Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

24 reviews

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.

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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

raptorq's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Hate crime and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Racism, Kidnapping, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

amberinpieces's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Car accident, and Colonisation

poppysoffe7's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious sad fast-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

Make sure to listen or read the intro because it explains a lot. The book is kind of confusing if you don’t.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, and Murder

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The magical realism involving ghosts lent a dreamy quality to this book.  I’d love to read more about this world.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sammysammsam's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

The mix of Native lore with an alternate United States where magic and the supernatural are even part of the court systems and law enforcement was intriguing for me. Main character was very relatable as a teenager, and her friendship with her friend Jay was heartwarming. Descriptions of the supernatural scenes were great, and the more scary ones were bordering on horrific and scary.

Her entire interaction with the spirit of vengence was very unnerving- I loved it!

Kirby is the best ghost-boy. I loved so many things about this story, but Kirby is probably my favorite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Racism

Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

avisreadsandreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Car accident, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence

the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

All I can say is, "wow"! This is a great book for spooky season: familial magic passed down from one generation to the next, vengeful spirits, evil wizards, vamps, fae, a ghostly mammoth, and so much more!

I'm so glad I finally sat down and read Elatsoe. It's such a cool premise - a world in which magic and fantasy creatures are real! - and had my heart racing at times, in anticipation of what would happen next. Definitely a thrill ride. 

I really, really hope there are more books about Ellie's life because I would gladly read more about her, her faithful dogs, her family, and best fae friend Jay. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Blood

cowardthedog18's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing 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

5.0

There had to be more; And boy the drawing at the end of the book is the best part. The best parting gift knowing your grandparents will always watch over you. I’m reading A Snake Falls To Earth now. Hope it meets my expectations just as this one did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

wends_nblw's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

3.0

I will say. I went into this blind, and was expecting something a lot more compelling.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Gun violence, Racism, and Colonisation

Minor: Genocide and Kidnapping