A review by bookedbymadeline
The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera

dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Slow start but by the third chapter I was more engaged! I loved the Spanish interspersed throughout the book. I also loved the atmospheric descriptions! The Volcano Daughters is a historical novel with magical realism throughout, as our ghost narrators take us through Graciela and Consuelo’s life and we learn about the folklore of El Salvador.

The book is narrated in third person POV by Lourdes, Cora, María, and Lucía recounting the tale for us. It’s split into 3 parts, from early 1900s to 1932, 1932-38 and then finally ending in 1942!

First half focuses on the sisters’ lives in El Salvador, specifically Izalco, leading up to the massacre and then the second half is the aftermath. Sometimes the four narrators interject, bickering and adding side commentary-it was entertaining and reminded me of the muses in Disney’s Hercules! 

I learned so much about El Salvadorian history in terms of colonization and exploitation in taking land away from the indigenous peoples; making them work on farms to mass produce coffee and indigo as part of a “settler system” common at the time! Also that they had large Black and indigenous populations, referred to as Indians or Indiadas, that the government committed mass genocide against in 1932.

It was interesting learning the history and has made me want to learn more about El Salvador. I also appreciated the infusion of mythology and folklore! There’s talk about spirits that taunt or prank people, and La Cigua who haunts men and grieves for her stolden children.

The characters are also well written and although their stories are dark and emotional at times, I enjoyed following their stories getting to know them! The chapters could be a little long for my personal preference but it was an interesting and beautifully told story, giving voice to the indigenous women of El Salvador ❤️

Thank you to netgalley and one world publications for the eARC!

TW/CW: colonialism, genocide, xenophobia, racism, miscarriage, death, rape, blood, violence, suicide (brief mention), emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, sexual harassment, police brutality, PTSD, still birth, war, pregnancy
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