A review by natashaleighton_
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Sailor Moon vibes are strong in this charmingly witty and thought provoking, urban fantasy by Park Seolyeon that reads like a love letter to the magical girl genre. 

Translated from Korean by Anton Hur and illustrated by Kim Sanho I enjoyed the mixed media format and loved that it really brought the Manga references of the plot to life. 

It was such a fun and fast paced read that tackles some pretty heavy subject material (there’s brief mention of suicidal thoughts, grief and physical abuse alongside the overarching theme of climate change.) But I was most impressed with Park Seolyeon’s ability to weave this whimsical narrative with the darker, more realistic experiences that women face without losing its upbeat tone. 

Equally as impressive was Hur’s ability to translate that nuance into English in such an easy to engage manner. I’d definitely love to see him collaborate on English translations for the rest of Park Seolyeon’s books, as I’m eager to devour her entire backlist. 

That Magical girls only come into their powers when they are physically at their weakest (and in need of powers to survive) was a little heartbreaking but definitely highlighted an ongoing issue (violence against women) that definitely needs more attention. 

My only complaint is that it’s far too short! I would’ve loved to spend more time with our protagonist and felt the ending came far too quickly more my liking. I also really need to see more of Ah Roa, whose whirlwind appearances weren’t nearly enough to satisfy my curiosity about her abilities (clairvoyance.)

Overall, a fast paced and 
whimsical read with razor sharp social observations that fans of Manga (but especially the magical girl genre) definitely don’t want to miss! 

Also, thank you to Harper360UK and InstaBookTours for the finished copy. 
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