Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

206 reviews

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.

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

spikehype's review

challenging emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

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

gaymergirl's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Deadnaming

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

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Rape, Transphobia, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Violence, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Outing, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

whimsical_dragon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Rape and Deadnaming