Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Das Licht ungewöhnlicher Sterne by Ryka Aoki

220 reviews

oksanagold's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Self harm

cnapple's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

Beautiful prose, rich characters and relationships, big ideas and a strong thesis. Falls somewhat flat in execution. The author didn't quite manage to sell her vision, relying to much on imagery and emotional impact. 

Read this if you love poetic ruminations on food, culture, esoteric violin composers and the tragedy of societies impact on the marginalized. Avoid this if you're looking for a book that convincingly delivers any of the plot hooks in the dust jacket synopsis. Like Becky Chambers this is a narrative that relies heavily on vibes, and that's ok, sometimes good vibes are what you need in a novel. But be advised, while the overall tone is hopeful, the journey to that point contains some really grim and visceral scenes involving the experience of one of the main characters. If extreme homo/transphobia and sexual assault are not for you, neither may this novel be.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm

thecandiegirl's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Bullying, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Drug use, Sexual content, Self harm, Body shaming, and Sexual harassment

danimacuk's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Rape, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Bullying, and Self harm

tinysierra's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Tomorrow is tomorrow. Over there is over there. And here and now is not a bad place and time to be, especially when so much of the unknown is beautiful. (pg 186)

Light from Uncommon Stars was both mundane and magical. It was like an episode of Doctor Who or Good Omens. It was bizarre. 

Maybe this is silly but I don’t get why specific car types were mentioned more than once? I don’t see how those details were central to the story, besides what car Shazuki drives 😂 but I’m not a car person so idk

CW: sexual assault, transphobia (deadnaming, death threats, misgendering, sexual harassment,  etc), physical abuse, homophobia, racism, sex work

This is the song of a queer kid who escapes from a window to a sidewalk in the middle of the night. This is the song of a trans girl just wanting a fucking bathroom in the middle of the day. 
So what if you don't understand? So what if you think I'm a half-woman freak. 
This is my song. My voice. My voice leads. (pg 338)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Murder and Self harm

Minor: Miscarriage and Sexual content

fionamclary's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

You wouldn't think that the three storylines of this book would come together well, but Ryka Aoki has meshed them so beautifully. This book is so full of joy and hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Bullying

Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, and Homophobia

Minor: Self harm, Outing, War, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, and Pandemic/Epidemic

hazel_oat's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Child abuse

Moderate: Racism and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Self harm and Deadnaming

swashbuckling_mathematician's review against another edition

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Self harm

blue_boy62's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

This book definitely took me by surprise in a lot of ways. It’s got a really interesting mix of genres through its sci-fi and supernatural elements, and it’s a nice twist on a lot of different tropes.  I loved the wide range of Asian cultures within it and how it depicted them through languages and food. I also really liked how it handled its queer and trans characters; it’s not afraid to show the messiness of our experiences/communities and has a balance of both the pain and joys we often face. I’m a sucker for the found family trope, and I really enjoyed it in this book. I was definitely invested in all the characters and how their stories intertwined.  Overall, despite all the fantastical elements, at its core, the story is very human. It’s about connection, community, love, and the power of art, especially music, and it handles those themes beautifully. Definitely worth the read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Self harm

Moderate: Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Misogyny and Alcoholism

internationalreads's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Transphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts