Elatsoe

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger, 362 pages.

Elatsoe is a rare example of a book set in a world that is both recognizably modern and openly shaped by magic. It is most shaped by the Lipan Apache beliefs of both the protagonist and the author, but also more broadly by other belief systems (I was a big fan of the concept of invasive species monsters). The story itself follows the titular Elatsoe (Ellie for short), a teenage girl who raises the ghosts of dead animals, using a family secret that has been passed down for many generations. The action starts when her cousin Travis' spirit visits her in a dream and asks her to solve his murder. Ellie and her mother go to stay with Travis' newborn son and grieving widow, both to help them with their grief and to unravel the dark mysteries at the heart of this small Texas town.

This was a phenomenal book. The mystery is spooky and engaging, and all of the characters are really wonderful. I found Ellie especially very believably a person. She is both indigenous and asexual, but neither of those things are treated as he defining characteristic. I also really appreciated the story's focus on family, and it's examination of the history of race in America, all while being overall a very exciting and fun book. I would definitely recommend this book, and I really hope that Little Badger decides to write the sequel that the ending teased.