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catsbreadbikes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Child death
Moderate: Drug use, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Police brutality, Cancer, Dementia, Child death, Colonisation, and Cursing
semeyers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It is a moody, atmospheric, and character driven novel. It is a swiftly flowing book that weaves together the present with the past, both recent and far back, while still remaining very much a "slice of life" of each character. It combines modern ideals with Cherokee myth. It does not give everything away. The endings for each of the characters are ambiguous and leave the reader to fill in many of the blanks. Of the stories, I really found Sonia and Tsala's the most compelling, though Edgar's chapters had me at the edge of my seat.
This was a quicker read and I highly recommend it giving it a shot even if it doesn't seem appealing to you.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Drug use
readingwithkaitlyn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Grief, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Drug use, Gun violence, Dementia, Drug abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality, Suicide, Stalking, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Confinement, Alcohol, Addiction, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Genocide, Colonisation, War, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Car accident, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
Trail of tears, f slur, s slur.blackcatkai'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
3.0
not my usual genre, so it took a bit for me to get into, but thats absolutely not the books fault. its a heartbreaking and great novel about a family navigating their grief after the death of their son/brother at the hands of a cop. it handles a lot of rough topics so tread carefully. if you're in any way interested, absolutely read it.
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Addiction, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Cancer, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Murder, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Police brutality, and Sexual violence
Minor: Ableism
betsygrace's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Racism
kimveach's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I didn't understand all of it while I was reading it. I wish I had read this article from NPR first:
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/02/963361391/author-brandon-hobson-on-his-new-novel-the-removed
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Murder, Vomit, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Grief, Gun violence, Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Dementia, Drug abuse, Genocide, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
caitlynes91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Hate crime, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Dementia, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Colonisation, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death and Blood
leahrosereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The conversation around grief and how it affects everyone differently was also excellently handled.
Cannot gush enough about this one!
Graphic: Addiction, Police brutality, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Racism
literarylion's review
- 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
- flawless incorporation of Cherokee legend into a modern-day story
- each of the perspectives were developed and distinct from one another while still maintaining an underlying narrative thread
- striking imagery
Cons:
- it's being marketed as a horror novel, but I wouldn't classify it that way
- the sci-fi/fantasy element in Edgar's story seemed incongruous at times
Graphic: Addiction and Police brutality
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Cancer and Sexual content
booksbutmakeitgay's review
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship