bookdragon217's reviews
591 reviews

Happy New Years Eve! I recently read Christmas Night of the Scurry Flurry by E. Reyes and I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect read for the season. Who doesn't love some Christmas horror? 

This was a wild, fast-paced novella that will have you experiencing the right amount of gore but get you in all the nostalgic feels of classic 80's and 90's horror films. I loved seeing the references to some of my childhood favorites. If you love Gremlins, Critters,  and Child's Play, just to name a few, then you will totally adore this one. 

Although this was a short one, I felt like the pacing and character development were perfect. I got to know enough about the characters to be fully invested and appreciate their unique personalities. I love a good foodie book and this one had me craving all the Mexican holiday foods. Overall, I adored this one and can't wait to read more or E. Reyes' stories. Latinx horror is underrated and I hope you will read this one and give diverse horror try.

"Whenever she falls, they will prepare the space for her to land. Just as she will for them, your mother, your sister, and you. This is the connection and love that slides between all hardships and gives even the toughest life humor, meaning, heart, heft. This is the unspoken covenant of Native women." 

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott was an incredible read. Elliott's storytelling was spellbinding and I enjoyed the way she blended elements of  horror, sci-fi and mystery I to this tale. Alice was a captivating protagonist and one I won't easily forget. This one tackled heavy themes of Native motherhood, mental illness, racism, alcoholism, forced removal and adoption of babies, MMIW2S issues, cultural appropriation and erasure of history in academia and white savior complex. The way Eliott personified these as true horror was so vivid that I felt like I was in Alice's mind and thoughts the while time. I felt her dread and mistrust. I couldn't help but relate to her concerns about her sanity and motherhood because BIPOC people always have their fitness to parent scrutinized by racist white people. Native peoples especially have a long history of having rheir children taken away forever. 

I was not expecting the time shift and plot twist towards the last section of the book, but this was brought the main themes full circle. This is where you see the resilience of Native women and their unwavering support for each other. Here is where you see how it is through their Native ways of life and connection to their community that they support each other through healing their traumas. It is also how they support and protect each other. Elliott also notes that Native women also get hurt by Native men, not just outsiders. For the women in this story, their medicine is each other and this is the legacy they leave to future generations. The key to their survival is to stay connected to their roots. 

This is the first of Elliott's books I read but I am so excited to read her other books because her writing style really spotlights the power of Native storytelling. Her voice is commanding, authentic and takes up all the space in a room. I highly recommend you read this one.

"I'm begging us all to begin
Make initial contact
Not let government dictate how we give back
An ancestral lineage of generations
That spoke up and woke up to reclaim and take back
Life"

My Afro-Rican State of Soul by Lucas Rivera was a poetic journey through Afro-rican identity, masculinity, fatherlessness, forgiveness, spirituality, solidarity with humanity, oppression and redefining love in all its forms. I loved how the collection was structured because it takes you through the different stages of the poet's growth. Some of the poems have a bar code that links you to the musical performance piece that accompanies that selection. It made for a greater reading experience because you get to hear and feel the rhythm of certain pieces and they're really brought to life. The collection is cohesive and as a reader you can relate to the author's healing journey. You get to know the places where Rivera grew up because he gives them a life of their own. The collection is an insightful view of what it means to be Puerto Rican in the diaspora and how community and love get you through the hard times.

Some stand out pieces for me were:
🪇 Defining Love: connecting how societal oppression has shaped ideas of masculinity 

🪘 The Many Shades of My Ghetto: how being born Black marks you a suspect before your accent has a chance to mark you as othered

🪇 A Retrospective of Regret: how the path to find your own sense of faith does not happen without rebellion

🪘 An American Dilemma: examines the state of the U.S. soul 

If you are looking to add more diasporican poetry to your collection, pick this one and enjoy the ride. Thanks to @lucasrivera247 for sending me a copy. 

Characters very unlikable, not in the mood to read it

"...—because to children, adults were not always the protectors. Adults were the ones who brought about wickedness and regret."

Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo was October's book club pick and I am still thinking about it. Pelayo's writing was atmospheric, full of depth, and seeped with so much dark Chicago history. Her storytelling is superb. She made me rethink fairytales, and their influences in society. I'm definitely seeing the Pied Piper fairytale through a new lens. Chicago was brought to life and I can't wait to uncover more of the city's layers in her other works. Pelayo really set the tone for this one with the clever nods to Candyman, Nightmare on Elm Street and Bloody Mary. There were definite moments when I was scared and could feel the hairs on my arm stand up. 

Pelayo explores the complexities of so many themes including:
👤 unresolved childhood trauma and anger 
👤 dark side and history of fairytales
👤 the ways adults can be monsters and fail to protect children
👤 the violent, bloody foundations of major big cities
👤 effects of gentrification on inner city populations
👤 how the past can degrade the individual & collective spirit 
👤 the ways in which children for the sins of adults 
👤 how the genre of horror provides a mirror to society
👤 how violence steals dreams and changes future outcomes
👤 how children will sometimes go to any lengths to secure their own happiness
👤 how Catholic schools don't save you from the violence of the hood
👤 how secrets fester and resurface when not brought to the light and confronted 

If you have never read horror before, then this one is a great place to start. The story is gripping with a setting that comes to life. You'll be wrapped up in the mystery and emotion. You'll love the nostalgia of the classic horror movie vibes. Last but not least, the latinx and boricua representation give it even more extra flavor. Children of Chicago will leave a lasting mark on you & leave you craving for more of Pelayo's stories. I highly recommend  you pick this one up, read Pelayo's backlist and pre-order whatever Pelayo has coming next. There's a reason she's the first Puerto woman to win a Stroker award.