DNF: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Siren Queen
by Nghi Vo
Narrator: Natalie Naudus
Published by Macmillan Audio
Publication Date May 10, 2022
Goodreads

From award-winning author Nghi Vo comes a dazzling new novel where immortality is just a casting call away.
It was magic. In every world, it was a kind of magic.
“No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.” Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.
But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.
'Siren Queen' offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page.

Reading Progress

Review

Siren Queen had an interesting premise however it was very slow going.  I felt like the author was trying to do too much with the plot.  A magical realism, historical novel set in pre-code Hollywood is a tall order and, unfortunately, it fell short.  Luli, our Esther Blodgettesque character never fully developed becoming the star of the novel I’d hoped she be.  The narration was flat and sing-song at the same time and would be a great voice to fall asleep to.  My hold at the library lapsed before I could finish Siren Queen, and didn’t bother to renew.   I was disappointed to have a DNF as it is something I rarely do, however, as the saying goes, too many book too little time.

Rating