Reviews tagging 'Outing'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

155 reviews

_rq_s_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is a wonderfully weird read! It deals with challenges related to identity and belonging in a realistic way while also being fun and exciting. The way transgender identities are discussed are insightful and feel genuine. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia and Outing

Minor: Rape

readwithria's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

2.75

This book was a TRIP, but not the kind I was looking for.

I read this blurb and comp titles, and went into the book with expectations of a cozy sci-fi that dealt with morality. I was wrong.

Light From Uncommon Stars is a very literary book with some mild elements of science fiction and magical realism. Because of the heavy emphasis on the violin music throughout the book it reads more like a piece of literary fiction than a SFF book. The language surrounding music and food is very descriptive and flowery, and while that isn’t a bad thing it also isn’t what I was looking for.

The characters are really what saved this book for me. I loved Shirley and Astrid, and grew to like Shizuka and Katrina more as the book progressed. The themes of personhood and identity were really well done, and it was in those themes that I saw why The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was chosen as a comp title.

The story, however, was not my cup of tea. I found that the mid-chapter POV switches were hard to keep track of (I listened to the audiobook, so maybe this would be better in print?) and that made it hard for me to connect with what was happening sometimes. I also think there were too many storylines that didn’t  get fleshed out enough for me to care about them.

I don’t regret finishing the book, but it definitely wasn’t my cup of tea. I’d recommend this for people who typically read contemporary fiction and are looking to get into sci-fi. 2.75 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual harassment, and Racism

Moderate: Deadnaming, Self harm, Rape, Sexual violence, and Racial slurs

Minor: Cursing and Outing

readsknitsrepeats's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

If you think music, violins, deals with Hell, donut shops, and the Galactic Empire don’t go together, this book will change your mind. The author’s incredible writing and world-building weave all these elements together through the interconnected stories of Katrina, Shizuka, and Lan. I was thoroughly invested in the journey each character undertakes. Katrina's experiences with abuse and transphobia are brutally honest and heart-breaking. Themes of healing, found family, connection, resilience, and acceptance are at the core of this story, ultimately creating a heartwarming and hopeful tale.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Outing, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, and Transphobia

koiolee's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

Not a bad book, but hard to recommend. I feel like this book has too many things going on. They all make sense by the end, but I think it's doing too much. I guess I don't like the combination of the fantasy and scifi elements without going too in depth about the fantasy elements. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Pedophilia, Outing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Rape, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, and Racism

adalinemccormick's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Rape, Self harm, Racial slurs, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

narzibenoucdel's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Racism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Outing, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Deadnaming, and Body shaming

lavloveslit's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Body shaming, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Outing, Sexual violence, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Rape and Deadnaming

anna_brawn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Transphobia, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Racism, Outing, Domestic abuse, and Deadnaming

readingpicnic's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

What an incredible book! I was so nervous to read this for a while since it's sci-fi, but that's honestly not the genre of most of the story, so it wasn't hard to understand at all. The writing was incredible, the story had a very satisfying conclusion, and I loved the use of many different perspectives throughout the story, even if we didn't get to stick with some of them too often. I do wish that I had gotten to read more of Tamiko's perspective since she was very interesting and was set up as if she was going to play a major part in the plot, but that kind of fizzled out until the very end of the book when she was briefly mentioned by another character. I would have liked to stick with her perspective a little more because her obsession with Shizuka and creepy way of thinking about her was really attention-grabbing. I also wish I had gotten more of Markus' story, as I found myself questioning why he was in the story at all if he was going to be

put in a stasis and never return as a character. I wish I understood his actions and motivations a bit more before he vanished from the book. I understand that he gave more context on the Empire and the EndPlague, but his character seemed to be very expendable to the story other than that.

I really liked the trans rep in this story with Katrina, and I especially liked how she discussed transition with Shirley in her decision to not alter her body, as well as how she came to love her visibly trans body as the story went on. It didn't emphasize medical transition as necessary to being a trans woman or being trans at all, and I liked how it challenged Shirley's way of thinking of transness, even if she was trying to be helpful. I loved Katrina so much though, and she was definitely my favorite character that I was always rooting for. Shizuka is a little questionable with her actions to me, so I'm still not sure how I feel about her...but she's a complex character for sure and meant to invoke that reaction from the reader, I suppose.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Outing, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Racial slurs

luisaroesch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Rape, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Death, Outing, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Racial slurs