Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

183 reviews

blue_boy62's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

This book definitely took me by surprise in a lot of ways. It’s got a really interesting mix of genres through its sci-fi and supernatural elements, and it’s a nice twist on a lot of different tropes.  I loved the wide range of Asian cultures within it and how it depicted them through languages and food. I also really liked how it handled its queer and trans characters; it’s not afraid to show the messiness of our experiences/communities and has a balance of both the pain and joys we often face. I’m a sucker for the found family trope, and I really enjoyed it in this book. I was definitely invested in all the characters and how their stories intertwined.  Overall, despite all the fantastical elements, at its core, the story is very human. It’s about connection, community, love, and the power of art, especially music, and it handles those themes beautifully. Definitely worth the read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Self harm

Moderate: Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Misogyny and Alcoholism

internationalreads's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Transphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

claralearnstoread's review

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sometimes a family can be a young transgender, violin prodigy, her teacher who has a deal with a devil, their housekeeper who loves to bake, and an former captain of a galactic empire and her four children.

This book felt like a fever dream with its blend of sci-fi and fantasy but was also one of the most entertaining books I’ve read. The author did such a beautiful job of navigating difficult and painful themes transphobia, racism, and xenophobia. The characters were flawed and felt so real and yet still so lovable and relatable. I truly rooted for all the main characters in this book and enjoyed all of their story lines.

This book truly was about the power of empathy, compassion, and kindness and I loved it. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars from me is just because of the writing style the author uses. It was effective but a  difficult to follow sometimes. But that’s just a nit pick on my part. Great book!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Transphobia, and Rape

clairejoanmarie's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual violence, Deadnaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexism, Racism, and Homophobia

Minor: Deportation, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Sexism, War, and Adult/minor relationship

spikehype's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

lia_automata's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual assault

ncq's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A beautiful story of many kinds of love

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Homophobia

Also features sex work throughout, but without being anti-sex work

overthinkereading's review

4.0

“Where does the music end and love begin?”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gun violence, Transphobia, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence, Self harm, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and War

Minor: Alcoholism

inpraiseoflucifer's review

adventurous dark reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual violence

raybudbury's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

Be aware of the content warnings.

The transphobia and sexual abuse/assault I would say could be triggering for some ppl. This one is both a warm hug but can also knock the wind out of you which the author did well in setting the mood for those situations. 

The concept was so ambitious as there is extensive music and violin knowledge/playing, Faustian bargains, found family, and… aliens. And honestly the author pulls it off for the most part. I do think the strongest bit of this book is the relationships between characters more so then plot etc. 

(Also this is a 3 am review so if this makes no sense sorry about it)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Classism, Bullying, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Rape, and Body shaming