Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed Sisters of the Lost Nation and was very excited to read this. Indian Burial Ground is another great book, navigating tragic and strange activities happening present day and looking to the past to make sense of them. I appreciated the weaving together of Indigenous folklore with the real-life horrors of poverty and addiction.
I found the pacing a bit uneven at times, and this is certainly a more character-driven book; but the last third/quarter of this book was captivating. Will definitely continue to follow this author’s work.
I found the pacing a bit uneven at times, and this is certainly a more character-driven book; but the last third/quarter of this book was captivating. Will definitely continue to follow this author’s work.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death
I really wanted to love this, but like his other book it again fell short & was very slow. In fact I copied part of my other review here: “I definitely would not call this a thriller or a horror, but more of a slow burn mystery with elements of horror and mythological native elements that I found intriguing.” I felt exactly the same except this book was more horror than his debut.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
I was disappointed with this book. I loved Medina’s debut book, Sisters of the Lost Nation. This story seemed to be all over the place and lacked the same impact of Sisters. I appreciate how Medina highlights the struggles and injustices of how indigenous people are treated. However, this book did not work for me at all.
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide
Do not like the voice of the male narrator. Will pick up the digital format
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Narrators Uncle Louie and niece Noemi shared narrators going back and forth in time in this thriller set in a fictional Louisiana Takoda reservation. Classic horror elements alongside traditional storylines.
I started in audio and switched to hard copy as Farmer’s reading was not good.
I started in audio and switched to hard copy as Farmer’s reading was not good.
I’m not sure I can adequately describe what I loved about this book, but I will try.
First, the HORROR. I realized while reading this that I hadn’t read horror in a hot minute. I physically responded - changing my sitting position the moment the horror climaxed. At the end of one particular chapter, I yelled audibly at the book. Yelling with love, not anger. Haha
Secondly, the CHARACTERS. Nick Medina always does a brilliant job with creating characters that feel so real. It’s so easy to picture them, feel with them, and journey with them. Louie has easily become one of my all time favorite characters. I wanted desperately to hop into the story, and make sure he was taken care of!
Thirdly (and lastly), much like Sisters of the Lost Nation, this book paints a vivid picture of the realities facing Native American communities. I think what impressed me so much was how it was done in the most flawless storytelling fashion. You meet the characters, you love them, you journey with them, face hardships with them, and only afterwards do you remember there was a lesson there.
I read this book twice, back to back, because I didn’t want to leave it yet. How a horror novel felt cozy is beyond my understanding, but it definitely did. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.
First, the HORROR. I realized while reading this that I hadn’t read horror in a hot minute. I physically responded - changing my sitting position the moment the horror climaxed. At the end of one particular chapter, I yelled audibly at the book. Yelling with love, not anger. Haha
Secondly, the CHARACTERS. Nick Medina always does a brilliant job with creating characters that feel so real. It’s so easy to picture them, feel with them, and journey with them. Louie has easily become one of my all time favorite characters. I wanted desperately to hop into the story, and make sure he was taken care of!
Thirdly (and lastly), much like Sisters of the Lost Nation, this book paints a vivid picture of the realities facing Native American communities. I think what impressed me so much was how it was done in the most flawless storytelling fashion. You meet the characters, you love them, you journey with them, face hardships with them, and only afterwards do you remember there was a lesson there.
I read this book twice, back to back, because I didn’t want to leave it yet. How a horror novel felt cozy is beyond my understanding, but it definitely did. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.