Light From Uncommon Stars

Paperback, 384 pages

Published Aug. 9, 2022 by Tor Books.

ISBN:
978-1-250-78908-2
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4 stars (12 reviews)

3 editions

A one of a kind book

5 stars

This book had a unique feel to it, something like enthralling and enchanting. It brings together a number of strange characters and strange elements (the aliens who struggle with human concepts, an evil woman who delivers souls to hell but turns out to be nice, the nerding out about violins and certain music pieces) and that shouldn't work at all but it does. It's also cozy and affirming, at least most of the time. Unfortunately, the other 10% of the book are really quite grim. There's a lot of vicious anti-trans hate (a bit too much, in my opinion) by others against Katrina and there's also a rape scene and sexual harassment. The last one doesn't really get adressed. So, I can't recommend it unreservedly but still recommend it with those caveats.

Review of 'Light From Uncommon Stars' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

 My main take from the story is that it gave me a better perspective on what it’s like to grow up as trans. It has a lot of hurt, but it’s also a reminder that kindness can go a long way.

🎻 There is a lot of music interwoven in a beautiful story. The author describes musical performances in a way that I could even imagine the sound, just from words and emotions. I also liked that it has a high geek factor, there are mentions of Star Trek and references to music from games and anime.

Beautiful story worthy of a recommendation 🧡

 

"You’re a selfish little thing, aren’t you?”

3 stars

Content warning Very poor ending; selling souls to hell does pay!

Magical surrealism at its best

5 stars

In a way this reminds me of Charlie Jane Anders’ All The Birds In The Sky. It’s not often you get a book that manages to tie in not only a lot of LGBT issues but also refugees from outer space and demons with contracts for people’s souls and yet make it all seem like a relaxed and natural world to be in. Obviously it’s a book all about the characters and the choices they make and have made. Very enjoyable and enlightening to ride along with a very foreign perspective from my default one for a while.

a fun mess, with some touching moments

4 stars

Content warning mild spoiler about ending

Review of 'Light From Uncommon Stars' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This .. sang. An absolutely appropriate description for a book where music was so integral to the story.
A violin teacher who is trading the souls of her students to hell to free her own.
A starship captain who has fled an apocalypse with her family to run a doughnut shop on Earth.
A young trans girl violinist who needs a home and a teacher.
These three elements are thrown together and mixed to make this book. They shouldn't work (even individually) but they do. Much as there is no big action sequences in this (it didn't need them) its an unflinching book, not frightened to show the dark stuff as well.
This book had me hooked from the opening pages, I could barely put it down. Definitely one of the best things I have read this year so far. A strong recommend.

Review of 'Light From Uncommon Stars' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Oh my gosh! I read another review that describes the book as being ‘like a warm hug.’ And that seems like a pretty apt description. This book is just so incredibly warm and affirming. This is literary comfort food.

Katrina just wants to play violin. But her family can't accept her for who she is. Shizuka needs to deliver a seventh soul to Hell – or she loses her own. Lan just wants to protect her family and serve good donuts.

Honestly, I don't understand how a story with so much darkness in it (transphobia, ableism, death, hell, sexism, sexual assault, etc.) still manages to be so comforting. How is that possible? I don't know. But it is.

Aliens, donuts, violins, a trans MC, a contract for a soul. Seriously, read this book now.