Moon of the Crusted Snow – Waubgeshig Rice

Expectation: An action-packed post-apocalyptic First Nations-set thriller. 

Reality: A slowburn story that uses the end-of-times as an allegory for settler colonialism, the Indigenous focus is what sets this apart from other, similar tales.

My Take:

Fans of Rumaan Alam’s “Leave the World Behind” will enjoy this slowburn Indigenous take on the end of times that uses the aftermath of a technological apocalypse as an allegory for settler colonialism.

At first, residents of the Anishinaabe reservation in northern Canada don’t think much about the extended power outage — these things are not uncommon in their part of the world — but after the harrowing story bought back by two members who fled their college campus among pandemonium, the leaders move into survival mode. 

It’s only a matter of time until non-First Nations people show up seeking refuge, assuming — rightfully — that the Anishinaabe are better prepared for the end of times, leading to a tense showdown for the soul of the reservation. 

I must be honest here, not much happens in “Moon of the Crusted Snow.” 

There is little character development, the ending is obvious and there are many, many head-scratching moments and loose ends. Still, I was enthralled and devoured this book in a few long sessions. 

That’s a testament to how Waubgeshig Rice leveraged Indigenous culture to infuse fresh perspective into a well-worn tale. 

The most interesting parts of the story — and thankfully the majority of the story — were how the author applied day-to-day Anishinaabe culture and reservation politics to the crisis at hand, exploring the cultural split between members who viewed the collapse of mainstream society as just another season to overcome versus those resistant to embrace traditional ways. 

It was truly unlike any other post-apocalyptic story I’ve read, and I’m eager to tackle the forthcoming sequel, “Moon of the Turning Leaves.” 

If you’re a reader who likes your apocalypse mixed more with politics than action, give this one a try. 

Rating (story): 4/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A

Format: eBook (library loan)

Dates read: November 9 – November 15, 2023

Multi-tasking: N/A