Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Elatsoe

A rural fantasy/mystery set in a version of Texas where magic, myths, and monsters are real. The main character, Elatsoe, is Lipan Apache and uses her abilities to raise ghost animals to help her family. The worldbuilding in this book was really creative and I loved how it weaved together different mythologies and stories. I also really appreciated how Ellie worked with her parents and respected her elders, but wasn’t afraid to be brave and take risks when necessary.

My main qualm was that the 17-year-old kids spoke more like 12-year-old kids, so at times the writing felt pretty middle grade. The ending also had some plot holes that left me with questions...I wish there had been an extra chapter to flesh it out a bit more.

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katrinarose's review against another edition

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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.

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123urmom's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Very good book! A bit slow paced but makes up for it with good characters.

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pastelkerstin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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morganperks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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solenekeleroux's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

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katsbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

“Maybe, sometimes, wants felt like needs. Because the alternative hurt too bad.”

“Tradition accommodated the adaptable nature of humankind.”

“It's hard to know that you're flying too high until the feathers start dropping.”

"That's why some stories are particularly important. They're more than entertainment. They're knowledge."

I loved so many things about this book. First off, going in, I felt like the writing was a bit on the younger side of young adult. That didn't necessarily turn me off but middle grade and younger YA can be very hit or miss for me so I was cautiously optimistic. And this book did not disappoint. It handled a lot of heavier topics in a very age appropriate manner. The speculative elements were amazing. I want this novel turned into a movie just so I can have visual imagining of Kirby! He easily became one of my favorite characters. The murder mystery was really intriguing and kept me wanting more and more. I also loved how Ellie's asexuality was stated but not made into the defining feature of her personality. I think that's a great way to create a talking point with kids given the audience. The main character and her family belong to Lipan/Apache culture and I loved how integral their culture was to the story. There are definitely conversations about colonization and the value placed on BIPOC in white, American society. Overall, I would recommend this novel to just about anyone and I will definitely be picking up more from Little Badger!

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