Scan barcode
A review by rorikae
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.5
'Light From Uncommon Stars' by Ryka Aoki blends fantasy and science fiction to tell a heartwarming found family story.
The novel centers around three perspectives: Katrina, a violin prodigy running away from an abusive home; Shizuka, a violin teacher who has made a deal with the devil, and Lan, the captain of a startship who is now running a donut shop. When these three characters collide, they find pieces of themselves that they were missing. Katrina may be the last violin student that Shizuka needs to complete her deal with the devil, Lan may have found long lost comfort in her budding feelings for Shizuka, and Shizuka may provide Katrina with the sense of family that she has been missing since she came out to her family as transgender. Together, the characters will have to face the stigmas of society, a demon that is coming to collect for souls, and an intergalactic plague that infects people with apathy.
From the moment I heard the description of this book, I was hooked and I am so happy that the novel fully lived up to the interesting premise. Aoki has created a book that is so full of heart and perfectly blends space travel with demons from Hell in a world that is completely believable.
The heart of this story are the characters and their relationships. All of these characters are searching for a place to fit in, be it because they are fleeing intergalactic wars or getting away from their transphobic family. What they find in each other and what they build together will lighten your heart.
My one issue with this story is that it sometimes felt like it was less well edited than other books I have read from Tor. There were more noticeable typos and words that were swapped around than I have previously encountered. Most are super easy to fix and didn't fully take away from my enjoyment of the novel so I hope they will put out a new edition that has some of these issues fixed.
If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face and make you care deeply for its characters, I highly recommend 'Light From Uncommon Stars.' I will most definitely be picking up more of Aoki's writing.
The novel centers around three perspectives: Katrina, a violin prodigy running away from an abusive home; Shizuka, a violin teacher who has made a deal with the devil, and Lan, the captain of a startship who is now running a donut shop. When these three characters collide, they find pieces of themselves that they were missing. Katrina may be the last violin student that Shizuka needs to complete her deal with the devil, Lan may have found long lost comfort in her budding feelings for Shizuka, and Shizuka may provide Katrina with the sense of family that she has been missing since she came out to her family as transgender. Together, the characters will have to face the stigmas of society, a demon that is coming to collect for souls, and an intergalactic plague that infects people with apathy.
From the moment I heard the description of this book, I was hooked and I am so happy that the novel fully lived up to the interesting premise. Aoki has created a book that is so full of heart and perfectly blends space travel with demons from Hell in a world that is completely believable.
The heart of this story are the characters and their relationships. All of these characters are searching for a place to fit in, be it because they are fleeing intergalactic wars or getting away from their transphobic family. What they find in each other and what they build together will lighten your heart.
My one issue with this story is that it sometimes felt like it was less well edited than other books I have read from Tor. There were more noticeable typos and words that were swapped around than I have previously encountered. Most are super easy to fix and didn't fully take away from my enjoyment of the novel so I hope they will put out a new edition that has some of these issues fixed.
If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face and make you care deeply for its characters, I highly recommend 'Light From Uncommon Stars.' I will most definitely be picking up more of Aoki's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Racism
Moderate: Dysphoria and Suicidal thoughts