Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

145 reviews

chloe_601's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

• 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

3.75

I enjoyed reading this book; it was fun and mostly lighthearted even though it dealt with a good deal of bigotry and hate. i think Katrina was well-written; her fears and experiences were so relatable (sometimes too relatable) and even though I never went through anything as hard as she did, I could relate to some of what she went through just trying to exist and be herself.

The book does try to take on a lot, though; it tries to do sci-fi, fantasy, a refugee family fleeing an intergalactic war, and a trans runaway who wants to play violin. I’m not sure if it worked combining the spaceship and alien technology with demons and souls. But there were a lot of parts I liked, especially the depiction of the San Gabriel Valley and the diverse cultures and people all living their lives. The place seemed to come alive.

Overall, some elements of the story didn’t quite work and wrapped up a bit too neatly, but the story itself had a lot of heart and made me feel like maybe things will be alright.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia

Minor: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Violence, and Deadnaming

ccaz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Rape

clairejoanmarie's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual violence, Deadnaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexism, Racism, and Homophobia

Minor: Deportation, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Blood, Domestic abuse, Sexism, War, and Adult/minor relationship

touchegiantsquid's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

Moderate: Racism, Dysphoria, Rape, Outing, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Violence and War

crystaltheacademic's review against another edition

dark funny 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? Yes

4.5

Beautiful story, gripping and heartfelt. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I think the Markus plot line wasn’t handled the best. 

Other than that one plot line, this book was sooo satisfying. Highly recommended for those who enjoy the rare  treat  of both sci-fi and fantasy. 

I understand why Markus had to be locked away. But I perceived the Endplague as a form of mental illness so the fact that Lan was so dismissive of his feelings and it all blew up felt like so much bigger than only Markus. Especially because she goes on to realize her mistakes with Shirley. I don’t know if Shizuka can be redeemed after functionally killing 6 people felt weird that Markus couldn’t have been/spoiler> 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Racism

haileeraye's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Self harm

lia_automata's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual assault

heyzelda's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This book has so much going on that it’s hard to know where to start. It will give you constant whiplash (affectionate) between the interwoven plot lines of entirely disparate genres and also between moments of grief and horror that are followed by real hilarity. If you’ve read a summary, please know that the actual book is so much more entertaining than the summary is capable of letting on. If you haven’t read a summary, please please read this book with no foreknowledge other than that it’s about being trans, being an immigrant, becoming a musician, claiming and reclaiming humanity, escaping the exile of cynicism, and pure expressions of love. The way Aoki writes about music is a special highlight, often characterized by ratatouille moments of one sort or another.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Racism

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

ncq's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A beautiful story of many kinds of love

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Homophobia

Also features sex work throughout, but without being anti-sex work

raybudbury's review

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.75

Be aware of the content warnings.

The transphobia and sexual abuse/assault I would say could be triggering for some ppl. This one is both a warm hug but can also knock the wind out of you which the author did well in setting the mood for those situations. 

The concept was so ambitious as there is extensive music and violin knowledge/playing, Faustian bargains, found family, and… aliens. And honestly the author pulls it off for the most part. I do think the strongest bit of this book is the relationships between characters more so then plot etc. 

(Also this is a 3 am review so if this makes no sense sorry about it)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Classism, Bullying, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Rape, and Body shaming