Scan barcode
A review by bandysbooks
Malas by Marcela Fuentes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I came across Malas on a recent trip to San Diego. I was doing a bookstore crawl and in one of the shops I stopped in, Malas was prominently displayed. I was immediately attracted by the cover and title, but knew I was sold once I read the summary.
I love the supernatural feeling that weaves through the storyline in the past initially. There are mysterious things happening and not a lot of explanation, but it beautifully creates a creeping sense of dread.
The present day POV, which centers on a young woman named Lulu as her quinceañera approaches. She’s despondent over the loss of her grandmother and rage filled at her father’s irrational behaviors. She’s also figuring out her bodily autonomy and relationships. I found this POV a bit more tiresome than others as we are essentially trapped in the head of a teenager. What I will say is that I found it fairly realistic.
In terms of character development, both of our main characters grow quite a bit. There are definitely some messy family dynamics at play and seeing what changes that thrusts upon each of them was very interesting. In particular, Lulu experiences a sort of coming of age, being forced to deal with some things that most teenagers don’t have to reckon with.
That said, about halfway through the book, the conclusion becomes fairly obvious, so it sucks a bit of tension out of the narrative. I did still enjoy reading till the end. It just didn’t feel as urgent as it moved toward the conclusion.
All in all, I thought this was a solid debut novel with an interesting plot and believable characters. I will definitely read Fuentes’ future books and in particular, think this book would suit someone who enjoys complex family dynamics, coming of age, and the lightest touch of mystery.
I love the supernatural feeling that weaves through the storyline in the past initially. There are mysterious things happening and not a lot of explanation, but it beautifully creates a creeping sense of dread.
The present day POV, which centers on a young woman named Lulu as her quinceañera approaches. She’s despondent over the loss of her grandmother and rage filled at her father’s irrational behaviors. She’s also figuring out her bodily autonomy and relationships. I found this POV a bit more tiresome than others as we are essentially trapped in the head of a teenager. What I will say is that I found it fairly realistic.
In terms of character development, both of our main characters grow quite a bit. There are definitely some messy family dynamics at play and seeing what changes that thrusts upon each of them was very interesting. In particular, Lulu experiences a sort of coming of age, being forced to deal with some things that most teenagers don’t have to reckon with.
That said, about halfway through the book, the conclusion becomes fairly obvious, so it sucks a bit of tension out of the narrative. I did still enjoy reading till the end. It just didn’t feel as urgent as it moved toward the conclusion.
All in all, I thought this was a solid debut novel with an interesting plot and believable characters. I will definitely read Fuentes’ future books and in particular, think this book would suit someone who enjoys complex family dynamics, coming of age, and the lightest touch of mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol