{"id":519,"date":"2025-03-24T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/?p=519"},"modified":"2025-10-06T21:55:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T02:55:33","slug":"currently-reading-remarkably-bright-creatures-elatsoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/?p=519","title":{"rendered":"Currently Reading: Remarkably Bright Creatures, Elatsoe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Recently I went back to my LTUE post and realized I&#8217;m waaaay behind on my reading list. So I grabbed my trusty library apps (Hoopa and Libby) and got on some waiting lists. Thought some people might be interested in my analysis so I&#8217;m going to share with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will probably bring this sort of thing back at other times; to that end, I&#8217;m producing my own stuff to go with it. First, content thermometers. I know people have different levels of appreciation for certain types of content in their fiction so I&#8217;m putting what I think of the content of these books into a visible spectrum. Second, personal ratings. How much did I enjoy them. Neither of these probably deserve much explanation but I will also note I&#8217;m unlikely to share stories I didn&#8217;t enjoy much or that hit pretty high on any of my content warnings. If there are notes (like &#8220;the violence here is mostly psychological&#8221; or &#8220;medical gore, not fighting gore,&#8221; I&#8217;ll note that in my brief synopsis.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m going to add a picture of a blank content thermometer here so you can see my rating levels. Mostly because later on the small words below are going to be more difficult to read. If someone wants to borrow this for their own purposes, I&#8217;d like to be alerted, but otherwise am happy to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1002\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Media-Thermometers-1002x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Three oblongs labeled Violence, Profanity, and Sex. A red level reaches the first line of each. \n\nViolence levels are labeled: &quot;Cats and dogs living together- absolute harmony!!&quot; &quot;Occasional Slapfights&quot; &quot;Pixar level gore. People get hurt but offscreen or bloodless.&quot; &quot;'This is *war*, Peacock!' Lots of injuries but low or no gore.&quot; &quot;Bloodbath. Things are bad.&quot; and &quot;Dude. Take it easy. I'm feeling queasy.&quot;\n\nProfanity levels are labeled: &quot;Cleaner than whistles&quot; &quot;All swears fake or low level, consarn it!&quot; &quot;Occasional mild swears&quot; &quot;The stereotypical PG-13 'one F-Bomb'&quot; &quot;Pretty intense when merited&quot; &quot;Pretty intense when unmerited&quot; and &quot;Sorry, what was that? My ears are bleeding.&quot;\n\nSex levels are labeled: &quot;They think babies come from storks around here, don't they?&quot; &quot;*nudge-nudge* *wink-wink* Say no more.&quot; &quot;Acknowledged, fade to black&quot; &quot;Back view or through the window or silhouetted&quot; &quot;Intense&quot; &quot;TMI&quot; and &quot;This is just a loosely disguised fantasy. Honestly, ew.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Media-Thermometers-1002x1024.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Media-Thermometers-294x300.jpg 294w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Media-Thermometers-768x785.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Media-Thermometers-1504x1536.jpg 1504w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Media-Thermometers-2005x2048.jpg 2005w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"679\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-cover-679x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Cover of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Scene painted in bold hues with little shading. A bright orange octopus lifts a tentacle amidst seaweed; a woman with gray hair and a yellow shirt looks on from below.\" class=\"wp-image-521\" style=\"width:455px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-cover-679x1024.jpg 679w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-cover-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-cover-768x1159.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-cover.jpg 994w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 679px) 100vw, 679px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.5-stars-1024x385.jpg\" alt=\"rating of 4.5 stars, using website logo\" class=\"wp-image-538\" style=\"width:420px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.5-stars-1024x385.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.5-stars-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.5-stars-768x289.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/4.5-stars.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:44% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1002\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-thermom-small-1002x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Levels for Remarkably Bright Creatures. Violence is low, Profanity is mid-high, sex is mid-low\" class=\"wp-image-528 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-thermom-small-1002x1024.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-thermom-small-294x300.jpg 294w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-thermom-small-768x785.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/remarkably-bright-creatures-thermom-small.jpg 1253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>I was introduced to this book with &#8220;You should listen to it to see how someone voices an octopus as a main character.&#8221; From that I was expecting, for some reason, sci-fi burbly-voiced octopus. What I got instead was an actual giant Pacific octopus in an aquarium, which he really doesn&#8217;t like. It&#8217;s a realistic fiction about lonely people finding each other. Part romance, part murder mystery, mostly slice of life. I enjoyed the journey. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elatsoe-by-Darcie-Little-Badger-1035x1536-1-690x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Cover of Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger. A young girl in brown stands in the midst of a pack of ghostly white dogs. The name appears in blue script below her.\" class=\"wp-image-523\" style=\"width:379px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elatsoe-by-Darcie-Little-Badger-1035x1536-1-690x1024.jpg 690w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elatsoe-by-Darcie-Little-Badger-1035x1536-1-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elatsoe-by-Darcie-Little-Badger-1035x1536-1-768x1140.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Elatsoe-by-Darcie-Little-Badger-1035x1536-1.jpg 1035w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5-stars-1-1024x385.jpg\" alt=\"rating of 5 stars, using website logo\" class=\"wp-image-539\" style=\"width:436px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5-stars-1-1024x385.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5-stars-1-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5-stars-1-768x289.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/5-stars-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:47% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1002\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/elizabethdoman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elatsoe-thermom-1002x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Content thermometers for Elatsoe. Violence is mid level, profanity is low, sex is low.\" class=\"wp-image-527 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elatsoe-thermom-1002x1024.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elatsoe-thermom-294x300.jpg 294w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elatsoe-thermom-768x785.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elatsoe-thermom.jpg 1253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Pronounced EE-Laht-soh-ay; a Lipan Apache word that means Hummingbird. I only realized as I was finishing the book that the chapters all had illustrations at the heading; for that reason, I&#8217;d suggest searching out a physical copy. It was a fascinating murder mystery set in an America contemporary with ours but where stories are more real. Apache wisdom lets people raise ghosts; those descended from the fae can travel via fairy rings; vampirism is a curse you can contract; and Elatsoe has the best li&#8217;l friend in Kirby, an English cocker spaniel who&#8217;s been dead for five years. He still plays fetch with her. I greatly enjoyed it and will be looking for more by Darcie Little Badger.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Intellectual Property of Elizabeth Doman<br>Feel free to share via link<br>Do not copy to other websites or skim for AI training<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently I went back to my LTUE post and realized I&#8217;m waaaay behind on my [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":524,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[451,95],"tags":[457,452,456,463,454,462,464,472,468,467,470,465,460,469,453,461,455,471,458,466,459],"class_list":["post-519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-currently-reading","category-reading","tag-content","tag-currently-reading","tag-darcie-little-badger","tag-dog","tag-elatsoe","tag-ghost","tag-ghost-dog","tag-haunting","tag-kirby","tag-marcelus","tag-murder-mystery","tag-octopus","tag-profanity","tag-realistic-fiction","tag-remarkably-bright-creatures","tag-sex","tag-shelby-van-pelt","tag-slice-of-life","tag-thermometer","tag-tova","tag-violence"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=519"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":547,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519\/revisions\/547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedomanfamily.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}