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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: Abuse, transphobia/homophobia, sexual assault/rape, self-harm, misgendering/deadnaming, sex work/survival sex, death, runaway homeless youth, racism
"That's what you look for. A friend face. A supportive glance. That's whom you hold on to. That's whom you play to when on stage. It doesn't change a terrible situation, but it can help you survive it."
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki WA a whirlwind of scifi, fantasy, and an ode to trans pain and resilience. This book was so fantastic! The descriptions were delicious, the character moments warm and fuzzy, and it had an unreal amount of diversity.
The story is told from several different perspectives. This was hard to follow at first since the POVs change with each page break instead of from chapter to chapter, so you have three or four pov changes in one chapter. Once I got used to that, it actually felt more efficient. The main characters we follow are: Shizuka Satomi, a world renowned violinist and instructor who has sold her soul to a demon and to get it back must sacrifice the souls of seven other musicians; Katrina Nguyen, an runaway trans girl who has taught herself violin and lives a life of survival and pain; and Lan Tran, an alien space captain running a donut shop. Are you not intrigued?
Satomi's next soul is set to be Katrina, when she finds her in a park bench and invites her back to her home and offers to be her teacher, to the astonishment (and derision) of the classical music community. They are a bit (a lot) elitist. Katrina keeps expecting to be mistreated by everyone, because she is trans, and we see her struggle with her self image. I loved the way Katrina and Satomi's relationship developed. It was very mother/daughter, and Satomi did what I wanted to do for Katrina, which is to wrap her in a blanket, show her she's worthy, and protect her from the world. And then Satomi falls for donut lady, Lan. That romance is so cute! I love seeing a Romance plot for middle aged women instead of only for young people.
Aoki's writing is so beautiful and lyrical. The way she described music as memory, and the feeling you get when you smell a good yeast donut was exquisite! Every word made you feel something. Aoki has a lot of themes about the pain and resilience of trans women and how they have to navigate the world. We also have themes about self love and accepting yourself for who you are, flaws and all. The story is really about finding your voice in order to allow yourself to heal. Though there is a lot of pain in this book, it also comes with a healthy dose of hope, and reminds us to look for the friendly faces and supportive glances. You just have to look up.
"That's what you look for. A friend face. A supportive glance. That's whom you hold on to. That's whom you play to when on stage. It doesn't change a terrible situation, but it can help you survive it."
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki WA a whirlwind of scifi, fantasy, and an ode to trans pain and resilience. This book was so fantastic! The descriptions were delicious, the character moments warm and fuzzy, and it had an unreal amount of diversity.
The story is told from several different perspectives. This was hard to follow at first since the POVs change with each page break instead of from chapter to chapter, so you have three or four pov changes in one chapter. Once I got used to that, it actually felt more efficient. The main characters we follow are: Shizuka Satomi, a world renowned violinist and instructor who has sold her soul to a demon and to get it back must sacrifice the souls of seven other musicians; Katrina Nguyen, an runaway trans girl who has taught herself violin and lives a life of survival and pain; and Lan Tran, an alien space captain running a donut shop. Are you not intrigued?
Satomi's next soul is set to be Katrina, when she finds her in a park bench and invites her back to her home and offers to be her teacher, to the astonishment (and derision) of the classical music community. They are a bit (a lot) elitist. Katrina keeps expecting to be mistreated by everyone, because she is trans, and we see her struggle with her self image. I loved the way Katrina and Satomi's relationship developed. It was very mother/daughter, and Satomi did what I wanted to do for Katrina, which is to wrap her in a blanket, show her she's worthy, and protect her from the world. And then Satomi falls for donut lady, Lan. That romance is so cute! I love seeing a Romance plot for middle aged women instead of only for young people.
Aoki's writing is so beautiful and lyrical. The way she described music as memory, and the feeling you get when you smell a good yeast donut was exquisite! Every word made you feel something. Aoki has a lot of themes about the pain and resilience of trans women and how they have to navigate the world. We also have themes about self love and accepting yourself for who you are, flaws and all. The story is really about finding your voice in order to allow yourself to heal. Though there is a lot of pain in this book, it also comes with a healthy dose of hope, and reminds us to look for the friendly faces and supportive glances. You just have to look up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Self harm