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lbelow's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I love the idea of this world, especially the justice system. The execution was a bit clumsy in spots (with info dumps that I found jarring as they essentially explained to the reader how this alternate world is different from ours).
The plot was decent. I guessed the murderer from the beginning, but was surprised by the motive. The author was also skilled enough at presenting information that I was occupied for most of the book trying to guess the truth about a clue that turned out not to pertain to the murder after all.
I can't pretend that the book left me with a good feeling by the end, but I'm not sorry I read it.
The plot was decent. I guessed the murderer from the beginning, but was surprised by the motive. The author was also skilled enough at presenting information that I was occupied for most of the book trying to guess the truth about a clue that turned out not to pertain to the murder after all.
I can't pretend that the book left me with a good feeling by the end, but I'm not sorry I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder and Death of parent
Minor: Grief, Stalking, and Suicide
Drugging of POV character.razzberry_pi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I went into this book expecting much more of a science fiction element than was delivered. Scifi elements are mostly contained to slightly more advanced technology than we currently have.
The bulk of the story is focused on the murder mystery with some interesting world building around the alternative reality premise.
The resolution to the murder mystery was underwhelming for me.
Ashwiyaa's characterization totally flipped after the reveal that she was the murderer. Her motives felt weakly planned and just fell back on tropes about people with antisocial personality disorder.
The bulk of the story is focused on the murder mystery with some interesting world building around the alternative reality premise.
The resolution to the murder mystery was underwhelming for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Forced institutionalization
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
I absolutely loved this book and was blown away by the incredible world-building of a never-colonized North America. The setting, systems, and plot lines were all infused with Anishnaabe ways of being and knowing; a society organized around mino-bimaadiziwin (the good life). I also appreciated the incorporation of Anishabemowin words throughout, and the dictionary at the back, which I regularly referred to.
Overall, this was an incredibly emotional domestic thriller/procedural about grieving, justice and restitution. While this was a bit of a slow burn, by the middle it picks up and I sped through the last half in about a day. There were so many moments where my jaw dropped—I would absolutely recommend this to all my mystery fans out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Mental illness, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Stalking, and Grief
jhbandcats's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is based on a unique and extraordinary concept: it’s 2020 but the Europeans never colonized North America. The people who live in what we call North America are Native Americans, in the way that the people who live in China are Chinese and the people who live in India are Indian. Their culture, clothing, spirituality, food, approach to nature and the land - all are Native American.
But it’s 2020 so there are smartphones, skyscrapers and cities, hydrogen-powered cars, DNA analysis, and other accoutrements of modern technology. The economic system is different, neither capitalist nor communist; the legal system is different, based on atonement rather than punishment and incarceration.
The story, of two murders twenty years apart and the families affected by the deaths, is a fairly typical mystery - there are suspects, red herrings, cops, and evidence - but the setting makes it all novel and compelling. The book describes what, to me at least, is an idealized society where the emphasis is on helping one another and the environment.
Highly recommended. Incredibly thought-provoking.
But it’s 2020 so there are smartphones, skyscrapers and cities, hydrogen-powered cars, DNA analysis, and other accoutrements of modern technology. The economic system is different, neither capitalist nor communist; the legal system is different, based on atonement rather than punishment and incarceration.
The story, of two murders twenty years apart and the families affected by the deaths, is a fairly typical mystery - there are suspects, red herrings, cops, and evidence - but the setting makes it all novel and compelling. The book describes what, to me at least, is an idealized society where the emphasis is on helping one another and the environment.
Highly recommended. Incredibly thought-provoking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, and Grief
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