A review by thecriticalreader
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.25

Why I Read It: I saw a review of Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki on Kirkus Reviews, so I picked up a copy from my local library.
 
Review:
Light from Uncommon Stars was not at all what I expected, but I enjoyed it immensely anyway. Aoki cheerfully blends genres so that concepts that might seem unoriginal on their own—an Asian/Mexican American transgender runaway; a person sent from Hell to collect the souls of musicians in exchange for her own; a family of refugees from an intergalactic war who land on Earth—become original and compelling when placed together. 
 
Beyond the book’s smart and intriguing premise, Aoki creates a story that is interesting, touching, and fun. The three main characters, although they initially seem like they should not be in a novel together, are well-developed and form interesting dynamics with one another. They are likable and flawed. I was worried that the story would veer too far into “cutesy” territory, but Aoki masterfully balances moments that meaningfully depict the harsh realities of life—especially life for queer people of color—with more wholesome moments. I also enjoyed some of the more philosophical and moral discussions the book takes up.
 
I sometimes became bored when the story veers off into the technical aspects of a violin’s construction and the unnecessary storyline involving the violin repair shop. Additionally, I felt that Shizuka’s moral arc regarding her role in damning several souls to eternal torment was slightly glossed over.
She never really addresses or feels remorseful for exploiting the insecurities of musicians about their bodies, race, social class, etc. to get them to sign their souls to Hell, nor does Ryka Aoki show how these musicians might otherwise deserve such a fate. They are described as intensely competitive and rather self-centered, but not evil. I was particularly disturbed by the implication that the demon Tremon was planning to harvest the soul of Tamiko Giselle Grohl, a girl whose only crime has been crippling perfectionism to the point where she hurts herself when she doesn’t measure up.
In the grand scheme of the book, however, these problems were fairly minor.
 
The Run-Down: 
You will probably like Light from Uncommon Stars if: 
·      You like well-written, creative stories with likable characters
·      You love music and food
·      You appreciate stories that provide thoughtful and supportive representations of Asian, Mexican, and queer identities
 
You might not like Light from Uncommon Stars if:
·      You dislike books that freely blend genres 
·      You prefer to have a book with elaborate worldbuilding elements
 
A Similar Book: 
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. Similarities between these books include:
·      Intergalatic travel
·      Character-driven plot
·      Philosophical explorations of AI consciousness
·      Heartwarming stories with diverse characters 
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