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A review by paperbrownies
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
4.5
- lgbtqiap+, sff, sci-fi, fantasy, multiple povs, good omens meets the long way to a small, angry planet, the ineffable wives?!!!, i was sold already, inter-galactic wars and deal with devils, DONUTS, and cursed violins!!
- f | f
- asian trans mc (she/her), sapphic side characters one of them is japanese and the other one is possibly vietnamese, and a minor side character who uses they/them pronouns
i want y'all to drop your current reads and go read this book bc this book is brilliant!!
(even tho ik and idc that this is not the best piece of sci-fi fiction out there but am v grateful that it exists all the same!!)
it's diverse and affirming and more than anything i love what this book stands for. it is raw and powerful, and tender and sweet, and human at the very core with characters as flawed and battered as they come. katrina nguyen, a transgender violinist who has escaped from her abusive household, shizuka satomi who is one soul away from her music being heard again, lan tran who is escaping a plague that has destroyed her galactic empire in order to keep her family safe, and when fate ties all three of these women's destinies together, they save each other from their own damnation
“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.”
light from uncommon stars like so many other reviewers have rightfully said, is an ode to queer found families, the asian community, music, food and also donuts, it is the kind of book that will make you emotional over how beautiful and affirming a story can be and is also ready to indulge you in a sapphic rendition of the good old ineffable husbands. like,,,??!! EVERYTHING I LOVE!!
'still, she had always assumed that damnation required some sort of exchange. yet, this student, this human being, had been forsaken not for ambition, nor revenge, nor even love, but for merely existing? who needs the devil when people can create a hell like this themselves?'
the trans rep in this book is brutal and beautiful, honest and heartfelt and i dont think ive ever read anything quiet like it before. ryka aoki talks about topics that are less heard and even less discussed in queer/ trans spaces and brings out the anger, frustration and unbridled joy that comes from having a queer label. it's a book that embraces queerness in all its brave, defiant and artful forms and we love to see it!!
i have a feeling i am going to love anything ryka aoki writes which is why i cannot wait to read her other works!! ╰ (* `*) ╯
cw: transphobia, misgendering, child abuse, f slur, t slur, elaborate mentions of food, domestic and emotional abuse, queerphobia, off-page passing mention of arson, ableism, r slur, suicidal thoughts, off-page infliction of self-harm, racism, war themes
- f | f
- asian trans mc (she/her), sapphic side characters one of them is japanese and the other one is possibly vietnamese, and a minor side character who uses they/them pronouns
i want y'all to drop your current reads and go read this book bc this book is brilliant!!
(even tho ik and idc that this is not the best piece of sci-fi fiction out there but am v grateful that it exists all the same!!)
it's diverse and affirming and more than anything i love what this book stands for. it is raw and powerful, and tender and sweet, and human at the very core with characters as flawed and battered as they come. katrina nguyen, a transgender violinist who has escaped from her abusive household, shizuka satomi who is one soul away from her music being heard again, lan tran who is escaping a plague that has destroyed her galactic empire in order to keep her family safe, and when fate ties all three of these women's destinies together, they save each other from their own damnation
“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.”
light from uncommon stars like so many other reviewers have rightfully said, is an ode to queer found families, the asian community, music, food and also donuts, it is the kind of book that will make you emotional over how beautiful and affirming a story can be and is also ready to indulge you in a sapphic rendition of the good old ineffable husbands. like,,,??!! EVERYTHING I LOVE!!
'still, she had always assumed that damnation required some sort of exchange. yet, this student, this human being, had been forsaken not for ambition, nor revenge, nor even love, but for merely existing? who needs the devil when people can create a hell like this themselves?'
the trans rep in this book is brutal and beautiful, honest and heartfelt and i dont think ive ever read anything quiet like it before. ryka aoki talks about topics that are less heard and even less discussed in queer/ trans spaces and brings out the anger, frustration and unbridled joy that comes from having a queer label. it's a book that embraces queerness in all its brave, defiant and artful forms and we love to see it!!
i have a feeling i am going to love anything ryka aoki writes which is why i cannot wait to read her other works!! ╰ (* `*) ╯
cw: transphobia, misgendering, child abuse, f slur, t slur, elaborate mentions of food, domestic and emotional abuse, queerphobia, off-page passing mention of arson, ableism, r slur, suicidal thoughts, off-page infliction of self-harm, racism, war themes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Deadnaming and Sexual assault
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and War