteaded in Montana in the early 20th century; what brought them to such an isolated place, and what they were willing to do to create a life of their own.
This book straddles the line between dark historic fantasy and horror. If you're not usually a horror reader but are intrigued by the premise or setting of this book, take a look at the content warnings. I didn't find it especially scary, personally. I'd say it's more on the level of a Gothic in terms of being mysterious and atmospheric, but there is some violence and gore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Animal death, Deadnaming, Kidnapping, and Transphobia
dogearedbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Slavery, War, Sexism, Child death, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Racism
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