Maria, Maria and Other Stories

by Marytza K. Rubio

Set against the tropics and megacities of the Americas, Maria, Maria takes inspiration from wild creatures, tarot, and the porous borders between life and death. Motivated by love and its inverse, grief, the characters who inhabit these stories negotiate boldly with nature to cast their desired ends. As the enigmatic community college professor in “Brujería for Beginners” reminds us: “There’s always a price for conjuring in darkness. You won’t always know what it is until payment is due.” This commitment drives the disturbingly faithful widow in “Tijuca,” who promises to bury her husband’s head in the rich dirt of the jungle, and the sisters in “Moksha,” who are tempted by a sleek obsidian dagger once held by a vampiric idol.

But magic isn’t limited to the women who wield it. As Rubio so brilliantly elucidates, animals are powerful magicians too. Subversive pigeons and hungry jaguars are called upon in “Tunnels,” and a lonely little girl runs free with a resurrected saber-toothed tiger in “Burial.” A colorful catalog of gallery exhibits from animals in therapy is featured in “Art Show,” including the Almost Philandering Fox, who longs after the red pelt of another, and the recently rehabilitated Paranoid Peacocks.

Brimming with sharp wit and ferocious female intuition, these stories bubble over into the titular novella, “Maria, Maria”―a tropigoth family drama set in a reimagined California rainforest that explores the legacies of three Marias, and possibly all Marias. Writing in prose so lush it threatens to creep off the page, Rubio emerges as an ineffable new voice in contemporary short fiction.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Latinx, Literary Fiction, Adult

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2022

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4****

I enjoyed this collection of short stories much more than I usually do (usually I rate them around 3*** due to me loving some stories and disliking others).

Most of these stories included things that I really enjoyed; darkness, magic, rituals, revenge and myth. And the author blends these with themes of sisterhood and grief.

I really enjoyed the first 65% of this book- the stories were short and engaging. In the last 35% of the book the author seemed to do quite a long story with miniature stories embedded within it. This was the story of the title “Maria, Maria”, but this was my least favourite one sadly, and I struggled to then find interest (hence why this will be getting 4****- it would’ve been a higher rating if not for this): it was apocalyptic/dystopian, with a cruel sister, and grief/survival. There were some wonderful atmospheric moments in this story and intriguing story-telling, but this one story did take up a good chunk of the book and I probably would’ve loved it more if the author included more short stories, rather than this extended one.

[Jenny Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories about magical realism is totally up my alley. Some of the stories are AMAZING and I wanted to them to become full novels. Some weren't for me. Overall a worthwhile collection.

[Emily Coffee and Commentary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imaginative, fun, and diverse stories that mix life and death, the mythical and the mundane, the known and the uncharted. Humorous, gothic, and filled with the terrible excitement of encountering that which is beyond the realm of the living, the average, the everyday, Maria Maria is a bright and interesting read.

[el · Rating 2 out of 5]

incredibly colorful (+ unique), but a bit too unwieldy for my tastes

[Tracey Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It sometimes feels like there is a secret world, accessible only to people who believe in the power of nature, have an interest in witchcraft, and revel in stories of courageous women. The residents of this world are often pushed to the fringes, and forced to dull their glow. In her debut collection, Maria, Maria, Marytza K. Rubio has created what feels like a guide to this world, with stories so vivid and enjoyable, the reader feels instantly transported.

This collection is ridiculously special. Every story is steeped in folklore, fantasy, feminism, and fun. Rubio’s sense of humor especially comes across in the opening story, Brujeria for Beginners, which transports us to a witchcraft class in a community college.

A really strong theme in this collection is family; Tunnels is the fascinating history of the Fogata family told through locations, and Moksha is an innocent story of two young sisters set against the world of vampire-like creatures. The finale, Maria, Maria, is a sweeping fantastical epic novella, about crumbling cities, revenge, psychic parents, and finding one’s true self.

Fans of surrealist artist and writer Leonora Carrington will adore this collection; her influence on Rubio is clear in Art Show, an exhibition of art created by animals. There are some truly special moments created through illustration; stay tuned to the end of the acknowledgments for a rewarding interactive element.

I could truly go on for hours about the beauty of each of the stories in the collection. The tales are so rich, colorful, and completely unforgettable. Marytza K. Rubio - you’ve got a fan for life right here.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half of this are short stories and the other half is the title novella. I really enjoyed all of these stories, especially the titular novella. These are California based Latine stories with brujas, futuristic dystopias and fortune telling. There is a lot of thematical commentary on generational trauma, the roll of women in the family and life after death. I am excited to see what else she puts out in the future. The novella is fantasy dystopia with folklore elements and its that fusion of concepts is unique and something I loved experience, in addition to just a solid writing style.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropigoth short story collection

A widow goes to extreme lengths to fulfil her husband’s wishes, two starstruck sisters make a wish on holiday, a young woman has a lepidopterous rebirth.

From the opening story’s bossy schoolmarm voice addressing ‘you’ (the second person), the reader sits up and pays attention. With offbeat humour filled with gothic warmth, Maria, Maria draws on superstitions and folklore from the Americas.

With thanks to NetGalley and W W Norton for the ARC.

[Sunny Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stories, some less memorable ones though unfortunately

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the description of “tropigoth”, I knew I had to try this for spooky season! Rubio does a great job evoking atmosphere, but there was something lacking in some of the stories, IMO. (Average rating 4/5)

I think it might be a matter of context, though. I have connections with Latin American culture and know a decent amount about history and mythology of the region, but it still felt like there were things I was missing when it came to figuring out exactly what some stories were trying to say – and I can only imagine someone without that background would be even more lost. For instance, I understood the bit about the hummingbirds in ‘Art Show’…but only because I know that Aztec warriors who died in battle were said to be reincarnated as hummingbirds (and also that real hummingbirds are more aggressive than most people think!). But the story doesn’t tell you that, nor is there a footnote, you just have to know to get the joke.

Brujería for beginners - Pretty fun getting ONLY the teacher’s side of the dialog. Plus the fact that this class is happening in a school that teaches regular chemistry and physics is funny. 4.5⭐️
Tijuca - Gorgeous imagery, but would be happier with ending if it was clearer that she loved her late husband. 3⭐️
Tunnels - Sooo…I get it (it’s about a reconquista of the Americas). But I don’t think I actually understand what’s happening, specifically. 3⭐️
Art Show - Love the animal theme, and many of them are quite funny. Especially those bloodthirsty little hummingbirds! 4⭐️
Clap if you believe - There are lots of good moments and details in this, and I like the reminder that a weird program like a junior CIA exists/existed - but I have no idea how to interpret it as a whole. 3⭐️
Moksha - Love the idea of a boardwalk “museo de las chupasangres” that is about actual vampire history, and the vampire pop star struggling to find new ways to reinvent herself 4⭐️
Burial - Man, where can I get a sabertooth friend? 5⭐️
Carlos across space and time - “She knows he doesn’t need her to mourn him. He doesn’t need you to mourn him. He needs us to remember his future in a different way.” 5⭐️
Paint by numbers - A creative color-based way to tell a story of cyclical (police) violence. 5⭐️
Maria Maria - Unexpectedly novella-length…but I don’t know why. It kind of meanders, with the sense of what actually happened ending up being as vague as some much shorter stories. I DO like the transforming Marias, and the interesting reinterpretation of the Little Mermaid, though! 3.5⭐️

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Brujería for Beginners” ⇝ 3 stars
“Tijuca” ⇝ 5 stars
“Tunnels” ⇝ 3 stars
“Art Show” ⇝ 4 stars
“Clap If You Believe” ⇝ 4 stars
“Moksha” ⇝ 4 stars
“Burial” ⇝ 3 stars
“Carlos Across Space and Time” ⇝ 2 stars
“Paint by Numbers” ⇝ 5 stars
“Maria, Maria” ⇝ 4 stars

[Ady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this collection of short stories. I’m bummed not to see this on the short list for the National Book Award. I love short stories and I love magical realism… but both can be touch and go for me with the execution. THIS book is a winner though. I enjoyed every story. (PS. This book has big “October” vibes to me, so I suggest you get your hands on it and read it now.)

[ReadBecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a collection, the short stories were very solid with no actual duds, but no new favorites. However, the titular novella I legitimately couldn't follow, it felt kind of surreal in its telling. I think over all good, I really liked the vibes and quality of the writing, but there is no real cohesion across the stories I could notice and didn't get along with the novella in the end.

[Christopher Alonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in the most focused blur. Magical. Metaphorical. 4.5

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this! Witchy, spooky, and magical. I loved every single story, they were all so unique yet connected by magical realism and powerful women, and rooted in Mexican brujeria/witchcraft. I also loved the way nature and the environment played a strong roll in the stories. Each story was so atmospheric and just the right amount of spooky, with mystery and ambiguity, and beautiful writing.

An incredible debut, I can't wait to get a hard copy and re-read this, especially to see all of the little bits of art throughout the book. This is definitely a new favorite of the year for me.

I highly recommend this to fans Carmen Maria Machado and/or magical realism with strong women characters and witchy vibes.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced e-copy of this.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

She has an interesting voice and writing style, there's both lightness and darkness here both at once. I just don't think I'm the reader for this book. I had a hard time staying engaged. I don't want to discourage others from trying it though. Not every book is for every reader!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is underrated. Let me say it again… this.book.is.underrated. I don’t mean this book has a lower rating than I believe it deserves. What I mean is… why isn’t everyone reading this? So I guess it would be more accurate to say it is woefully under-read.

It’s a 5 ⭐️ from me. This collection is described as “tropigoth” (tropical + goth). The stories feature amazing Latinx characters, wild creatures, magic, tarot, grief, power. The author toes the line between literary fiction and horror. The writing is LUSH, there’s no better way to describe it. I could feel the breeze from ocean, hear the macaws, smell the mangoes. I was completely immersed. The collection begins with several fairly short speculative stories and ends with the novella Maria, Maria which was stunning.

[Juli Rahel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every culture has its own folklore, its own myths, its own fantastical creatures. Getting to explore these is one of my favourite things to do. Another one of my favourite things is seeing folklore and myth re-imagined, repurposed for modern times and modern trials. This is where the stunning Maria, Maria comes in. Thanks to W.W. Norton & Company, Liveright and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay.

Short stories truly are an artform all to themselves. In my more naive years I thought that short stories must be easier, since they are shorter than full-blown novels. Over the years I have come to realise that nothing is quite as hard as crafting a good short story. You have a limited number of pages, even words, to make your point and yet your story needs to have all the depth and structure of a full novel. Maria, Maria heavily focuses on characteriation to pull this fine balance of and she does so masterfully. Each of these stories feels thematically connected and yet each story stands on its own as well. Maria, Maria also does Magical Realism in the way I adore, meaning magic quite simply is as real as the rest of the world. It isn't questioned or disbelieved, but rather an element of the natural world that some of us can tap in to. In doing so, Rubio creates a world that at once feels familiar and oddly unheimlich.

The first story 'Brujería for Beginners' immediately grabbed my attention and let me know I was in for a good time. As a community college professor walks her class through their first lessons in magic, you get your first glimpses into the magical realism and harsh reality Rubio works with. This story is also told almost entirely through direct address from the professor to her students and I loved how Rubio used this form to tell her story. 'Tijuca' tells the tale of a widow willing to go rather far to bring her late husband to his final rest, while searching for her own as well. 'Tunnels' is a beautifully complex story about a family, told through small burst of narrative, as they search for a way to survive and preserve their land and culture. 'Art Show' is abstract in a delightful way, describing the different displays at an art show put on by ... animals? 'Clap If You Believe' features a sighting of Satan, a magic aunt, and difficult mother-daughter relationships.

'Moksha' is a story of chupasangres, sister bonds, and eternal musicians. This story has a late summer, 'we are eternally young'-vibe which I adored. 'Burial' is a story of loss and growing up, with an accidental resurrected sabretooth tiger. 'Carlos Across Space and Time' is also about loss, but rather about finding the right ending, the right kind of departure, the right kind of farewell. It was oddly touching in its journey across space and time. 'Paint by Numbers' is another odd one, a very short story told through different colours which come together to paint a grim picture.
Last comes the title story, 'Maria, Maria'. This is a story of cosmological mythology, but also of sisters and mothers and daughters. Maite has to make her way across an almost post-apocalyptic California to locate her aunt, who was written a book about the Marias, after the death of her mother. Interspersed are the stories of Maria de los Santos, the First maria, and Maria del Mar. There is a magic to this last story especially, which brings home the various themes and ideas from the other stories. It truly amazed me by its scope and lyric writing.

As far as I can tell this is Marytza K. Rubio's first fully-fledged, independent, short story collection and what a way to enter the scene. Her writing overflows with imagery and real feeling, without ever getting overly emotional or dramatic. It tells the story of generational trauma, of being Othered, of trying to preserve a culture in the face of backlash. It is a collection of difficult and dark women, girls with a touch of magic, and men with heavy burdens. Maria, Maria imagines a California that is almost a jungle, a place that crosses between worlds. I don't know whether "tropigoth" is an already established term, but it felt very apt once I'd read my way through Rubio's stories. There is the gothic darkness of inherited trauma, but also the sweltering intensity of the tropics. It feels derivative to compare Rubio's writing to that of Maria Carmen Machado or Silvia Moreno Garcia, but I do believe she brings a similar talent to the table. She shares their interest in elevating the mythology of the Americas, of highlighting oppression and colonialism, of centring women who avoid easy description. I cannot wait to read more by Marytza K. Rubio in the future!

Maria, Maria very quickly worked its way onto my "favourite reads" list. Her stories are stunning, complex, and vividly drawn, yet are also deeply human. Her stories have summoned many images which will stay with me for a long time.

URL: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/...

[Daniel Knopf · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

It’s a bit hard for me to review this book because so much of it went over my head. I found most of the stories and the novella confusing and unsatisfying, and this reads much more like poetry than literature.

[Tiffany Perez-Cantu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories about magical realism 🥰🥰🥰🥰 my favorite

[Ness (Vynexa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to W. W. Norton and Company for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who recently got into short story collections, I'm still trying to figure out what I enjoy/don't enjoy in them. This collection was pretty enjoyable and had aspects that I did enjoy.

The writing is luscious, very vivid in the way it talks about brujeria and spells.
Some stories were more enjoyable than others, but overall, I enjoyed this collection.

RATINGS:

- Brujeria For Beginners: 3 ⭐️
- Tijuca: 4 ⭐️
- Tunnels: 3.5 ⭐️
- Art Show: 3.5 ⭐️
- Clap If You Believe: 3.5 ⭐️
- Moksha: 4 ⭐️
- Burial: 4 ⭐️
- Carlos Across Space and Time: 4 ⭐️
- Paint By Numbers: 2.5 ⭐️
- Maria, Maria: 3 ⭐️ *Entirely too long, was pretty confusing*

Can see many people really liking, even loving, this collection. I know that I will return to it some time in the future and will take more from it than I did this time around.

⭐️ 3.5 STARS⭐️

[Anna Evans Eklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Did you know the earth holds its muscles in excruciating stillness for you? It does, and it asks for very little in return.” (DRC, 38%)

Guhhhhh this collection tore me open. More detailed review to come when I can put words together properly.

[Kima Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire collection is spellbinding, but the title story takes a rare talent to pull off. It was an immersive reading experience that expanded my belief in what is possible on the page.

[readundancies · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

I am still reeling from the fact that this is a debut collection.

Because it was phenomenal.

Like truly, I could not get enough of Marytza K. Rubio’s writing; it was so mesmerizing and transportive and I could never guess where she was going to take us next. There were so many great themes explored too, from family and sisterhood to ecological conservation and nature taking back that which has been stolen from her.

For a little more in depth look at each story, I give you my thoughts on the following:

Brujería for Beginners: 5/5
- This prose is so luscious. Already we’re only a couple of pages in and I’m in love with the prose.
- The format is perfect for this kind of narrative and the references to Physics 101 and how they share an agreement regarding students drifting between the two classes is chefs kiss.
- And Spike and his eviction from the class at the end? Loved it. Loved the whole vibe of this short story and I think it was such a strong story to start with.

Tijuca: 5/5
- Did not expect the ending although as I think about it in hindsight, it’s actually kind of on point. It just makes such logical sense, ya know?
- The small snipes at Ada’s children and their disapproval at her following through with Armand’s last wishes added to the magical realism element of this story and the vague animosity she had towards them as a mother was doing it for me. I love a sprinkle of animosity in a story where it’s not the focus and this delivered.
- And the labels she gave herself that changed throughout the story? I loved how they coincided with her obedience or lack thereof of Armand’s instructions.

Tunnels: 4.5/5
- Interesting choice to highlight location throughout this story.
- This book has a character with my name in it and I am struggling because I did not see it coming and it makes me wildly uncomfortable and that is a me problem but it needed to be said.
- The ending hits so good. The combination of ecology with the pigeons and jaguars rising up in alliance with the Fogatas in an effort of reclamation? So good.

Art Show: 4.5/5
- This needed to be longer. I could’ve read twenty more instalments and it would’ve been too little.
- The savage quips throughout were all so effectively laid out in each piece. And so believable as well.
- Loved the humour infused in these.

Clap If You Believe: 4.25/5
- I loved the family depiction in this one. Disagreement coupled with reluctant resignation and eventual acceptance.
- I also found the execution to be very well done. There’s a lot of setup but such little elaboration when trauma is associated with the backstory, so that the focus remains on the present day occult happenings and how the narrator is trying to separate truth from fiction.
- I do wish the opening sentence had more relevance to the story as a whole, mostly because what a banger of a sentence to start a story with!

Moksha: 5/5
- Well fuck me, I loved this.
- The writing immediately sucked me in, and the prose. THE PROSE. I might buy a physical copy of this collection for this story alone, the prose is that transportive.
- And that sneaky foreshadowing? Just brilliantly put together.

Burial: 4/5
- I liked this, but wasn’t entirely sure what I was supposed to be getting out of it.
- Between following the narrator throughout her life and how Saturn, her tiger, wove in and out of the tale all willy nilly, I could embrace the strange but never really got around to understanding it.
- My least favourite of the collection, but that’s mostly based on my confusion surrounding the plot and how everything was connected.

Carlos Across Space and Time: 5/5
- Oh this one was good. The multiverse premise through the broken looking glass? Bloody brilliant.
- I loved the inverse of Carlos upchucking a bullet out of nowhere in one universe alongside the yellow gun that shot bubbles in the primary world.
- This, like many of the other stories in this collection would’ve made my day if it was just a bit longer. But I enjoyed it all the same.

Paint by Numbers: 4.25/5
- This could’ve been longer and I don’t think it would’ve suffered because I found myself wanting more of it.
- The narrative paired with the paint by numbers format was so creative. It was so easy to flip back and forth and imagine each colour shaded in alongside the picture being painted of the story as well.
- It felt very experimental and I have to say, for me it was a success.

Maria, Maria: 4.5/5
- This was the longest of the short stories and I liked how versatile it was; there were maps and drawings and origami diagrams and footnotes/editing notes and they all really helped keep the pace moving along.
- The imagery and worldbuilding of the jungle, Aguamictlan and Rio was stunning. And all of the characters, Marias and not were so vividly painted, I was entranced.
- I loved the mini stories within the story, parable infused foreshadowing and all. But I do wish the ending packed a little bit more of a punch. Not from a plot perspective, but just a forceful way to end the collection as a whole in terms of emotional firepower.

I got more and more excited about this collection the further I got through it, and since it was a library read, you can bet your ass that I’ve made it a priority to nab a physical copy for my collection.

So if you’re seeking a short story collection that will take your breath away with it’s strange and supernatural elements and fantastic worldbuilding, definitely pick this one up. I cannot recommend it enough and will definitely be checking out everything Marytza comes out with in the future.

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

Maria, Maria is a playful, witchy collection of short stories written in different experimental formats. While I didn’t fall head over heels, I had a lot of fun reading this one.

For you if: You like short (occasionally really short!) stories steeped in metaphor and magic.

FULL REVIEW:

Longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, Maria, Maria and Other Stories is a playful, witchy collection that experiments with form and steeps itself in metaphor and Latine culture. As anyone who even loosely follows my reviews will know, this kind of thing is extremely my sh*t. And while I didn’t fall head over heels in love, I definitely had a lot of fun reading it.

These stories, set mostly in Latin-American cities, take all different shapes. We have a teacher conducting a class on witchcraft, an art exhibit showcasing art by animals, a woman who travels to Brazil to plant her deceased husband’s head in the earth, a dystopian future described in location-specific vignettes, and more. The last story is a novella and shares a title with the book.

In many ways, this is a collection of opposing forces: levity and darkness, life and death, love and grief, magic and the mundane. Rubio explores them all in ways that can be either enjoyed quickly or contemplated more deeply — which one depends on the reader. I found myself drawn to linger on the metaphors in some stories and happy to read and then move on from others. I thought the opening story was one of the strongest. I also really loved “Paint by Numbers,” which is practically microfiction and almost more like narrative poetry than a story.

If you’re open to experimental formats and love a witchy vibe, pick this one up.



CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Death of a spouse; Violence/murder; Kidnapping and sexual violence (off-screen, not described); Gun violence

[LindaJ^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because it was longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for fiction. The first 144 pages contain nine short stories; the last 88 pages contain a novella of the same name as the book. It is an outstanding mix of magic, fantasy, animals, and drawings. I thought it was great. I believe the author is Mexican-American. She describes her book as a short story collection full of creatures and clandestine rituals set across the tropics and megacities of the Americas, including a reimagined California rainforest. I am happy with the range of worlds that are presented in this collection, including a multiverse story that nearly broke my brain in my attempts to grasp quantum physics, and a tender decapitation. See https://www.granumfoundation.org/news....

Some of the stories are on the dark side with a measure of humor (e.g., Brujeria for Beginners). Some are accompanied by the author's drawings (e.g., Paint by Numbers). All are a treat. The long story that fills more than the last third of the book -- Maria, Maria -- is itself composed of shorter stories and is quite innovative. A good choice for Halloween reading.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in love with this collection through the many short stories. I am a huge fan of magical realism. This leans more toward the magic, but still keeps grounded in a world we recognize, even if it isnt ours.

And then I got into the longest work that gives the book its title : Maria, Maria. To do that story justice, it really needed more space and a bit more chronology because I got lost. It is more toward futurism / fantasy, which worked really well. But, I am usually pretty good at going on the trips that the books take and keeping my bearings. I often see reviews on books that I love where others got lost or missed the point. But this one got very confusing. At the end, I think I can untangle it some and be ok if I read it again. But I didn't like it enough to read again. I understand why everyone is named Maria, and how the line between individual and group is purposely blurred, but without something else to hang onto it is so very hard to keep up.

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Thanks to Liveright Publishing and Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with an ARC of this novel, that just hit the bookstores a couple of days ago.-

Real rating is 3.5. Mostly because I'm not a big fan of short stories, as I normally need more of the good stuff, and also because of how hard is to maintain consistency in quality across tales.

This collection focuses on magic realism, and brujería, sorority, and the power of earth are some recurrent themes, on what's actually a very cohesive book throughout.

Of course, I enjoyed some stories more than others. Some of them were a little bit too heavy on the conceptual side for my taste, and I found 'Maria, Maria' (the longest one) to be a little bit too disperse on its narrative. But, overall, this was a very charming assortment of magic tales, from a compelling and distinctive new (as its her first collection) voice.

[madcrazyreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid four stars.

This collection of short stories deals with some pretty grim subject matter, but does so with deft wit and a light hand. You come away smiling more often than not; reading this collection is akin to admiring a Dia de Los Muertos altar.

My usual disclaimer for short story collections is that there is usually at least one weak point, but thankfully the consistency here is quite steady and overall very high. The weakest story I'd say is also the shortest, a cute exercise imagining a color by numbers chart in particularly morbid hues.

I would recommend this to most readers, especially anyone interested in Mexican culture and strong female characters.

[Leo Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imaginative ideas, for sure.
I found the stories could have benefited from more detailed prose. Yet also sometimes the words seemed to circle their intent without actually revealing it, and due to this, I never really felt their depth.
I think I really craved seeing the author's strengths play out in a boring, old, straightforward, structured story more than like, a few wispy sentences about pigeons and jaguars avenging land grabs.

[Lauren Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not finish. I got this book because I was excited about the multiple short stories and how they would weave together but I got a little lost in it. I think I could try it again one day when I am paying more attention maybe ? Three characters named Maria when you’re not fully paying attention does not go well