A review by savvylit
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Moon of the Crusted Snow is an excellent addition to the post-apocalyptic survival genre. To start, Rice's portrayal of the winter weather is top-notch. From maintaining wood stoves to being buried in snow drifts, winter was incredibly present in Moon of the Crusted Snow. Almost like it was a character itself.

The pacing of this novel is perfect. Rice never dwells too long on a specific moment. By always moving the narrative past drudgery to the next memorable event, the timeline of Crusted Snow passes in a way that feels organic and true to life.

Last but not least, the plot balances the bleakness of survival with hope and perseverance. There is a moment in the book where the protagonist, Evan, speaks with a community elder. She tells Evan that she isn't too worried about current events. On the contrary, the Anishinaabe have already survived multiple apocalypses in their history. The events of Moon of the Crusted Snow are just the latest entry in thousands of years of resilience and survival.

Content Warnings