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scheskie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
4.0
Well, shoot. This is a series that I could definitely get into and now I'm into it!!! Augh! You can definitely tell this book was written a while ago, but the mystery still stands up to time. I wasn't thrilled with the way the main character tried to keep things away from Ellen (Helen? I couldn't tell exactly with the reader) because she was a woman. Not sure if that was a bias in the author or a bias the author wrote into the character. But I feel like this is going to be a fun one - maybe I will read it instead of listen to it next time. The reader had a very soothing voice and sometimes it was hard to stay focused. But overall I really liked the characters and the story and learning more about how things work with the native police on the reservation - looking forward to reading more.
sayyestotess's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The wonderfully detailed atmosphere and research that went into fleshing out the supernatural aspect of the plot make the book. On the other hand, as a mystery, it’s not particularly compelling. The characters are likable enough but not particularly complex. I suspect that this aspect may improve as the series continues and the author has more of a chance to develop detective Leaphorn.
capercaillie's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
desertdreamsanddarkthemes's review against another edition
"The Blessing Way" seemed interesting, but after a few chapters, I realized it wasn't quite the right fit for me right now. There was a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary related to Navajo culture, which slowed me down as I tried to understand the context. The focus on rituals and beliefs was fascinating, but I was hoping for a faster pace with a quicker jump into the core mystery. Additionally, with the dual narrative and the use of some Navajo phrases, I felt like I needed to put in more effort to follow along than I was in the mood for at this point.
filmcritic23's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence and Murder
unsolvedmysteries1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? No
3.75
I read a lot of Hillerman’s books years ago. After watching Dark Winds, Series 1, I decided to start re-reading them and I am so glad that I have! I live in Arizona but know very little about indigenous people, culture and history. Not only was this book a good mystery, it was informative and interesting! On to the next in the series!
varwalnej's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I'm starting my "Leaphorn & Chee" summer, hoping to read all the books in the series. I enjoyed this first one, though I do wish Leaphorn was a more significant part of the plot. Still, I was intrigued by the story.
mcmoon's review against another edition
5.0
Mystery, native, suspenseful, 1970s well written, I enjoyed entering this Southwestern world of witches, academics, officers, and ceremonies.
blueberry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0