City of Smoke and Sea

by Malia Márquez

Queenie Rivers was raised by her grandparents in coastal Los Angeles. As she approaches thirty, her erratic lifestyle is forced back on course by a car accident and her grandmother’s intervention.

But her recovery is interrupted by a break-in and Gran’s death. Gran’s last act was to set Queenie up with a job at an upscale seaside bistro with a shady reputation—the owner of which, it turns out, was once a close friend. As Queenie digs into Gran’s past for answers about the break-in, the murder, and the unnerving circumstances surrounding the restaurant and her new boss, she discovers that her grandmother, a Romani Holocaust survivor, kept many secrets, some of them otherworldly—secrets that become hers to unravel when she becomes a suspect in Gran’s murder case.

Genres: Fiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Carolyne Topdjian]

A beautifully written, heartfelt novel that explores what it means to lose and find oneself through grief. As a woman struggles to solve the murder of her beloved, Romani grandmother, the shocking truth she discovers about her family’s history upends her world and leaves her questioning the very fabric of her existence. Both wondrous with mythology, and rich with insight, Márquez weaves together a fabulist tapestry of belonging and family that’s absolute magic on the page.

[Kristyn]

3.5 rounded up

At first, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to finish this book, but once I reached the 20% mark, I was completely hooked. Queenie’s grandmother, Anke Rivers, is a beautifully complex character. And the way Queenie uncovers the story of Anke’s life (and death), although mystical and fantastical somehow mirrors how many of us come to understand our grandparents. The person they are in the present often feels worlds apart from the person we find out that they once were. People are layered, living multiple lives, holding secrets that we—especially as grandchildren—may never fully comprehend. Malia Márquez does a brilliant job of portraying Queenie’s journey as she unravels Anke’s past while also grappling with her own struggles. It’s a poignant exploration of identity, legacy, and the hidden histories that shape us.

This was my first encounter with Malia Márquez, and I’m eager to dive into “This Fierce Blood” very soon.

[Tim Cummings]

A richly woven tapestry, replete with unexpected patterns, colors, fabrics, and layers. Layer upon layer, in fact, as it peels away and exposes themes of land, ownership, identity, magic, heritage, spirit, and power.

Anyone who lives in Los Angeles can perpetually feel its incessant strangeness. It’s a wonder that any of us can call this place home. In 'City of Smoke and Sea,' Márquez explores the guardians who look over the land (and the air and the sea and the soil) as inherent spirits both of the ether and of the corporeal. It reminded me, in its own way, of 'True Detective: Night Country.' This book, like that darkly-spun tale, is also a blisteringly beautiful and suspenseful exploration of indigenous people, native Angelenos, immigrants, and the city's many lost yet hopeful, talented yet desperate artists.

Márquez is masterful in depicting this strange magic. Calling out gentrification, development, Big oil, shady corporations, selfish proprietors. And yet, at the heart of the story, there is a beautiful and touching character arc of the intriguing protagonist Queenie’s grandmother, Anke. Absolutely loved her story. Absolutely loved the character. Her presence is felt on every single page of the book.

If you're looking for something mysterious, suspenseful, spiritual, and cultural, I cannot recommend this book enough. Let me know what you think of it! xT

[Stephanie Ripps]

City of Smoke and Sea is such a beautifully written book. I loved the way the author uses magical realism to tell a unique, multi-layered story about female self-discovery and the power of imagination within its mystery framework. Los Angeles has always been both a real city and a metaphorical one -- the place where actors, writers, everyone comes to reimagine themselves -- but this book took these ideas even further in a wondrous way. In Queenie's Los Angeles world, imagination doesn't only influence her reality but IS her reality as she discovers she and her Grans have fantastical gifts that test the limits of human imagination. Great read!

[Dave Suiter]

A gripping murder mystery that begins with a devastating death and unravels into a spellbinding web where magic and buried family secrets collide.

[Chrystal Hays]

Maybe it was my frame of mind, or maybe this book should have been twice as long.
I love magical realism and a clapback to ancient things in a modern world, but I kept feeling lost. I didn't have sharp pictures of the characters in my head, as I usually do.
Nonetheless, it is a territory that hasn't been explored before, and a strong first novel. I didn't take long to finish it.
It's not just a mystery, and it speaks to anyone who is suddenly dealing with the estate of someone they loved, learning more, feeling grief.

[Ash Laverty]

Such a fun read, with so many unexpected twists and turns!

I did feel as though there were a lot of continuity errors that confused the story, especially towards the end, however overall I really enjoyed reading this. The way secrets were revealed slowly throughout kept me guessing right until the end.

3.5 stars out of 5 ⭐️

[Sav]

At first, I wasn’t sure where this book was going, but by the time I got deeper into the story, I found myself drawn in. Queenie’s relationship with her grandmother, Anke, is at the heart of the narrative, and it’s such a fascinating and complex portrayal. The way Queenie uncovers layers of Anke’s life—full of mystery and surprises—was both enchanting and thought-provoking. It made me think about how we often don’t truly know our family members until we start digging into their pasts.

Anke’s past, as revealed through Queenie’s search, feels almost mythical in its depth. The revelations show just how multifaceted people are and how we only get glimpses of their true selves over time. Queenie’s journey of uncovering these secrets is a powerful exploration of family history, identity, and the way legacies shape us. The balance of discovering Anke’s past while dealing with her own personal struggles gives the book emotional weight.

While it didn’t completely captivate me from start to finish, I still found the book to be a thoughtful and compelling read. It wasn’t an overwhelming favorite, but it’s one that sticks with you. I’d give it a solid 3 ⭐—it was good, but not quite as memorable as I expected.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy!

[Katie Rufo Barksdale]

I took my time writing this review. I finished this book over two weeks ago and there was a lot to digest. The time that Marquez took to set the table for this story was vital. While I was reading this, I was thinking about how the story was slow and was waiting for the story to take off. Marquez beautiful weaves different aspects together to make the story stand out and be memorable.

[Ellen]

City of Smoke and Sea captured me from the first pages. Queenie’s adventure is a wild romp of a ride, offering moments of laugh-out-loud funny as well as serious self-reinvention. Skillfully balanced between literary and speculative fiction, this fast-paced novel is an homage to the land, storytelling, and family connection, with a generous dusting of magic.

[Damien Edwards]

The worldbuilding and set up were really unique and interesting. Queenie herself was a dynamic and enjoyable main character. But the ending in particular felt extremely abrupt, and I think it would've benefited from a bit more length.

Althea's disappearance also seemed a bit... unnecessary. Like sure, maybe for a few years, but why wouldn't she come back before Queenie was an adult? Could all her powerful friends really do nothing else to expedite the legal process or protect her fully? I fear the ends of this book left me with too many questions.

[Heath]

Should have been longer

There are parts of this book I really liked, but wanted more, and it honestly felt like it could have been much longer. The mysterious pieces seemed too rushed and some even didn’t have much resolution. I wanted more detail and back story - about her mom, her grandparents, her connections to others in her community. This story could be easily expanded and have some deeper dives and more connections. Felt a little rushed.

[bibliophilechic]

This was ok. I was intrigued by the premise, less taken by the execution. The tension was not particularly high despite it being a murder mystery, but I still enjoyed seeing how the plot unfolded. I liked the cast of characters quite a lot. Some things are not wrapped up or explained, which is frustrating. But overall, a nice quick read.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.