I didn't love Nghi Vo's "Siren Queen" as much as I thought I was going to based on my first look. It just didn't end up grabbing me as I had hoped it would. But I am willing to admit that that may be my own distractions that prevented my engagement. So instead I'd like to focus on some of the moves Vo makes that I found unique and some that I don't believe hit the mark.
First, Vo combines old Hollywood with dark magic. It just makes so much sense. The combination of the two flows so well it makes the reader wonder why has no one done this before? (Of course, some have but still this is a unique way.) Additionally, Vo adds the unique spin of having a Chinese American protagonist who is trying to make it in old Hollywood. That adds a lot of nuance to the text. Lastly, the character is queer. Having a queer woman of color protagonist in old Hollywood is new and I'll completely admit I loved it!
I think where the text fell flat for me is that it just didn't grip me like I felt it should. After all, a queer woman of color in fiction is still so rare and to add in elements of the supernatural is a recipe for all the things I love. But despite the slight edginess the novel just wasn't there. It lacked the urgency that draws a reader in. The prose is well done though.
The text is framed in part like a memoir except that the narrator uses modern language so it's a weird mixing.
Overall the book was enjoyable just not my favorite.
First, Vo combines old Hollywood with dark magic. It just makes so much sense. The combination of the two flows so well it makes the reader wonder why has no one done this before? (Of course, some have but still this is a unique way.) Additionally, Vo adds the unique spin of having a Chinese American protagonist who is trying to make it in old Hollywood. That adds a lot of nuance to the text. Lastly, the character is queer. Having a queer woman of color protagonist in old Hollywood is new and I'll completely admit I loved it!
I think where the text fell flat for me is that it just didn't grip me like I felt it should. After all, a queer woman of color in fiction is still so rare and to add in elements of the supernatural is a recipe for all the things I love. But despite the slight edginess the novel just wasn't there. It lacked the urgency that draws a reader in. The prose is well done though.
The text is framed in part like a memoir except that the narrator uses modern language so it's a weird mixing.
Overall the book was enjoyable just not my favorite.