Maria, Maria

Tropigoth short story collection.

A widow goes to extreme lengths to fulfil her husband’s wishes, two starstruck sisters make a wish on holiday, a young woman has a lepidopterous rebirth.

From the opening story’s bossy schoolmarm voice addressing ‘you’ (the second person), the reader sits up and pays attention. With offbeat humour filled with gothic warmth, Maria, Maria draws on superstitions and folklore from the Americas.

With thanks to NetGalley and W W Norton for the ARC.

Wow, I loved this! Witchy, spooky, and magical. I loved every single story, they were all so unique yet connected by magical realism and powerful women, and rooted in Mexican brujeria/witchcraft. I also loved the way nature and the environment played a strong roll in the stories. Each story was so atmospheric and just the right amount of spooky, with mystery and ambiguity, and beautiful writing.

An incredible debut, I can't wait to get a hard copy and re-read this, especially to see all of the little bits of art throughout the book. This is definitely a new favorite of the year for me.

I highly recommend this to fans Carmen Maria Machado and/or magical realism with strong women characters and witchy vibes.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced e-copy of this.

It sometimes feels like there is a secret world, accessible only to people who believe in the power of nature, have an interest in witchcraft, and revel in stories of courageous women. The residents of this world are often pushed to the fringes, and forced to dull their glow. In her debut collection, Maria, Maria, Marytza K. Rubio has created what feels like a guide to this world, with stories so vivid and enjoyable, the reader feels instantly transported.

This collection is ridiculously special. Every story is steeped in folklore, fantasy, feminism, and fun. Rubio’s sense of humor especially comes across in the opening story, Brujeria for Beginners, which transports us to a witchcraft class in a community college.

A really strong theme in this collection is family; Tunnels is the fascinating history of the Fogata family told through locations, and Moksha is an innocent story of two young sisters set against the world of vampire-like creatures. The finale, Maria, Maria, is a sweeping fantastical epic novella, about crumbling cities, revenge, psychic parents, and finding one’s true self.

Fans of surrealist artist and writer Leonora Carrington will adore this collection; her influence on Rubio is clear in Art Show, an exhibition of art created by animals. There are some truly special moments created through illustration; stay tuned to the end of the acknowledgments for a rewarding interactive element.

I could truly go on for hours about the beauty of each of the stories in the collection. The tales are so rich, colorful, and completely unforgettable. Marytza K. Rubio - you’ve got a fan for life right here.