A review by jaelynx
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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

I’m never going to do this justice in a description and I’m sad it took me so long to get to this book. This was tugging my heartstrings nonstop for the past 2 days.

Shizuka Satomi is a renowned violinist who made a deal with the devil. To save her own soul, she must deliver 7 prodigies to sign over their own. In 48 years she has nurtured 6 students and convinced them to hand over their souls to the devil. Not just any souls, but exquisite souls which make beautiful music in the flames. For her 7th and final student, she is looking for something spectacular for hell.

She feels she has found it in Katrina, a trans girl running away from her abusive family and friends and surviving in parks and sex work. While she has had no formal training, Shizuka sees raw and beautiful talent in Katrina. A soul to deliver worthy of Shizuka’s moniker, Queen of Hell.

But a chance interaction between Shizuka and Lan, a woman who runs a donut shop with her family who happen to be galactic refugees fleeing a plague, leads to more. As they grow close, Shizuka doubts whether she can hand over Katrina and save her own soul.

Combining demons and space empires in a synopsis confused me before I started reading, but as the themes thread together it works beautifully to give such humanity to the fantasy. I connected deeply to their trauma, pasts and the choices they face. You feel the intricate music of the soul. Katrina is beautifully written and an excellent representation of trans youth. I loved the depth of Shizuka’s apparent amoral character and her connection to Katrina and Lan. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but it deeply affected me.