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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Wooo that ending though! I did not think I was going to make it lol. The social commentary was amazing and I really felt like I was at the Rosebud Indian Reservation experiencing the highs, the lows, the injustices, and the victories.
I give this book 4 stars solely based on the social commentary. The heroin and drug influx brought into the reservation reminds me of the drug trafficking that occurs within the Black community. Where do the drugs come from? Who brings them into the community? The parallels between the Lakota natives and the Black experience are similar in a multitude of ways and that really brought this book home for me. Definitely some content warnings throughout the book but I don't think it should discourage anyone from reading it.
Unfortunately, I was able to figure out the mystery and who was behind the drug trafficking about halfway into the book, but I blame that on my readings of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys back in the day:) It was pretty slow in the beginning but the ENDING?!?! Goodness gracious that ending was crucial. I definitely would be down if this turns into a series!
I give this book 4 stars solely based on the social commentary. The heroin and drug influx brought into the reservation reminds me of the drug trafficking that occurs within the Black community. Where do the drugs come from? Who brings them into the community? The parallels between the Lakota natives and the Black experience are similar in a multitude of ways and that really brought this book home for me. Definitely some content warnings throughout the book but I don't think it should discourage anyone from reading it.
Unfortunately, I was able to figure out the mystery and who was behind the drug trafficking about halfway into the book, but I blame that on my readings of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys back in the day:) It was pretty slow in the beginning but the ENDING?!?! Goodness gracious that ending was crucial. I definitely would be down if this turns into a series!
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
What a beautiful book about identity, spirituality, family, and community. A recurring theme throughout is Virgil's disconnect and disbelief in the "traditional ways" and spirituality of the Lakota. He feels strong ties to his community which keeps him from leaving the rez, but otherwise he's not sure what he believes in, ultimately thinking most of it is a sham. He grapples with the pain and suffering of his ancestors and how those struggles are mirrored in the lives of Lakotas today. Yes, there are thrills, but ultimately that's not the focus of the book. Everything comes full circle at the end and it is utterly beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
just dark themes in general. Virgil goes into detail about many of the cases that he has taken on, which basically always includes physical abuse, substance dependency, sexual assualt of adults and minors, child neglect. etc. It's a great book but please be careful <3
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This wasn't a super fast-paced thriller, but I really liked the setting and the characters. I have a feeling this could become a series, and I'm ok with reading more from this author and about Virgil.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
As good as everyone says, what a great debut novel.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Winter Counts is about a Native American vigilante “thug, Virgil Wounded Horse, who is hired to take care of business that the Federal Government refuses to touch on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. But when his line of work turns personal, he has to decide if he can trust the feds to make the right choice or take matters into his own hands. This crime thriller gives us a closer look at reservation life and the failed criminal justice that plagues many reservations across the country.
I loved this story so much, I could not put it down. I was so fascinated by the authors ability to draw on his own experiences and intersperse them with a believable fictional story. I thought the writing was so beautiful and the words used by the author had me enthralled nearly the whole time. I was very excited to learn more about Native American culture and reading this book gave me a glimpse of what reservation life is like. This book also touches on an important topic of how crimes are prosecuted on a reservation, it sheds light on the injustices still plaguing the Native American people. Not only that, but it provides us with the tools to learn more about culture and how we can better educate ourselves about the criminal justice system relating to reservations.
I loved this story so much, I could not put it down. I was so fascinated by the authors ability to draw on his own experiences and intersperse them with a believable fictional story. I thought the writing was so beautiful and the words used by the author had me enthralled nearly the whole time. I was very excited to learn more about Native American culture and reading this book gave me a glimpse of what reservation life is like. This book also touches on an important topic of how crimes are prosecuted on a reservation, it sheds light on the injustices still plaguing the Native American people. Not only that, but it provides us with the tools to learn more about culture and how we can better educate ourselves about the criminal justice system relating to reservations.
Was not in love with the pros of this book; definitely excited to hear that is a sequel and also enjoyed how layered all the characters were
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.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes