Sorrow eats time.
Be patient.
Time eats sorrow.

This story starts dramatically with an accidental shooting that leads to an unconventional (but based on ancient custom) decision about how to try and make amends or rather join in grief two families. From there it explores in many tendrils and through many interconnected eyes the reflexive need for revenge and the experience of grief in many forms from the global (the start of the Iraq war), to the historical (the intergenerational trauma for the native american population), to the familial and personal (everything from mental health to rape to bullying to acquired disability to unrequited love). It also addresses healing in many forms from the spiritual, to the bonds of family and romantic love. A very, very impressive novel in all it achieves and accomplishes. The writing is absolutely stunning in its poetics at times. Not quite a 5 star for me for two reasons only: it took me a long time to get into and it wrapped up just a bit too neatly for me given the themes explored.