Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

42 reviews

whitneyonline's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

What a beautiful book about identity, spirituality, family, and community. A recurring theme throughout is Virgil's disconnect and disbelief in the "traditional ways" and spirituality of the Lakota. He feels strong ties to his community which keeps him from leaving the rez, but otherwise he's not sure what he believes in, ultimately thinking most of it is a sham. He grapples with the pain and suffering of his ancestors and how those struggles are mirrored in the lives of Lakotas today. Yes, there are thrills, but ultimately that's not the focus of the book. Everything comes full circle at the end and it is utterly beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Torture, Car accident, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, Genocide, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Grief

just dark themes in general. Virgil goes into detail about many of the cases that he has taken on, which basically always includes physical abuse, substance dependency, sexual assualt of adults and minors, child neglect. etc. It's a great book but please be careful <3

summerb's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse, War, Bullying, Cancer, Infidelity, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Classism, Colonisation, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cultural appropriation, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Genocide, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality

bookworm247's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Violence, Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Gun violence, Child death, and Grief

julied's review against another edition

dark informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, and Drug abuse

bootsmom3's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Colonisation, Death, and Genocide

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Animal death, and Sexual assault

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious 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

3.75

Thriller vibes centered around an Indian reservation in South Dakota with the Lakota people. I didn’t realize that Sioux was considered an insult and the deep rooted history was soaked into my brain the more I learned. Virgil, our MC, and his nephew finds themselves working with the Feds when heroin becomes a dire problem in the reservation. Lots of back and forth to find out the cause of who is harming the young people. David has a second book being published in 2023 so I’m ready for that one. This could have used a little less dialogue and more action but if you are looking for an entry level thriller, this is for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

enchantressreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Animal death, Rape, and Drug abuse

Minor: Cancer, War, Death of parent, Medical content, and Miscarriage

hannahollihan's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, and Alcoholism

oyveyori's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was disappointing :// pretty predictable storyline and one-dimensional protagonist. There were a few beautiful scenes but it mostly read like fan fiction. It was interesting to learn more about Lakota culture tho!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Gun violence, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, War, Torture, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence

Minor: Addiction, Miscarriage, and Incest

voxelbee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Child death, Addiction, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, and Torture

Minor: Racial slurs, Colonisation, Bullying, Car accident, and Genocide