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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: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
onemamareads'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
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: War
d0lly'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, and Sexual assault
Minor: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Self harm
thereadingskeleton'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
Shizuka Satomi needs one more violin prodigy ready to sell their soul to complete her deal with the devil. Katrina Nguyen is young, trans, estranged from her family, and a wildly talented violinist. It’s the perfect match. Then there’s Lan Tran—retired spaceship captain, interstellar refugee, donut shop owner, and mother of four—who enters Shizuka’s life at just the right time.
Despite the deadline of her deal approaching, Shizuka is distracted by Lan and growing closer to Katrina. But neither of these connections is one she can afford, not when finding a family may very well also mean eternal damnation.
I went into this book expecting to enjoy it. What I did not expect was for it to break my heart and put it back together.
I absolutely adored this story. It is populated mostly by women—the three women mentioned in the synopsis and several more who intrigued me nearly as much as the leads—and that is absolutely a plus. Each of these women is distinct and real, and the theme of gender—its expression and expectations—is woven throughout many of their stories. I often found myself angry, or frustrated, or melancholic on their behalf.
Also woven throughout the book is a love, understanding, and appreciation of the things that make life worth living, that we pour our souls into, that by sharing them with people allow others to know us—particularly music and food. If you are (or ever have been) a musician, you may cry at some of the passages where music is discussed. These passages felt like being seen on a core level, a recognition of visceral and raw emotions. Absolutely gorgeous.
I’m not saying that this book is perfect (for one, I think it’s quite a bit darker than the synopsis makes it seem), but it bursts with so much humanity—joy and sadness and confusion and hope—that I see it as a must-read, even if you aren’t big into science fiction or fantasy. I bet you’ll find something here to love.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Self harm
emmeline'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
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
paperbrownies'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
- f | f
- asian trans mc (she/her), sapphic side characters one of them is japanese and the other one is possibly vietnamese, and a minor side character who uses they/them pronouns
i want y'all to drop your current reads and go read this book bc this book is brilliant!!
(even tho ik and idc that this is not the best piece of sci-fi fiction out there but am v grateful that it exists all the same!!)
it's diverse and affirming and more than anything i love what this book stands for. it is raw and powerful, and tender and sweet, and human at the very core with characters as flawed and battered as they come. katrina nguyen, a transgender violinist who has escaped from her abusive household, shizuka satomi who is one soul away from her music being heard again, lan tran who is escaping a plague that has destroyed her galactic empire in order to keep her family safe, and when fate ties all three of these women's destinies together, they save each other from their own damnation
“tomorrow is tomorrow. over there is over there. and here and now is not a bad place and time to be, especially when so much of the unknown is beautiful.”
light from uncommon stars like so many other reviewers have rightfully said, is an ode to queer found families, the asian community, music, food and also donuts, it is the kind of book that will make you emotional over how beautiful and affirming a story can be and is also ready to indulge you in a sapphic rendition of the good old ineffable husbands. like,,,??!! EVERYTHING I LOVE!!
'still, she had always assumed that damnation required some sort of exchange. yet, this student, this human being, had been forsaken not for ambition, nor revenge, nor even love, but for merely existing? who needs the devil when people can create a hell like this themselves?'
the trans rep in this book is brutal and beautiful, honest and heartfelt and i dont think ive ever read anything quiet like it before. ryka aoki talks about topics that are less heard and even less discussed in queer/ trans spaces and brings out the anger, frustration and unbridled joy that comes from having a queer label. it's a book that embraces queerness in all its brave, defiant and artful forms and we love to see it!!
i have a feeling i am going to love anything ryka aoki writes which is why i cannot wait to read her other works!! ╰ (* `*) ╯
cw: transphobia, misgendering, child abuse, f slur, t slur, elaborate mentions of food, domestic and emotional abuse, queerphobia, off-page passing mention of arson, ableism, r slur, suicidal thoughts, off-page infliction of self-harm, racism, war themes
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Deadnaming and Sexual assault
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and War
troisha'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: Racism and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Outing, and Dysphoria
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and War
booksmellers'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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
allisonwonderlandreads'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
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Outing, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, and Injury/Injury detail