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183 reviews
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I typically read books with darker themes or topics, but every once in awhile I feel like I need something a little fluffier or more feel good to balance things out. I had been hearing a lot of buzz around Remarkably Bright Creatures. When I heard that one of the POVs was an octopus, that sealed the deal.
This story is told in three POVs. We have Tova who is an older woman living on her own after the passing of her husband and the disappearance of her son. There is Marcellus, who is a Giant Pacific Octopus and there is Cameron, a young man who is still figuring out life. All three of their stories intertwine to create a mostly heartwarming story.
I definitely think that the characters were the strongest part of this book, particularly Marcellus and Tova. Marcellus is wise and clever and has a streak of rebelliousness that makes him so endearing. Tova has had some hard things happen in her life, but is stubbornly marching forward, holding onto her job at the aquarium. I felt that both of these characters were relatable and felt realistic (at least what I imagine to be realistic for an octopus). Cameron was definitely the weakest POV, in my opinion, because he was a bit cliche and predictable, but it worked well enough with the story. Even the side characters like Ethan were memorable and interesting.
The plot was quite predictable very early on in the story and had this been a thriller, I might have rated this book lower, but in the case of this book, I felt so invested in the characters and the resolution that I didn't really feel like it ruined the book. That said, I would've probably given this 5 stars had it been a bit less obvious.
All in all, if you are looking for a mostly fluffy, feel good read with a unique character, then you will likely enjoy this book. If anything, it's worth reading it simply to get inside the head of an octopus.
This story is told in three POVs. We have Tova who is an older woman living on her own after the passing of her husband and the disappearance of her son. There is Marcellus, who is a Giant Pacific Octopus and there is Cameron, a young man who is still figuring out life. All three of their stories intertwine to create a mostly heartwarming story.
I definitely think that the characters were the strongest part of this book, particularly Marcellus and Tova. Marcellus is wise and clever and has a streak of rebelliousness that makes him so endearing. Tova has had some hard things happen in her life, but is stubbornly marching forward, holding onto her job at the aquarium. I felt that both of these characters were relatable and felt realistic (at least what I imagine to be realistic for an octopus). Cameron was definitely the weakest POV, in my opinion, because he was a bit cliche and predictable, but it worked well enough with the story. Even the side characters like Ethan were memorable and interesting.
The plot was quite predictable very early on in the story and had this been a thriller, I might have rated this book lower, but in the case of this book, I felt so invested in the characters and the resolution that I didn't really feel like it ruined the book. That said, I would've probably given this 5 stars had it been a bit less obvious.
All in all, if you are looking for a mostly fluffy, feel good read with a unique character, then you will likely enjoy this book. If anything, it's worth reading it simply to get inside the head of an octopus.
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
I don't typically read middle grade books as there aren't any children in my family, however, I usually try to get in one or two in March. I had been eyeballing this one for a while and finally decided to pick it up. I am so happy I did as it might be one of my best reads of the month!
When You Trap A Tiger follows a young girl named Lily as she copes with her grandmother/halmoni's terminal illness. While it is designed to be understandable for a child, it is something that I think will also resonate with adults.
One of the things that I most loved about this book was the way that Korean culture was mixed in to the story. There are some folklore elements that weave in and out of the narrative, but that isn't the only bit. We get Korean words, food, and cultural practices as well. It really created a rich character background and provides a bit of education on Korean culture.
I also really loved the relationship between Lily and her halmoni. This is the sort of relationship I think most people would be/would have been happy to have with their own grandmother. When Lily is scared or upset, halmoni takes the time to understand her and make her feel seen. When halmoni is ailing, Lily is trying everything in her mind to help her.
The themes covered in this book are really great as well. The primary theme is dealing with a terminal illness, but it also explores grief, fitting in, speaking kindly, apologizing when we make mistakes, the dangers of stereotyping, and the bonds between family members. It's all remarkably written in ways that would be understandable for kids.
All in all, I really highly recommend this for anyone looking for an age appropriate book about grief and death. I could see this being a good book for a family to read together and maybe discuss after.
When You Trap A Tiger follows a young girl named Lily as she copes with her grandmother/halmoni's terminal illness. While it is designed to be understandable for a child, it is something that I think will also resonate with adults.
One of the things that I most loved about this book was the way that Korean culture was mixed in to the story. There are some folklore elements that weave in and out of the narrative, but that isn't the only bit. We get Korean words, food, and cultural practices as well. It really created a rich character background and provides a bit of education on Korean culture.
I also really loved the relationship between Lily and her halmoni. This is the sort of relationship I think most people would be/would have been happy to have with their own grandmother. When Lily is scared or upset, halmoni takes the time to understand her and make her feel seen. When halmoni is ailing, Lily is trying everything in her mind to help her.
The themes covered in this book are really great as well. The primary theme is dealing with a terminal illness, but it also explores grief, fitting in, speaking kindly, apologizing when we make mistakes, the dangers of stereotyping, and the bonds between family members. It's all remarkably written in ways that would be understandable for kids.
All in all, I really highly recommend this for anyone looking for an age appropriate book about grief and death. I could see this being a good book for a family to read together and maybe discuss after.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Dementia, Grief, Car accident
Minor: Death of parent
Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received an ARC copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. This in no way affects my ability to objectively review this book.
I read the first book in The Anatomy Duology last year and was left feeling unsure if I would read the second book. While I really enjoyed Hazel, I found the magical elements sprinkled in at the end of the book to be frustrating. Finally, my curiosity about whether or not Jack survived and if he reconnected with Hazel won out and I requested a copy of this book.
This book was an enjoyable enough continuation of the first book. It definitely provided the closure I suspect that most readers will crave after the cliffhanger in book one.
At the start of the book, we see Hazel, grief-stricken, unsure of what happened to Jack, and throwing herself into her work as a way of coping. One day, a woman shows up on her doorstep near death from overuse of abortive herbs. Hazel sets off to save her life and ends up accused of providing an illegal abortion. She is locked in a prison cell and from there the story really starts to take off.
First, the strongest part of this book was once again Hazel. She is a strong female lead who is determined, clever, and unafraid to rock the boat. I love her continued passion for medicine and being able to treat medical problems. While her heart is hurting from the loss of Jack, she does not grow despondent, but instead keeps moving forward with her practice.
The new side characters in this book are also quite enjoyable. I won't say more than that for not wanting to spoil the book.
That said, I felt like the plot was a bit meandering and unnecessarily windy. There were several plot points that literally had no affect on the story and only seemed to make the book a bit longer. Maybe there was a specific page count to be met? While I did like parts of the story, I felt like some of this book could've been trimmed and it still would've been essentially the same story.
I did listen to an audiobook of this and I really enjoyed both narrators. I thought they did a great job with the different characters and I could easily distinguish between voices. I did speed this up to 1.5x speed as it felt a bit slow, but that is typical to my audiobook listening habits.
All in all, if you were very invested in the first book, I think it doesn't hurt to continue on. You'll get some resolution and a pleasant read. I still wish the magical element hadn't been introduced, but I did love the look at medicine way back when.
I read the first book in The Anatomy Duology last year and was left feeling unsure if I would read the second book. While I really enjoyed Hazel, I found the magical elements sprinkled in at the end of the book to be frustrating. Finally, my curiosity about whether or not Jack survived and if he reconnected with Hazel won out and I requested a copy of this book.
This book was an enjoyable enough continuation of the first book. It definitely provided the closure I suspect that most readers will crave after the cliffhanger in book one.
At the start of the book, we see Hazel, grief-stricken, unsure of what happened to Jack, and throwing herself into her work as a way of coping. One day, a woman shows up on her doorstep near death from overuse of abortive herbs. Hazel sets off to save her life and ends up accused of providing an illegal abortion. She is locked in a prison cell and from there the story really starts to take off.
First, the strongest part of this book was once again Hazel. She is a strong female lead who is determined, clever, and unafraid to rock the boat. I love her continued passion for medicine and being able to treat medical problems. While her heart is hurting from the loss of Jack, she does not grow despondent, but instead keeps moving forward with her practice.
The new side characters in this book are also quite enjoyable. I won't say more than that for not wanting to spoil the book.
That said, I felt like the plot was a bit meandering and unnecessarily windy. There were several plot points that literally had no affect on the story and only seemed to make the book a bit longer. Maybe there was a specific page count to be met? While I did like parts of the story, I felt like some of this book could've been trimmed and it still would've been essentially the same story.
I did listen to an audiobook of this and I really enjoyed both narrators. I thought they did a great job with the different characters and I could easily distinguish between voices. I did speed this up to 1.5x speed as it felt a bit slow, but that is typical to my audiobook listening habits.
All in all, if you were very invested in the first book, I think it doesn't hurt to continue on. You'll get some resolution and a pleasant read. I still wish the magical element hadn't been introduced, but I did love the look at medicine way back when.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Sexism, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Daughter in Exile by Bisi Adjapon
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Classism
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
The Changeling is a mix of horror and modern day fairytale that creates a really unique story. It follows a family who is rocked by a tragic event, leaving a distraught father in its wake. It explores grief, generational trauma, and the meaning of family.
During the first part of this book, I was a bit confused and honestly a bit bored. It just seemed like a story about a family, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Once the story is set, it picks up quickly and gets really interesting.
I thought the way that this book explored trauma was very unique as well. We See two people who are really struggling and are not receiving the support that they need. The consequences of that ripple throughout the story.
All in all, if you like horror and fairytales mixed with real life, I think you’ll like this book. There are some difficult topics in it, so please check the trigger warnings.
TW: Murder, Death of a Child, Mental Illness, Blood, Assault, Guns
During the first part of this book, I was a bit confused and honestly a bit bored. It just seemed like a story about a family, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Once the story is set, it picks up quickly and gets really interesting.
I thought the way that this book explored trauma was very unique as well. We See two people who are really struggling and are not receiving the support that they need. The consequences of that ripple throughout the story.
All in all, if you like horror and fairytales mixed with real life, I think you’ll like this book. There are some difficult topics in it, so please check the trigger warnings.
TW: Murder, Death of a Child, Mental Illness, Blood, Assault, Guns
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.25
Going into Sing, Unburied, Sing I had never before read a Jesmyn Ward book. All I can say is that I think this book will be the start of me reading her entire backlist. Sing, Unburied, Sing is both familiar and also unlike anything I can think of that I've read before. It follows three generations of a family as they struggle with chronic illness, addiction, life choices, and the ghosts that follow them. There is a mix of real life and magical realism told with lyrical prose that creates such a unique affect.
Jojo, a young boy, and his mother Leonie are introduced as the two focal point characters and I had immediate reactions to both. Jojo is likeable. Part of me wanted to shield and protect him as I dug into the things he was experiencing. And Leonie...she was tough for me. While I logically understand that addiction is an illness, I also grew up in a family with addicts. Having experienced the inconsistency, disappointment, and heartbreak that comes when dealing with an addicted family member made me feel so much for Jojo and honestly made it hard for me to like Leonie. Suffice it to say that both characters elicited a very visceral response from me.
One of the qualities that I really loved about this book was the very beautiful description used. This story covers some very dark themes and I loved the juxtaposition of the flowery prose against it. It created a very haunting atmosphere and for me, really added to what we were witnessing on page.
My only real critique of this book is that sometimes it is easy to get a bit lost. I think, for me, this was because I got wrapped up in the beautiful description and didn't always really take in what was happening. I did have to go back occasionally and re-read chapters...but I think that's sort of part of the experience here. It's confusing and at times a little chaotic, but that's also how I think things must feel for Jojo as he navigates the story.
All in all, an excellent book and definitely the first of many that I will read by Jesmyn Ward. If you like a Southern Gothic vibe, ghost stories, and the exploration of family ties, this should absolutely be on your reading list.
Jojo, a young boy, and his mother Leonie are introduced as the two focal point characters and I had immediate reactions to both. Jojo is likeable. Part of me wanted to shield and protect him as I dug into the things he was experiencing. And Leonie...she was tough for me. While I logically understand that addiction is an illness, I also grew up in a family with addicts. Having experienced the inconsistency, disappointment, and heartbreak that comes when dealing with an addicted family member made me feel so much for Jojo and honestly made it hard for me to like Leonie. Suffice it to say that both characters elicited a very visceral response from me.
One of the qualities that I really loved about this book was the very beautiful description used. This story covers some very dark themes and I loved the juxtaposition of the flowery prose against it. It created a very haunting atmosphere and for me, really added to what we were witnessing on page.
My only real critique of this book is that sometimes it is easy to get a bit lost. I think, for me, this was because I got wrapped up in the beautiful description and didn't always really take in what was happening. I did have to go back occasionally and re-read chapters...but I think that's sort of part of the experience here. It's confusing and at times a little chaotic, but that's also how I think things must feel for Jojo as he navigates the story.
All in all, an excellent book and definitely the first of many that I will read by Jesmyn Ward. If you like a Southern Gothic vibe, ghost stories, and the exploration of family ties, this should absolutely be on your reading list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Violence
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
I’m not a big romance reader, but once when I was having a rough period of time a friend of mine sent me a care package with this book in it. I’ve been saving it for a month when I needed a light, fluffy pick me up and I just now finally decided to read it.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This book did not rely on excessive miscommunication or a fight that didn’t make sense. Instead, we have to characters who practice relatively healthy communication through the majority of the book. That was so refreshing.
I also enjoyed that the sexual tension between them was natural and that their relationship went at a natural pace. There weren’t stupid, transparent scenarios that kept getting in the way of their hook ups to keep the reader invested. It all honestly felt very natural.
All in all, I thought this was a sweet, fun romance. Ive seen others state that this didn’t have enough conflict, but I appreciated that. This felt like a normal relationship instead of some overhyped, conflict riddled approximation of a relationship.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. This book did not rely on excessive miscommunication or a fight that didn’t make sense. Instead, we have to characters who practice relatively healthy communication through the majority of the book. That was so refreshing.
I also enjoyed that the sexual tension between them was natural and that their relationship went at a natural pace. There weren’t stupid, transparent scenarios that kept getting in the way of their hook ups to keep the reader invested. It all honestly felt very natural.
All in all, I thought this was a sweet, fun romance. Ive seen others state that this didn’t have enough conflict, but I appreciated that. This felt like a normal relationship instead of some overhyped, conflict riddled approximation of a relationship.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
As an avid reader of historical fiction, I'd heard of this book several times, but only just recently got around to reading it. I want to say that I'm glad to have finally read it, except that I don't know if glad is the right expression for this book. Yellow Wife is the story of a biracial woman who is sold off to the owner of an infamous slave prison. He is taken with her beauty and whit and essentially forces her to marry him. What follows is the story of her life.
This book is a masterwork in historical fiction. It is inspired by a true story, but is a fictionalized account. Johnson does such a phenomenal job of making her characters real and creating a story that will haunt readers well after they put the book down. Some of that is due to the horrific scenes she creates to instill in the reader the unflinching truth about the inhumanity of slavery and some of that is due to the main character, Pheby, who makes impossible choice after impossible choice.
One thing in particular that takes a lot of skill in writing about brutality like slavery is finding the balance between creating horrific scenes that show the experiences of the victims and not making it so brutal that your readers stop reading. While this story definitely has some extraordinarily difficult scenes and Johnson is very detailed in her writing, I did feel that the brutal scenes she wrote about had a specific purpose both within the story and in the larger picture of remembering the atrocity that was slavery. It was brutal, but not gratuitous.
And I found myself so relentlessly rooting for Pheby. Every time you wonder how she could ever possibly keep going, she finds ways to endure. She is such a tough, strong, and eventually selfless character who struggles with the morality of what she has to do daily to survive. In the bleakest parts of this book, I kept reading because I just had to know what happened to Pheby in the end.
All in all, this is a well-written historical fiction about some of the unknown bits of slavery. It's about how women specifically were victimized and the ways that they overcame and continued to survive. I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings on this book before reading, but I unequivocally would recommend reading this too.
Trigger Warnings: Rape, Sexual Assault, Forced Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Torture, Whipping, Mutilation, Starvation, Sexual Slavery, Sex Trafficking, Severe Injury, Illness, Death, Infanticide, Slavery, Public Humiliation
This book is a masterwork in historical fiction. It is inspired by a true story, but is a fictionalized account. Johnson does such a phenomenal job of making her characters real and creating a story that will haunt readers well after they put the book down. Some of that is due to the horrific scenes she creates to instill in the reader the unflinching truth about the inhumanity of slavery and some of that is due to the main character, Pheby, who makes impossible choice after impossible choice.
One thing in particular that takes a lot of skill in writing about brutality like slavery is finding the balance between creating horrific scenes that show the experiences of the victims and not making it so brutal that your readers stop reading. While this story definitely has some extraordinarily difficult scenes and Johnson is very detailed in her writing, I did feel that the brutal scenes she wrote about had a specific purpose both within the story and in the larger picture of remembering the atrocity that was slavery. It was brutal, but not gratuitous.
And I found myself so relentlessly rooting for Pheby. Every time you wonder how she could ever possibly keep going, she finds ways to endure. She is such a tough, strong, and eventually selfless character who struggles with the morality of what she has to do daily to survive. In the bleakest parts of this book, I kept reading because I just had to know what happened to Pheby in the end.
All in all, this is a well-written historical fiction about some of the unknown bits of slavery. It's about how women specifically were victimized and the ways that they overcame and continued to survive. I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings on this book before reading, but I unequivocally would recommend reading this too.
Trigger Warnings: Rape, Sexual Assault, Forced Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Torture, Whipping, Mutilation, Starvation, Sexual Slavery, Sex Trafficking, Severe Injury, Illness, Death, Infanticide, Slavery, Public Humiliation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
I heard about Riot Baby during a readathon that I was participating in. Previously, I was unfamiliar with this author and this work. I’m glad that’s changed though because I though this was such an interesting book.
Riot Baby follows two siblings, one of which was born during the Rodney King Riots. They are surrounded by a system that victimizes, criminalizes, and then incarcerates their peers. When they reach a breaking point, we start to see hints of powers they’ve both been containing.
This is in some ways a dystopia, but in some ways it isn’t. We have a system that is set up to function against a certain group of people. The reason that I won’t call it an outright dystopia is because those injustices are just slight escalations of the things that already happen on a day to day basis in the states.
What’s most impressive about this book is how it can delve into such deep themes in such a short page count. It all made sense as written, but also left me wanting more of the story. All in all, a solid read.
Riot Baby follows two siblings, one of which was born during the Rodney King Riots. They are surrounded by a system that victimizes, criminalizes, and then incarcerates their peers. When they reach a breaking point, we start to see hints of powers they’ve both been containing.
This is in some ways a dystopia, but in some ways it isn’t. We have a system that is set up to function against a certain group of people. The reason that I won’t call it an outright dystopia is because those injustices are just slight escalations of the things that already happen on a day to day basis in the states.
What’s most impressive about this book is how it can delve into such deep themes in such a short page count. It all made sense as written, but also left me wanting more of the story. All in all, a solid read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
White Horse is a spooky horror novel about a Native American woman trying to find out why her mother went missing many years ago. It's set in Colorado and seamlessly merges Indigenous culture, horror, death metal, and Stephen King references with a suspenseful dark story that will have you at the edge of your seat.
Kari, the main character, has been sort of operating in the shadows, doing her best to never really stand out. She works as a bartender and spends evenings drinking at her favorite dive, The White Horse. Though she's talked about buying it, she's never actually applied for a loan. Outside of her handicapped father and her cousin, she doesn't have much of a social life and she mostly ignores the disappearance of her mother when she was a child. She is at once likeable and frustrating. You simultaneously want her to live up to her potential and also understand the fears and anxieties that are holding her back.
There is a sort of magical realism element to this story that involves Kari having visions upon handling some of her mother's old jewelry. I really liked how this was incorporated and thought it was a bit more unique than just the typical haunting. My only critique of this aspect is that I wish it was tied a bit more into the ending.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. The creepy vibe increases at a nice pace and the who dunnit kept me engaged with the story. I also really enjoyed the focus on Indigenous culture and the overall development of the character.
Kari, the main character, has been sort of operating in the shadows, doing her best to never really stand out. She works as a bartender and spends evenings drinking at her favorite dive, The White Horse. Though she's talked about buying it, she's never actually applied for a loan. Outside of her handicapped father and her cousin, she doesn't have much of a social life and she mostly ignores the disappearance of her mother when she was a child. She is at once likeable and frustrating. You simultaneously want her to live up to her potential and also understand the fears and anxieties that are holding her back.
There is a sort of magical realism element to this story that involves Kari having visions upon handling some of her mother's old jewelry. I really liked how this was incorporated and thought it was a bit more unique than just the typical haunting. My only critique of this aspect is that I wish it was tied a bit more into the ending.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. The creepy vibe increases at a nice pace and the who dunnit kept me engaged with the story. I also really enjoyed the focus on Indigenous culture and the overall development of the character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail