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hannahhbic's review
5.0
Content warnings: anti-trans experience and sentiment, racism, parental physical abuse, deadnaming, war themes, on page sexual assault
This one is difficult to review. It's supposed to be similar to [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825], and it is, but it's also less cozy. Katrina's life as a baby trans girl is difficult and traumatizing. I wish that the book would have given some of the content warnings at the beginning (ie: sexual assault) because it was JARRING in a book that was pitched as comforting. It felt like maybe the tone in general needed work? This book ultimately does turn out to be about found family and elder queers and I did truly enjoy it a lot. But get ready for periodic abrupt tonal shifts.
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the text in exchange for an honest review.
This one is difficult to review. It's supposed to be similar to [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825], and it is, but it's also less cozy. Katrina's life as a baby trans girl is difficult and traumatizing. I wish that the book would have given some of the content warnings at the beginning (ie: sexual assault) because it was JARRING in a book that was pitched as comforting. It felt like maybe the tone in general needed work? This book ultimately does turn out to be about found family and elder queers and I did truly enjoy it a lot. But get ready for periodic abrupt tonal shifts.
Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the text in exchange for an honest review.
eadonn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
e___ee's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
za_'s review
medium-paced
3.75
You met there women - a teenager who runs away from home, but naturally talented violinist, a lady who owns a donut shop and the queen of hell, highly regarded violin teacher, who has trader her soul to this devil guy in order to play violin again, after damning 7 souls.
The transgender teenager is supposed to be the seventh soul, but she can't bring herself to make the trade. Instead the QoH, with the help of the Donut lady - trick the devil. The Donut lady happens to be from outterspace. When the QoH won't give up the teenager, they trick the devil into accepting the QoH's soul instead, but then get on a space ship and outrun the devil - because really he only has control of the people on earth.
Graphic: Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault
katieinca's review
4.0
From seeing the cover scroll by in my Goodreads updates I was expecting more sci-fi. Once someone got me to read the summary I found out about the demon, the transgender violinist, and the donut shop. So yeah, weird and delightful. Also heart-stabby; the parts about about Katrina and her home life before she ran away, and how that's affected how she moves in the world hit hard and true. I have problems/concerns about part of the ending , which I will try to find another reader to discuss...
Spoiler
with Katrina's internal monologue about the bowliizeat's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
erintowner's review
3.0
This book was very cute. There were passages that made me exclaim "Oh!" because of their cuteness. I liked the sense of place and how the author used lots of different types of senses to tell the story. A couple of things didn't work for me. There were too many things going on to feel like a cohesive narrative, I saw the conclusion from a mile away, and it felt over-written in spots.
mmk4725's review
What a cast of characters - deal with the devil, aliens making donuts, & transgender violin player. I should want to see how this turns out, but really I don’t care.