Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns

13 reviews

jellbelle's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

A tense read with twists. The way it's written I felt I was standing there with Mack and her sister, cousin and all the aunties. Few passages gave me actual shivers, gasps and shock. Felt so many connections to the characters, esp Mack. Saw a lot of my family in hers. 

The bit about her Kokum reminded me of a dream I had once where my grandma kept telling me I had to leave and I tried to bring her with me but she said no YOU need to leave. I was having my first low blood sugar since being diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic and it was severe low...a sugar of 1.2 and my grandma had passed 4 years prior. Hair on my arm just stood up reading that part. 

Like Mr Hector said "it's like a hand comes out and touches yours" when you read something you thought unique to you and here it written down by someone you've never met and don't know.

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annes_09's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

Holy fuck man. 
A bone chilling thriller. I couldn't put it down, even when it made me freaked out of my shadows at night. 
But all in all, its a story about family and love and forgiveness. I would recommend to anyone. 

Truly, the only reason I couldn't give it 5 stars is because thrillers aren't my absolute favourite genre. But if they are, you will love it. 

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0


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lizard800's review

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dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

Jessica John'sis truly an amazing writer. The way she is able to build a scene and transport the reader is really cool. I could relate to closely to many of the scenes she described (like the aunties all playing cards) and I felt like I literally had to snap out of it when the book continued on because I was so deeply transported back in my memories by the writing.

The book takes a little while to pick up, but when it does you're really in it. I thought the ending was really touching. Definitely reccomend. This book is worth the hype.

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weepy_iskwew's review against another edition

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

4.75

I get this book. And this book gets me.
 
There is so much I loved about this book. I love the family dynamics and tension between being upset with each other and wanting to care for each other. I loved the use of Cree language and culture. I loved the primarily woman/femme cast. I was so moved by the way the author explored these complex relationships and the pain between them. 

I understand what other reviewers say when they describe it as slow in the middle. It’s not a typical horror made up of consistent rising stakes, increasing danger and fear until the climax. I think the fact that a lot of the real creepiness happens in dreams, and that she can seek comfort from her family lessens the danger factor a lot. As someone who doesn’t regularly read horror, I didn’t mind this levity. But I can see how it might not fit the mould you’re expecting. 

I think the only reason I haven’t given it a full five stars is just my personal preferences. I would find it hard to re-read this one because it was deep, dark and moving (I call myself Weepy Iskwew for a reason). Honestly, I might give it a full five stars after I take some time away from it. We will see 

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theverycraftyvegan's review

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dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

This book is so beautifully written and deeply haunting. It made my scalp tingle a few times. 

Mackenzie is a young Cree woman who is suddenly able to take things from her dreams and bring them into the waking world. Her dreams are of the past and they are trying to tell her something. 

Her best friend encourages her to talk to her family about what she’s going through and after a phone call with one of her aunties she knows she needs to go home. 

As Mackenzie starts trying to mend her relationships with her family they all begin to learn they have more in common than they ever realized. 

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prairieraven's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

A book about the powerful elders and Aunties and community connection and the bonds between family and community. This is a beautiful and cryptically dark story about a Grief stricken young Créé Woman haunted by her dead sister, plagued by nightmares and followed by crows. She starts bringing objects from her dreams back to reality with her and she realizes she's in more trouble that she thought. The book is gripping, haunting and layered with connectivity with profound character growth.

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paronomaniac's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5


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claireparlee's review against another edition

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

4.25

In the second/third act of the book (I’m not sure) I was so absorbed. Once things all start coming together you can’t pull yourself away from it.

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emma_b_rhodes's review

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75


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