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zombiezami's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
4.5
My only point of contention, which isn't a complaint, is that the book is described as a romance and it's not. I don't know why that's in the blurb. Everything was amazing otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Blood, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Vomit
the_vegan_bookworm's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
This was an interesting sci-fi story with queerness centered throughout. It examined war and how we become tools of the war machine even without intending to be such, what we 'deserve' and how we 'earn' things like joy, and about the potential for utopia in our communities. I loved all of the characters, but Sertig was my favourite by far and I would do anything to protect her.
I especially enjoyed the author's notes and reflections on writing this story of utopia and what we 'deserve'.
While I felt the book had excellent trans rep throughout, I challenge the idea that it's a sapphic story. It feels much more like a queer platonic relationship between Fassen and Lu than a romantic one.
I especially enjoyed the author's notes and reflections on writing this story of utopia and what we 'deserve'.
While I felt the book had excellent trans rep throughout, I challenge the idea that it's a sapphic story. It feels much more like a queer platonic relationship between Fassen and Lu than a romantic one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent
lackyducks's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A very active read. The story opens with a prologue, showing the meeting of the two main characters and establishing the relationships between their associated factions. It then jumps in time to kick off the main plot of the story.
Although it would've been nice to see more of Lu and Fallen's relationship over time, it is still clear how much the characters care for each other. You see the effort Fallen puts into contacting Lu, the stories they share and how much they know about each other.
I enjoyed how their differing viewpoints and factions were treated throughout the story. As well as how they contributed to the resolution of it.
The story goes between fast paced action scenes and slower scenes showing the area and situation characters live in and developing the relationships between them. As well as the main plot, you watch Fallen's journey of growth which I found was executed well.
I greatly enjoyed the science fiction elements. There was enough depth to keep me engaged without boring me. I thought the technology was cool, and loved the amount of thought put into the different factions and how they're presented. They all look distinct from each other in design and colour. I would have liked to see more of Blossom, as despite being set up as the main enemy, it feels like we found very little out about their motives or lives.
I enjoyed the overall plot of the book, with some twists catching me off-guard. I also liked the exploration into morality in war and the after effects of living in those situations (something I feel often gets left from these stories.) Seeing Fallen struggle in a new environment was nice, it was nice to see a story where trauma is not left behind and forgotten.
As somebody that often loses track of characters, I found I was able to remember the main cast without much issue! The character designs are all very distinct, as are their personalities.
I overall really enjoyed this read. It was an engaging world and a fun story with a nice amount of depth.
Although it would've been nice to see more of Lu and Fallen's relationship over time, it is still clear how much the characters care for each other. You see the effort Fallen puts into contacting Lu, the stories they share and how much they know about each other.
I enjoyed how their differing viewpoints and factions were treated throughout the story. As well as how they contributed to the resolution of it.
The story goes between fast paced action scenes and slower scenes showing the area and situation characters live in and developing the relationships between them. As well as the main plot, you watch Fallen's journey of growth which I found was executed well.
I greatly enjoyed the science fiction elements. There was enough depth to keep me engaged without boring me. I thought the technology was cool, and loved the amount of thought put into the different factions and how they're presented. They all look distinct from each other in design and colour. I would have liked to see more of Blossom, as despite being set up as the main enemy, it feels like we found very little out about their motives or lives.
I enjoyed the overall plot of the book, with some twists catching me off-guard. I also liked the exploration into morality in war and the after effects of living in those situations (something I feel often gets left from these stories.) Seeing Fallen struggle in a new environment was nice, it was nice to see a story where trauma is not left behind and forgotten.
As somebody that often loses track of characters, I found I was able to remember the main cast without much issue! The character designs are all very distinct, as are their personalities.
I overall really enjoyed this read. It was an engaging world and a fun story with a nice amount of depth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, and War
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent and Death
annaretamaria's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Beautiful style but hard to follow. The panels felt too full and they were weirdly phased. Sometimes it was unclear when there was a change of scene and it was hard to tell how much time has passed. This story would have benefited a lot if it had 50–100 pages more room. Not more story. Just more space to breathe.
The most memorable thing about this story is the contrast between a person who lives in a transactional community and a person who lives in a community where you don't have to pay for your existence.
The most memorable thing about this story is the contrast between a person who lives in a transactional community and a person who lives in a community where you don't have to pay for your existence.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, War, Gun violence, and Medical content
thebackcatalogue's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
Across A Field of Starlight delivers a slow-burn romance and a brilliant deconstruction of the Empire vs. Rebels trope packed into a high-stakes sci-fi adventure.
Read the full review @ thebackcatalogue.substack.com
Read the full review @ thebackcatalogue.substack.com
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Medical content, Bullying, and Blood
Depicted: War, Violence (Including Gun Violence), Death Of A Parent, Homophobia, Imperialism Mentioned: Medical Content, Bullying, Bloodbeforeviolets's review
adventurous
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
3.0
Thank you so much to Random House and GetUnderlined for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
For fans of Steven Universe, this wholesome yet insightful graphic novels tells the story of two nonbinary teens who live incredibly different lives across a giant space war.
The characters were so lovable and wonderfully diverse; there wasn't a cishet person in sight, and most of the characters were POC as well. The more cartoon-ish style of the graphic novel (again, reminiscent of SU), especially within the figures, kept the content feeling accessible amid some of the darker or more difficult-to-understand moments.
Some incredibly nuanced and deep topics were brought to light amid the war themes, mostly in regards to the way that civilians and indigenous people are treated as props or disposable casualties. One of the characters also struggled with PTSD and was constantly having to live within survival mode, as the product of a war. Epic sci-fi like this, especially in YA, doesn't tend to bring up these more grounded and realistic conversations about war, and I felt this really set this work apart. However, these topics were introduced and set up in such a way that opened a lot of doors for messages and calls-to-action for the audience, yet seemed to fizzle out, and they weren't utilized to their full potential, especially in the more climactic moments of the book. Certain bits of dialogue actually seemed like it was going to bring these themes to a close, but went unacknowledged, which seemed... odd. A wonderful start, but left me hanging.
I also found this graphic novel to struggle within its own format. The author didn't seem to have a great grasp on the idea of using the panel as a camera lens, and the transitions of scenes or moments of dialogue were often clunky at best. Also, there were major inconsistencies with the speech bubbles and the formatting of their tails, which made it confusing as to who was speaking at times or how we were meant to interpret their speech. It seemed like it just needed a final editing round by someone other than the author.
CW/TW: war & war themes, parental death (offscreen), violence, gun violence, colonization, trauma/PTSD, vehicle accident, medical content (minor), blood, dysphoria (mention), emesis, bullying (brief)
For fans of Steven Universe, this wholesome yet insightful graphic novels tells the story of two nonbinary teens who live incredibly different lives across a giant space war.
The characters were so lovable and wonderfully diverse; there wasn't a cishet person in sight, and most of the characters were POC as well. The more cartoon-ish style of the graphic novel (again, reminiscent of SU), especially within the figures, kept the content feeling accessible amid some of the darker or more difficult-to-understand moments.
Some incredibly nuanced and deep topics were brought to light amid the war themes, mostly in regards to the way that civilians and indigenous people are treated as props or disposable casualties. One of the characters also struggled with PTSD and was constantly having to live within survival mode, as the product of a war. Epic sci-fi like this, especially in YA, doesn't tend to bring up these more grounded and realistic conversations about war, and I felt this really set this work apart. However, these topics were introduced and set up in such a way that opened a lot of doors for messages and calls-to-action for the audience, yet seemed to fizzle out, and they weren't utilized to their full potential, especially in the more climactic moments of the book. Certain bits of dialogue actually seemed like it was going to bring these themes to a close, but went unacknowledged, which seemed... odd. A wonderful start, but left me hanging.
I also found this graphic novel to struggle within its own format. The author didn't seem to have a great grasp on the idea of using the panel as a camera lens, and the transitions of scenes or moments of dialogue were often clunky at best. Also, there were major inconsistencies with the speech bubbles and the formatting of their tails, which made it confusing as to who was speaking at times or how we were meant to interpret their speech. It seemed like it just needed a final editing round by someone other than the author.
CW/TW: war & war themes, parental death (offscreen), violence, gun violence, colonization, trauma/PTSD, vehicle accident, medical content (minor), blood, dysphoria (mention), emesis, bullying (brief)
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Colonisation, and Death of parent
Minor: Dysphoria, Vomit, Bullying, Car accident, Medical content, and Blood
for_esme_with_love's review
adventurous
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Two non-binary teens from very different worlds meet amidst a drawn-out war, becoming intergalactic pen pals and devoted friends. Through their messages we learn about the players in this conflict: a powerful empire, a relentless resistance army, and an egalitarian society of humans and AI on the run. Blue Delliquanti breathes life into a very queer cast of characters who must find the courage to question their directives and create new paths towards freedom. Dear publishers, these are the revolutionary stories we want to read. More of this!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Medical content
moonyreadsbystarlight's review
adventurous
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Across a Field of Starlight by Blue Delliquanti is a YA graphic novel set amid a space war. Lu and Fassen are a part of different groups opposed to the Empire who work very differently. They happen upon each other and Lu shares technology so they can stay in touch and the plot goes from there.
This book was outstanding on so many levels. The artwork is incredible and detailed. There is so much diversity, not just in terms of race and gender, but in body type, ability, gender expression, and more. The way the different groups were built up and the themes explored through them were great. There was a lot of complexity with some of the characters and their relationships.
I do wish this had been a series rather than a standalone because there is so much I want to see and ideas that I would have loved to see expanded (that it seems the author would have been able to do some really great things with, judging by what they were able to accomplish with this).
This book was outstanding on so many levels. The artwork is incredible and detailed. There is so much diversity, not just in terms of race and gender, but in body type, ability, gender expression, and more. The way the different groups were built up and the themes explored through them were great. There was a lot of complexity with some of the characters and their relationships.
I do wish this had been a series rather than a standalone because there is so much I want to see and ideas that I would have loved to see expanded (that it seems the author would have been able to do some really great things with, judging by what they were able to accomplish with this).
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Medical content
Improper binding
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