Reclaim The Stars is a collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories by a variety of authors all from the Latin diaspora. This is beautifully edited by Zoraida Córdova. The book begins with a letter she wrote to the readers and I was hooked immediately. Córdova reminiscences about childhood memories of believing in many superstitions, such as the danger of crying attracting La Llorna. She explains that she will “often tell people that being Latina means that magic is inherently part of my existence,” and I couldn’t agree more. The introduction was beautifully written, and I felt connected to Córdova and the tone she set for these magical stories.
I loved so many of these stories. After finishing each one, my jaw would drop or I would gasp because I needed to hear more about the world and the characters. There were so many times I wished that I could read an entire book based on one of the short stories. These stories cover many topics from the importance of family to family expectations to even climate change, with a sprinkle of magic or magical creatures. I personally have not read many fantasy or science fiction stories and these were a perfect introduction that made me enjoy the magic and root for the main characters. I also loved that a lot of the protagonists in this book are women and they are depicted as strong women who overcome problems. Most of the time, they were able to conquer their issues by reconnecting to their roots and remembering who they are. This was an admirable theme to read throughout the book.
In addition, I enjoyed the range of stories and the fact that the book is divided into three parts: to the stars; the magical now; and other times, other realms. The title of the section is a teaser for the setting of the short stories within the section. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is craving the magic of the Latinx community and wishes to travel and meet many beloved magical characters. This was one of my most anticipated for 2022 and it did not disappoint!
Mariana Felix-Kim (she/her) lives in Washington, D.C. with her lovely cat, Leo. When she is not working in the environmental science field, Mariana is constantly reading. Her favorite genres include non-fiction, thrillers, and contemporary romances. Mariana is half Mexican and half Korean. You can find her on Instagram: @mariana.reads.books
