A review by sspaghettiboness
Mystery Lights by Lena Valencia

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Trogloxene was the star of this collection and I would give anything to read a full book from that story. But even with that short, I had the same issue over and over: the meanings behind the stories are either too obvious to too vague. It’s like the work lacks a taste for subtlety. I love feminist literature, but this writing seemed forced and frilly too often. The magical realism that drifted towards sci-fi and horror was good, but not good enough.

I think as individual stories, they pack a big punch. When they’re all lined up beside of each other, you’re left scratching your head at what the hell just happened. But. Trogloxene was brilliant, gave very  Crimson Labyrinth energy.