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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I liked it. Slow start but had a lot of history in it and ended with a bang!
I picked this up because I live in South Dakota and wanted to read about stuff close to home. It hooked in me from the start and I couldn't put it down.
Outstanding debut novel
Loved the setting. Loved the characters. Never tire of reading about the ways of the Lakota. Can’t wait for the next book.
Loved the setting. Loved the characters. Never tire of reading about the ways of the Lakota. Can’t wait for the next book.
I really loved this one. A page turner that I hated to put down, full of intrigue and mystery, and some twists too. One near the end left my mouth hanging open! I loved Virgil, with his flaws and his strengths, how he cared for Nathan, and his relationship with Marie. Some characters came to very violent ends, but it felt satisfying. And the epilogue is probably the best and most useful one I’ve ever read. I sometimes wished for a Lakota glossary but am glad too that there wasn’t one; the words were clear in context. I can’t wait to see the next book from this author, and would be thrilled if he writes another book with Virgil Wounded Horse at its center.
This was fine. One aspect that I can’t get around, though, is why Virgil would never question Ben’s sudden interest/charity towards him. Like didn’t Virgil say Ben hated that him and Marie dated way back when? And now they’re back together and not only does Ben not seem to mind, but now he is also offering Virgil’s nephew a free lawyer? Doesn’t seem a tad bit fishy? I swear I heard Mona Lisa and Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Rec singing “don’t be suspicious, don’t beeeee suspicious” in the background for the last 200 pages.
From a few chapters in, I was hooked and once I got to the last 20% or so I could not put this book down and actually audibly yelled “what?!”, “no way!”, and “oh my gosh!” a few times! This book has everything I like to see - an engaging plot, interesting characters that evolve with the story, and commentary on the state of the world/lives of a particular group. Winter Counts follows the journey of Virgil Wounded Horse, a Lakota man who has lost touch with his culture and works as hired justice, going after people on the reservation when the police choose not to. When his nephew gets caught up in the heroin that has newly entered the reservation, the story turns into an exciting thriller. Finally, although it is a work of fiction, the book explores many of the hardships the Lakota face and the injustices they have experienced both historically and currently. This was definitely one of my favorites!
For fans of S.A. Cosby! I think crime thrillers are a little too violent for me, so this will probably be my last one for a while. Our protagonist is a vigilante of sorts, and his past experiences and the fight scenes were hard to listen to sometimes.
The sentence structure was a bit awkward at times and the plot pretty predictable, but I still had a decent time. I really appreciated the conversations about how the federal government has mistreated and continues to mistreat indigenous peoples.
The sentence structure was a bit awkward at times and the plot pretty predictable, but I still had a decent time. I really appreciated the conversations about how the federal government has mistreated and continues to mistreat indigenous peoples.
(4.5/5) A gritty, fast-paced thriller tackling corruption, drug wars and local politics on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota – layered with an exploration of self-identity, grief and loss. A real page-turner, I couldn't put it down.
I should have written a review when I finished this.
It kept my attention mostly, but I also wasn’t super invested in it. I think I only finished it because I needed a book based in South Dakota.
It kept my attention mostly, but I also wasn’t super invested in it. I think I only finished it because I needed a book based in South Dakota.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault