A review by emory
Split Tooth, by Tanya Tagaq

challenging dark emotional sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My most succinct reason for disliking this is just that it's not for me. I very much enjoyed the surrealism of the plot, but so much of the book was overshadowed by sections upon sections of what seemed to me to be trite quips trying very hard to be profound and quotable through vague generality. The sections and poems with genuine heart shone through besides, but I couldn't get past the writing, and although a goal of this book seems to be challenging notions of what is natural and sitting with that discomfort, I personally could not get past the recurring upsetting sexual imagery and motifs.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Colonisation, Drug abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit

A few depictions and mentions of, albeit in dreams and myth, bestiality.