I didn’t know this was a trilogy. I read the second book and now this one. I still had a hard time keep all the characters in order. It was good. Lots of feelings.

Thanks NetGalley for this arc.

I had an eARC of this book and then didn’t read it before the file expired and I couldn’t download it again. A shame! I liked this best of all of Vermette’s books I’ve read.

Phoenix Stranger has been in prison for six years, after raping another girl, M. The Circle follows the entangled people in Phoenix’s life, dealing with the pain and anger her release strikes in them. The world is small, and the Indigenous community in Winnipeg is even smaller: everyone has multiple points of contact with Phoenix and each other. Vermette gives everyone a chapter to process their feelings throughout the story, dealing with rage, grief, and trauma.

This is really a beautiful exploration of pain. It’s grim but never as bleak as Vermette’s other novels. A lovely, compassionate book.

I approached this book with excitement and sadness. As the final book in a trilogy, The Circle brought the stories of characters from The Break and The Strangers to a fitting conclusion. But I will miss these characters, and the evident care with which Vermette has handled their stories. The use of an indigenous sharing circle as the framework for the plot gave voice to the situations that had connected the characters through the years, and provided opportunity to see the ripple effects of actions.

Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review. And sincere apologies for the lateness of the review... oops!

Katherena Vermette is fantastic and she knows how to write characters that you get invested in.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This is the final volume of the trilogy by Vermette about a groups of Indigenous families in Winnipeg. There are many characters in this novel, which I found somewhat confusing, even with the character chart in the front of the book. The story focuses on Phoenix Stranger and the effect her release from prison has on various people in her family and beyond. Trauma is certainly a major theme. Some characters are better-developed than others. Overall it was an interesting novel.

Katherena Vermette's final installment in her Strangers trilogy does not disappoint. When THE CIRCLE opens, Phoenix Stranger is about to be released from prison after serving time for attacking and violently gang-raping another girl. The novel is basically a collection of vignettes focusing on many different minor characters from the first two books who have their own lives as well as opinions on Phoenix's crime. I had mixed feelings about this novel's structure. On one hand, I liked delving deeper into so many characters; on the other, I felt that the number of characters meant that this novel lacked both the intimacy and the urgency of the other two. Having said that, Katherena Vermette's talent as a writer and the unique rawness of her voice shine as brightly as ever. As with the other two books in this trilogy, this book could be read as a standalone series of vignettes, a sort of commentary on restorative justice, but I think readers' experience will be richer after having read the previous two. Of the three books in this trilogy, this one is the least graphic and violent. The rape is referred to, but almost in passing- there are very few if any graphic sexual details. If you want to get a good taste of Vermette as a writer but prefer to stay away from potentially triggering sexual violence, this would be a great place to start. Vermette is a beautiful and engaging talent in Canadian literature who is always well worth the read.

I have decided to take a pause on reading this book as I recently realized it is part of a trilogy and want to read the other two books before I finish this one. I have read that it can be read as a stand alone, but I am finding the many different characters a bit hard to keep track of for two reasons: first, I think reading the trilogy in order would help me follow the characters better, second, I think that reading it on my kindle is making it harder for me to keep track of everything. Being able to easily flip back to past chapters would be helpful I think.

One of Vermette's other books, The Break was actually on my #23in2023 #mustreads list for this year, but I just happened to find The Circle on Netgalley and started reading it without realizing the trilogy aspect.

So far I am reallllllly enjoying this book. As mentioned, I am finding it a bit hard to keep the characters straight, but I honestly feel like that's a me problem not an author problem. I actually feel like Vermette does a really fantastic job of character development. I love meeting her new characters and connecting with each of them in a personal way, hence why I feel the need to go back before reading what feels like a spoiler and finishing the book. The fact that this book is set in my hometown and addresses the problems Winnipeg faces when it comes to poverty, crime, addiction, Missing and Murdered Indigenous 2 Spirit, Women and Girls, intergenerational trauma, racism, foster care, violence and more, is definitely a huge part of why I am devouring this book, but really this is a must read for all Canadians.

Thanks SO much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book. I cannot wait to come back to it once I have finished the other two books and feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to read this book for free. I plan to purchase a physical copy of this book and donate it as a pay it forward opportunity in the future.

The Circle by Katherina Vermette is the third book in a trilogy after The Break and The Strangers but it can be read as a standalone. It provides both a powerful and poignant look at the long-term effects of colonization and cross generational trauma as well as how the actions of one person can spread like ripples, touching the lives of so many others within the circles.

Phoenix, a young Metis woman is being released from prison after serving time for horrendous assaults on other young girls. It begins as Phoenix’s sister, Cedar, learns of her release, a day she has both looked forward to with anticipation and dreaded because she loves her sister but Ziggy, her best friend and perhaps someday more, was one of Phoenix’s victims. The story is then told through mostly short chapters with each chapter devoted to the POV of a single character, each more or less affected by Phoenix’s release until returning to Cedar and Ziggy closing the circle. The Circle is a beautifully written story, the kind that will stay with the reader long after finishing the last paragraph and I recommend it highly.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review

This book did not disappoint, except for hoping for more of these characters. The story, like previous books, is largely character driven, inner landscapes exposed. Vermette understands the dark and light of humans and plays it out so well.

These books are like being dropped into someone’s family reunion; there are so many characters to keep track of that your head will spin, but you will simultaneously feel the connection and sense of community. I read and enjoyed The Break and even though I haven’t read the second book I found it easy to reconnect with these characters for this final peek into their world. Some challenging topics in Canada’s past and present are addressed (colonization, woke movement), as the author makes space for marginalized voices to be heard.

💕You might like this book if:
🔹you are interested in reading a story told from the Metis perspective
🔹you like short chapters and lots of voices / characters
🔹 you like when authors present topics in such a way that it challenges your perspective

I didn't read The Stranger and The Break so may I missed something in the plot but I was fascinated by this coral novel, the aftermath of a culprit being release and the reaction of the people.
The author did an excellent job in describing the reactions, it waving the plot and differnt voices.
I will surely read The Stranger and The Break
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I did not realize until I started reading that this book as well as The Strangers are continuations o the story in The Break (one of my favourite books of 2020)

I enjoyed The Circle, and felt it was beautifully written. It did a fantastic job of showing how one action can affect a great many people in different ways depending on their involvement in the circle of individuals. It was also this narrative choice that left me a bit waylaid as I found there may have been too many points of view telling the story, and I found myself missing the voice of a narrator I had already finished reading.

In this way it feels like a collection of short stories or narratives around a central theme or story which I think is absolutely enjoyable, however differs somewhat from The Break.

As soon as I saw this book on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Vermette's debut novel, The Break, and the 1st book in this trilogy, had an incredible spark to it and though I struggled through the sequel (The Strangers), I knew I had to read the conclusion. I'm so glad that I did, because this finale to the trilogy brings back much of what I enjoyed about The Break.

In this book, Phoenix is released from prison after having served her sentence for assault. Everyone braces for more trouble, but then she goes missing under suspicious circumstances. Was she the target for revenge or did she simply skip town?

The Circle shows us how the events of The Break have continued to ripple into the future. We get to revisit the POVs of familiar characters and also hear from new perspectives. (I reread The Break last year in preparation for The Strangers, and I absolutely recommend that you reread the first two books in the series to get the most out of The Circle and to best understand the relationships between the many characters.)

Unlike the first two books, The Circle only has a single chapter for each narrator. I really liked this switch and that readers were only given a glimpse into the lingering aftershocks of the assault. This conclusion to the series definitely brings the story full circle, but you'll be left with much food for thought and discussion.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for approving this NetGalley e-arc request. Thank you to Katherena Vermette for this incredible book.

The Circle is the third volume in a trilogy (after The Break and The Strangers), and while I suppose this could stand alone, I can’t imagine it would be as impactful if you hadn’t met the characters before. The title suggests a Restorative Justice Circle and this novel reads like one put into practise — centred on the horrific crime related in The Break — with multiple characters given the space to explain and demonstrate how those events affected them over the intervening six years. Once again, Katherena Vermette shares the reality of Manitoba’s modern Métis experience — the stresses, joys, community, and intergenerational trauma — and without unduly blaming white settler culture for the destructive choices her characters sometimes make, she also shows a community getting stronger through a reconnection with their roots. There’s good stuff in here, and the plot will satisfy anyone who wants to know how the Strangers turn out, but for me, there was something missing this time around: I didn’t cry; this failed to move me. Still I’m glad I read this and am regretfully rounding down to three stars.

I found "The Circle" by Katherina Vermette to be a compelling read. While it centres around challenging subject matter, the author's writing style is remarkably accessible, making it an engaging experience.

This book paints a bleak but thought-provoking picture, and its ending left me in awe. It skillfully explores themes of multi-generational trauma, racism, colonialism, and the profound impact of rage on its characters.

As part of a series following "The Break" and "The Strangers," "The Circle" can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. However, while I wanted to know more about the characters' journeys, I couldn't help but notice that the book largely follows a similar narrative pattern to its predecessors.

Vermette possesses a unique talent for drawing readers into her storytelling, making this a worthwhile read for those interested in exploring complex societal issues.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you to @penguinrandomca and @netgalley for a copy of The Circle in exchange for my honest review.

Vermette writes so powerfully and The Circle is no exception. She expertly weaves many people and their stories together in a fashion that leaves you feeling deep emotions for all.

I would recommend reading The Break and The Strangers before reading The Circle in order to fully understand the characters and their connections to each other.

A heartfelt and heartbreaking conclusion to the Stranger family series that began with The break and The strangers, sees Phoenix released from prison only to disappear, causing a ripple effect among her family and the larger community.

Touching on trauma, healing, forgiveness and revenge, this story is told from multiple POVs, with a large cast of characters that gave me strong Frederik Backman vibes with its poignant commentary on modern, contemporary Indigenous life in Canada.

Good on audio narrated by Michaela Washburn. While this wasn't my favorite of the three books, it was still a moving, worthwhile read. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Librofm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Beautiful, heartbreaking book about the continuing effects of generational trauma. Through a myraid of interwoven, authentic voices, Katherena Vermette explores damage, love and will to survive

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When I saw this book for request on NetGalley, I think I audibly gasped. I read and loved "The Break" when I read it this year, and I was eager to read more by Katherena Vermette. I had to read "The Strangers" first, but as soon as I finished, I wanted to dive into this.

Vermette's stories are layered and told from multiple POVs. They are raw and emotional and the storyline is weaved together through all of these characters who are connected, both closely and distantly. There's a lot, but it is incredibly written and powerful

CW: violence, death, drug use/abuse, parental abandonment

3.5 stars

At times really beautiful and poignant, this was a powerful read. There is no denying that Vermette is an exceptional writer. In this book, she introduced us to so many worlds, so many people, so many stories, and the way they connected together was beautiful and vivid. I felt that the various characters didn't always seem to progress the story along in a linear narrative, which was a bit distracting, but overall I did like the way it showed the ways we interact with each other and the ways we shape each other's lives. Some of the POVs were more interesting or compelling than others, but overall this was an well designed web of connectivity. I was so frustrated and devastated by the ending though. It just made me so deeply upset. I do think you need to have read books 1 and 2 (& possibly recently) to get the full weight and magic of the book, and I unfortunately found myself a little confused at times.