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readerette's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
But Katrina's experience as a transwoman kept me in it, as she experienced pain after pain and still learned to trust again. It was emotional to read, but beautiful. The trigger warnings are accurate, and there's enough lightness, goodness and love to balance them out.
Once I got used to the writing style (perfunctory and shifting between characters) and started to see where the story could go, I didn't want to put it down. The existential questions in this story were also refreshingly posed.
If you like sci fi/fantasy with a heart (the Becky Chambers comparisons are apt), I recommend this one.
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Murder, Mental illness, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Suicide
achingallover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i really liked the themes and descriptions of music and food and family and parallels between katrina and shirley.
unfortunately some of it felt disjointed or clumsy. but overall i enjoyed.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Outing, Rape, Terminal illness, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
rattification's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Violence, Self harm, Transphobia, Abandonment, Bullying, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, Racism, and Suicide
Minor: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness
bi_n_large's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Blood, War, and Child death
naomiysl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Racism, Dysphoria, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Deadnaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
ladythana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Outing, and Sexual assault
paigeyoungberg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Self harm
kilic's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
emmyrandomreport's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Transphobia, Death, and Mental illness
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The novel centers around three perspectives: Katrina, a violin prodigy running away from an abusive home; Shizuka, a violin teacher who has made a deal with the devil, and Lan, the captain of a startship who is now running a donut shop. When these three characters collide, they find pieces of themselves that they were missing. Katrina may be the last violin student that Shizuka needs to complete her deal with the devil, Lan may have found long lost comfort in her budding feelings for Shizuka, and Shizuka may provide Katrina with the sense of family that she has been missing since she came out to her family as transgender. Together, the characters will have to face the stigmas of society, a demon that is coming to collect for souls, and an intergalactic plague that infects people with apathy.
From the moment I heard the description of this book, I was hooked and I am so happy that the novel fully lived up to the interesting premise. Aoki has created a book that is so full of heart and perfectly blends space travel with demons from Hell in a world that is completely believable.
The heart of this story are the characters and their relationships. All of these characters are searching for a place to fit in, be it because they are fleeing intergalactic wars or getting away from their transphobic family. What they find in each other and what they build together will lighten your heart.
My one issue with this story is that it sometimes felt like it was less well edited than other books I have read from Tor. There were more noticeable typos and words that were swapped around than I have previously encountered. Most are super easy to fix and didn't fully take away from my enjoyment of the novel so I hope they will put out a new edition that has some of these issues fixed.
If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face and make you care deeply for its characters, I highly recommend 'Light From Uncommon Stars.' I will most definitely be picking up more of Aoki's writing.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Racism
Moderate: Dysphoria and Suicidal thoughts