Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Light from Uncommon Stars

Makes the short list of my annual reading recommendations. A book about found family, self-love, and rising in the face of explicit in-your-face adversity. The story centers around several women finding their way in the world: a refugee that brought her family a long way from home escaping war, a music teacher that has to account for past sins and a bad deal she made when she was young, a woman that ran away from home after facing transphobia and violence from her parents, the heiress of a centuries-long artisanal tradition that has always centered on the men, a person who is torn between her duties to her mother and her own identity. An incredible story that surprises you with its narrative elements.

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dreamweaver's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

There are some themes that weren't explored as in depth as I would've liked

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theirgracegrace's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Light From Uncommon Stars is a beautiful symphony from start to finish. Every pastiche-style chapter slowly develops the relationship between its three main characters: Shizuka Satomi, a violin teacher who needs to sacrifice one more student to Hell to be able to play again; Katrina Nguyen, a transgender woman escaping her transphobic and abusive family only to become Satomi's student; and Lan Tran, an alien refugee fleeing a galactic war with her family by pretending to be the owners of a donut shop. The prose reveals and hides at every moment, building to a powerful concert the night before Satomi's contract with Hell is up, and either she or Katrina has to die. The ending completely surprises and lends itself well to the book's themes of being oneself and sharing one's soul with the universe to stave off apathy and hate. Incredible book that I've recommended to everyone already!

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riverleafing's review against another edition

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challenging funny hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

Appreciated the Asian representations and real reps of trans misogyny and challenges.
Unfortunately, lots of different POVs mixing in--although somewhat related acceptance of life matters--ultimately took away any potential depth from everyone else and the BIG topics of Katrina's life.

It felt like characters from different books were interrupting Katrina's with whole "hey, samsies!" bits. e.g. The lutier's POV

"sorry I wasn't born a son to carry on daddy's business"

and aliens

escape from plague feelings of purposelessness/wanting to just be free, live safely, love queerly

could have been greatly reduced or entirely deleted and we'd legitimately lose nothing significant. Might have made an interestingly deep and wild Triptych of books, though!
Too many detailed other ppl's stories going on in Katrina's life for the length of book. But good job making it unique (if a little unsubtle): Demons, aliens, and POC human transness

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