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Elatsoe #0
Sheine Lende
Shane works with her mother and their ghost dogs, tracking down missing persons even when their families can’t afford to pay. Their own family was displaced from their traditional home years ago following a devastating flood – and the loss of Shane’s father and her grandparents. They don’t think they’ll ever get their home back.
Then Shane’s mother and a local boy go missing, after a strange interaction with a fairy ring. Shane, her brother, her friends, and her lone, surviving grandparent – who isn’t to be trusted – set off on the road to find them. But they may not be anywhere in this world – or this place in time.
Nevertheless, Shane is going to find them.
Darcie Little Badger’s Elatsoe launched her career and in the years since has become a beloved favorite. This prequel to Elatsoe , centered on Ellie’s grandmother, deepens and expands Darcie’s one-of-a-kind world and introduces us to another cast of characters that will wend their way around readers’ hearts.
Then Shane’s mother and a local boy go missing, after a strange interaction with a fairy ring. Shane, her brother, her friends, and her lone, surviving grandparent – who isn’t to be trusted – set off on the road to find them. But they may not be anywhere in this world – or this place in time.
Nevertheless, Shane is going to find them.
Darcie Little Badger’s Elatsoe launched her career and in the years since has become a beloved favorite. This prequel to Elatsoe , centered on Ellie’s grandmother, deepens and expands Darcie’s one-of-a-kind world and introduces us to another cast of characters that will wend their way around readers’ hearts.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2024
93 people are currently reading
6858 people want to read
About the author
Darcie Little Badger
70 books1,866 followersLipan Apache geoscientist, writer, and fan of the weird, haunting, and beautiful.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
April 14, 2024
5/5 stars with a warming ghostly glow...
"For us, it’s easy to mistake The Below for home..."
In my very first review of Elatsoe back in 2021, I named it “one of those magical books I wish had been around when I was a child”, as it would’ve been a foundational book for me. Luckily, that never stopped me from adoring it all the same as an adult, and joyfully adding it to my all-time favourite list. Since then, I’ve reread it a number of times and have been well on my way to considering Darcie Little Badger a favourite author, sheerly based on my love for this one book.
Then came the announcement I didn’t see coming; a new book in the same world, functioning as a prequel to Elatsoe. After finishing Sheine Lende, I can confidently say that I’m no longer “considering Darcie Little Badger might become a favourite author”; she is an all-time favourite for sure!
The Story:
Sheine Lende is set in the same world as Elatsoe, and functions as a prequel to Ellie’s story. Although there are references to the first book throughout, the story follows a completely new cast of characters and can be read as a standalone as well.
We follow Shane, Ellie’s grandmother, whom we already know has lead an interesting life, and shared the same talents of communicating with (animal) spirits. Shane works with her mother and their ghost dogs, tracking down missing persons even when their families can't afford to pay and authorities don’t seem to care. When her mother, alongside a local boy, is next in line to disappear after a strange interaction with a fairy ring, Shane takes it upon herself and her ghost dogs to return her home safely. Together with her brother, her friends, and her lone, surviving grandparent - who isn't to be trusted - set off on a journey to find them. But they may not be anywhere in this world - or this place in time.
What I loved:
I’ve mentioned before that Elatsoe is one of those quintessential comfort books for me. There is an almost indescribable quality to the writing that radiates comfort, warmth and whimsy, despite not shying away from heavier subject matter. Sheine Lende, carries forward that same atmosphere through its shared themes. Both stories are essentially about family and generational-love (covering both biological family and found-family alike), and how these connections to our supporting networks can carry us through the darkest of times. The worldbuilding is rooted in Lipan mythology, from an own-voice perspective of the author. I deeply admire how the author manages to honour her culture and history by intertwining threads of generational- and cultural trauma specific to the native America experience, whilst also writing about themes universal enough to be relatable for readers from a variety of backgrounds.
None of this was a surprise of course; I knew full well that Darcie Little Badger was capable of this kind of writing from reading Elatsoe. What díd surprise me was how invested I got in the new cast of characters from page one. I didn’t think Shane would be able to hold a candle to my love and investment in Ellie and Kirby, yet I think I loved both protagonist equally in the end. Ellie and Shane are distinctly different, strong characters, but share a very important quality. They both are strong as individuals because their community allows them to be. They stand on the shoulders of giant and know themselves to be backed by the ghost of the generations that proceeded them. That powerful sense of connection is the backbone to anchor of the story and the beating heart of my love for it.
This is where I’d usually include my “what I didn’t love”-section, but I honestly have no points of critique to give here… Elatsoe did something truly special for me: it’s the kind of book that feels like a strengthening and encouraging hug from a loved one. I didn’t think Sheine Lende, would be able to match that, but it absolutely did, maybe at times even surpassing it! This is a gem of a novel, that I cannot recommend highly enough.
A note on the audio:
This is one of those books where I can't decide whether to recommend the physical book over the audio, or the other way around. I read both, and adored both for different reasons. On the one hand, the physical copy has the benefit of the stunning cover and illustrations by Rovina Cai. On the other hand, the audiobook reflects the nature of spoken-word legacies and storytelling, and Kinsale Drake's exceptional narration and pronounciation of the original Lipan language makes for a truly special experience.
Many thanks to the author and Levine Querido for providing me with (yes, I’ve said it!) my most anticipated ARC of the year. All opinions are my own.
"For us, it’s easy to mistake The Below for home..."
In my very first review of Elatsoe back in 2021, I named it “one of those magical books I wish had been around when I was a child”, as it would’ve been a foundational book for me. Luckily, that never stopped me from adoring it all the same as an adult, and joyfully adding it to my all-time favourite list. Since then, I’ve reread it a number of times and have been well on my way to considering Darcie Little Badger a favourite author, sheerly based on my love for this one book.
Then came the announcement I didn’t see coming; a new book in the same world, functioning as a prequel to Elatsoe. After finishing Sheine Lende, I can confidently say that I’m no longer “considering Darcie Little Badger might become a favourite author”; she is an all-time favourite for sure!
The Story:
Sheine Lende is set in the same world as Elatsoe, and functions as a prequel to Ellie’s story. Although there are references to the first book throughout, the story follows a completely new cast of characters and can be read as a standalone as well.
We follow Shane, Ellie’s grandmother, whom we already know has lead an interesting life, and shared the same talents of communicating with (animal) spirits. Shane works with her mother and their ghost dogs, tracking down missing persons even when their families can't afford to pay and authorities don’t seem to care. When her mother, alongside a local boy, is next in line to disappear after a strange interaction with a fairy ring, Shane takes it upon herself and her ghost dogs to return her home safely. Together with her brother, her friends, and her lone, surviving grandparent - who isn't to be trusted - set off on a journey to find them. But they may not be anywhere in this world - or this place in time.
What I loved:
I’ve mentioned before that Elatsoe is one of those quintessential comfort books for me. There is an almost indescribable quality to the writing that radiates comfort, warmth and whimsy, despite not shying away from heavier subject matter. Sheine Lende, carries forward that same atmosphere through its shared themes. Both stories are essentially about family and generational-love (covering both biological family and found-family alike), and how these connections to our supporting networks can carry us through the darkest of times. The worldbuilding is rooted in Lipan mythology, from an own-voice perspective of the author. I deeply admire how the author manages to honour her culture and history by intertwining threads of generational- and cultural trauma specific to the native America experience, whilst also writing about themes universal enough to be relatable for readers from a variety of backgrounds.
None of this was a surprise of course; I knew full well that Darcie Little Badger was capable of this kind of writing from reading Elatsoe. What díd surprise me was how invested I got in the new cast of characters from page one. I didn’t think Shane would be able to hold a candle to my love and investment in Ellie and Kirby, yet I think I loved both protagonist equally in the end. Ellie and Shane are distinctly different, strong characters, but share a very important quality. They both are strong as individuals because their community allows them to be. They stand on the shoulders of giant and know themselves to be backed by the ghost of the generations that proceeded them. That powerful sense of connection is the backbone to anchor of the story and the beating heart of my love for it.
This is where I’d usually include my “what I didn’t love”-section, but I honestly have no points of critique to give here… Elatsoe did something truly special for me: it’s the kind of book that feels like a strengthening and encouraging hug from a loved one. I didn’t think Sheine Lende, would be able to match that, but it absolutely did, maybe at times even surpassing it! This is a gem of a novel, that I cannot recommend highly enough.
A note on the audio:
This is one of those books where I can't decide whether to recommend the physical book over the audio, or the other way around. I read both, and adored both for different reasons. On the one hand, the physical copy has the benefit of the stunning cover and illustrations by Rovina Cai. On the other hand, the audiobook reflects the nature of spoken-word legacies and storytelling, and Kinsale Drake's exceptional narration and pronounciation of the original Lipan language makes for a truly special experience.
Many thanks to the author and Levine Querido for providing me with (yes, I’ve said it!) my most anticipated ARC of the year. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
If you loved Elatsoe you should definitely pick up Sheine Lende as well! This follows Ellie's grandmother as a teen girl in the 1970's when magic makes her mom and two kids disappear and Shane is on a mission to find them, even if it means a trip to the underworld. It's a slower-paced novel that is as interested in developing the characters and their backgrounds as it is in the search and rescue with mystery elements. It's a lovely, heartfelt story with adventure that expands on the magical world of Elatsoe and integrates the history and culture of the Lipan Apache people. Loved it! I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
If you loved Elatsoe you should definitely pick up Sheine Lende as well! This follows Ellie's grandmother as a teen girl in the 1970's when magic makes her mom and two kids disappear and Shane is on a mission to find them, even if it means a trip to the underworld. It's a slower-paced novel that is as interested in developing the characters and their backgrounds as it is in the search and rescue with mystery elements. It's a lovely, heartfelt story with adventure that expands on the magical world of Elatsoe and integrates the history and culture of the Lipan Apache people. Loved it! I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2024
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I think I liked Elatsoe better though. It was tighter.
The premise was similar, Shane, the teenage MC helps her mother track down missing people with the help of their bloodhounds, one of which . When Shane‘s mother disappears while they are tracking a missing boy, she is the only one who seems to know where they are and how to get them back.
There’s quite a lot of peril in this story, but it stays mild because you know it’s going to turn out alright. There’s also a lot of back story, which adds depth to the character’s and motivation to their actions. Horrible things have happened to Shane, her family and the people around her, but there is a lot of good that happens too and people who are there for one another.
The world Little Badger has created is closely based on our own, except for that the Fae are real (and dangerous) and supernatural things happen quite often. One thing that is the same is that the Native Americans were still treated horrendously. There is a deep sense of loss and sadness as a result. These stories are important.
This book is a prequel to Elatsoe, and tells the story of Elatsoe’s grandmother, Shane. You don’t have to have read Elatsoe to enjoy this book, although there are more explanations for the way magic exists in the book.
One thing I didn’t like in the book, was how suddenly, half way through, we start having long passages in first POV. I’m not convinced that was necessary to the story and was a bit jarring.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for a review. Thank yous to Darcie Little Badger, publisher Levine Querido and NetGalley for providing it.
The premise was similar, Shane, the teenage MC helps her mother track down missing people with the help of their bloodhounds, one of which . When Shane‘s mother disappears while they are tracking a missing boy, she is the only one who seems to know where they are and how to get them back.
There’s quite a lot of peril in this story, but it stays mild because you know it’s going to turn out alright. There’s also a lot of back story, which adds depth to the character’s and motivation to their actions. Horrible things have happened to Shane, her family and the people around her, but there is a lot of good that happens too and people who are there for one another.
The world Little Badger has created is closely based on our own, except for that the Fae are real (and dangerous) and supernatural things happen quite often. One thing that is the same is that the Native Americans were still treated horrendously. There is a deep sense of loss and sadness as a result. These stories are important.
This book is a prequel to Elatsoe, and tells the story of Elatsoe’s grandmother, Shane. You don’t have to have read Elatsoe to enjoy this book, although there are more explanations for the way magic exists in the book.
One thing I didn’t like in the book, was how suddenly, half way through, we start having long passages in first POV. I’m not convinced that was necessary to the story and was a bit jarring.
I received this as an ARC in exchange for a review. Thank yous to Darcie Little Badger, publisher Levine Querido and NetGalley for providing it.
Read
April 30, 2024I LOVED THIS BOOK. LOOOOVED. Yes, more than Elatsoe 🤯. (And no, you don't have to have read that one to enjoy this one.)
Seriously, buy Sheine Lende or request it from your library. It will suck you in, I promise.
It has:
🍄 missing persons
🍄 mysterious fairy rings
🍄 the bestest ghost dog (& ghost bugs!)
🍄 alternate 70s texas with magic
🍄 lipan apache rep AND best of all--
🍄 a satisfying journey w/ a satisfying ending 🙂↕️
It's absolutely going into my top reads of the year list. Thanks for sending me a copy, @levinequerido ! I read this one mostly on my kobo because I had already requested it from my library, but I'm so so happy to now have a hardcover of it sitting on my shelves as well 😘.
Seriously, buy Sheine Lende or request it from your library. It will suck you in, I promise.
It has:
🍄 missing persons
🍄 mysterious fairy rings
🍄 the bestest ghost dog (& ghost bugs!)
🍄 alternate 70s texas with magic
🍄 lipan apache rep AND best of all--
🍄 a satisfying journey w/ a satisfying ending 🙂↕️
It's absolutely going into my top reads of the year list. Thanks for sending me a copy, @levinequerido ! I read this one mostly on my kobo because I had already requested it from my library, but I'm so so happy to now have a hardcover of it sitting on my shelves as well 😘.
November 13, 2024
Shane and her mother have been called to rescue lost people. This time a teenage girl and her younger brother have fallen into a mimic ring. Shane’s mother heads out to find them and leaves Shane to babysit Marcos. But when Lorenza goes missing too, it is up to Shane to save the lost.
January 3, 2024
Darcie Little Badger is the kind of author I wish I was exposed to in my youth. I love her works and will read anything and everything she puts out.
It was nice to be back in the world of Eltasoe and get to know her grandmother, Shane. Little Badger continues to weave in the Lipan Apache culture seamlessly throughout the novel, as she did in Elatsoe.
Sheine Lende at first glance disguises itself as a mystery novel, but it is so much more. It is about individual and collective grief and loss, friendship, culture, community love, support, and keeping hope alive no matter how dire things may seem.
Things I loved:
Sibling love
Friendship love
Community love
Flawed characters
Lipan Apache culture and not shying aways from the harm caused (and continue to cause) to their people on a systemic level, while taking care not to highlight trauma that could cause more trauma.
Nellie
The Below
Some things that may have worked better for me:
We got a lot of internal and external dialogue of Shane telling us her thoughts and what was going on versus showing. Compared to Elatsoe and A Snake Falls from the Sky, this wasn’t as strong for me.
More depth to the Fae, fairy rings, and that world.
Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to Little Badger’s future works.
Thank you to Netgalley and Levine Querido for making this available as an ARC.
It was nice to be back in the world of Eltasoe and get to know her grandmother, Shane. Little Badger continues to weave in the Lipan Apache culture seamlessly throughout the novel, as she did in Elatsoe.
Sheine Lende at first glance disguises itself as a mystery novel, but it is so much more. It is about individual and collective grief and loss, friendship, culture, community love, support, and keeping hope alive no matter how dire things may seem.
Things I loved:
Sibling love
Friendship love
Community love
Flawed characters
Lipan Apache culture and not shying aways from the harm caused (and continue to cause) to their people on a systemic level, while taking care not to highlight trauma that could cause more trauma.
Nellie
The Below
Some things that may have worked better for me:
We got a lot of internal and external dialogue of Shane telling us her thoughts and what was going on versus showing. Compared to Elatsoe and A Snake Falls from the Sky, this wasn’t as strong for me.
More depth to the Fae, fairy rings, and that world.
Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to Little Badger’s future works.
Thank you to Netgalley and Levine Querido for making this available as an ARC.
April 15, 2024
4.5 stars. This is just beautiful.
October 13, 2025
Despite this being a fantasy series, it's the realism of the characters that really makes it shine. I especially appreciate the depiction of complicated family members, like Shane's grandfather.
Darcie Little Badger is also so good at slipping in lines that make me have to stop and stare in the middle distance for a while. I teared up several times.
There are also references to colonialism and Indigenous identity that are so well done, like Shane's little brother crying when he sees the wooly mammoth and his mother reassuring them that they're extinct and him replying, "Like us?" And then the family leaving the museum, walking past the wax figures of Lipan Apache people beside the dinosaur exhibit.
The writing is a little more descriptive than I prefer, which can make it drag at points, but that's the only reason this isn't a five star, and I'll definitely keeping picking up Darcie Little Badger's books.
(P.S., for the Lesbrary readers, there are some sapphic side characters in this one!)
Darcie Little Badger is also so good at slipping in lines that make me have to stop and stare in the middle distance for a while. I teared up several times.
There are also references to colonialism and Indigenous identity that are so well done, like Shane's little brother crying when he sees the wooly mammoth and his mother reassuring them that they're extinct and him replying, "Like us?" And then the family leaving the museum, walking past the wax figures of Lipan Apache people beside the dinosaur exhibit.
The writing is a little more descriptive than I prefer, which can make it drag at points, but that's the only reason this isn't a five star, and I'll definitely keeping picking up Darcie Little Badger's books.
(P.S., for the Lesbrary readers, there are some sapphic side characters in this one!)
August 7, 2024
dr. little badger is doing one extra pushup for every 10 ratings/reviews this week
i read sheine lende earlier this year (in april 2024), and i loved getting to know more about elatsoe's grandmother. this can be read as a standalone.
i loved the mystery and tension of shane's mother's disappearance, of many near-death experiences throughout this story. i loved the familial bond and friendship and community throughout time. it's packed with adventure and suspense, but i think what grounded me the most to the story was the love and support the lipan apache mc (and some scs) have toward each other and their local community.
also if you loved kirby in elatsoe, get ready for nellie (and more!) in sheine lende.
unrelated but please read dr. little badger's new essay on "Return to Kíłááhíí".
i read sheine lende earlier this year (in april 2024), and i loved getting to know more about elatsoe's grandmother. this can be read as a standalone.
i loved the mystery and tension of shane's mother's disappearance, of many near-death experiences throughout this story. i loved the familial bond and friendship and community throughout time. it's packed with adventure and suspense, but i think what grounded me the most to the story was the love and support the lipan apache mc (and some scs) have toward each other and their local community.
also if you loved kirby in elatsoe, get ready for nellie (and more!) in sheine lende.
unrelated but please read dr. little badger's new essay on "Return to Kíłááhíí".
July 19, 2024
Darcie Little Badger is one to watch. That’s what I say to myself anyway, as I pound back endless cups of tea and anyone else reads these words on the internet. But if you are reading these words, then you ought to know Sheine Lende is a fantastic experience all around, just like my experiences with
Elatsoe
and
A Snake Falls to Earth
before it. At every turn, Little Badger crafts a narrative so compelling and compassionate that I’m left satisfied and awestruck.
A prequel to Elatsoe, Sheine Lende is the eponymous story of Elatsoe’s grandmother. Set roughly during the 1970s, I think, the book follows Shane’s quest to rescue her mother. Shane and her mother work as trackers of missing persons, and one day while tracking two missing siblings, Shane’s mom disappears. Shane locates one of the siblings, but the other remains missing, presumably with her mother. Shane has no choice but to work with a ragtag team: her younger brother, the retrieved sibling, her best friend, and her drifter grandfather. Her quest will take her far afield from home, even perhaps into the land of the dead.
As with Elatsoe, this story is set in a world much like ours, except that humanity acknowledges magic—and the fairy realm—exists. Magic isn’t common, however, and aside from some people being able to use fairy rings for long-distance transport, most people who practise it keep it on the down-low. That’s the case for Shane and her mother, who have the ability to summon the spirits of dead animals and even use their ghost dog, Nellie, in their tracking business. Shane and her mother are Lipan Apache, displaced by a rich white man from their ancestral lands, and just getting by. Little Badger expertly conveys Shane’s existence: life with her mother and her little brother is tough sometimes yet also full of love, and Shane, at seventeen, is a mature young woman burgeoning with creativity and ambition.
This is key to the book’s success: Shane is an excellent protagonist. As soon as her mom goes missing, she shifts gear into leader mode. Lots of people older than her—mostly men—doubt her (though shout out to her grandpa and others who eventually cast aside their doubts and get on board). Really, Shane’s best allies are her best friend and her new friend, Donnie—these three young women showcase the power of female friendship (and you can bet I enjoyed the queer vibes as well). Shane is so focused on getting her mom back, and while she has her own moments of self-doubt, it is her grit and her determination that makes her such a formidable figure.
Combine this with Little Badger’s attention to pacing and how to unspool the mystery, and you have yourself an exciting read. Although I felt like the middle third of the book lagged a bit, the intensity of the third act more than makes up for it.
My favourite part was probably the ending, however. I won’t go into spoilers, but basically we get a flashforward to Shane as an older woman (and Elatsoe is there). Shane has been waiting for something for decades. It’s really neat, seeing the older Shane, seeing her reflect back on the adventure we just witnessed. I’ve been thinking a lot lately, as I approach thirty-five, how I’m aging and how I might feel in the decades to come, as I look back at my earlier life. So something about this scene, about seeing an older Shane, really just … hit me. In a good way. Little Badger reminds us that we all grow old—if we are lucky—and there is a beauty inherent in just having lived one’s life.
That’s really what Sheine Lende comes down to. This is a book about the beauty of being human, of building connections to family and friends, of getting angry or sad or distraught and fighting and hugging it out. Of pushing on past what you think are your limits. Of trusting others. This is a fun novel with serious themes (including resisting colonialism), and it’s definitely worth your time.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
A prequel to Elatsoe, Sheine Lende is the eponymous story of Elatsoe’s grandmother. Set roughly during the 1970s, I think, the book follows Shane’s quest to rescue her mother. Shane and her mother work as trackers of missing persons, and one day while tracking two missing siblings, Shane’s mom disappears. Shane locates one of the siblings, but the other remains missing, presumably with her mother. Shane has no choice but to work with a ragtag team: her younger brother, the retrieved sibling, her best friend, and her drifter grandfather. Her quest will take her far afield from home, even perhaps into the land of the dead.
As with Elatsoe, this story is set in a world much like ours, except that humanity acknowledges magic—and the fairy realm—exists. Magic isn’t common, however, and aside from some people being able to use fairy rings for long-distance transport, most people who practise it keep it on the down-low. That’s the case for Shane and her mother, who have the ability to summon the spirits of dead animals and even use their ghost dog, Nellie, in their tracking business. Shane and her mother are Lipan Apache, displaced by a rich white man from their ancestral lands, and just getting by. Little Badger expertly conveys Shane’s existence: life with her mother and her little brother is tough sometimes yet also full of love, and Shane, at seventeen, is a mature young woman burgeoning with creativity and ambition.
This is key to the book’s success: Shane is an excellent protagonist. As soon as her mom goes missing, she shifts gear into leader mode. Lots of people older than her—mostly men—doubt her (though shout out to her grandpa and others who eventually cast aside their doubts and get on board). Really, Shane’s best allies are her best friend and her new friend, Donnie—these three young women showcase the power of female friendship (and you can bet I enjoyed the queer vibes as well). Shane is so focused on getting her mom back, and while she has her own moments of self-doubt, it is her grit and her determination that makes her such a formidable figure.
Combine this with Little Badger’s attention to pacing and how to unspool the mystery, and you have yourself an exciting read. Although I felt like the middle third of the book lagged a bit, the intensity of the third act more than makes up for it.
My favourite part was probably the ending, however. I won’t go into spoilers, but basically we get a flashforward to Shane as an older woman (and Elatsoe is there). Shane has been waiting for something for decades. It’s really neat, seeing the older Shane, seeing her reflect back on the adventure we just witnessed. I’ve been thinking a lot lately, as I approach thirty-five, how I’m aging and how I might feel in the decades to come, as I look back at my earlier life. So something about this scene, about seeing an older Shane, really just … hit me. In a good way. Little Badger reminds us that we all grow old—if we are lucky—and there is a beauty inherent in just having lived one’s life.
That’s really what Sheine Lende comes down to. This is a book about the beauty of being human, of building connections to family and friends, of getting angry or sad or distraught and fighting and hugging it out. Of pushing on past what you think are your limits. Of trusting others. This is a fun novel with serious themes (including resisting colonialism), and it’s definitely worth your time.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
March 30, 2024
I read Elatsoe in 2021 and liked it. Here we go again, the prequel. It is set in the 1970s, focussing on Elatsoe’s grandmother Shane.
Pretty illustrations again above each chapter. Young adult, 12 years and up. I am not a big fan of YA, but this was very readable. Shane is 17 years old and comes across as very mature. There’s no silly romance. It doesn’t feel too strongly like YA.
Themes are loss of identity, community and family. Shane is a Lipan Apache. Her family lost their home in a flood and the community has been scattered. They live in Texas. Her mother works in search-and-rescue, finding lost people with her dogs. She teaches Shane, who goes on searches with her. There is also Shane‘s little brother, Marco. And eventually their grandfather Louis.
This is a world in which magic exists. The women of Shane‘s family can call the ghosts of animals. One of their tracking dogs, Nelly, is her mother‘s old dog, retuned as a ghost. This world knows fae. They are aliens from a different realm, an anomaly in space and time, from different planets, connected to Earth by fairy rings. Vampires are known as well, although we don‘t meet any of them this time around.
Someone is lost. And in the process of finding them, Shane‘s mother is lost as well. It is now up to Shane and her family and friends to figure out what happened and to find her mother.
I am still debating how much I liked the last third of the story. It‘s the most otherworldly part and the resolution seems to be a bit too easy and superficially told. I was missing a deeper look into how it all resolved itself. If that makes sense.
Still, I liked this and I would definitely get any further books in this word and recommend them to others.
PS: yes, there are mammoths on the cover. No, I am not telling you why.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
My review of Elatsoe is here.
Pretty illustrations again above each chapter. Young adult, 12 years and up. I am not a big fan of YA, but this was very readable. Shane is 17 years old and comes across as very mature. There’s no silly romance. It doesn’t feel too strongly like YA.
Themes are loss of identity, community and family. Shane is a Lipan Apache. Her family lost their home in a flood and the community has been scattered. They live in Texas. Her mother works in search-and-rescue, finding lost people with her dogs. She teaches Shane, who goes on searches with her. There is also Shane‘s little brother, Marco. And eventually their grandfather Louis.
This is a world in which magic exists. The women of Shane‘s family can call the ghosts of animals. One of their tracking dogs, Nelly, is her mother‘s old dog, retuned as a ghost. This world knows fae. They are aliens from a different realm, an anomaly in space and time, from different planets, connected to Earth by fairy rings. Vampires are known as well, although we don‘t meet any of them this time around.
Someone is lost. And in the process of finding them, Shane‘s mother is lost as well. It is now up to Shane and her family and friends to figure out what happened and to find her mother.
I am still debating how much I liked the last third of the story. It‘s the most otherworldly part and the resolution seems to be a bit too easy and superficially told. I was missing a deeper look into how it all resolved itself. If that makes sense.
Still, I liked this and I would definitely get any further books in this word and recommend them to others.
PS: yes, there are mammoths on the cover. No, I am not telling you why.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
My review of Elatsoe is here.
June 17, 2025
Coming soon...
May 6, 2024
I have huge respect for Darcie Little Badger as a writer and storyteller - and she was so, so delightful in a webinar I had the pleasure to watch. So it pains me to say that I found Shein Lende's pacing inconsistent, and I caught my attention wandering a little too often. There was something so...loose...about the narrative and the way the characters interacted that I couldn't dig in.
Also, I seem to be the only one thinking this but Sheine Lende gave me strong, older-middle-school vibes rather than YA. Anyone?
Regardless, I look forward to Little Badger's next novel!
Also, I seem to be the only one thinking this but Sheine Lende gave me strong, older-middle-school vibes rather than YA. Anyone?
Regardless, I look forward to Little Badger's next novel!
April 12, 2024
I didn't even know we were getting an Elatsoe prequel until I saw this pop up on netgalley and thank goodness I did because I think I might have liked this even more than Elatsoe, and I LOVED Elatsoe.
So this follows Ellie's grandma Shane as she searches for her mom and a missing boy in the underworld. It does feel a little bit long but in the best way like you get excited every time a new plot development happens because you know you're getting more story if that makes sense. I loved the characters and the representation and the setting. I feel like we get more of an insight into the magic system of both Ellie and Shane's ability to resurrect ghost animals as well as the magic system regarding the mushrooms and fairy rings.
This is technically a prequel but it's listed as number two in a series and I think I can genuinely say it doesn't matter if you read this before or after Elatsoe. You get enough information in this book to understand everything that's going on without having read the first but it also provides really great contacts and information for Elatsoe.
If you can't tell, I loved it and am here for it. Please give me more from Darcie Little Badgers.
Lipan-Apache MC, queer secondary characters.
So this follows Ellie's grandma Shane as she searches for her mom and a missing boy in the underworld. It does feel a little bit long but in the best way like you get excited every time a new plot development happens because you know you're getting more story if that makes sense. I loved the characters and the representation and the setting. I feel like we get more of an insight into the magic system of both Ellie and Shane's ability to resurrect ghost animals as well as the magic system regarding the mushrooms and fairy rings.
This is technically a prequel but it's listed as number two in a series and I think I can genuinely say it doesn't matter if you read this before or after Elatsoe. You get enough information in this book to understand everything that's going on without having read the first but it also provides really great contacts and information for Elatsoe.
If you can't tell, I loved it and am here for it. Please give me more from Darcie Little Badgers.
Lipan-Apache MC, queer secondary characters.
May 14, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This book was so good!! I actually think I liked this one even more than Elatsoe (though A Snake Falls to Earth is still my favourite). I loved being back in this world, and learning more about things from Elatsoe, such as why Ellie's grandmother (who's the MC in Sheine Lende) has a ghost mammoth. Also we get to meet another ghost dog!!
Friendships are so important to me in books, and this one had such amazing friendships, both old and new. There is also a big focus on family, and on what's it like being Native American. Shane has such a heartbreaking story. I'm really glad the book has a happy ending though (well as happy as it can be).
Finally, Sheine Lende is a prequel to Elatsoe, but having read both of them I can say that the order they're read in doesn't really matter. I definitely recommend both of them, and I will be reading anything Darcie Little Badger publishes in the future!
Rep: Lipan-Apache MC and SCs, sapphic SCs
This book was so good!! I actually think I liked this one even more than Elatsoe (though A Snake Falls to Earth is still my favourite). I loved being back in this world, and learning more about things from Elatsoe, such as why Ellie's grandmother (who's the MC in Sheine Lende) has a ghost mammoth. Also we get to meet another ghost dog!!
Friendships are so important to me in books, and this one had such amazing friendships, both old and new. There is also a big focus on family, and on what's it like being Native American. Shane has such a heartbreaking story. I'm really glad the book has a happy ending though (well as happy as it can be).
Finally, Sheine Lende is a prequel to Elatsoe, but having read both of them I can say that the order they're read in doesn't really matter. I definitely recommend both of them, and I will be reading anything Darcie Little Badger publishes in the future!
Rep: Lipan-Apache MC and SCs, sapphic SCs
August 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. It was a beautiful, whimsical tale based on the indigenous lore of the Lipan Apache tribe.
Elatsoe was SO good, so of course, I wanted to know more about Grandma Shane. I loved Elatsoe's ability to communicate with animals and her adventure.
This one felt deeper and richer in that so much was acceptable, such as with the mushroom rings for travel and the way that Darcie Little Badger wrote this showed growth and strength in her talent as an author. I really can't wait to see what she delivers next.
A scene that stood out starkly to me was when everyone was getting sick from unsanitary water after a flood, and the question is asked
"What did we do now?" and trying to find a reason how it can be tied back to some guilt of a past misdeed
But the response "Nothing. Tragedies aren't punishments."
And I think a lot of us still have that kind of religious guilt of being punished for action or inaction, but really, it is just a tragedy and not a punishment. Sometimes bad things just happen, and it's not a karmic reaction or a punishment.
4.5 Stars rounded up.
Elatsoe was SO good, so of course, I wanted to know more about Grandma Shane. I loved Elatsoe's ability to communicate with animals and her adventure.
This one felt deeper and richer in that so much was acceptable, such as with the mushroom rings for travel and the way that Darcie Little Badger wrote this showed growth and strength in her talent as an author. I really can't wait to see what she delivers next.
A scene that stood out starkly to me was when everyone was getting sick from unsanitary water after a flood, and the question is asked
"What did we do now?" and trying to find a reason how it can be tied back to some guilt of a past misdeed
But the response "Nothing. Tragedies aren't punishments."
And I think a lot of us still have that kind of religious guilt of being punished for action or inaction, but really, it is just a tragedy and not a punishment. Sometimes bad things just happen, and it's not a karmic reaction or a punishment.
4.5 Stars rounded up.
December 2, 2024
I’m so devastated about this 😔
I’ve absolutely loved both of Darcie Little Badger’s previous two books. In fact, Elatsoe was my favorite read of the year and is still one of my all time favorites. I was so excited to reenter that world and especially to meet the beloved Wooly Mammoth we heard about from there. Unfortunately, this just really fell flat for me. There was not nearly as much action or intricate, lovable characters as her previous two works. This book was just very boring in comparison. I’m so bummed that I didn’t love this more. I was especially sad to see the famed Wooly Mammoth didn’t have a larger role. 🦣🤷♀️
I’ve absolutely loved both of Darcie Little Badger’s previous two books. In fact, Elatsoe was my favorite read of the year and is still one of my all time favorites. I was so excited to reenter that world and especially to meet the beloved Wooly Mammoth we heard about from there. Unfortunately, this just really fell flat for me. There was not nearly as much action or intricate, lovable characters as her previous two works. This book was just very boring in comparison. I’m so bummed that I didn’t love this more. I was especially sad to see the famed Wooly Mammoth didn’t have a larger role. 🦣🤷♀️
September 16, 2024
That ending. Chills. Crying. Little Badger knows how to tie up every loose end in her books. The final twist with the mom was both satisfying and heartbreaking. Every part of the story culminates in such meaningful ways. Human heart and ethical messages. One of the greatest writers of plot and theme of our time. Studios should be BEGGING her for film rights!!!!!
November 7, 2024
Ugh this pains me because I love Little Badger's novels, but this is definitely my least favorite of the three I've read. The dialogue at times dragged on. I never fully got invested in the characters. But I did like how the author brought in stories of the land and Lipan histories. I think this is one of my favorite aspects of her books.
November 16, 2024
[ 4.5/5 stars ]
1970s Texas - a Lipan Apache teen (Shane) works with her mother and their hunter ghost dogs tracking down missing persons even when their families can't afford to pay. When Shane's mother disappears on a rescue mission, Shane is on her own rescue mission, alongside her estranged grandparent.
I haven't read a wholesome story for a while and SHEINE LENDE warmed my heart in all the ways. With detective vibes, the plot is filled with enticing adventures and some dose of danger - Badger seamlessly interweaves Apache tales and magical elements (such as fairy wings and realm), adding layers of singularity and flavor to the narrative. The author delivers a brave and smart main character wonderfully supported by well-crafted side characters, whose personal stories anchored by land and ancestors one easily cherishes.
With fluid prose, Badger examines family, displacement, grief, trauma and death with much humanity, emotionally amplified by the incorporation of nature that has its own personality. Highly imaginative and affectionately written, this book reveals the stories we tell ourselves and the memories we need to keep us alive, in the way one is able to change the past/future.
SHEINE LENDE is a precious world populated by precious characters. It's my first Badger and I need to read 'Elatsoe' as soon as possible.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Levine Querido . All thoughts are my own ]
1970s Texas - a Lipan Apache teen (Shane) works with her mother and their hunter ghost dogs tracking down missing persons even when their families can't afford to pay. When Shane's mother disappears on a rescue mission, Shane is on her own rescue mission, alongside her estranged grandparent.
I haven't read a wholesome story for a while and SHEINE LENDE warmed my heart in all the ways. With detective vibes, the plot is filled with enticing adventures and some dose of danger - Badger seamlessly interweaves Apache tales and magical elements (such as fairy wings and realm), adding layers of singularity and flavor to the narrative. The author delivers a brave and smart main character wonderfully supported by well-crafted side characters, whose personal stories anchored by land and ancestors one easily cherishes.
With fluid prose, Badger examines family, displacement, grief, trauma and death with much humanity, emotionally amplified by the incorporation of nature that has its own personality. Highly imaginative and affectionately written, this book reveals the stories we tell ourselves and the memories we need to keep us alive, in the way one is able to change the past/future.
SHEINE LENDE is a precious world populated by precious characters. It's my first Badger and I need to read 'Elatsoe' as soon as possible.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Levine Querido . All thoughts are my own ]
January 9, 2024
Thank you to Levine Querido for providing a free digital copy to review via NetGalley.
Sheine Lende is a prerquel to Elatsoe, centering on Ellie's grandmother when she was a teenager. Shane is a tracker, who was trained by her mom. One day, her mom goes missing and Shane must find her with the help of her family and new found friends.
Despite the high stakes of the story, I found the first half to be quite slow paced. It was worth taking my time with and I found the second half to be more compelling. The storytelling within the novel created any layers and nuance to the characters and plot. I especially enjoyed the few chapters in first person in contrast to the ones in third, as they felt more emotional.
Another aspect I enjoyed was how the conflict in the story arose very natually from the circumstances of the characters' lives and how they were well equipped for their journey. This adds a level of believability that many speculative stories can lack and for me, raises the stakes, due to the reality mixed in with ther fantastical.
The ending was incredibly satisfying and very rewarding.
This is the third novel I have read by Little Badger and I am always excited to return to her work. Her signature writing style remains beautiful, the much needed focus on familial and platonic relationships was present, as well as poignant themes of colonialism. Little Badger manages to have a distinct style, while each of her works functioning as its own distinct story. I am excited to see what she has in store for us next!
Sheine Lende is a prerquel to Elatsoe, centering on Ellie's grandmother when she was a teenager. Shane is a tracker, who was trained by her mom. One day, her mom goes missing and Shane must find her with the help of her family and new found friends.
Despite the high stakes of the story, I found the first half to be quite slow paced. It was worth taking my time with and I found the second half to be more compelling. The storytelling within the novel created any layers and nuance to the characters and plot. I especially enjoyed the few chapters in first person in contrast to the ones in third, as they felt more emotional.
Another aspect I enjoyed was how the conflict in the story arose very natually from the circumstances of the characters' lives and how they were well equipped for their journey. This adds a level of believability that many speculative stories can lack and for me, raises the stakes, due to the reality mixed in with ther fantastical.
The ending was incredibly satisfying and very rewarding.
This is the third novel I have read by Little Badger and I am always excited to return to her work. Her signature writing style remains beautiful, the much needed focus on familial and platonic relationships was present, as well as poignant themes of colonialism. Little Badger manages to have a distinct style, while each of her works functioning as its own distinct story. I am excited to see what she has in store for us next!
March 19, 2024
What a FANTASTIC prequel to Elatsoe. There was just so much about this book that was so great and so well done. I definitely intend to read all of Darcie Little Badger's works.
November 2, 2024
Darcie Little Badger is incredible as always. While I feel like this one was a touch too long, I absolutely loved the ending to this book.
January 30, 2025
Liked it even more than Elatsoe! What happened to the dude with the owl eyes from the beginning though
May 12, 2024
Oh, this was a delightful and moving story that makes an excellent prequel to Elatsoe, one of my favorite YA novels. I am grateful to Levine Querido and Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
My thoughts:
🐕 It lives up to the high expectations that Elatsoe set. A banger of a storyline, an interesting cast of characters to root for, and a satisfying conclusion.
🦣 Our main character, Shane, is easy to become invested in and I appreciated her badassery and wisdom, already at such a young age. Her backstory is gradually revealed as the story progresses, fleshing out her character.
🌻 The side characters are endearing and fun, and they build toward found family.
🌵The folkloric magic conjours creative imagery while also being grounded in the traditions and history of Shane's indigenous heritage, specifically Lipan Apache.
🌲The exploration of generational trauma of indigenous people - and finding the strength to subvert oppression - is impactful and drives aspects of the plot.
🏞 While this is a Young Adult novel, age is no barrier to enjoying this story.
🦋 You don't necessarily need to read Elatsoe first to enjoy this (it's a prequel after all).
🎨 The illustrations by Rovina Cai are beautiful and meaningful.
Highly recommend this for fans of Elatsoe, YA, magical realism, spirit creatures, characters you love to root for, and exploring other realms.
My thoughts:
🐕 It lives up to the high expectations that Elatsoe set. A banger of a storyline, an interesting cast of characters to root for, and a satisfying conclusion.
🦣 Our main character, Shane, is easy to become invested in and I appreciated her badassery and wisdom, already at such a young age. Her backstory is gradually revealed as the story progresses, fleshing out her character.
🌻 The side characters are endearing and fun, and they build toward found family.
🌵The folkloric magic conjours creative imagery while also being grounded in the traditions and history of Shane's indigenous heritage, specifically Lipan Apache.
🌲The exploration of generational trauma of indigenous people - and finding the strength to subvert oppression - is impactful and drives aspects of the plot.
🏞 While this is a Young Adult novel, age is no barrier to enjoying this story.
🦋 You don't necessarily need to read Elatsoe first to enjoy this (it's a prequel after all).
🎨 The illustrations by Rovina Cai are beautiful and meaningful.
Highly recommend this for fans of Elatsoe, YA, magical realism, spirit creatures, characters you love to root for, and exploring other realms.
February 12, 2024
This was a nice return to the world of Elatsoe! Sheine Lende takes us back in time to the teenage years of Elatsoe's titular ancestor that goes by Shane most of the time. With her mother and their dogs, including ghost best boy Nellie, Shane tracks down missing people - until her mother herself disappears while tracking down two missing siblings.
The world is, once again, imaginative and intriguing and I really enjoyed revisiting it. Shane is a good protagonist, too. I did feel like the novel suffered from pacing issues, and the writing in general is rather heavy on the dialogue so I was at times admittedly a bit bored. The side characters weren't entirely fleshed out and there were some plot elements introduced that seemed to go nowhere in the end, like, for example, Shane's relationship with her grandfather. I also felt that the world building, as intriguing as the bits and pieces were, was lacking and made it hard for me to imagine all these things the author kept weaving into the plot.
So in the end, it's a solid novel for fans of Elatsoe that expands on its world by diving into the past, and it's enjoyable for what it is. It's also nothing more than that.
Many thanks to Levine Querido and Netgalley for the arc!
The world is, once again, imaginative and intriguing and I really enjoyed revisiting it. Shane is a good protagonist, too. I did feel like the novel suffered from pacing issues, and the writing in general is rather heavy on the dialogue so I was at times admittedly a bit bored. The side characters weren't entirely fleshed out and there were some plot elements introduced that seemed to go nowhere in the end, like, for example, Shane's relationship with her grandfather. I also felt that the world building, as intriguing as the bits and pieces were, was lacking and made it hard for me to imagine all these things the author kept weaving into the plot.
So in the end, it's a solid novel for fans of Elatsoe that expands on its world by diving into the past, and it's enjoyable for what it is. It's also nothing more than that.
Many thanks to Levine Querido and Netgalley for the arc!
June 21, 2024
If you liked the first one, you will like this one, too!
March 16, 2024
I loved Elatsoe, so I knew I needed to get my hands on this book. This lived up to my expectations and then some. I love a good adventure book, and this was definitely that. Also, kudos for Shane bringing Marcos along with her, because too many books like to leave little kids home, while the big kids go off on missions to save the world. I think it worked very well with some of the messages we get from this book, especially surrounding family and culture and traditions and how important they are to pass on to the generations after you.
The last chapter and the epilogue were obviously my favourite parts, and I think anyone who reads this will enjoy those two chapters. They were very satisfying and heartwarming and concluded this story perfectly.
The last chapter and the epilogue were obviously my favourite parts, and I think anyone who reads this will enjoy those two chapters. They were very satisfying and heartwarming and concluded this story perfectly.
April 14, 2024
A story about families, histories, and how we envision "home". I was really excited to learn that Elatsoe was getting a prequel, and after reading Sheine Lende, I am hoping that there will continue to be more books in this series. This story follows Ellie's grandmother Shane on an adventure of her own. I appreciated that although there were some overlapping themes, the storylines felt very distinct. While Elatsoe has a strong mystery element, Sheine Lende is more a journey than a puzzle, and focuses very heavily on the telling of stories and histories. I don't think you would need to have read Elatsoe to enjoy Sheine Lende, but there are some nice links to Ellie's story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.
March 25, 2024
I read the ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
I think I appreciated this prequel more than I did Elatsoe (which I also liked, just didn't quite gel with) - the characters still feel written younger than their age (style-wise, voice-wise, not maturity-wise), but the narration worked a little better (and the suggestion that this is a story told to a younger sibling could actually account for the younger feel) and the conclusion was so satisfying, both as a balancing of the scales and as a beautifully executed plot-twist.
Sign me up for the third book with a ghost cat.
I think I appreciated this prequel more than I did Elatsoe (which I also liked, just didn't quite gel with) - the characters still feel written younger than their age (style-wise, voice-wise, not maturity-wise), but the narration worked a little better (and the suggestion that this is a story told to a younger sibling could actually account for the younger feel) and the conclusion was so satisfying, both as a balancing of the scales and as a beautifully executed plot-twist.
Sign me up for the third book with a ghost cat.
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