Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

25 reviews

onebook_more's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

This was such an engaging and interesting read. I haven't read another book quite like it before and its uniqueness is definitely a strength. From a teenage runaway to a violinist with a dark secret; an alien who owns a donut shop to a luthier struggling to keep up her family legacy.  The stories of our four protagonists, each unconventional and complex in their own ways, interweave in clever and charming ways. I sometimes struggle with multi-perspective novels but it really works in this case. Also, I have never felt so hungry while reading a book, Aoki's descriptive prose is so rich! I recommend this book to anyone looking for own-voices trans rep, especially with a sci-fi twist!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Transphobia

Moderate: Bullying and Racism

Minor: Deadnaming and Child death

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, War, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Child death, Deadnaming, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Drug use, Incest, Pedophilia, and Suicide

Fetishization of trans women and women of color. Deadnaming in only one scene. Assault briefly on-page, but mostly implied/discussed; mild sexual content in the form of camming and sex work. Use of transphobic/homophobic, racial, and ableist slurs, both reclaimed and otherwise.

bi_n_large's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Racism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Death, Sexism, Blood, War, and Child death

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? No

4.0

 - Whew, there is a lot going on in LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS. Not to be cheesy about a book featuring a lot of classical music, but it's a symphony of storylines that seem disparate but come together beautifully at the end.
- It's truly one of a kind - this is the type of book where you can tell the author is writing with her whole heart.
- Such wonderful exploration of what it means to be yourself, to be embodied. Of what and who counts as family, and the lengths one will go to out of love for those people. Of how the parts of you that seem like liabilities or flaws can be what make you shine.
- I do want to make sure to point out that the summary makes this sound like a silly romp, and while there are definitely funny parts and ridiculous scenarios, it's also heavy with transphobia, racism and violence. Please see The Storygraph for all content warnings and take care if you need. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Child death

jennikreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

Moderate: Bullying and Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing