Reseña / Review: The epic crush of Genie Lo - F.C. Yee

The Epic Crush og Genie Lo
F.C.Yee
Abrams Books - 2017
336 páginas
10,38 € (book depository)

The struggle to get into a top-tier college consumes sixteen-year-old Genie Lo's every waking thought. But when her sleepy Bay Area town comes under siege from hell-spawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are suddenly and forcefully rearranged.

Her only guide to the demonic chaos breaking out around her is Quentin Sun, a beguiling, maddening new transfer student from overseas. Quentin assures Genie she is strong enough to fight these monsters, for she unknowingly harbors an inner power that can level the very gates of Heaven.

Genie will have to dig deep within herself to summon the otherworldly strength that Quentin keeps talking about. But as she does, she finds the secret of her true nature is entwined with his, in a way she could never have imagined…

Supe que tenía que leer este libro nada más leer las primeras líneas de su sinopsis. Una chica de 16 años que, de la noche a la mañana, descubre que está destinada a combatir a los demonios que campan a sus anchas entre nosotros. Para ello, tendrá la ayuda de Quentin Sun, un nuevo estudiante de su instituto con el que tiene un vínculo que se remonta siglos atrás.

No es de extrañar que la comparen con Buffy Cazavampiros, una de mis series favoritas, así que eso le sumaba aún más puntos.

Pero si hay algo que tiene de diferente a lo que ya hemos visto mil veces, es que el autor ha incluido muchas leyendas y mitología china, cosa que me ha fascinado, aunque seguramente me haya perdido detalles y referencias por no estar muy familiarizada con esta cultura. (Eso sí, cuesta familiarizarse un poco con los nombres)

Este libro, además, tiene las dosis suficientes de acción, humor y romance. Cierto es que al principio parece que le cuesta arrancar un poco, toda la parte sobrenatural tarda un poco en aparecer, pero es algo comprensible ya que es necesario poder conocer a los protagonistas y la función que tiene cada uno de ellos dentro de la novela.

Genie Lo es una chica cuyos planes son entrar en una buena Universidad. Es sarcástica, valiente, decidida e impulsiva. 
Ella y Quentin hacen un buen equipo, ya que se compenetran a la perfección pero, a la vez chocan un poco, debido a que es algo engreído y pagado de sí mismo.

Ver cómo Genie tiene que hacer malabares para compaginar su nuevo cometido, que debe mantener en secreto, con su rutina con familia, amigos y estudios, aporta un tono mucho más relajado y divertido a la trama.

Por otro lado, el romance está casi relegado a un segundo o tercer plano y no es para nada relevante en la historia. Sí que es una parte que me hubiera gustado que se hubiera alargado más y que todo sucediera más lentamente, pero no se trata de ningún instalove, ni es cursi o empalagoso.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo es el comienzo de una nueva ¿trilogía? ¿saga? llena de acción, giros en el argumento y una protagonista de armas tomar. Si hay algo que la hace destacar es que toda la trama gira entorno a la cultura y mitología china, algo poco visto en la literatura juvenil.  

I knew I had to read this book as soon as I read the first few lines of its synopsis. A 16-year-old girl who, suddenly, discovers that she is destined to fight the demons that run wide among us. To do this, she will have the help of Quentin Sun, a new student from her institute with whom she has a bond that goes back centuries. 

No wonder why they compare this book to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one of my favorite series, so that added even more points. 

But if there is something different from what we have already seen a thousand times, is that the author has included many legends and Chinese mythology, which has fascinated me, although I'm sure I'd missed some details and references as I am not very familiar with this culture. (And yes, it is a bit difficult to get familiar with the names) 

This book, moreover, has the sufficient doses of action, humour and romance. It is true that the beggining seems a little slow as the supernatural part takes a little bit to appear, but it is something understandable since it is necessary to know the characters and the function that each of them has inside the novel. 

Speaking about the two protagonists, Genie Lo is a girl whose immediate plans are to enter in a good University. She is sarcastic, brave, determined and impulsive. 

She and Quentin make a good team, as they complement each other, but at the same time disagree a lot of times, because he is a bit conceited and full of himself. 

Seeing how Genie has to manage her new role, which she must keep secret, and her daily routine with family, friends and studies, gives a much more relaxed and fun tone to the plot. 

On the other hand, romance is almost relegated to a second or third place and is not at all relevant in the story. Yes it is a part that I would have prefered to have been longer or happening more slowly, but it's not cheesy or oversweet, and it doesn't have an instalove.

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is the beginning of a new trilogy? saga? (I'm not sure right now) full of action, plot twists and a female character fierce and independent. 

Also, this book stands out because the whole plot revolves around Chinese culture and mythology, something not very usual in Youth Literature.