Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson

5 reviews

the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Well, if you were expecting things to improve for Jared in this second book in the trilogy, you'd be mighty wrong!

Most of the book is spent watching Jared navigate the world as a recovering alcoholic. He manages to land on his feet, getting into college despite all odds, and starts building a life for himself. And you start hoping that things are going to stay good for poor Jared, who really is a sweet kid that got dealt a really shitty hand in life. Until the worst happens and forces him to take on his Trickster mantle. And shit starts speeding back downhill in a matter of mere chapters. 

While being incredibly detailed and wildly imaginative, this book left me feeling more exposed and raw than the first one. I can't even imagine where the last book is heading...

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Dementia, and Sexual harassment

annemaries_shelves's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

I read 250 pages this weekend and couldn't put it down.

I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first, which is unusual for a sequel in a trilogy series. As with the first, the plot is slow to build and the integration of Indigenous worldviews and mythologies (coy wolves, Tricksters, witches, etc.) really pays off by the end. 

The characters were my favourite. Robinson did such a great job showing Jared's character development as he navigates sobriety, family, school, and a stalker, and the side characters were so wonderful, that it all made up for the limited plot. (Mave, Kota, Dent, and Eliza/Shu are my faves)

I appreciated the build-up to the reveal of Jared's heritage and abilities along with the mysteries of his scary interdimensional nexus of a bedroom. The tension also kept slowly ratcheting up with David's stalking - he's truly one of the scariest villains I've read in a while, because he's so human in his evil.

Overall, I really liked this entry into the series and can't wait to read the final installment (eventually). 

CW: sobriety and alcohol use disorder/addiction, stalking, violence, blood and gore, torture

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death and Vomit

dcheers's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

emilyhays's review

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can't say much that won't spoil the first book, but I loved this book more than the first, and the first is literally one of my favourite books. 
The biggest development of this is in Son of a Trickster, Jared is so deeply loyal to his friends and family, to the point where he puts himself in harms way for them. He is constantly trying to help the people around him. But in this book he finds himself in a situation where people are constantly trying to help him, and he has to weigh whether or not they're doing it with no strings attached or because they want something from him. He's okay with be loyal to others, but has a hard time accepting loyalty himself (because it has and may bite him in the ass). 
I'm actually pretty glad I waited to read this until now because I'm dying to read the last and it comes out soon!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, and Vomit

Moderate: Drug use and Grief

I do want to add that one scene that made me super uncomfortable was on page 336-338 (in the hardcover - if e-book, it is the last scene in chapter 35) where the main character is physically assaulted and forced to break his sobriety. Could be extremely triggering for those who are triggered by rape or alcoholism.

kaylamoran's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I liked this book even more than the previous one.  I absolutely love Jared as a character as well.  He's so complex and flawed but underneath it he's such a caring (and hilarious) person. I can't wait to find out what happens next 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Cannibalism

Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Racism, Vomit, and Grief