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amby'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? It's complicated
3.5
Some triggerwarings (below) are necessary, defintly for transpeople who don't have a supporting familiy. I as cis-women already found it very hard to read the horrble stuff Katherina had to endure.
Yet, I got annoyed by how often the writer refered to her trauma as a reasons to feel shit about herself. I understood it about the caracter but it's just the way it's written.
But my biggest problem is the switching of points of views. Sometimes it took 3 alinea to realise from who's point of view I was reading the story. It made it a lot less relaxing to read.
The ending of the book made up for a lot! And the description about violin music was so beautiful ❤️ as well as the found family element.
Triggerwarings, and I'm sure this is not all of it. Deadnaming, very often misgendering, prostitution, (sexual) abuse.
Moderate: Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Death, Bullying, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Addiction
spadedigsbutts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Speaking on the story of the book, it's hard to really call it a story. It would be easier to call it a slice of life with fantastical elements and characters interacting until the last fourth of the book where more of a plot with the central protagonist, Katarina, comes up and we get some much needed payoff to her and Shizuka's arcs. If there is anything to say about this book, it is that almost everything with Katarina and Shizuka is excellent!! I loved seeing Katarina come into her own and gain confidence under the protection of her strong and loving mentor figure. While the book never once made me believe Shizuka would sacrifice Katarina, the inherent drama of the possibility and what they're willing to do for each other is great! If this book had just been about them and condensed to cut the many many side characters I would have rated it like a 4 minimum. Even if you don't read the whole book, read Katarina's stuff!! It's really good!! Unfortunately the biggest weakness of the book is Shizuka's love interest, the space refuge Lan, who just constantly feels out of place in the book. I wouldn't contribute this lack of cohesion to the fact everything else in the book is mundane or magical and Lan's parts of the story are super sci-fi, as I've seen other books do similar successfully, but that she never quite gets integrated into any one character's life. Even Shizuka, who is Lan's romantic interest, just has entire scenes and arcs going on independent of her to the point I forget Lan exists until she appears. Lan comes with a number of plot points and character arcs that unfortunately just flat out don't get a resolution, like with her son who
Anyways, if none of these are deal breakers for you, go read it!! Katarina's trans coming-of-age story is really good!! Unfortunately everything surrounding it is just very messy and underwritten and I wish i could have liked it more.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Deadnaming, Bullying, Body shaming, Transphobia, and Outing
Moderate: Abandonment, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Violence, Colonisation, Alcohol, Child death, Deportation, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Classism, and Murder
Minor: War and Confinement
This book absolutely digs and then dwells in real-world racism, transphobia, and other bigotries. If you want more of an escapist trans story without real-world bigotries, absolutely put this one down. If you're looking for more cathartic real-world brutal depictions of transphobia, etc. you might like this.morybaby's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
“I love you ms satomi “ my eyes were leaking 😭😭
Lan was so funny 😭🫢
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Rape, and Body shaming
Minor: Deadnaming
kell_xavi's review against another edition
2.5
The rest was disappointing. Katrina was so much a set of ideas about transness, trauma and self-hatred that morphs into self-love, but I didn’t get a deeper sense of who she was or the ways in which she was queer beyond the body she tries to erase. Despite gestures to the inspirational growth of the artist, the family, impressions of all the characters are blunted.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Child death, Murder, Racial slurs, and War
riverleafing's review against another edition
- 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
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
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
Graphic: Dysphoria and Transphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, and Sexual content
avanthiannotates'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
4.5
This was also written in such an interesting way that admittedly, I had to re-wind a fair bit because I didn't realise there was a character POV switch (even though it's written in 3rd person which I love). And I really loved how they utilised the 3rd person POV to give us a wider breadth of knowledge and understanding about the characters reacting to the same situation and how that could impact later scenes where we may only see it from one or two POVs. It was really delightful and honestly considering making a 5-star rating.
If you love aliens, AI, found-family, queerness, transness, music (violins), multiple weaving storylines, doughnuts, demons and ducks, this may be the story for you.
My fave quote:
"One does not play memories of music; one plays music itself. And lifetimes, from beginning to end, are as sheets of music, ready to be played"
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Deadnaming, Racism, and Sexual assault
mgmotley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Transphobia
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Death, Bullying, and Deadnaming
jhbandcats'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
4.5
The backstory of Katrina and the agonies of being trans is wrenching. When I read something like this, I realize yet again how lucky I have been to have had a peaceful life of acceptance. It’s rewarding to see her growth from cowering victim to self-confident performer.
The more fantastical and funny bits about the doughnut shop (spelled donut), the space aliens, and the frog-faced demon offset the seriousness of Katrina’s history. My only quibble is how often we hear about Lucia being told she’s unworthy because she’s a daughter - about half the mentions would have been enough.
Overall a charming and lovely book about otherness and acceptance, including accepting ourselves as we are.
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Misogyny
jaimc'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Dysphoria and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Sexism, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Outing, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: War
kiandrareadsbooks'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
4.5
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs