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Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Talking White Owl by Valerie Hagenbush is an expansive and powerful literary novel. Viktor Talking White Owl is a young Lakota man growing up near South Dakota’s Black Hills. Initially unaware of the deep and transformative history that surrounds him, Viktor comes of age under the watchful eyes of the Rawakota, a secretive Native nation whose influence spans from ancient traditions to modern-day political power. As Viktor matures, he uncovers the profound legacy of his mother, Constance Howling Wind, an Air Force pilot who helped shape a bold vision to reclaim Native sovereignty. Spanning generations and unfolding against the stark beauty of tribal lands, the novel examines the cost of progress, the burden of heritage, and what it means to belong. Viktor must ultimately face the question: Can he honor both his ambitions and his roots?
Author Valerie Hagenbush has a holistic sense to her storytelling, and this makes for a confident tale where history, identity, and suspense all fuel the central theme of cultural resilience naturally. A novel with such a specific message at its core could run the risk of becoming preachy, but the characters and the emotional drama of this tale make it so entertaining and engaging that you get lost in the multilayered narrative and vivid descriptions. This is a work that shines a light on contemporary Native experiences rarely explored in fiction, but makes reading feel like an exciting voyage of discovery into a new world. There is a compelling element of political intrigue that keeps things tense and suspenseful throughout. Questions lingered with me long after I’d set the book down because of its ambitious and emotive scope and soul, asking what we owe our ancestors and ourselves as we move into the future. Overall, I would certainly recommend Talking White Owl for fans of in-depth fiction that explores culture and representation in highly engaging and interesting ways.