A review by skylover
The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

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

3.5

This book was a rollercoaster from start to finish. The beginning and ending ended well, the middle for me fell flat as I felt it took too long to get to the point at times. Daunis was so smart for her age, I felt she was written older than the age group the book was targeted for, and the topics covered definitely felt mature for a YA book. I enjoyed learning about the tribe culture and language, and seeing all the MI references. Especially enjoyed that
Spoiler Daunis did not end up with Jamie. That she stood up for herself and what she needed, and got the support from her loved ones for what happened to her.
The brother sucks, as do most of the men in this book tbh, but I loved the respect for elders and support from family between the women.
Spoiler i also don't know how to feel about the sexual assault and how it was addressed - I understand Daunis was processing it on her own terms, but the point of that happening felt irrelevant to the plot besides to be a shock. that lilly has been to "blanket parties" and kept it a secret from Daunis was also sad and mentioned too little too late i felt. And the romance between Jamie and Daunis felt wrong on so many levels, between the age difference, the career / power gaps, and the general maturity. Jamie seemed to be the younger one in spirit of the two even though he was older.
i'm interested to see this be adapted into a TV show/movie, but feel like this book dragged on for a good bit. 
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