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virgilsinferno'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: Xenophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Sexual violence
Minor: Racial slurs
readwithria's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual harassment, and Racism
Moderate: Deadnaming, Self harm, Rape, Sexual violence, and Racial slurs
Minor: Cursing and Outing
zgreyz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Xenophobia, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, and Rape
amarreth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Murder, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
mklmy'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
4.25
Graphic: Transphobia and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, War, Violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Racial slurs, and Lesbophobia
koiolee'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? It's complicated
4.5
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
- 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: 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
brynalexa'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
3.25
Graphic: Dysphoria and Transphobia
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Racial slurs, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Racism, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, and Suicidal thoughts
leahkafer'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault
lavloveslit'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? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Body shaming, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Outing, Sexual violence, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Rape and Deadnaming