By Cherie Dimaline
4 Stars
The Marrow Thieves is set in some kind of dystopian future where Indigenous people are being hunted for their bone marrow, which holds the key to restoring the lost ability to dream—a power lost by the rest of humanity. It follows the story of Frenchie, a young Métis boy while travelling with survivors across a world ruined by climate change and systemic oppression.
What resonated most with me from The Marrow Thieves is this beautiful tapestry of desperation for survival intertwined with culture, identity, and resilience. Dimaline brings moments of raw emotion and personal growth to life in this intense and unsettling world. At the same time, such a narrative could allow a powerful comment about the ongoing colonial impact upon Indigenous communities and make it way more than the typical dystopian novel. All the characters are just so real, with their own histories and traumas, revealed in turn, as befits the action in the book.
Sometimes, the pacing stutters, nearly stretched. Much time passes when the action is slower, and the story reflects a great deal inside the mind, and that may not appeal to the reader if he or she has been used to so much tension previously. Still, this does allow deeper character study, which is one of the high points of this novel.
I highly recommend The Marrow Thieves to anyone reading speculative fiction with strong social themes and an interest in Indigenous perspectives. It is a novel that will stay with you, though perhaps not one for readers who want only fast-paced action.
Reviewed by Alwaleed
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