Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
We received an advanced reader copy of this book.
Published: May 10th 2022 by Tordotcom
Review:
Myth: 3.5/5
The Golden Age of Hollywood brought with it the worst types of monsters. Luli’s story explores very real racism and sexism in the Hollywood studios with fantastical flare. Luli wants to become a star, but to do so she has to make her way through the terrors of studio life. A Chinese woman doesn’t have a lot of choices for roles in Hollywood, but Luli fights her way past that and stares down the demons and devils to make sure her star shines.
Magic: 3/5
I would call this more magical realism than any type of fantasy genre. There were discussion of blood magic, the Wild Hunt and other fantastical elements that kept the studio running, but they were so casually interwoven into the Hollywood Golden Age story that you had to stop and check if it was literal or illustrative.
Overall: 3/5
A historical fiction encompassing the worst of Hollywood during it’s rise. Luli fights to make sure her star shines along with all the rest, even when every circumstance seems pitted against her.
