My book review of The Volcano Daughters by Gina Maria Balibrera.
Title: The Volcano Daughters
By: Gina Maria Balibrera
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 368
Release Date: August 20th 2024
Publisher: Pantheon
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Summary from Goodreads:
A saucy, searingly original debut about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s brutal dictator, El Gran Pendejo, and their flight from genocide, which takes them from Hollywood to Paris to cannery row, each followed by a chorus of furies, the ghosts of their murdered friends, who aren’t yet done telling their stories.
In the Capital she meets Consuelo, the sister she’s never known, stolen away from their home before Graciela was born. The two are a small fortress within the dictator’s regime, but they’re no match for El Gran Pendejo’s cruelty. Years pass and terror rises as the economy flatlines, and Graciela comes to understand the horrific vision that she’s unwittingly helped shape just as genocide strikes the community that raised her. She and Consuelo barely escape, each believing the other to be dead. They run, crossing the globe, reinventing their lives, and ultimately reconnecting at the least likely moment.
Endlessly surprising, vividly imaginative, bursting with lush life, The Volcano Daughters charts, through the stories of these sisters and the ghosts they carry with them, a new history and mythology of El Salvador, fiercely bringing forth voices that have been calling out for generations.
Review:
Gina María Balibrera's The Volcano Daughters presents a lush and atmospheric narrative set against the backdrop of El Salvador's turbulent political landscape. Balibrera skillfully interweaves the nation's history with the personal journeys of the novel’s characters, bringing readers into a world of revolution, exile, and myth. While the book excels in its ability to evoke a vivid sense of place, it falls short in pacing and character development, which can make for a mixed reading experience.
One of the novel's strongest points is its vibrant depiction of El Salvador. The descriptions of the country's natural beauty and the looming presence of its active volcanoes create a haunting, almost magical realism-like atmosphere. Balibrera’s prose is lyrical and often captivating, especially in moments when the land itself seems to breathe with the weight of its history.
The novel delves into El Salvador's civil unrest with sensitivity, blending historical events with the intimate experiences of its characters. Balibrera effectively communicates the tension of living in a politically unstable country, drawing connections between the personal and the political in ways that feel poignant and authentic.
The story’s pacing is one of its more significant issues. The early chapters promise much, setting up rich narrative threads, but the middle portion of the novel drags, losing momentum as the plot becomes bogged down with too many subplots. This slower pace could deter some readers, making it difficult to stay fully engaged.
While the setting and historical context shine, the characters themselves often feel less realized. The protagonist’s journey, in particular, lacks the emotional depth needed to make her arc truly compelling. At times, it feels like the characters are overshadowed by the larger events surrounding them, making it difficult to connect with their struggles on a personal level.
The Volcano Daughters offers a beautifully written exploration of El Salvador’s landscape and history, but its slow pacing and somewhat flat characters prevent it from reaching its full potential. Readers interested in historical fiction with a strong sense of place will appreciate Balibrera’s attention to detail, but those looking for deeply engaging character development may find the novel lacking. While not without its merits, The Volcano Daughters ultimately falls short of being a standout in the genre.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
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