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banrions 's review for:
Siren Queen
by Nghi Vo
I wanted to like this a little bit more than I did. I think this is one that will stick with me, despite what didn’t end up working as well for me, and it might be one that I revisit and change my mind on, later on. Because I’ve got a physical copy of this one, and I know I’m going to be thinking abt this world for a while.
I WANTED to love this one sooooo badly, and in the end, I loved the potential of it and not entirely the execution. Here’s the thing, old Hollywood, magical realism, queer ladies, and monsters are all like VERY MUCH MY EXACT FAVORITE TYPE OF THING but I am also, at heart, a character reader, and (for me) the characters in this one all fell a bit flat. Luli, being the protagonist, helped, and I had a more real picture of her than the rest of them, and it wasn’t BAD by any means. I honestly think if it had been a little longer, particularly near the end, it would have felt a bit more realized for me. It felt like right as it was finally really picking up steam, and Luli was about to hit the stars, it cut to a quick and speedy epilogue that zipped through stuff that I really wanted to see!!! (Jane! We don’t know her like at all! With all those little cutaways I really wanted to meet her properly). I think that’s honestly the biggest downside for me, I just wanted more. I was invested and interested and it left me wanting, a little.
But also, that fucking cover, tho
I WANTED to love this one sooooo badly, and in the end, I loved the potential of it and not entirely the execution. Here’s the thing, old Hollywood, magical realism, queer ladies, and monsters are all like VERY MUCH MY EXACT FAVORITE TYPE OF THING but I am also, at heart, a character reader, and (for me) the characters in this one all fell a bit flat. Luli, being the protagonist, helped, and I had a more real picture of her than the rest of them, and it wasn’t BAD by any means. I honestly think if it had been a little longer, particularly near the end, it would have felt a bit more realized for me. It felt like right as it was finally really picking up steam, and Luli was about to hit the stars, it cut to a quick and speedy epilogue that zipped through stuff that I really wanted to see!!! (Jane! We don’t know her like at all! With all those little cutaways I really wanted to meet her properly). I think that’s honestly the biggest downside for me, I just wanted more. I was invested and interested and it left me wanting, a little.
But also, that fucking cover, tho