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nativeladybookwarrior's reviews
17 reviews
Telesa: The Covenant Keeper by Lani Wendt Young
adventurous
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? No
3.5
Where was this book in 2011 when I was knee deep in YA and fantasy. To have this book so full of culture, family, and mythical folklore would have been such a treat. The plot was easy going just like these characters and goodness, it was pretty cool to read about a going-home YA that tied in culture, storytelling, and youthful romance. The main MC wasn't my favorite right away, but I think that comes with the territory when a character is discovering their roots and they're unsure about so many things. But I did enjoy Daniel. I'm looking forward to the next book.
An Ordinary Violence by Adriana Chartrand
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
2.75
This book was not for me. There are tons of unsettling vibes and creepy prose that you sit with, but if you are expecting a plot or explanations, there are little to none. This book has cosmic horror vibes that are slow to start, but at the end, I questioned myself repeatedly, did I read this right? What did I miss? I had a lot more questions than I did answers, and sometimes the first questions I had were never answers and even the major ones left me hanging.
If you are looking for something that you wanna pick apart, analyze with your deep, dark thoughts, and feed your cosmic horror bellies, this book is for you.
But there is something here. The writing is quite good. I read this for the Indigenous Reading Circles book club pick for January.
If you are looking for something that you wanna pick apart, analyze with your deep, dark thoughts, and feed your cosmic horror bellies, this book is for you.
But there is something here. The writing is quite good. I read this for the Indigenous Reading Circles book club pick for January.
My Good Man by Eric Gansworth
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
I think I found a new favorite Indigenous character. This book is hilarious as much as it is heart warming/breaking. I can see all these stories reflected in my own community - the nicknames, the people, the banter, the heartache, and the border town shittiness.
Gansworth has officially become an auto-buy, gotta have, hot-off-the-shelf author. His cleverness and deep roots are all over these pages. I want more. Give me more please!
Gansworth has officially become an auto-buy, gotta have, hot-off-the-shelf author. His cleverness and deep roots are all over these pages. I want more. Give me more please!
When Stars Have Teeth by Dani Trujillo
challenging
emotional
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
Thank you, Dani, for writing a book where I felt seen and represented. Love Santiago. Love Buffy because although it may seem she's an unlikeable character, there are some of us who see ourselves in Buffy. Who have dealt with grief, loss, and depression, and we are grateful to have someone encourage us to find hope where we felt, that there is none or very little. I kept seeing myself in Buffy, and I was so happy she found a friend, lover,
Keep writing Dani! Please.
Pleas also read Lizards Hold the Sun (Dani Trujillo) and the Crooked Rock series by Pamela Sanderson.
Keep writing Dani! Please.
Pleas also read Lizards Hold the Sun (Dani Trujillo) and the Crooked Rock series by Pamela Sanderson.
Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Let me first rattle off by telling you, that this is likely one of the most engaging experiences I've had with an incredible Indigenous YA read! Man Made Monsters by Cherokee author @andrealrogers had me admiring the writing, the glossary, the illustrations, and lastly that very quietly screaming family tree of a prologue.
I found myself reading flipping back and forth between the family tree, the Cherokee language glossary, and even other stories quite often. It reminded me of sitting down with my sayah (grandma) as we explored generations of family photos and the stories that came with them including the tears, gasps, smiles, or quiet moments of reflection.
This collection of stories aren't just fictional horrors but they are also social commentary or mirror reflections of actual horrors Indigenous people have survived. Every Native family tree has these horrific Indigenous Intergenerational traumas but like all Native families. Andrea interweaves the resilience and strength that has kept us strong and grounded.
The beginning story starts a journey horrifically with paranormal characters run-in with the family tree's beginnings. Throttling us with a tragic tie to land theft and violence is this book's initial unfolding, but its speculative conclusion ties all this family's gathering of haunting, creature features, paranormal encounters, and heartbreaking horrors together.
Kuna'ah, askwali Andrea for these stories. They have opened my eyes again to so many aspects of Indigenous family heritage using YA horror. Horrifically amazing and Indigenous brilliance at its best.
If you haven't already guessed, this is a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for inviting me to the book tour.
My bookmark is a Hopi turtle design postcard created and designed by Hopi artist Lionel Honwytewa. You can find him on fb.
#hearourvoicestours #hearourvoices #HOV #ManMadeMonsters #andrealrodgers #indigenousbookstagram #IndigenousReader #indigenousbooks #IndigenousAuthors #indigenousliterature #Indigenouslit #NativeReader #NativeAuthors
I found myself reading flipping back and forth between the family tree, the Cherokee language glossary, and even other stories quite often. It reminded me of sitting down with my sayah (grandma) as we explored generations of family photos and the stories that came with them including the tears, gasps, smiles, or quiet moments of reflection.
This collection of stories aren't just fictional horrors but they are also social commentary or mirror reflections of actual horrors Indigenous people have survived. Every Native family tree has these horrific Indigenous Intergenerational traumas but like all Native families. Andrea interweaves the resilience and strength that has kept us strong and grounded.
The beginning story starts a journey horrifically with paranormal characters run-in with the family tree's beginnings. Throttling us with a tragic tie to land theft and violence is this book's initial unfolding, but its speculative conclusion ties all this family's gathering of haunting, creature features, paranormal encounters, and heartbreaking horrors together.
Kuna'ah, askwali Andrea for these stories. They have opened my eyes again to so many aspects of Indigenous family heritage using YA horror. Horrifically amazing and Indigenous brilliance at its best.
If you haven't already guessed, this is a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for inviting me to the book tour.
My bookmark is a Hopi turtle design postcard created and designed by Hopi artist Lionel Honwytewa. You can find him on fb.
#hearourvoicestours #hearourvoices #HOV #ManMadeMonsters #andrealrodgers #indigenousbookstagram #IndigenousReader #indigenousbooks #IndigenousAuthors #indigenousliterature #Indigenouslit #NativeReader #NativeAuthors
Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.5
The Break by Katherena Vermette
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There is no question that the writing of this book is incredible. My goodness, the depth of love for Harlem is not only apparent, but it's build within people's struggle, their strength, and the stories. I saw not only the development of characters but also how characters and PLACE develop each other. It was also an amazing prose. I loved the dialogue! The internal mindse of Ray. Early on with the prose I was already not expecting a fast, complex plot heist. But I loved what I got instead, a shuffle of amazing characters. I'm looking forward to reading Crooked Manifesto.
If you're looking forward to a fast paced plot, filled with intense twists this might not be the book for you. But im a character driven reader, so this was wonderful for me. :)
If you're looking forward to a fast paced plot, filled with intense twists this might not be the book for you. But im a character driven reader, so this was wonderful for me. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Classism