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lauren_shilling's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book definitely surprised me! I had heard of it once or twice, but it didn't really catch my eye until I saw it in a bookstore and decided to give it a try. I'm really glad I did, because I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the world it created, and I loved learning about the main character's ability to raise the dead. It was so interesting. I also thought the mystery in this book was really well crafted, and the unnerving vibes you get from it until you find out what is actually happening was really well done. It's such a great exploration of native cultures and how they have been impacted throughout history. I learned a lot reading this book, and I would love to read more like it. It was a great way to bring parts of history to life and to the forefront of discussions. The characters were all great, and I loved following them all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Colonisation, Animal death, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
klbreyfogle's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Generally good! I love a canon ace character, and Ellie was fun to follow (plus ghost Kirby was a delight). The integration of Lipan Apache beliefs was really cool, especially how they were used to solve the crime and resolve the conflict at the end!
It’s definitely YA, and although Ellie is meant to be 17 she feels a little younger than that. The reason I didn’t rate it higher is that I think I’m a little older than the target audience, and portions of the characters and dialogue didn’t really resonate because of that.
It’s definitely YA, and although Ellie is meant to be 17 she feels a little younger than that. The reason I didn’t rate it higher is that I think I’m a little older than the target audience, and portions of the characters and dialogue didn’t really resonate because of that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, Murder, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Genocide and Animal death
crownoflaurel's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma and Death
Minor: Car accident, Ableism, Genocide, and Fatphobia
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death of parent, and Genocide
cowardthedog18's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There had to be more; And boy the drawing at the end of the book is the best part. The best parting gift knowing your grandparents will always watch over you. I’m reading A Snake Falls To Earth now. Hope it meets my expectations just as this one did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Body horror, Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Genocide, and Gore
cj13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Violence
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Gore, Blood, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, and Genocide
eve81's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Racism, Murder, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
wends_nblw's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I will say. I went into this blind, and was expecting something a lot more compelling.
This book is okay; it's fine. Nothing I would rave about, but something I would casually recommend.
I'm not sure if it's just me, but this felt like a middle school read rather than young adult? I don't know why, but I keep imagining the MC as like.. 12-14 years old. (Actually, I think this book could've been better if it had been a MG haha!)
I was a huge fan of the concept, but not the plot. I don't care about vampires or cults or anything else. I wanted so bad to read more about Elatsoe's gift and the Lipan Apaches. I found it so much more interesting than the murder mystery that was happening in the foreground.
However, I'm always rooting for representation as an asexual native myself LOL !
Would def recommend to a younger audience. Nice little murder mystery with fantasy elements.
This book is okay; it's fine. Nothing I would rave about, but something I would casually recommend.
I'm not sure if it's just me, but this felt like a middle school read rather than young adult? I don't know why, but I keep imagining the MC as like.. 12-14 years old. (Actually, I think this book could've been better if it had been a MG haha!)
I was a huge fan of the concept, but not the plot. I don't care about vampires or cults or anything else. I wanted so bad to read more about Elatsoe's gift and the Lipan Apaches. I found it so much more interesting than the murder mystery that was happening in the foreground.
However, I'm always rooting for representation as an asexual native myself LOL !
Would def recommend to a younger audience. Nice little murder mystery with fantasy elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Murder, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Animal death, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Kidnapping and Genocide
readsforlove's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
There was a keen moment about halfway through this book where I just closed it and sat in awe, pondering this beautiful story. It had a wildly wonderful and magical setting unlike anything I've ever read, with a rich magic system that left me wanting more. It also had a great cast with supportive parents! Ellie turns to them first for major things that come up, and they support her through it all, having her back without holding her back.
The only reason this doesn't get a full 5 stars is because the main character felt much younger than 16 to me. The voice seemed more middle school age, and I kept getting thrown when Ellie would drive. I also wanted more into Ellie's emotions and internal monologue, as this was a richly emotional story and I wanted to see more of how Ellie felt through everything.
The plot was spooky and intense and kept me guessing on the edge of my seat. I'm excited to pick up Little Badger's next novel!
The plot was spooky and intense and kept me guessing on the edge of my seat. I'm excited to pick up Little Badger's next novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide and Murder
some_random_person_hi's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I feel like one of the plotlines just never got resolved and I disagree with the main character on how Abe Allerton should've just died like it does make sense for dying ppl to be extremely desperate . Besides those, the pace is slow until it becomes fast in the final 100ish pages and there are emotional scenes towards the end, just like a milder version of Record of a Spaceborn Few.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Death of parent, Gore, Car accident, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, and Hate crime
Minor: Animal death, Ableism, and Blood
Ableism is specifically use of unchallenged ableist language: the word "h*ndicap"