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glutenfree_nonbinary_heehee's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I really wanted to like this book because who doesn’t love sapphic love and space? And butch rep! Plus the title rocks.
However, I left the book just wondering…why? I never really understood why the characters did what they did or why Ryann wanted to go to space and did it. It really seemed like we were told she wanted to go to space rather than shown. I felt like this book could’ve gone in a different direction, as it had so many avenues to flesh out that it really didn’t.
The recordings from Alexandria’s mother in space were so interesting, and honestly made it sound so harrowing that I couldn’t believe Ryann would still want to go to space after hearing all of that. Again, we were told she did, not shown, so it was very hard to believe.
Additionally, I known I might not be the target audience as I’m white and didn’t grow up in a space similar to Ryann, but I can’t stand the way her and her friends treated Alexandria and each other before they were in the friend group together. It was hard to listen to at points. I can see the angle the author was going for, but it just reminded me of the “oh that boy is picking on you because he likes you” trope in a way.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about the book, but I did walk away feeling generally “meh.”
However, I left the book just wondering…why? I never really understood why the characters did what they did or why
The recordings from Alexandria’s mother in space were so interesting, and honestly made it sound so harrowing that I couldn’t believe Ryann would still want to go to space after hearing all of that. Again, we were told she did, not shown, so it was very hard to believe.
Additionally, I known I might not be the target audience as I’m white and didn’t grow up in a space similar to Ryann, but I can’t stand the way her and her friends treated Alexandria and each other before they were in the friend group together. It was hard to listen to at points. I can see the angle the author was going for, but it just reminded me of the “oh that boy is picking on you because he likes you” trope in a way.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about the book, but I did walk away feeling generally “meh.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
danajoy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS is about connection and desire, a story of love and found family, yearning for the stars while understanding the gravity of the undertaking.
This is set in the same town as THE WICKER KING a little more than two decades later and it was amazing to see Jack and August again, now as adults. If you haven’t read THE WICKER KING, this will completely make sense without it. If you have read it then it’s a very welcome peek into their lives as they’re helpful adults in the periphery of THE WEIGHT OF STARS.
I’m so happy to see Ryann as a female protagonist who is given space and encouragement to pursue her dreams without worrying about how it will affect anyone else. She cares so much about people, then when it’s a choice between being selfish and selfless after years of feeling like selfless is the only right choice she gets to make her choice. The slow-burn romance builds her up and pushes her to be and do what she wants. It would have been so easy for it to hold her back and being one more thing shelving her dreams. It’s a love story about helping each other be better people, first and foremost, and that makes it so powerful to read. I especially like the portrayal of Ryann's brother and his son. I don't think I've read a book with a nonverbal character who was treated as self-sufficient before, let alone one who is himself taking care of another person. The friend group is numerous enough to really feel like a group with complex interrelationships, but the focus is managed carefully so that the cast stays manageable in scale with the story. I love that there's a heist because I love heists, but it's a relatively minor portion of the book and it's more about what happens around it and what the circumstances of the heist prompt in the relationships between the characters than it is about the actual event. Not a heist story, just a story with a small heist-like thing.
K. Ancrum’s work (specifically but not exclusively THE WICKER KING, LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN RAVEN, and THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS) exists in this strange middle space between realistic fiction and sci-fi/fantasy. It’s not, ultimately, a fantasy story in THE WICKER KING, just like THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS isn’t strict science fiction but plausible science future. If certain real-world private companies trying to get into space had made different decisions then the backstory of anguish and separation undergirding this story could be happening now (though I hope it’s not). Alternate-history? Alternate-contemporary? It’s strange and beautiful, reaching and yearning, a slow-burn romance igniting like a rocket into a strange place where kisses matter but are not the point. Where jars of applesauce add up to time in the sky. Kindness coming back and making things a little bit better, the space to not speak but maintain connection. Unabashedly queer where that means LGBTQ+ but also strange, odd, a cluster of found family when "no one likes me" and "I am afraid" is met with "sit with us".
This is for when you want to feel like magic is real and the stars can be felt, for just a little while, but the rest of the world isn’t asked to stop. It won’t and it can’t. But for a time the world is brighter with every turning page.
This is set in the same town as THE WICKER KING a little more than two decades later and it was amazing to see Jack and August again, now as adults. If you haven’t read THE WICKER KING, this will completely make sense without it. If you have read it then it’s a very welcome peek into their lives as they’re helpful adults in the periphery of THE WEIGHT OF STARS.
I’m so happy to see Ryann as a female protagonist who is given space and encouragement to pursue her dreams without worrying about how it will affect anyone else. She cares so much about people, then when it’s a choice between being selfish and selfless after years of feeling like selfless is the only right choice she gets to make her choice. The slow-burn romance builds her up and pushes her to be and do what she wants. It would have been so easy for it to hold her back and being one more thing shelving her dreams. It’s a love story about helping each other be better people, first and foremost, and that makes it so powerful to read. I especially like the portrayal of Ryann's brother and his son. I don't think I've read a book with a nonverbal character who was treated as self-sufficient before, let alone one who is himself taking care of another person. The friend group is numerous enough to really feel like a group with complex interrelationships, but the focus is managed carefully so that the cast stays manageable in scale with the story. I love that there's a heist because I love heists, but it's a relatively minor portion of the book and it's more about what happens around it and what the circumstances of the heist prompt in the relationships between the characters than it is about the actual event. Not a heist story, just a story with a small heist-like thing.
K. Ancrum’s work (specifically but not exclusively THE WICKER KING, LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN RAVEN, and THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS) exists in this strange middle space between realistic fiction and sci-fi/fantasy. It’s not, ultimately, a fantasy story in THE WICKER KING, just like THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS isn’t strict science fiction but plausible science future. If certain real-world private companies trying to get into space had made different decisions then the backstory of anguish and separation undergirding this story could be happening now (though I hope it’s not). Alternate-history? Alternate-contemporary? It’s strange and beautiful, reaching and yearning, a slow-burn romance igniting like a rocket into a strange place where kisses matter but are not the point. Where jars of applesauce add up to time in the sky. Kindness coming back and making things a little bit better, the space to not speak but maintain connection. Unabashedly queer where that means LGBTQ+ but also strange, odd, a cluster of found family when "no one likes me" and "I am afraid" is met with "sit with us".
This is for when you want to feel like magic is real and the stars can be felt, for just a little while, but the rest of the world isn’t asked to stop. It won’t and it can’t. But for a time the world is brighter with every turning page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, and Death of parent
water_violin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
rainbowshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide