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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
throwback682's review against another edition
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 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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Classism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Gaslighting, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Sexual violence
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"applezing's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, and Death of parent
melodyseestrees's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Racism, and Animal death
pansypantaloons's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
mia_difelice's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
Charming. Family and ancestors. Friendship. Wholesome. Shennanigans. Mysterious. Spooky. Magic. Magical realism. Ghosts. History. Myths and legends. Storytelling.
Really fun use of magic, myth, and legend in a world that is quite like our own but full of the stuff of fairytales. Interspersed with old stories of Elatsoe's Six-Great grandmother and how she used her powers in the past. Wholesome family and friendship dynamics that will make you smile. Thoughtful notes on grief and different folks' reaction to it. Mystery van-Scooby Doo-type shennanigans, with a rich villain masquerading as a hero but spoiler:the whole town is in on it. Perhaps a symbol for complicity with colonizer/white supremacy? . Writing style and plot developments are both charming, sometimes corny, but overall endearing.
CW: some gruesome/violent scenes, not labored on but graphic.
Really fun use of magic, myth, and legend in a world that is quite like our own but full of the stuff of fairytales. Interspersed with old stories of Elatsoe's Six-Great grandmother and how she used her powers in the past. Wholesome family and friendship dynamics that will make you smile. Thoughtful notes on grief and different folks' reaction to it. Mystery van-Scooby Doo-type shennanigans, with a rich villain masquerading as a hero but spoiler:
CW: some gruesome/violent scenes, not labored on but graphic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Colonisation
katrinarose's review
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Xenophobia, and Genocide
mpbookreviews's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Racism
sunnydale's review
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Grief, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Genocide, Hate crime, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Police brutality, War, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Animal cruelty, and Trafficking
Ellie has experienced racism, but she does not describe previous experiences in detail. Subjects like violence and danger are appropriate to a middle grade novel. Death and grief are discussed at length.