Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

23 reviews

wickedgrumpy's review

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The magical realism involving ghosts lent a dreamy quality to this book.  I’d love to read more about this world.
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cassielaj's review

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

Wow. What an incredible story. Ellie is a fierce protagonist, and the rest of her family and friends make up a great cast. I loved Kirby and the idea that pets continue to be companions after death 🥹 The mystery plot was super intriguing, and it was resolved well. I worried that the magic added to a familiar setting would be too much or confusing, but I think it was balanced well. And the art of the chapter headers…
it took me a second to catch on, but i loved how Six-Great’s story paralleled Ellie and Kirby’s.
SO COOL. 
P.S. Hooray for an explicitly asexual protagonist! Especially in a non-romance story
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livlamentloathe's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

3.5

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wends_nblw's review

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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.
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throwback682's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A murder mystery + ghosts and wizards, with a Lipan Apache protagonist who is canon asexual (and I suspect aromantic) and a boy cheerleader sidekick who is shown having both a(n ex) girlfriend, and a YouTube channel where he teaches tumbling and dance moves. 

There are also passing references to other queer characters that feel normalizing, not tokenizing.
(One of the characters, whose life has been irreparably altered, ends the book by moving in with friends - a married couple of women.)

The first half of the book is much slower, the second half is much more action packed. If you’re struggling with the slower start, I’d encourage you to hang in there. 

This book blends together a little bit of everything.
The good guys: an indigenous girl with a strong talent for ancestral magic, a fae boy who travels through fairy rings and his psychic aunt, a vampire who is disliked by his future in-laws, a ghost dog, and a ghost mammoth, among others. The bad guys? A rich “miracle working” doctor (actually an evil wizard), an indigenous vampire, colonizers, and… Teddy Roosevelt?! I love it.
 

I could tell that J had a crush on Ellie the entire book, and she was oblivious. I kept waiting for that to be a plot point, that he was going to confess his love to her despite knowing she’s asexual (and probably aromantic?).   But he never did!! It was so refreshing.

I feel like I could ramble on about this book forever. It has so much good stuff about it and it was exciting and enjoyable. I would especially recommend for young girls (who are old enough for monsters and violence). Ellie is a great role model. 
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some_random_person_hi's review against another edition

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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.
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vercopaanir's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Amazing world-building and a really neat story!  The ending felt a little rushed and there were a couple plot holes in the last 100 or so pages that didn’t seem to get answered/resolved, but overall really good writing and a unique story.
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minthethtar's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective 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? N/A

3.5

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katrinarose's review

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

This was such a fun urban fantasy! It felt like right between middle grade and YA, it never got too dark and the main characters were so wholesome. I really liked the elements of Lipan spirituality that were incorporated into the fantasy world, and the Lipan Apache representation (own voice) was awesome to see in a fantasy. The plot was engaging and mostly unpredictable, although my least favorite part of the book was the “final boss” sequence at the mansion/party because it felt a little rushed and predictable. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend to all ages if you’re looking for a quick lighthearted fantasy.
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sunnydale's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative 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

4.5

I read this book exactly when I needed to. Grief is explored in a meaningful way, but is never gratuitous or burdensome, so I found it restorative as I processed the loss of a family member. The narrative voice is warm and inviting, and I felt genuine affection for the characters.
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