It's been a minute since I absolutely loved a book so thank a deity or the Seven Grandfathers for Firekeeper's Daughter. The titular character, Daunis, whose father was the Firekeeper and whose mother is white woman from a wealthy background, grows up half-in and half-out of the reservation community. She is unable to enroll in the tribe because her father's name wasn't on her birth certificate, due to her grandparents' racism. Her mom was a minor when Daunis was born, so she didn't get to say. She might have also been a little pissed at Daunis's dad, whom she found in bed with another woman. Even so, Daunis is close to people on both sides of her family, including Levi, her three-months young half-brother.

Daunis spends a lot of time with family, including her elders. She even decides to stay local to Michigan's UP for college, to be near everyone, instead of attending the University of Michigan, which is what she had planned. There's also the fact that an injury keeps her from playing D1 hockey. She had played varsity on her school's male hockey team. There's also a traveling hockey team, the Supes (for Superiors) and meth deaths that may or may not be connected. Then a hot new guy, Jamie Johnson, joins the team and immediately begins to play for Daunis, as well as the team.

Having been burned before. Daunis isn't the most trusting person, but she finds herself deep into something unexpected. FK is a mystery or thriller--I'm not sure what the difference is--which is not normally a genre I'm that into, but I loved Daunis's story, and that of her clan. Her Native practices are central to her being. The characters and their stories felt genuine. Everyone is flawed, and many, but not all, are lovable.