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bear_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
D-d-didn't care for all the stammering EVERYONE did ALL. THE. TIME. But other than that, it was okay.
jpfortmiller's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Antisemitism and Hate crime
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
susyhendrix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
5.0
A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.
1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.
The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: educational, awesome glimpse into 1920s Oregon; entertaining, fun characters; a sense of mystery and flair for drama; some interesting/unforseen plot twists; complex, heart-wrenching story; subtle but easy-to-spy influence/references to Shakespeare's Hamlet; LIFE RUINER!
Huge thanks go out to Cat Winters, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered how I read or reviewed this book!
GUYS! I forgot how much I absolutely love love looooove reading historical fiction! And this?! This book is the perfect melting pot of historical, diverse, and absolutely brilliant. Also, apparently it's a Hamlet retelling, which I didn't know going in...but can definitely see now! I have to admit, when I found out that little tidbit, I squealed a bit TOO loudly in the husband's ear. I don't think he likes me very much right now; I proceeded to go on a five minute rant about how much I love Hamlet. Oops!
But seriously, let's get into this. The book starts off RIGHT in the middle: with Hanalee pointing a gun at the head of her father's murderer, threatening to kill him. I mean really...if you weren't sure about the book before diving in, by the end of the first chapter you should be hooked and dying to know what happens next! I could not slow down while reading; this was a break-neck, full-throttle tilt into the mysteries and drama of 1920s Oregon.
Cat Winters did her research, and I give her major props for weaving everything she learned/knew about this time period into a dramatic, heart-wrenching, awesome read! The characters are engaging, redeemable (in the cases that matter, anyway) and complex. They will push your buttons. They will annoy you. They will FORCE you to think outside the box...and to think about things you might not have considered before. This entire read is written in a way that pushes readers out of their comfort zones and makes them actually think about what's going on. And it will piss you off, no doubt about it. It will make you nauseaus. It will turn your blood to acid in your veins. If you're anything like me...you'll love every minute of it.
The prose is also pretty astounding—gorgeous, melodic, and descriptive in all the right places. There's a masterful blend of the realistic with the paranormal that Cat Winters pulls off beautifully—and manages to work seamlessly into the time period. The entire story is seamless—the plot is action-packed, filled with mystery, and wrapped up by the last page without holes. The character's all go through life-changing, deep growths. And hey...it's 1920s Hamlet! Where could you go wrong?!
This is a fantastic, pulse-pounding, haunting read—I promise you do NOT want to miss out on it! I'd definitely recommend to lovers of historical fiction, diverse characters, and just a slice of paranormal mixed into their reality worlds. I can't wait to dive into another Cat Winters read—it's a good thing I have a few waiting for me on my Kindle!
1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.
The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.
- - - - -
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: educational, awesome glimpse into 1920s Oregon; entertaining, fun characters; a sense of mystery and flair for drama; some interesting/unforseen plot twists; complex, heart-wrenching story; subtle but easy-to-spy influence/references to Shakespeare's Hamlet; LIFE RUINER!
Huge thanks go out to Cat Winters, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered how I read or reviewed this book!
“Do you hope to get married someday?” he asked.
“As long as I don’t fall in love with a man the wrong color.”
He exhaled a steady stream of air through his nostrils. “I think love and wrong are two deeply unrelated words that should never be thrown into the same sentence together. Like dessert and broccoli.”
GUYS! I forgot how much I absolutely love love looooove reading historical fiction! And this?! This book is the perfect melting pot of historical, diverse, and absolutely brilliant. Also, apparently it's a Hamlet retelling, which I didn't know going in...but can definitely see now! I have to admit, when I found out that little tidbit, I squealed a bit TOO loudly in the husband's ear. I don't think he likes me very much right now; I proceeded to go on a five minute rant about how much I love Hamlet. Oops!
But seriously, let's get into this. The book starts off RIGHT in the middle: with Hanalee pointing a gun at the head of her father's murderer, threatening to kill him. I mean really...if you weren't sure about the book before diving in, by the end of the first chapter you should be hooked and dying to know what happens next! I could not slow down while reading; this was a break-neck, full-throttle tilt into the mysteries and drama of 1920s Oregon.
Silence reigned over the world outside the window above the sink, and only a hint of the glow of whiskey stills peeked above the tops of the trees. Or maybe I only imagined that faint glimmer of orange. Maybe the world slept uneasily, holding its breath, waiting to see what I would do next.
Cat Winters did her research, and I give her major props for weaving everything she learned/knew about this time period into a dramatic, heart-wrenching, awesome read! The characters are engaging, redeemable (in the cases that matter, anyway) and complex. They will push your buttons. They will annoy you. They will FORCE you to think outside the box...and to think about things you might not have considered before. This entire read is written in a way that pushes readers out of their comfort zones and makes them actually think about what's going on. And it will piss you off, no doubt about it. It will make you nauseaus. It will turn your blood to acid in your veins. If you're anything like me...you'll love every minute of it.
The prose is also pretty astounding—gorgeous, melodic, and descriptive in all the right places. There's a masterful blend of the realistic with the paranormal that Cat Winters pulls off beautifully—and manages to work seamlessly into the time period. The entire story is seamless—the plot is action-packed, filled with mystery, and wrapped up by the last page without holes. The character's all go through life-changing, deep growths. And hey...it's 1920s Hamlet! Where could you go wrong?!
“I brought flowering almonds for you,” she said, and she handed me the flowers, which she had wrapped in a white handkerchief and secured with a ribbon the same pink as the petals.
“Are these for luck, too,” I asked, “like the alfalfa?”
“No, for hope.” She squeezed my hand. “An entire bouquet full of hope.”
This is a fantastic, pulse-pounding, haunting read—I promise you do NOT want to miss out on it! I'd definitely recommend to lovers of historical fiction, diverse characters, and just a slice of paranormal mixed into their reality worlds. I can't wait to dive into another Cat Winters read—it's a good thing I have a few waiting for me on my Kindle!
bmg20's review against another edition
2.0
The year is 1923 and in a small town in Oregon, hate spreads like wildfire. Life is challenging for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a black man and a white woman, but she has learned to persevere. When her father is killed by a drunk driver, she’s devastated by his absence from her life, especially after her mother quickly remarries. The boy responsible for his death, Joe Adder, is released from prison a mere seventeen months after being sentenced and once Hanalee finds out she takes her anger and a loaded gun to pay him a visit. After speaking with Joe, she leaves with her entire perception changed after hearing a vastly different story about what happened the night her dad died: he didn’t die from an automobile accident and that the man her mom remarried is the one truly responsible for his death.
I’ve read every Cat Winters book at this point but they seem to be hit or miss for me. I loved both [b:In the Shadow of Blackbirds|13112915|In the Shadow of Blackbirds|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348721608s/13112915.jpg|18286614] and [b:The Uninvited|19547848|The Uninvited|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1415313161s/19547848.jpg|27679567], but felt [b:The Cure for Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486] was slightly mediocre in comparison. The Steep & Thorny Way falls in the latter category. Much like [b:Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486], I felt that the subject matter was something I would normally welcome, however, overall it ended up feeling incredibly flat and listless. Cat Winters signature style has always been a fusion of stories with historical importance and a flair of paranormal, and it’s something that she does quite well. With, Thorny though, the Hamlet retelling comparisons as well as the paranormal aspects were elements which could have been left out entirely without affecting the story. A story about a half black/half white girl living during the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and a homosexual boy that is struggling to survive in a time where the study of eugenics has many thinking the issue of homosexuality is something that can be “fixed” is absolutely a strong enough story on its own.
I always appreciate the lesser known periods of history being given a spotlight and it’s interesting to see a story focus on the influence of the Ku Klux Klan extending far past the deep South, clear into Oregon. Tackling both race and sexuality prejudices in addition to touching on the topic of eugenics was edifying without feeling overwhelming, except I kept feeling off and on as if these characters were simplistic versions of their true potential. I suppose what it all boils down to though is Winters definitely demonstrates the ugliness of the times, yet it’s covered in a glossy veneer that hides the true grotesqueness doing the seriousness of the story somewhat of a disservice.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’ve read every Cat Winters book at this point but they seem to be hit or miss for me. I loved both [b:In the Shadow of Blackbirds|13112915|In the Shadow of Blackbirds|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348721608s/13112915.jpg|18286614] and [b:The Uninvited|19547848|The Uninvited|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1415313161s/19547848.jpg|27679567], but felt [b:The Cure for Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486] was slightly mediocre in comparison. The Steep & Thorny Way falls in the latter category. Much like [b:Dreaming|20702018|The Cure for Dreaming|Cat Winters|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1397628715s/20702018.jpg|24967486], I felt that the subject matter was something I would normally welcome, however, overall it ended up feeling incredibly flat and listless. Cat Winters signature style has always been a fusion of stories with historical importance and a flair of paranormal, and it’s something that she does quite well. With, Thorny though, the Hamlet retelling comparisons as well as the paranormal aspects were elements which could have been left out entirely without affecting the story. A story about a half black/half white girl living during the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and a homosexual boy that is struggling to survive in a time where the study of eugenics has many thinking the issue of homosexuality is something that can be “fixed” is absolutely a strong enough story on its own.
I always appreciate the lesser known periods of history being given a spotlight and it’s interesting to see a story focus on the influence of the Ku Klux Klan extending far past the deep South, clear into Oregon. Tackling both race and sexuality prejudices in addition to touching on the topic of eugenics was edifying without feeling overwhelming, except I kept feeling off and on as if these characters were simplistic versions of their true potential. I suppose what it all boils down to though is Winters definitely demonstrates the ugliness of the times, yet it’s covered in a glossy veneer that hides the true grotesqueness doing the seriousness of the story somewhat of a disservice.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
cammmiam's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars.
There were many things to appreciate about this story. The nod to Hamlet, as a deceased father's ghost can not rest. A biracial character. Conversations about eugenics policies in the state of Washington.
There were many things to appreciate about this story. The nod to Hamlet, as a deceased father's ghost can not rest. A biracial character. Conversations about eugenics policies in the state of Washington.
itsneilcochrane's review against another edition
2.0
This is really more like 2.5 stars. It was a really fast read, and there were some elements that I enjoyed--the time period felt accurate, for example, and I appreciate it drawing attention to some nasty parts of Oregon's past (which contribute even now to some nasty parts of Oregon's present). But it didn't have the sense of dread, and darkness, and drama that Hamlet has, and I was hoping for that, as much as I appreciate an attempt to retool it into a non-tragedy.
The thing that knocked this from three to two stars for me was my discomfort around the treatment of Joe, a gay boy who gets sent to jail for the death of Hanalee's father: Overall, the portrayal of Joe through Hanalee's perspective felt like it allowed Joe to be a pseudo-love-interest despite his orientation. I'd bet it wasn't intentional, but I still didn't like it.
The thing that knocked this from three to two stars for me was my discomfort around the treatment of Joe, a gay boy who gets sent to jail for the death of Hanalee's father:
Spoiler
There's a scene where Joe and Hanalee are forced to kiss at knifepoint, which was DEEPLY uncomfortable to begin with and was unnecessary. Later on, Joe offers to kiss Hanalee again because the coerced kiss was her first and he wanted to give her a "real" kiss. How does that make sense at all? They're quite physical with each other in the book, which on the one hand, yay platonic physical affection...except it didn't feel platonic on Hanalee's side. At the end, Hanalee considers asking Joe "what they mean to each other," which feels like twisting their friendship into a possibly romantic connection despite Joe's stated romantic and physical attraction to boys.waclements7's review against another edition
5.0
I have really come to love Cat Winters’ books. Partially I think because she writes about the history of Oregon (reading the ‘About the Author’ in this book, we’ve lived in Oregon about the same amount of time), but because her characters are relatable and real, and their stories are gripping. I love the twists and unexpected, and I really love the paranormal sneaking in. Knowing this was a rough adaptation of Hamlet, I was expecting different things and it was a pleasant surprise to have those expectations upended and the person I thought was bad turn out to be good. I liked the way the KKK was worked into the story, and also how people are not always what they seem. Hannalee is a strong character who fights for what is right in a world who isn’t always accepting of her. The relationship between her family is realistic. Really a very good book.