Member Reviews

This isn’t exactly a book I would normally pick up. Books that feature addiction and drugs aren’t usually my cup of tea. But with this one, I decided to go through with it because it doesn’t actually show the addiction side. Just that there’s drugs involved. If that makes sense. And that tends to make the difference for me.

The mystery was just ok. No I didn’t guess the killer, but it made more sense the more I thought about it after I finished. I think it was all the different POVs. It got a bit confusing, but I really think that’s what the author intended. Like that was the biggest red herring in the book. But this was pitched as a thriller, but it was more so just a mystery. Yeah there’s something that happens, but they spend more time just trying to figure out who did it and not enough running or making my heart rate speed up, if that makes sense.

I DID enjoy the Indigenous rep. I do wish there was more SHOWING vs TELLING tho. Having never been on a reservation before, I wanted to know more about the difference in staying on one. I went and did some more research, like where the Blackfeet Reservation might be also because I didn’t remember it being in the book. I did learn a bit more about the powwows and the way they celebrate different situations like at the very beginning and the end. And I also loved that this was an own voices book. The author was able to give us real feelings on what it was like to be only half and not always feel accepted and ways that she felt she had to be to be accepted. And I loved that she admitted in the author’s note that she didn’t exactly feel like she could write this book and her dad said, “Write it.”

The plot twist tho?! I was not expecting that lol Needless to say I thought I guessed who it was and for the most part, I got a lot of it right. But that very last thing? I legit had to rewind that chapter lol I think I said out-loud “Ain’t no way she just said what I think she said.” lol And then it was just over. It was like a bombshell ending and I keep going back to think about it like wtf lol If you’ve read this and you survived the ending too, pleaseeeeee DM or email me so we can talk.

This book was a lot of fun to read, even if I did have to fast forward through a couple chapters to avoid some triggers. This was a well thought out mystery with some amazing Indigenous rep that deserves to be seen in this genre. I hope y’all have as much fun with this one as I did!

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Thank you Heartdrum and NetGalley for the eARC of Looking for Smoke! All opinions in this review are my own.

For me, I find that it is truly difficult to write a five star thriller, but K. A. Cobell did it on her debut. In this Own Voices novel, Looking for Smoke details the story of the classmates left behind after two of their own go missing and their determination to find answers. Cobell brings the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement to the forefront, and shows the pain of the families and friends left behind. As a member of the Blackfeet Nation herself, Cobell is able to write characters the readers care about it, which I don't often find as the case in thrillers. I couldn't put this book down!

Looking for Smoke is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see what else Cobell is capable of!

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4.75 stars this was so good!!!! it was so gripping and engaging, i found myself so invested in the characters and so frustrated with some of the characters, it really kept me on the edge of my seat. these stories are so important to tell, especially with the continued rates of MWIW. i loved how this shed light on this issue without sensationalizing of trivializing it. and i fucking love geraldine that is my girl!!!!!!!!!

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This debut novel from K.A. Cobell depicts the real issue of MMIW - Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women. As a member of the Blackfeet Nation, she has an inside look into the tragedy that strikes many indigenous tribes and the women within.

This novel is told from multiple points of view. It helps to round out the story and gain a better perspective on the various characters. I felt compassion for those who were missing or murdered, along with the families and the pain of not knowing what happened to their loved ones.

There is so much information that it is hard to decipher where the truth lies until the end. There are some surprising twists that I didn't expect. I did appreciate the perspective of the teens. They were not pushed aside for adults who thought they knew better, or at least not all the time. It was good to see how their lives were laid out; it wasn't all fun and games, and their responsibilities were laid at their feet at a young age.

This may be a YA novel, but it isn't a light novel. It deals with hard situations for the youth of the community.

We give this book 4 paws up. It might be a book that will capture your attention.

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First of all - stunning cover. The story captivated me right away. The awareness of MMIR (missing and murdered Indigenous relatives) is so important. I am not familiar with the culture of the Blackfeet, but was so thankful that KA Cobell did a great job including it. With her vivid descriptions of the environment and the dancers, Cobell made the reader feel like they were there [at the powwow]. It was, of course, a bit YA, but that was okay for me. A bit of a slow burn, yet again, okay for me. I may be a bit biased because I love to see Indigenous stories and authors get mainstream attention - bringing awareness, appreciation, and love is so important. Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this ARC.

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YA whodunit that kept me guessing. The plot centers around the missing Rayanne who disappeared on her way to school one morning and the murdered Sam whose body was discovered in the back of a trailer during the Indian Days festivities; both young women members of the Blackfeet tribe who live on the reservation in Montana. The Tribal police and an FBI agent are investigating, but don’t seem capable of finding the culprit or culprits. Rayanne’s sister Loren is determined to find out what happened to her beloved sister and best friend. She pulls newcomer and perceived outsider Mara into it, possibly endangering her life as well. It’s a twisty thriller. Atmospheric, I loved the descriptions of the regalia, dances and horse racing taking place during the Indian Days celebration. I first became aware of this appalling issue affecting indigenous women watching Alaska Daily starring Hillary Swank. It was a great series that unfortunately got cancelled, but at the end of every episode the stars of the show talked about how, “in some areas of the United States, Native American women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average,” and called for action to end this crisis. This book brings that crisis front and center. It talks about MMIW which stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and tells us that, “84% of Native women have experienced violence and 56% have experienced sexual violence. The murder rate of Native women is 3 times more than that of white women, and in some locations, the rate is 10 times the national average.” I hope lots of people will read this book and then maybe more will be done to help these poor women. The book is nicely done with a compelling story. It educates and entertains as well. Highly recommend.

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I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. I did however end up listening to the final publication version of the audiobook. I highly recommend the audiobook, as it is narrated by a full cast, which really helps bring the story together.

This follows four teenagers in the wake of one of their own being murdered. As the murder investigation proceeds, it looks like it may be connected to another murder victim. All four teens band together to try to figure out what is going on and how Rayanne and Samantha's murders are connected. As we get to know the characters it is clear that everyone is hiding something, while they may not be the murderer they each have a secret that could ruin them. During the course of the investigation, everyone is a suspect and you aren't really sure who to point the finger at until the very end. The way the story was told was engaging and kept me on my toes wanting to know what was going to happen next.

This book while fictional shines a light on very real issues within the Native American community. There is very real issue with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, drugs, violence, and a broken justice system. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It is perfect for teen readers as there isn't anything overly graphic in the book, but I think readers of all ages will enjoy it.

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3.5 stars

This book tackles the MMIW movement (murdered and missing Indigenous women). The statistics for how many Indigenous women are assaulted or worse is horrifying and I think the plot does a great job of helping you get into someone else's shoes who's experiencing this. Uplifting BIPOC authors and stories is so important and I am glad to have read this.

The mystery sometimes felt like it took a backseat to interpersonal relationships and I would have liked a bit more action involved. The two main male characters got a bit mixed up to me and I think they could have been differentiated more. I did like getting the prospective of a character that felt like an outsider for not having grown up on the reservation and I liked finding out that it was based on the author's real experiences.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Heartdrum and NetGalley for the copy.

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Book Review
Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell

Tropes and Triggers
MMIW
Indigenous MCs (Blackfeet)
YA or New Adult
Neglect, drug use, foster care, bullying
Murder, missing persons
Generational trauma
PTSD- not diagnosed or specifically stated but present
Mental Health issues


Thoughts

I binged this read in one afternoon!
I cant believe its a debut!
This book drew me in with its socially relevant subject matter. The writing and pace were fluid and time disappeared while I sunk between the covers of this book. The author delved into a variety of complex issues faced by Indigenous people with obvious care and compassion. Cobell’s respect and love for her Blackfeet culture shines through her words.

I Loved the use of “smoke” throughout book- as a description for behavioural traits, spiritual references, actions- the author consistently embedded the word through the story making connections between relationships and people as she went- this strategy caught my attention right away - each time it was used my ears perked up and I knew something significant was happening
Was this intentional? Who knows … but it felt purposeful whenever I came across it.

Overall
This book was a pleasure to read 😊
And not just for YA audiences

Thanks to @frenzy @netgalley @harpercollins for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are My own

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Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I was slow to get into this stroy at first (I've always hated stories where the MC is bullied) but once this story picks up, IT REALLY PICKS UP. After the first few initial chapters there was hardly a dull moment with this story. Mara and Loren were incredible characters and their slow and steady build towards friendship and loyalty was really something to behold (especially since Loren didn't really care for Mara at first). I also loved Eli TO DEATH. His relationship with Mara was unexpected and then quickly became a "Oh, DUH" in my brain. Their chemistry together was amazing. The scene where he takes off his sweatshirt to give it to her and then the sense of happiness he has seeing her in it afterwards was *chefs kisses*. They were so good together and I was happy to see them find some happiness in the madness of this story. Brody I never really got around to liking. He was always very whiny and entitled so I couldn't get behind him (and I'm glad I didn't). The big reveal at the end was what really got me though in the final chapter. I hadn't seen that coming at all. Overall this was such an incredible book and I'm going to be buying a physical copy of it for myself!!!

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This was such a magnicificebt 5 star ya mystery about the crisis of missing indigenous women in America. This was written so well and the authors note jury solidified how much this book will be engraved in my brain. A lot of times ya thrillers/mysteries the characters could be annoying but this author displayed these teen characters in an age appropriate manner and they were so likeable.

Although right before the reveal happened i guess both twist, i think this is just because i am over thinker.

I will be recommending this to my booktok fam!

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Sadly this was a DNF for me. I was hoping it would be similar to the firekeeper's daughter, but I found the multiple POVs a bit hard to follow.

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Looking for Smoke got off to a bit of a slow start, but once I was in it, I was IN IT. I practically inhaled the whole book in an afternoon. It had just the right amount of everything good that goes into a thriller, and I’m really happy to have had the opportunity to read it.

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4.5 stars!! This book blends fiction with nonfiction. MMIW is a very big deal! This story follows 4 young adults on trying to figure out what is happening to their female friends. It starts with Rayanne going missing and the police not really helping at all try to find her. Her sister and grandmother never give up. As the story goes on, more things begin to unfold. Friendships are made, but also friendships are lost. This story will have you guessing “who done it”. I did not expect the ending. Highly recommend and awesome book for a debut novel.

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I really enjoyed switching between audio and the ebook for this one because it meant I could read really fast and find out how everything resolved. The story really touched me at parts and I got really teary-eyed. Even though there were a lot of perspectives, I found it very easy to keep them straight. I'm glad because I was worried about that.

There were some podcast episodes throughout that explained the MMIW movement (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) that felt a little close to info-dumping, though I thought it was a clever way to do it. It did make me wonder how the intended audience was.

Overall, I loved the characters and the story was appropriately intense. Its a great debut and I can't wait to see what this authot writes next.

Definitely check the trigger warnings on this one because there's a lot.

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This was a stunning debut!

I enjoyed the writing style and this book kept me engaged and guessing!

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Big thank you to Harper Collins for the ARC of this book, as well as Netgalley.

If you're looking for a book that does what the synopsis says for once, look no further. Looking for Smoke is heartbreaking, infuriating, and absolutely eye-opening. This story goes a lot deeper than what you're expecting, but in the best way possible. Grief, betrayal, and loss turn this thriller into something far more elevated in meaningful than your norm for the genre. The emotions I felt during this book were strong and had me clutching onto my kindle like it would somehow stop the plot from the direction it was heading in.

Easily one of the best books of the year with it's cast of different POVs and intricate plot. This book is out now and a top contender for book of the year in my eyes.

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"In her powerful debut novel, Looking for Smoke, author K.A. Cobell (Blackfeet) weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word. A must-pick for readers who enjoy books by Angeline Boulley and Karen McManus!

When local girl Loren includes Mara in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway to honor Loren's missing sister, Mara thinks she'll finally make some friends on the Blackfeet reservation.

Instead, a girl from the Giveaway, Samantha White Tail, is found murdered.

Because the four members of the Giveaway group were the last to see Samantha alive, each becomes a person of interest in the investigation. And all of them - Mara, Loren, Brody, and Eli - have a complicated history with Samantha.

Despite deep mistrust, the four must now take matters into their own hands and clear their names. Even though one of them may be the murderer."

If you're feeling the void left by Reservation Dogs and Dark Winds, this is for you.

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AHHHH! This book did it! It really is a tale for the times. It screenshots the reality for so many indigenous folks in the United States with a failed justice system and also just the idea of the missing and murdered girls. It's important!

I love the characters, the dual POVs, and the PLOT! I love learning more about the indigenous tribes and their cultures. I love a good ol' murder mystery. I feel like we also need to talk about the cover... BEAUTIFUL! Overall, just a work of art!

5/5 stars for murder, friendship, indigenous culture, and all the thrills!

**Thank you NetGalley for a free review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily!

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This was a moving #ownvoices YA debut from a member of the Blackfeet Nation that focuses on the real life problem of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW).

Told from multiple POVs, this was a layered, compelling and twisty murder mystery that sees different teens trying to prove their innocence when the body of a girl they were all last seen with turns up dead.

Great on audio, with a fantastic cover, this book is perfect for fans of true crime podcasts and authors like Angeline Boulley and Jen Ferguson. Highly recommended and I can't wait to read more from this promising new writer!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

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