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musicalpopcorn's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
This book made me very sad from start to finish. It was well-written and the audiobook was well narrated, giving the characters voices. The characters were all complex and deep creating thought-provoking stories that wove together seamlessly.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
soobooksalot's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
rideauriverreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
wordsofclover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is phenomenal for a debut novel - the combination of pain, violence and neglect as well as the love, kindness and care between all the characters is amazing. I was really hooked into this story and all the women we are following as they try and piece their lives together after a terrible violent act.
This book focuses on the lives of Métis women living in Winnipeg in Canada, and looks at the danger and intergenerational trauma lived by so many young girls and women in such societies where they are looked down upon, are abused and assaulted on regular basis and let down by any type of government authority that should be caring for them. I feel like Phoenix's story reflects this the most - the anger, and confusion she feels throughout the novel, despite at times presenting as a young, scared child who just wants to be cared for. And in parts we learn what her mother Elsie went through as a teenager and piece together what Phoenix's life must have been like because of this.
And Cheryl, Lou, Emily and Paul - along with Rita and Ziggy - are in such a community of love and kindness with one another, it feels like another world but that doesn't mean these women weren't hurt from abusive husbands to heartbreak, to witnessing terrible things and knowing at all times the danger they are in as women in their world.
But while this book is centered around a horrible act of sexual violence, the deeper story in it is about the love and hope between all these women, and how they hold on to each other throughout it all and never let anyone fade away.
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Child death
dallyowally's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
schaarzy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
kaleys23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racial slurs and Medical trauma
Minor: Death of parent
rosiecockshutt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Drug use
kelseak96's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma
whatcassiedid's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Racial slurs