Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

124 reviews

princesspunx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Self harm, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Murder, Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, and Xenophobia

analenegrace's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense 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? Yes

4.5

This was a beautiful book that melded so many genres in a way that I found very successful. All the characters are incredibly compelling and represent the many different ways womanhood happens and exists. Trans characters are more important than ever, especially by Trans authors. I was never entirely sure where the plot was going to go, which can often make a book frustrating, but instead, Aoki made me constantly drawn back in. It's a hard book to summarize, but things like found/chosen family, the importance of art to humanity, and queer joy made this book so powerful, I imagine I will be thinking about it for quite a while!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Incest

lilaceous's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.0

characters - ⭐️

plot - ⭐️

engaging to read - ⭐️

would recommend - ⭐️

would read again - 

brought me to tears a number of times. although the narration is a bit unclear and poorly written at times (due to what seems to be editing problems), it’s a beautiful story and worth the read if you like fantasy and chosen family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Self harm, Blood, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Outing, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

tree_star's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

There was so much that I loved about this book. It all seems so unlikely and chaotic but the writing is so good that it works. 
It's campy. It's fun. The descriptions of food and music are excellent and put you right into the atmosphere. 
The characters have their own agendas and personalities and it all makes sense at the end.  Don't ask me how it just does. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Deadnaming, and Body shaming

planning2read's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Racial slurs, Rape, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Outing, Transphobia, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: War and Deadnaming

atamano'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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Sexism, Racism, Xenophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Alcohol, Murder, Racial slurs, and Sexual violence

Minor: Deadnaming

kshertz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I read this book for the trans rights read a thon. It was very interesting and I was interested in the trans protagonist. Her story was really good but it was mixed up in magical realism and fantasy and other people and aliens that I did not care about as much. I think it’s a better read for people who love fantasy.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Transphobia, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Outing, Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, and Deadnaming

molsreads's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

4.25

Weird and wonderful. It reminded me a bit of A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (the character-drivenness)  and Everything Everywhere All at Once (at least the weirdness and the largely Asian cast). The only thing that I didn't like was the frequency the author changed POVs. It was often and sometimes hard to follow, but by halfway, I'd gotten used to it. Trans rep but also transphobia and dysmorphia, so just be aware. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Xenophobia, Deadnaming, and Transphobia

oliviawright1014's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring slow-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Outing, Physical abuse, and Transphobia

snipinfool's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

Shizuka Satomi was a gifted violinist who made a deal with the devil for her soul. Due to a technicality, she did not have to give up her soul if she could find others willing to give up their souls instead. She had to find seven individuals in forty-nine years (7 x 7) or forfeit her soul. Shizuka found six people and was on the hunt for the final one. She thought she had found the last soul in the Bay Area of California and was on her way to listen to this prodigy and possibly make the girl her final student.

Katrina Nguyen had recently come out to her parents as a trans female. Her parents were extremely upset by the news. Her father frequently beat and berated her. Katrina took a couple of group violin classes as a child before her father put a stop to it. She continued to teach herself how to play watching YouTube videos. Playing the violin was what brought her joy. Katrina knew her father would continue his violent actions, so she ran way from home. She wondered to a park and started to play her violin. Katrina was able to soothe her soul when she played. While playing in the park, a small group gathered to listen. One of the people was Shizuka who happened to stop by the park where she played as a child. After listening to Katrina, Shizuka thought she could help Katrina better her violin skills.

Lan Tran was a refugee from another galaxy who traveled to Earth with her family. Her planet was in the middle of a galactic war that had already wiped out other planets. Lan was a retired starship captain and looked for a world whose inventions and innovations were backward enough to remain off of the radar to those possibly looking for her and her family. Lan bought a donut shop named Starrgate Donuts from a retiring couple and used the technology she brought with her to replicate perfect donuts. The area below the shop housed their research lab, living quarters, and their spaceship. They were prepared to stay indefinitely until they found out the war was over or just prior to the "level-five gamma ray burst" 247 light-years away heading toward this solar system. Shizuka stopped at the shop one day to use the restroom and bought a giant donut. She continued to stop by for a donut and became friends with Lan.

One wouldn't think there would be a way for these three beings to connect, but there was. The three women were connected by a need for companionship, hope, and a want to belong. Each of the characters were interesting and I wanted to know what came next for them. The story worked for me. The side characters completed the cast well and enriched the tale. I would have liked to have had a little more knowledge about Tan's life prior to arriving on Earth. This was an interesting premise for a book and was very enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Transphobia

Moderate: Deadnaming