An absolute thrill ride of a book, a page-turner of the highest order ... Socially, historically, and politically astute ... Self-acceptance, relationships, and love are at the core of this novel’s magic ... A powerful and unique reading experience, threaded through with humour and peril.
...we are shown a vibrantly diverse cross section of womanhood as well as folk beliefs and magical thought across the country ... Fans of magical realism and ladies getting stuff done will enjoy this ride.
A propulsive read full of intriguing detail, this novel is well written, engaging, and, more than anything, enjoyable. If the dichotomy between the feminine (good) and masculine (bad) is a bit stark, this is made up for by the genuine affection the reader will feel for Dimaline’s irreverent, badass witches as they battle for the future of their family and the future of the world, one and the same in Dimaline’s inclusive vision.
Dimaline... underwhelms in this clunky feminist fantasy ... Dimaline’s trans-inclusive, BIPOC cast is admirable, but she works in their perspectives in the clunkiest way possible, interrupting the narrative at odd moments to give nearly every supporting character a POV section used to convey unwieldy backstory ... Though this aspires to be literary fantasy—and indeed Dimaline’s prose is strong—the plot feels oddly like a mid-’90s girl power YA fantasy and offers frustratingly shallow readings of both historical events and contemporary power structures. The main villain falls particularly flat ... All but Dimaline’s most devoted fans can skip this one.
