Praise for Moon of the Turning Leaves
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Finalist for the Aurora Award for Best Novel
“A cause for celebration. . . . Rice has created not only a compulsive narrative, but, perhaps more significantly, a compelling world, rooted in both the traditions of the Anishinaabe and the ashes of late-stage capitalism. It’s a powerful, tour de force accomplishment which will leave readers hoping for a third book.” —Toronto Star
“[Moon of the Turning Leaves] smoulders with mounting tension, punctuated by flashes of shocking violence. But from the opening scene . . . Rice reminds the reader that regeneration can always follow disaster.” —The Globe and Mail
“Rice’s storytelling is at its peak. . . . His prose is lovely and descriptive but readable, showing his journalistic roots.” —Winnipeg Free Press
“Moon of the Turning Leaves is the second novel Mr. Rice has set in this world,
after 2018's Moon of the Crusted Snow, but this book can be read on its own. . . . [Rice's] attention to the material culture of the future Anishinaabe people is particular and impressive. . . . As postapocalyptic fiction goes, Moon of the Turning Leaves is overall more Alas, Babylon than Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. But its slow pace yields an immersive power, one that would translate well to the screen.” —The Wall Street Journal
“[Moon of the Turning Leaves] is gripping, to say the least, and it’s a haunting read that’ll linger in the recesses of your mind for quite some time.” —Book Riot
“[A] harrowing and hopeful sequel. . . . Rice puts a refreshing, Indigenous perspective on postapocalyptic tropes, folding in both nostalgia for a world fading away and hope for a different future from a people who have survived similar harsh conditions in the past. The humanity and heart on offer here make this a showstopper.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“There’s a kindness, a gentleness, and a deep respect at the heart of the culture Rice portrays, and it stands in refreshing contrast to the usual violence and cynicism of most dystopian fiction. Rice’s evocation of the countryside is gorgeous and immersive; the land becomes an essential character in its own right. This is a pastoral travel tale of much grander scope than its predecessor and a powerful, remarkable follow-up.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Constant, low-level tension . . . contrasts with the occasional pulse-pounding, harrowing moments, which will keep readers glued to the page. Rice renders an achingly realistic portrayal of a broken, post-apocalyptic world that still manages to contain hope and beauty.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“An epic journey into the future, powerfully haunting.” —Silvia Moreno-Garcia, bestselling author of Mexican Gothic
“Tense, atmospheric, and ultimately hopeful, Rice masterfully delivers an unsettling, page-turning sequel.” —Eden Robinson, author of Son of a Trickster
“It felt like an eternity waiting for Waubgeshig to write the sequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow and it was worth it. As we as a species ponder our own survival, this talented author walks his courageous characters through an odyssey towards hope. At times heart-racing and at times heart wrenching, Moon of the Turning Leaves allows us all to turn the page and find out what’s next in an uncertain future.” —Catherine Hernandez, award-winning author and screenwriter of Scarborough the novel and film
“If you've ever wondered how the Anishinaabe way would fare after the Great Collapse, this is the novel for you. Fans of McCarthy’s The Road and Kirkman’s The Walking Dead will feel right at home here with the intrigue, the dread and the hope. What a magnificent read. Mahsi cho, Waubgeshig Rice. Bravo!” —Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed and Loyal to Heaven
“[Moon of the Turning Leaves] is by turns beautiful and inspiring and bleak and violent. In other words, the perfect dystopian read. Let's hope Waubgeshig Rice doesn't make us wait too long for the next visit to this captivating world.” —Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger
“Novels, when brilliantly written, are passports to another place, another world. Moon of the Turning Leaves takes us to a First Nations community beset by an unbelievable fate that’s managed to survive when much of the world hasn't. Rice has given us a meaningful journey, and people to cheer for. I was in this story.” —Drew Hayden Taylor, author of Motorcycles and Sweetgrass and Cold
“Waubgeshig Rice's stories are good medicine. Moon of the Turning Leaves is a restorative balm for my spirit.” —Angeline Boulley, New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed
“Rice quite brilliantly weaves this sequel to Moon of the Crusted snow such that the ongoing journey of those wonderfully drawn characters carries on seamlessly. Moon of the Turning Leaves stands on its own while simultaneously carrying the heart of the original story. Suspenseful and gripping, the great anticipation for this next installment is borne out by this artful storytelling.” —Michelle Good, award-winning author of Five Little Indians and Truth Telling
“Less a sequel than another important volume in the annals of genuine rural storytelling, Moon of the Turning Leaves carries readers on a harrowing and vital journey through a northern landscape that is remaking itself. . . . This is a novel that hums with strength and hope in the face of violence and brutality, and hinges on a simple act of love. These characters will not settle for merely surviving, and they brave the darkest miles for their community to find a home long stolen and waiting for their return.” —Kevin Hardcastle, author of In the Cage
“[Moon of the Turning Leaves] gave me so much hope last year—I try to hold on to the story when I need a reminder that not all of us are so quick to lean into hatred and selfishness…. A beautiful story that might make you shed tears, but in a good way.” —Book Riot
