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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 / 5
Son of a Trickster is at it’s best when dealing with the lives of its characters, something that it provides an unflinching, vivid, and engaging look at. This stuff is the bulk of the book, and (save the odd bit of awkward dialogue and clumsy pop culture reference) makes for a strong tale of the coping mechanisms of child who has had to grow up too fast.
Its approach to the supernatural is a lot more haphazard, though. While the last third is at turns harrowing, breathtaking, and sometimes beautiful in this, all the stuff before that point can feel tacked on (a certain bus encounter springs to mind), and the lack of buildup or follow-up to these early isolated moments of weirdness can feel jarring. And for a book about a Trickster coming back into the life of his son, there sure is surprisingly little trickery to be found.
All that said, I’m certainly interested to read more about Jared coming to terms with himself and his ancestry - which, at the end of the day, is the most important thing.
Son of a Trickster is at it’s best when dealing with the lives of its characters, something that it provides an unflinching, vivid, and engaging look at. This stuff is the bulk of the book, and (save the odd bit of awkward dialogue and clumsy pop culture reference) makes for a strong tale of the coping mechanisms of child who has had to grow up too fast.
Its approach to the supernatural is a lot more haphazard, though. While the last third is at turns harrowing, breathtaking, and sometimes beautiful in this, all the stuff before that point can feel tacked on (a certain bus encounter springs to mind), and the lack of buildup or follow-up to these early isolated moments of weirdness can feel jarring. And for a book about a Trickster coming back into the life of his son, there sure is surprisingly little trickery to be found.
All that said, I’m certainly interested to read more about Jared coming to terms with himself and his ancestry - which, at the end of the day, is the most important thing.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
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
This book started slow but really sucked me into the story. The fantastic elements felt very natural, and you root for all the imperfect characters.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
Overall enjoyed the book. Started out one way, and then it seemed to not be mentioned for a long time so I wasn't sure of the relevance and then it came up again the last third of the book. So it seemed a bit disjunct that way. But still the first 2/3 were so engaging I couldn't stop reading. Lots of family dysfunction and alcohol and drug abuse in the book. One graphic depiction of animal abuse/death that didn't seem to have a ton of relevance to the overall story, although there are a lot of hard things discussed in the book so I guess it ties in that way. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but I guess that might be because it's part of a series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I got chills from reading Monkey Beach and they returned as I walked in Jared's skin while he walked around Northern B.C. and multi-dimensions or what some people call the spirit world. The voice and incremental increasing dosages of awesome aka magic were written with great thought, skill and craft. And many truths are laid out in a heartbreakingly brutal way with sarcastic humour to make it go down easier. I was surprised by how much Jared meant to me and how deeply I cared for him because of how he cares and tries so hard to take care of the ones he loves. This in the end is what Son of a Trickster boils down to, caring. The need to care for self, others and earth. Moreover how true caring requires action and accountability. Please can anyone tell me if J'wa sins is Mouse Woman Google hates me.