Reviews

Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway

claire_melanie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

barefoot_serendipity's review against another edition

3.0

Read Harder 2024: Read a historical fiction book by an Indigenous author.

erinkatherin's review against another edition

4.0

This book was a bit tricky to get into — it’s not written as short stories, but (to me) it didn’t quite hold together as a novel. I’ll remember the vignettes — clearly and with admiration. But I’m not sure I hold the whole — though, maybe there’s a taste of reality in that.

I love Tomson Highway’s writing — the perspective of children, the perspective of folks from the land encountering religion and cities. His descriptive metaphors, built in the language of the North, are so good. The writing is funny and scary, innocent and sharp, magical and real. It’s probably brilliant.

tlbod's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad

• 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

I’ve had this book for years but never successfully read it through because I knew it was a tough subject, and I’m a wimp. Now that I’ve finished it I’m basically a pool of tears on my living room floor, but I think this book is amazing. The framing symbolism is breathtaking and so effective. Even though the ending is very clearly foreshadowed throughout, I was literally on the edge of my seat up until the last sentences. It’s not a thriller or an adventure narrative, but that was one of the best race scenes I’ve ever read - which culture gets to win?

jazzgraham's review against another edition

4.0

Love Highway’s plays, but I may like his novel more. Beautifully written with wonderful imagery.

alemmora's review against another edition

4.0

Gorgeous and heartfelt novel. Enchanting language that sweeps you away to the novel’s setting. Didn’t give it 5 stars because sometimes the prose is a bit too all over the place and I ended up missing crucial or important scenes and having to reread. Then again, that aspect mirrors the memories that the boys share.

Stories of brotherhood and siblings always get me, I loved it.

kate_cunningham's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

maddiepalmer443's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-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

4.0

lsparrow's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this story of Cree brothers finding their way. There was something of the way the story unfolded that felt like a play - I could see the actors on stage playing out the parts. This story touches on so many themes, colonization, residential school, childhood sexual abuse, MMIW, cultural identity, and so much more.

mewpre's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0