A review by katymul
Hunting by Stars by Cherie Dimaline

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Unintended sequels (Dimaline says in the acknowledgements that she had not planned to continue the story after the first Marrow Thieves novel) are rarely this good. Dimaline didn't write just to appease her audience but because she has a lot more to say and say it she does. The parallels to the real history of Native genocide felt stronger (and therefore darker) in this follow-up, and the psychological wringer every character endures is easily as powerful as in the original. As before, the novel feels both like a meandering emotional journey and a fast-paced adventure, and the complicate moral and emotional universe is even richer than before. Well done in every way.