A Quick Note On This Review: This article includes affiliate links to Bookshop.org as a way of supporting both local bookshops and my own ability to write.
From the time she was a girl, Luli Wei has wanted to be a movie star. She knows the risks of being a Chinese American girl in pre-Code Hollywood but signs on at Wolf studies in order to make something of herself besides the typecast bit pieces normally given to actors and actresses of color. But as her career takes off, Wei must decide the price she’s willing to pay for stardom as the blood magic that underpins the studios that control the silver screen she loves so much.
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo is an interesting story because it doesn’t immediately announce itself the way that some novels that use magic do. Instead if delving immediately into establishing the realm of magic as separate from everyday life, it invites the reader to question their beliefs about the world in which they live and how thin the veil is between the ordinary and extraordinary. The introduction starts with a ticket taker who talks about choosing the age at which she’ll stay for eternity, but from there Vo layers discussions of magic over the framework of a LGBTQ+ coming of age story.
In Luli’s exploration of her own identity – as an actress that’s taken her sister’s name, a woman of color during a time of rampant racism, and the relationships she seeks to cultivate – Vo does a phenomenal job of making the story accessible to everyone. During each step of the plot, these complex issues were all grounded in the humanity that underpins the search for meaning every individual undertakes and in doing so, forces the reader to see a character who is a part of multiple marginalized communities not as Other, but rather an extension of what it means to be human. While every story operates in a way that seeks to cultivate empathy for people who think differently than one another, Vo’s Siren Queen takes issues that could be inflammatory or the primary focus of the novel and turns them into a piece of the character, a fraction of the story in a way that makes it clear that race and sexuality may be pieces of an identity, but they don’t necessarily eclipse the individual any more than the loss of a loved one strips away the survivor’s individuality.
For those who are looking for a lighter read that covers issues of identity, especially as it relates to issues of race and LGBTQ+ communities, this book would provide a great option. Its elements of fantasy and mundane life layered over one another make for a story that feels like a tale that someone might tell at a family gathering or to a dear friend without losing the connection to the larger themes that are being addressed.
For writers, Vo’s work provides a unique perspective for telling stories about race and LGBTQ+ stories. While I could see some elements of the narrative being controversial, Vo’s technical skill in balancing the complex issues with accessibility are admirable and could provide a way for writers to share their own narratives around finding their place in the world.
If you’re interested in reading the book and want to support local bookstores as well as my work, consider using this affiliate link: Siren Queen.
What’s Next?
I am an avid reader and have quite a few thoughts on how some books could benefit both people that want to be entertained and those looking to sharpen their literary skills.
If you’re interested in finding out more about what I’ve been reading – and how it could benefit you – I will be publishing those thoughts on Fridays on a weekly basis. Check back next week for a discussion of Pip William’s The Dictionary of Lost Words!
The Writerly Review 