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A Snake Falls to Earth
Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories.
Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.
Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries.
And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.
Darcie Little Badger introduced herself to the world with Elatsoe. In A Snake Falls to Earth, she draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.
Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.
Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries.
And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.
Darcie Little Badger introduced herself to the world with Elatsoe. In A Snake Falls to Earth, she draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2021
1978 people are currently reading
21802 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 1,984 reviews
December 1, 2021
IT WAS SO GOOD
November 18, 2022
Second story I've read by Darcie Little Badger. I enjoyed this one as much a Elatsoe. This was a Lipan Apache storytelling involving sprit people. using two intertying storylines on the cottonmouth snake and a young teenage Lipan girl. As you can guess i was enthralled by oli the cottonmouth snake, his friends the coyote twins and silent toad best friend. Oli was a good character. The coyotes twins were funny. Their world was inventive and interesting. As in Elatsoe, Nina's world is surround by family values. she is the link on our side of the world. at first i was distracted by her excerpts but came around. her world is complete with worries about grandma and translating great grandma language. i will say i was amazed by how modern the tale was giving the ancient sprit people content.
November 21, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
You should know that A Snake Falls to Earth is a very different book from Elatsoe. Both draw on Lipan Apache culture and mythology, but the structure and type of story here is quite different. While there is an overarching plot, a lot of it is made up of a series of vignettes set in the parallel world of the animal people.
Nina is a Lipan Apache teen girl trying to translate a story she recorded from her great-grandmother in her native language. Meanwhile Oli is a cottonmouth snake who can shapeshift, seeking his place in the world. Their stories run parallel until they ultimately intersect. There was a lot that I loved about this- strong family relationships, friendship, many charming animal side characters, and two individuals trying to figure out how their identities fit into the worlds they inhabit. The pacing isn't traditional so you do have to take your time with it. It's worth noting here that Nina is asexual, but it's not a big part of the narrative, more a casual piece of who she is and how she moves through the world.
Where it didn't quite work for me was how convoluted Nina's story became, especially leading to the ending. There was just so much going on in the story already that throwing in some of those added plot points late in the game felt like too much. I see some reviewers talking about how this is a slower book, and it is. That's not for everyone, but I wish it had just leaned into that throughout rather than trying to make things suddenly so dramatic at the end. Your mileage on this is going to vary, but even though some elements didn't quite work for me I'm glad I read it and do think it's worth your time! The audio narration is very good as well. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
You should know that A Snake Falls to Earth is a very different book from Elatsoe. Both draw on Lipan Apache culture and mythology, but the structure and type of story here is quite different. While there is an overarching plot, a lot of it is made up of a series of vignettes set in the parallel world of the animal people.
Nina is a Lipan Apache teen girl trying to translate a story she recorded from her great-grandmother in her native language. Meanwhile Oli is a cottonmouth snake who can shapeshift, seeking his place in the world. Their stories run parallel until they ultimately intersect. There was a lot that I loved about this- strong family relationships, friendship, many charming animal side characters, and two individuals trying to figure out how their identities fit into the worlds they inhabit. The pacing isn't traditional so you do have to take your time with it. It's worth noting here that Nina is asexual, but it's not a big part of the narrative, more a casual piece of who she is and how she moves through the world.
Where it didn't quite work for me was how convoluted Nina's story became, especially leading to the ending. There was just so much going on in the story already that throwing in some of those added plot points late in the game felt like too much. I see some reviewers talking about how this is a slower book, and it is. That's not for everyone, but I wish it had just leaned into that throughout rather than trying to make things suddenly so dramatic at the end. Your mileage on this is going to vary, but even though some elements didn't quite work for me I'm glad I read it and do think it's worth your time! The audio narration is very good as well. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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September 9, 2022DNF @28%. Just notttt for me
November 12, 2021
This book is masterful. I think I really had to finish it in order to see it that way because there were moments when reading it where I couldn't figure out where was going, but as a whole finished book, it is full of intensely interesting Indigenous storytelling and a wealth of characters who you want to continuously root for.
I will preface my review by saying that you really have to commit to this book. You have to give it the time that it deserves to sink in how important it is. Be patient and just allow it to exist and allow it to weave you this complex multifaceted story about an indigenous girl on the hunt to figure out her great-grandmother's story and simultaneously tell you a story about a cottonmouth animal person navigating his way through being on his own and finding his way.
So the formatting of this book is a little bit strange and I received a copy from NetGalley as an audiobook and so I'm not sure how this translates into a physical copy, but the chapters are very long and there isn't really a rhyme or reason as to why perspectives switch until like the last 10 chapters. The first chapter is from the perspective of young Nina, who is waiting at the hospital bed of her great-grandmother and trying to connect with her. A great grandmother doesn't speak a lot of English and she tells Nina a Lipan story that gets mistranslated through Nina's translation app. When her great grandmother dies, Nina becomes committed to really translating that story and figuring out what it all means we'll also trying to figure out why her grandma potentially has magic on her land.
After you learn a little bit about Nina, it jumps into another point of view from a character named Oli. Oli is an animal person, a cottonmouth snake, and he is being pushed from the nest. He has to go out on his own and learn how to survive in his world. He has some misadventures and some dramatic run-ins but there's also a rag tag little found family element that comes into play and I don't want to give you too many details but just a little teaser that that exists.
This book is all about trying to figure out how these two worlds are connected and why we're getting perspectives from an indigenous girl on Earth and cottonmouth snake person in a seemingly alternate earth.
I think that if you go into this with an open mind and a patient heart you will be rewarded with an exceptional story. Highly recommend this one. The audio is pretty good it has multiple narrators and each narrator really commits to doing a whole range of voices for all the multitudes of characters.
Asexual MC: It is mentioned that Nina is asexual but it's not really a part of the story. There's no romantic subplot at all which was refreshing as hell and Nina's sexuality is only mentioned in passing about being the only other ace.
I will preface my review by saying that you really have to commit to this book. You have to give it the time that it deserves to sink in how important it is. Be patient and just allow it to exist and allow it to weave you this complex multifaceted story about an indigenous girl on the hunt to figure out her great-grandmother's story and simultaneously tell you a story about a cottonmouth animal person navigating his way through being on his own and finding his way.
So the formatting of this book is a little bit strange and I received a copy from NetGalley as an audiobook and so I'm not sure how this translates into a physical copy, but the chapters are very long and there isn't really a rhyme or reason as to why perspectives switch until like the last 10 chapters. The first chapter is from the perspective of young Nina, who is waiting at the hospital bed of her great-grandmother and trying to connect with her. A great grandmother doesn't speak a lot of English and she tells Nina a Lipan story that gets mistranslated through Nina's translation app. When her great grandmother dies, Nina becomes committed to really translating that story and figuring out what it all means we'll also trying to figure out why her grandma potentially has magic on her land.
After you learn a little bit about Nina, it jumps into another point of view from a character named Oli. Oli is an animal person, a cottonmouth snake, and he is being pushed from the nest. He has to go out on his own and learn how to survive in his world. He has some misadventures and some dramatic run-ins but there's also a rag tag little found family element that comes into play and I don't want to give you too many details but just a little teaser that that exists.
This book is all about trying to figure out how these two worlds are connected and why we're getting perspectives from an indigenous girl on Earth and cottonmouth snake person in a seemingly alternate earth.
I think that if you go into this with an open mind and a patient heart you will be rewarded with an exceptional story. Highly recommend this one. The audio is pretty good it has multiple narrators and each narrator really commits to doing a whole range of voices for all the multitudes of characters.
Asexual MC: It is mentioned that Nina is asexual but it's not really a part of the story. There's no romantic subplot at all which was refreshing as hell and Nina's sexuality is only mentioned in passing about being the only other ace.
December 25, 2021
A disappointing follow-up to the terrific Elatsoe. While keeping many of the same elements and wonderful cultural concepts of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, this book splits itself between chapters narrated in the third person about a teen girl in our world and in the first person by a young cottonmouth snake shapeshifter in the realm of animal spirits, and unfortunately the two storylines don't really come together until over halfway through the book. All the prep for that collision is just too slow and dull.
The characters are likable and things do pick up for the finale, but it leaves way too many loose ends. A sequel might actually be better if it can dispense with all the minutia of world building and character introductions and simply get to some adventuring. Or maybe just spin the adorable coyote sisters off into their own book, and let them have all the fun they want to have.
The characters are likable and things do pick up for the finale, but it leaves way too many loose ends. A sequel might actually be better if it can dispense with all the minutia of world building and character introductions and simply get to some adventuring. Or maybe just spin the adorable coyote sisters off into their own book, and let them have all the fun they want to have.
Want to read
August 5, 2021Elatsoe was one of the loveliest literary surprises of 2020 (it's SO GOOD and WEIRD and the our-world-altered worldbuilding is my FAVORITE THING) and now this follow-up is one of my most anticipated of the year.
August 26, 2022
This book came to my attention because it has been nominated for the inaugural Ursula K. Le Guin Prize. It certainly shares a connection to one of my favorite Le Guin stories — “Buffalo Gals, Won’t You Come Out Tonight” — by populating its pages with magical, mythical characters who are both animals and people. However, Little Badger doesn’t come close to infusing her novel with the depths of wisdom, ideas, and emotional richness that Le Guin was so skilled at doing.
I was impressed by Little Badger’s warmly crafted characters, her affectionate approach to creating believably loving friendships, and by her regard for the importance of families keeping stories alive across generations. I wished that all of that goodwill could have wound up being supported by a tighter story, one whose structure allowed for tension and catharsis and earned outcomes.
This is another example for me of a novel that’s written by a writer with really good, noble, and generous-of-heart intentions but that falls far short of working as the kind of compelling story it could have been.
I was impressed by Little Badger’s warmly crafted characters, her affectionate approach to creating believably loving friendships, and by her regard for the importance of families keeping stories alive across generations. I wished that all of that goodwill could have wound up being supported by a tighter story, one whose structure allowed for tension and catharsis and earned outcomes.
This is another example for me of a novel that’s written by a writer with really good, noble, and generous-of-heart intentions but that falls far short of working as the kind of compelling story it could have been.
November 8, 2022
This is a story told from two points of view. Two mirroring points of view that are only reunited within a folktale; the tale that Nina’s Great-Great Grandmother once told but that no one understand.
On Earth, Nina grows up. And like her great-great grandmother, she likes to tell her stories. Her own stories. But she doesn’t tell those stories around the fire but on a popular app. As she writes, she also works on translating the never understood tale of grandma Nina, struggling to find the right words and meanings.
In the Reflecting World, the land of spirits and monsters, Oli, a cottonmouth snake person, is cast from home to live on his own. He soon gets lost but then befriends a toad, a hawk, and two coyote sisters.
What follows is a recount of both Oli and Nina as they move in their worlds, not knowing the other one exists until a catastrophic event on Earth, and the strange sickness that befalls both Oli’s best friend and Nina’s grandma, drives their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. Both characters encounter the inexplicable, either as an event or as mysterious animal people. Their experiences seem to mirror each other, and so does their behavior, with each of them recognizing that empathy doesn’t require of having all the answers, and that wise decisions are most often taken with empathy and responsibility as guides.
One of the most remarkable things in this book is the narrative itself. The way in which the story is told so that it reflects both, a rather common YA book structure (for Nina) while also capturing the essence of oral traditions (for Oli). These contrasting narrative strategies, and the final narrative form, serve to transport us between worlds as the story moves along, but also to fully solidifying the dual core of the story.
Interestingly, Oli’s story neither begins at the beginning, nor ends at the end. His, it’s a fragmented path where each piece, each moment, works as a story all in itself. This narrative strategy is one that directly connects this book with the Lipan Apache storytelling tradition, further integrating the indigenous myths that inspired this novel.
Little Badger jumps between Oli and Nina, between first and third person, between mainstream and traditional narratives, with ease. It’s the ease of these jumps that gives coherence to the narrative, so it flows along seamlessly -effortlessly- giving the act structure the opportunity to play as a new character, redefining the most significant points in the plot.
Aimed at a middle-grade audience, this book is rich enough to appeal to YA readers, and in general to anyone interested in reading something that feels fresh while also old and comforting.
On Earth, Nina grows up. And like her great-great grandmother, she likes to tell her stories. Her own stories. But she doesn’t tell those stories around the fire but on a popular app. As she writes, she also works on translating the never understood tale of grandma Nina, struggling to find the right words and meanings.
In the Reflecting World, the land of spirits and monsters, Oli, a cottonmouth snake person, is cast from home to live on his own. He soon gets lost but then befriends a toad, a hawk, and two coyote sisters.
What follows is a recount of both Oli and Nina as they move in their worlds, not knowing the other one exists until a catastrophic event on Earth, and the strange sickness that befalls both Oli’s best friend and Nina’s grandma, drives their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. Both characters encounter the inexplicable, either as an event or as mysterious animal people. Their experiences seem to mirror each other, and so does their behavior, with each of them recognizing that empathy doesn’t require of having all the answers, and that wise decisions are most often taken with empathy and responsibility as guides.
One of the most remarkable things in this book is the narrative itself. The way in which the story is told so that it reflects both, a rather common YA book structure (for Nina) while also capturing the essence of oral traditions (for Oli). These contrasting narrative strategies, and the final narrative form, serve to transport us between worlds as the story moves along, but also to fully solidifying the dual core of the story.
Interestingly, Oli’s story neither begins at the beginning, nor ends at the end. His, it’s a fragmented path where each piece, each moment, works as a story all in itself. This narrative strategy is one that directly connects this book with the Lipan Apache storytelling tradition, further integrating the indigenous myths that inspired this novel.
Little Badger jumps between Oli and Nina, between first and third person, between mainstream and traditional narratives, with ease. It’s the ease of these jumps that gives coherence to the narrative, so it flows along seamlessly -effortlessly- giving the act structure the opportunity to play as a new character, redefining the most significant points in the plot.
Aimed at a middle-grade audience, this book is rich enough to appeal to YA readers, and in general to anyone interested in reading something that feels fresh while also old and comforting.
February 16, 2022
I finished this a few days ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about the ending. I'm not sure why but the book has stayed with me in a way most books don't. It was a story that felt unique and intriguing but I didn't know when I finished it that it had done such impact.
December 24, 2021
2.5 stars
Things I liked
- the family dynamics were fantastic
- the way Nina wanted to carry on the traditional oral storytelling
-the world building and incorporation of lipan Apache beliefs
- casual ace rep
the general writing style, which was super fun and whimsical
Things I struggled with
- the pacing. The main characters didn’t even meet until 60% of the way through and the dynamic between Nina and the others really suffered because of it. I would have rather had Oli’s team be assembled much quicker and then have everybody be able to bond in our world. As a result, there were times when the story really dragged
- the book tried to do too much in 350 pages. There were three big things the characters needed to achieve by the end, but I wished they had stuck to like two. The plot lines wrapped up to easily and nightmare king’s henchman just seemed so one dimensional.
- this one didn’t necessarily impact my enjoyment of the story, but the characters read like they were maybe 11-12 years old instead of their actual ages which were 15-16
Things I liked
- the family dynamics were fantastic
- the way Nina wanted to carry on the traditional oral storytelling
-the world building and incorporation of lipan Apache beliefs
- casual ace rep
the general writing style, which was super fun and whimsical
Things I struggled with
- the pacing. The main characters didn’t even meet until 60% of the way through and the dynamic between Nina and the others really suffered because of it. I would have rather had Oli’s team be assembled much quicker and then have everybody be able to bond in our world. As a result, there were times when the story really dragged
- the book tried to do too much in 350 pages. There were three big things the characters needed to achieve by the end, but I wished they had stuck to like two. The plot lines wrapped up to easily and nightmare king’s henchman just seemed so one dimensional.
- this one didn’t necessarily impact my enjoyment of the story, but the characters read like they were maybe 11-12 years old instead of their actual ages which were 15-16
February 27, 2023
This is a tender, soft story that was comforting and thought-provoking - although a little dragging and meandering in places.
Don't get me wrong, I like slow, slice-of-life kind of books. But I like my pacing to be a little more consistent, and here, I would have preferred the two storylines to come together a little earlier.
Because I loved the interactions between Òli and Nina and all the animal people in the human world.
I also really enjoyed the adventure with its underlying themes of climate change, extinction, and protection of the animal world.
As always, Darcie Littlebadger writes wonderful family relationships - supportive, realistic, and important to the protagonist.
I also loved the friendships between the animal people, but as I said, the first half of the book could have been a little shortened, in my opinion.
It's still a solid book, but I didn't love it as much as I did Elatsoe.
Don't get me wrong, I like slow, slice-of-life kind of books. But I like my pacing to be a little more consistent, and here, I would have preferred the two storylines to come together a little earlier.
Because I loved the interactions between Òli and Nina and all the animal people in the human world.
I also really enjoyed the adventure with its underlying themes of climate change, extinction, and protection of the animal world.
As always, Darcie Littlebadger writes wonderful family relationships - supportive, realistic, and important to the protagonist.
I also loved the friendships between the animal people, but as I said, the first half of the book could have been a little shortened, in my opinion.
It's still a solid book, but I didn't love it as much as I did Elatsoe.
February 26, 2022
Delightful!
April 16, 2025
Absolutely adored this book. It was such a beautifully descriptive journey from beginning to end. It made me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy but also gave me pause and had me asking myself about the state of our world and how I could play my part in making it better. Just a lovely novel that I'd recommend to anyone who loves young adult adventures.
February 8, 2022
I really enjoyed reading Elatsoe last year and this was a bit more challenging for me, a lot of world building to maintain two storylines in two worlds - one is our world but with ever increasing climate change based disaster looming; the other is a world where animals easily shift into human form and occasionally can travel to our world. Anna is a young human trying to make sense of her great grandmother's deathbed recordings and Oli is a snake kicked out of the nest and trying to survive along a river.
Darcie Little Badger writes from her influences - Lipan Apache background and the education of an Earth Scientist - both worlds are present here.
I read this because the Book Cougars picked it for their first readalong of 2022.
Darcie Little Badger writes from her influences - Lipan Apache background and the education of an Earth Scientist - both worlds are present here.
I read this because the Book Cougars picked it for their first readalong of 2022.
February 17, 2022
This was really well written and the way the entire story is structured and slowly doles out little life lessons is such a breath of fresh air. I feel like this book should be a must read for families who read together. I really enjoyed the characters and the world view alongside the pacing and tackling something like climate change.
The emphasis on storytelling and how central it is to unraveling the plot is absolute genius as well.
New auto buy author? Absolutely.
The emphasis on storytelling and how central it is to unraveling the plot is absolute genius as well.
New auto buy author? Absolutely.
November 24, 2021
I had both an advance reading AND an advance listening copy of this new book (yay being a librarian!), so I moved between both depending on what I was doing. I listened on the L or while walking to and from work or while doing chores; I read while hanging out at home or on my lunch breaks. I'm still not sure which I prefer. I loved the dual voices from the audio -- both narrators are fantastic--but I take in less details while listening than I do reading. I highly recommend the book in both formats.
I've also realized I have a tendency to not write reviews for books I enjoyed a lot because I get overwhelmed wanting to do them justice, and then weeks and years pass and I never wrote anything, so I'm going to start combating that by writing without worrying (is it possible!?), doing lists, Novelist appeal factors (yes, still librarian), and not editing myself.
I loved Elatsoe but this is not that book, though I do think Nina and Ellie share some strong traits. I think they would hang. This has more of an epic feel, more like a fable than the quirky, dark murder mystery of Elatsoe (this doesn't moralize but it does have messages about environmental consciousness, compassion for all living creatures, and honoring your history). The pacing is slow-ish, deliberately so, with dual wandering storylines and an interwoven storytelling structure. The characters are authentic and distinct and the way they all come together from these two worlds--the "real" world and the Reflecting world--is like watching a bunch of like-minded strangers turn into a family.
Oli, the cottonmouth kid from the Reflecting World, is a dear. Just a cinnamon roll, to use Internet speak. Nina is eager to learn and has a keen sense of justice. Both of them are a little naïve and learn some hard lessons. My favorite character is a somewhat amoral trickster bird from the Reflecting World, who seems to be looking for a place to belong but going about it all wrong, but like, in a delightful way.
Storyline: Character-driven, intricately-plotted, nonlinear
Pace: Leisurely
Tone: Hopeful, reflective
Representation: Lipan Apache, ace
Writing Style: dual narrators, unpretentious, folkloric (is that a thing?)
Themes: identity, coming of age, family legacy, importance of stories, found families, language reclamation, environmental stewardship
Might write some more later...
I've also realized I have a tendency to not write reviews for books I enjoyed a lot because I get overwhelmed wanting to do them justice, and then weeks and years pass and I never wrote anything, so I'm going to start combating that by writing without worrying (is it possible!?), doing lists, Novelist appeal factors (yes, still librarian), and not editing myself.
I loved Elatsoe but this is not that book, though I do think Nina and Ellie share some strong traits. I think they would hang. This has more of an epic feel, more like a fable than the quirky, dark murder mystery of Elatsoe (this doesn't moralize but it does have messages about environmental consciousness, compassion for all living creatures, and honoring your history). The pacing is slow-ish, deliberately so, with dual wandering storylines and an interwoven storytelling structure. The characters are authentic and distinct and the way they all come together from these two worlds--the "real" world and the Reflecting world--is like watching a bunch of like-minded strangers turn into a family.
Oli, the cottonmouth kid from the Reflecting World, is a dear. Just a cinnamon roll, to use Internet speak. Nina is eager to learn and has a keen sense of justice. Both of them are a little naïve and learn some hard lessons. My favorite character is a somewhat amoral trickster bird from the Reflecting World, who seems to be looking for a place to belong but going about it all wrong, but like, in a delightful way.
Storyline: Character-driven, intricately-plotted, nonlinear
Pace: Leisurely
Tone: Hopeful, reflective
Representation: Lipan Apache, ace
Writing Style: dual narrators, unpretentious, folkloric (is that a thing?)
Themes: identity, coming of age, family legacy, importance of stories, found families, language reclamation, environmental stewardship
Might write some more later...
Want to read
March 30, 2021A new book by the author of Elatsoe coming out in 2021??? YES AAAAAA. After Elatsoe I will eat anything this author puts out up like nobody's business.
November 5, 2025
Another wonderful story from the author. Actually heartwarming too since "awww" was my first thought after finishing the book.
Love the characters especially Oli and his friends. Cool world building as well; now I want to visit the Reflecting World.
Love the characters especially Oli and his friends. Cool world building as well; now I want to visit the Reflecting World.
October 8, 2022
Lovely fantastic adventure story. Well written, gorgeous worldbuilding, satisfying conclusion.
August 19, 2023
a little confusing at first but once I got into the story I did really enjoy it!!
July 13, 2025
this was cute and fun and had some really interesting, unique elements, but ultimately it won't be going down as a story i really loved.
i liked nina arroyo, the human girl protagonist, just fine. she's sweet and kind and loves to tell stories – in general the emphasis on the importance of stories was something i really appreciated. her storyline felt faster-paced to me, but i felt much more attached to the idea of her than her in practice, if that makes sense.
oli, our cottonmouth person protagonist, was also a lot of fun. unfortunately, i felt like many of his chapters dragged or just didn't quite hold my attention, and i'm not sure why, because they were super fun. i think it was just that they all felt kind of... disconnected? we don't find out oli's main goal until a good portion of the story has already passed, and then it's a good deal more until his story actually overlaps with nina's, which is when it starts to be interesting.
and it felt like there were a bunch of cool threads of story that were super interesting but were just dropped later? like the catfish cultist situation, and bruhn, and whatever was going on with the bounty hunter... i was hoping it was all going to come together in an explosive conclusion, and the conclusion was pretty cool but felt weirdly anticlimactic, and then a bunch of ideas were picked up again in the epilogue-ish section but i still felt like there was sooo much exposition in oli's storyline that was never paid off.
this exposition-heavy, slow-pacing issue is compounded by the late overlap of the worlds. this led to a problem when the emotional heart of the story came to rest on the connection between the human & animal person characters, because i just... didn't buy that they loved each other that much. i also would have appreciated more about ami earlier on so that we could emotionally connect to him.
but yeah, it just felt like the emotional arcs of the story were messy, which is something i did not struggle at all with in elatsoe, which i loved. nina's growth as she learns to share her stories and stand up for what she believes in seems to happen mostly offscreen. oli's development was a little clearer but still a bit confusing. overall the emotional core of the story felt a bit weak, even though in theory it should be a very emotional tale, given the strong emphasis on family, culture, storytelling, and nature.
as negative as this review has been, the book was honestly not bad at all. the characters, if not perfectly written, are quite endearing. the story is very unique and doesn't feel like a copy-paste of your traditional YA fantasy at all, which i deeply appreciated. i loved the way we dove into the natural world in both a folkloric and scientific way - even the descriptions of the animal people involve the biology of their animal aspects, and it was super cool to learn about this element of lipan apache culture and storytelling, since i didn't know much about it and i thought it was so interesting. the worldbuilding, with the reflecting world and the path to anywhere-you-please and the cultists and monsters and the idea of world-shaping, was intriguing and well-written. i would definitely read something else set in this world.
tl;dr didn't have the emotional heart or great pacing of elatsoe, but still had a unique and warmhearted story, endearing characters, and interesting threads about family and storytelling. i will now go read sheine lende because honestly i just miss elatsoe.
i liked nina arroyo, the human girl protagonist, just fine. she's sweet and kind and loves to tell stories – in general the emphasis on the importance of stories was something i really appreciated. her storyline felt faster-paced to me, but i felt much more attached to the idea of her than her in practice, if that makes sense.
oli, our cottonmouth person protagonist, was also a lot of fun. unfortunately, i felt like many of his chapters dragged or just didn't quite hold my attention, and i'm not sure why, because they were super fun. i think it was just that they all felt kind of... disconnected? we don't find out oli's main goal until a good portion of the story has already passed, and then it's a good deal more until his story actually overlaps with nina's, which is when it starts to be interesting.
and it felt like there were a bunch of cool threads of story that were super interesting but were just dropped later? like the catfish cultist situation, and bruhn, and whatever was going on with the bounty hunter... i was hoping it was all going to come together in an explosive conclusion, and the conclusion was pretty cool but felt weirdly anticlimactic, and then a bunch of ideas were picked up again in the epilogue-ish section but i still felt like there was sooo much exposition in oli's storyline that was never paid off.
this exposition-heavy, slow-pacing issue is compounded by the late overlap of the worlds. this led to a problem when the emotional heart of the story came to rest on the connection between the human & animal person characters, because i just... didn't buy that they loved each other that much. i also would have appreciated more about ami earlier on so that we could emotionally connect to him.
but yeah, it just felt like the emotional arcs of the story were messy, which is something i did not struggle at all with in elatsoe, which i loved. nina's growth as she learns to share her stories and stand up for what she believes in seems to happen mostly offscreen. oli's development was a little clearer but still a bit confusing. overall the emotional core of the story felt a bit weak, even though in theory it should be a very emotional tale, given the strong emphasis on family, culture, storytelling, and nature.
as negative as this review has been, the book was honestly not bad at all. the characters, if not perfectly written, are quite endearing. the story is very unique and doesn't feel like a copy-paste of your traditional YA fantasy at all, which i deeply appreciated. i loved the way we dove into the natural world in both a folkloric and scientific way - even the descriptions of the animal people involve the biology of their animal aspects, and it was super cool to learn about this element of lipan apache culture and storytelling, since i didn't know much about it and i thought it was so interesting. the worldbuilding, with the reflecting world and the path to anywhere-you-please and the cultists and monsters and the idea of world-shaping, was intriguing and well-written. i would definitely read something else set in this world.
tl;dr didn't have the emotional heart or great pacing of elatsoe, but still had a unique and warmhearted story, endearing characters, and interesting threads about family and storytelling. i will now go read sheine lende because honestly i just miss elatsoe.
February 3, 2022
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Snake Falls to Earth is a story like I had never read before, it was deeply original emotional and interesting.
It tells the story of Oli and Lila. Oli is an animal person, a snake to be exact living in the land of spirits and monsters. He has been thrown out of the nest as is snake tradition because he became of age and has to survive on his own, which is no small feat. Lila is a Lipan girl living in our world and who wants before everything to protect her grandma.
I listened to this one on audio and was a little scared to get into it but I shouldn't have. It was beautifully written and both povs were so compelling. It wasn't exactly filled with twists and turns and yet, everything about this made you want to know more, to keep on reading.
I feel like it was also about climate change and everything we're not paying attention to. The main character was also ace, as she just mentions once in the story, and while it wasn't exactly part of the story, the representation is always great. I look for a day when I don't have to explain what it means, and representation should help with that.
Honestly, I will without a doubt read this again, and it made me want to read Elatsoe, the author's first book, even more.
A Snake Falls to Earth is a story like I had never read before, it was deeply original emotional and interesting.
It tells the story of Oli and Lila. Oli is an animal person, a snake to be exact living in the land of spirits and monsters. He has been thrown out of the nest as is snake tradition because he became of age and has to survive on his own, which is no small feat. Lila is a Lipan girl living in our world and who wants before everything to protect her grandma.
I listened to this one on audio and was a little scared to get into it but I shouldn't have. It was beautifully written and both povs were so compelling. It wasn't exactly filled with twists and turns and yet, everything about this made you want to know more, to keep on reading.
I feel like it was also about climate change and everything we're not paying attention to. The main character was also ace, as she just mentions once in the story, and while it wasn't exactly part of the story, the representation is always great. I look for a day when I don't have to explain what it means, and representation should help with that.
Honestly, I will without a doubt read this again, and it made me want to read Elatsoe, the author's first book, even more.
January 23, 2023
Mostly likeable characters and a few interesting topics but the book suffers from trying to cram too much into a single story. A tighter focus and better editing would make this shine. As it currently stands, it was solidly ok as a YA book.
December 9, 2021
I love reading about cultures that I know nothing about and discovering different things I would have never known had I not read that book. A Snake Falls to Earth weaves Lipan Apache folklore into the story of a girl who is translating the last story her grandmother tells her about the animal people who are living among us. While at the same time, we learn about Oli, a Cottonmouth Snake Shapeshifter. We learn about both of their struggles in their own worlds and before long, how those struggles intertwine.
I have not had the pleasure to read Elatsoe as of yet, but it’s sitting on my TBR Cart begging to be devoured. I have only heard incredible things about it, so when I had the chance to download the audiobook of Darcie Little Badger’s newest book from NetGalley, I took it.
I really enjoyed the story, but found it slow at times and I was confused in parts, but by the end it all ironed itself out. So the moral of the story is, hold on and it’ll explain itself. 😂
There were a lot of characters I loved, including one who was Non-Binary, which I am always a fan of. I love great representation and having queer, as well as Indigenous Rep made me super excited and love the book that much more.
I have not had the pleasure to read Elatsoe as of yet, but it’s sitting on my TBR Cart begging to be devoured. I have only heard incredible things about it, so when I had the chance to download the audiobook of Darcie Little Badger’s newest book from NetGalley, I took it.
I really enjoyed the story, but found it slow at times and I was confused in parts, but by the end it all ironed itself out. So the moral of the story is, hold on and it’ll explain itself. 😂
There were a lot of characters I loved, including one who was Non-Binary, which I am always a fan of. I love great representation and having queer, as well as Indigenous Rep made me super excited and love the book that much more.
December 19, 2021
I don’t have the words to convey just how much I adore this beautiful and soft book, with it’s found family adventures and immense amount of hope! Perfection!
December 1, 2021
Darcie Little Badger’s A Snake Falls to Earth is a beautiful, riveting novel about the ways in which story, nature, and history intertwine. Nina, a young Lipan girl from the human world, is determined to uncover remnants of the spirit world. Oli is a cottonmouth kid from the spirit world whose newfound independence leads him on an adventure to the human world. When environmental struggles bring the two together, they both realize how interconnected their worlds still are.
A Snake Falls to Earth begins with Nina attempting to understand her great-grandmother, Rosita, with a translating app. Rosita shares a story in Apache and, unfortunately, the app doesn’t recognize that language. However, the recording does provide Nina with fragments she can use to piece the story together. Nina’s pursuit in understanding Rosita and the old world drives her throughout the novel. This opening scene establishes one of the modern obstacles to the tradition of oral storytelling. A result of continued persecution and oppression, many indigenous dialects have been lost. Indigenous folklore and other forms of story risk being lost as well, for how can they remain when they can’t be understood to begin with? On top of that struggle, a hurricane approaches her old family home, which Nina suspects to be connected with the spirit world. Meanwhile, in the spirit world, the novel’s second protagonist Oli is finally leaving home. Between strangers, new lands, and the threat of monsters, independence is just as exciting as it is frightening. Oli hears of giant mechanical monsters destroying homes, extinction rendering entire species obsolete, and natural disasters upending entire communities. It’s not until one of his friends risks extinction, however, that the gravity of this reality sinks in.
Badger’s aptitude for storytelling is incredible. A Snake Falls to Earth is inspired by traditional Lipan storytelling techniques, but Badger brings her own talent to the novel. The chapters alternate between Nina and Oli’s perspectives, giving the reader nuanced insights into the characters and their worlds. Her writing is whimsical, hopeful, and distinct in voice. Each sentence carries the story forward with ease, holding the reader’s attention and leaving them wanting more. Even before Nina and Oli’s narratives connect, Badger makes their respective stories engaging. It’s hard not to root for Nina and Oli to succeed in their individual endeavors. And where Nina relies on technology to understand stories, Badger utilizes clever analogies. Modern analogies allow indigenous folklore and myth to become accessible to a modern audience. It’s another example of how talented Badger is with language.
Badger also weaves in themes of Indigenous identity, colonization, and environmental issues. It’s no surprise that so much of A Snake Falls to Earth is about rediscovering the sanctity, beauty, and power of nature. The ripple effect of Earth’s catastrophes on the spirit world and the spirit world’s lasting impact on Earth is a stark reminder of our own world. Continued pollution, ignorance, and destruction towards the environment doesn’t harm us alone. They harm the planet and its other residents as well. If we want to ensure the survival of life and all its beauty, we must protect the Earth and each other. All of us are connected, after all. Nina and Oli prove as much.
A Snake Falls to Earth is a love letter to Lipan Apache folklore. With its masterful storytelling, compelling protagonists, and relevant themes, Badger proves to be one of the most important up-and-coming authors of our time. If you’re looking for a story that is hopeful and honest about the state of the world, A Snake Falls to Earth is it.
A Snake Falls to Earth begins with Nina attempting to understand her great-grandmother, Rosita, with a translating app. Rosita shares a story in Apache and, unfortunately, the app doesn’t recognize that language. However, the recording does provide Nina with fragments she can use to piece the story together. Nina’s pursuit in understanding Rosita and the old world drives her throughout the novel. This opening scene establishes one of the modern obstacles to the tradition of oral storytelling. A result of continued persecution and oppression, many indigenous dialects have been lost. Indigenous folklore and other forms of story risk being lost as well, for how can they remain when they can’t be understood to begin with? On top of that struggle, a hurricane approaches her old family home, which Nina suspects to be connected with the spirit world. Meanwhile, in the spirit world, the novel’s second protagonist Oli is finally leaving home. Between strangers, new lands, and the threat of monsters, independence is just as exciting as it is frightening. Oli hears of giant mechanical monsters destroying homes, extinction rendering entire species obsolete, and natural disasters upending entire communities. It’s not until one of his friends risks extinction, however, that the gravity of this reality sinks in.
Badger’s aptitude for storytelling is incredible. A Snake Falls to Earth is inspired by traditional Lipan storytelling techniques, but Badger brings her own talent to the novel. The chapters alternate between Nina and Oli’s perspectives, giving the reader nuanced insights into the characters and their worlds. Her writing is whimsical, hopeful, and distinct in voice. Each sentence carries the story forward with ease, holding the reader’s attention and leaving them wanting more. Even before Nina and Oli’s narratives connect, Badger makes their respective stories engaging. It’s hard not to root for Nina and Oli to succeed in their individual endeavors. And where Nina relies on technology to understand stories, Badger utilizes clever analogies. Modern analogies allow indigenous folklore and myth to become accessible to a modern audience. It’s another example of how talented Badger is with language.
Badger also weaves in themes of Indigenous identity, colonization, and environmental issues. It’s no surprise that so much of A Snake Falls to Earth is about rediscovering the sanctity, beauty, and power of nature. The ripple effect of Earth’s catastrophes on the spirit world and the spirit world’s lasting impact on Earth is a stark reminder of our own world. Continued pollution, ignorance, and destruction towards the environment doesn’t harm us alone. They harm the planet and its other residents as well. If we want to ensure the survival of life and all its beauty, we must protect the Earth and each other. All of us are connected, after all. Nina and Oli prove as much.
A Snake Falls to Earth is a love letter to Lipan Apache folklore. With its masterful storytelling, compelling protagonists, and relevant themes, Badger proves to be one of the most important up-and-coming authors of our time. If you’re looking for a story that is hopeful and honest about the state of the world, A Snake Falls to Earth is it.
did-not-finish
September 19, 2021I almost never DNF and the fact that the first book I give up on in two years is an anticipated read by an Indigenous author just makes me extra sad. But between an annoyingly formatted ARC (no transition between POVs/chapters) and just.. nothing grabbing me? I'm already slumping and I just can't force myself through this anymore than I already have. I read/skimmed to 30% but still nothing is working here for me. I'm sad. But I'd also rather give up on this one than let my slump colour my feelings about this read more than it already has.
Maybe I'll come back to this (even though this is my second time putting this down) or maybe I'll wait and try once it's published and formatted.. I don't know. I definitely think this is probably a me thing, not a book thing, because advance reviews are already full of praise. So definitely pick it up if it seems like your thing.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
Maybe I'll come back to this (even though this is my second time putting this down) or maybe I'll wait and try once it's published and formatted.. I don't know. I definitely think this is probably a me thing, not a book thing, because advance reviews are already full of praise. So definitely pick it up if it seems like your thing.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
November 15, 2022
Animal spirits travel from the reflected world to earth to help a friend.
Darcie Little Badger is Lipan Apache and the stories and lore of that culture inform this book. The narrative style is both a strength and a weakness. The story meanders along for nearly half of the book without really going anywhere. And I struggled. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really grabbing me.
But when Oli travels to earth to save a friend who is fading because his species on earth is going extinct, the story really kicks into gear and it's so good that what was going to be 3 Stars is well and truly 5 Stars.
Loved it.
Darcie Little Badger is Lipan Apache and the stories and lore of that culture inform this book. The narrative style is both a strength and a weakness. The story meanders along for nearly half of the book without really going anywhere. And I struggled. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really grabbing me.
But when Oli travels to earth to save a friend who is fading because his species on earth is going extinct, the story really kicks into gear and it's so good that what was going to be 3 Stars is well and truly 5 Stars.
Loved it.
November 14, 2021
I received a complimentary review copy from NetGalley and the publisher. This did not affect my rating.
Nina is a Lipan girl who believes in the old stories and wants to learn the truth of them. Oli is a cottonmouth kid who’s been cast from home. Neither knows the other exists until tragic incidents occur in both of their lives and they’re driven together by fate.
This book has dual POVs which is important in this kind of story. We are able to follow both the events of Earth and the events of Oli’s world. This was a very unique story unlike anything I’ve read before!
Nina is a Lipan girl who believes in the old stories and wants to learn the truth of them. Oli is a cottonmouth kid who’s been cast from home. Neither knows the other exists until tragic incidents occur in both of their lives and they’re driven together by fate.
This book has dual POVs which is important in this kind of story. We are able to follow both the events of Earth and the events of Oli’s world. This was a very unique story unlike anything I’ve read before!
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