if i give this a 4.5 later that’s on me but fuck it I’m giving it 5 stars. The whole cast was just casually indigiqueer (WITH TWO CHARACTERS USING NEOPRONOUNS. ONE OF WHICH IS A POV!! HI RIORDAN!!), with the roles and significance of non-binary genders and Two Spirit identities even part of the worldbuilding?!? Admittedly the first fourth or so was confusing with all the different POVs, but as more detail on the post-apocalyptic environment was given (and I read parts of Anishinaabeg culture sprinkled in throughout, so I could get some context on *that* front), and the storylines started to merge together, I was super invested in how it’d unfold!! There’s such a strong emphasis on family and I loved how each character’s culture was important, from their bonds to even some of the plot elements (prayers and offerings to ancestors are *crucial* at different points in the story. It can sometimes be involved in ensuring the well-being of another character).

Also, surprise polyamory with three of the characters??Go figure.

Goodness I also loved the world itself!! There was enough depth to the post-apocalyptic dystopia(?) that it felt plausible. I also enjoyed seeing the different tight-knit Indigenous communities! None of them were thrown in for diversity’s sake, there was importance and care written into each one.

And there was so much heart in the overall story too…unfortunately my QLL loan was due the day I’m writing this review(and one person had it on hold. I’m re-borrowing this the second they’re done), so I can’t go and look at all of my quotes I had highlighted but there were some beautiful lines about hope, non-blood familial bonds(oh god and the pain of losing those people!! A lot of violence in this book), and love. If I have the room I’ll talk about it more in a Bookstagram caption but for now I will not go on, lest I become unintelligible.

Anyhow I’m still on my “In The Watchful City” agenda(..kind of. My book hyperfixations give conflicting info haha) so I’ll say that if you liked the emphasis on storytelling(slightly different context there, though), culturally diverse characters and queer cast of that one(+ the neopronoun rep!!), and bittersweet ending, you’d like this one too. Or, y’know, if you read “Màgòdiz” and want more recs, switch around the order of those titles lol. 

I am totally reading more books by Gabe Calderón. This was awesome.