In this gripping debut tinged with supernatural horror, a young Cree woman’s dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home.
When Mackenzie wakes up with a severed crow’s head in her hands, she panics. Only moments earlier she had been fending off masses of birds in a snow-covered forest. In bed, when she blinks, the head disappears.
Night after night, Mackenzie’s dreams return her to a memory from before her sister Sabrina’s untimely death: a weekend at the family’s lakefront campsite, long obscured by a fog of guilt. But when the waking world starts closing in, too–a murder of crows stalks her every move around the city, she wakes up from a dream of drowning throwing up water, and gets threatening text messages from someone claiming to be Sabrina–Mackenzie knows this is more than she can handle alone.
Traveling north to her rural hometown in Alberta, she finds her family still steeped in the same grief that she ran away to Vancouver to escape. They welcome her back, but their shaky reunion only seems to intensify her dreams–and make them more dangerous.
What really happened that night at the lake, and what did it have to do with Sabrina’s death? Only a bad Cree would put their family at risk, but what if whatever has been calling Mackenzie home was already inside?
On page one, a young Cree woman awakens with a crow’s head in her hand. Tell me that doesn’t get a horror fan’s blood pumping. When Mackenzie blinks, the head disappears. Was it real? Just her imagination? Something she carried over from her nightmare?
Mackenzie is still grieving her sister’s death a year ago. She’s also carrying guilt from not traveling home for the funeral. Soon the dreams about a night before her sister died become overwhelming, and Mackenzie goes home for help in dealing with them. I immediately loved her family – loud, occasionally obnoxious, a little pushy, and unconditionally loving and supportive. The dreams don’t stop, but at least she’s surrounded by people who can help her work through them and offer insight. The mention of Cree beliefs, customs and traditions fascinated me, and I wouldn’t have minded more.
Gold stars to the author for the creepy imagery – it really grabbed me. The crow’s head in chapter one started with a bang, but pacing ebbed and flowed for me in places. Occasionally the plot lingered too long in a certain scene, and it pulled me from the story. But not the ending. It was very vivid and atmospheric – and also bittersweet.
Bad Cree is undoubtedly a horror story, but it’s also about a loving family dealing with overwhelming grief. I’ll definitely be looking for future titles by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
It sounds great, Teri. I think I’d like Bad Cree. Thanks for sharing your review!
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I think you would also, Priscilla. Just started your new release today!
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Aw, thanks, Teri!
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I’m all about big, boisterous families. Interested in the horror atmosphere, too. The pacing sounds like the only drawback. Thanks for sharing, Teri.
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The pacing is the only thing that tripped me up, Staci. But that family – loved them.
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I like the sound of this book, but I’ve noticed a lot of people mention the pacing being uneven. Great review.
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I noticed that also when I posted my review, Iseult. I really liked the atmospheric passages, but they occasionally stretched on for a little to long for me.
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This sounds really good. I love horror, and this would definitely be something I’d read. Thanks for the review.
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I love to settle in with a good horror novel, Michelle. This one sure provided some eerie moments. Thanks for visiting!
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This sounds like a great read to me. All aspects of it are appealing, but especially the Cree belief system. Thanks for sharing, Teri!
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I knew nothing about the Cree going into this, Jan, but I really enjoyed learning more about them. I sure wouldn’t have minded additional details.
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I’ve heard good things about this book. Thanks for the great review.
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Not only interesting, but also educational, Darlene.
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I’m sure it is. Another good book is Five Little Indians b y Michelle Good.
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Thanks for sharing, Teri.
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If I wasn’t such a wimp about horror, I think I would enjoy the family part of the story., as well as learning more about the Cree.
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I’ve been a horror fan since I was in grade school, Wendy – which is strange because no one in my family ever read that genre. The horror in this one features some gore, and some readers aren’t fans of that brand.
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Gonna check this one out! Thanks, Teri!
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Hope you enjoy it, Traci!
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That sounds interesting – a horror story with a deeper theme. I think I would have turned back and run the other way at the crow’s head 😂 but it still sounds like a compelling read. Excellent review!
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Yep – that crow’s head would have given me pause for sure. This was also a quick read. Thanks, Tessa!
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Amazing review, Teri! Sounds interesting and creepy but didn’t loving a supportive family kind of lowered the horror scale?
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Thanks, Yesha! Her family helped cushion the blow, but then things also started happening with them. Can’t give too much away, but secrets have a way of coming out.
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