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A review by ebbiebooks
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
5.0
A solid 4.5
Sapphic magical realism/historical fantasy/ufo. Nothing is really explaining on how the whole universe and the magic (if it is, in fact, magic, as someone could argue - and that someone could be me - that it could be defined by another term) work, but if you just accept that things will happen in a way that might not be normal, you can still enjoy the ride.
I'm still unsure if the allure of this book is the vibe or something else. Plot wise, I like it, though I feel like the ending could have been just a tiny bit better, in the sense of how the epilogue fills up a big part of things that, to me, don't feel like they should be confined to a short epilogue chapter. And it doesn't exactly come from a feeling of "no, I don't want to let go of these character and their story", it felt like there was at least a third or quarter of the story that still needed to be told and have space to develop. That being said, it's the only real flaw that didn't put it a full 5 stars for me.
I waited a little bit too long to write up this review, but I think I remember enjoy the writting style as well. I'm not someone who can easily describe writting style, even if I recognize when it's there and enjoy it when it's above somewhat plain writting. I think, in a way, it works with the magical realism feel of the story as you'll be reading paragraph and won't be sure if what is describe is a metaphor or another stylistic process, or if it's literaly happening as written.
I also enjoy the vast cast of women evolving in this world. Not all of them are powerful in the same way, but they all have a strenght, be it in their determination, anger, or when they choose to make sacrifice and let go.
I also thought the diversity discourse surrounding the early life of cinema was well thought through and nuanced. The main character is badass and as an iron resolve in what she wants to accomplish, but at the same time, she's not perfect and her way of seeing things isn't either. There's scenes here and there where other marginalized voices are heard regarding issues they face, and how the MC recklessness is sometimes not being aware of how her actions affect the communities she's part of.
It was my first Nghi Vo book, and it won't be the last
Sapphic magical realism/historical fantasy/ufo. Nothing is really explaining on how the whole universe and the magic (if it is, in fact, magic, as someone could argue - and that someone could be me - that it could be defined by another term) work, but if you just accept that things will happen in a way that might not be normal, you can still enjoy the ride.
I'm still unsure if the allure of this book is the vibe or something else. Plot wise, I like it, though I feel like the ending could have been just a tiny bit better, in the sense of how the epilogue fills up a big part of things that, to me, don't feel like they should be confined to a short epilogue chapter. And it doesn't exactly come from a feeling of "no, I don't want to let go of these character and their story", it felt like there was at least a third or quarter of the story that still needed to be told and have space to develop. That being said, it's the only real flaw that didn't put it a full 5 stars for me.
I waited a little bit too long to write up this review, but I think I remember enjoy the writting style as well. I'm not someone who can easily describe writting style, even if I recognize when it's there and enjoy it when it's above somewhat plain writting. I think, in a way, it works with the magical realism feel of the story as you'll be reading paragraph and won't be sure if what is describe is a metaphor or another stylistic process, or if it's literaly happening as written.
I also enjoy the vast cast of women evolving in this world. Not all of them are powerful in the same way, but they all have a strenght, be it in their determination, anger, or when they choose to make sacrifice and let go.
I also thought the diversity discourse surrounding the early life of cinema was well thought through and nuanced. The main character is badass and as an iron resolve in what she wants to accomplish, but at the same time, she's not perfect and her way of seeing things isn't either. There's scenes here and there where other marginalized voices are heard regarding issues they face, and how the MC recklessness is sometimes not being aware of how her actions affect the communities she's part of.
It was my first Nghi Vo book, and it won't be the last