Etéreo (Extraños, #1) – A Tumultuous Journey into Magic and Misalignment
When I picked up Etéreo by [Author’s Name], I was drawn in by its promise of urban fantasy and romance intertwined with superpowers—a delightful combination that promised adventure and intrigue. However, as I dove into its pages, I quickly encountered a literary landscape fraught with missed opportunities and contradictory elements, leaving me both frustrated and bewildered.
The novel introduces us to Victoria, an ordinary girl (or so we’re told), and Caleb, a boy with an unusually sensitive sense of smell. From the outset, their relationship unfolds amid a backdrop of danger when Caleb’s boss decides that Victoria is a threat. The plot quickly spirals into a jumble of clichés and unaddressed themes, including questions of agency and emotional depth. While I appreciate ambitious storytelling, Etéreo feels relentless in its failure to follow through on its premises.
The characters are a source of both intrigue and irritation. Victoria’s portrayal as a self-insert heroine desperately in need of agency feels heavy-handed. Her journey involves a frustratingly shallow grappling with self-worth, while her motivations often teeter on absurdity—like wanting to be tortured for the sake of developing powers. And let’s talk about Caleb; his character ambivalence vacillates between someone with potential depth and a mere function of the plot. The exploration of his trauma is muddled and underdeveloped, leaving readers grappling with questions about his emotional landscape and the underlying exploration of neurodivergence.
Narratively, Etéreo juggles an array of concepts—from time travel to supernatural powers—yet the execution comes off as disjointed and unfocused. Crucial themes regarding familial bonds and societal pressures are introduced but quickly abandoned, lacking the resolution necessary to resonate emotionally. The dialogue attempts to inject humor, but it often falls flat. For instance, the awkward exchanges between characters can feel forced, bordering on cringe-worthy rather than charming.
What truly threw me off was the narrative style; it flips perspectives abruptly, sometimes mid-paragraph, breaking the flow and immersiveness of the story. There’s a palpable tension that the writing fails to capitalized on, making mundane scenes feel labored. The frequent references to X-Men feel more like an afterthought, hinting at a clever cross-reference while failing to establish a unique identity for itself.
Despite these pitfalls, it’s easy to understand why some readers may find Etéreo appealing. It captures elements of teenage angst, the search for belonging, and the allure of superpowers, resonating with fans of genre mashups. If you approach it with a light-hearted mindset, willing to overlook its flaws, you might find a guilty pleasure amidst the chaos.
In conclusion, Etéreo is a mixed bag. While it holds significant potential, its execution may leave many lovers of urban fantasy unsatisfied. If you’re in the mood for an entertaining yet erratic read, you might want to give it a chance—just be prepared to leave your critical sensibilities at the door. For me, this was a journey worth reflecting on, even if ultimately, it felt more like a stumble into a fantastical mishap than a graceful dance through magic.