colindac's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! Wondering how I haven't picked it up before now. Anyone who likes YA speculative fiction will really enjoy. I appreciated the Indigenous cultural inclusion within this genre. I can see this in the hands of many young people, grade 8,9 especially. One quirky repetition of numero, over and over could use some editing out. Fingers crossed it's not in the next one in the series.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
Everything about this book is satisfying to me. Including the tiny worry I had at one point that it might turn into some kind of PG-13 Bigfoot porn.
carolined314's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Apache warrior fighting giant gene-mod monsters of her own free will and under duress, hostage situations, would be an amazing movie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
brandinh's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I love that Bruchac has created this speculative fiction trilogy and weaved Native American history throughout - even though the result is kind of all over the place. Lozen’s story is a mashup of a multitude of genres, resulting in an enjoyable but somewhat disconcerting experience for the reader. This was a fun read, but I didn’t completely connect with Lozen. Hoping she grows on me more as I continue the series.
I love that Bruchac has created this speculative fiction trilogy and weaved Native American history throughout - even though the result is kind of all over the place. Lozen’s story is a mashup of a multitude of genres, resulting in an enjoyable but somewhat disconcerting experience for the reader. This was a fun read, but I didn’t completely connect with Lozen. Hoping she grows on me more as I continue the series.
radicalbradacal's review against another edition
1.0
I could not make myself finish this book. I was drawn in by the promise of an awesomely dynamic, diverse, and bad ass YA female character. What I received was stiff, awkward first-person character narration that felt like the author had no idea what he was talking about...even though this is his creation. The book also feels like it's trying to be the next Hunger Games...by replicating the Hunger Games, not by being original within a genre.
Damnit, I was so excited about it.
Damnit, I was so excited about it.
amyjoy's review against another edition
4.0
Really excellent. I read an article online that lauded this book for not only featuring a Native American heroine, but also for not falling into any stereotypical Native American tropes. I really like the way Bruchac portrays Lozen and her spiritual connection to her homeland and family. I thought it was really beautifully done (and it doesn't hurt that the landscape she describes so lovingly is the one where my heart lies).
The genetically modified animals Lozen fights are terrifying (a GIANT tiger-porcupine?! NO, THANK YOU).
The genetically modified animals Lozen fights are terrifying (a GIANT tiger-porcupine?! NO, THANK YOU).
mkschoen's review against another edition
4.0
This is a review of an ARC from Edelweiss
An engaging read, albeit a bit on the bloodthirsty side for me! In a dystopian future (of course) where a "silver cloud" has destroyed all electrical devices on earth, humanity survives in small pockets. They're hunted by the genetically modified monsters (think giant armadillo-armor plated tiger, or 100-foot python) that were once the toys of the elites, but have since escaped their electric cells to feed on their former masters.
Lozen and her family have been captured by the Ones, genetically modified elites who have amassed armies and offer protection in return for subservience. They want Lozen because she, like the Chiricahua Apache ancestor she is named for, is a skilled hunter, possessing the strength, quickness, and mystical powers needed to hunt the monsters. But she is planning a way out.
The set-up is standard, but the back story is a nice change. Bruchac has done his research (the book comes with a bibliography). It's *extremely* bloody, but the story moves you along quickly. I worried that it was just going to be a dragged out ending of "then this one tried to kill her, then this one tried to kill her, then this one..."but Bruchac has a nice twist thrown in at the end. A good read, provided you can stomach it!
An engaging read, albeit a bit on the bloodthirsty side for me! In a dystopian future (of course) where a "silver cloud" has destroyed all electrical devices on earth, humanity survives in small pockets. They're hunted by the genetically modified monsters (think giant armadillo-armor plated tiger, or 100-foot python) that were once the toys of the elites, but have since escaped their electric cells to feed on their former masters.
Lozen and her family have been captured by the Ones, genetically modified elites who have amassed armies and offer protection in return for subservience. They want Lozen because she, like the Chiricahua Apache ancestor she is named for, is a skilled hunter, possessing the strength, quickness, and mystical powers needed to hunt the monsters. But she is planning a way out.
The set-up is standard, but the back story is a nice change. Bruchac has done his research (the book comes with a bibliography). It's *extremely* bloody, but the story moves you along quickly. I worried that it was just going to be a dragged out ending of "then this one tried to kill her, then this one tried to kill her, then this one..."but Bruchac has a nice twist thrown in at the end. A good read, provided you can stomach it!
jennybeastie's review against another edition
4.0
Lozen has a great voice, and this post-apocalyptic story is altogether excellent. I really love how Bruchac seamlessly weaves the Apache background of his character into the larger tale -- using it to illustrate and reflect, to provide ideas and to explain survival mechanisms. It's really great. Also, Sasquatch! Yes!
scostner's review against another edition
5.0
I heard this book described as "post-apocalyptic Apache steam-punk" and I had to read it. The main character is as tough as Katniss (Hunger Games) or Cassie (The Fifth Wave) and is grounded in the traditions of her Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo ancestors. Her name is Lozen, and she can track, hunt, and fight with all the skill of her historical namesake. She lives in a world that no longer has electricity, cars, planes, computers, radios... nothing electromagnetic. The older survivors remember space flight and maglev transportation, nanobots for medical treatments, bionic enhancements and augmentations, but that is all over now. Fortunately, Lozen's family was not wealthy enough to have any of the enhancements so they were not killed or maimed by the failure of those gadgets as many of the rich and powerful were.
Our protagonist has been trained in the traditional ways of her ancestors to live off the land and find harmony with nature. She also has been taught modern combat techniques, since her father and uncle were both in the special forces before they came home to their family. Because of her talents, she is forced into the role of monster-slayer by an enclave of some powerful survivors. They hold her family hostage to insure her cooperation and send her out to kill the gemods (genetically modified) beasts that have escaped from the zoos and homes of the wealthy, now that electrified fences and other electronic security is nonfunctional. Lozen does as she is ordered, but she is also planning for the escape of her family and caching weapons, food, and water out in the desert away from the compound known as Haven.
I enjoyed the story immensely. The strong female, her use of traditional stories to help her find ways to defeat her foes, the respect for nature that allowed her family to survive in the first place, the gripping action and tense confrontations with her "bosses," all add up to a great reading experience. I highly recommend it to any readers who like action, adventure, dystopian or post-apocalyptic settings, female characters that can kick butt and maintain their attitude, or stories that show how Native American stories and traditions find a place in whatever setting or time period happens to be. For those who want to know more about those traditions Lozen honors, the author has included a bibliography of titles about the Apache (Tinneh) nation.
Our protagonist has been trained in the traditional ways of her ancestors to live off the land and find harmony with nature. She also has been taught modern combat techniques, since her father and uncle were both in the special forces before they came home to their family. Because of her talents, she is forced into the role of monster-slayer by an enclave of some powerful survivors. They hold her family hostage to insure her cooperation and send her out to kill the gemods (genetically modified) beasts that have escaped from the zoos and homes of the wealthy, now that electrified fences and other electronic security is nonfunctional. Lozen does as she is ordered, but she is also planning for the escape of her family and caching weapons, food, and water out in the desert away from the compound known as Haven.
I enjoyed the story immensely. The strong female, her use of traditional stories to help her find ways to defeat her foes, the respect for nature that allowed her family to survive in the first place, the gripping action and tense confrontations with her "bosses," all add up to a great reading experience. I highly recommend it to any readers who like action, adventure, dystopian or post-apocalyptic settings, female characters that can kick butt and maintain their attitude, or stories that show how Native American stories and traditions find a place in whatever setting or time period happens to be. For those who want to know more about those traditions Lozen honors, the author has included a bibliography of titles about the Apache (Tinneh) nation.