wends_nblw's review
- 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
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.
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
- 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
Spoiler
(One of the characters, whose life has been irreparably altered, ends the book by moving in with friends - a married couple of women.)Spoiler
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.Spoiler
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.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
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Spoiler
how Abe Allerton should've just died like it does make sense for dying ppl to be extremely desperateGraphic: 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"vercopaanir's review
- 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
Graphic: Car accident, Animal death, Racism, Colonisation, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, and Hate crime
Minor: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
The racism in this book is experienced by the main character and her ancestors and called out by the main character. It’s not a racist book, it’s simply sharing the lived experience of Native Americans in an urban fantasy setting.minthethtar's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Racism and Kidnapping
katrinarose's review
- 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
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Xenophobia, and Genocide
sunnydale's review
- 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
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.ticktock's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, Death, and Murder
jjjreads's review
- 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
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Colonisation, Grief, Racism, Animal death, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Gore, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Minor: Medical trauma, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Gun violence
galexy_brain's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Minor: Classism, Colonisation, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Car accident, Animal death, Death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Murder, and Grief