Celestial | Moon of the Crusted Snow: A Novel

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Moon of the Crusted Snow: A Novel

Waubgeshig Rice

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2023 Canada Reads Longlist Selection

National Bestseller

Winner of the 2019 OLA Forest of Reading Evergreen Award

Shortlisted for the 2019 John W. Campbell Memorial Award

Shortlisted for the 2019/20 First Nation Communities READ Indigenous Literature Award

2020 Burlington Library Selection; 2020 Hamilton Reads One Book One Community Selection; 2020 Region of Waterloo One Book One Community Selection; 2019 Ontario Library Association Ontario Together We Read Program Selection; 2019 Women’s National Book Association’s Great Group Reads; 2019 Amnesty International Book Club Pick

January 2020 Reddit r/bookclub pick of the month

“This slow-burning thriller is also a powerful story of survival and will leave readers breathless.” — Publishers Weekly

“Rice seamlessly injects Anishinaabe language into the dialogue and creates a beautiful rendering of the natural world … This title will appeal to fans of literary science-fiction akin to Cormac McCarthy as well as to readers looking for a fresh voice in indigenous fiction.” — Booklist

A daring post-apocalyptic novel from a powerful rising literary voice

With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.

The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.

Blending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.

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Posts about this title from Celestial

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 20

some horror books I adore written by Indigenous authors!

📚 books mentioned: - Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - The Unfinished by Cheryl Isaacs

👗💄: - shirt is from Anthropologie, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is Sickly Sweet Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Lilac) from Pacifica Beauty - mascara is from Badi Lash from Kulfi - lip combo is Matte Fix Lip Pencil (Midnight Seduction) from about-face and ShineOn Plumping Lip Jelly (Act Natural) from Tower28

thank you to Saga Press and Heartdrum / HarperCollins for the gifted copies!

#horrorbooks #indigenousbooks #nativebooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @inhabit_media @sagapressbooks @ecwpress @harpercollins @harperkids @epicreads @anthropologie @blendbunnycosmetics @pacificabeauty @kulfi.beauty @aboutfacebeauty @tower28beauty

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 11

eco horror, eco thriller, eco speculative fiction …

eco horror, eco thriller, eco speculative fiction … i love a story of nature pushing back.

📚 books mentioned: - Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell and Ruth Sepp - Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice - Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei - At Sea by Y.M. Abdel-Magied

👗💄: - dress is from Farm Rio, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics and In A Trance Palette from Colourpop - mascara is Highly Rated Lash Extensions XL from Milani - lip combo is Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain (Lip Lock) from NYX Cosmetics and Glossy Balm (Knew Better) from r.e.m. beauty - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Flatiron Books and Pegasus Books for the gifted copies!

#ecohorror #naturehorror #thrillerbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @farmrio @riverheadbooks @ecwpress @flatiron_books @pegasus_books

eco thriller and horror books • scary nature books • apocalypse books • horror books • thriller books • speculative books • science fiction books • unique books • diverse books • Riverhead Books • ECW Press

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 17 2023

Indigenous book recs

i tried to choose some Indigenous books I don’t talk about as frequently for this one! 💕 hope you enjoy.

4 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 20

some horror books I adore written by Indigenous authors!

thank you to Saga Press and Heartdrum / HarperCollins for the gifted copies!

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 11

eco horror, eco thriller, eco speculative fiction …

eco horror, eco thriller, eco speculative fiction … i love a story of nature pushing back.

thank you to Flatiron Books and Pegasus Books for the gifted copies!

#ecohorror #naturehorror #thrillerbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @farmrio @riverheadbooks @ecwpress @flatiron_books @pegasus_books

4 books

ash.reads.horror\ \ ash\ \ • Dec 1 2025

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Hi all and welcome to my monthly wrap up! With November over--and man did it fly--it's time to talk about what I read and how I liked each book. I read a total of ten books this month! How many did you read?\ \ Strange Houses by Uketsu-- I really enjoyed Strange Pictures by this author. Strange Houses involves a mystery that unfolds around a house's odd floor plan. What started as house hunting turns into investigating cults and murder. This one was fun! I was instantly sucked into Uketsu's mystery once again!\ \ My Name Isn't Paul by Drew Huff-- Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers but gory and hornier. This book is weird and full of insects. It's quick, fast-paced, and honestly a good time. Huff does weird fiction so well. I read their other book Divine Flesh earlier this year and enjoyed it as well. \ \ The Library At Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw--A dark academia book full of death, gore, and monsters. Do not eat while you're reading this book... Khaw's work is lyrical and poetically written. Just goes to show that there is beauty in terror. Dark academia is not my favorite subgenre so this one was okay for me. But I know many people who read and loved it. \ \ The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt-- I have to admit this one was not my favorite. It had so many elements working in it's favor. A haunted farmhouse. Rural life. Humor. CHICKENs named after the Golden Girls. But for 400 pages I really don't feel like I was captivated. This is not a bad book. Just not for me--but may be for you. I MEAN CHICKENS AND GOLDEN GIRLS... \ \ On The Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel--Ugh... this book had no right to rip my heart out and trample it. This book is beautiful but oh so brutal. It's not for everyone. It covers so many difficult subjects--drugs, addiction, sex work, murder, neglectful parents, rape...Oh and did I mention it's inspired by the real life unsolved crime of Chillicothe Six.\ \ In Darkness by Alan Risi--If you are a fan of investigating the supernatural and a fun, quirky main character, you should pick this one up. Think Supernatural, The Conjuring, and The Exorcist in terms of vibes. Alex belongs to an old order that investigates and eradicate ancient creatures. He is tasked with helping a family that is being hunted by a creature targeting a young girl.\ \ Moon Of The Crusted Snow by Waubgheshig Rice-- This one left me with so many questions and I loved every second of it. Winter looms and a small northern Anishinaabe tribe loses communication with the outside world. From there, things escalate. It really goes to show how quickly the world can go to crap when structure and order are taken away. \ \ The Me You Love In The Dark by Skottie Young--A beautiful comic that follows a struggling artist who decides to rent a haunted house to get inspired. I loved the artwork in this one. It was so colorful and vivid. And the story was quite fun!\ \ The Long Low Whistle by Laurel Hightower-- A chilling novella that deals with grief and obsession. It's perfect for fans of The Descent. It follows a woman who lost her father at a young age in a mine accident. Eighteen years later she finds a way in the mine to try and tries to figure out what really happened down there. She teams up with a group of cryptid hunters who believe there may be a beast down in the mine.I loooooved this one ! It's so tense and claustraphobic.\ \ Join for free or login

Monthly Wrap Up

10 books

2-Spirit Bookshelf\ \ (@Indigenousbookshelf)\ \ • Nov 19 2025

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Where it all began!

Indigenous bookstagram tour! I haven’t gone to bed yet so it’s technically still my day right? 🙃

Here are the books that started this account, the books I am reading now, and the ones I hope to start soon!!

What are y’all reading for Native American heritage month???? Who is reading Indigenous all year long??????

Check out my bindery for more bookish things 2spiritbookshelf.binderybooks.com 😊

25 books

ash.reads.horror\ \ ash\ \ • Nov 5 2025

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\ \ It’s time to announce our November Bookclub pick! \ \ \ \ Moon Of The Crusted Snow is our November pick. What a perfect selection you guys voted on! Not only is it getting colder out which fits the snowy theme, but it’s written by an indigenous author. November is National Native American Heritage Month.\ \ Be sure to join our discord and let’s chat all things books! \ \ Join for free or login](https://ashreadshorror.binderybooks.com/item/IZKy6xKg9hMxkCxV24IR/)

November Book Club

1 book

ash.reads.horror\ \ ash\ \ • Nov 2 2025

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Poll:\ \ Book Club Picks\ \ \ \ It's time for our first ever bookclub! One follower kindly suggested a few books over on the discord! Please vote below in the poll on which book you would like to read. The winning book will be announced in a few days.\ \ Rekt- Internet Horror\ \ Abominable- Historical, snowy horror set on Mt. Everst\ \ Krampus- Yuletide horror involving a war between Santa and Krampus\ \ Moon Of The Crusted Snow- A snowy, indigenous, apocalyptic horror.\ \ Join for free or login

November Book Club

4 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Sep 12 2025

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\ \ Join for free or login](https://boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/vlZE1BZn0SiqMk2zPyOs/)

Indigenous Books To Add To Your Spooky Season TBR

Indigenous books for your spooky season TBR! This is a non exhaustive list.

Join my Good Day To Read Indigenous book club by connecting to our community Discord!

If you purchase any of the books below, I do get a small commission. (Even if you buy completely different books!)

18 books

Boozhoo Books\ \ Naomi\ \ • Apr 21 2025

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Shelves and the City Influencers Recommend Their Favorite Indigenous Books Part Two

More Shelves and the City Indignenous book recommendations. If you’re headed to Ya’ll West, I will catch you there. If you are a Bindery follower, head on over to see all these books on my shoppable shelf- and also submit your Indigenous book rec for the next video! #indigenousbookrecs #bookrecommendations #boozhoobooks @seekingdystopia (also on IG!) @lauren | lkcreads🏹💔 @@ fictional.deanna everywhere @hannahlisalohr @Georgia

5 books

Mood Reads\ \ Hannah\ \ • Feb 18 2024

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\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/kIB73HXfdDzqR0Aj2qjI/)

The World Has Already Ended

A book review-ish essay on Braiding Sweetgrass, the “more than human world,” and indigenous post-apocalyptic novels

8 books

Mood Reads\ \ Hannah\ \ • Feb 6 2024

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Money I Saved in January Using the Library

How much money I saved using the library in the month of Jan! #librarytok #chicagopubliclibrary #libraries #booktok #booktoker #bookmath

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Mood Reads\ \ Hannah\ \ • Feb 4 2024

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Weekly Wrap Up: 1/28 - 2/4

First wrap up of February! What’s on your TBR this month?! #booktok #bookish #bookreviews #hngisreading #bookishwrapup #whatireadthisweek #thefolkoftheair #thecruelprince #cardangreenbriar #judeduarte #fantasynovels

5 books

Mood Reads\ \ Hannah\ \ • Jan 31 2024

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January Wrap Up

WHEW! My first monthly wrap up of 2024! 23 books!! #januarywrapup #januarybooks #2024books #booktok #booksireadthismonth #bookish

22 books

Mood Reads\ \ Hannah\ \ • Jan 28 2024

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Weekly Wrap Up: 1/21 - 1/28

In search of lighthearted book recs please & thanks!!! #booktok #booksireadthisweek #bookrecs

5 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Nov 17 2023

Indigenous book recs

i tried to choose some Indigenous books I don’t talk about as frequently for this one! 💕 hope you enjoy.

4 books