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4.54 AVERAGE
4.54 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and Yen Press for a complimentary early release copy of Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama.
Stardust Family went in a direction that I didn’t expect it to go into. I thought the story itself was going to hold some more darker elements and while it does have some plot points that are dark the story itself feels more light hearted than I expected. I did like the direction that the story went in, I liked how some of the elements/reveals are set up, and I enjoyed my time with these characters.
I liked the family, the character themselves felt well developed and likeable. I liked the whole idea of these kids inspecting these parents to figure out if they are acceptable parents or not. The art, writing, and character development are all well thought out. I enjoyed this story and I thought the ending was satisfying.
Stardust Family went in a direction that I didn’t expect it to go into. I thought the story itself was going to hold some more darker elements and while it does have some plot points that are dark the story itself feels more light hearted than I expected. I did like the direction that the story went in, I liked how some of the elements/reveals are set up, and I enjoyed my time with these characters.
I liked the family, the character themselves felt well developed and likeable. I liked the whole idea of these kids inspecting these parents to figure out if they are acceptable parents or not. The art, writing, and character development are all well thought out. I enjoyed this story and I thought the ending was satisfying.
dark
reflective
sad
fast-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
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Ough, that ending hit me hard.
An interesting take on society's obsession with children/parenthood, especially with the context of Japan's falling birth rate. The characters in this are just so charming. I love the contrast of Daiki and Chisa's free-spirted style when compared to Hikari's other "parents". The book begins fairly lighthearted, but gets more emotionally painful as it goes on.
An interesting take on society's obsession with children/parenthood, especially with the context of Japan's falling birth rate. The characters in this are just so charming. I love the contrast of Daiki and Chisa's free-spirted style when compared to Hikari's other "parents". The book begins fairly lighthearted, but gets more emotionally painful as it goes on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Stunning and unique concept, touted as a utopia, the world the reader lands in quickly makes you ask if this is actually a dystopia. Ultimately I don’t think the question is clear even by the ending. (This is a standalone, and I think it will and should stay that way.)
This is very much a story that will stick with me and will also be one I ponder for a while. I think the blurb does a good enough job of explaining the set up, but I would otherwise go in without reading too much into this. I do definitely recommend this one even if I don’t know if I should be happy or sad about the ending. Bittersweet is highly accurate.
This is very much a story that will stick with me and will also be one I ponder for a while. I think the blurb does a good enough job of explaining the set up, but I would otherwise go in without reading too much into this. I do definitely recommend this one even if I don’t know if I should be happy or sad about the ending. Bittersweet is highly accurate.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
Thank you Yen Press, Netgalley, and Aki Poroyama for the early copy of this manga!
Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama is a speculative science fiction story set within a reality where the choices to raise a family are decided through the trust put into children with a system set in place to determine how fit a set of parents are to raise children of their own. On the surface, it sounds like a strange topic, and feels like a confusing immersion into a universe so drastically different from modern society.
Delving into the story though feels like repetitious punches to the gut in between heart wrenching backstories for multiple characters and surprising twist reveals in the latter portion of the story. Aki Poroyama is capable of bringing the reader through every emotion under the sun, as well as guiding the reader through each stage of grief in a slow, healing process.
Finishing this story left me caught in a mix of indescribable emotions, and it's one I already know I would love to read again and again, just to immerse myself in the lives and feelings of the main trio of characters. Overall, more than anything, I found the way this story approaches the topics of selection and parenthood to be a tender exploration, one that imagines a world where pain is inevitable, where grief is misunderstood and hard to look head on, but hopeful, and sweet, and where love isn't just who you're born from. It's a story about confronting what makes us human at our most vulnerable, a story about the feeling of being othered from society, and in finding safety, comfort, and community with people who want to understand you.
It is a story that made me happy, despite the grief contained within.
Stardust Family by Aki Poroyama is a speculative science fiction story set within a reality where the choices to raise a family are decided through the trust put into children with a system set in place to determine how fit a set of parents are to raise children of their own. On the surface, it sounds like a strange topic, and feels like a confusing immersion into a universe so drastically different from modern society.
Delving into the story though feels like repetitious punches to the gut in between heart wrenching backstories for multiple characters and surprising twist reveals in the latter portion of the story. Aki Poroyama is capable of bringing the reader through every emotion under the sun, as well as guiding the reader through each stage of grief in a slow, healing process.
Finishing this story left me caught in a mix of indescribable emotions, and it's one I already know I would love to read again and again, just to immerse myself in the lives and feelings of the main trio of characters. Overall, more than anything, I found the way this story approaches the topics of selection and parenthood to be a tender exploration, one that imagines a world where pain is inevitable, where grief is misunderstood and hard to look head on, but hopeful, and sweet, and where love isn't just who you're born from. It's a story about confronting what makes us human at our most vulnerable, a story about the feeling of being othered from society, and in finding safety, comfort, and community with people who want to understand you.
It is a story that made me happy, despite the grief contained within.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this opportunity to read this arc for a truthful review.
This manga really surprised me! I’ll admit at first I didn’t see the issue with the system until I realized how dystopian it was. I always wished there was a way to prevent abusive people from having children. I know firsthand how it hurts. But I realized, how it hurt the inspectors and their “temporary” families. This was not the way. The writing quality was high.
Every character had a purpose, and every character I loved! I'd say my favorite was the main character himself. I’ve lived in many living situations thoughout my life. His emotions were displayed in a way that brought out the tension in the story.
The pacing was great! I'm unsure if this will remain the only volume but I’ve found that with a lot of those — manga or graphic novels, it can feel very rushed. This story sets up its world-building flawlessly, mostly through the news.
Lastly about the things I disliked. I wish the ending were a bit different. It was alright to the point it didn’t ruin the story, yet it was a bit confusing and wonky. It felt a bit stereotypical as well. Even at other times, things felt wonky but I think it was a translation issue. I wish there were more of a revolution against the system and stuff. More dystopia you know?
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I went to the book today to just browse and this title caught my eye. Glimpsed at the pages and thought this might be a good read.
I’m glad I was right. This story is amazing! I read it a few hours because I couldn’t put it down.
The premise and the characters are so fascinating that once you start reading a few pages you won’t be able to put it down.
I definitely recommend reading it.
I’m glad I was right. This story is amazing! I read it a few hours because I couldn’t put it down.
The premise and the characters are so fascinating that once you start reading a few pages you won’t be able to put it down.
I definitely recommend reading it.