Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space by Zoraida Córdova -> Starting March 7th, 2022

[Alaina]

Seventeen fantasy and science fiction short stories from leading voices in the Latin American diaspora!

Reclaim the Stars is a collection of bestselling and acclaimed YA authors that take the Latin American diaspora to places fantastical and out of this world. From princesses warring in space, to the all too-near devastation of climate change, to haunting ghost stories in Argentina, and mermaids off the coast of the Caribbean. This is science fiction and fantasy that breaks borders and realms, and proves that stories are truly universal.

Authors include Daniel José Older, Yamile Saied Méndez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Mark Oshiro, Romina Garber, David Bowles, Lilliam Rivera, Claribel Ortega, Isabel Ibañez, Sara Faring, Maya Motayne, Nina Moreno, Vita Ayala, J.C. Cervantes, Circe Moskowitz, Linda Nieves Pérez, and Zoraida Córdova.

[Dr. Andy]

will add comments tomorrow! Loved this collection

[Alaina]

I'm going to start this tomorrow!

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "I'm going to start this tomorrow!"

yay i still havent made comments lmaoooo

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Alaina]

Andy wrote: "Alaina wrote: "I'm going to start this tomorrow!"

yay i still havent made comments lmaoooo"

LOL

[Alaina]

Introduction: (view spoiler)[Ooookay, I'm ready for all these short stories. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

To the Stars [Reign of Diamonds - This is Our Manifesto]: (view spoiler)[These first five stories were interesting to a point. I wasn't a huge fan of the first one, Reign of Diamonds but that's because it felt incomplete to me. Maybe if it was longer, I would feel differently. I also really liked This is Our Manifesto. Probably my favorite one in this part because of how realistic it is. Which can be freaking scary if you think about it. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Alaina wrote: "To the Stars [Reign of Diamonds - This is Our Manifesto]: [spoilers removed]"

the first couple ones were some of my faves! I loved the space stories especially

[Alaina]

The Magical Now [Creatures of Kings - Magical Offerings]: (view spoiler)[Definitely liked some of the darker stories in this part, but I think my favorite story was color-coded. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Other Times, Other Realms [Rogue Enchantments - Tame the Wicked Night]/Finished: (view spoiler)[Omg this was probably my favorite part. I really enjoyed the mermaid one, and the creepy story about that one family - I think it was Moonglow?!?! Not sure though lol. Also, the last story was amazing! (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

Started this one today!

[Dr. Andy]

Elizabeth wrote: "Started this one today!"

Yay!

[Elizabeth]

21% (view spoiler)[I think the first four stories were interesting but I had quite a few questions for each. But I liked the last story the most from the "To the Stars" section.

This is Our Manifesto: I enjoyed how this one is largely a dialogue-in-narrative and how much world-building it does. I think it's also a pretty interesting commentary on the prison system. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

44% (view spoiler)[ Out of the next three stories--Creatures of Kings, Eterno, and White Water, Blue Ocean-- Eterno was by far my favorite. The world-building was fascinating, especially the "Dark" and the Eternos. I loved the relationship Sebastian and Layla. Even his relationship with his siblings was also compelling. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

64% (view spoiler)[ Rogue Enchantments was super fun to read! Graciela was quite naive but I get it. She probably didn't realize how much people really didn't like her grandmother. I liked the very ending and am curious about what happens with her potential love interest. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

79% (view spoiler)[ This section disappointed me since it went from a story I enjoyed-- Sumaiko y la Sirena-- to ones that I liked less and less-- Moonglow. I know it's subjective, but curious why the anthology was organized the way it was. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

100% (view spoiler)[ After a muddy-middle for the "Other Times, Other Realms" section, I'm glad to end on a high note for the short stories.

Killing El Chivo was one of the most interesting stories in this section. But Taming the Wild Night easy stood out more. It was beautiful and resolved in a way I liked-- even if I would have loved more. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

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RESTARTING JULY 2ND, 2022

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[Trisha]

Reign of Diamonds - (view spoiler)[ cute, sweet. I'd read more about these planets and these two girls finding each other (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Flecha (view spoiler)[ eh. that one was just okay. I like the monster friend but found the rest of the story didn't grab me as much
I didn't love the MC or the gang of kids she found (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I’m working on Damnation Springs right now and will do this book next.

[Trisha]

no worries

oooh Damnation is SO GOOD. I know you will love it!!

[Trisha]

The First Day of Us (view spoiler)[ meh, not feeling this one. not the connection/love story nor the odd world (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

The Tin Man (view spoiler)[that one was short. it was okay. I didn't mind the robots and the survival slant but I don't feel like the kid would have been that sassy and rude but what do I know. lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

This is our manifesto (view spoiler)[ ha! that one was wonderful. I Loved all the lines "we are the children . . ." so good.
I'd definitely keep reading that one! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

The Magical Now (view spoiler)[ that was interesting. I don't know if I'd read another ya book about death but I liked the starcrossed theme to the story. 3 stars (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "no worries

oooh Damnation is SO GOOD. I know you will love it!!"

Yes, I am loving it! :)

[Trisha]

Eterno (view spoiler)[at first I was really drawn in to this one but somewhere around the middle, it bogged down. Meh. it was just okay (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha, are you posting for every story?

[Trisha]

yes, I thought that would be easiest :)

[Trisha]

White Water, Blue Ocean (view spoiler)[ I liked the non binary character - that was always my oldest kid's dispute about stories with curses and stuff lol - and I liked the idea of the curse with the lies and the white mist stuff
but I'm not sure I was too in to the ocean and waves like songs and what not. So it was just okay (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Okay, then I'll do the same when I get to it. :)

[Trisha]

Leyenda : A Woles of no world story (view spoiler)[ this one was pretty good. at first I wasn't feeling the MC but she grew on me as she grew up a little
sucks she got suckered in to throwing that moment but I'm glad she rallied at the end and was going to stand up on her own (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Color-Coded (view spoiler)[awe, that one was adorbale. I liked the changing hair and the changes that came with it. how scary to turn things different colors
I also liked the back story with her mom and why she might be worried about these skills
all around good short (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Magical Offerings(view spoiler)[ I liked the huntsman and how they worked together. I liked the back story with mom and grandpa. this one was pretty good (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Rogue Enchantments (view spoiler)[ that one was pretty good. I was super sad it was her friend but glad the night ghosts helped her.
(hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Sumaiko Y La Sirena (view spoiler)[ I wasn't sure I would like this one at first but it grew on me
I loved it. it was almost a little fable-ish but I loved it (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

River People (view spoiler)[ hmmm. . . I didn't like that one as much. a little too seeped in religion and I wasn't feeling the conclusion (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Moonglow (view spoiler)[ oooh this one was a great little horror story - right? didn't that feel more like a horror story
so odd but so interesting (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Killing El Chivo(view spoiler)[ wow, witch birds. that was a bit different (hide spoiler)]

Tame the Wicked Night (view spoiler)[ awe, and of course the last one was my favorite. what a fun little story. I loved the idea of the mountain that trapped him and her, and their playing the question game
this one was fun (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Reign of Diamonds - (view spoiler)[ These two girls are polar opposites in just about every way: planets, hair, personality and others. Cute story and different. I loved some of the visual imagery such as "a rain of jewels." (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

right? I definitely would have kept reading that first one!

[Vicki]

Flecha - (view spoiler)[This one was just okay for me...didn't engage me. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "right? I definitely would have kept reading that first one!"

Absolutely!

[Vicki]

The First Day of Us - I love the title (view spoiler)[so I was expecting more genuine romance I guess. Can't help but to feel for those who get "interrogated" about their love/sex life. Even they felt something was "missing" - Atzimba. Not my kind of story. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

The Tin Man - (view spoiler)[ I didn't really care for this one at all. The giant bunny made me think of Lenny's vision of a giant rabbit in Of Mice and Men lol (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

This Is Our Manifesto - (view spoiler)[I really liked this one! Labels...I've never liked them. Kids so bad that 17 need 40 guards? OKaaaayyyy (hide spoiler)] I thought this one was pretty philosophical and I assume you (Trisha) remember that I like philosophical reads.

[Vicki]

The Magical Now - (view spoiler)[I liked the star-crossed theme too but it's the most unique star-crossed lovers I've read about before. lol I can't say that I've ever known anyone who loves God so much that they want to die/commit suicide to be with Him. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Eterno - (view spoiler)[I've often thought how awful it would be to lose your memory...of course I've lost a lot but I mean the kind of memory where you truly can't remember people you love. This one was just okay for me. (hide spoiler)]