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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
The awards and accolades, as well as the enthusiastic reception this book has received, is definitely merited. This book is a little bit enchanting. I listened to the audiobook, which was very good, but the copies you read with your eyes are illustrated, so don't miss out on that. I checked out the e-book from my library so I could scroll through and look at the pretty pictures. (My favorite was the Devonian Sea illustrations, but I couldn't find any online).
Anyway, this book combines a rich imaginative world with a richly emotional story about loss and grief, that is also part coming of age for our protagonist Ellie (full name, Elatsoe). Ellie is part of a tradition of women who can bring back the spirits of dead animals (dead people are forbidden as they are just angry and violent). She is also Lipan Apache, and both her family and culture are woven seamlessly into her story. They live in a world that has evolved alongside magic, and magic talents and occurrences exist right alongside cell phones and comic books. Darcie Little Badger's magic feels very lived in, and magic is just another thing in this world, not the centerpiece.
The plot of the book kickstarts when Ellie's cousin Trevor dies in a car crash, but when he visits Ellie in a dream before crossing over to the other side, he tells her he was murdered, and he tells her by whom. When she tells her parents, they believe her, and it becomes a family effort to find out why this man has killed their family member, and to of course get involved when they find out what happened and why.
I'm adding this book to the very, very long list of excellent books I read in 2023, and I will be purchasing a hard copy for myself. Probably when I inevitably re-read it I will bump it up to five stars. And I will definitely be checking out the prequel, which will follow her grandmother (who has a woolly mammoth ghost as her companion).
[4.5 stars]
Anyway, this book combines a rich imaginative world with a richly emotional story about loss and grief, that is also part coming of age for our protagonist Ellie (full name, Elatsoe). Ellie is part of a tradition of women who can bring back the spirits of dead animals (dead people are forbidden as they are just angry and violent). She is also Lipan Apache, and both her family and culture are woven seamlessly into her story. They live in a world that has evolved alongside magic, and magic talents and occurrences exist right alongside cell phones and comic books. Darcie Little Badger's magic feels very lived in, and magic is just another thing in this world, not the centerpiece.
The plot of the book kickstarts when Ellie's cousin Trevor dies in a car crash, but when he visits Ellie in a dream before crossing over to the other side, he tells her he was murdered, and he tells her by whom. When she tells her parents, they believe her, and it becomes a family effort to find out why this man has killed their family member, and to of course get involved when they find out what happened and why.
I'm adding this book to the very, very long list of excellent books I read in 2023, and I will be purchasing a hard copy for myself. Probably when I inevitably re-read it I will bump it up to five stars. And I will definitely be checking out the prequel, which will follow her grandmother (who has a woolly mammoth ghost as her companion).
[4.5 stars]
I’m taking some of No Nuance November with me and keeping this to a bulleted list
Loved:
-the characters
-GOOD asexual spectrum representation
-the indigenous representation and deconstruction of colonial atrocity
-the digressions that told the monster hunting stories of her Six-Great we really cool and helped inform what was happening at the time
-the worldbuilding
-ghost dog
-the murder mystery was actually one of my favorites to date and replaces Ninth House in my number one spot.
-no evil villain monologue at the end/a good villain
-a really creepy atmosphere in this supposedly normal small town. It felt like Hawkins from Stranger Things and I was jumping at shadows on the wall by the time I finished because I was sufficiently creeped out.
-the family aspect
-the death magic!!!
-the fairy ring transport
Disliked:
-the pacing
-I wish it was more clear from the beginning that Jay was descended from fairies because he has pointed ears like 1/3 of the way into the story and I’m like...where were those in his introduction...?
Loved:
-the characters
-GOOD asexual spectrum representation
-the indigenous representation and deconstruction of colonial atrocity
-the digressions that told the monster hunting stories of her Six-Great we really cool and helped inform what was happening at the time
-the worldbuilding
-ghost dog
-the murder mystery was actually one of my favorites to date and replaces Ninth House in my number one spot.
-no evil villain monologue at the end/a good villain
-a really creepy atmosphere in this supposedly normal small town. It felt like Hawkins from Stranger Things and I was jumping at shadows on the wall by the time I finished because I was sufficiently creeped out.
-the family aspect
-the death magic!!!
-the fairy ring transport
Disliked:
-the pacing
-I wish it was more clear from the beginning that Jay was descended from fairies because he has pointed ears like 1/3 of the way into the story and I’m like...where were those in his introduction...?
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
A rich heritage and magic system, which I adored. And the last few minutes had me crying tears of joy!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Such a great book. Loved the magical elements being connected to culture beliefs and colonialism. The only negative is that it felt like the main character jumps to conclusions that are always 100% correct. But there was soo much to the story that it really is a small beef.
Elatsoe is a Native American living in an alternate America where magic is real, each culture having its own magic, passed down through family secrets. Elatsoe’s talent is waking ghosts… she only wakes animal ghosts though, humans are full of anger and revenge and are dangerous if awoken.
Her cousin dies in what seems to be a car accident, but she dreams of him the night he dies and tells her it was no accident. She needs to protect the family and she can’t do that unless she finds out what happened.
I enjoyed reading this, right away some of the magic seemed so random, but it comes together and makes sense as the story progresses. Would definitely recommend.
Elatsoe is a Native American living in an alternate America where magic is real, each culture having its own magic, passed down through family secrets. Elatsoe’s talent is waking ghosts… she only wakes animal ghosts though, humans are full of anger and revenge and are dangerous if awoken.
Her cousin dies in what seems to be a car accident, but she dreams of him the night he dies and tells her it was no accident. She needs to protect the family and she can’t do that unless she finds out what happened.
I enjoyed reading this, right away some of the magic seemed so random, but it comes together and makes sense as the story progresses. Would definitely recommend.
Native American magic clashes with new, invasive European monsters, like vampires, Oberon, and more. There's a creepy town with a lot of secrets, and a main character with a ghost dog as a pet. What else do you need? A story about family, magic, and also about Native American lives and how much they are worth.
I liked Darcie Little Badger's other book I read, but this was even better.
I liked Darcie Little Badger's other book I read, but this was even better.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief