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augustar14'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: Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Rape, Cursing, Body shaming, and War
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Deadnaming, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Misogyny
apollinares'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
3.0
There were many things I liked about the book, I'm just disappointed I didn't enjoy it more. Katrina's arc was well executed, albeit cliché at times; as a trans writer, I feel like Aoki can make her trans protagonist as universally relatable as she wants, she has that right (speaking as a trans person myself). Also, many trans people will pour their heart and soul into a hobby as a means of escape, to the point of obsession, and get so good at it that it feels mary-sue-ish - I'm guilty of this with art, and one of my trans roommates is making a phenomenal video game right now. I bring this up because cis friends who have read this book see Katrina's violin playing skills as "overpowered", for lack of a better term, and I completely disagree, trans people are just that cool.
Lan and Shizuka's relationship was everything I loved in a meet cute - two older wlw (When do you see that??? I love that!!! They're giving owl house Eda levels of pining) struggling to flirt and falling flat on their faces. And the misunderstandings! Ugh, when Shizuka
So, what didn't I like? I've already mentioned the story's treatment of Lan - her voice and inner world just feels much emptier than that of Katrina or Shizuka, and she deserved more as a tritagonist. Also, regarding Marcus:
Some of the more cringe-worthy moments like
All in all, a fun read with excellent representation that unfortunately fell short in many places. My library doesn't stock the Wayfarers series, so I continue in my fruitless search for good queer sci-fi that doesn't "masquerade as sci-fi" through a contrived title and cover.
Graphic: Sexual content and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Outing, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Body shaming
Minor: Misogyny, Deportation, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Mental illness, War, and Xenophobia
nekoshka'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
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Transphobia, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Deadnaming, Racism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Bullying, Dysphoria, Death, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Rape
Minor: War and Religious bigotry
jabberwalky's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Deadnaming, Self harm, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
shinypurplepants's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The book tries to be so whimsical and uplifting but it's got all these random edgy passages of violence that serve no purpose to the narrative. Physical assaults, sexual violence, use of slurs, harassment, abuse, self harm. Every character seems to have unaddressed internalized -isms that the books chooses to just ignore rather than help them through it. It drags down any elements of lightness the book was working to cultivate. I did not enjoy this one!
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: War, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Rape, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Deadnaming, Body shaming, Abandonment, Sexism, Racism, and Hate crime
martinatan'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
5.0
Chapter 35 was my favorite part of the writing in the book, but the entire novel is laced with such care and tenderness, as well as wit and charm, that by the first chapter I could tell it was something really special. Most of all I want these characters and anyone who identifies with them to be happy. Hopefully this book reaches others like me who will find much needed comfort in its story. Much love to Ryka Aoki for every word of this book!
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Outing, Racism, Body shaming, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Genocide
Explicit deadnaming of a protagonist near the end of the book by her parentvirsamajor's review against another edition
Moderate: Rape, Racism, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism, Cultural appropriation, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
mswarning'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
I've had time to ruminate and gather my thoughts. Yesterday, when I finished it.. I thought that this was a 4-star book for me. I did not have a strong feeling about it, but I knew that I liked it. The more I think about this book, the more I think how much skill it took to weave together all the different elements in a way that felt effortless. There are some heartbreaking moments in Light from Uncommon Stars, but there is a lot of levity, too. And the beauty and poignancy of the music as well as all the food in this book. *drools* Lan and Shizuka go to so many restaurants, and Astrid cooks amazing meals with varied ingredients grown by neighbors. And then, of course, there's the donuts.
Katrina is such a resilient character, and I love her relationship with Shizuka. As pass times in the book, it becomes less clear who is the student and who is the teacher.
Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Dysphoria
Minor: Hate crime and Violence
mentalshirt'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
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Sexual violence
dealingwithdragons'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, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Homophobia, Death, Classism, Child abuse, Trafficking, War, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Outing, Murder, Lesbophobia, Hate crime, Dysphoria, Drug use, Deadnaming, Cultural appropriation, and Alcoholism