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Land-Water-Sky / Ndè-Tı-Yat’a
A vexatious shapeshifter walks among humans. Shadowy beasts skulk at the edges of the woods. A ghostly apparition haunts a lonely stretch of highway. Spirits and legends rise and join together to protect the north.
Land-Water-Sky/Ndè-Tı-Yat’a is the debut novel from Dene author Katłıà. Set in Canada’s far north, this layered composite novel traverses space and time, from a community being stalked by a dark presence, a group of teenagers out for a dangerous joyride, to an archeological site on a mysterious island that holds a powerful secret.
Riveting, subtle, and unforgettable, Katłıà gives us a unique perspective into what the world might look like today if Indigenous legends walked amongst us, disguised as humans, and ensures that the spiritual significance and teachings behind the stories of Indigenous legends are respected and honored.
We acknowledge the support of Arts Nova Scotia.
Land-Water-Sky/Ndè-Tı-Yat’a is the debut novel from Dene author Katłıà. Set in Canada’s far north, this layered composite novel traverses space and time, from a community being stalked by a dark presence, a group of teenagers out for a dangerous joyride, to an archeological site on a mysterious island that holds a powerful secret.
Riveting, subtle, and unforgettable, Katłıà gives us a unique perspective into what the world might look like today if Indigenous legends walked amongst us, disguised as humans, and ensures that the spiritual significance and teachings behind the stories of Indigenous legends are respected and honored.
We acknowledge the support of Arts Nova Scotia.
176 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2020
6 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 15, 2020
The Medicine Man brought Mǫzhįą on a spiritual journey that led them far beyond the valley. As they travelled, the Medicine Man told Mǫzhįą many stories of the land, water and sky legends that had existed from time immemorial. All the while the Medicine Man gave offerings to the land and water in return. It took three days for the Medicine Man to tell Mǫzhįą what he needed to know. By the time the Medicine Man fell silent, they had reached their destination, a large island at the tip of the north arm of the great lake.
Land-Water-Sky/Ndè-Tı-Yat’a is the debut novel from Dene author Katłįà, and as she writes in her Acknowledgments at the end of this book, her inspiration was to honour her people's tradition of storytelling – suppressed for too long – by adding her voice to that long tradition “with honesty and meaning”. Set in the Northwest Territories – and covering the events in that area from “Time Immemorial” through to the year 2030 – Katłįà focusses her story on legendary characters, both good and evil, and their interactions with both the first peoples of the land and those who came later. In the tradition of Cherie Dimaline and Eden Robinson, Katłįà imagines a world in which myths from Indigenous storytelling walk among modern humans, and often, the results are hair-raising. I wouldn't be being honest if I didn't note that the writing can be unpolished here (both the small and the large; in the sentences and in the overall structure), but I was always interested to know what would happen next and open to learning whatever Katłįà wanted to share with her readers. (Note: I read an ARC from NetGalley and passages quoted may not be in their final forms. Three stars is a rounding up.)
Once under, she was a child again swimming in the middle of the lake off the shore from where she once skipped rocks. She could see her grandfather waving at her from dry land, trying to get her attention, his arm moving slowly as if he too were underwater.
He walked into the shallows towards her, but a flash of lightning hit, and suddenly she was in the back of the police car that came to take her away from home. She yelled and banged on the window as she watched her grandfather swim out to save her.
Another flash of lightning, and Deèyeh was back in the treacherous current, deep underwater, being pulled deeper by a force much stronger than the current alone. She opened her eyes to see that she was looking into the eyes of the ancient creature that lived in the deepest part of the lake.
An ancient feud between Yat'a (the last Sky Spirit to be brought down to Earth) and the shapeshifting Nąą́hgą has lasted into the present day, with shadowy beasts lurking in the woods, ghostly apparitions appearing on the highway at night, and a charming man with hypnotic copper eyes overcoming young women's defences. Throughout the ages, we see how the people of the (fictional) Háyorîla Nation on the shores of the great northern lake interact with threats (mythic and actual), and there is timely commentary made about colonisation, the foster care system, land claims, and more. No matter what time frame we were in, I always believed in the world that Katłįà created.
Growing up, her parents would often bring Lafì to Nàejì Island, off the north shore of the lake just a few miles from where they lived. Her parents told her that the island was a sacred site where her ancestors once lived. They taught her the ancient stories that warned of the dangers of both man and beast, but she never paid attention to the important teachings. Now she understood that those stories were a warning for her to be careful about who she let into her life.
Ultimately, Land-Water-Sky is about the importance of storytelling to a people's culture – whether to establish a continuity of habitation for a land claim, to preserve a threatened language, or to teach a people who they are – and to that end, I appreciate that Katłįà both used an organic sprinkling of the Dene language in her work and “drew on the knowledge of the supernatural occurrences that are found in the North – to this day – if one dares to look”. Mahsi cho for the learning.
April 5, 2021
Set in the Northwest Territories (Canada) and drawing on indigenous legends and the authors own experience, this book is quite beautiful and dreamlike in parts. Tales of shapeshifters and sky spirits and immortals from the distant past to the near future, almost reads like short stories but all interconnected. I liked the way modern themes were included and explored.
August 30, 2022
Wonderful! Very accessible even with the language inclusions (which I loved!!) and the stories tie together in the end.
These are not written as ‘old’ stories. Most are very modern with the elements of tradition and creatures of old. I absolutely loved the way it was set-up and written.
I really want to know if the stretch of haunted highway exists up in Northern Canada; and if so where. I legit got shivers each time one of the ladies was driving it.
At the end of the day my only complaint was it was too short! I wanted more!! This is a wonderful step into Indigenous writing in Canada and I hope we see a lot more like it very soon.
These are not written as ‘old’ stories. Most are very modern with the elements of tradition and creatures of old. I absolutely loved the way it was set-up and written.
I really want to know if the stretch of haunted highway exists up in Northern Canada; and if so where. I legit got shivers each time one of the ladies was driving it.
At the end of the day my only complaint was it was too short! I wanted more!! This is a wonderful step into Indigenous writing in Canada and I hope we see a lot more like it very soon.
February 12, 2021
I want to say right now that despite my thorough enjoyment of this book, I am probably one of the least qualified people to comment on certain aspects of it. I am not Indigenous. I do not live in the part of Canada where this book takes place. I can’t speak to any experience regarding the culture, history, or language presented in Land-Water-Sky. That’s not to say the author didn’t portray things respectfully or accurately; it’s just to say that I am not one who can definitively say so.
But I can speak to how wonderful this book is, and how much I enjoyed everything that it offered.
I’m not sure whether to call Land-Water-Sky a collection of short stories that all tie into each other, or one long story that has huge gaps in it from time to time. I’ve seen a lot of reviewers call it a collection of short stories, and I can definitely see the logic to that, but my trouble with categorizing it as such is that each story holds parts of other stories within it; you can’t skip over any of them without encountering something later that just won’t make sense without context. But at the same time, there are so many leaps on the timeline that I can see why some wouldn’t consider it a single contiguous story. For my part, it feels a lot like history itself. You can isolate parts of it and tell the general story of that time, but you can’t just isolate events or people from the context of what came before, what shaped the world and the people who live within it. Even sections of the book that feel like disconnected interludes come back around in the end, proving themselves very relevant to understanding the story as a whole. You can’t really have one part without all the others.
The story starts far back in history, centuries in the past, when fierce and greedy beasts roamed the land, intent on destroying humanity and taking the world for themselves. It would be easy to say that with the aid of the gods, humanity wins and the beasts are destroyed, but that isn’t really the case. The beasts merely lie low, biding their time. The story takes leaps into the future, or I should say leaps into the present, when we see Deèyeh, an university student studying archaeology, eager to connect with a heritage that was stolen from her. A heritage that carries a greater burden than she could have imagined.
And believe me, I am not doing this book justice with that weak description. But to include all of the interwoven stories would involve so many spoilers, and I don’t want to ruin such a fantastic book for people.
An aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the use of Wıı̀lıı̀deh (a dialect of Tłı̨chǫ) in the early sections. The characters speak their own language, which isn’t translated for the convenience of the reader. Considering that characters later on absolutely do speak English, I thought this was a fantastic contrast, as well as a subtle way of saying to readers, “I’m not going to hold your hand. If you want to understand, you’ll have to try for yourself.” And while I have no idea as to the literal translations of everything said, there was plenty that could be understood through context. Do I think I was mentally pronouncing the words properly? Probably not. Was I able to still learn as I went, get the gist of things, and pick up a few new phrases along the way? Absolutely yes.
The author deftly tackles the issues of colonialism and inter-generational trauma, both of which give scars that can take lifetimes to heal from. If ever. I won’t say there there are analogies drawn between the greedy violent mythological beasts and white colonizers, because frankly, I didn’t see any overt connections. But I won’t pretend that there wasn’t a degree of similarity between the two when it came to the matter of respect for the Indigenous way of life as presented in Land-Water-Sky. Whether it was apathy about helping Indigenous people prove their history on the land, or whether it was about stealing the land from its caretakers, it’s hard to not come to the conclusion that different kinds of opposition can produce the same result. Some things can’t just be ignored or treated as unimportant, without risking even greater damage.
Katłıà writes with all the weight and wonder of a myth come to life. She shows how to ancient interacts with the modern, both in terms of history and culture, and in mythical creatures that walk alongside us, whether we see them or not. There is much to love, and to learn, in Land-Water-Sky. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy myths and legends and their applications in the modern world, and for those who want to do their part in uplifting the voices of Indigenous authors. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
But I can speak to how wonderful this book is, and how much I enjoyed everything that it offered.
I’m not sure whether to call Land-Water-Sky a collection of short stories that all tie into each other, or one long story that has huge gaps in it from time to time. I’ve seen a lot of reviewers call it a collection of short stories, and I can definitely see the logic to that, but my trouble with categorizing it as such is that each story holds parts of other stories within it; you can’t skip over any of them without encountering something later that just won’t make sense without context. But at the same time, there are so many leaps on the timeline that I can see why some wouldn’t consider it a single contiguous story. For my part, it feels a lot like history itself. You can isolate parts of it and tell the general story of that time, but you can’t just isolate events or people from the context of what came before, what shaped the world and the people who live within it. Even sections of the book that feel like disconnected interludes come back around in the end, proving themselves very relevant to understanding the story as a whole. You can’t really have one part without all the others.
The story starts far back in history, centuries in the past, when fierce and greedy beasts roamed the land, intent on destroying humanity and taking the world for themselves. It would be easy to say that with the aid of the gods, humanity wins and the beasts are destroyed, but that isn’t really the case. The beasts merely lie low, biding their time. The story takes leaps into the future, or I should say leaps into the present, when we see Deèyeh, an university student studying archaeology, eager to connect with a heritage that was stolen from her. A heritage that carries a greater burden than she could have imagined.
And believe me, I am not doing this book justice with that weak description. But to include all of the interwoven stories would involve so many spoilers, and I don’t want to ruin such a fantastic book for people.
An aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the use of Wıı̀lıı̀deh (a dialect of Tłı̨chǫ) in the early sections. The characters speak their own language, which isn’t translated for the convenience of the reader. Considering that characters later on absolutely do speak English, I thought this was a fantastic contrast, as well as a subtle way of saying to readers, “I’m not going to hold your hand. If you want to understand, you’ll have to try for yourself.” And while I have no idea as to the literal translations of everything said, there was plenty that could be understood through context. Do I think I was mentally pronouncing the words properly? Probably not. Was I able to still learn as I went, get the gist of things, and pick up a few new phrases along the way? Absolutely yes.
The author deftly tackles the issues of colonialism and inter-generational trauma, both of which give scars that can take lifetimes to heal from. If ever. I won’t say there there are analogies drawn between the greedy violent mythological beasts and white colonizers, because frankly, I didn’t see any overt connections. But I won’t pretend that there wasn’t a degree of similarity between the two when it came to the matter of respect for the Indigenous way of life as presented in Land-Water-Sky. Whether it was apathy about helping Indigenous people prove their history on the land, or whether it was about stealing the land from its caretakers, it’s hard to not come to the conclusion that different kinds of opposition can produce the same result. Some things can’t just be ignored or treated as unimportant, without risking even greater damage.
Katłıà writes with all the weight and wonder of a myth come to life. She shows how to ancient interacts with the modern, both in terms of history and culture, and in mythical creatures that walk alongside us, whether we see them or not. There is much to love, and to learn, in Land-Water-Sky. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy myths and legends and their applications in the modern world, and for those who want to do their part in uplifting the voices of Indigenous authors. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
July 23, 2020
This is the story of a magical island in the Northwest Territories of Canada, and the eternal fight between the beast-like shapeshifter that inhabits it, and the good spirits that protect it; those spirits of Land, Water and Sky. It is divided in several chapters that takes us from immemorial times to date, and though the seem like interconnected short stories, in the end the come together as a whole.
I fell in love with this novel from the first pages. The depiction of the old legends during the time before the arrival of the white settlers in Canada was enchanting. It feel like a masterpiece to me. But, I started to feel less engaged with the story as we traveled to time. Maybe it is because the main characters were teenagers, with their normal worries; or maybe because they were not fully developed. Or maybe I just love old tales and I felt like the newer chapters lack by comparison. Overall, it is a very interesting story and a beautiful novel.
I fell in love with this novel from the first pages. The depiction of the old legends during the time before the arrival of the white settlers in Canada was enchanting. It feel like a masterpiece to me. But, I started to feel less engaged with the story as we traveled to time. Maybe it is because the main characters were teenagers, with their normal worries; or maybe because they were not fully developed. Or maybe I just love old tales and I felt like the newer chapters lack by comparison. Overall, it is a very interesting story and a beautiful novel.
July 20, 2020
I loved this book, it captured northern stories beautifully and I just wanted to keep reading more. Keep up the great work Katlia.
September 9, 2020
Katłıà has written a really impressive book with Land-Water-Sky. It’s set in a remote territory of what’s currently known as Canada, where we travel through numerous different stories. They all feature spirits that walk among the living and there is a very prominent sense that we are gaining insights into a post-colonial and pre-colonial world that might still exist if things had happened differently. I also think Katłıà does a really remarkable of showing us the effects of colonialism on the land, on families and intergenerational traumas, and on the connections Indigenous folx have to their own traditions and futures.
The spirits are sometimes really powerful and could read as either harmful or protective. I think the narrative does pull together in the last quarter or third, but I will admit that for the first half or so of the book, I struggled to keep track of time and space. I completely acknowledge why Katłıà arranged the book this way, but for some reason I *personally* had a hard time keeping everything straight as we went from chapter to chapter. Despite that - which I think is completely my own preference and shortcoming - this debut novel is haunting and the implicit depictions of alternate realities and Indigenous futurisms is so valuable. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this! For that reason, and because I am not from within the author’s community, I’m not docking stars from this; I know this book wasn’t written for me and I’m not well-versed enough in the oral histories and traditions of Katłıà‘s community to know whether the arrangement and portrayal of these stories is rooted in meaningful elements of culture.
I am excited for more people to read this and am looking forward to reading other readers’ reflections! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance copy.
The spirits are sometimes really powerful and could read as either harmful or protective. I think the narrative does pull together in the last quarter or third, but I will admit that for the first half or so of the book, I struggled to keep track of time and space. I completely acknowledge why Katłıà arranged the book this way, but for some reason I *personally* had a hard time keeping everything straight as we went from chapter to chapter. Despite that - which I think is completely my own preference and shortcoming - this debut novel is haunting and the implicit depictions of alternate realities and Indigenous futurisms is so valuable. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this! For that reason, and because I am not from within the author’s community, I’m not docking stars from this; I know this book wasn’t written for me and I’m not well-versed enough in the oral histories and traditions of Katłıà‘s community to know whether the arrangement and portrayal of these stories is rooted in meaningful elements of culture.
I am excited for more people to read this and am looking forward to reading other readers’ reflections! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance copy.
November 12, 2021
A strong debut. This traces the path, or perhaps even the mythology, of an ancient ‘evil’ plaguing the North from before colonial times to 2030. It jumps forward in time linearly, building a new interconnected short story with a new character each time, slowly making the connections apparent up to the final conclusion.
It’s a fairly satisfying story this way too, using time to draw parallels between colonialism and state oppression and this natural, ages old opponent. I thought this was pretty solid, but it does have sophomoric issues. Not all of the stories connective tissue works that well toward the conclusion and feels superfluous. Some characters are more well realized than others. The language is minimal and doesn’t get in the way. Earlier stories are really evocative and have some natural momentum to them that others do that, and the verbiage and diction reflects that, somewhat miring those particular stories.
But in a 167 page book, it’s not as though it’s truly bogged down, and the setup in the beginning is enticing enough to get through it just to see how it all comes to a head. I also liked how the archeologist, Hank, was pretty indicative of both academics and how white people tend to interact with indigenous people, and it didn’t feel shoe horned in. If there’s any word to describe the book in its totality, I think it’s organic. Looking forward to what the author produces next with such a strong first effort.
It’s a fairly satisfying story this way too, using time to draw parallels between colonialism and state oppression and this natural, ages old opponent. I thought this was pretty solid, but it does have sophomoric issues. Not all of the stories connective tissue works that well toward the conclusion and feels superfluous. Some characters are more well realized than others. The language is minimal and doesn’t get in the way. Earlier stories are really evocative and have some natural momentum to them that others do that, and the verbiage and diction reflects that, somewhat miring those particular stories.
But in a 167 page book, it’s not as though it’s truly bogged down, and the setup in the beginning is enticing enough to get through it just to see how it all comes to a head. I also liked how the archeologist, Hank, was pretty indicative of both academics and how white people tend to interact with indigenous people, and it didn’t feel shoe horned in. If there’s any word to describe the book in its totality, I think it’s organic. Looking forward to what the author produces next with such a strong first effort.
October 21, 2020
Land-Water-Sky was unlike any book I’ve ever read before, and in the best possible way. It is beautifully and imaginatively written – and Katha has proven herself to be a skilled storyteller in this debut novel.
The book itself is about an island in Northern Northwest Territories and the spirits that are behind the legends. The narrative spans centuries, with ancient stories interwoven with modern tales, showing how the ancient shapeshifters still touch modern life.
The stories seem somewhat disconnected at times, but keep reading to find out that they are not.
I really enjoyed this book, anxiously turning pages at times, luxuriating in gorgeous, evocative writing at other times. I love how folklore and “reality” become one in this book.
This is a gem of a book and one that I will buy in paper copy just to have it on my shelf and to lend to others.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
The book itself is about an island in Northern Northwest Territories and the spirits that are behind the legends. The narrative spans centuries, with ancient stories interwoven with modern tales, showing how the ancient shapeshifters still touch modern life.
The stories seem somewhat disconnected at times, but keep reading to find out that they are not.
I really enjoyed this book, anxiously turning pages at times, luxuriating in gorgeous, evocative writing at other times. I love how folklore and “reality” become one in this book.
This is a gem of a book and one that I will buy in paper copy just to have it on my shelf and to lend to others.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
May 1, 2022
A wondrous opening with a captivating historical legend brought to life…until a smashed together plot involving three teens comes in for one chapter and the flow gets derailed. I kept reading to see if it connects back; a new plot with a new character emerged at page 63 involving an archeology student that is actually enjoyable. This was the best part of the novel, to approx 80 pages of Deèyeh’s journey to the island, the spiritual awakening she has there (during both trips over two years) and her connection to the woman-creature-spirit she sees. The last twenty pages pulls all the pieces together nicely. It was strange and haphazard at times, and I wondered how characters were connected, but Deèyeh’s journey was really enjoyable. That, combined with the way the book is bookended with great writing pulled it into a win for me.
December 2, 2022
I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SOOO MUCH!
The story was phenomenal, there was plenty of suspense and it maintained my interest all the way through. I was interested from the first few pages all the way to the end.
My only tiny issue I had with this book was the narrative style. To me it seemed a little to simple and like it was just stating everything, not describing and using the senses so much. Also it was just a little bit short for my liking. However even despite this I still really enjoyed this book. Would 100% recommend!
Also side note but I loved the little bits of language and culture integrated into the book, it was absolutely fantastic and I appreciated it so much. Also the story with Deeyeh, and having lost her culture was very relatable and I appreciated that the author explored that.
The story was phenomenal, there was plenty of suspense and it maintained my interest all the way through. I was interested from the first few pages all the way to the end.
My only tiny issue I had with this book was the narrative style. To me it seemed a little to simple and like it was just stating everything, not describing and using the senses so much. Also it was just a little bit short for my liking. However even despite this I still really enjoyed this book. Would 100% recommend!
Also side note but I loved the little bits of language and culture integrated into the book, it was absolutely fantastic and I appreciated it so much. Also the story with Deeyeh, and having lost her culture was very relatable and I appreciated that the author explored that.
August 25, 2020
The Medicine Man knows many stories of the land, water, and sky; legends that had existed from time immemorial.
The first two stories in Land-Water-Sky bring you back to medieval times. The writing style makes you feel like you’re reading a medieval manuscript in translation. Tales like Beowulf and Beauty and the Beast come to mind. But in this case, the Dene author Katłıà took her inspiration from the legends and myths of the Dene, an indigenous group living in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada.
The stories are set around Yellowknife (Coppertown in the book) with the fictional Nàejì Island resembling Nishi Island / Old Fort Rae. The names of the characters in the book are spelled in the Weledeh-Tłįchǫ language. Very real, but also somewhat hard to read, and you’ll probably resort to just reading the first letter of the names.
One of the reasons Katłıà wrote this book is to start discussions about violence in familial relationships. This is visible in the beauty and the (shapeshifter) beast story at the start, but also in the story of Lafì set in modern times. Half of the characters are kind and good, while their counterparts are beasts in disguise (both otherworldly and human). The stories show the harshness of unequal fights: men and women fighting against and alongside otherworldly creatures. If you bring it down to the essence, it can be about any unequal conflict between humans as well.
I liked the first two stories the most because of the writing style. The more wordy, medieval-folk-tale-like writing style Katłıà used helped the immersion. This is where her strength lies. I was less fond of the writing style in the other stories. Then, after a forgettable intermezzo introducing Louie and the ghost on the road, the longer story of Deèyeh followed to link the past to the present, explaining it all, except for what I wanted to know about her past.
It feels like Katłıà missed a chance here. If she had continued that story, instead of switching to Lafì to tell the other side of the story, Land-Water-Sky would have been a better book. I wanted to read more about Deèyeh and her friend. It would have been so nice if the author had finished the book from their point of view.
To conclude: after a mesmerizing start, Land-Water-Sky almost ended up an unexpected gem if not for the second part of the book. Still, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading the stories, finishing the book in one sitting. The setting, the Northwest Territories in Canada, is also very original. Do pick up this book if you like stories based on mythology and legends from a culture many of us don’t know much about. These stories certainly make me want to visit the northern part of Canada as they show the beauty of nature.
Many thanks to Fernwood Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The first two stories in Land-Water-Sky bring you back to medieval times. The writing style makes you feel like you’re reading a medieval manuscript in translation. Tales like Beowulf and Beauty and the Beast come to mind. But in this case, the Dene author Katłıà took her inspiration from the legends and myths of the Dene, an indigenous group living in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada.
The stories are set around Yellowknife (Coppertown in the book) with the fictional Nàejì Island resembling Nishi Island / Old Fort Rae. The names of the characters in the book are spelled in the Weledeh-Tłįchǫ language. Very real, but also somewhat hard to read, and you’ll probably resort to just reading the first letter of the names.
One of the reasons Katłıà wrote this book is to start discussions about violence in familial relationships. This is visible in the beauty and the (shapeshifter) beast story at the start, but also in the story of Lafì set in modern times. Half of the characters are kind and good, while their counterparts are beasts in disguise (both otherworldly and human). The stories show the harshness of unequal fights: men and women fighting against and alongside otherworldly creatures. If you bring it down to the essence, it can be about any unequal conflict between humans as well.
I liked the first two stories the most because of the writing style. The more wordy, medieval-folk-tale-like writing style Katłıà used helped the immersion. This is where her strength lies. I was less fond of the writing style in the other stories. Then, after a forgettable intermezzo introducing Louie and the ghost on the road, the longer story of Deèyeh followed to link the past to the present, explaining it all, except for what I wanted to know about her past.
It feels like Katłıà missed a chance here. If she had continued that story, instead of switching to Lafì to tell the other side of the story, Land-Water-Sky would have been a better book. I wanted to read more about Deèyeh and her friend. It would have been so nice if the author had finished the book from their point of view.
To conclude: after a mesmerizing start, Land-Water-Sky almost ended up an unexpected gem if not for the second part of the book. Still, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading the stories, finishing the book in one sitting. The setting, the Northwest Territories in Canada, is also very original. Do pick up this book if you like stories based on mythology and legends from a culture many of us don’t know much about. These stories certainly make me want to visit the northern part of Canada as they show the beauty of nature.
Many thanks to Fernwood Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
From the publisher: "[T]his layered composite novel traverses space and time, from a community being stalked by a dark presence, to a group of teenagers our for a dangerous joyride, to an archeological site on a mysterious island that holds a powerfull secret."
"Land-Water-Sky gives us a unique perspective on what the world might look like today if Indigenous legends walked amongst us, disguised as humans, and ensures that the spiritual significance and teachings behind the stories ... are respected and honoured."
Disclosure: I am not a fan of stories of the supernatural, despite refering to many Indigenous legends when I was teaching undergraduates, yet wanted to give this debut novel from my friends at Roseway. We need more Indigenous voices in contemporary literature.
For me, the novel serves as a reminder of our dark side, that which stalks us at every turn, which threatens us from the edges of our vision, just out of sight in the deep forest or deep waters. Just because I don't believe in monsters doesn't mean I don't recognize that which is monstrous.
"Land-Water-Sky gives us a unique perspective on what the world might look like today if Indigenous legends walked amongst us, disguised as humans, and ensures that the spiritual significance and teachings behind the stories ... are respected and honoured."
Disclosure: I am not a fan of stories of the supernatural, despite refering to many Indigenous legends when I was teaching undergraduates, yet wanted to give this debut novel from my friends at Roseway. We need more Indigenous voices in contemporary literature.
For me, the novel serves as a reminder of our dark side, that which stalks us at every turn, which threatens us from the edges of our vision, just out of sight in the deep forest or deep waters. Just because I don't believe in monsters doesn't mean I don't recognize that which is monstrous.
July 20, 2024
this fiction book informed by Dene legends is such a great quick read about love and relationship to land
June 20, 2024
5/5
tbc... this was so fucking good
tbc... this was so fucking good
November 12, 2020
Good book
October 26, 2022
Disclaimer: Kat is a friend and I've worked with her on other writing projects, so while I'm going to try to be objective, my friendship and respect for her and the work she's doing is absolutely going to colour anything I read by her.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I'd begun the ARC before it came out, borrowed, and had to return before I was fished and knew I would definitely buy as soon as it came out. It took me until now to read not because of the book itself but because the endless pandemic has made my focus on reading hit and miss.
I read the book cover to cover on my first plane trip out of Yellowknife since before the pandemic. I loved the quiet, dangerous thread that tied together the stories that spanned from "time immemorial" until now. In terms of style, Kat is a storyteller, and I find it very comfortingly reminiscent of the stories I've heard told by Elders when I've been invited to cultural activities in other communities (*I am not Indigenous and recognize what has been shared with me is extremely precious and also will only have scraped the surface compared to someone who is part of the community.* I also found the way she used the thread of supernatural danger tied to the thread of danger as a result of colonization.
There were places that I wanted a little more teasing out to pull deeper, and a few places where things were less subtle than they could be, but that's more of a "my preferences in writing style". I liked both the Dene legends stories and the more "modern times" included together. Though the style felt a little different between those pieces, I did feel that the "legend" pieces informed the "modern" pieces in important ways that made them deeper reads for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this thoroughly and think it should be read more widely as a good picture of the corner of the world I happen to live in.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I'd begun the ARC before it came out, borrowed, and had to return before I was fished and knew I would definitely buy as soon as it came out. It took me until now to read not because of the book itself but because the endless pandemic has made my focus on reading hit and miss.
I read the book cover to cover on my first plane trip out of Yellowknife since before the pandemic. I loved the quiet, dangerous thread that tied together the stories that spanned from "time immemorial" until now. In terms of style, Kat is a storyteller, and I find it very comfortingly reminiscent of the stories I've heard told by Elders when I've been invited to cultural activities in other communities (*I am not Indigenous and recognize what has been shared with me is extremely precious and also will only have scraped the surface compared to someone who is part of the community.* I also found the way she used the thread of supernatural danger tied to the thread of danger as a result of colonization.
There were places that I wanted a little more teasing out to pull deeper, and a few places where things were less subtle than they could be, but that's more of a "my preferences in writing style". I liked both the Dene legends stories and the more "modern times" included together. Though the style felt a little different between those pieces, I did feel that the "legend" pieces informed the "modern" pieces in important ways that made them deeper reads for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this thoroughly and think it should be read more widely as a good picture of the corner of the world I happen to live in.
March 23, 2022
4.5
I really liked this. It had a great amount of suspense/horror vibes that I wasn't really expecting but definitely made the reading experience exciting.
Also, the blurb on the back made me think that it would be more of a bunch of disconnected stories set in more modern times but this is actually more of a long stretching saga from millennia past to the future which was weaved together very nicely.
I really liked this. It had a great amount of suspense/horror vibes that I wasn't really expecting but definitely made the reading experience exciting.
Also, the blurb on the back made me think that it would be more of a bunch of disconnected stories set in more modern times but this is actually more of a long stretching saga from millennia past to the future which was weaved together very nicely.
March 7, 2021
I loved this short book, I finished in 24 hours. Great indigenous storytelling brought into modern times. The shapeshifter, the stereotypical settler, the indigenous woman torn from her family and thrown into an uncaring foster home - all realistically portrayed. I live in the North, and I could visual the places described. Good stuff.
May 10, 2021
3.5 I like what the author is trying to do. The way she incorporates Dene language and mythology into the story feels authentic and well supported. The sections that take place in prehistory are truly powerful -- written in a simple but eloquent style. However, the modern day sections are less well sustained. Voice and dialogue feel off at times. Also, the ending feels a little rushed.
October 28, 2022
This book has some good moments, but it falls into the trap of caricaturizing the Indian characters as impossibly perfect and the whites as bad. Things are never this cut and dried in real life, and it detracts from the storytelling for me.
July 12, 2021
Couldn't put it down but was also scared at the same time 😂
July 5, 2022
Gripping! This was a book club pick so I didn't know what I was getting into, but always here for spooky Indigenous legends and interpretations. Will definitely pick up the author's next book.
February 26, 2023
Three different stories in the far north that explore supernatural beasts within Indigenous culture. Good book, just not for me.
January 13, 2021
Ancestral storytelling in the style of the old ways. I could imagine an elder telling these stories of the multiple lifetimes of a family and community history and how generational scars continue to haunt the children of the future. I did have a little trouble with my attention span and getting lost in the complicated names and in the fable like writing style. Someone who enjoys epic fiction spanning multiple generations combined with legends, lore, mysticism and the supernatural would likely enjoy this book. #netgalley #Land-Water-Sky/Nde-Ti-Yat'a
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