Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky

13 reviews

claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Omat has her foot in two worlds: born with her father's spirit in her woman's body, Omat is destined to follow in her grandfather's footsteps as an angakuk, a link between the Inuit and the spirits. When tragedy strikes, Omat must go on a journey to save her family. Along the way, she meets gods—both Inuk and Viking—and finds help in unlikely places.

4.5 stars

Wow. I absolutely loved this book: the history, the mythologies, the hero's journey...it was all told so beautifully! Please check the trigger warnings for this book, though:
I had some trouble with the rape scenes (one is part of the Inuk mythology, one happens to Omat) as well as some of the hunting/animal violence (though it's all very respectful of the animals, it was a bit graphic).
I really liked learning about the Inuit and Vikings, because I honestly never really learned much about this period of history. I also liked how Brodsky described Omat's two-spirit identity (I used she/her pronouns for Omat while writing this because they are used in the book's description).

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me that before I read books):
Happy!
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nicoleh's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I generally enjoyed the book. I especially liked the beginning, learning about Omat’s life and culture. I did think it got a little meandering in the middle, and I don’t know if I fully believed the love story. But I did enjoy reading the book and I’ve never read anything like it.
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annablume's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have many problems with this book although I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't love the ending. I feel the way the book dealt with themes of sexual violence and rape is in some part shorthanded, cut short to further the overarching plot, which is my biggest quarrel with this novel. Some "plottwists" at the end came with no surprise at all. Throughout the book a bunch of very convenient things happened that may pull you out of it, but for me it was ok. Just one deus ex machina moment toward the middle was too much for me.   
Omat suddenly knowing Norse
 I enjoyed the descriptions and depiction of nature and the protagonist's way of life and culture very much.
Other reviewers have articulated this already but the chapter(s?) where Omat and Brandr waltz into the "painted men's" settlement bug me. They have been displaced attacked by Omat's people and are currently under attack by Brandr's and are basically just there to give Omat the ability to speak Norse and see Brandrs past and teach a moral lesson. It's not good. Also I didn't like how at this point the norse mythology and language took over. I didn't like it, and then it intensified leading up to the finale, which ugggh. No I didn't enjoy Ragnarok. But I enjoyed the book as a whole a lot and had fun reading it. I enjoyed Omat, their family, culture and relationships. That's why I gave it 4 stars.
 
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