5/5 STARS Wow, wow, wow. Hands down my favorite book of October, and probably my favorite read in a while. Winter Counts was a book I chose for #thrilleroctoberv2 hosted by @readwithangie on Instagram, and this fulfilled the "read a book by a BIPOC author" on the bingo board. I think we can all do a better job in general of supporting BIPOC authors, with BIPOC characters. The reason I say this is because the viewpoint from these authors can really just make you stop and think about the world you live in. If I hadn't read Winter Counts, I probably would've never realized how bad life is for some on Native American reservations. David provided an educational experience to readers about Native American culture, specifically Lakota, while also writing a thrilling crime novel that has you at the edge of your seat by the end of it.
Actual justice doesn't come around often for those living on Rosebud Indian reservation. That's where Virgil Wounded Horse, our protagonist, comes in. Virgil makes a living by dealing out justice to those the American government couldn't be bothered with prosecuting. Unfortunately, in real life this happens way to often to those living on reservations. Federal prosecutors don't bother with prosecuting sexual assault, domestic violence, theft, etc. on the reservation. Virgil ends up being the one delivering justice in these instances, but when hard drugs find their way onto the reservation, he finds himself in the middle of a big investigation, and doesn't know if he will be able to handle the outcome. It's hard to go into much more detail without giving anything away, and I would hate to spoil such a great book! Winter Counts had me laughing out loud, crying, and sometimes just closing the book because I was so NERVOUS about what was going to happen. For a debut author, he did an excellent job of bringing out those emotions in me as a reader, which is what makes me love certain books so much. If you can make me feel strong emotions while reading your book, I will shout from the rooftops that everyone needs to read it. I really enjoyed the personal journey Virgil went on in this book as well. He obviously struggles with his heritage and the traditions that come with it. He knows it's a part of who he is, but he also turns from it and has a bitter attitude toward it. It was very interesting to see the way his attitude towards these things evolved as the story went on, it was probably the most emotional part of the book for me. If you enjoy a good crime novel, I highly recommend this one! I know I've pretty much heavily focused on the Native American culture and educational aspect of this book, but it is a great crime/thriller read. Not predictable at all, and almost kind of a slow burn when it comes to the action. It all just starts slowly building up until you get to the point where you are turning and burning through pages to get to the ending. Just please read this book. You won't regret it. (And if you do, please don't yell at me lol).
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AuthorHi, I'm Genny! You can always find me with a book in my hand. Dystopian, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are among my favorite genres. I hope you enjoy the reviews I provide and can help you pick out your next book! Archives
October 2020
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