Reviews with content warning for Car accident - Empire of Wild

I quite enjoyed this book. I loved reading about the Rogarou and the depiction of this tale from a Metis perspective. I loved the fact that the author didn't explain exactly what the traditional tale was: it kept some sort of mystery, while making me feel part of the community by assuming I knew.
The social commentary embedded in the story is particularly enlightening.
That being said, the writing style was sometimes a little slow, and I was thrown off by the points of views switching from one character to the next.
I am still processing the ending, I applaud its audacity, but maybe it's a little too abrupt ? The jury is still out on this one.

Overall, I think I would recommend this book, it's an easy read, quite gripping sometimes, albeit a little unequal. Great book to get acquainted with traditional folklore and current social issues in indigenous communities. Some violent and/or frightening passages that may make it unsuitable to all audiences (especially at night...). Be sure to check out the trigger warning list before embarking on the journey.

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lilcoppertop's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

While this isn't a genre I normally read, I was intrigued by the premise. Plus, Cherie Dimaline is a fantastic writer. This is infused with myth and darkness. At times, it feels like there are too many characters to follow, even though Joan grounds the entire story. And that ending! Dimaline wasn't afraid to end on a bold note.

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readingbetweenthenotes's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I can't remember ever reading a book about or written by a Native American author (something I'm ashamed of but working now to change). I'm really glad to have started with this book by Cherie Dimaline! Her writing had a hauntingly beautiful quality and I genuinely enjoyed the reading experience.

This book had such a unique premise and was unlike anything I've ever read before. I really felt for the protagonist Joan, who was desperately trying to get her husband back and facing the most fascinating of obstacles.

Empire of Wild truly captivated me from start to finish. The prologue grabbed me instantly and each chapter drew me further into this twisty story. Parts of the book read like an urban legend (with which I've always had a fascination) or an episode of Supernatural (one of my favourite shows). So if those are things you enjoy too, I'd definitely recommend this one!

The book also provided a great insight into Native American culture and I loved learning about the different beliefs and practices of these people. Dimaline did a great job of highlighting and challenging the prejudices still faced by these communities. I also really appreciated the family dynamics that were portrayed.

I won't say anything about the book's ending, other than this book was a JOURNEY! Overall, I'm just very pleased to have read this one and would definitely recommend it, if you like the sound of it!

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sallysimply's review

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, what a great read! There is just something so wonderful about going into a book knowing nothing about it (other than some people whose recommendations you trust say it’s good) and then being completely captivated by the story.

This is a fantastic book. It’s unnerving in a subtle way, and I found myself distracted whenever I wasn’t reading it because I kept being freaked out and wondering what would happen next.

I love when messy people can just be messy. I love when things are not fully resolved. I love when there’s an undercurrent of social commentary. This book was made for me.

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alexiswiththefreckles's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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notthatlibrarian's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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