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A review by smalltownbookmom
Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel
5.0
This was such a beautiful, haunting and deeply personal debut that reimagined what life was like in 17th century New France from the perspective of the Indigenous women who were encouraged (and sometimes forced) to marry white settlers and their resulting offspring.
Very few historical fiction books have been written about this time period, a notable exception being Suzanne Desrochers's Bride of New France. But whereas that book featured the white women sent from France as 'filles du roi', this story focuses on the even more marginalized women who were often abused and in this case even murdered.
I especially loved how this story focused on the love of a mother and her daughter and the struggles with acceptance Jeanne had as a 'mixed' race woman, neither fully Algonquin, nor fully accepted by her white father's people. To add to this she is two spirited, something that her mother's culture celebrated but Western society, including her father, found shameful and abnormal.
This book was wonderful on audio narrated by Jani Lauzon with a moving author's note included at the end. Highly, highly recommended, especially if you want to learn more about this important part of Canadian history! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
⚠️CW: Read with care, this book deals with violence against Indigenous women, homophobia and cultural genocide with the early origins of the Jesuits
Very few historical fiction books have been written about this time period, a notable exception being Suzanne Desrochers's Bride of New France. But whereas that book featured the white women sent from France as 'filles du roi', this story focuses on the even more marginalized women who were often abused and in this case even murdered.
I especially loved how this story focused on the love of a mother and her daughter and the struggles with acceptance Jeanne had as a 'mixed' race woman, neither fully Algonquin, nor fully accepted by her white father's people. To add to this she is two spirited, something that her mother's culture celebrated but Western society, including her father, found shameful and abnormal.
This book was wonderful on audio narrated by Jani Lauzon with a moving author's note included at the end. Highly, highly recommended, especially if you want to learn more about this important part of Canadian history! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
⚠️CW: Read with care, this book deals with violence against Indigenous women, homophobia and cultural genocide with the early origins of the Jesuits