whoa.

this is the darkest, saddest, awfulest, most unbearable story, but it is so very real and so important.

technically it's magical realism, but the magic comes at a far second and there is no loveliness here - in fact, i wouldn't rely on the synopsis or marketing at all - but once i overcame my confusion i was able to appreciate this for the light it brings to untold stories.

a truly excellent debut.

bottom line: wow!

------------
currently-reading updates

murdered girl is transformed into a magic creature from filipino myth to undergo a quest that may or may not involve Revenge...

what could sound like a better read than that.

(thanks to netgalley etc for the e-arc)

------------

reading books by asian authors for aapi month!

book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
book 16: chemistry
book 17: heaven
book 18: the atlas six
book 19: the remains of the day
book 20: is everyone hanging out without me? and other concerns
book 21: why not me?
book 22: when the tiger came down the mountain
book 23: the lies we tell
book 24: to paradise
book 25: pachinko
book 26: you are eating an orange. you are naked.
book 27: cursed bunny
book 28: almond
book 29: a tiny upward shove