Review: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Horror Spotlight chose this as their read along book for January and I'm so glad!
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Released October 2018
Source: Library Borrow
A daring post-apocalyptic thriller from a powerful rising literary voice
With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.
The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.
Blending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.
My 2 Cents for Free!
Reading along with Horror Spotlight in January. Want to join us? All the info is here: Horror Spotlight: January 2023 Horror Spotlight Readalong
This book has mastered the slow creeping dread that I adore. The story takes place on an indigenous reservation where bit by bit you come to the realization that something terrible has happened in the outside world. They're so cut off from the rest of the world that it takes everyone some time to come to this realization as they tend to their day-to-day survival and prepare for the approaching grueling winter. But things are about to get so much worse than anyone could ever imagine.
The characterization is fantastic, there's a true sense of community created, it feels like it's happening in real-time and you'll feel for these trusting people who have already been through far too much pain. There are even a few moments of humor to lighten the dark and ominous mood.
Read it in the dead of winter. You won't be sorry!
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
That really sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it. It starts a little slow but I think I was really in the mood for it.
DeleteI love that you guys loved this. I'm hoping to get to it this month, but outlook not so good.
ReplyDeleteJanuary has been a month, ugh! I hope you're able to get some down time to read it.
DeleteOh, I always wanted to read this one, but then I kind of forgot about it. Glad to know you enjoyed it; I'll be putting it back on my TBR list. :D
ReplyDeleteI do that all the time. There are never enough hours. I hope you enjoy it if you get a chance to read it.
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