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gwenisnonbinary'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
3.75
Graphic: Deadnaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Death, Dysphoria, Racism, Transphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Cursing
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Self harm, Rape, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Mental illness
Minor: War, Pedophilia, Murder, and Domestic abuse
the_real_al_cal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
In some ways, this book is a tough read because of the racism and transphobia that the main character, Katrina, faces. The story doesn't shy away from her struggles, including some very sad scenes early on in which she is brought very low. I imagine that unless trans readers are looking for a story where common struggles are highlighted, this would still be a tough read, because, as other reviewers have mentioned, Katrina is deadnamed and frequently fetishized and sexually assaulted, leaving no question as to what's happening. That said, the story places just as much importance on her growth as a musician and as the person she has always wanted to be. We follow Katrina during her highest highs and lowest lows, and it really just made you root for her in finding herself through her music and her supportive found family. Her parts of the story were the most compelling--reading about her growing relationship with Shizuka and Astrid was so wholesome and were some of my favorite parts of the book.
I'm typically more of a fantasy reader than a sci-fi reader, so I wasn't sure how I would like the sci-fi/alien aspect (not a spoiler; it's in the book summary). Sometimes it did feel a little bit much, with everything else going on, and could be a bit difficult for me to follow. Until the very end, I felt like the entire Tran family could have been nixed from the story without losing much. Though I did really like Shirley and Lan. But I think their part of the story reads more slice-of-life than anything. Looking at it in that context makes their contribution to the overall story feel more purposeful (I realize I just kind of boomeranged my opinion, but the Tran family kind of does that to me, lol).
All-in-all, I'm glad I read this book. I wouldn't say it shifted my reality or rocked my world in ways that other similar books have, but it was still a nice read and kept my attention all the way through. The descriptions of the foods left me drooling--they sounded delicious! I can definitely see it being a special book on the top shelf for other readers, especially (but not exclusive to) trans audiences. If you're at all curious about the book, I'd say give it a try! At the end of the day, the relationships were sweet and complex, and that was the most important part. Just like Katrina, this book deserves some love.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Outing, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming and Lesbophobia
Minor: Child death and Chronic illness
apollinares's review
- 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
kers_tin's review
- 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
Graphic: Transphobia, Abandonment, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Deadnaming, Racism, War, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
mewchellie's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Hate crime, Outing, Sexism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
silentquercus'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, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Racism, Body shaming, Bullying, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Deadnaming, Body shaming, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Vomit, War, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
shinypurplepants's review
- 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
lalunitalee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Bullying, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
readerette'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
But Katrina's experience as a transwoman kept me in it, as she experienced pain after pain and still learned to trust again. It was emotional to read, but beautiful. The trigger warnings are accurate, and there's enough lightness, goodness and love to balance them out.
Once I got used to the writing style (perfunctory and shifting between characters) and started to see where the story could go, I didn't want to put it down. The existential questions in this story were also refreshingly posed.
If you like sci fi/fantasy with a heart (the Becky Chambers comparisons are apt), I recommend this one.
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Murder, Mental illness, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Suicide
achingallover'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
i really liked the themes and descriptions of music and food and family and parallels between katrina and shirley.
unfortunately some of it felt disjointed or clumsy. but overall i enjoyed.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Outing, Rape, Terminal illness, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, and Transphobia