Moon of the Crusted Snow cover art

Moon of the Crusted Snow

A Novel

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Moon of the Crusted Snow

By: Waubgeshig Rice
Narrated by: Billy Merasty
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £13.48

Buy Now for £13.48

About this listen

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.

©2018 Waubgeshig Rice (P)2018 ECW Press Dystopian Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Small Town & Rural World Literature Native American Emotionally Gripping

Critic reviews

“Perfect for those who read Iain Reid’s Foe this summer and are looking for something in the same vein.” (The Globe and Mail)

“The creeping tension and vividly drawn landscapes make Waubgeshig Rice’s characters’ choices all the more real.” (Toronto Star)

“Moon of the Crusted Snow asks how do we live in a good way during the collapse of the infrastructure that supports modern life? For Evan Whitesky, the answer lies in rekindling Ojibwe, the old ways, language and culture. For other characters, when the food runs out, all options are on the table, no matter how gruesome. As the tensions between those surviving the end of modern civilization build to a harrowing conclusion, Rice deftly weaves tender family moments with his brutal survival scenes in the unforgiving northern Ontario winter. Chilling in the best way possible." (Eden Robinson, award-winning author of Monkey Beach and Son of a Trickster)
All stars
Most relevant
A genre I didn’t know I wanted to explore until now. Giving an indigenous perspective (and a northern indigenous perspective) on an often over done genre has worked really well in this novel.

Touching on the issues First Nations Peoples face in Canada, but not overbearing the story with it was a great balance. It lets the listener focus on the story.

Indigenous Apocalyptic Story - excellent concept and execution!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Are unique take on a post, apocalyptic story. The use of the first nations language added interest and authenticity to the story, very well read!

Very entertaining!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My thanks to the author for this excellent book. The plot and story were well told and provide me with a gripping tale.

I look forward to further such writing

Excellent book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really loved this, I’m a fan of Stephen Graham Jones, this was actually more easy to get into I think. My only criticism is that the story could have been much longer and done more, it almost felt like a short story even though it’s a decent length, it was slightly under developed. Unfortunately the sequel (which appears to have been released in Feb 2024) doesn’t appear to be available on audible OR kindle, which is really disappointing as I wanted to know where this story would go next, and the ending for one of the main characters was a bit ambiguous. So slightly frustrating for that reason, but very enjoyable to listen to.

Loved it but wanted more!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an incredible story. Can not recommend highly enough. Beautiful story, really made me feel like I was watching the events unfold in real time, feeling the cold on my face. One of the beat stories I’ve listened to.

Incredible story. Highly recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews