The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
mweis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I usually donât put a lot of faith in comp titles, but in this case calling Stolen âLouise Erdrich meets Jo NesbĂžâ is very accurate. The book follows Elsa, a SĂĄmi girl and who witnesses the murder of her reindeer when at the start of the book. As the plot continues we see the struggle of the SĂĄmi people as they battle racism and hate crimes and climate change and other factors that are threatening their way of life. While Elsa is the main character, we do get chapters from other POVs including of the man who is torturing and killing reindeer so major trigger warning for animal cruelty here as there are some graphic depictions.
I think what this book does well is immerses the reader into the SĂĄmi way of life and the struggles they face due to the other peopleâs hatred, an indifferent police and government, climate change, and more. The writing is also very immersive and well suited to such a bleak story. That being said, the pacing of this was off for me. That might be because I came in expecting more of a mystery plot, but we know from the beginning who the culprit is, so the book is more of a family saga than a mystery. But even after I readjusted my expectations, there were places where the story dragged for me.
Overall, Iâm glad I read this book and I do recommend it if youâre in the mood for a fairly bleak family saga centering a SĂĄmi community.
I usually donât put a lot of faith in comp titles, but in this case calling Stolen âLouise Erdrich meets Jo NesbĂžâ is very accurate. The book follows Elsa, a SĂĄmi girl and who witnesses the murder of her reindeer when at the start of the book. As the plot continues we see the struggle of the SĂĄmi people as they battle racism and hate crimes and climate change and other factors that are threatening their way of life. While Elsa is the main character, we do get chapters from other POVs including of the man who is torturing and killing reindeer so major trigger warning for animal cruelty here as there are some graphic depictions.
I think what this book does well is immerses the reader into the SĂĄmi way of life and the struggles they face due to the other peopleâs hatred, an indifferent police and government, climate change, and more. The writing is also very immersive and well suited to such a bleak story. That being said, the pacing of this was off for me. That might be because I came in expecting more of a mystery plot, but we know from the beginning who the culprit is, so the book is more of a family saga than a mystery. But even after I readjusted my expectations, there were places where the story dragged for me.
Overall, Iâm glad I read this book and I do recommend it if youâre in the mood for a fairly bleak family saga centering a SĂĄmi community.
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Racism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Suicide
mellysay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
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
5.0
Den hĂ€r boken Ă€r verkligen en fantastiskt  verklig historia om hur det Ă€r att vara same och renskötare idag. Ett stort tack till Ann-HelĂ©n Laestadius för att du skrivit den hĂ€r boken och jag Ă„ngrar sĂ„ att jag inte lĂ€st den tidigare. Den Ă€r sĂ„ otroligt hjĂ€rtskĂ€rande och gripande. Jag önskar alla fick en chans att lĂ€sa den hĂ€r boken nĂ„gon gĂ„ng i livet, den berĂ€ttar en sĂ„n viktig historia. Den Ă€r en gnutta lĂ„ngdragen och det tog lĂ„ng tid att lĂ€sa den, i vissa delar hĂ€nde det inte jĂ€tte mycket men mot slutet tog den fart igen och de sista 100 sidorna kunde jag inte lĂ€gga ifrĂ„n mig boken. Ett mĂ€sterverk.Â
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicide, Stalking, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, Animal death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Dementia, Cursing, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, and Body horror
More...