Many thanks for Tor/Forge Books and Bookish First for the ARC. I was excited to read the first impression anticipating a story that centered an Asian American woman with dreams of becoming a movie star in old-time, glamorous Hollywood. I was looking forward to immersing myself in a perspective that was new to me.
The Siren Queen is billed as historical fantasy and the first impression (the first 3-ish chapters) hinted a bit about magic in the process of making movies but as Luli gets older and more involved in the movie industry, we learn more about the dark forces and monsters (literal and figurative) that stand in her way as she aspires to superstardom. Parts of the beginning were a bit slow, but the pace definitely picked up and I felt much more invested in Luli.
That said, as I was reading the book and even now that I've finished, I'm not sure I really followed the story arc. I'm not sure I really understood some of the settings or characters or events. I feel like I missed something (many things) including deeper meaning and big lessons/statements about race, gender, and sexuality especially in the entertainment industry. I did enjoy Nghi Vo's writing and I'll certainly look for her work in the future. I also appreciate seeing greater diversity in the stories being told and published.
The Siren Queen is billed as historical fantasy and the first impression (the first 3-ish chapters) hinted a bit about magic in the process of making movies but as Luli gets older and more involved in the movie industry, we learn more about the dark forces and monsters (literal and figurative) that stand in her way as she aspires to superstardom. Parts of the beginning were a bit slow, but the pace definitely picked up and I felt much more invested in Luli.
That said, as I was reading the book and even now that I've finished, I'm not sure I really followed the story arc. I'm not sure I really understood some of the settings or characters or events. I feel like I missed something (many things) including deeper meaning and big lessons/statements about race, gender, and sexuality especially in the entertainment industry. I did enjoy Nghi Vo's writing and I'll certainly look for her work in the future. I also appreciate seeing greater diversity in the stories being told and published.