christalbotheindl's reviews
603 reviews

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.

On the first page, it starts out with blatant fatphobia, but because the author is Indigenous, I wanted to keep going. But then, still on the first page, there's rape of a child. I had to stop. Books need content warnings in them.

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance by Edgar Villanueva

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural by Claudine Chiawei O'Hearn

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Racism

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexism

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

adventurous hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Grief and Torture

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Gun violence

A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee
Did not finish book.

I couldn't get past the first part of III where the protagonist beats his wife and severely abuses a bear because he feels cheated and wants a better life. The descriptions were far too graphic for me to continue. I wasn't in love with parts I or II either, but part III is where I had to call it quits. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence