Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

74 reviews

kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

Minor: Confinement

rachelhickman15's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

jennaniho's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was the first book I read about the Ojibwe community and culture by an Ojibwe author. Angeline's writing is riveting and beautiful. I couldn't put this book down because it is so good! You could read how she loves her culture through the character of Daunis Fontaine. It's the kind of book that deserves a TV series (which I think it's already in the works!).

What I love the most about this book is how the story flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Daunis is a character that you instantly connect with because of her authenticity and strong spirit. Though there were moments in the book where the story felt a bit long and overly descriptive, it was quickly picked up by the thrill of a clue, a newly discovered secret, or even a new betrayal. 

Another element I love about the book is how it explores the relationship between Native and Non-Native folk in current times, showing mature themes, but not in a graphic way. This adds to Daunis' relatability, because these issues continue to impact people of all ages, especially Indigenous communities, and I feel they were treated realistically in this book.

Firekeeper's Daughter can be viewed as a coming-of-age story, but I see it more as a hero's journey. Daunis Fontaine has all the traits of a heroine: she is courageous, cunning, empathetic, intuitive, and capable of learning from her mistakes. Her story mirrors that of many Indigenous women who have faced unimaginable—and often unjust—challenges in their desire to be authentically themselves in a world that continues to push them to believe they can't. While we often admire Greek heroes, I admire Native women even more. Because their stories are not myths...they are living proof that you can overcome adversities no matter what comes at you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Minor: Misogyny and Medical trauma

This book does not shy away from the violence against native/indigenous women. It is an empowering fictional story that highlights these very real topics.

sometimes_ready's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Be prepared for a nonlinear experience that may at times trick you into thinking you missed a page. But dive in. 

I have so much love for the authors that pull off streams of consciousness throughout a plot, and Boulley did it well.  

Not a light read, but so worth the weight.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent

chaosbumblebee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

1 star deducted because the writing style wasn't 100% my jam and I think the first 100 or so pages could have been severely edited down, but damn, after that point this book GRIPPED ME. Also, the tenderness and respect that Anishinaabe culture is held with through every part of the story is incredible and palpable. Highly recommend; give it a chance past the first bit!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

internationalreads's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I absolutely loved this until the last 10% or so. I wanted to see more of the case wrapping up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

beansbooksandbiology's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

madflatt's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

sgksoccer5's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicide and Abandonment

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I love when I read a book that is unlike any book I’ve ever read before. This book opened up new worlds because I’ve not really read any contemporary books with Native people as the main characters. Learning about Native culture and customs through this novel was a breathtaking experience. The plot is believable, the characters choose paths that are unexpected, and the ending is sad but gives you a sense of finality as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism