Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

203 reviews

luisaroesch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Rape, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Death, Outing, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

peterparker's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.25

Pay special attention to others content warnings as this book does deal with heavy topics. They are mentioned sporadically throughout the book but are very present at the beginning. 

I love science fiction and I love Supernatural so this is the perfect blend of the two. This story is pretty unique and I loved how many genres the author was trying to twist together. I've learned that I love sci-fi when it's at its most confusing. It's why I liked This is how you lose the time war. I still think you have to truly be into sci-fi to open up to this concept though.

I know this can be off-putting for some people but the ones who get it, get it. Maximalism is my aesthetic and this story understands that. It's also a really lovely queer story at it's heart. I'm not transgender myself but there are a few trips that the author falls into at the very end that I know are a bit iffy in the transgender community. [Deadnaming] Other than that I feel like the trauma lumped onto these characters is very intentional. It isn't without reason and as you progress through the story you realize why the characters (especially Katrina) were written this way. 

I have many thoughts about this book that I could go on and on. Ultimately though it stuck the landing for me.

Happy endings for all the main characters I cared about!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Homophobia

Minor: Racism

madalynn_owens's review

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.0

this was a very different and interesting story filled with a wide array of unique characters. It was a little slow at times and I didn’t love the ending but transported me to a new world. And now I want a donut!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia

Minor: Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Body shaming

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

emmambles's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming and Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Outing, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, and Deadnaming

doodlesdistractions's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing fast-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

5.0

I am still processing but I am so in love with this book!!! I cannot put it into words that do it justice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, War, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

thenextbookdilemma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault

Minor: Homophobia and Deadnaming

agentmozell's review

hopeful inspiring reflective

• 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

4.0

I had to take a bit after finishing the book before I could rate this.

Before I get into the story I listened to it as an audiobook and I did not care for the narrator. They were very soft spoken and breathy and they made it hard to listen to. I also think this would be best as a physical read because the POVs jump around a lot and sometimes it would be like wait “I’m in Shizuka’s POV now? No wait, Lan?” With no warning either. 

Now for the story.

This made me so emotional in a lot of ways. I felt myself in tune with the characters as we learned more and more about them. This I would certainly classify as a bittersweet, everyone got their happiest ending sort.

The struggles of being trans is real, while most like to say they’re supportive it’s not always that easy. The creepiness (from perverts) and double standards that come along with being trans was executed well I think. The struggles Katrina faced were so real that it could be uncomfortable for others to read about.

Shizuka I wasn’t sure at first, but as we learned more about her and her trauma I fell in love with her more and more and got so stressed and sad about her potential ending. 

Lan’s was hard to like and relate to at first (I mean she’s an alien), but now I’m just rooting for her and her newfound mission. 

This was a great blend of sci-fi and fantasy that made me want donuts. I hope there’s a sequel or side story to tie up some open ends.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Domestic abuse, and Dysphoria

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Rape, and Sexual harassment

eliotadrift's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual violence

domtheknight's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

This book was slow and thoughtful in pace, and I read it quite slowly as a result.  The narration was beautiful, sometimes kind of understated.  The descriptions of music were perfect (I am not a violinist but other types of music I do).  Also, the donuts.  I loved the different characters, all the varieties of women.  As the plot was unfolding and intertwining I really hoped the ending would go pretty much where it did, and I was delighted to read it.

There's some heavy stuff in this book, in some ways these events didn't feel as upsetting as they might have in a more brutal narrative style.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Dysphoria

There's 1 prominent trans character; she is abused by her parent, and escapes from that house as a teenager. She is raped by a friend, and pushed into doing some sex work, which she doesn't enjoy and wouldn't consent to if not desperate for funds. She experiences ongoing transphobic "jokes" and comments. None of these actions are from the other major heroine/hero characters. There's murder on page from a moderate character, and self harm. Those are separate from the trans character, although multiple characters have suicidal ideation to varying degrees.