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yaoipaddle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I picked this book up because I saw Margaret Atwood recommend it, I'm interested in reading more books by indigenous authors, and I love werewolf adjacent creatures. (The one in this story is a rogarou.)
The setting and the scenes between Joan (main character) and her family are so well written and make me perfectly visualize everything. The small details in character interactions and the places they visit or live in make everything feel so alive and immersive.
One thing I had to get used to is that at least early on the author uses so many pronouns when we're still being introduced to the large cast of characters. I had to reread passages a few times to organize in my head who was doing what or saying what. I'm not sure if the writing got better about naming who did what or if I just got used to it as the book went on.
If you read this book please be aware of the large amount of sexual content most of which is quite graphic. The sheer amount of it in what is a mystery novel surprised me and tbh annoyed me. Everyone other than the kid characters are constantly talking about sex, thinking about sex, or having sex. To the point where I'm just waiting for it to be mentioned yet again in every chapter. Everyone is so freaking horny and most of it is so purposeless to me. Even if you like having sexual content in anything you read, the content in this book feels so out of place so often.
The pacing for most of the book was pretty good. The plot is interesting and gives just enough mystery to make you feel interested but not overwhelmed. And just when I thought the pacing was going too fast I realized that it was pretty well planned!
However by the last few chapters of the book it felt very rushed and everything was a bit to convenient just to wrap the story up.
I also felt let down and like some important characters were introduced too late with zero prep and just gone as soon as they came. (No pun intended considering all the sex in this book).
Overall an immersive setting and cast with a fun mystery to keep you on your toes. This all is dragged down by out of place sex and rushed pacing at the end.
Graphic: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Grief, Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Infidelity, Colonisation, Animal death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, and Alcoholism
Minor: Trafficking, Stalking, Murder, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
kinomatica's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Gaslighting, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, and Animal death
Minor: Racism, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
saracatalyst's review against another edition
2.0
There were good ideas here, and I feel like it *could* have been a good read, but it just wasn’t.
Early on, I found it pretty hard to keep straight who we were reading about and how they were related to the other characters. At a certain point I just gave up. The character development felt lacking and uneven. It felt like the author was trying, and some passages and sentences really stuck, but overall a lot didn’t work.
There was random homophobia in the book at one point. I doubt it’s a reflection of the author’s belief, but it’s not completely clear why it was there at all. It was never particularly relevant in any way - either needed to be fleshed out to show why it was relevant or just edited out! Same with some random misogyny from Joan toward other women and an offhand comment comparing the German villain to Hitler, because of course.
Loved the cultural context and blending of different myths. Jotted down a few really good sentences. Overall, not a big fan of this one.
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia
bookdragon217's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Pregnancy
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
- This book is full of messy characters (some of whom I thought could have stood to have a little more page time) and you're rooting for Joan the whole way. I was turning pages as fast as I could, and the final showdown had me gripped.
- The ending seems to have people split, and I can see why - if you read this book, come talk to me about what you think happens!
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts