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siobhanward's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
5.0
This was an incredibly strong debut for Jessica Johns, and I think she'll be on the literary scene for a long time to come. This story was well-developed and interesting and honestly creepy at times. Johns created a mysterious atmosphere without forcing it and it really paid off. All of the characters felt like real people, with just enough development that I cared about them, without it being an info overload.
My only real qualm was that at times the pacing felt off and things seemed a bit repetitive. However, the rest of the book more than made up for these minor shortfalls. I'm so glad to have come across Johns and I'm already looking forward to more from her.
My only real qualm was that at times the pacing felt off and things seemed a bit repetitive. However, the rest of the book more than made up for these minor shortfalls. I'm so glad to have come across Johns and I'm already looking forward to more from her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction
shadestate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a wonderful, raw exploration of grief, community, and guilt. How avoiding deep pain doesn't make it disappear. It just gets a chance to linger and fester. I loved how Mackenzie, the main character, was deeply flawed. Anxious, avoidant, pushing people away because she feels like a burden. Unable to ask for help. Falling into the trap that pretending you're okay is the same as not making your loved ones worried. Yet still loved by her family and friends. Because we all have our flaws, the bad.
A five of cups book at its core. Definitely want to reread this late October, when I think the pages will speak even more than they did now, at the start of spring.
A five of cups book at its core. Definitely want to reread this late October, when I think the pages will speak even more than they did now, at the start of spring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Racism, and Child death
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Body horror, and Murder
literallyjustjo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
It's dark, it's spooky, it's everything the synopsis says it is. I highly recommend reading this book. Just not late at night and especially not while camping. You'll thank me later.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Grief, Death, Colonisation, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Addiction
ortizzyy's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book has a lot of potential. I love that the premise revolves around Cree mythology. This book is also a great example of how adding Queer and/or NB characters in a book can be as simple as just adding them! It took too long for there to be any resolution with the dreams. The intensity of the dreams progressed so slowly that I began to lose interest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Animal death
blacksphinx's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Somehow this is the third horror novel I've read this year about grief and the second about the death of a family member, and it's my favorite handling of the subject. At its heart, this is a novel about how you can't outrun your grief no matter how much it pains you to feel it.
It was also wonderful to see the treatment of a piece of indigenous folklore that is often misused and cheapened by outsiders being handled by someone from that culture!
If you're looking for something that will chill you to the bone and keep you up at night, I don't think this will do it for you. It is eerie and disorienting, focusing more on untangling a mystery than being scared. A peak atmospheric read.
It was also wonderful to see the treatment of a piece of indigenous folklore that is often misused and cheapened by outsiders being handled by someone from that culture!
If you're looking for something that will chill you to the bone and keep you up at night, I don't think this will do it for you. It is eerie and disorienting, focusing more on untangling a mystery than being scared. A peak atmospheric read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Until the (excellent) ending the horror content was a little slow for me, but I loved the warmth and healing of the family relationships. They all felt like real people to me. It was also really refreshing to read a book that so completely centres women (and one nonbinary person) and their relationships to one another.
Raven Reads has not steered me wrong yet. Highly recommended.
Raven Reads has not steered me wrong yet. Highly recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Blood, Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Cannibalism, and Colonisation
savvylit's review
dark
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
4.5
Bad Cree is an incredibly captivating literary horror novel. Though estranged from her family at the novel's start, Mackenzie's dreams force her to gradually reestablish relationships that she'd been too ashamed to rekindle. What follows is a searing portrait of grief, tradition, intergenerational trauma, and familial healing.
The best aspect of Bad Cree is in the characterization. Johns' portrayal of family dynamics is so beautifully rendered. The love and understanding that Mackenzie's female relatives have for one another is palpable as the story progresses. Mackenzie's aunties are such a strong, guiding force in her life. My only criticism would be that I wanted more of their story! I'd love to hear more about the aunties as they grew up and about their kokum.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in reading about family dynamics in the face of immense loss.
The best aspect of Bad Cree is in the characterization. Johns' portrayal of family dynamics is so beautifully rendered. The love and understanding that Mackenzie's female relatives have for one another is palpable as the story progresses. Mackenzie's aunties are such a strong, guiding force in her life. My only criticism would be that I wanted more of their story! I'd love to hear more about the aunties as they grew up and about their kokum.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in reading about family dynamics in the face of immense loss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction
ukponge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Religious bigotry
mshiiken's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Y'all, this book is magic. It's an incredible debut and I'm thrilled to see what Jessica Johns puts out next. If you want a story about family ties, healing from trauma, and deeply scary stuff, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cannibalism, and Body horror
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cancer, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
These things are mentioned in the context of the story and reflect real things that happen to Indigenous/First Nations people around the world. It's tough, but it's necessary to tell the story fully and to help you understand the characters.melodyseestrees's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Addiction, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Vomit, Drug use, and Alcoholism