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A Magical Girl Retires
A millennial turned magical girl must combat climate change and credit card debt in this delightful, witty, and wildly imaginative ode to magical girl manga.
Twenty-nine, depressed, and drowning in credit card debt after losing her job during the pandemic, a millennial woman decides to end her troubles by jumping off Seoul’s Mapo Bridge.
But her suicide attempt is interrupted by a girl dressed all in white—her guardian angel. Ah Roa is a clairvoyant magical girl on a mission to find the greatest magical girl of all time. And our protagonist just may be that special someone.
But the young woman’s initial excitement turns to frustration when she learns being a magical girl in real life is much different than how it’s portrayed in stories. It isn’t just destiny—it’s work. Magical girls go to job fairs, join trade unions, attend classes. And for this magical girl there are no special powers and no great perks, and despite being magical, she still battles with low self-esteem. Her magic wand . . . is a credit card—which she must use to defeat a terrifying threat that isn’t a monster or an intergalactic war. It’s global climate change. Because magical girls need to think about sustainability, too.
Park Seolyeon reimagines classic fantasy tropes in a novel that explores real-world challenges that are both deeply personal and universal: the search for meaning and the desire to do good in a world that feels like it’s ending. A fun, fast-paced, and enchanting narrative that sparkles thanks to award-nominated translator Anton Hur, A Magical Girl Retires reminds us that we are all magical girls—that fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight can be anyone's game.
Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur.
Twenty-nine, depressed, and drowning in credit card debt after losing her job during the pandemic, a millennial woman decides to end her troubles by jumping off Seoul’s Mapo Bridge.
But her suicide attempt is interrupted by a girl dressed all in white—her guardian angel. Ah Roa is a clairvoyant magical girl on a mission to find the greatest magical girl of all time. And our protagonist just may be that special someone.
But the young woman’s initial excitement turns to frustration when she learns being a magical girl in real life is much different than how it’s portrayed in stories. It isn’t just destiny—it’s work. Magical girls go to job fairs, join trade unions, attend classes. And for this magical girl there are no special powers and no great perks, and despite being magical, she still battles with low self-esteem. Her magic wand . . . is a credit card—which she must use to defeat a terrifying threat that isn’t a monster or an intergalactic war. It’s global climate change. Because magical girls need to think about sustainability, too.
Park Seolyeon reimagines classic fantasy tropes in a novel that explores real-world challenges that are both deeply personal and universal: the search for meaning and the desire to do good in a world that feels like it’s ending. A fun, fast-paced, and enchanting narrative that sparkles thanks to award-nominated translator Anton Hur, A Magical Girl Retires reminds us that we are all magical girls—that fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight can be anyone's game.
Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur.
163 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2022
About the author
Park Seolyeon
3 books40 followersPark Seolyeon (1989-) is a South Korean novelist. She made her literary debut in 2015 when her short story “Mikimauseu keulleob” (미키마우스 클럽 The Mickey Mouse Club) won the Silcheon Munhak New Writer’s Award. In 2018, she won the 23rd Hankyoreh Literature Award with the novel Chegongnyeo gangjuryong (체공녀 강주룡 Kang Juryong, the Woman in the Air). She uses love and the voices of the underprivileged, such as women, the elderly, and sexual minorities, who are excluded and hidden from society, as the subject of her works.
박서련(1989~)은 한국의 소설가다. 2015년 단편으로 신인상을 받으며 작품활동을 시작했다. 2018년 장편으로 제23회 한겨레문학상을 수상했다. 작가는 여성, 노인, 성소수자 등 배제되고 은폐되는 약자의 목소리를 사랑을 매개로 작품의 주제로 삼고 있다.
박서련(1989~)은 한국의 소설가다. 2015년 단편으로 신인상을 받으며 작품활동을 시작했다. 2018년 장편으로 제23회 한겨레문학상을 수상했다. 작가는 여성, 노인, 성소수자 등 배제되고 은폐되는 약자의 목소리를 사랑을 매개로 작품의 주제로 삼고 있다.
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August 31, 2024
<EPIC MOVIE TRAILER VOICE>: “Climate crisis is ravaging the planet as growing class divides plunge countless youths into debt. But a new hero will arise..armed with a magical credit card and the spirit of collective action…”
***SPARKLE FLASH FANFARE SPARKLE***
⭐️⭐️ ITS MAGIC GIRL! ⭐️⭐️
Two years too late to pull off Jane Austen’s “no money no prospects” line, too far in credit card debt to see a way out, and too deeply depressed to hope for a future, a woman is brought back from the brink when she discovers she is Korea’s newest Magical Girl. She might also be the only chance to save the planet but in a world where ‘magical girls exist because justice does not,’ she’ll need the help of all the magical girls who have now unionized and readied themselves for battle. Park Seolyeon’s wild and whimsical A Magical Girl Retires harnesses the spirit of Sailor Moon declaring herself the “Champion of Justice '' for a humorous yet scathing story of wielding great power in the name of social and environmental justice. Expertly translated by the one and only Anton Hur—I strongly advise reading anything they translate—and with gorgeous illustrations by Sanho Kim, this charming novel is also a blistering critique on societal ills, the struggles against predatory men and predatory capitalism, and climate change for a joyous book that is as magical as the girls within it.
‘Way to tell the whole world that a corner of my mind is forever colonized by my credit card debt.’
Drawing on the long, beloved history of the Magical Girl genre, Park Seolyeon works some magic of her own here that fans of shows like Madoka Magica or Sailor Moon are sure to love. It is a short book being just under 150pgs, but the limited length makes the story really move in quick burst like an episode of an anime as each plot point snaps along in rapid succession, quickly wrapping up the context and first act before giving a few quick scenes that bring in some action and a villain and it all wraps up before bedtime. It’s so fun.
‘A desperate hope would present a magic girl with a path toward awakening her powers. In an act of balance the universe conferred power on those who had the least, and that was why magical girls existed.’
Restoring balance is often a theme in epic adventure fantasies and here we find that to be directly pointing towards social justice issues. A Magical Girl Retires is a zany good time yet has quite the grit and social consciousness to it, honing in on issues of misogyny in South Korea such as violence against women, gender inequality problems like having the worst gender pay gap amongst OECD countries, or a troubling wave of anti-feminist political sentiment. It’s the sort of issues addressed in novels such as Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo but housed in a story both upbeat and offbeat that makes it impossible to put down. Still we are shown how magical girls tend to discover their powers due to tragedy and in response to danger, and that weighs heavy over the wonderment of these character’s gifts. If these gifts were granted due to the dangers from humanity, would it be understandable if a girl would not want use them to save humanity?
'The first battle a magical girl must fight is a fight to save herself.'
The story kicks off when the clairvoyant magical girl (and possible love interest) Ah Roa predicts our narrator is a key to solving the climate crisis issue. Here, however, becoming a magical girl isn’t just a fun transformation and fighting crime to save the community but--okay well yea it is that but here it is also about community and collective action because they have a full fledged Union. To our narrators surprised she is whisked away to a world of classes and conferences on social justice and fighting climate change and still doesn’t know what her special ability is. It’s a fun romp but also confronts a lot of issues of insecurity, wondering if maybe all she wants is to ‘pay off my credit card bills and go back to college’, and worrying maybe all she has done by entering this world is she ‘dared try on shoes too big for my feet.’
‘A magical Girl Who pays the price.’
The story takes dead aim at the ways society is structured and how that is failing us through the rather ingenious set-up of the girl who becomes, essentially, the antagonist (though the narrator still can’t harbor too much ill will for her because ‘sure she was a little extreme but she was living by her own convictions.’) It is a comical criticism on the belief in capitalism coupled with a resistance of government funding, regulation, aid, or equitable economic planning (topics brought up quite regularly when discussing combatting climate change) essentially puts society at the mercy of those wealthy enough to be in power. ‘All we can do is hope for the goodwill of the one blessed with such power,’ they say and it is a bleak outlook here. It also mocks the ways people who criticize those fighting for social justice or against predatory capitalism tend to use insult like “greedy” or “freeloader” with the villain making statements such as ‘How much nicer do you want me to be? Aren’t you being a little greedy asking for more?’ for not simply murdering everyone. Yet those with wealth have only taken it from the labor of others but hold power against them.
I love the way that, contextually, this book is dealing with magic powers and saving the world but is also just a well orchestrated metaphor for capitalism, labor struggles and the plight of the poor. It’s pretty on the nose in a great satirical way and had me laughing along the whole way, especially the very "capitalist" type solutions that present where 'I can only do what I do if I can afford to do it,' and even then the solution is aimed more at affordability over efficiency where the solution comes ' in the most reasonable and cheapest way possible.'
‘The past, the present, the future. Magical girl of time, transform!’
A Magical Girl Retires is such a little gem of a novella. The story plays with ideas of balance in really interesting and productive ways. It also makes for a well crafted critique on capitalism. The concepts on climate crisis are particularly well done as it centers how the burden will be greater on the youth who will inherit the mess. A Magical Girl Retires is a riotous novel of social justice and, well, magic that takes on a lot of important themes and addresses them in whimsical ways. It certainly worked its magic on me and I hope it does for you as well.
4/5
‘A tale as old as time. The hero who saves the world is always the one who loses their job in the end.’
***SPARKLE FLASH FANFARE SPARKLE***
⭐️⭐️ ITS MAGIC GIRL! ⭐️⭐️
Two years too late to pull off Jane Austen’s “no money no prospects” line, too far in credit card debt to see a way out, and too deeply depressed to hope for a future, a woman is brought back from the brink when she discovers she is Korea’s newest Magical Girl. She might also be the only chance to save the planet but in a world where ‘magical girls exist because justice does not,’ she’ll need the help of all the magical girls who have now unionized and readied themselves for battle. Park Seolyeon’s wild and whimsical A Magical Girl Retires harnesses the spirit of Sailor Moon declaring herself the “Champion of Justice '' for a humorous yet scathing story of wielding great power in the name of social and environmental justice. Expertly translated by the one and only Anton Hur—I strongly advise reading anything they translate—and with gorgeous illustrations by Sanho Kim, this charming novel is also a blistering critique on societal ills, the struggles against predatory men and predatory capitalism, and climate change for a joyous book that is as magical as the girls within it.
‘Way to tell the whole world that a corner of my mind is forever colonized by my credit card debt.’
Drawing on the long, beloved history of the Magical Girl genre, Park Seolyeon works some magic of her own here that fans of shows like Madoka Magica or Sailor Moon are sure to love. It is a short book being just under 150pgs, but the limited length makes the story really move in quick burst like an episode of an anime as each plot point snaps along in rapid succession, quickly wrapping up the context and first act before giving a few quick scenes that bring in some action and a villain and it all wraps up before bedtime. It’s so fun.
‘A desperate hope would present a magic girl with a path toward awakening her powers. In an act of balance the universe conferred power on those who had the least, and that was why magical girls existed.’
Restoring balance is often a theme in epic adventure fantasies and here we find that to be directly pointing towards social justice issues. A Magical Girl Retires is a zany good time yet has quite the grit and social consciousness to it, honing in on issues of misogyny in South Korea such as violence against women, gender inequality problems like having the worst gender pay gap amongst OECD countries, or a troubling wave of anti-feminist political sentiment. It’s the sort of issues addressed in novels such as Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo but housed in a story both upbeat and offbeat that makes it impossible to put down. Still we are shown how magical girls tend to discover their powers due to tragedy and in response to danger, and that weighs heavy over the wonderment of these character’s gifts. If these gifts were granted due to the dangers from humanity, would it be understandable if a girl would not want use them to save humanity?
'The first battle a magical girl must fight is a fight to save herself.'
The story kicks off when the clairvoyant magical girl (and possible love interest) Ah Roa predicts our narrator is a key to solving the climate crisis issue. Here, however, becoming a magical girl isn’t just a fun transformation and fighting crime to save the community but--okay well yea it is that but here it is also about community and collective action because they have a full fledged Union. To our narrators surprised she is whisked away to a world of classes and conferences on social justice and fighting climate change and still doesn’t know what her special ability is. It’s a fun romp but also confronts a lot of issues of insecurity, wondering if maybe all she wants is to ‘pay off my credit card bills and go back to college’, and worrying maybe all she has done by entering this world is she ‘dared try on shoes too big for my feet.’
‘A magical Girl Who pays the price.’
The story takes dead aim at the ways society is structured and how that is failing us through the rather ingenious set-up of the girl who becomes, essentially, the antagonist (though the narrator still can’t harbor too much ill will for her because ‘sure she was a little extreme but she was living by her own convictions.’) It is a comical criticism on the belief in capitalism coupled with a resistance of government funding, regulation, aid, or equitable economic planning (topics brought up quite regularly when discussing combatting climate change) essentially puts society at the mercy of those wealthy enough to be in power. ‘All we can do is hope for the goodwill of the one blessed with such power,’ they say and it is a bleak outlook here. It also mocks the ways people who criticize those fighting for social justice or against predatory capitalism tend to use insult like “greedy” or “freeloader” with the villain making statements such as ‘How much nicer do you want me to be? Aren’t you being a little greedy asking for more?’ for not simply murdering everyone. Yet those with wealth have only taken it from the labor of others but hold power against them.
'I could have been you...If that had happened I wouldn’t have kicked you the way you are mocking me now. And you wouldn’t have been able to save yourself. Perhaps it’s because I’m so stupid so useless that you could even become you. So if you’ll allow me to make a bit of a leap here you’re this powerful because of me. And you don’t even know that. But here you are, treating me like dirt.'
I love the way that, contextually, this book is dealing with magic powers and saving the world but is also just a well orchestrated metaphor for capitalism, labor struggles and the plight of the poor. It’s pretty on the nose in a great satirical way and had me laughing along the whole way, especially the very "capitalist" type solutions that present where 'I can only do what I do if I can afford to do it,' and even then the solution is aimed more at affordability over efficiency where the solution comes ' in the most reasonable and cheapest way possible.'
‘The past, the present, the future. Magical girl of time, transform!’
A Magical Girl Retires is such a little gem of a novella. The story plays with ideas of balance in really interesting and productive ways. It also makes for a well crafted critique on capitalism. The concepts on climate crisis are particularly well done as it centers how the burden will be greater on the youth who will inherit the mess. A Magical Girl Retires is a riotous novel of social justice and, well, magic that takes on a lot of important themes and addresses them in whimsical ways. It certainly worked its magic on me and I hope it does for you as well.
4/5
‘A tale as old as time. The hero who saves the world is always the one who loses their job in the end.’
May 17, 2024
“… the first battle a magical girl must fight is a fight to save herself.”.ೃ࿔*:･
With the most gorgeous manwah-esque cover, A Magical Girl Retires is the most whimsical, silly, and witty short novel about magical girls and their fight to make the world a better place, one silly little transformation at a time.
Ah Roa is 29 year old drowning in debt who learns she might just be the most magical girl to ever magical girl. Joining the Union for Magical Girls, Roa fights her own crippling self esteem, learns to channel her inner magical girl powers to fight the greatest threat humanity has ever faced: climate change, and maybe finds love along the way. kyaaa ^w^ !!
This reads quick (do not look at how long this took me, i am the magical girl of slow reading) and is paced like magic girl anime, sprinkled with silly social commentary that will appeal to the modern existentialist, climate activist, feminist, and to those who grew up watching every single different variation of sailor moon and magical girls there ever was.
the art was beautiful and added to the whole silly anime aesthetic of the novel. i am so thankful that this was translated :-) !!
happy publishing day !!
[thank you to the publishers for the arc!]
prereview.
loved this with levels of whimsy you would never understand !! kyaaa (magical girl pose) ^w^
January 9, 2024
A story about a 29-year-old woman who lost her job during covid and stops just short of killing herself over credit card debt when she finds out she’s a magical girl? Literally WHO could say no to a book like this. I feel like scientists couldn’t have cooked up a more compelling combination in a lab.
Without overselling it TOO much, this was a little bit of Kaiji, a little bit of Madoka Magica, and a teeny tiny bit of Tokyo Mew Mew (it counts!). And yes, it IS gay (it counts!!!!!)! Kim Sanho’s chapter insert illustrations are SO subtly gorgeous, too, and really help set the tone of the book.
All in all, a really fun, super quick read (I think it was about two hours when I finally sat down and started). I’d especially recommend this as a literary gateway if you’re a comics/magical girl fan who doesn’t read much fiction :0)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Without overselling it TOO much, this was a little bit of Kaiji, a little bit of Madoka Magica, and a teeny tiny bit of Tokyo Mew Mew (it counts!). And yes, it IS gay (it counts!!!!!)! Kim Sanho’s chapter insert illustrations are SO subtly gorgeous, too, and really help set the tone of the book.
All in all, a really fun, super quick read (I think it was about two hours when I finally sat down and started). I’d especially recommend this as a literary gateway if you’re a comics/magical girl fan who doesn’t read much fiction :0)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2024
Very cute and sweet !!
May 4, 2024
꒰ 𖦹 ⊹˚. pre-read.
⤿ 03 / 05 / 2024.
magical girls! who doesn't like magical girls? i am a magical girl. powerpuff girls, assemble! (totally different things but whatever)
psuedo br (lowkey)(not really)(because mags has too many commitments aka brs at the moment) with silly sharko mag. which is to say, i will probably send 100 texts and finish this before mags completes their brs and gets on the magical girl pipeline (tone: sad face)
⤿ 03 / 05 / 2024.
magical girls! who doesn't like magical girls? i am a magical girl. powerpuff girls, assemble! (totally different things but whatever)
psuedo br (lowkey)(not really)(because mags has too many commitments aka brs at the moment) with silly sharko mag. which is to say, i will probably send 100 texts and finish this before mags completes their brs and gets on the magical girl pipeline (tone: sad face)
July 18, 2024
This innovative novel puts a fresh spin on the “magical girl” genre. If you’re not familiar with magical girls, picture Sailor Moon. Except the magical girl at the heart of this book is 29 years old, depressed and unemployed. She’s as surprised as anyone to find out that she might just be the key to saving the world.
Honestly, this book was so cute and fun. It’s a quick read, with manga style illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. I love how the author created a world where magical girls are a known entity…and even unionized. It features a very sweet sapphic relationship and a loveable, messy main character. I’m a huge fan of this book.
Honestly, this book was so cute and fun. It’s a quick read, with manga style illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. I love how the author created a world where magical girls are a known entity…and even unionized. It features a very sweet sapphic relationship and a loveable, messy main character. I’m a huge fan of this book.
June 11, 2024
"I needed to keep going too. If I wanted to be ordinary, I had to put the effort into being ordinary."
In a shocking turn of events, I really just don't have much to say about this one. It was a cute read that touched a bit on darker topics, such as suicide, alluding to the way women are treated in Korea, and climate change, but I just found myself wanting more from it.
" 'Because these powers are granted to the weakest people, it just looks like girls are the ones who get to be magical.' "
In a shocking turn of events, I really just don't have much to say about this one. It was a cute read that touched a bit on darker topics, such as suicide, alluding to the way women are treated in Korea, and climate change, but I just found myself wanting more from it.
" 'Because these powers are granted to the weakest people, it just looks like girls are the ones who get to be magical.' "
May 5, 2024
is it truly possible to be a losergirl and a magical girl? survey says: yes !!!
𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋~✿
a magical girl retires is a sweet, whimsical story about finding justice in the most unlikely heroes. the 29 year-old protagonist's life is saved when the lovely clairvoyant ah roa, armed with lacy dresses and silly catchphrases, declares her a magical girl.
╰› and along the way, they realize they may be each other's destinies ^^ ☘︎
★ the translator's note was wonderfully written and refined the soft edges of the story: "for justice to exist, we have to imagine it first." beyond the ridiculous premise and the lighthearted monologues, a magical girl retires is a call to finding power and realizing just how precious the future is.
the writing was fun and witty, but didn't delve into discussions as much as i'd hoped. still, this was wrapped into the sweetest, most comforting package—complete with stunning illustrations. i beg more authors to jump on this train: more silly girl literature!!! please!!!
—
꒰𖥻 pre-read ✿ ₊ ꒱ ⠀!
my last words are near-unintelligible.
"what was that?" you ask.
"sapphic..... magical............ girls....." i gasp out in one last breath.
╰› pseudo br with the ever unfaithful iso who doesn't believe in my ability to ignore all my other crs for a cutesy sapphic read. for shame!! we will love this book and i will take no other result :3
𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋~✿
a magical girl retires is a sweet, whimsical story about finding justice in the most unlikely heroes. the 29 year-old protagonist's life is saved when the lovely clairvoyant ah roa, armed with lacy dresses and silly catchphrases, declares her a magical girl.
╰› and along the way, they realize they may be each other's destinies ^^ ☘︎
★ the translator's note was wonderfully written and refined the soft edges of the story: "for justice to exist, we have to imagine it first." beyond the ridiculous premise and the lighthearted monologues, a magical girl retires is a call to finding power and realizing just how precious the future is.
the writing was fun and witty, but didn't delve into discussions as much as i'd hoped. still, this was wrapped into the sweetest, most comforting package—complete with stunning illustrations. i beg more authors to jump on this train: more silly girl literature!!! please!!!
—
꒰𖥻 pre-read ✿ ₊ ꒱ ⠀!
my last words are near-unintelligible.
"what was that?" you ask.
"sapphic..... magical............ girls....." i gasp out in one last breath.
╰› pseudo br with the ever unfaithful iso who doesn't believe in my ability to ignore all my other crs for a cutesy sapphic read. for shame!! we will love this book and i will take no other result :3
August 13, 2024
It was a quick and surprisingly charming little read.
3.5 rounded up.
3.5 rounded up.
July 7, 2024
short, sweet, and easy to devour, this novel is an ode to magical girls! we follow a 20-something korean woman, lonely and consumed by credit card debt, hopeless and suicidal. when she finds out she's a magical girl, she embarks on a whirlwind journey to find her power. the stakes are high, as magical girls of the world are banding together to stop the impending climate apocalypse.
seolyeon doesn't shy away from darkness here, yet the story is told with such a fun fantastical tone. i love the worldbuilding, and seeing magical girls integrated with the rest of society. i honestly would have loved a longer book, to spend more time in this imaginative world.
i really love the book's theme of divinely empowered justice. magical girls are the universe's way of balancing power, by giving new abilities to some of the most disenfranchised individuals. the translator's note mentions that sailor moon, the quintessential magical girl, is considered champion of justice. that's what magical girls are all about, and this book is a really lovely, thoughtful addition to the magical girl canon.
seolyeon doesn't shy away from darkness here, yet the story is told with such a fun fantastical tone. i love the worldbuilding, and seeing magical girls integrated with the rest of society. i honestly would have loved a longer book, to spend more time in this imaginative world.
i really love the book's theme of divinely empowered justice. magical girls are the universe's way of balancing power, by giving new abilities to some of the most disenfranchised individuals. the translator's note mentions that sailor moon, the quintessential magical girl, is considered champion of justice. that's what magical girls are all about, and this book is a really lovely, thoughtful addition to the magical girl canon.
June 11, 2024
lesbians when the most powerful magical girls are a butchfemme couple
“Way to tell the world that a part of my mind is forever colonized by my credit card debt.”
part speculative litfic, part climate change drama, & part millennial doomsday nightmare, park seolyeon’s addition to magical girl canon is a perfect pride month read. ‘a magical girl retires’ follows an unnamed millennial narrator struggling with her mental health and overwhelming credit card debt whose life is starting to look up after she discovers that she is a magical girl.
park seolyeon struck up the perfect balance between cutting social commentary and compulsively readable literary fiction gold.
recommended for people who:
- watched a lot of sailor moon as a kid
- are sailor moon super fans
- shipped the best cousins around sailor uranus & sailor neptune
- are self-proclaimed caroline polachek enjoyers
- like to do gas station hauls
- are chappell roan stans
- are loser lesbians (tm)
- are butch/femme lesbians
“Way to tell the world that a part of my mind is forever colonized by my credit card debt.”
part speculative litfic, part climate change drama, & part millennial doomsday nightmare, park seolyeon’s addition to magical girl canon is a perfect pride month read. ‘a magical girl retires’ follows an unnamed millennial narrator struggling with her mental health and overwhelming credit card debt whose life is starting to look up after she discovers that she is a magical girl.
park seolyeon struck up the perfect balance between cutting social commentary and compulsively readable literary fiction gold.
recommended for people who:
- watched a lot of sailor moon as a kid
- are sailor moon super fans
- shipped the best cousins around sailor uranus & sailor neptune
- are self-proclaimed caroline polachek enjoyers
- like to do gas station hauls
- are chappell roan stans
- are loser lesbians (tm)
- are butch/femme lesbians
May 29, 2024
i wanted this to be so much more than what it actually was....review to come
May 9, 2024
This book had no business being this good. I mean, it’s a novella about magical girls fighting climate change?
I don’t know how to review it. I grew up being obsessed with Sailor Moon and Sakura Cardcaptor and if you leave me alone for 15 minutes, I may start singing the Do-Re-Mi theme song. That’s how lame I am. So when I saw this book I was like, ‘oh, hello.’ And it was so much fun!
The book follows a Korean woman who has been fired from her job and is in debt (big time). She’s pondering *things* when she bumps into Ah Roa, the magical girl of clairvoyance. Ah Roa is looking for the ultimate magical girl, the only magical girl able to stop climate change. Is that our main character? *suspenseful music*
This includes a sapphic relationship and discussion about climate change, gender, and capitalism. It was honestly fun and surprisingly good. 4.5 stars.
I don’t know how to review it. I grew up being obsessed with Sailor Moon and Sakura Cardcaptor and if you leave me alone for 15 minutes, I may start singing the Do-Re-Mi theme song. That’s how lame I am. So when I saw this book I was like, ‘oh, hello.’ And it was so much fun!
The book follows a Korean woman who has been fired from her job and is in debt (big time). She’s pondering *things* when she bumps into Ah Roa, the magical girl of clairvoyance. Ah Roa is looking for the ultimate magical girl, the only magical girl able to stop climate change. Is that our main character? *suspenseful music*
This includes a sapphic relationship and discussion about climate change, gender, and capitalism. It was honestly fun and surprisingly good. 4.5 stars.
June 22, 2024
This is a super cute story of a millenial woman who finds out she's a Magical Girl, right as a major event is about to happen to the Magical Girls in the country. Although this is a lighter toned story, it has discussions about financial insecurity, suicide, climate change and domestic violence, while managing to tell it in a lighthearted but thoughtful way. I think my only gripe would be that I would love it to be much longer, so the storyline and characters could be more fleshed out.
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June 2, 2024I LOVED this. I've always thought about the magical girl genre as a manifestation of powerlessness and despair in young girls, who are then given the power to fight back, stand up, and take power back for themselves. A Magical Girl Retires is absolutely that, and also a bit of a contemporary zeitgeist that captures the quiet horror of capitalism and climate change.
100% recommend picking this up if you want a short read, especially if you love the magical girl genre.
100% recommend picking this up if you want a short read, especially if you love the magical girl genre.
December 23, 2023
Admittedly, the main reasons I picked this up were the gorgeous cover and the fact Anton translated it, but I couldn’t put it down.
It’s such a fun novella with gorgeous chapter illustrations. There were also some very cute sapphic interactions which was so satisfying because I immediately shipped the characters in question and didn’t see it going that way at all. I’m low-key obsessed with the magical girl of clairvoyance Ah Roa.
I wasn’t hugely into the magical girl genre growing up, though I’ve always loved manga and anime but you don’t need to be that familiar with the tropes to enjoy this story fully. I loved how dark many of the themes and plot points were despite the very cute and magical nature of the book — it felt very real and gritty despite the overall light-heartedness.
It’s a wonderful play on the magical girl genre that will keep you guessing and fully invested until the end. I highly recommend it for a quick and very enjoyable read!
It’s such a fun novella with gorgeous chapter illustrations. There were also some very cute sapphic interactions which was so satisfying because I immediately shipped the characters in question and didn’t see it going that way at all. I’m low-key obsessed with the magical girl of clairvoyance Ah Roa.
I wasn’t hugely into the magical girl genre growing up, though I’ve always loved manga and anime but you don’t need to be that familiar with the tropes to enjoy this story fully. I loved how dark many of the themes and plot points were despite the very cute and magical nature of the book — it felt very real and gritty despite the overall light-heartedness.
It’s a wonderful play on the magical girl genre that will keep you guessing and fully invested until the end. I highly recommend it for a quick and very enjoyable read!
June 19, 2024
I learned later from the news that the airport we'd been in was Heathrow, Heejin had helped hundreds of travelers evacuate, and Cha Minhwa had a decisive role in suppressing the terrorists. The large magical girl's name was Ahn Subin, and as the Magical Girl of Growth, she could become a giant at will.
A Magical Girl Retires (2024) is Anton Hur's translation of 마법소녀 은퇴합니다 (2022) by 박서련 (Park Seolyeon).
The novel is a reimagination of the Magical Girl genre for a world of violence against women, economic insecurity and climate change - or rather I take that on trust as I wasn't aware of the genre it is reimagining, reading this more as part of my mission to read all from-Korean translated fiction each year.
The first person narrator, aged 29, with no permanent job and credit card debt, is contemplating suicide on a bridge when a taxi pulls up with what she at first things is a cos-player dressed as an angel, but who identifies herself as a officer of the Trade Union for Magical Girls and tells her that it's not her destiny to die now:
"당신은 마법소녀가 될 운명이에요."
'Your destiny is to become a magical girl'
The story that follows is both as mundane as her magic talisman being a credit card, and as dramatic as her needing to use her powers to stop the extinction of the human race (which her adversary believes is the best solution to climate change - eliminate the key cause).
The English edition of the novel is illustrated by the illustrious Korean comic-book artist 김산호 (Kim Sanho), who also contributes an afterword as does Anton Hur, who explains passionately why he chose to translate the book.
An enjoyable although not terribly profound read - and its hard to appreciate the subversion of a genre of which one wasn't particularly aware. 2.5 stars.
A Magical Girl Retires (2024) is Anton Hur's translation of 마법소녀 은퇴합니다 (2022) by 박서련 (Park Seolyeon).
The novel is a reimagination of the Magical Girl genre for a world of violence against women, economic insecurity and climate change - or rather I take that on trust as I wasn't aware of the genre it is reimagining, reading this more as part of my mission to read all from-Korean translated fiction each year.
The first person narrator, aged 29, with no permanent job and credit card debt, is contemplating suicide on a bridge when a taxi pulls up with what she at first things is a cos-player dressed as an angel, but who identifies herself as a officer of the Trade Union for Magical Girls and tells her that it's not her destiny to die now:
"당신은 마법소녀가 될 운명이에요."
'Your destiny is to become a magical girl'
The story that follows is both as mundane as her magic talisman being a credit card, and as dramatic as her needing to use her powers to stop the extinction of the human race (which her adversary believes is the best solution to climate change - eliminate the key cause).
The English edition of the novel is illustrated by the illustrious Korean comic-book artist 김산호 (Kim Sanho), who also contributes an afterword as does Anton Hur, who explains passionately why he chose to translate the book.
An enjoyable although not terribly profound read - and its hard to appreciate the subversion of a genre of which one wasn't particularly aware. 2.5 stars.
February 24, 2024
"Magical girls exist because justice does not."
I really enjoyed this darker spin on real life magical girls. In this universe, the girls get their powers from traumatic life experiences-when they need them the most-and they're all rallying to fight climate change.
Although I felt the translation was a bit clunky, and the dialogue left me wanting, it gets an extra star for being surprisingly gay. A short read with a unique premise!
I really enjoyed this darker spin on real life magical girls. In this universe, the girls get their powers from traumatic life experiences-when they need them the most-and they're all rallying to fight climate change.
Although I felt the translation was a bit clunky, and the dialogue left me wanting, it gets an extra star for being surprisingly gay. A short read with a unique premise!
May 11, 2024
This would be one star if it weren’t for the gorgeous cover / illustrations throughout.
The idea is amazing, but the execution is ROUGH. Really weird dialogue , terrible pacing , overall a bummer - I was excited for this one
The idea is amazing, but the execution is ROUGH. Really weird dialogue , terrible pacing , overall a bummer - I was excited for this one
June 1, 2024
Great idea, poor execution.
I felt nothing while reading this.
I felt nothing while reading this.
July 25, 2024
4/5stars
This was really cute and fun, but a LITTLE on the nose with its commentary on climate change and the treatment of women by society. I LOVED the idea but I feel like this needed to be 200 pages longer to really make it amazing. I love short, weird japanese fiction, so I was expecting something like this when I went in, but I feel like this could have been THE next big whimsical fantasy if it had just been longer and more fleshed out.
The cover and illustrations are absolutely gorgeous as well, honestly it deserves a high rating just for that lol but i truly did love the story too
This was really cute and fun, but a LITTLE on the nose with its commentary on climate change and the treatment of women by society. I LOVED the idea but I feel like this needed to be 200 pages longer to really make it amazing. I love short, weird japanese fiction, so I was expecting something like this when I went in, but I feel like this could have been THE next big whimsical fantasy if it had just been longer and more fleshed out.
The cover and illustrations are absolutely gorgeous as well, honestly it deserves a high rating just for that lol but i truly did love the story too
March 19, 2024
ENGLISH BELOW
ESP
Admito que este libro automáticamente lo agregué a mi lista porque está traducido por Anton Hur. He llegado al punto donde
Este libro mezcla la fantasía de "Sailor Moon", la profundidad y el nuance de "Kim Jiyoung nacida en 1982" y la particularidad y unicidad de "Convenience Store Woman". En cuestión de 170 páginas Park Seolyeon me vendió una historia y una protagonista de manera exitosa, dejándome deseando por más páginas con ella.
Esta es de esas historias donde al inicio crees que es algo coqueto y ligerito nada más, pero mientras más lees más descubres ciertos elementos un poco más serios. Siento que la autora hizo un muy buen trabajo con esto; puedo ver discusiones y temas similares a Kim Jiyoung pero agregando todo este elemento fantástico que, por la manera en la que esta escrito, se siente muy tangible y real.
La verdad es que me encanto mucho y me hubiera fascinado que fuera más largo. Pero que más les puedo decir, otro exitazo para Anton Hur y otro libro para mi estante de literatura coreana que he estado AMANDO.
ENG
I have to admit, the reason why I added A Magical Girl Retires to my TBR was cause of Anton Hur's translation. I've grown to adore his work, pretty much reading anything that has his name attached to it, and I'm so glad I did the same with this one, for this was a gorgeous little book.
A millennial 29-year old woman who lost her job due to the pandemic and is drowning in credit card debt decides to end it all, only to learn before that she is a magical girl, and that she is needed to end a common enemy to humanity: climate change.
This book mixes de fantasy of "Sailor Moon", the depth, nuance and statement of "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" and the quirkiness and uniqueness of "Convenience Store Woman". In only 170 pages Park Seolyeon sold me a charming story and an endearing main character, leaving me wishing for a couple extra pages with her once I finished the book.
The fantastical elements were very well crafted into the story, making them read as something that easily could happen in real life, and there are certain undertones that were a little more serious; very nuanced as I mentioned before. I loved the author wrote something that, at first glance, looks like a silly little story but in reality is a lot more.
Another hit for Anton Hur and another great book to add to my korean literature shelf.
Thank you netgalley for providing me with and advance copy of the book for review!
ESP
Admito que este libro automáticamente lo agregué a mi lista porque está traducido por Anton Hur. He llegado al punto donde
Este libro mezcla la fantasía de "Sailor Moon", la profundidad y el nuance de "Kim Jiyoung nacida en 1982" y la particularidad y unicidad de "Convenience Store Woman". En cuestión de 170 páginas Park Seolyeon me vendió una historia y una protagonista de manera exitosa, dejándome deseando por más páginas con ella.
Esta es de esas historias donde al inicio crees que es algo coqueto y ligerito nada más, pero mientras más lees más descubres ciertos elementos un poco más serios. Siento que la autora hizo un muy buen trabajo con esto; puedo ver discusiones y temas similares a Kim Jiyoung pero agregando todo este elemento fantástico que, por la manera en la que esta escrito, se siente muy tangible y real.
La verdad es que me encanto mucho y me hubiera fascinado que fuera más largo. Pero que más les puedo decir, otro exitazo para Anton Hur y otro libro para mi estante de literatura coreana que he estado AMANDO.
ENG
I have to admit, the reason why I added A Magical Girl Retires to my TBR was cause of Anton Hur's translation. I've grown to adore his work, pretty much reading anything that has his name attached to it, and I'm so glad I did the same with this one, for this was a gorgeous little book.
A millennial 29-year old woman who lost her job due to the pandemic and is drowning in credit card debt decides to end it all, only to learn before that she is a magical girl, and that she is needed to end a common enemy to humanity: climate change.
This book mixes de fantasy of "Sailor Moon", the depth, nuance and statement of "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" and the quirkiness and uniqueness of "Convenience Store Woman". In only 170 pages Park Seolyeon sold me a charming story and an endearing main character, leaving me wishing for a couple extra pages with her once I finished the book.
The fantastical elements were very well crafted into the story, making them read as something that easily could happen in real life, and there are certain undertones that were a little more serious; very nuanced as I mentioned before. I loved the author wrote something that, at first glance, looks like a silly little story but in reality is a lot more.
Another hit for Anton Hur and another great book to add to my korean literature shelf.
Thank you netgalley for providing me with and advance copy of the book for review!
April 11, 2024
As a lover of magical girls, how could I possibly say no to this?
A late twenties millennial woman is going through a rough time after covid and starts to not see a light at the end of the tunnel anymore. However, she is turned into a magical girl with amazing powers! However, how can she use this magic on the very real-world problems on Earth?
This was delightful! I am so happy I got a chance to read this not only from Netgalley but because this book was translated and I feel like that's magical in itself seeing how hard it is to get many books translated to English. There are some! I know!!! But, this one is particularly special to me.
Out April 30, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!!
A late twenties millennial woman is going through a rough time after covid and starts to not see a light at the end of the tunnel anymore. However, she is turned into a magical girl with amazing powers! However, how can she use this magic on the very real-world problems on Earth?
This was delightful! I am so happy I got a chance to read this not only from Netgalley but because this book was translated and I feel like that's magical in itself seeing how hard it is to get many books translated to English. There are some! I know!!! But, this one is particularly special to me.
Out April 30, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!!!
June 14, 2024
[2.5] I think this could’ve been more memorable had it been longer
June 17, 2024
i've also nearly killed myself over my crippling debt where is my magical girl awakening
June 3, 2024
cute and simple!
May 31, 2024
4.5 Stars
The Sailor Moon vibes are strong in this charmingly witty and thought provoking, urban fantasy by Park Seolyeon that reads like a love letter to the magical girl genre.
Translated from Korean by Anton Hur and illustrated by Kim Sanho I enjoyed the mixed media format and loved that it really brought the Manga references of the plot to life.
It was such a fun and fast paced read that tackles some pretty heavy subject material (there’s brief mention of suicidal thoughts, grief and physical abuse alongside the overarching theme of climate change.) But I was most impressed with Park Seolyeon’s ability to weave this whimsical narrative with the darker, more realistic experiences that women face without losing its upbeat tone.
Equally as impressive was Hur’s ability to translate that nuance into English in such an easy to engage manner. I’d definitely love to see him collaborate on English translations for the rest of Park Seolyeon’s books, as I’m eager to devour her entire backlist.
That Magical girls only come into their powers when they are physically at their weakest (and in need of powers to survive) was a little heartbreaking but definitely highlighted an ongoing issue (violence against women) that definitely needs more attention.
My only complaint is that it’s far too short! I would’ve loved to spend more time with our protagonist and felt the ending came far too quickly more my liking. I also really need to see more of Ah Roa, whose whirlwind appearances weren’t nearly enough to satisfy my curiosity about her abilities (clairvoyance.)
Overall, a fast paced and whimsical read with razor sharp social observations that fans of Manga (but especially the magical girl genre) definitely don’t want to miss!
Also, thank you to Harper360UK and InstaBookTours for the finished copy.
The Sailor Moon vibes are strong in this charmingly witty and thought provoking, urban fantasy by Park Seolyeon that reads like a love letter to the magical girl genre.
Translated from Korean by Anton Hur and illustrated by Kim Sanho I enjoyed the mixed media format and loved that it really brought the Manga references of the plot to life.
It was such a fun and fast paced read that tackles some pretty heavy subject material (there’s brief mention of suicidal thoughts, grief and physical abuse alongside the overarching theme of climate change.) But I was most impressed with Park Seolyeon’s ability to weave this whimsical narrative with the darker, more realistic experiences that women face without losing its upbeat tone.
Equally as impressive was Hur’s ability to translate that nuance into English in such an easy to engage manner. I’d definitely love to see him collaborate on English translations for the rest of Park Seolyeon’s books, as I’m eager to devour her entire backlist.
That Magical girls only come into their powers when they are physically at their weakest (and in need of powers to survive) was a little heartbreaking but definitely highlighted an ongoing issue (violence against women) that definitely needs more attention.
My only complaint is that it’s far too short! I would’ve loved to spend more time with our protagonist and felt the ending came far too quickly more my liking. I also really need to see more of Ah Roa, whose whirlwind appearances weren’t nearly enough to satisfy my curiosity about her abilities (clairvoyance.)
Overall, a fast paced and whimsical read with razor sharp social observations that fans of Manga (but especially the magical girl genre) definitely don’t want to miss!
Also, thank you to Harper360UK and InstaBookTours for the finished copy.
March 18, 2024
I was browsing Edelweiss one fine afternoon, as one does, and the second I saw this cover I was stunned. Immediately I saw Anton Hur translated it and now it was 2:2, but then reading the synopsis had me absolutely gagged that I needed this in my hands.
In 176 pages, A Magical Girl Retires makes you feel things. This book is like Sailor Moon and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh had a sapphic baby. There isn't much to it, but it is a great novella.
I'd love to read more from this author, especially since this was slightly wacky but also very girlhood-y. The story is about a woman drowning in credit card debt and out of a job because of the pandemic and decides to stop her troubles by jumping off a bridge and ending her life. That is until she gets saved by Ah Roa, this beautiful woman who claims she has been waiting her whole life for our narrator and they're both Magical Girls. Roa teaches our newest Magical Girl that it isn't fun transformations and battling aliens, but instead, they go to job fairs and deal with self-esteem.
I do wish I read this physically, as I felt my enjoyment level was tarnished on a Kindle screen. There are beautiful illustrations I wish I could see on the page and I think this would have been better enjoyed if I took more time, but I just can't help it because I read fast naturally.
(This title is set to release April 30, 2024 from HarperVia, thank you!)
In 176 pages, A Magical Girl Retires makes you feel things. This book is like Sailor Moon and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh had a sapphic baby. There isn't much to it, but it is a great novella.
I'd love to read more from this author, especially since this was slightly wacky but also very girlhood-y. The story is about a woman drowning in credit card debt and out of a job because of the pandemic and decides to stop her troubles by jumping off a bridge and ending her life. That is until she gets saved by Ah Roa, this beautiful woman who claims she has been waiting her whole life for our narrator and they're both Magical Girls. Roa teaches our newest Magical Girl that it isn't fun transformations and battling aliens, but instead, they go to job fairs and deal with self-esteem.
I do wish I read this physically, as I felt my enjoyment level was tarnished on a Kindle screen. There are beautiful illustrations I wish I could see on the page and I think this would have been better enjoyed if I took more time, but I just can't help it because I read fast naturally.
(This title is set to release April 30, 2024 from HarperVia, thank you!)
June 21, 2024
☆ * . ☆
. ∧＿∧ ∩ * ☆ "Your destiny is to become a magical girl..."
* ☆ ( ・∀・)/ .
. ⊂ ノ* ☆
☆ * (つ ノ .☆
(ノ
Full review coming soon.....
. ∧＿∧ ∩ * ☆ "Your destiny is to become a magical girl..."
* ☆ ( ・∀・)/ .
. ⊂ ノ* ☆
☆ * (つ ノ .☆
(ノ
Full review coming soon.....
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