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Sisters of the Lost Nation
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Horror (2023)A young Native girl's hunt for answers about the women mysteriously disappearing from her tribe's reservation lead her to delve into the myths and stories of her people, all while being haunted herself, in this atmospheric and stunningly poignant debut.
Anna Horn is always looking over her shoulder. For the bullies who torment her, for the entitled visitors at the reservation's casino...and for the nameless, disembodied entity that stalks her every step--an ancient tribal myth come-to-life, one that's intent on devouring her whole.
With strange and sinister happenings occurring around the casino, Anna starts to suspect that not all the horrors on the reservation are old. As girls begin to go missing and the tribe scrambles to find answers, Anna struggles with her place on the rez, desperately searching for the key she's sure lies in the legends of her tribe's past.
When Anna's own little sister also disappears, she'll do anything to bring Grace home. But the demons plaguing the reservation--both ancient and new--are strong, and sometimes, it's the stories that never get told that are the most important.
Part gripping thriller and part mythological horror, author Nick Medina spins an incisive and timely novel of life as an outcast, the cost of forgetting tradition, and the courage it takes to become who you were always meant to be.
Anna Horn is always looking over her shoulder. For the bullies who torment her, for the entitled visitors at the reservation's casino...and for the nameless, disembodied entity that stalks her every step--an ancient tribal myth come-to-life, one that's intent on devouring her whole.
With strange and sinister happenings occurring around the casino, Anna starts to suspect that not all the horrors on the reservation are old. As girls begin to go missing and the tribe scrambles to find answers, Anna struggles with her place on the rez, desperately searching for the key she's sure lies in the legends of her tribe's past.
When Anna's own little sister also disappears, she'll do anything to bring Grace home. But the demons plaguing the reservation--both ancient and new--are strong, and sometimes, it's the stories that never get told that are the most important.
Part gripping thriller and part mythological horror, author Nick Medina spins an incisive and timely novel of life as an outcast, the cost of forgetting tradition, and the courage it takes to become who you were always meant to be.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2023
About the author
Nick Medina
13 books403 followersBorn in Chicago, Illinois, Nick Medina has degrees in organizational and multicultural communication, and has worked as a college communnications instructor. He has had short stories published in various fiction outlets since 2009. An enthusiast of local and Native lore, his debut novel, Sisters of the Lost Nation, features several supernatural myths and legends. He became interested in the problem of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls after reading an article in the Chicago Tribune about Ashley Loring Heavyrunner, who went missing from the Blackfoot reservation in 2017. He enjoys exploring the strange and unusual, haunted cemeteries, and other spooky places, playing guitar, blues-based music and classic rock, physical fitness, and spending time with family.
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March 21, 2024
The spirit of a chief, you see, is a powerful thing. The skull became a head again when it was lifted from the grave . . . resurrected.”--------------------------------------
“Resurrected?” she echoed.
“Alive again,” he said, his voice measured and grievously low, prolonging every word. “But not like it was before. Not like the old chief. It’s angry now that it’s been ripped from its rest. And ravenous. Hungry for revenge. It’ll eat anyone it encounters. It’ll tear flesh from bone.”
“How?” she said.
“It rolls, gathering mud and moss on its decaying flesh.”
Black bark to her sides and ash beneath her feet, she smelled the earthy odors of dirt, mud, burnt wood, and something so vile her stomach turned. It was the same smell the wind had wafted her way on the nights she’d been chased. Only the odor was stronger now. Inescapable.Seventeen-year-old Anna Horn is terrified of two things. The first a magical, carnivorous head that gets around by rolling, and is possessed of a set of very nasty teeth. She believes it is determined to eat her. This is the result of a tale her Uncle Ray had told her ten years ago. Her terror about the rolling head permeates, as she fears its arrival every time there is a rustle in the bushes, the main difference in her experience of it being that she can flee faster at seventeen than she could at seven. The second is that she will never see her sister again. Fifteen-year-old Grace has joined the growing list of Native women gone missing.
Nick Medina - image from Transatlantic Agency
Anna is in the throes of that perennial challenge of the teen-years, (for some of us, this challenge can go on for decades) figuring out who she is. She is way more mature than most of us were at that age, for sure. She does not exactly dress to impress, favoring her father’s old clothes, and sporting a very unfashionable short haircut. She loves the stories of her tribe, the fictional Takodas, to the point of wanting to start a historical preservation society, to save Takoda history, myths, and traditions for future generations. The considerate and kind classmates at her mostly white school completely understand and support her efforts at self-discovery. As if. They make her school experience a living hell, taking it further than unkind words. Grace is a very different sort, desperate to fit in, wanting attention, focusing on her looks and pleasing others in order to grease the way to hanging with the cool kids. Acquiring a cell phone is the key to her potential rise, and she will do whatever she can to get the money for one.
The story flips back and forth in time, moving forward from Anna’s Day 1 in showing how events came to be, and from the day of Grace’s disappearance, showing the investigation and results. Chapters are labeled in reference to days since Anna’s story begins. Grace does not go missing until well along in those days. Chapters looking at the search for Grace are also labeled with the number of hours since her disappearance.
Medina wanted to highlight the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) that has been devastating Native communities for a long time. He shows the all-too-familiar problems residents of tribal lands face when someone goes missing, a viper’s nest of overlapping legal jurisdictions, inadequate police funding, and official indifference among them, not to mention racism. Speaking of which Medina portrays people of all shades as less then admirable. Even the Native manager of the casino assigns Native workers based on their skin color. Fox Ballard, nephew of the tribal leader, is young, handsome, flashy, sculpted, and not at all to be trusted.
Medina pays attention, as well to the impact of modernization on traditional values. The Takoda nation has been significantly changed by the opening of a casino on the reservation. The most obvious contrast is that of Anna (traditional) vs Grace (modern). The new road offers up a steady supply of splatted frogs, a pretty clear image of the cost of replacing treasured values with treasure. Income from the casino is making its way to all the people on the rez, although it is also clear that some Takoda are more equal than others.
As explained in the Author’s note that follows the book, the inspiration for the carnivorous rolling head came from actual Wintu and Cheyenne legends. It reminded me of the relentless ungulate in Stephen Graham Jones’s The Only Good Indians, except that the elk in Jones’s tale is seeking revenge, while the head, though our only real look at it is through Anna’s terrified eyes, seems a more open opportunity attacker. Frankly, scary as it seems to her, it cannot hold a candle to Graham’s hoofed-slasher. It may have been scary to Anna as a character, but did not cause me any lost sleep as a reader.
I did feel at times that this book read more like a YA story than a fully adult one, an observation, not a black mark. The greatest strength of the novel is Medina’s portrayal of his lead, Anna. It is in seeing her social challenges, following her passions, tracking her investigative efforts, admiring her bravery, and rooting for her to mature to a point where she is comfortable in her own skin, that we come to care about her. That alone makes this a good read. The added payload, about the core issue of the book, Missing and Murdred Indigenous Women, about the impact of modernization on traditional values, about gender identity, and about the impact of story on our lives, gives it a far greater heft.
This is Medina’s first novel. He refers to it as a “thriller with mythological horror.” It is an impressive beginning to what we hope is a long and productive career.
She said Frog exemplified transformation. He entered life in one form and left it in another. From egg to tadpole, to tadpole with legs, to amphibian with tail, to tailless frog, he was never the same. He began life in water, only emerging once he was his true self. He symbolized change, rebirth, and renewal, and his spirit could bring rain.Review posted - 6/23/23
Anna stared down at the ill-fated frog. The reservation was transforming. The asphalt beneath her feet was evidence of that. And yet the very symbol of change had become a victim of it. The absurdity didn’t escape her.
Publication dates
----------Hardcover – 4/18/23
----------Trade paperback - 3/19/24
I received an ARE of Sisters of the Lost Nation from Berkley Books in return for a fair review. Thanks, folks. Can you get that thing to stop chasing me? And thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
This review will soon be cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to the author’s personal, Instagram, and Twitter pages
PROFILE - from The Transatlantic Agency
A Chicago native, Nick Medina is an author and college professor of public speaking and multicultural communication…Nick’s first short story was published in 2009 and he has since had dozens more published by West Pigeon Press, Dark Highlands, and UnEarthed Press, in addition to outlets in the U.S. and the U.K., such as Midwest Literary Magazine, The Washington Pastime, The Absent Willow Review and Underground Voices.Interviews
-----Paulsemel.com - Exclusive Interview: “Sisters Of The Lost Nation” Author Nick Medina - e-mail interview
-----#Poured Over – The B&N Podcast - Nick Medina on Sisters of the Lost Nation - by Marie Cummings - video - 48:04
-----Murder by the Book - Special Prelaunch Q&A: Nick Medina Presents "Sister of the Lost Nation" by Sara DiVello – video – 33:31
-----FanFiAddict - Author Interview: Nick Medina (Sisters of the Lost Nation) by Cassidee Lanstra
Items of Interest from the author
-----Tor.Com - Excerpt
-----CrimeReads.com - EXPLORING SOCIAL ISSUES THROUGH HORROR
Items of Interest
-----Medina said that his initial inspiration for the novel was from an AP article published in the Chicago Tribune. Here is the article as published by AP - #NotInvisible: Why are Native American women vanishing? by Sharon Cohen
-----CBC - MMIWG cases continued at same rate even after national inquiry began, data shows
----- First People: American Indian Legends - The Rolling Head – A Cheyenne Legend
For horror grounded in the Native experience, I can recommend
-----Stephen Graham Jones - Mongrels
-----Stephen Graham Jones - The Only good Indians
-----Stephen Graham Jones - My Heart is a Chainsaw
-----Stephen Graham Jones - Don’t Fear the Reaper
-----Cherie Dimaline - Empire of Wild
April 14, 2023
Nick Medina has crafted a debut novel,
Sisters of the Lost Nation
, that is filled with native folklore interwoven with a coming-of-age story and a riveting and all-too-real mystery. Set on a fictional reservation in Louisiana, it features seventeen-year-old Anna Horn. Tormented at school and terrorized by an ancient myth, readers feel the terror and torment that Anna experiences. However, as girls go missing on the reservation, including Anna’s younger sister, Grace, Anna is determined to find answers. Where are they going? Is there a culprit, a mythological horror, or something else?
Anna is an outcast and bullied. She’s faced years of isolation and alienation for being different. She’s also kind, helps at home, is interested in the history, storytelling, and culture of her people, and terrified by a story her uncle told her when she was a small child. It was exciting to see her transformation as the story progressed. The other characters were a mix of stereotype, static, and dynamic characters.
The prologue sets the tone for the novel with Uncle Ray telling Anna a tribal myth that stays with her throughout the story. But part one starts with a chilling scene that lets readers know this will be a thriller with a mystery to be solved. Readers should be aware that the story goes back and forth in time; covering 36 days. Each section is labeled with the day and time. While this let me understand the timing, going back and forth in time disrupted the flow and affected the pacing.
Medina does a great job of world building and characterization. The plot and premise pulled me into the story. The author has provided a content warning list at the beginning of the novel which includes issues as varied as addiction, child abuse, assault, identity, disappearances, racism, bullying, and much more. Some have been omitted here to avoid spoilers.
The author is a wonderful storyteller and I found myself progressing effortlessly through the narrative. He did an excellent job of showing the crisis faced by the families in this novel, which is an all-too-common occurrence in native communities. The number of missing women and girls as well as those who experience multiple types of assaults is much higher than the national average. The author’s note also talks about native myths and folklore.
Overall, this amazing, memorable, and emotional debut novel is a powerful and vivid page-turner with great world-building details and tension. This is a book that I am going to remember. I am looking forward to reading the author’s next book.
Berkley Publishing Group and Nick Medina provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 18, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.03 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Anna is an outcast and bullied. She’s faced years of isolation and alienation for being different. She’s also kind, helps at home, is interested in the history, storytelling, and culture of her people, and terrified by a story her uncle told her when she was a small child. It was exciting to see her transformation as the story progressed. The other characters were a mix of stereotype, static, and dynamic characters.
The prologue sets the tone for the novel with Uncle Ray telling Anna a tribal myth that stays with her throughout the story. But part one starts with a chilling scene that lets readers know this will be a thriller with a mystery to be solved. Readers should be aware that the story goes back and forth in time; covering 36 days. Each section is labeled with the day and time. While this let me understand the timing, going back and forth in time disrupted the flow and affected the pacing.
Medina does a great job of world building and characterization. The plot and premise pulled me into the story. The author has provided a content warning list at the beginning of the novel which includes issues as varied as addiction, child abuse, assault, identity, disappearances, racism, bullying, and much more. Some have been omitted here to avoid spoilers.
The author is a wonderful storyteller and I found myself progressing effortlessly through the narrative. He did an excellent job of showing the crisis faced by the families in this novel, which is an all-too-common occurrence in native communities. The number of missing women and girls as well as those who experience multiple types of assaults is much higher than the national average. The author’s note also talks about native myths and folklore.
Overall, this amazing, memorable, and emotional debut novel is a powerful and vivid page-turner with great world-building details and tension. This is a book that I am going to remember. I am looking forward to reading the author’s next book.
Berkley Publishing Group and Nick Medina provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 18, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
-----------------------------------------
My 4.03 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
June 19, 2023
A superb debut by an author who draws on his Native American heritage and presents us with a tale of suspense and much, much more. I found this book intriguing for its folklore which cannot be separated from the mystery itself and captivating descriptions of a fictional Native American reserve, something of which I know still not enough. There are bits of information, for instance, on judicial system which were eye-opening to me and on the roots of many issues which ailed Native Americans.
This book will not be easily forgotten, this I know for certain.
OverDrive, thank you!
This book will not be easily forgotten, this I know for certain.
OverDrive, thank you!
Read
May 7, 2023No star review. I couldn’t even skim finish the book. Just flat out DNF unfortunately!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Read
April 18, 2023Nick Media's debut novel Sisters of the Lost Nation, was inspired by stories he would hear from his paternal grandmother about missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
The prologue is a great hook. An uncle telling his niece a spooky story that seems like an urban legend told to freak little girls out. But it quickly gets a little more serious when the uncle tells the girl that Ms. Shelby, a teacher who went missing over the summer, might have been eaten by an evil, vengeful spirit.
“Never?” Her voice barely made it over the crackle of the fire. She thought of Miss Shelby again. Gone forever. “Can’t it be stopped?”
He shrugged. “Can’t kill something that’s already dead. I don’t have any idea how to stop it. All I know is it’s a good thing you’re not out here alone.”
The story turns to sisters who live on a reservation. They're about 15-17 and work at the Casino. One of the sisters goes missing so the other one starts investigating. There is a lot of social commentary on how law enforcement doesn't take missing person reports seriously enough and how nobody seems to care about what happened to the women and girls.
A tragic tale that needs to be told. I enjoyed the subject matter and the heart behind this story but I felt like it repeated itself a lot before it discovered a good rhythm and finally took off. I liked the balance of myths & legends bumping up against human monsters. A strong topic coming up in horror lately.
The prologue is a great hook. An uncle telling his niece a spooky story that seems like an urban legend told to freak little girls out. But it quickly gets a little more serious when the uncle tells the girl that Ms. Shelby, a teacher who went missing over the summer, might have been eaten by an evil, vengeful spirit.
“Never?” Her voice barely made it over the crackle of the fire. She thought of Miss Shelby again. Gone forever. “Can’t it be stopped?”
He shrugged. “Can’t kill something that’s already dead. I don’t have any idea how to stop it. All I know is it’s a good thing you’re not out here alone.”
The story turns to sisters who live on a reservation. They're about 15-17 and work at the Casino. One of the sisters goes missing so the other one starts investigating. There is a lot of social commentary on how law enforcement doesn't take missing person reports seriously enough and how nobody seems to care about what happened to the women and girls.
A tragic tale that needs to be told. I enjoyed the subject matter and the heart behind this story but I felt like it repeated itself a lot before it discovered a good rhythm and finally took off. I liked the balance of myths & legends bumping up against human monsters. A strong topic coming up in horror lately.
February 13, 2023
This is a strong 3.5 star verging on 4 star - One expectation setting item I'd want people to know is that I'd describe this as a thriller with horror elements to it rather than a horror novel. I think once I dialed into that being the type of story I was reading, I got into the groove a lot better with the story telling. This is a very strong debut that suffers IMO from its past/present story telling structure and a somewhat rushed ending in the epilogue (no spoilers but I think it really pulled its punches there). I wish it had been told straight through to help the tension build more smoothly. Still, I love the themes of this (particularly the strength of sisterly love and the perils of losing the traditions/stories of the past), the setting in the fictitious Takoda rez, and the grim but well told plot of what happens to missing Native women.
I highly recommend this for fans of Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, and I would read future books by this author!
I highly recommend this for fans of Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, and I would read future books by this author!
August 25, 2023
This is a debut novel set on a fictional reservation in Louisiana. It features 17-year-old Anna Horn. Tormented at school and terrorized by an ancient myth, readers can feel the terror and torment Anna experiences. However, as girls go missing on the reservation, including Anna’s younger sister, Grace, Anna isn’t willing to just sit back – she is determined to investigate.
Where are these girls going?
Is the myth doing this – or some human evil?
As readers, we see Anna as a bullied outcast. She has faced years of isolation and alienation for being different from everyone else. She is also very kind and helps at home and is interested in the history of her reservation – her people.
As a character, she transformed beautifully. Other characters seemed less dynamic. This took away slightly from the story.
The prologue sets the tone about the tribal myth that will take readers throughout the story.
Part I begins with an alarming scene that lets readers into the mystery that needs to be solved.
The story will go back and forth in time covering a 36-day period. Each section is labeled with the day and time.
This type of storytelling was a bit disruptive to the flow and affected the pacing overall.
Otherwise…
The author builds his story well by showing the crisis faced by the families in the novel. He even shares in his Author’s Note,
“… studies indicate that Native women are likely to suffer physical and sexual assault at a rate higher than – and disproportionate to – the national average.”
It is an emotional, page-turning story with lots of tension. Heart-felt. Real-feeling. Heart-wrenching.
The author provides a content warning page at the beginning of the novel which should be read prior to venturing into the book. I will include some of those trigger warnings…addiction, drug abuse, physical assault and battery, child abuse, disappearances, racism, and bullying.
He also shares, “please read with your well-being and best interest in mind.”
I would say the same about this story overall.
And don’t stop at the epilogue. Be sure and read the Author’s Note at the end.
Where are these girls going?
Is the myth doing this – or some human evil?
As readers, we see Anna as a bullied outcast. She has faced years of isolation and alienation for being different from everyone else. She is also very kind and helps at home and is interested in the history of her reservation – her people.
As a character, she transformed beautifully. Other characters seemed less dynamic. This took away slightly from the story.
The prologue sets the tone about the tribal myth that will take readers throughout the story.
Part I begins with an alarming scene that lets readers into the mystery that needs to be solved.
The story will go back and forth in time covering a 36-day period. Each section is labeled with the day and time.
This type of storytelling was a bit disruptive to the flow and affected the pacing overall.
Otherwise…
The author builds his story well by showing the crisis faced by the families in the novel. He even shares in his Author’s Note,
“… studies indicate that Native women are likely to suffer physical and sexual assault at a rate higher than – and disproportionate to – the national average.”
It is an emotional, page-turning story with lots of tension. Heart-felt. Real-feeling. Heart-wrenching.
The author provides a content warning page at the beginning of the novel which should be read prior to venturing into the book. I will include some of those trigger warnings…addiction, drug abuse, physical assault and battery, child abuse, disappearances, racism, and bullying.
He also shares, “please read with your well-being and best interest in mind.”
I would say the same about this story overall.
And don’t stop at the epilogue. Be sure and read the Author’s Note at the end.
June 3, 2023
3.0 Stars
As someone who loves indigenous fiction, I was highly anticipating this new release. I appreciate that this novel centers around missing indigenous women which is an incredibly important topic.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the execution. The story was fine, but it has the potential to be amazing. They appreciated the premise but the execution was lackluster. I did not connect to the characters and found the narrative structure fragmented in a frustrating way.
I would primarily received this one to readers looking for fiction on this topic, but I wish the story had been stronger.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As someone who loves indigenous fiction, I was highly anticipating this new release. I appreciate that this novel centers around missing indigenous women which is an incredibly important topic.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the execution. The story was fine, but it has the potential to be amazing. They appreciated the premise but the execution was lackluster. I did not connect to the characters and found the narrative structure fragmented in a frustrating way.
I would primarily received this one to readers looking for fiction on this topic, but I wish the story had been stronger.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
April 23, 2024
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina is a novel that seemed to try to delve into as many genres as possible with a bit of mystery, thriller, horror, folklore, mythology, family drama, coming of age and probably a few elements I’m missing off the top of my head. The story in Sisters of the Lost Nation is also one that is told by alternating back and forth between two timelines and while it is set on a fictional reservation in Louisiana it does deal with real indigenous legends and folklore.
Seventeen year old Anna Horn is a member of the Lakota Tribe and like many members of the tribe Anna works at the casino run by the tribe. Bullied at school for her culture Anna has always wanted to learn more and more of their traditions and legends but has also felt she is haunted by one herself. When other young tribe members begin to go missing, including Anna’s own little sister, Anna thinks somehow those legends of the past may help figure out what is going on.
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina really seemed to be on paper a book that I should have absolutely fell in love with. Unfortunately I really had a hard time getting too engaged with this one while I was reading. The pacing did seem rather slow at times which is sometimes a huge turn off to me but it also had a weird back and forth between times with it only covering a little over a month that sometimes threw me off. Others have absolutely loved this one so while it wasn’t my cup of tea I encourage to give it a try for yourself if interested.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Seventeen year old Anna Horn is a member of the Lakota Tribe and like many members of the tribe Anna works at the casino run by the tribe. Bullied at school for her culture Anna has always wanted to learn more and more of their traditions and legends but has also felt she is haunted by one herself. When other young tribe members begin to go missing, including Anna’s own little sister, Anna thinks somehow those legends of the past may help figure out what is going on.
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina really seemed to be on paper a book that I should have absolutely fell in love with. Unfortunately I really had a hard time getting too engaged with this one while I was reading. The pacing did seem rather slow at times which is sometimes a huge turn off to me but it also had a weird back and forth between times with it only covering a little over a month that sometimes threw me off. Others have absolutely loved this one so while it wasn’t my cup of tea I encourage to give it a try for yourself if interested.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 19, 2023
I'm always looking for books by indigenous authors and when I read the synopsis of Sisters of the Lost Nation, it immediately became one of my most anticipated reads!
Sisters of the Lost Nation is centered around 17-year-old Anna Horn and takes place in the 90s around the fictional Lakota Tribe reservation. Anna works hard at a local casino to help her family make ends meet. Anna is very interested in her tribe’s history as well as their myths and legends. Anna also believes that she is being stalked by a disembodied entity that is a part of her tribe’s lore.
Anna has witnessed many sinister happenings occur on the reservation and now several girls in the tribe are missing. Anna believes that the answer to the girls' disappearance is found in the legends of the tribe’s past.
Sisters of the Lost Nation is a blend of some of my favorite genres- it's a family saga centered around a mystery, mixed with thriller and supernatural horror elements. The characters and setting were vividly written and I could easily picture myself through Anna’s story. Anna was a brilliant and powerful main character, one that I will not be forgetting any time soon.
My favorite parts of this book were the native folklore and Nick Medina brilliantly wove native mythology into a suspenseful mystery. This gripping tale was haunting, powerful, and thoroughly addictive. I loved every part of this book and there's no doubt that it will be one of my favorites of the year.
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina was published on April 18, so it is available now. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!
Sisters of the Lost Nation is centered around 17-year-old Anna Horn and takes place in the 90s around the fictional Lakota Tribe reservation. Anna works hard at a local casino to help her family make ends meet. Anna is very interested in her tribe’s history as well as their myths and legends. Anna also believes that she is being stalked by a disembodied entity that is a part of her tribe’s lore.
Anna has witnessed many sinister happenings occur on the reservation and now several girls in the tribe are missing. Anna believes that the answer to the girls' disappearance is found in the legends of the tribe’s past.
Sisters of the Lost Nation is a blend of some of my favorite genres- it's a family saga centered around a mystery, mixed with thriller and supernatural horror elements. The characters and setting were vividly written and I could easily picture myself through Anna’s story. Anna was a brilliant and powerful main character, one that I will not be forgetting any time soon.
My favorite parts of this book were the native folklore and Nick Medina brilliantly wove native mythology into a suspenseful mystery. This gripping tale was haunting, powerful, and thoroughly addictive. I loved every part of this book and there's no doubt that it will be one of my favorites of the year.
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina was published on April 18, so it is available now. A massive thanks to Berkley Pub for the gifted copy!
November 1, 2023
A young woman struggles to unravel the mystery of her missing sister who is only the most recent girl on the rez to have disappeared. Is there a supernatural explanation, or does it have something to do with what's been happening on the forbidden eighth floor of the tribe's casino? Medina tells a compelling tale while also drawing attention to the astonishing number of Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing over the years. A sad story inspired by true events.
https://www.facebook.com/mmiwusa/
https://www.facebook.com/mmiwusa/
May 14, 2023
“Sisters of the Lost Nation”, a debut by Nick Medina.
Highly recommended by a reading group’s friend, so I decided to prioritize it.
The prologue got me hooked, and it created a high level of expectation.
It has a very interesting concept and the writing is very good.
But while reading the story, my mind drifted away. Too many times. Which meant that something was missing for me.
The structure wasn’t very favourable. The jumping of the timeline broke the pace of the storyline, and made it a bit confusing and uninteresting.
So, after 35%, I read something else.
But I didn’t want to totally quit.
I thought it deserved a chance.
Unfortunately I cared very little about the characters.
There were some interesting moments, especially the interaction between the two sisters, and sometimes I felt sorry for them.
At the end, I did not think that this book was very thrilling.
I also didn’t think that it should be labeled as a horror novel, unless they are referring to the real facts as how indigenous people were/are treated/portrayed in North America.
A Goodreads reviewer (Mark, who rated this book as 2 stars) said very well: “A pitch-black social thriller that succeeds in its premise, but struggles in presentation”.
I wonder if the audiobook is any better (unfortunately it was not available from my library).
Hardcover (Berkeley Books): 352 pages (55 chapters)
ebook (Kobo): 297 pages (default), 92k words.
Audiobook narrated by Elva Guerra, Nick Medina: 9.6 hours (normal speed)
Highly recommended by a reading group’s friend, so I decided to prioritize it.
The prologue got me hooked, and it created a high level of expectation.
It has a very interesting concept and the writing is very good.
But while reading the story, my mind drifted away. Too many times. Which meant that something was missing for me.
The structure wasn’t very favourable. The jumping of the timeline broke the pace of the storyline, and made it a bit confusing and uninteresting.
So, after 35%, I read something else.
But I didn’t want to totally quit.
I thought it deserved a chance.
Unfortunately I cared very little about the characters.
There were some interesting moments, especially the interaction between the two sisters, and sometimes I felt sorry for them.
At the end, I did not think that this book was very thrilling.
I also didn’t think that it should be labeled as a horror novel, unless they are referring to the real facts as how indigenous people were/are treated/portrayed in North America.
A Goodreads reviewer (Mark, who rated this book as 2 stars) said very well: “A pitch-black social thriller that succeeds in its premise, but struggles in presentation”.
I wonder if the audiobook is any better (unfortunately it was not available from my library).
Hardcover (Berkeley Books): 352 pages (55 chapters)
ebook (Kobo): 297 pages (default), 92k words.
Audiobook narrated by Elva Guerra, Nick Medina: 9.6 hours (normal speed)
December 20, 2023
An atmospheric, gritty coming of age surrounded by myths, secrets, and chilling revelations. Moody and compelling from start to finish, Sisters of the Lost Nation is a confrontation of many ghosts; of memory, of silence, of all those lost to an oppressive system, and a dissection of the hard truths of colonialism and culture erasure. Expertly weaving together folklore and the contemporary indigenous coming of age experience, this novel tackles issues such as MMIWG head on. It is also an exploration of gender identity, self acceptance, and navigating the gap between tradition and modernity. Honest and horrific, but not without hope, this timely novel is a firm affirmation that try as they might, the government is loosing its ability to silence marginalized communities, and the voices of the lost will be unearthed by the voices of today’s youth.
August 14, 2022
SISTERS OF THE LOST NATION by Nick Medina is a gripping and compelling story that’s as poignant as it is timely. Medina’s spectacular blend of tribal mythology, atmospheric settings, and a lead character who settles right into your heart make this book unforgettable. Add it to your "to be read" list now.
July 22, 2023
The structure, ambience, and themes of Sisters of the Lost Nation very much reminded me of
A Prayer for Travelers by Ruchika Tomar, a novel that is set in gritty middle-of-nowhere America and follows a young girl trying to piece together the disappearance of her friend. There the author really commits to presenting us with a non-linear storyline, as the chapters are not put in chronological order. Both of these novels also feature men who abuse their positions, drugs, some queer longing, and dysfunctional families & dynamics. So, having rather liked A Prayer for Travelers, I was prepared to feel the same for Sisters of the Lost Nation, given that it did have all of the ‘right’ ingredients to be the type of thriller-y coming-of-age that I tend to ‘vibe with…but the central character and the story’s key events ended up falling flat (for me of course, ymmv). I will say that Sisters of the Lost Nation does have a strong sense of place and, despite some pacing missteps, a well-maintained atmosphere.
Alas, the simplistic characters were giving me Riverdale vibes, in that they are exactly the kind of characters you can expect to find in media focused on a small community in the States (the oblivious teachers and school president, the mean popular bullies, the fishy older guy, the laid-back, hippy even, older woman, the bratty younger sister, and so forth). Anna, our protagonist, is the classic outsider who is bullied by her peers and overlooked by the adults in her life. Her younger sister is the quintessential bratty tween who chooses popularity over being a decent human being (she is even involved in this very unnecessary ‘prank’ scene that struck me as both gratuitous and an unsubtle attempt at making us ‘feel’ for the mc). Anyway, Anna works as a cleaner at the reservation's casino, a place chock-full of dodgy guys. There is this lingering animosity, or mistrust, among staff members, that makes us, and Anna, question what really goes on in this casino…when Anna’s sister disappears, Anna knows that the casino and the people behind it are somehow involved.
The non-linear structure here comes across as very gimmicky, a way to give this ‘missing girl’ story a more ‘fresh’ take…but I actually think that this story didn’t need it. It had enough to offer without having to resort to distracting storytelling techniques. A lot of the chapters ultimately come across as repetitive as they keep going over things and dynamics that have already been established. We know who the bad guys are, we know that Anna and her sister didn’t get along, and we know that Anna was bullied and mistreated by almost everyone. It annoyed me that we get this flashback/callback to a phrase this teacher once told her, about Anna being ‘different’. Rather than delving into that, or focusing more on Anna’s identity, we just get to hear those same words time and again without anything on the actual page to back them up. The dynamic between Anna and her sister managed to be both bland and cliched. I am so tired of teenage girls being portrayed like this (stupid, catty, boy-crazy, superficial). The bad guys were just painfully one-note and everything they said or did made me roll my eyes. There were also a lot of scenes that were hard to take seriously. Sometimes this was due to the cartoonish characters, sometimes they were just unbelievable (like that scene where anna interrogates a suspect while the police are right there…? si, come no).
But hey ho, I have read a ton of books with a similar premise (missing sibling/coming of age/small-town setting such as Winter's Bone, A Crooked Tree, Monkey Beach)so I probably have less patience than most when it comes to this type of storyline. If the premise of this book appeals to you I recommend you check out more positive reviews and/or give it a read to form your own opinions about it. If the author were to write something else I would probably give it a try as the themes underlining this story had potential.
A Prayer for Travelers by Ruchika Tomar, a novel that is set in gritty middle-of-nowhere America and follows a young girl trying to piece together the disappearance of her friend. There the author really commits to presenting us with a non-linear storyline, as the chapters are not put in chronological order. Both of these novels also feature men who abuse their positions, drugs, some queer longing, and dysfunctional families & dynamics. So, having rather liked A Prayer for Travelers, I was prepared to feel the same for Sisters of the Lost Nation, given that it did have all of the ‘right’ ingredients to be the type of thriller-y coming-of-age that I tend to ‘vibe with…but the central character and the story’s key events ended up falling flat (for me of course, ymmv). I will say that Sisters of the Lost Nation does have a strong sense of place and, despite some pacing missteps, a well-maintained atmosphere.
Alas, the simplistic characters were giving me Riverdale vibes, in that they are exactly the kind of characters you can expect to find in media focused on a small community in the States (the oblivious teachers and school president, the mean popular bullies, the fishy older guy, the laid-back, hippy even, older woman, the bratty younger sister, and so forth). Anna, our protagonist, is the classic outsider who is bullied by her peers and overlooked by the adults in her life. Her younger sister is the quintessential bratty tween who chooses popularity over being a decent human being (she is even involved in this very unnecessary ‘prank’ scene that struck me as both gratuitous and an unsubtle attempt at making us ‘feel’ for the mc). Anyway, Anna works as a cleaner at the reservation's casino, a place chock-full of dodgy guys. There is this lingering animosity, or mistrust, among staff members, that makes us, and Anna, question what really goes on in this casino…when Anna’s sister disappears, Anna knows that the casino and the people behind it are somehow involved.
The non-linear structure here comes across as very gimmicky, a way to give this ‘missing girl’ story a more ‘fresh’ take…but I actually think that this story didn’t need it. It had enough to offer without having to resort to distracting storytelling techniques. A lot of the chapters ultimately come across as repetitive as they keep going over things and dynamics that have already been established. We know who the bad guys are, we know that Anna and her sister didn’t get along, and we know that Anna was bullied and mistreated by almost everyone. It annoyed me that we get this flashback/callback to a phrase this teacher once told her, about Anna being ‘different’. Rather than delving into that, or focusing more on Anna’s identity, we just get to hear those same words time and again without anything on the actual page to back them up. The dynamic between Anna and her sister managed to be both bland and cliched. I am so tired of teenage girls being portrayed like this (stupid, catty, boy-crazy, superficial). The bad guys were just painfully one-note and everything they said or did made me roll my eyes. There were also a lot of scenes that were hard to take seriously. Sometimes this was due to the cartoonish characters, sometimes they were just unbelievable (like that scene where anna interrogates a suspect while the police are right there…? si, come no).
But hey ho, I have read a ton of books with a similar premise (missing sibling/coming of age/small-town setting such as Winter's Bone, A Crooked Tree, Monkey Beach)so I probably have less patience than most when it comes to this type of storyline. If the premise of this book appeals to you I recommend you check out more positive reviews and/or give it a read to form your own opinions about it. If the author were to write something else I would probably give it a try as the themes underlining this story had potential.
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1636739475i/5520447._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
April 21, 2023
Sisters of the Lost Nation was a bit of a mixed bag. I really struggled with the split and non-linear narrative and Anna's perspective in general. I also wished Medina hadn't shied so much away from what was really going on with Grace and the other girls. Some things need to be said.
Still an interesting read for the most part and, as a debut work, it definitely showed promise.
Still an interesting read for the most part and, as a debut work, it definitely showed promise.
June 5, 2023
I think the marketing of this book calling it horror does the story a bit of a disservice. While horrific things happen within the book, the way the story plays out feels much more like a mystery thriller in genre. The sprinklings of mythological horror just left me wanting more since I went into this book with a different expectation of what it would be.
The plot being focused around missing and murdered indigenous women and girls gave the book a lot of emotional weight. I was invested in Anna as the main character and her journey to find her sister. However, I think that sometimes the dual timeline switching between before Grace goes missing and after she’s gone hindered the pace of the story and made some of the emotional beats not hit quite as hard.
I definitely appreciated what the book was going for, but some of the execution held me back from loving this as a whole. Even though I thought that some parts of it were really well done.
The plot being focused around missing and murdered indigenous women and girls gave the book a lot of emotional weight. I was invested in Anna as the main character and her journey to find her sister. However, I think that sometimes the dual timeline switching between before Grace goes missing and after she’s gone hindered the pace of the story and made some of the emotional beats not hit quite as hard.
I definitely appreciated what the book was going for, but some of the execution held me back from loving this as a whole. Even though I thought that some parts of it were really well done.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1645808644i/7494844._UX200_CR0,6,200,200_.jpg)
November 14, 2023
Okay, so, I failed to read the description of this book.
From the cover and the title, I assumed that it was a book about pirate sisters. Then I saw it on a Native American Heritage Month display and was like, "OMG, indigenous pirate sisters!"
I was 100%, totally incorrect.
It's very good. It reminds me of Sadie and Warrior Girl Unearthed, except this is an adult book and not YA.
From the cover and the title, I assumed that it was a book about pirate sisters. Then I saw it on a Native American Heritage Month display and was like, "OMG, indigenous pirate sisters!"
I was 100%, totally incorrect.
It's very good. It reminds me of Sadie and Warrior Girl Unearthed, except this is an adult book and not YA.
December 19, 2023
Elva Guerra, a nonbinary Indigenous actor becoming more well known by the day, did a very fine job narrating this story of a Two-Spirit Indigenous teen overcoming school bullying, male violence, and her own fears to solve the disappearance of underaged girls on her reservation. In Medina's story, the Dakota tribe is an amalgamation of existing recognized tribes, as the struggles presented are universal, though some of the folklore is very specific and interesting.
I don't have much to add in this review; the book was great. It was both the intersectional coming of age story of Indigenous, queer Anna Horn, and a well-paced thriller with horror elements. But the horror is perhaps more flesh and blood than our protagonist believes at first. Medina managed to portray and examine a cross-country, multinational crisis with a quiet precision, focused through the lens of Anna's experience. This story could serve as a plausible, real life anecdote you'd easily believe was from the headlines [it was, in fact, based in part on a particular case].
Fans of Ramona Emerson's Shutter or the Hillerman Leaphorn detective books would definitely enjoy this.
I don't have much to add in this review; the book was great. It was both the intersectional coming of age story of Indigenous, queer Anna Horn, and a well-paced thriller with horror elements. But the horror is perhaps more flesh and blood than our protagonist believes at first. Medina managed to portray and examine a cross-country, multinational crisis with a quiet precision, focused through the lens of Anna's experience. This story could serve as a plausible, real life anecdote you'd easily believe was from the headlines [it was, in fact, based in part on a particular case].
Fans of Ramona Emerson's Shutter or the Hillerman Leaphorn detective books would definitely enjoy this.
May 30, 2024
3.5~ ɢᴏᴏᴅ. ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴇᴄ. ᴛᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs.
ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ɴᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ɢɪʀʟs (ᴀɴɴᴀ ʜᴏʀɴ) ʜᴜɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴛʀɪʙᴇ's ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟᴇᴀᴅs ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇʟᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍʏᴛʜs ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ, ᴀʟʟ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ.
ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀɴɴᴀ's ᴏᴡɴ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs, sʜᴇ'ʟʟ ᴅᴏ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʀɪɴɢ ɢʀᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴs ᴘʟᴀɢᴜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ- ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴡ - ᴀʀᴇ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ɪᴛ's ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ.
ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴏʟᴅs ᴀ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ. ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛᴏᴡɴ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴍᴍɪᴡ (ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪɴᴅɪɢᴇɴᴏᴜs ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ) ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʙɪɢ ᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜɪᴛ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ. ɪ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴊʀ ʜɪɢʜ ᴀ ᴄʟᴀss ᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀɪᴅ sʜᴇ ʀᴀɴ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ... ʏᴇᴀʀs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡs ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛᴏᴡɴ 3 ʜᴏᴜʀs ᴀᴡᴀʏ. ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛʏ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ɪɴᴅɪɢᴇɴᴏᴜs ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ.
ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡᴀs ғᴀsᴛ ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ, ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴅɪsᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ. ɪ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀs ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴘɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴɴᴀ. ᴜɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ, ɪɴ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʟɪғᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢs ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴇs ᴏғ ᴍᴍɪᴡ. ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ғᴏʀ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʀᴀᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟ sᴛᴏʀʏ.
ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ɴᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ɢɪʀʟs (ᴀɴɴᴀ ʜᴏʀɴ) ʜᴜɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴛʀɪʙᴇ's ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟᴇᴀᴅs ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇʟᴠᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍʏᴛʜs ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ, ᴀʟʟ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ.
ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀɴɴᴀ's ᴏᴡɴ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs, sʜᴇ'ʟʟ ᴅᴏ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʀɪɴɢ ɢʀᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴs ᴘʟᴀɢᴜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ- ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴡ - ᴀʀᴇ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ɪᴛ's ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ.
ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴏʟᴅs ᴀ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ. ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛᴏᴡɴ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴍᴍɪᴡ (ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪɴᴅɪɢᴇɴᴏᴜs ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ) ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʙɪɢ ᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜɪᴛ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ. ɪ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴊʀ ʜɪɢʜ ᴀ ᴄʟᴀss ᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀɪᴅ sʜᴇ ʀᴀɴ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ... ʏᴇᴀʀs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡs ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙᴜʀɪᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛᴏᴡɴ 3 ʜᴏᴜʀs ᴀᴡᴀʏ. ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛʏ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ɪɴᴅɪɢᴇɴᴏᴜs ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ.
ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡᴀs ғᴀsᴛ ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ, ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴅɪsᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ. ɪ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀs ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴘɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴɴᴀ. ᴜɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ, ɪɴ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʟɪғᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢs ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴇs ᴏғ ᴍᴍɪᴡ. ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ғᴏʀ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʀᴀᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟ sᴛᴏʀʏ.
April 18, 2023
Thank you to the author for writing this incredibly important story and the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the honored privilege to read and review this book!
This five-star debut novel is a mystery with horror elements on the surface, but it is SO MUCH more. It deals with the 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 - in the words of the Chicago Tribune that the author discusses- of Native women disappearing, murdered or abused, and never being found because law enforcement does not care nor provide the resources to tribal police officers to effectively do their jobs. I wish such a topic was just fiction but it is a real problem faced by Native communities, that our nation’s government largely ignores, even though there is a National Day for Missing and Murdered Native Women (May 5). This was a topic that I knew almost nothing of, until I read this book and chatted with a friend, and for this reason alone, I would implore anyone reading my review, to read this book to get educated on this unresolved injustice.
Aside from the portrayal of the crisis, it is also an extremely well-written and well-thought novel. I had such a hard time believing it is a debut. I would like readers to go in as blind as possible but just know it’s the story of a Native community whose several women go missing. Anna, whose sister Grace has vanished, persistently tries to find her whereabouts. In the process, Anna is often humiliated by her non-Native peers and shunned by law enforcement who should be proactive.
Please do not miss reading the book’s epilogue to get the entire story, or the valuable Author’s Note. Of note, I really enjoyed reading about Two Spirits individuals! This book is certainly making its way to among my top 10 books I would have read in 2023.
This five-star debut novel is a mystery with horror elements on the surface, but it is SO MUCH more. It deals with the 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 - in the words of the Chicago Tribune that the author discusses- of Native women disappearing, murdered or abused, and never being found because law enforcement does not care nor provide the resources to tribal police officers to effectively do their jobs. I wish such a topic was just fiction but it is a real problem faced by Native communities, that our nation’s government largely ignores, even though there is a National Day for Missing and Murdered Native Women (May 5). This was a topic that I knew almost nothing of, until I read this book and chatted with a friend, and for this reason alone, I would implore anyone reading my review, to read this book to get educated on this unresolved injustice.
Aside from the portrayal of the crisis, it is also an extremely well-written and well-thought novel. I had such a hard time believing it is a debut. I would like readers to go in as blind as possible but just know it’s the story of a Native community whose several women go missing. Anna, whose sister Grace has vanished, persistently tries to find her whereabouts. In the process, Anna is often humiliated by her non-Native peers and shunned by law enforcement who should be proactive.
Please do not miss reading the book’s epilogue to get the entire story, or the valuable Author’s Note. Of note, I really enjoyed reading about Two Spirits individuals! This book is certainly making its way to among my top 10 books I would have read in 2023.
May 31, 2024
I'm not a huge fan of horror or fantasy, so this took me by surprise. I loved the main character Anna Horn, who is a member of the "Takoda" tribe (fictionalized by Medina, who is himself part of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe). Loved spending time with her thoughts, her spunk, her refusal to be labeled and her desire to just be herself, her ability to tune in to nature and myth. The plot has been done before, but the characters make you care. Bullying is a factor, and Medina takes it on with deep empathy. I admired how he opens chapters and creates fresh metaphors. Infused with Native American mythology that sometimes borders on horror, this was a great, fast-paced, absorbing read, and focuses on how one can only reach one's full potential through change. 4.5 stars.
March 20, 2023
i received my DRC from edelweiss+, thanks berkley & PRH!
it's the 90s, and a sparkling new casino was recently built on takoda reservation land. anna works a part-time job cleaning the rooms and preparing them for guests, but when her sister goes missing, and anna discovers evidence she was in one of the ultra-glam suites upstairs, she will stop at nothing to find grace.
in theory, i love everything about this: two sisters who struggle to understand each other or reconcile their differences. an older sibling who stops at nothing to find her sister, consequences be damned. a horrifying rolling head with glowing red eyes that chases you on the dark streets of the rez. a recipe for something scary and thrilling and delicious!
and it succeeds in the second half of the book, but it's all about pushing through the first half. medina uses dual timelines to tell this story -- he hops between the present and the future, so we are half with anna at school and with grace before she disappeared, learning about the events that led up to her disappearance, and our second timeline is smack dab in the middle of anna's desperate search.
i would have much preferred if this were one timeline. the forward jumps were disorienting; names are thrown at us and situations we don't yet understand the significance of. if the storytelling was more linear, i may have had a better chance of connecting the dots, but instead, i was left floundering trying to create a mental timeline in my head.
anna's character was my favorite. she goes on a deep identity journey throughout the book as well, from a teen who's bullied at school to someone who fully embraces her heritage, her stories, and herself. despite the familiar coming of age plot, this is not YA. i would see some crossover appeal for older teens, but anna doesn't read like a teen. she's mature and responsible, and she works through very adult problems.
the ending was beautiful, and very powerful. i was veering towards 3 stars, but the breakneck final third of the book was enough to bump it up. (one question though: )
in the author's note, media talks about the epidemic of MMIW (missing & murdered indigenous women). native american and indigenous women go missing at an astounding and terrifying rate. as of 2021, there are 4,754 open cases of missing & murdered indigenous women. it is a very real crisis. medina includes websites to seek more information in his author's note.
it's the 90s, and a sparkling new casino was recently built on takoda reservation land. anna works a part-time job cleaning the rooms and preparing them for guests, but when her sister goes missing, and anna discovers evidence she was in one of the ultra-glam suites upstairs, she will stop at nothing to find grace.
in theory, i love everything about this: two sisters who struggle to understand each other or reconcile their differences. an older sibling who stops at nothing to find her sister, consequences be damned. a horrifying rolling head with glowing red eyes that chases you on the dark streets of the rez. a recipe for something scary and thrilling and delicious!
and it succeeds in the second half of the book, but it's all about pushing through the first half. medina uses dual timelines to tell this story -- he hops between the present and the future, so we are half with anna at school and with grace before she disappeared, learning about the events that led up to her disappearance, and our second timeline is smack dab in the middle of anna's desperate search.
i would have much preferred if this were one timeline. the forward jumps were disorienting; names are thrown at us and situations we don't yet understand the significance of. if the storytelling was more linear, i may have had a better chance of connecting the dots, but instead, i was left floundering trying to create a mental timeline in my head.
anna's character was my favorite. she goes on a deep identity journey throughout the book as well, from a teen who's bullied at school to someone who fully embraces her heritage, her stories, and herself. despite the familiar coming of age plot, this is not YA. i would see some crossover appeal for older teens, but anna doesn't read like a teen. she's mature and responsible, and she works through very adult problems.
the ending was beautiful, and very powerful. i was veering towards 3 stars, but the breakneck final third of the book was enough to bump it up. (one question though: )
in the author's note, media talks about the epidemic of MMIW (missing & murdered indigenous women). native american and indigenous women go missing at an astounding and terrifying rate. as of 2021, there are 4,754 open cases of missing & murdered indigenous women. it is a very real crisis. medina includes websites to seek more information in his author's note.
February 29, 2024
This is, I believe, Medina’s debut novel, and while it’s certainly not perfectly written (the first half was just a touch slow and repetitive, while the structure was a bit confusing and took some time to adjust to), Sisters of the Lost Nation is a very special book. This story is so much more than a horror novel, and marketing it that way does it a disservice. I loved Anna as a protagonist, I loved the exploration of coming to terms with their two-spirit identity, I loved several of the periphery characters like Gran and Robbie, and I found the central mystery focused on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls absolutely heartbreaking and horrific. I was invested from the first page and rushed through the last half of the book, desperate to know if the girls were safe. The ending, which I won’t spoil, left me a blubbering mess - to the point that my husband was concerned, which says a lot considering how often I cry over just about anything, both happy and sad.
If you haven’t read this one yet, I highly recommend you pick it up - just maybe take a peak at the content warnings first to prepare yourself for the difficult subject matter. This novel hurts to read because it reflects the disturbing reality that Indigenous women and girls in North America face of a significantly higher rate of kidnapping, trafficking, and murder (in Canada, Indigenous people are six times more likely to be murdered than any other group), and there are not nearly enough resources allocated to finding these victims and persecuting the perpetrators.
I won’t forget this book any time soon, and I look forward to reading whatever Medina writes next.
Trigger/Content Warnings: bullying, self-harm, racism, vomit, transphobia, grief, sex trafficking, sexual assault, violence, murder, kidnapping, slut shaming, animal death, child sexual abuse, drug use
I began this book for my reading vlog for the Goodreads Choice Awards Horror Nominees: https://youtu.be/dVOamSxBvnk
This book was mentioned in my favourite books of the year book bracket video: https://youtu.be/Ah6pbIKDRVk
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
If you haven’t read this one yet, I highly recommend you pick it up - just maybe take a peak at the content warnings first to prepare yourself for the difficult subject matter. This novel hurts to read because it reflects the disturbing reality that Indigenous women and girls in North America face of a significantly higher rate of kidnapping, trafficking, and murder (in Canada, Indigenous people are six times more likely to be murdered than any other group), and there are not nearly enough resources allocated to finding these victims and persecuting the perpetrators.
I won’t forget this book any time soon, and I look forward to reading whatever Medina writes next.
Trigger/Content Warnings: bullying, self-harm, racism, vomit, transphobia, grief, sex trafficking, sexual assault, violence, murder, kidnapping, slut shaming, animal death, child sexual abuse, drug use
I began this book for my reading vlog for the Goodreads Choice Awards Horror Nominees: https://youtu.be/dVOamSxBvnk
This book was mentioned in my favourite books of the year book bracket video: https://youtu.be/Ah6pbIKDRVk
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
April 26, 2023
Some of most frightening horror stories I’ve read in the last few years are based on Native American cultural myths. But nothing is as frightening as the terrifying things they face in current society. Sisters of the Lost Nation really drives this home.
May 22, 2023
I love books with Native American protagonist and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s also about missing indigenous women, something I personally feel is not recognized enough. I’m so happy this author makes this the subject.
April 15, 2023
An emotional and unsettling impressive debut.
Sisters of the Lost Nation centers around a Native American community plagued with young girls going missing. Numerous teens and young adults have gone missing. Anna, a 17 year old girl, has been haunted by her missing teacher 10 years prior. It really hits home when her younger sister Grace goes missing.
The book comes with a lot of trigger warnings, but the one that hit home and really bother me was the school bullying. Anna was constantly picked on at school because she wasn't the prettiest and didn't conform to femine norms. I really felt for Anna, my heart broke for her.
This was an eye opening book about what is really happen in Native American societies, and the author note is a must read.
I listened to this one, and appreciated the author reading his own note and acknowledgements. The book does not follow a linear timeline, and the audio made it difficult to follow. I actually had to restart a couple of times to finally get grounded, but it paid of in the end.
Sisters of the Lost Nation centers around a Native American community plagued with young girls going missing. Numerous teens and young adults have gone missing. Anna, a 17 year old girl, has been haunted by her missing teacher 10 years prior. It really hits home when her younger sister Grace goes missing.
The book comes with a lot of trigger warnings, but the one that hit home and really bother me was the school bullying. Anna was constantly picked on at school because she wasn't the prettiest and didn't conform to femine norms. I really felt for Anna, my heart broke for her.
This was an eye opening book about what is really happen in Native American societies, and the author note is a must read.
I listened to this one, and appreciated the author reading his own note and acknowledgements. The book does not follow a linear timeline, and the audio made it difficult to follow. I actually had to restart a couple of times to finally get grounded, but it paid of in the end.
May 23, 2023
This is an incredibly gut-wrenching story of a young girl's search for her younger sister and other young women who have gone missing from their homes on a tribal reservation. Anna Horn's efforts to find her sister are hampered at every turn by inaction on all sides, inaction by tribal members who assume the girls are runaways, inaction by tribal police who are not allowed to arrest non-natives, even if they commit crimes on tribal land, and inaction by the U.S. Department of Justice that too busy fighting terrorists to spend time tracking down missing Indian girls.
Although written to shine a spotlight on a serious problem, Nick Medina's debut novel deftly blends mystery and Native American mythology to great effect. The fictional Takoda tribe in the book is a conglomeration of many tribes, many with similar mythologies and folklore, and sadly, all with too many stories of the disappearances and deaths of their daughters. (On a side note, I first became aware of this problem from watching the ABC TV series Alaska Daily, which I highly recommend.)
I listened to the audio version of this book. Although the narration by Elva Guerra was excellent, I would have preferred to actually read it but I was anxious to read this book and audio became available first. It really deserves a higher level of attention than can be paid to an audio recording.
This book gets my highest recommendation.
Although written to shine a spotlight on a serious problem, Nick Medina's debut novel deftly blends mystery and Native American mythology to great effect. The fictional Takoda tribe in the book is a conglomeration of many tribes, many with similar mythologies and folklore, and sadly, all with too many stories of the disappearances and deaths of their daughters. (On a side note, I first became aware of this problem from watching the ABC TV series Alaska Daily, which I highly recommend.)
I listened to the audio version of this book. Although the narration by Elva Guerra was excellent, I would have preferred to actually read it but I was anxious to read this book and audio became available first. It really deserves a higher level of attention than can be paid to an audio recording.
This book gets my highest recommendation.
April 25, 2023
This book is shelved primarily as horror, which is a far cry from what it actually is. It's a disservice to the book to be shelved there, as it's going to get a lot of bad reviews (like this one) for not providing on that promise.
Overall, the book is well written, but very choppy and extremely slow paced. I would say it's more of a cultural fiction, as the author speaks after the book about what led them to write it. While interesting (and sad) in its own right, I felt this book was wasted on me, because I kept waiting for the horror bit to kick in. Instead, it was a fictionalized account of the horrible things that happen in real life to native folks in North America.
If you show up expecting that, you'll likely be happy, but I was not expecting that, so... boo.
Overall, the book is well written, but very choppy and extremely slow paced. I would say it's more of a cultural fiction, as the author speaks after the book about what led them to write it. While interesting (and sad) in its own right, I felt this book was wasted on me, because I kept waiting for the horror bit to kick in. Instead, it was a fictionalized account of the horrible things that happen in real life to native folks in North America.
If you show up expecting that, you'll likely be happy, but I was not expecting that, so... boo.
June 20, 2023
A moving and heartfelt debut that tackles the important reality of violence against Indigenous women and the power of sisterhood. Told from the perspective of a young Indigenous girl, Anna Horn, who decides to investigate what is going on as women keep disappearing from her tribe - including the latest of whom is her sister. Good on audio read by Elva Guerra with a note from the author included at the end and recommended for fans of Angeline Boulley's Firekeeper's daughter.
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