After enjoying Elatsoe, I knew I wanted to read more Darcie Little Badger. While I definitely loved the world of Elatsoe more, I was intrigued by A Snake Falls to Earth. This dual POV story explore stories and is a slow build. Keep reading this book review of A Snake Falls to Earth for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
A Snake Falls to Earth builds slowly. It begins with two voices. One faces climate change and an attempt to unravel a story her grandmother told. While another faces embarking on his own and trying to help his friend. A Snake Falls to Earth creates this tension as we witness both Oli and Nina stretching their wings. We aren’t sure quite where the book will take them or when they will intersect. A Snake Falls to Earth really gets into its stride when they intersect and we can witness the threads forming.
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Throughout, I kept coming back to wondering when we lose our sense of childhood. When the worries become too much, too big to be forgotten in the sway of the wind. For Nina, her worries about her home, her family, and their future weigh heavily. Unlike Elatsoe there isn’t this steady mystery, instead sprinkling tension throughout like crumbs. With on the page asexual representation, A Snake Falls to Earth was a constant source of surprise. This book is a bit quieter than I expected, but if you continue reading the book hits its stride. Find A Snake Falls to Earth on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.