Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - Split Tooth

Damn this was a lot heavier than I thought it would be.

Rep: Inuit female MC, queer side characters.

CWs: Adult/minor relationship (unwilling minor), blood, child abuse, colonisation, misogyny, pedophilia, physical abuse, pregnancy, racism, racial slurs, rape, sexual assault, sexual content, sexual violence, violence.

Content Warnings

cliffhangerbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

Tanya Tagaq is an Inuit throat singer; this was her first written piece, published a few years ago. Both biography and fiction, poetry and prose. The author moves through her childhood in Nunavut, the terrifying memories of residential school and coming of age.

The northern lights are as much a character of this story as any critter in it. Interspecies love & surreal landscapes mark the Tagaq tale. Equally brutal and triumphant, this is a beautiful tale.

TW: all you can imagine. Rape, death by illness, child abuse, abusive relationship. So be cautious if you are feeling fragile.

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rotfaced's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

A deeply visceral and at times deeply upsetting story. I listened to it as an audiobook, which was recommended to me and which I would highly recommend as well; Tanya Tagaq lends her unique and beautiful narration to the text, bringing each poem, reflection, story and song to genuine life through her intimate and delicate vocalization. Between each chapter is her throat singing, which adds a new layer to the story as well. While I would like a physical copy of the book to revisit portions which stood out as poignant to me, I don't know if I would have enjoyed the experience as much had I began with the text.

I found myself enraptured by the first 2/3rd of the book, engrossed in this world so unlike the one I inhabit. The final acts left me feeling deeply sad and even disturbed, but the journey through these segments was worthwhile. This book is very poetic and meant to invoke reflection, if not empathy; I encourage readers to approach it with no expectations and allow Tagaq's lyrical way of exploring life to animate itself in their mind.

This is a book I couldn't stop listening to; I finished it in hours I carved out my day, finding every excuse to continue the story. That said, I do think it's worth pausing to reflect on scenes and chapters, especially if you feel you did not understand them (or, alternatively, if they resonated deeply with you). It is a heavy story, and with all heavy things, we must pause to rest between carrying them.

Content Warnings