Book Review: A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

Young Adult, Short Story 4 hrs read

I stumbled upon this Short Story one sunny afternoon in Houston, Texas, tucked into the cozy shelves of Brazos Bookstore—a quaint little shop beloved by school librarians and literary enthusiasts alike.

The cover art initially caught my attention: an extravagant, whimsical illustration that perfectly echoed the aesthetics of the "magical girl" subculture. It stopped me in my tracks.

The moment I flipped it over and read the blurb—“A 29-year-old woman, on the verge of suicide, is suddenly turned into a magical girl”—I knew I had to buy it. “A Magical Girl Retires” by  Park Seolyeon, Translated by Anton Hur is a little book for any Millenial or Gen-z, or any one for that matter that loves the Magical Gir sub culture which I, ‘freaking’ do! 

Are you kidding me? This premise struck right at my heart. I grew up watching magical girl classics like Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon—the OG queens of sparkly transformations and heartfelt power-ups. So to find a story that dares to blend this nostalgic genre with the stark reality of adulthood and depression? It felt personal, urgent, and honestly, irresistible.

The story opens with our unnamed protagonist: twenty-nine, burnt out, drowning in credit card debt, and recently unemployed due to the pandemic. She's standing on Seoul’s Mapo Bridge, ready to end it all—until she's interrupted by Ah Roa, a mysterious girl dressed entirely in white, claiming to be a clairvoyant magical girl. Ah Roa is on a mission to find the “greatest magical girl of all time,” and somehow believes this broken, directionless woman is the one.

What follows is a powerful, darkly humorous, and refreshingly raw twist on the magical girl genre. It’s not about defeating monsters in frilly outfits—it’s about surviving adulthood, finding hope in chaos, and maybe, just maybe, saving yourself when no one else can.

The protagonist reminded me so much of myself during a time when life felt unbearably heavy—when I was at my wits' end and everything seemed to be falling apart. And then, just like in the story, something magical—dare I say, miraculous—happened. That moment when light pierces through darkness is what Magical Girl Retired captures so beautifully.

I wholeheartedly recommend this short story to anyone craving a touch of escapism during difficult times. It's for the ones who need a gentle reminder that it's okay not to meet everyone’s expectations, that slowing down is a form of self-care, and that reconnecting with what once brought you joy can be a path back to yourself. With themes of perseverance, inner healing, and magical nostalgia, this story serves as a quiet anthem for the weary-hearted.

That said, I’d give the story a 3 out of 5 stars. While it resonated deeply in many ways, I did feel the ending landed a bit flat—leaving me wanting just a bit more closure or an emotional payoff. But maybe that’s just my perspective. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you've read and see it differently. Maybe there’s a side to the story I didn’t consider.