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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Cultural appropriation
dark
informative
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:
Complicated
A slow-burn, character driven crime novel that quickly descends into a heart pounding thriller. Winter Counts finds a sweet spot between social commentary and the mystery/thriller genre.
Virgil Wounded Horse is his reservation's "fixer"; he is who the community turn to when the tribal police and FBI have let him down. When hard drugs make their way onto the reservation and his nephew gets swept up in the seedy underbelly of drug trafficking, Virgil has no choice but to get involved to keep his nephew and community safe.
He’s the guy residents turn to after the tribal police and the feds have let them down
Aside from the gripping mystery, there is an outstanding social commentary infused into the narrative through descriptions of Indigenous spiritual practices, cuisine and the issues of indigenous communities.
The novel is just one of the many examples of why we need to continue to diversify our reading lists and why we need to see more works published by indigenous writers.
Readalikes: Firekeeper's Daughter (Angeline Boulley), Seven Fallen Feather (Tanya Talaga), The Inconvenient Indian (Thomas King)
Virgil Wounded Horse is his reservation's "fixer"; he is who the community turn to when the tribal police and FBI have let him down. When hard drugs make their way onto the reservation and his nephew gets swept up in the seedy underbelly of drug trafficking, Virgil has no choice but to get involved to keep his nephew and community safe.
He’s the guy residents turn to after the tribal police and the feds have let them down
Aside from the gripping mystery, there is an outstanding social commentary infused into the narrative through descriptions of Indigenous spiritual practices, cuisine and the issues of indigenous communities.
The novel is just one of the many examples of why we need to continue to diversify our reading lists and why we need to see more works published by indigenous writers.
Readalikes: Firekeeper's Daughter (Angeline Boulley), Seven Fallen Feather (Tanya Talaga), The Inconvenient Indian (Thomas King)
I think this author did a really great job of telling a solid story while integrating the history and culture of the Lakota. I did hit on the ending towards the beginning of the story, but I also got sidetracked thinking another character was involved. All in all, it was a good story and I'd read more if there ever is any!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
I loved this mystery. The characters were excellent, the action and pacing was great, and the educational aspect was very deftly done. It reminded me a lot of Reservation Dogs (a lot in here only for Indigenous audiences, but also a lot for everyone else, and a great mix of entertaining and reverent). Virgil is an amazing antihero (though that feels a little too negative).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes