Readers prepared for the emotionally difficult scenes will find a beautiful, satisfying story of redemption and families of choice. Content warnings below, but please, trust me: you want to read it despite. I devoured that science-fantasy novel in less than 24 hours because of how extraordinary it is. There are few books that made me feel what I felt when I read Light of Uncommon Stars. Aoki’s depiction of abuse and trauma is unflinching and intense, but at its core, the novel is a love letter to immigrant culture and the power people have to save each other. Ryka Aoki, Light from Uncommon Stars, Tor Books, 2021. Meanwhile, Shizuka’s slow-burn romance with Lan Tran, a donut maker and extraterrestrial refugee fleeing danger on her home planet, further complicates her plans. But as the women get to know each other, Shizuka starts having second thoughts. Shizuka calls on Lucy Matìa, a third-generation violin restorer, to repair both Katrina’s beloved violin and the cursed bow that will steal Katrina’s soul. Katrina, a transgender runaway and survival sex worker with no prior musical training, possesses a supernatural musical gift and is happy to trade her soul for lessons and a safe place to stay. When she meets Katrina Nguyen in Los Angeles, Shizuka is certain she’ll make the perfect final sacrifice. Violin teacher Shizuka Satomi has a contract with hell to deliver the souls of seven brilliant violinists. Aoki ( He Mele a Hilo) draws from her own experiences as a queer Japanese American woman to craft a dark but ultimately hopeful sci-fi exploration of the threats faced by queer people of color.
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