Reclaim the Stars

by Zoraida Córdova

[Quirky Cat]

Who can resist an anthology full of magical realism and stars? I certainly can't. Reclaim the Stars consists of seventeen short stories, all of which are centered around one main subject: space and the stars beyond. That is not the only element tying these stories together, as they all feature the Latin American diaspora. In other words – this is an absolute must-read!

There are so many talented authors involved in this project, including ita Ayala, David Bowles, J.C. Cervantes, Sara Faring, Romina Garber, Isabel Ibanez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Circe Moskowitz, Maya Motayne, Linda Raquel Nieves Perez, Daniel Jose Older, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, and Lilliam Rivera. I'm going to try a slightly different review format down below and just stick to my immediate reactions to every short. We'll see how I like this format going forward?

Reign of Diamonds by Anna-Marie Mclemore
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Reign of Diamonds is a classic sapphic and enemies-to-lovers story, which is always a delight in my book. It's a solid start to the anthology and helps set the tone for what is to come. In other words, it's perfect.

Flecha by Daniel Jose Older
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Flecha is apparently a prequel to Daniel Jose Older's Flood City, so now I'm going to be adding that book to my TBR. As if I wasn't already drowning in books. But I want to see how the story develops from here.

The First Day of Us by David Bowles
Rating: ★ ★ ★
I found The First Day of Us to be mildly confusing, mostly due to the perspectives. I don't normally have an issue following along with this style though, so it might have been the mood/tiredness level I was in?

The Tin Man by Lilliam Rivera
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Tin Man is super sweet, and quickly became one of my favorites from this anthology. It stands out a bit in my mind even now, so I would really make a point of reading this short story if you get the chance.

This is Our Manifesto by Mark Oshiro
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Ohh, if you love tales of rebellions and the like, then you're really going to enjoy This is Our Manifesto.

Creatures of Kings by Circe Moskowitz
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Dark and twisted – just the way I like it. I honestly would do just about anything to get more of this story. No seriously, what do I need to do?

Eterno by J.C. Cervantes
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Okay, Eterno is another contender for top shorts in this anthology. I would read a thousand more pages if they existed if only to get a chance to see more of the world and mythos within.

White Water, Blue Ocean by Linda Raquel Nieves Perez
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Family curses and acceptance? This is my jam. I really enjoyed White Water, Blue Ocean – the writing was strong and the themes even stronger.

Leyenda by Romina Garber
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
There are a lot of tropes in Leyenda – but that actually made it a lot of fun for me. I could totally see this one getting extended, though I'm happy with what was already made available.

Color-Coded by Maya Motayne
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Okay, I love the core concept of Color-Coded. It's quite clever. We have obvious tropes/elements such as puberty and teens, but we also have magical realism. The two merge together in surprising ways, making for an entertaining read.

Magical Offerings by Nina Moreno
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Luz is a fantastic leading character for this story, and honestly? I'm saying it a lot with this anthology, but I mean it: I want more.

Rogue Enchantments by Isobel Ibanez
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Another really sweet short story. Rogue Enchantments is basically set to steal all our hearts, and you can't convince me otherwise.

Sumaiko Y La Sirena by Vita Ayala
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Fairytales and romance blend together (again) to create the foundation for Sumaiko Y La Sirena. It worked really well here, especially as Vita Ayala's writing is phenomenal (as always).

River People by Yamile Saied Mendez
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
The title is quite indicative of this tale, and there is SO much depth hidden within this one. I honestly was sad when it ended.

Moonglow by Sara Faring
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Moonglow is an extremely strong and powerful read. However, it is definitely not for everyone. Trigger warnings include abortions, detailed medical issues, emotional abuse/trauma.

Killing El Chivo by Claribel A. Ortega
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Avenging witches! Assemble? But seriously, once again I love the core concept of this tale. Killing El Chivo made for a tense but great read, one that wasn't afraid to toy with my anxiety.

Tame the Wicked Night by Zoraida Cordova
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tame the Wicked Night is essentially a retelling of Beauty and the Beast – and I LOVE it. It's so much richer than the original, and I want more.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks