Review: Fissured

Fissured by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy alternate spirituality, Native American mythology, good stories
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, a form of mental rape caused by altering people's emotions

My Thoughts: After saving Looks Far's campsite and deciding to set up her own mediation firm in the first book, this book finds Naomi rather frantically trying to do everything herself. She and Joseph are working through some relationship issues—it being rather difficult for two people who are accustomed to their own space to make room for one another—as well as their connections to the deities Coyote and White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman. This book also deals with the very serious environmental issue of fracking, which is a form of drilling for natural gas that is done by dumping chemicals into the ground to basically melt the gas into the water table. This can lead to some really severe consequences for the area, such as fouling the water table, poisoning the land, and causing illnesses in the people around from the pollution in the air, soil, and water. Fracking, to be honest, makes strip-mining look like the height of environmental awareness. Horrible stuff.

Jack is a very strange character. I really wanted to hate him, because he's just obnoxious, but somehow the author manages to slip in enough hints about his life that the reader actually managed to maintain some sympathy for him. It rather amazed me that she was able to do this.

I'm really enjoying the way this series is unfolding. There are overarching issues that are continuing from book to book, but each book also has its own issue that is developed and dealt with in the course of the book itself. Very adroitly done—this author is a master of her craft. If you like books that provide a slightly different viewpoint on spirituality, then definitely check this series out.

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured
Book 3: Tapped
Book 4: Gravid
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Naomi’s having a bad week. She’s already overwhelmed by setting up her solo mediation practice and second-guessing her relationship with Joseph. An old acquaintance seems to be setting up shop down the road from their friend Charlie’s ranch. And Charlie has a new pal: a filmmaker who might be the Investigator—except that he doesn’t exactly believe in teamwork.

Then a jaguar attacks her in downtown Denver….



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