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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
This had a bit of a slow start, but the story really grew into itself!! The way the mystery unravelled was just chef's kiss - I was hooked from the beginning of the road trip and on. The mix of memories and investigation??? mhmmmmm :) The imagery and methods of storytelling that the author uses are also so well written. I would definitely read more mystery books like this. The only thing that kinda got me was that I had a bit of trouble with Elatsoe's age - oftentimes it felt like she was 12 or 13 years old and only sometimes did it feel like she was 17 (as she actually is).
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
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
adventurous
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a breath of fresh air in terms of just overall incredibly skilled writing. I'm always a sucker for urban fantasy and the way Darcie so cleanly wove the magic into the story was amazing. The magic was never explained much beyond the fact that exists, and going into the specifics of Ellie's powers and how they work. And it is much to the book's benefit. It makes the world feel real and lived in, and helps make the magic that much more seamless.
Ellie was also just such a fun MC! She had a really unique voice and fits into one of my favorite categories of main character that is "Weird teenage girl lovingly written by someone who was also a weird teenage girl". She had spunk and drive and was so curious and empathetic, while also being very world-aware.
But I think the book's biggest strength and what made it a 5 star for me were the character relations. There is absolutely no pointless miscommunication or interpersonal drama for the sake of drama. Characters actually talk to each other and sort out their problems!!! When her cousin's ghost comes to her in a dream and tells her that he was murdered; her family believes her!!! And helps her!!! No character is ever dismissed in their feelings or suspicions, they are all taken seriously. Ellie and Jay's relationship stays entirely platonic and therefore avoids all the unnecessary weird tension that would come along and distract from the story. This alone made the story feel very unique and fresh lol.
But that's not to say there is no friction between the characters! There very much is. It is also a story about grief and loss. A prominent side character is her cousin's wife, who loves him very much and is mourning very deeply while also having to care for their infant son. It's that the conflict feels grounded and reasonable. It's not contrived or drawn out for the sake of drama. And it overall makes the book feel very snappy and clean.
The mystery of the book was also very compelling and interesting. Trying to figure out the why when being given the how right at the beginning was super interesting. The plot twists were really cool and very satisfying!
I really loved the themes of family and connection, and I really appreciate how the author never shied away from the topics of racism and in particular, colonialism and violence both historical and modern against native people. The themes of colonialism, and the parasitic nature of white colonizers of native lands were explored in really interesting ways.
This book is fairly dark, as I said it heavily features themes of death, loss, colonialism, settler violence and racism. However, it is all presented in a very realistic way. The darkness is very grounded in reality, which makes it all the more sinister, but also makes the overall tone of the book that much more hopeful. It shows us how even if we can't change the past, or alter things on a wholly systemic level, that the individual can still do something meaningful. That all action is good action, and that things can get better, even if only in your small community. That there is always work to be done, but that it doesn't diminish the work already done.
All-in-all, this was a YA book that respects the YA audience. That knows they are mature and can appreciate a serious story that is honest and mature in it's themes. This was truly a breath of fresh air that kept wowing me, and I can't wait to pick up more from Darcie Little Badger!!!!
Ellie was also just such a fun MC! She had a really unique voice and fits into one of my favorite categories of main character that is "Weird teenage girl lovingly written by someone who was also a weird teenage girl". She had spunk and drive and was so curious and empathetic, while also being very world-aware.
But I think the book's biggest strength and what made it a 5 star for me were the character relations. There is absolutely no pointless miscommunication or interpersonal drama for the sake of drama. Characters actually talk to each other and sort out their problems!!! When her cousin's ghost comes to her in a dream and tells her that he was murdered; her family believes her!!! And helps her!!! No character is ever dismissed in their feelings or suspicions, they are all taken seriously. Ellie and Jay's relationship stays entirely platonic and therefore avoids all the unnecessary weird tension that would come along and distract from the story. This alone made the story feel very unique and fresh lol.
But that's not to say there is no friction between the characters! There very much is. It is also a story about grief and loss. A prominent side character is her cousin's wife, who loves him very much and is mourning very deeply while also having to care for their infant son. It's that the conflict feels grounded and reasonable. It's not contrived or drawn out for the sake of drama. And it overall makes the book feel very snappy and clean.
The mystery of the book was also very compelling and interesting. Trying to figure out the why when being given the how right at the beginning was super interesting. The plot twists were really cool and very satisfying!
I really loved the themes of family and connection, and I really appreciate how the author never shied away from the topics of racism and in particular, colonialism and violence both historical and modern against native people. The themes of colonialism, and the parasitic nature of white colonizers of native lands were explored in really interesting ways.
This book is fairly dark, as I said it heavily features themes of death, loss, colonialism, settler violence and racism. However, it is all presented in a very realistic way. The darkness is very grounded in reality, which makes it all the more sinister, but also makes the overall tone of the book that much more hopeful. It shows us how even if we can't change the past, or alter things on a wholly systemic level, that the individual can still do something meaningful. That all action is good action, and that things can get better, even if only in your small community. That there is always work to be done, but that it doesn't diminish the work already done.
All-in-all, this was a YA book that respects the YA audience. That knows they are mature and can appreciate a serious story that is honest and mature in it's themes. This was truly a breath of fresh air that kept wowing me, and I can't wait to pick up more from Darcie Little Badger!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Racism, Grief, Car accident, Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Medical content
Animal death in the sense that the main character's dog is the ghost of her childhood dog. No animal dies in the story, but the death of a pet in the past is talked about.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Extraordinarily cute and wholesome supernatural murder mystery with an indigenous ace female main character. Adorable animal ghosts, vamps, fae and more! A really wonderful sweet YA.
This book just wasn't for me. It was supposed to be YA, but this isn't YA, this is adolescence. I wouldn't mind so much except unfortunately the writing also reads like it was written by an adolescent. I just couldn't get into it.