The Removed

by Brandon Hobson
The Removed cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Literary Fiction
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  • ID: 7037
  • Added: 2025-12-09
  • Updated: 2025-12-09
  • ISBN: 9781432889463
  • Publisher: Wheeler Publishing, Incorporated
  • Published: 2021-01-01
  • Reviews: 3

The Echota family has been suspended in private grief for fifteen years since their teenage son, Ray-Ray, was killed in a police shooting. As they prepare for their annual bonfire, which marks both the Cherokee National Holiday and Ray-Ray's death, each family member experiences a strange blurring of the boundary between the real and the spirit world. Maria, the mother, struggles with her husband Ernest's Alzheimer's, while their daughter Sonja becomes dangerously fixated on a man named Vin. Their son Edgar, after a suicide attempt, finds himself in the mysterious Darkening Land, a place between the living and the dead./n/nDrawing deeply on Cherokee folklore, The Removed seamlessly blends the real and spiritual to excavate the deep reverberations of trauma. It's a meditation on family, grief, home, and the power of stories on both a personal and ancestral level, offering a profound exploration of healing and connection.

Reviews
ghostvillehero · 2022-01-09
gorgeous 3.50

Filled with Cherokee folklore and tradition, this book is a sad, tragic, and gorgeous exploration of family and trauma. The narrative is beautifully crafted, though the ending may feel rushed and unexpected.

The Removed is a beautifully crafted narrative filled with Cherokee folklore and tradition, making it a sad, tragic, and gorgeous exploration of family and trauma. The author's ability to weave together elements of folklore and tradition with the family's story creates a rich and immersive reading experience. However, the ending may feel rushed and unexpected, leaving some readers wanting more. Despite this, the book's emotional depth and thematic richness make it a standout read. The reviewer appreciated the unique blend of folklore and tradition, which adds a layer of cultural significance to the story.

Quick quotes

    Filled with Cherokee folklore and tradition, The Removed is a sad, tragic, and gorgeous book.

    At first, I did not know what to think of it ...

    It was generally rushed and, while I am a fan of somewhat ambiguous endings, this book ended almost unexpectedly and it felt like there should ...

Forever Lost in Literature · 2021-02-15
moving 4.00

This is a very moving and emotional story that explores prominent themes and experiences with depth and sensitivity. The writing is both heartbreaking and stunning, creating a powerful impact on the reader.

The Removed is a deeply moving and emotional story that delves into significant themes and experiences with remarkable depth and sensitivity. The writing is both heartbreaking and stunning, grabbing the reader's attention and making them want to stay involved. The author's ability to explore complex emotions and themes with such nuance and skill makes this a standout read. The story's emotional impact is profound, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. It's a book that stays with you long after you've turned the final page, offering a rich and rewarding reading experience.

Quick quotes

    This is a very moving and emotional story that explore some prominent themes and experiences in the ...

    The writing is as heartbreaking and stunning as the book…it grabs you and makes you want to stay involved.

    I loved learning as much about the ...

NPR · 2021-02-07
profound 4.50

The story is deeply resonant and profound, not just for its exquisite lyricism but also for its hard and visceral entrance into themes of memory and mourning. It masterfully balances family conflicts with supernatural elements, creating a haunting and magnetic narrative.

This book is a profound exploration of memory and mourning, with a deeply resonant story that is both hard and visceral. The author's exquisite lyricism draws readers in, while the narrative masterfully balances realistic family conflicts with eerie supernatural touches. This duality creates a haunting and magnetic reading experience that lingers long after the last page. The story's emotional depth and thematic richness make it a standout, offering a unique blend of the real and the spiritual that excels in excavating the deep reverberations of trauma.

Quick quotes

    The story in this book is deeply resonant and profound, and not only because of its exquisite lyricism.

    It's also a hard and visceral entrance into themes of memory and mourning.

    Hobson masterfully balances the family's realist conflicts with more supernatural touches.

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