Siren Queen, by Nghi Vo
(Tordotcom)
From childhood, the Chinese American girl who calls herself
Luli Wei has been fascinated by motion pictures. It’s the 1930s and silent
films are giving way to talkies. But this isn’t the Hollywood we know. Magic
lurks in strange corners, from the ticket-taker who swaps a bit of Luli’s hair
(and a bit of her life) for tickets to the Wild Hunt rampaging through the
studio lot in the dead of night. To Luli herself, who comes from a family in
which the women possess a bit of immortality. Beginning with a chance encounter
on a set to an offer of a contract, Luli rises through the ranks of girls
desperate for stardom. She’s all too aware that the roles for Asians are
limited to maids and fainting ladies who talk funny. So when the opportunity to
play a monstrous siren queen comes along, she throws herself into the role.
Along the way, she acquires friends, makes enemies, finds women lovers, and
becomes a pioneer. The story is powerful, gorgeously written, and both dark and
luminous.
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