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booksoversecondbreakfast's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.75
If I had read this book back in middle or high school, this very likely would have been my favorite book. The story features a teenage Lipan Apache girl, Elatsoe, living in an alternate U.S. where magic and mythical creatures exist. Elatsoe is the type of heroine I loved looking up to as a teen. She is smart, innovative, and passionate and is an all-around loveable character from the very beginning.
This is an Indigenous Futurism book that feels like a cross between Nancy Drew, Ghostbusters, and Netflix's Wednesday. The thoroughness of world-building made it very obvious to me why this book has made it onto Time's list of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. Every bit of lore revealed about this alternative U.S. society was interesting and believable when viewed with an imaginative lens. The magic system and the way it interweaves society as we know it feels plausible in the same way that the world's of Harry Potter did.
This book is incredibly heartwarming and interesting. It had a bit of a horror element to it, which I didn't expect, but it was done in a way that still didn't seem too intense. The plot and the lore hooked me from the very beginning and easily held my attention through the end.
My only critique of this is that there were some vampire parts that felt too cheesy for me, but I'm not letting it affect my rating because I have to remember that this was written for ages 12 through 18. Most of the book felt like it was good for teens and adults alike, but it was some of the vampire scenes towards the end that made it feel more middle-grades/YA.
All in all, this was a wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I read this as an audiobook I borrowed from my local library, but I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for my personal collection because I anticipate reading this more throughout my lifetime and encouraging my friends and future kids to read it.
This is an Indigenous Futurism book that feels like a cross between Nancy Drew, Ghostbusters, and Netflix's Wednesday. The thoroughness of world-building made it very obvious to me why this book has made it onto Time's list of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. Every bit of lore revealed about this alternative U.S. society was interesting and believable when viewed with an imaginative lens. The magic system and the way it interweaves society as we know it feels plausible in the same way that the world's of Harry Potter did.
This book is incredibly heartwarming and interesting. It had a bit of a horror element to it, which I didn't expect, but it was done in a way that still didn't seem too intense. The plot and the lore hooked me from the very beginning and easily held my attention through the end.
My only critique of this is that there were some vampire parts that felt too cheesy for me, but I'm not letting it affect my rating because I have to remember that this was written for ages 12 through 18. Most of the book felt like it was good for teens and adults alike, but it was some of the vampire scenes towards the end that made it feel more middle-grades/YA.
All in all, this was a wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I read this as an audiobook I borrowed from my local library, but I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for my personal collection because I anticipate reading this more throughout my lifetime and encouraging my friends and future kids to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Genocide
kittybeemartin's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
First of all, I'm jealous of Ellie's abilities. I want to play with my lost pets.
Overall this was a 5⭐️ read. It's a little slower paced but such a beautiful story.
Romance was not there since our FMC is asexual, but she has a friend (Jay) who wishes the romance was there.
"Sorry," Jay said. "I wish I could help. There's a loophole, you know."
"Is it marriage?"
"Maybe."
I went back and forth between the audio and the print. The chapter illustrations were so lovely.
Overall this was a 5⭐️ read. It's a little slower paced but such a beautiful story.
Romance was not there since our FMC is asexual, but she has a friend (Jay) who wishes the romance was there.
"Sorry," Jay said. "I wish I could help. There's a loophole, you know."
"Is it marriage?"
"Maybe."
I went back and forth between the audio and the print. The chapter illustrations were so lovely.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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? No
4.0
RTC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
readingelli's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
hokulani_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
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
4.25
that was so beautiful,,,,the jacket design, the lil illustrations in each chapter (the ones at the end!!!!!!!), the ending illustration!!!!!! 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧 the american government ruins everything
-sep 19 2024 (I didn't know it was pronounced eh-lat-sway until halfway through........ngl I didn't even know Lipan Apache ppl existed b4 I read this. so yeah thank u Darcie Little Badger!!!!)
-sep 19 2024 (I didn't know it was pronounced eh-lat-sway until halfway through........ngl I didn't even know Lipan Apache ppl existed b4 I read this. so yeah thank u Darcie Little Badger!!!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Genocide and Kidnapping
alex_wordweaver's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
This book was refreshing and cute all at once. A good break from the darker stuff I've been reading. Love to see an ace MC, too!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Death
Minor: Violence, Car accident, and Murder
meagangrace's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Racism
themichellegray's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.0
This was such a beautifully written story filled with so much Indigenous history!
Sadly, I didn't become as invested as I hoped to which impacted my overall enjoyment. I think this is a book I personally need to physically read at a slower pace to fully appreciate whereas I listed via audio rather quickly.
I definitely plan on picking this book up again when I'm in a different headspace to truly admire it!
Sadly, I didn't become as invested as I hoped to which impacted my overall enjoyment. I think this is a book I personally need to physically read at a slower pace to fully appreciate whereas I listed via audio rather quickly.
I definitely plan on picking this book up again when I'm in a different headspace to truly admire it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racism, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Colonisation
minervacerridwen's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I've been wanting to read Elatsoe since it came out in 2020 (a couple of weeks before my own ace book!), and now I finally got around to it thanks to my book club. Even after anticipating the read for so long, it delivered. I really hope this will become a new children's classic, because there is so much in this story that I feel is of great value. The way the prejudice against the Lipan Apache people is touched upon, the way the 17-year-old main character is actually believed by the adults in her life when she tells them she is asexual. Those aren't big elements in this story at all, but they are remarkably well done. And then there's the mystery itself, which maintains its tension throughout and yet doesn't leave you hanging at any point because you're discovering just enough new information at just the right times. It reminded me of some of my favourite (Dutch-language) books of my childhood, but with an extra sparkle of magic and so much more soul. And then there's all the cute animals! The way stories are used to transfer important cultural knowledge! The beautiful illustrations by Rovina Cai that add an entire little story of their own to each chapter!
I'm definitely going to read the prequel too.
I'm definitely going to read the prequel too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Violence, and Alcohol
hanjssick's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
4.5
- Daria cinco estrelas pra esse livro, se não fosse pelas histórias contadas com aquela letra diferente. Já me incomoda quando isso é feito com a letra cursiva, com essa é pior ainda.
- Me apaixonei pelo Jay, extremamente carismático e impossível de não amar. Gostei muito de todos os personagens, mas ele em específico me cativou.
- É uma fantasia que mistura sobrenatural com elementos culturais Lipan Apache, acho isso muito interessante pra variar das fantasias genéricas que vemos por aí.
- Além da diversidade étinica, temos protagonismo assexual. Eu gosto muito mais quando o fato do personagem ser LGBT+ fica explícito e eles usam as palavras, mas acontece de forma natural com apenas uma ou duas frases sendo necessárias. Se você lê um livro só por ter uma personagem assexual e espera que por isso a obra inteira seja focada apenas na sexualidade dela, o problema está em você.
- O conhecimento indígena e a crítica aos Estados Unidos presentes aqui são algo que eu aprecio muito.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Animal death and Colonisation