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Trickster's Girl (Raven Duet #1)

by Hilari Bell (Goodreads Author)

3.11 of 5 stars 3.11 · rating details · 417 ratings · 151 reviews

In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.

The night Kelsa buries her fat...more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published January 3rd 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (first published December 22nd 2010)

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May 15, 2013 Mizuki Genshou rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-books, supernatural-stuff, thank-god-no-love-triangle, thank-god-no-silly-romance

I like this book, I want to give it four stars, but eventually decided 3.5 stars would be more suitable.

I'm glad to see authors trying something new instead of writing about vampires, witches, werewolves and freaking evil LOVE TRIANGLES over, and over, and over, and over.

This time Hilari Bell really did come up with refreshing ideas. Her uses of mythology and mythical figures are respectful. And for goodness' sake the main girl didn't fall hand over heel in love with the boy because he's so fr...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Precious rated it 3 of 5 stars

See full review here.

This is really 3.5 stars!

Kelsa was dealing with her father’s demise and the wall between her and her mother. She was a little angry, a little annoyed and a whole lot bothered with a gorgeous stalker who witnessed her bury her father’s ashes. She was a smart girl so I was startled when she handled and approached her ‘stalker’ on her own. But I also get her point, after her father’s death, her mother has been going through a lot. She did not want to add to that. At age 15, she...more See full review here.

This is really 3.5 stars!

Kelsa was dealing with her father’s demise and the wall between her and her mother. She was a little angry, a little annoyed and a whole lot bothered with a gorgeous stalker who witnessed her bury her father’s ashes. She was a smart girl so I was startled when she handled and approached her ‘stalker’ on her own. But I also get her point, after her father’s death, her mother has been going through a lot. She did not want to add to that. At age 15, she was young, too young to be thinking of world-saving issues and carrying it on her shoulders. But in Trickster’s Girl, that was exactly what happened – Kelsa carried the responsibility of saving her world through magical leys, learning to trust a total stranger and risking her life in the process.

Raven, the trickster, was incapable of understanding human emotions. This made him seem insensitive, cold and uncaring. But then how could he ever understand feelings? He was not human. He was a shapeshifter who lived in a parallel world, focused on accomplishing one thing alone: recruiting and guiding a human to heal the leys – an important part of his and Kelsa’s world.

Together, they journeyed to Alaska, stopping by at different points to heal the leys. This book was just that – a journey. They encountered obstacles along the way, drug dealing bikers, shapeshifting enemies and border guards. It was a race for their lives and their future. Throughout the novel, I felt surprise, awe, worry and suspense. I was so focused on the magical journey that I almost took for granted the other part of the story. This was Kelsa’s journey on sacrificing, doing what she could do, trying her best to make a difference and above all, accepting facts. Everything happens for a reason and everyone has a limit. It did not matter if she would or she would not get to Alaska. What mattered was that she tried and she made a difference.

There was attraction in the air and partnership too. But then, being the romance fanatic that I am, I wished there was romance between Kelsa and Raven. Unfortunately, there was not. I wanted to know more about Raven, for Kelsa to know more about him. He seemed so far away, so unreachable eventhough he sided with humanity. This could have been better if that was done. The ending was firm and just but it left me with sadness. Trickster’s Girl is a new flavor of fantasy for me, a reminder for everyone and a warning for all of us. Magic and nature collides in this one of a kind fantasy.

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Nov 17, 2010 TinasBookReviews rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Uh-oh....could it be yet another book about global warming? Another book about evil Americans? Well yes and no.....instead of a full out global warming awareness we have a premise underneath the blanket of bio- terrorism. Scary situation in itself but I thought Bell did a good job pointing out how as humans we should be good stewards of the earth, well at least if your a greedy, resource sucking American..and frankly Im pretty sick and tired of being referred to as an evil American.

Kelsa's journ...more Uh-oh....could it be yet another book about global warming? Another book about evil Americans? Well yes and no.....instead of a full out global warming awareness we have a premise underneath the blanket of bio- terrorism. Scary situation in itself but I thought Bell did a good job pointing out how as humans we should be good stewards of the earth, well at least if your a greedy, resource sucking American..and frankly Im pretty sick and tired of being referred to as an evil American.

Kelsa's journey begins shortly after the burial of her father. Kelsa and her father shared a love of the outdoors and wilderness. As a scientist he was always teaching Kelsa about the earth and the healing of the tress after a terrorist attack on the rain forests.The world Kelsa lives in has a very "big brother" feel, things are the same, people still have everything they need: food, shelter and transportation but security is obsessive. Borders into country's and states are controlled, buying items are controlled, everything is secured, monitored and no one gets away with owning guns.

On a night after Kelsa sneaks out to bury her fathers ashes in the ground, Raven a young man starts following her everywhere she goes. Is this boy nuts when he tells Kelsa only she has a magic power to heal the earth.... is he just a crazy stalker who happens to have the ability to transform into a real Raven....or is he the trickster of Native myth? Before Kelsa knows it, she is plunged into a cross-country adventure with a shape-shifting man and a countless number of enemies on her trail.

I enjoyed the action Tricksters Girl offered, I liked that Kelsa was a smart, tough girl who through grief finds strength to heal herself and heal the earth. I did not however like the ending. The events that take place go completely against who Kelsa was and frankly I thought it just didn't fit the story, seeing how Raven was specific about the whole healing process and Kelsa frankly does exactly what Raven said couldn't be done.....so lots of questions left with an open-ended ending. And lets not forget the true meaning behind the story....I thought the environmental push was stereotypical, I'm an American, I love the earth, I love my flowers and tree's but I'm not bowing down to mother nature and that doesn't make me an evil greedy person. I think recycling is great, I think taking care of the planet is important but I also love driving my car and heating my house. Overall, Tricksters Girl is trying to convey a message, one that might come off as Americans/humans are evil but maybe the message Bell is trying to convey is terrorists are real, war is painful and citizens of all country's should respect the environment and do things that help the earth and not abuse it. I can respect that but thought the America/human bashing was overdone....for me that gets a thumbs down in my book.
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Oct 16, 2012 Jennavier rated it 5 of 5 stars

Trickster's girl really impressed me. Despite a slow start Kelsa's journey to save the world was really interesting. In a future American the tree plague- a bio terrorists baby released into the Amazon- is wiping out the trees and rising cancer rates are wiping out humans, one of which is Kelsa's dad. When Raven- claiming to be the actual Raven from native american mythology- shows up to tell her that he needs her help she pushes him off the hiking trail and books if for home. It's not for a whi...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Cornerofmadness rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was a solid four stars until the ending. Sigh. I loved the idea of this book (which since it’s book one of the Raven Duet, I’m assuming there’ll be a second book from the get go). I love Raven (Coyote, Iktomi, Rabbit and whatever other names the Trickster goes under) and a book about Raven trying to help save the world sounded irresistible.

Kelsa is a young girl in mourning. In spite of her high tech, high security world (i.e. our world about a hundred years into the future), they could...more This book was a solid four stars until the ending. Sigh. I loved the idea of this book (which since it’s book one of the Raven Duet, I’m assuming there’ll be a second book from the get go). I love Raven (Coyote, Iktomi, Rabbit and whatever other names the Trickster goes under) and a book about Raven trying to help save the world sounded irresistible.

Kelsa is a young girl in mourning. In spite of her high tech, high security world (i.e. our world about a hundred years into the future), they couldn’t save her father from the cancer consuming him. It opens at his funeral. Kelsa and her father were very close and very ‘green.’ She shares very little with her mother. Kelsa, and the scientists are wondering if there is a connection between the bioterrorism of the ‘tree plague’ (destroying all the trees in the tropics and spreading) and the upswing in human cancer. What she knows for sure, is her father wouldn’t want his ashes locked up in an urn away from the natural cycle.

As she deals with that Kelsa meets a beautiful Native American appearing young man who startles her. He keeps reappearing, even in her locked down school always with the same plea, to help him fix the planet, to stop the tree plague and all of that. She thinks that he’s joking or crazy and that the raven that he supposedly transforms into is a trick. Finally, she sees something she can’t discount and decides to give into the crazy. She and Raven set out to heal the ley lines and heal the earth.

I was a little annoyed that they were called ley lines (as opposed to something more from a Native American mythos) but that is explained if you know anything about the leys. After stealing an ancient medicine bag that belonged to a Navajo healer, they start from Utah to Alaska healing the leys. Creepy but plausible, each state has a border check (Canada, on the other hand, once they get there is more la-di-dah about security) and ID cards contain DNA samples setting up some interesting hurdles.

However, once Kelsa begins to truly believe in Raven and his cause (pretty much once she encounters the first ley), he tells her that the leys affect multiple dimensions including his own. Most of his people believe that humans are sucky stewards for the planet (no argument) and that once these very sick leys kill all life on earth, they’ll come and fix the leys up and not have annoying humans causing ripples through many dimensions. Raven and a few others believe humans deserve a chance. However, they are a minority and the majority are ready to stop them at any costs.

I really like Raven and Kelsa. She has just the right amount of skepticism and freak out over his magical nature. She’s smart and caring and resourceful. She’s a very good teen heroine. I was very happy with this right up to the last ten pages when it went sideways. Kirkus Review called it a ‘surprise resolution.’ I called it stupid. It was an awful ending. Okay, in some ways it makes sense. It does. But in more ways, it’s dumb, it’s a bit contrived and a little bit ethnically insulting. I went from ‘can’t wait to read book 2’ to ‘I’m not sure I WILL read book 2.’ Sigh. Still, I do recommend this book. Maybe the ending won’t make you as nuts as it made me.
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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

TRICKSTER'S GIRL begins with Kelsa Phillips at her father's funeral. Not only is she in mourning, but she and her mother are at odd since they had different ideas about how her father should have spent the last months of his terminal illness. Then Raven walks into her life, saying that she needs to restore the ley lines of North America to prevent the end of humanity. He claims to be the Raven of myth, and says that most of the others like him would prefer to let humans die and then fix the prob...more TRICKSTER'S GIRL begins with Kelsa Phillips at her father's funeral. Not only is she in mourning, but she and her mother are at odd since they had different ideas about how her father should have spent the last months of his terminal illness. Then Raven walks into her life, saying that she needs to restore the ley lines of North America to prevent the end of humanity. He claims to be the Raven of myth, and says that most of the others like him would prefer to let humans die and then fix the problem, caused by pollution and other ill-treatment of the environment. Oh yes, and this takes place one hundred years in the future.

Hilari Bell's world-building is slight but coherent. She manages to make her high-tech world slyly funny. Future USA is obsessed with security, but it does little to prevent drug-smuggling, border crossing, or other problems. Canada, conversely, does just fine while paying far less attention to the movements of its citizens. The magic is a bit shakier. The folkloric parts are fine, but it is a little weird that Kelsa can fix nodes by suddenly knowing what to say and sprinkling conveniently pre-prepared dust. At least Kelsa thinks it is somewhat odd too.

The story definitely picks up once Raven and Kelsa hit the road. The beginning does a good job of setting up Kelsa's emotional state and her own need for healing, but it just doesn't have much forward momentum. TRICKSTER'S GIRL is aimed at a slightly older audience than Bell's most famous books, so Kelsa does face sexual threats on her sometimes-solo journey.

In general, I enjoyed TRICKSTER'S GIRL but felt the ending was rather abrupt. Kelsa does complete a full emotional arc, but her task still ends rather suddenly. In addition, she spends much of the book thinking about Raven's attractiveness. That's not odd for a teenage girl on the road with a good-looking guy. At the same time, it feels kind of pointless when no romance develops. Raven and Kelsa are just friends, so she doesn't really need to dwell on his physical appearance.

If you like quest narratives, you'll probably enjoy TRICKSTER'S GIRL. Dystopia fans will probably enjoy it as well. This version of the future might not be a burned out wasteland, but it's certainly not a utopia. I do enjoy the blending of science fiction and fantasy, which is perfect for the YA market. (Yay genre busting!) (less)

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Jun 09, 2011 Stacey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, netgalley

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Kelsa, distraught from the death of her father, is incredulous when Raven, a shape shifting boy, shows up and tries to talk her into a quest to save the earth. She thinks she is hallucinating due to grief. But the opportunity to take a break from her mom, and mourn her father in her own way is too much to resist, so she agrees and sets off on a quest that digs her deeper into trouble with every road she takes on her motorbike.

I am guessing Trickster’s Girl is the first in a series, because the...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, fantasy, not-your-mothers-real-world, sci-fi, ya, ya-dystopia, 2011

Like Amanda, I wish for a half star rating, but at the end of the day the book was only ok. Kelsa is 15. Her father has just died, and she's having trouble communicating with her mother. Enter Raven, the Native American deity who is actually from another dimension (think the Asgardians from Thor, only less developed). Raven needs Kelsa to heal the mystical ley lines that have been ailing from centuries of neglect and environmental mistreatment.

There is nothing truly wrong with the book, there's...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Between the Covers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, young-adult

Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

Trickster's Girl is one of those books that doesn't fit neatly into any box. Instead, it combines many different ideas - dystopian, science fiction, and Native American mythology - into something new.

Kelsa knows she can't leave her father's ashes to rest in an ordinary cemetery. What she doesn't know is that in attempting to bury them herself, the course of her life will change. While in the forest, she meets Raven - the embodiment of a Native American...more Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

Trickster's Girl is one of those books that doesn't fit neatly into any box. Instead, it combines many different ideas - dystopian, science fiction, and Native American mythology - into something new.

Kelsa knows she can't leave her father's ashes to rest in an ordinary cemetery. What she doesn't know is that in attempting to bury them herself, the course of her life will change. While in the forest, she meets Raven - the embodiment of a Native American spirit - who tells her that she is the one he needs to heal the leys and reverse the tree plague that has been unleashed in the rain forest. At first she refuses - after all, she can't very well take off for Alaska on her own - but the more she learns about Raven, and after she heals the first ley, she can't bring herself to abandon the quest. Yet the journey is not as easy as Kelsa imagined. Raven isn't the most trustworthy of boys...or creatures...and he has his share of enemies. There are those who would see the leys unhealed, and the human race destroyed...not to mention the fact that Kelsa must break numerous laws in the process. Can she avoid her enemies and heal the leys in time?

This book was quite original at the outset, with a very interesting premise. It was nice to see Native American mythology incorporated into a book for a change instead of Greek or Roman. Although the setting is futuristic, many of the elements were not much of a leap from what exists or is being developed now. The adventures were very well written, and I really loved the descriptions of the various landscapes (especially Banff - it brought back fond memories). Kelsa and Raven had some great moments: funny banter moreso than anything romantic, even though romantic feelings vied for their place.

After a while, however the story became a bit repetitive and predictable. At the same time, however, a few things seemed to come from nowhere - but in a confusing way, rather than a surprising or intriguing one. Also, he ending seemed a bit rushed and incomplete; I know there will be a sequel, and there is certainly a need for one, but I still found myself wanting something more from this book.

Overall, Tricker's Girl is an enjoyable story with a unique premise. I'll be curious to see how things are resolved in the sequel!(less)

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Apr 01, 2011 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a paranormal/science fiction story with a twist, as if blending the two genre's isn't enough. The protagonist, fifteen year old Kelsa, is trying to deal with her father's recent death from cancer in the not too distant future. And while science has given us many new labor-saving and entertainment devices, including flying cars that do need a road, we also have more sickness, more government controls and more terrorism. Including a botched attempt at eco-terrorism that is destrying trees...more This is a paranormal/science fiction story with a twist, as if blending the two genre's isn't enough. The protagonist, fifteen year old Kelsa, is trying to deal with her father's recent death from cancer in the not too distant future. And while science has given us many new labor-saving and entertainment devices, including flying cars that do need a road, we also have more sickness, more government controls and more terrorism. Including a botched attempt at eco-terrorism that is destrying trees in the Amazon rainforest and moving north toward the forests of America.

Kelsa meets a strange yound man who calls himself Raven. At first she takes him for a stalker, especially when she finds he has dug up the plot where she placed her father's ashes. Over time he convinces her that magic is real, that he is a shapeshifter who can ustilize magic, and that he needs her in a quest to heal something broken in nature to save both the forests and humanity itself. It's delightful to see a heroine engaged in a quest to save the world.

Raven is the Trickster from American Indian legends. This story blends legendary creatures from across histories and cultures with science fiction (they are actually from other dimensions that touch and interact with Earth). Raven claims that she is one of the few humans living, perhaps the only one, who can use magic to cure the damage mankind has done to the Earth. She reluctantly takes up the cause and finds herself a pawn in a battle between Raven and the other dimensional creatures who have decided mankind deserves to die and do not want the damage repaired in time to save the Earth. They are willing to do anything to stop her,including destroying both her and Raven.

I was pulled into the mythology and the future world where people have learned to accept being tracked by their DNA and needing permission to move from state to state. (I really liked that Canada did not have as many hang-up in that area as the United States did). I loved the shape-shifting trickster and how the author blended different legends, and I realized before Kelsa did that the Trickster had more secrets up his sleeve than he revealed. The tension grew when we learned he was long-lived, but not immortal, and that if his enemies managed to stop him, humanity was doomed. I also loved her determination, and her feelings for her father and how that played into her quest.

My problem with this book came at the end. Tension built as I watched themmove across North America, one step ahead, or sometimes behind, their enemies. And then, suddenly, Raven ran out of energy. (view spoiler) The trickster has to move on to find another unlikely human to continue the job of saving the Earth. (less)

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Mar 30, 2011 Nanci rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Phoebe, Deborah, Valerie, Cheryl, Michelle

Shelves: science-fiction-ya, futuristic-novel

Great read--stayed up all night to finish it!

I have enjoyed Hilari Bell's novels in the past; she always has interesting characters that tend to develop and grow as you get deeper into the book. Her latest book, Trickster's Girl, also has intriguing characters that draw the reader deeper and make you want to read the book in one sitting.

Although this book is set in the year 2098, it is not a dystopian novel--not yet anyway. 15 year old Kelsa is barely moving through life; her father just died o...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Karina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic, science-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Sadly, this book did not live up to the expectations I had for it.

It's actually a bit of a contradiction. Labeled as a science-fiction book but it has magical elements to it.

Kelsa, story protagonist, is a fifteen year old girl whose dad has just died of cancer. Her mother is in morning, her little brother Joby seems oblivious to everything and the tension between the two is impermeable. There seems to be this unexplainable anger between the two. Well, actually it is explainable, but there is no...more Sadly, this book did not live up to the expectations I had for it.

It's actually a bit of a contradiction. Labeled as a science-fiction book but it has magical elements to it.

Kelsa, story protagonist, is a fifteen year old girl whose dad has just died of cancer. Her mother is in morning, her little brother Joby seems oblivious to everything and the tension between the two is impermeable. There seems to be this unexplainable anger between the two. Well, actually it is explainable, but there is no reason why there had to be so many pages on how Kelsa was ignoring her mother, how upset she was at her, how she would never forgive her. I do not actually believe their relationship played a big part in this book.

Then you meet the mysterious boy who just showed up, claiming magic is going to help heal the dying earth. This intrigues the reader, but there's nothing much to be intrigued about. He's not actually human. I actually commend Hilari Bell on her ability to make Raven seem oblivious to human nature, showing how in-human he is. By the end of the book, I was about as un-affectionate for him as he was for humans.

This book is supposed to take place in the future, 2098 to be exact. But I never actually felt that there was anything futuristic about it. It's exactly as the summary says, there is nothing diffrent about the United States then as it is now. I never go the feeling that the tough security was because of the 9/11 incident. Only when Kelsa was going on about how her therma-suite wasn't working, or that slight mention on how cars hovered did I remember this took place in the future. The pod-coms seem to be round iPhones, and the PIDs remind me of the French S.S. Vitale cards (both care around your personal information, like a credit card, with your picture.)

I do like how the book had mentions about Native American legends though. I wish it was something that Ms. Bell would have gotten more into, instead of how Raven said tarnation. There was one mention on how the Trickster part of the title played in. It got about half a page, and then it wasn't really brought up again.

Which brings me to another peeve. Instead of actually swearing, therefore making this book readable to younger children, the author just changed the vowles of those words and made them swear words, some invention made in the future. Example would be how we do it with ship and frick. (Actually, that's how we do it here in this small mid-western town. I can't speak for the rest of the dirty mouthed people :D )

I liked the idea of the story though. It's something I haven't read yet, so I was intrugied by how magic was going to save the trees. The idea that there are certain healing spots is just something I've never read about, so cuddos for the orginality. I could see the take-care-of-the-Earth message, which usually makes them pretty bad. Not this one, though. Earth-Saving was not the reason I did not like this book.

Also, this is a more biased comment, but there was no real relationship between Raven and Kelsa! It's over two hundred pages of a boy and a girl out on an adventure, alone and well seeing as it's marketed along books ceratin books makes me think there's going to be some sort of a relationship. Alas, there was nothing more than a semi-friendship and a lot of tolerance.

Yet, I'm sure this book is going to do well. With its descprition of Raven being this totally hot guy and Kelsa being an innocent young girl who manages to move on from her father's death by saving the world, there will be many readers who will fawn over Hilari Bell's newest book, Trickster's Girl.(less)

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Mar 11, 2011 andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The story itself was good - a combination of environmental collapse and magic, in an entertaining and tough-girl way. However. It took a while to get into the book and actually care what was happening, and at the end I was rewarded for however much caring I did eventually build up for the main character by a pat ending and the promise of a sequel but not involving this character at all. Or at least that's how I read the last few pages.

It takes a while,...more I wanted to like this book more than I did. The story itself was good - a combination of environmental collapse and magic, in an entertaining and tough-girl way. However. It took a while to get into the book and actually care what was happening, and at the end I was rewarded for however much caring I did eventually build up for the main character by a pat ending and the promise of a sequel but not involving this character at all. Or at least that's how I read the last few pages.

It takes a while, especially with fantasy and science fiction, for me to understand the new world I'm in when reading a book - the names, the places, the history and politics, and so on. While I'm in this still-learning phase, it's super easy to get irritated with other aspects of the book, particularly the writing, and tempt me to put down the book altogether. In other words, Bell's writing in the first thirty pages or so was not the best - especially her use of ellipses. It felt like every other paragraph had an ellipse... ugh.

I did like a lot though the idea of ley lines and how they can be cured. I liked the travelogue aspect of the book, not being very familiar with the Pacifica Northwest or Western Canada. Raven was an interesting character and even though the descriptions of his handsomeness wore thin towards the end and always made me think, ahhh she can't help it, she's totally going to have them hook up, I was convinced by the end that he wasn't human, wasn't interested like most teenage boys in girls, and really just wanted to fix the situation in his world.

Also, the main character Kelsa really started to bother me by the end of the book. The relationship between her and her mom was complicated and very real-seeming, but at the end, Kelsea was all, "I was ready to listen [to her mom,]" and I could not understand WHY. What had changed? Show me, don't tell me - as the old old saying goes.

I'll keep an eye out for more by this author, particularly any sequel to this book, but I won't hold my breath that it'll be more than a quick fun but ultimately forgettable read.

eta: Traitor's Son is the second book, planned to be released at the end of 2011 it seems.
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Mar 09, 2011 Sarah BT rated it 3 of 5 stars

Honestly, I'm not really sure what to think of this book. It's got a mix of a lot of things-there's some science fiction and dystopia, magic and fantasy, and adventure. It's a hard book to fit into one genre. I think it would be a good read, especially for middle school readers, who aren't sure if they really like any of those genres and want a lighter taste of each.

I liked that while the book deals with an impending ecological disaster, it never gets preachy about saving the Earth (which I thin...more

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Feb 12, 2011 -k The Lady Critic rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, for-review

I read the first few chapters of this and then skimmed the rest of the novel. I just couldn’t get into the story at all and I really wasn’t in the mood to read about magic and rainforests. Perhaps I can try and sit down and re-read this at a later date, but all I can think of now is that I have a huge TBR full of books that I would rather be reading.

I found it difficult to be thrown into 2098 America without any explanation in this book. In fact, it took me a while to even realize that it was a...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Shannon (aka Readergirl) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc

I love dystopians, so it wasn’t hard for me to sink into the world of 2098, even though it didn’t seem much different than today’s work, with a few exceptions. I have mixed feelings about this one, even though I did like it.

What I liked: I really liked the heroine, Kelsa. I thought she was a strong character, capable, and smart, especially smart for someone only 15. I loved how resourceful she was throughout the story. So much so that I found myself not really worrying about her at all, as I kne...more

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Jan 09, 2011 P.M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's 2094 and a virulent plague is killing the trees. 15 year old Kelsa Phillips is dealing with the death of her father from a very aggressive cancer. Imagine her surprise when a boy tells her that it is her job to complete the task of a Navaho shaman of more than a hundred years ago to heal the leys and restore the magic. He tells her that she must first break into a museum, steal a medicine pouch, and travel to Alaska performing her healing along the way! She believes that he is a stalker unt...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Stephany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-since-starting-blog, teen-book-scene-blog-tours

When I first began reading, I was immediately drawn in by the writing-style. Straight forward, then throwing in a phrase of sarcasm that either adds to the mood or contradicts the mood--contradicting the mood being slightly cooler than adding to the mood. The beginning describes the funeral of Kelsa's father, and the strain on the relationship between Kelsa and her mother is introduced. I felt the feelings of Kelsa were very real, especially her feelings toward her mom. The future world that Kel...more When I first began reading, I was immediately drawn in by the writing-style. Straight forward, then throwing in a phrase of sarcasm that either adds to the mood or contradicts the mood--contradicting the mood being slightly cooler than adding to the mood. The beginning describes the funeral of Kelsa's father, and the strain on the relationship between Kelsa and her mother is introduced. I felt the feelings of Kelsa were very real, especially her feelings toward her mom. The future world that Kelsa lives in is also described, and it had the slightest feel of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield.

When I first met Raven, I thought he was really strange. He continuously asked Kelsa, "Are you ready to believe in magic yet?" And just how he randomly appeared near her--like in the tree outside her bedroom window...naked. It was freaky. Then, suddenly, while Kelsa is at school, he appears and asks again: "Are you ready to believe in magic yet?" Somehow in my mind, it was the sexiest thing my mind has ever come up with (exaggeration, but the idea is there). From then on, I loved Raven. He was arrogant, sarcastic yet polite and proper, and sort of filled the void of casualness that Kelsa had left behind when her dad died.

I must say I was surprised that the magic we were talking about was Native American based. Raven is the "trickster" spirit who needs Kelsa to fix the "tree disease" that is slowly spreading toward the United States; hence: Trickster's Girl. I was so excited when I figured out the meaning of the title. Seriously, it made me like it ten times more. I also noticed that the shadows on the left side of the girl's face were ravens. Made me like the cover ten times more.

And although the Native American-ness was pretty unique and sort of made sense, the magic part seemed...not-so-magic. Needing to come up with a chant, then sprinkling dust on the ground? I felt embarrassed for Kelsa every time she had to do it. And although she continually said that she didn't feel so awkward, that it almost seemed natural, those were not the vibes I was picking up.

I also felt slightly disconnected from the story. It is told third-person limited from Kelsa's point of view, but despite it being from her point of view, I felt like I didn't really know her. There wasn't as much thoughts written out as I would have liked; heavy action made up most of the description, and small blurbs of what she thinks occasionally. Maybe I would've felt closer if it had been first person.

When the description mentions 9/11, I thought maybe there would be some major reason why 9/11 is specifically said. I don't think there was, though. The ideas of the way society works in Kelsa's world was pretty interesting, although some parts weren't completely explained until later on in the book when Raven asks about it. The different new inventions were also not explained as well as I would have liked. I was just waiting for one chapter where I would get caught up to this world, given a mini history lesson of just how different it was from today, but I never got that. No history lesson added to my feeling of detachment from the story.

Overall, I did like this book. Kelsa was a bit whiny in the beginning, but as the story continued she became less so. I grew to love Raven more and more and wished there had been some scenes where Raven and Kelsa really connected, and maybe hinted feelings for one another. Most of their conversations were all about their mission or inquiring the newness of Kelsa's time. The descriptions of the action scenes were very well done. I'm looking forward to more of Hilari Bell's writing.(less)

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Dec 10, 2010 Gecky Boz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Tame Trickster

* I received this book via Star Book Tours

This book gets 2 gnomes and a gnome hat out of five gnomes for having an innovative concept with looking at Native American mythology but doesn't explore the mythology as much as it could have. One fun aspect of the book involves the curse words of the future. These curse words made me feel like a real trendsetter, like carp, I say carp all the time because it tended to get me in less trouble then saying the original word.

The story starts v...more Tame Trickster

* I received this book via Star Book Tours

This book gets 2 gnomes and a gnome hat out of five gnomes for having an innovative concept with looking at Native American mythology but doesn't explore the mythology as much as it could have. One fun aspect of the book involves the curse words of the future. These curse words made me feel like a real trendsetter, like carp, I say carp all the time because it tended to get me in less trouble then saying the original word.

The story starts very slowly. It takes place in the future but I think it might have had an even stronger message if it had been set in the present. This would work because people are more pro-environmental now and security it tighter, it's interesting to read about this future but there could have been more to it.

The reader first meets Kelsa at her father's funeral. She was much closer to her father than her mother, she doesn't have the best relationship with her mother. Raven, the trickster god, finds her as she's burying her father's ashes.

In this future time there's a tree plague that was released by terrorists that is killing all the trees. This isn't the only problem since their have been bad environmental practices before this but the tree plague is kind of the last straw. Apparently all these environmental problems are weakening or continuing to weaken the ley lines of the world, these lines are where magic comes from, so they are destroying this world and the world where Raven comes from. Raven believes that only a human can fix the damage.

It takes Raven some time to convince Kelsa that she's the person that can heal the Earth through fixing fixing different ley lines at various nexuses of power. She is suspicious of Raven a lot and Raven doesn't really see humans as being very capable.

The story really picks up and grabs for your attention after Kelsa finds out that the enemies Raven talks about that don't want them to succeed are real. Things get more enjoyable and fun to read once they are on the run. I was kind of uncomfortable at one part where she decides to make herself look completely different by essentially putting on blackface in the form of really dark concealer.

I might have given this book a 3 gnomes out of 5 if it weren't for the ending. It has the kind of ending where I was questioning why exactly things had to happen this way. In the end the reader is left with no idea what's going to occur next and not a clue to who the main characters will be.

Overall I expected more magic to be involved but everything is more natural then magical except for the whole shapeshifting part. Also was some humor throughout though no romance even though it is kind of implied by the cover and title of the book. (less)

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Nov 15, 2010 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Kelsa is taken on a quest to heal our Earth by Raven, a (mostly) Native American trickster. First in a series.

The positive: this is exactly the kind of book that I would have really enjoyed when I was 10. It has a strong female protagonist who strikes out alone and grapples with moral dilemmas in order to fight for the greater good. It has strong ecological themes and gorgeous descriptions of the various natural wonders that Kelsa visits during her quest. It would be an excellent jumping off po...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Esther Shaindel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com
The imagery in this book is what struck me most - so it wasn't so surprising to read on Amazon that the author made the trip that Kelsa and Raven take herself! The changes in weather and the landscapes are so beautifully described that I felt like I myself was on the trip with Kelsa. The details of camping and supplies are also really real, so aside from the plot, the book felt like a travel book at many points! That's not to say...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Kristin (Beneath Shining Stars, I Read) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Kelsa Phillips has just lost her father to cancer when she meets Raven, the boy who seems to suddenly appear out of nowhere and tells her that magic exists--and more importantly, he needs her to help him heal the ley lines which have been severely weakened by humanity. To say the very least, she's skeptical but finally agrees to help him heal at least one ley line. From there, their journey takes them through Utah, Montana, up into Canada, and finally over to Alaska. It really does feel like you...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Alyssa Archambo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction, dystopia, post-apocalyptic, mythology

I am loving all these mythological-based books now coming out and this one is no different. I love how Bell ties together all the different mythologies to incorporate it into the story she's made. It really works. The novel did have a few problems for me that I will go into later, but first let's talk about the good stuff.

Awesome thing #1: Subtlety. This is a futuristic world, but Bell doesn't make it so futuristic that I can't recognize it. Everything is similar but slightly off, which is exact...more I am loving all these mythological-based books now coming out and this one is no different. I love how Bell ties together all the different mythologies to incorporate it into the story she's made. It really works. The novel did have a few problems for me that I will go into later, but first let's talk about the good stuff.

Awesome thing #1: Subtlety. This is a futuristic world, but Bell doesn't make it so futuristic that I can't recognize it. Everything is similar but slightly off, which is exactly how I think the future will be. For example, there are hover vehicles, but regular vehicles still exist. People have "com pods" which I envision as some sort of really fancy iPhone. And some high school teachers seem to teach through computers, but it was still recognizably school. Some may argue that due to the rapid pace of technological advancements, it should have been more otherworldly, which I completely get; however, I really liked how I could recognize the old world in the new. Very well done.

Awesome thing #2: Native American mythology. I feel like this subject doesn't get written about a lot and it is SO interesting. Instead, many focus on Greek and Irish mythology (probably because that's what we mostly hear about in school). I liked the different flavor this mythology brought to the story, and I liked how it tied together with other mythologies. It especially works for the subject matter (healing the "leys," which are, essentially, a part of nature).

Awesome thing #3: It's a small thing, but I really liked how the evolution of the curse words was explained. I could totally see this happening in real life. Related to Awesome thing #1, it was similar enough that I recognized it, but just evolved enough to make it seem strange. Very cool.

Now for the problems.

Problem #1: Conflict. Using her "human magic" (as it's called) seemed to be really easy for Kelsa. And the incantations come rather easily to her. I know that the book says it takes her a little while to come up with the words, but I want to see the struggle. Especially since she's supposed to be conflicted about the existence of magic -- she is in denial, but then she just sits down and reaches out to the earth to heal it? Seems like a huge jump between mind frames. Conflict problems arose throughout the entire novel, I think. It was the biggest problem for me. I thought that things were fairly easy on Kelsa (until the end, of course), which I wasn't very happy with.

Problem #2: Development. Sometime between the beginning and middle of the novel, Kelsa got to become rather comfortable with Raven and his quirks. She would say things like "typical" when he did something, when I didn't find it typical at all. I really wished that there was more description of him and of the relationship they built so I could connect to him as well as Kelsa. This may have been a conscious choice on the part of the author since Raven is a spirit (or whatever you want to call him -- not human, anyway), and is therefore unrelatable. So I'm just going to list this as a personal preference.

However, I did think it was a good, fast read. I would recommend giving it a try.

My rating: 3(less)

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Jan 14, 2011 Jodie (Books for Company) rated it 3 of 5 stars

http://jodiesbookreviews.blogspot.com
Check out the link above for ratings.
I have so much to say about this book, l have a whole list of notes written that l started to write after l had read the first chapter. Before l start my review l have to say l didn't expect much from this book, the cover doesn't grab me at all BUT this book was a nice surprise. Even if l didn't always enjoy the concept of it, its a thought out book!
Oh and also before l start, just to get it out the way, l was often annoy...more http://jodiesbookreviews.blogspot.com
Check out the link above for ratings.
I have so much to say about this book, l have a whole list of notes written that l started to write after l had read the first chapter. Before l start my review l have to say l didn't expect much from this book, the cover doesn't grab me at all BUT this book was a nice surprise. Even if l didn't always enjoy the concept of it, its a thought out book!
Oh and also before l start, just to get it out the way, l was often annoyed but the constant exclamations being used. Yes l use them lots but in a story they seem totally out of place being used so much.
I did warn you, l have a lot to say about it.
~
I haven't read a book in awhile that l have had a strong love and hate relationship with it and not known which one l side with the most.
First and foremost l should let you know this book is set ahead of time, around 2086 l think it said somewhere in the book. I think this is always daring because you need try to guess how advanced we are going to be by then. I think Hilari got it right most of the time and l loved nearly all of the things which she added to the world which Kelsa lives in.
~
Now for my thoughts. This book actually started off as a great surprise as l was enjoying it a lot, l liked how the characters were introduced and Raven had great character at the beginning and l really warmed to him. Kelsa on the other hand l felt myself getting annoyed at her, she is rather mean to her mother and as l am very close to my mother l didn't get how she could be like that. A bit spoilt she came across in a few chapters.
Anyway at least they had their personality's at the beginning because suddenly as the story went on the l felt the two characters lost their personality and become flat. This may have been because Hilari seemed to focus so much on the plot that the building of their characters seemed abandoned. Stuff was being repeated as well as finding myself totally lost in a few sections and not understanding what was happening at all.
~
The plot itself is the main thing which l am struggling on deciding if l loved it or hated it. It's confusing, interesting, frustrating, repetitive .. as you can see, its a lot of things! I truly don't know, l wasn't bored by the plot and its certainly a unique concept which Hilari had obviously thought into but l felt in some ways it was just too .. strange. Sometimes l connected with it and other times l didn't and its the times when l didn't connect with it when l am thinking "Please make Raven and Kelsa a bit complex!'. I honestly still don't know where l stand, l actually feel confused!
~
I guess at the end of the day my final verdict comes down to if l will read the next in the series. Yes. Just because l want to find out what happens as l am a nosey person but l won't be a rush to read the next one. Being honest though l would probably be satisfied with reading someone's review which tells me what happens next.(less)

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Mar 07, 2011 Darkfallen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, netgalley-reviewed

It's 2098 and bioterrorist have released a tree plague that is killing the rain forest in South America. There has also been an unexplainable increase in terminal cancer cases. Fifteen year old Kelsa knows all to well about this cancer. She is about to learn even more about the tree plague. After burying her father she meets a mysterious boy, Raven. He claims she is the key to saving the earth from this deadly plague that is slowly spreading across the globe. Will Kelsa be able to complete the j...more It's 2098 and bioterrorist have released a tree plague that is killing the rain forest in South America. There has also been an unexplainable increase in terminal cancer cases. Fifteen year old Kelsa knows all to well about this cancer. She is about to learn even more about the tree plague. After burying her father she meets a mysterious boy, Raven. He claims she is the key to saving the earth from this deadly plague that is slowly spreading across the globe. Will Kelsa be able to complete the journey, and reverse the damage that has been done? Not just the damage to the earth, but the damage left by losing her father?

This book starts out when Kelsa has to bury her father. She is torn, broken, angry, and lost. You immediately feel a connection with her. Shortly after she meets Raven and that's when thing start to get interesting. I really like the premise for this book. The whole "old magic," that has long been forgotten saving the earth from the humans that are destroying it. I love the supernatural twist of Raven, the Trickster. It was nice to see something outside of the usual weres, vamps, fae, and angels category. I do have to admit I have kinda a soft spot for Native American folklore, so when I first met Raven I was excited to see where Bell would take it.

I am sad to say that while it was an interesting read, it was a bit lacking for me. I kept waiting for a romance that wasn't coming. The name kind of implies your gonna get some swoon-worthiness, but not so much. Also the fact that the Trickster, by legend, is a bit of a player I was really sad that I didn't get to see some of that here. Also the ending was unexpected. I don't mean like "Oh I didn't see that coming." More like it just didn't feel like an "ending." Maybe it's just me but it definitely felt like it needed about 50-60 more pages. Don't get me wrong it does leave you wanting more, and I will read the next book in the series, but more because I desperately want to see a deeper relationship between Raven and Kelsa.(less)

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Dec 16, 2010 Brandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, nook, ya, paranormal

Kelsa is a teenage girl who is dealing with the crushing loss of her father. Even though the setting is in the high-tech future with com pods, hovercraft-like vehicles and temperature-controlled clothing, Kelsa's father taught her to enjoy and respect the outdoors while enjoying its challenges and beauty. Now that he is gone, Kelsa feels lost and alone.

Raven, who appears to be a regular teenager boy but has magical abilities, approaches Kelsa and tells her that she is the girl that can save the...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Chelsea rated it 3 of 5 stars

On the same day that Kelsa buries her father, she encounters a strange boy named Raven. Raven is a shapeshifting spirit who needs her help. The earth is suffering from a deadly tree virus and can only be healed by a human with special magic. Kelsa is not sure she is the right person for the job, but agrees to go with him because staying home with her depressed mother doesn't sound any better. So Kelsa and Raven set out on a long road trip, complete with amazing sights, an angry biker gang, and a...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Jamie rated it 1 of 5 stars

I was really looking forward to this book. Based on the synopsis it sounded right up my alley. Based on reviews on other sites, it sounded great. I was WRONG. This book was such a disappointment I actually considered not reviewing it at all. The beginning was terribly slow and dull, but I stuck with it - hoping it would get better. Once action finally occurred, it made little sense and seemed to go against the basic rules of the author's world building. Then it got boring again. That was when I...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Cheree Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars

Incorporating a blend of sci-fi and magic, Kelsa Phillips is just trying to cope after watching her father die from cancer when a strange boy shows up and tells her that the tree plague is actually caused by magic. The boy is actually Raven, a shapeshifting spirit also known as the Trickster. He urges Kelsa to come on a quest with him to move along the ley lines and heal the nexus points all the way to Alaska.

Hilari Bell has created an interesting tale based on Native American mythology. The beg...more

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Jan 14, 2011 Nely rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, for-review

I really liked the premise of this book - it's a dystopian with paranormal elements - which I found very unique and what actually seduced me into wanting to read it. But sadly I had a hard time getting into the story. For me, it started off really slow and I kept having a hard time picking it back up if I needed to stop reading for whatever reason. While I did find Kelsa and Raven's journey to be interesting as well as learning about why the Earth is slowly dying, I still had a hard time connect...more

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About Hilari Bell

As far as writing is concerned, I call myself the poster child for persistence. Songs of Power, the first novel I sold, was the 5th novel I'd written. When it sold I was working on novel #13. The next to sell, Navohar, was #12, and the next, A Matter of Profit, was #9. The Goblin Wood was #6, and the first Sorahb book, Flame (later renamed Farsala: Fall of a Kingdom), will be #15. You get the pict...more As far as writing is concerned, I call myself the poster child for persistence. Songs of Power, the first novel I sold, was the 5th novel I'd written. When it sold I was working on novel #13. The next to sell, Navohar, was #12, and the next, A Matter of Profit, was #9. The Goblin Wood was #6, and the first Sorahb book, Flame (later renamed Farsala: Fall of a Kingdom), will be #15. You get the picture.

My reviews: Mea culpa! I got onto Goodreads years ago, and haven't been reviewing--but I now mean to start! I should add that as writer, I tend to read a bit more critically. Or at least, when I think a book is going off the rails I usually see technical, writer problems with it. In short, any time a book stops working for me, that author becomes an honorary member of my writing critique group--whether they want to or not! So I apologize in advance for any technical critiques my fellow writers may recieve.

Biography: My personal life? I was born in Denver in 1958—you can do the math. I'm single and live with my mother, brother and sister-in-law. I used to be a part time reference librarian for a mid-sized public library, but in the beginning of ’05 I achieved a writer’s dream and quit the day job. Librarian turned writer is a very schizophrenic state—when I try to urge people to buy my books, I have to beat down a lifetime of professional reflexes demanding that I tell them to check them out at the library instead.

I enjoy board gaming and fantasy gaming, both table top and live. But my favorite thing to do is the decadent version of camping my mom and I practice. We have a pop-up trailer with a fridge, a sink, a stove and (if electrical hookups are available) a space heater, heating pads and a toaster. Our motto is "No unnecessary work." We don't cook, we don't wash dishes, we don't...you name it. What we do is spend all day, every day, reading and hiking and reading some more. Camping is the only time I can get in enough reading. Well, I take that back—when it comes to reading, there's no such thing as enough.(less)

More about Hilari Bell...

Books by Hilari Bell

Fall of a Kingdom (The Farsala Trilogy, #1)

Rise of a Hero (The Farsala Trilogy, #2)

Forging the Sword (The Farsala Trilogy, #3)

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Trickster's Girl (Raven Duet #1)

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