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katieinca's review against another edition
5.0
Billed as "ghost noir," which seems to be urban fantasy minus the vampires and werewolves, pumped up with moody atmospheric writing you want to pore over a bit rather than rushing through. Seriously, the man can really wield a simile.
It's a little bit - and at the same time not at all - like the Dresden Files without all the things in the Dresden Files that irritate me.
Only creepier.
Exactly what I've been looking for, and I absolutely cannot wait for [b:Half-Resurrection Blues|22393174|Half-Resurrection Blues (Bone Street Rumba, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401879207s/22393174.jpg|41813786] despite the silly looking cover.
It's a little bit - and at the same time not at all - like the Dresden Files without all the things in the Dresden Files that irritate me.
Only creepier.
Exactly what I've been looking for, and I absolutely cannot wait for [b:Half-Resurrection Blues|22393174|Half-Resurrection Blues (Bone Street Rumba, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401879207s/22393174.jpg|41813786] despite the silly looking cover.
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
The book starts off looking like a collection of short stories, but before long you start to see the connections between the different stories. Soon you realize you're reading an episodic novel.
Salsa Nocturna is about the afterlife and supernatural in New York City. The most common POV character, arguably the main character of the story, is Carlos Delacruz. Carlos works for the NY Council of the Dead, but he's not quite dead himself. As the recipient (victim?) of a botched resurrection, he's half dead. He can see the dead, like his partner Riley, but can function among the living.
Gordo, an older Cubano man who can also see the dead, gains inspiration from their music. He drifts from job to job and his unusual ability (and, let's be fair, tendency to meddle) make sure he doesn't stick around long.
There are more, like Jimmy the live high school boy, various NYCOD functionaries, and Big Cane - another Soulcatcher like Carlos. A wider world of the supernatural is hinted at by characters whose involvement goes beyond the world of the dead.
By the end of the book, the web of connections is growing closer, and the beginnings of a bigger conflict are making themselves known. Though each story is complete in its own right, the book also serves as a set-up for stories of the dead of NYC.
Older's work is manifold. In addition to the supernatural adventure, the stories are alive with observations, celebrations, and criticisms of the real world. The NYCOD's power structure echoes that of the modern US, with the established powers dominating and dissenting voices kept to the outside. And like the US, power is concentrated in the hands of Caucasians, even when the reality of afterlife-on-the-street has a different face. There are nods to gentrification, racial tensions, and more.
Salsa Nocturna doesn't feel preachy despite the sometimes weighty subject matter. It holds a mirror up to some of the less savory facets of reality but doesn't indulge in simple-minded finger-pointing.
This book is so very close to being a five star book. The text is vibrant and absorbing, and the stories are great. There were a few issues here and there that kept it from crossing that threshold for me, like instances of inconsistent character voice.
If Goodreads allowed half stars, this one would be a 4.5 easy.
I read this book on Oyster.
Salsa Nocturna is about the afterlife and supernatural in New York City. The most common POV character, arguably the main character of the story, is Carlos Delacruz. Carlos works for the NY Council of the Dead, but he's not quite dead himself. As the recipient (victim?) of a botched resurrection, he's half dead. He can see the dead, like his partner Riley, but can function among the living.
Gordo, an older Cubano man who can also see the dead, gains inspiration from their music. He drifts from job to job and his unusual ability (and, let's be fair, tendency to meddle) make sure he doesn't stick around long.
There are more, like Jimmy the live high school boy, various NYCOD functionaries, and Big Cane - another Soulcatcher like Carlos. A wider world of the supernatural is hinted at by characters whose involvement goes beyond the world of the dead.
By the end of the book, the web of connections is growing closer, and the beginnings of a bigger conflict are making themselves known. Though each story is complete in its own right, the book also serves as a set-up for stories of the dead of NYC.
Older's work is manifold. In addition to the supernatural adventure, the stories are alive with observations, celebrations, and criticisms of the real world. The NYCOD's power structure echoes that of the modern US, with the established powers dominating and dissenting voices kept to the outside. And like the US, power is concentrated in the hands of Caucasians, even when the reality of afterlife-on-the-street has a different face. There are nods to gentrification, racial tensions, and more.
Salsa Nocturna doesn't feel preachy despite the sometimes weighty subject matter. It holds a mirror up to some of the less savory facets of reality but doesn't indulge in simple-minded finger-pointing.
This book is so very close to being a five star book. The text is vibrant and absorbing, and the stories are great. There were a few issues here and there that kept it from crossing that threshold for me, like instances of inconsistent character voice.
If Goodreads allowed half stars, this one would be a 4.5 easy.
I read this book on Oyster.
whatsmacksaid's review against another edition
5.0
Review to come (no really, it's already written up and everything)
sarabz's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot. New York is very present throughout and it's an expression of the city that I loved. The stories were fun and I liked the opportunity to explore multiple perspectives of the same environment that the interrelated short story format allowed for. My favorites were Magdalena and Red Feather and Bone, but there were other really good stories too.
londysaurus's review against another edition
4.0
Great collection with a lot of emotional range within and between stories. Made me wonder if there will be more about Carlos and the crew down the line.
At times, the pacing felt uneven: the timeline between stories and introductions of characters suggested that the stories were independent of one another, but I loved seeing characters from the stories repopulate the same terrain, but from different perspectives. Another favorite thing: the dialogue could be sweet and intimate and ribald and hilarious and untranslated spanish from one sentence to the next. That's a very good thing.
On the whole: seriously dug. Any quibbles are minor. Took my time with this one and I'm glad I did.
Looking forward to more.
At times, the pacing felt uneven: the timeline between stories and introductions of characters suggested that the stories were independent of one another, but I loved seeing characters from the stories repopulate the same terrain, but from different perspectives. Another favorite thing: the dialogue could be sweet and intimate and ribald and hilarious and untranslated spanish from one sentence to the next. That's a very good thing.
On the whole: seriously dug. Any quibbles are minor. Took my time with this one and I'm glad I did.
Looking forward to more.
stuhlsem's review against another edition
4.0
I am pretty confused about the timeline now, but I really, really liked these stories. Short stories from multiple POVs always add interesting depth to the sff universe.
happydog33's review
4.0
Forgot how much I enjoy connected short stories. Not sure where I heard about this book, probably on Twitter. Great characters imaginative story lines.
donfoolery's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable mash-up of the cult TV show good vs. evil, the anime series Bleach and Kekkaishi, with a bit of Rod Serling's Night Gallery, all filtered through the lens of Older's NYC. Anything good about those series is done twice as well here; same could be said about the flaws, though. "Forgive Me My Tangents" near the end was sort of like one of those tiny Jack Laird Night Gallery segments -- okay, that might be a bit harsh; Older's writing is better by an order of magnitude. Older's voice is clear throughout, which is the best part of this collection. The thing that kept it from 5 stars for me is that, as well as each piece was written, only a couple of them had the "gut punch" I typically look for in short stories.
mxsunny's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this set of ghost noir stories. I felt like I had a window into the parts of NYC that get neglected in books by white authors. The immigrant, the poor, the artists and musicians all trying to survive amidst changing blocks and fucked up systems. Throw the ghostly world on top of that and you've got a set of compelling ass stories. I can't wait to read the prequel, Half Resurrection Blues.