A review by allisonwonderlandreads
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

3.0

This fantasy/science fiction/something special whips up a story with demons, aliens, and musical prodigies all while centering queer identities and people of color. It tackles transphobia and racism with a donut in one hand and a violin in the other. This is also why I found myself desperately contemplating where one can find donuts, intergalactic or otherwise, in the dead of night.

Katrina is the student in our master and apprentice duo. A trans Asian American girl, she has experienced much hatred and struggle in her life: from body dysmorphia to misgendering, from racism to dangerous sex work situations, and from a family that harms her to "friends" in the queer community that use her. Our master violinist is Shizuka Satomi, a teacher with a hellish contract that has led her to sacrifice six former students' souls. Only one more will release her own soul and music from their contractual prison. And she's drawn to Katrina's music, the last of her prodigy pupils.

Our final main perspective is Lan's. Hers is a refugee story on an intergalactic scale. She brought her family to Earth, a backwater planet, against all odds, to escape a collapsing empire. Now, the family business has shifted from war and survival to donut-making. Plus, Lan finds herself smitten with Shizuka even though she can't fathom the other woman's preoccupation with the trivialities of music and souls.

To me, this book was about the triumph of art for the human condition, whether it is video game music or a lovingly made baked good. It draws our eye to art's transportative, emotive power. My favorite aspect of the story was the found family. The development of these bonds is deep and heart-wrenching rather than some of the more cutesy iterations of the trope. I think this approach is more meaningful and lifelike because of it. Also, I recommend listening to Bartók's Sonata for Solo Violin during the relevant final chapters for a fully multisensory experience.

This landed a bit too far into literary territory for my tastes, but I appreciated the raw storytelling and the carefully crafted meaning of the book. This is also a great opportunity to support a trans author telling a sometimes soul-crushing but ultimately hopeful story about a trans woman finding her way. It's a powerful read. 
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