Reviews with content warning for Racism - Damnation Spring

I really enjoyed this book! Even though the pacing is slow, I found myself unable to put it down. I became deeply invested in the characters, which I think was heavily influenced by the pacing and amount of time spent with each character. Their stories were complex and shifting and deeply human. I also really enjoyed how much the community itself is a character that means different things to different people. It is a book deeply rooted in place.

I really appreciated the inclusion of indigenous perspectives. I found Daniel's character and his uncle's speech to be some of the strongest and most moving parts of the book. Daniel's uncle's speech was definitely influenced by the Cree proverb: "Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will you realize that you cannot eat money."

I found the critique of conservation activists and how they often use indigenous people incredibly important as well as the scalding critique of corporate interests and capitalism. This book offers an intimate portrait of how relationships with the land change through colonial contact and capitalist extraction and the devastating ecological destruction left in their wake. This book is also a stunning examination of why people do or do not act and what truly makes a community.

I will say that I really did not like the ending. I think I understand what Davidson was trying to do, but it just did not work for me. With a different ending this would have been a 5-star book.

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

Man, I'm leaving this unrated for the moment because I just don't know.

Richly written, with excellent character building, but didn't stick the landing. I really need to highlight the work Davidson puts into writing realistic characters: it's easy to slip into stereotypes and caricature with rural people and their lives, but they feel so human. I don't like most of them, but that's fine. Colleen, Enid, and Daniel stand out as my favorites.

But man, that ending. For a book that's all buildup, that's where it goes? Maybe I'll get it better on a reread.

The main reason I'm withholding a rating is the portrayal of the Yurok characters. I'm non Native myself, so I can't speak to it, but I'll be looking for Native reviewers' thoughts on the story. I liked Daniel personally, but something about the way he was written struck me as off, especially with the modern day climate where water protectors are still fighting his same battle.

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