hsienhsien27's review
5.0
On Goodreads, it says that this book came out from Broken River Books, the dark and maybe surreal, judging by the book covers, noir small press publisher. But the Kindle version is from Lady Box Books which is an imprint of Broken River. I’ve been stalking Ladybox Books ever since its making. It’s a press dedicated to publishing female identifying writers. If that isn’t awesome, then I don’t know what else is, especially since a Woman of Color, a Latina, is involved in this and has her book published in this budding small press.
Just look at the cover and fondle it with your eyes for a few seconds. I haven’t been reading much Sci-Fi so I will admit the genre fiction aspect scared me off, despite that my reader senses were like “Buy it, god dang it! or put it on a wish list and buy it soon.” And then it was on sale and I finally got it. So why do I keep rambling, because I don’t have much to say with short stories, I hate that I’m always short on words when it comes to short story collections.
The Pulse Between Dimensions and the Desert is a collection of stories I have been waiting for. It’s rare for me to read a collection and enjoy 90% of the stories. But this is one of them. It contains a strong personal, cut-throat reality with a quirky bizarre Sci-Fi that is pretty darn close to bizarro and I’m thinking of C.V. Hunt right now, but honestly I suck at comparisons. Some of the stories are Young adult or take place from a young child, it’s so odd how de la Luz is able to write a children’s story that is so innocent yet so highly aware of how a child is so sensitive to other people’s lurking evilness, they are wide awake.
There’s time machines, aliens, laser guns, and girls beating up dudes, it’s not sweet at all despite the pretty book cover. The stories are surreal and eccentric and are not guilty for going further than that. The prose is in Spanglish and written more like narrative poetry than traditional prose, especially with the use of “you,” which I was surprised to see since most writers and readers, from what I’ve heard of consider the second person perspective to be ‘pretentious’ or overdone. This is the second time I’ve come across this, the first time, from what I remember was Arafat Mountain by Mike Kleine, which was published by Atatl Press. But I never finished that book, I only read the first few pages, I will in the future though. You are very tricky, you can be something that can get a little perplexing, but you are awesome, because it’s like de la Luz is talking to you, leading you by the hand through the story. She is whispering about every moment about her fictional life. You listen and you nod, she is bleeding, crying, her wet eyeliner creating a sort of black blush for her cheeks that she totally messed up somehow. And you keep listening because it’s hard to turn away.
Rating: 5/5
Originally posted on Notes on the Shore
Just look at the cover and fondle it with your eyes for a few seconds. I haven’t been reading much Sci-Fi so I will admit the genre fiction aspect scared me off, despite that my reader senses were like “Buy it, god dang it! or put it on a wish list and buy it soon.” And then it was on sale and I finally got it. So why do I keep rambling, because I don’t have much to say with short stories, I hate that I’m always short on words when it comes to short story collections.
The Pulse Between Dimensions and the Desert is a collection of stories I have been waiting for. It’s rare for me to read a collection and enjoy 90% of the stories. But this is one of them. It contains a strong personal, cut-throat reality with a quirky bizarre Sci-Fi that is pretty darn close to bizarro and I’m thinking of C.V. Hunt right now, but honestly I suck at comparisons. Some of the stories are Young adult or take place from a young child, it’s so odd how de la Luz is able to write a children’s story that is so innocent yet so highly aware of how a child is so sensitive to other people’s lurking evilness, they are wide awake.
There’s time machines, aliens, laser guns, and girls beating up dudes, it’s not sweet at all despite the pretty book cover. The stories are surreal and eccentric and are not guilty for going further than that. The prose is in Spanglish and written more like narrative poetry than traditional prose, especially with the use of “you,” which I was surprised to see since most writers and readers, from what I’ve heard of consider the second person perspective to be ‘pretentious’ or overdone. This is the second time I’ve come across this, the first time, from what I remember was Arafat Mountain by Mike Kleine, which was published by Atatl Press. But I never finished that book, I only read the first few pages, I will in the future though. You are very tricky, you can be something that can get a little perplexing, but you are awesome, because it’s like de la Luz is talking to you, leading you by the hand through the story. She is whispering about every moment about her fictional life. You listen and you nod, she is bleeding, crying, her wet eyeliner creating a sort of black blush for her cheeks that she totally messed up somehow. And you keep listening because it’s hard to turn away.
Rating: 5/5
Originally posted on Notes on the Shore
prcizmadia's review
3.0
Truly a gifted writer-- I think I just wanted more meat on the bones, but that's the nature of short fiction. Will definitely be watching out for any more works.
bookinvasion's review
4.0
A fantastical and dark collection of stories with a feeling of authenticity, heart, and horror. Written in Spanglish with a touch of twisted mythology akin to Gabino Iglesias.
thomaswjoyce's review
5.0
Beautiful, unflinching writing
This book reads like poetry, and the words are alive. I can smell the smells of the characters in each story, feel the touch of their breath on my face as I listen to their stories. The author's prose is magical, the cadence and style hypnotic. More, please!
This book reads like poetry, and the words are alive. I can smell the smells of the characters in each story, feel the touch of their breath on my face as I listen to their stories. The author's prose is magical, the cadence and style hypnotic. More, please!
exorcismofemilyreed's review
4.0
"We are specks in this mess. We are so miniscule, but we express ourselves with the magnitude of an entire galaxy."
This is my second Rios de la Luz book, and her storytelling is so damn good. This collection is entertaining, gorgeous, strange, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. There's a little something for everyone here. If you're a speculative fiction fan, I can't recommend Rios' books enough.
My top 5 stories in this collection are Enojada, Church Bush, Lady Mescaline, Esmai, and Rosario. There's so much fantastic content packed into this little book, and you need to read it!
This is my second Rios de la Luz book, and her storytelling is so damn good. This collection is entertaining, gorgeous, strange, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. There's a little something for everyone here. If you're a speculative fiction fan, I can't recommend Rios' books enough.
My top 5 stories in this collection are Enojada, Church Bush, Lady Mescaline, Esmai, and Rosario. There's so much fantastic content packed into this little book, and you need to read it!
mgdoherty's review
5.0
Everything in this collection was strange and wonderful and felt like a fractured version of a larger truth. The surrealist notes and time-travel references were such a wonderful surprise. I am so excited to read more of Rios de la Luz’s work!
vancruz's review
5.0
Arguably one of the best collection of short stories I've read in the past few years. It's the kind of book that you can't put down but force yourself to so you can enjoy and appreciate it longer.
I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to have a seat in Rios de la Luz' mind even if it was just for a a little while.
I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to have a seat in Rios de la Luz' mind even if it was just for a a little while.
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