Welcome to Litsy!

I've been putting off reviewing thid book for quite some time now. Because I just can't seem to find the words fitting it. I've been waiting, that usually works. But apparently not with this one. So I decided to write just that. I can't review it, so go and read what other people wrote about it.

Shizuka Satomi owes Hell one more soul in order to save herself and regain her music, and she thinks she's found the one: Katrina, a gifted violin player who is also a trans teenage runaway. Meanwhile, Shizuka finds herself distracted by Lan, a starship captain and galactic refugee who's also running a donut shop with her family. A lovely book about found family and connection that doesn't shy away from the heartbreak and abuse Katrina experiences

Finally caught my 2024 read list up-to-date! 26 different joy reads seems pretty alright for also tackling my final year of graduate school!

My top 3 (in no particular order) were:
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Light from Uncommon Stars

#SummerSouls

Three #Starry titles currently in my TBR. 🌌✨🌠💫

4.5⭐ Gorgeous, unique, wonderful.
I was not expecting this. It took me about 3 (short) chapters to get hooked. I do not know anything about playing music, or the violin, but the minute I met a family of aliens making donuts inside a book about a woman gathering souls for hell by offering them violin fame I was blown away. I have never read a book like this and I was entranced by all of the characters, there is just enough levity to balance 💔

"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."

My indie bookstore day purchases. Sadly I didn't know Queen of Myth and Monsters is the second in a series. It literally isn't listed anywhere on the book which is annoying. I've heard great things about Light from Uncommon Stars.

This is the perfect novel for readers who enjoy sweet coziness, but with a little dark edge. Also, it's just the perfect novel in general. No notes. Violins, donuts, lots of descriptions of food, soul reaping...Loved every page.

Happy California Library Day AND National Library Day! 😎📚 Where are my lunchtime readers? Tell me what you‘re reading today!

Library haul! I wasn‘t really in the mood for anything in my TBR pile at home, so to the library I happily went…

I started reading this mid 2022, and though I enjoyed it parts may have a little too close to home. Finally finished reading it when I was in a better headspace, and loved it even more now

A solid read, though it took me a while to get into the story. The characters were very lovable, and the author did a great job making you love them. However, the plot was a little all over the place. The narrator of the audiobook didn‘t help, as there was very little variation between the characters. I still recommend as it has a great message and characters. 4⭐️
#roll100 read done!

Unpopular opinion but this was a messy read. A violin teacher collecting souls for the devil, a trans violin prodigy, an intergalactic family/space crew building a star gate in a donut shop, and more, this had too many disparate plot lines and too many traumatic issues that weren‘t given their due making this a disappointing read. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-light-from-uncommon-stars-by.html...

If I were to give you a summary of this book and all of the ideas it‘s bringing together, you would probably think—understandably—that it‘s doing too much and wouldn‘t work. But not only does it work, it does so beautifully. It‘s a lovely story about music and self-acceptance, one that doesn‘t deny the pain of its trans and immigrant characters but that yet holds them with love. I‘m so glad I read it.

Ok. It‘s a great book BUT… I have heard this described as Oh so cozy! And oh all the yummy food it‘ll make you so hungry! Uh… I would not describe this book as cozy at all. Go into it with the right state of mind otherwise you‘ll be after a big shock. This is science fiction, yes, there‘s a donut shop but mostly it is a trans girls story with all the trauma, violence and discrimination that goes with it. Brilliant representation. Not cozy.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Next

This book was absolutely fantastic. Beautiful writing and a great story! 5 out of 5 uncommon stars ✨️

Despite the trauma of some characters and the dark side of humanity this was a very sort of comforting read. There's definitely elements of found family with an emphasis on the creative/art being one of the things that separates humanity from other creatures. I like the idea that music can be healing for not only the musician but their audience as well.

#BookReport
Managed to finish only one book this week and didn't manage to connect with any audiobooks on my commute.

#WeeklyForecast
My goal this week is to keep current with #ReadingWesteros #GoTChapterADay and read a big chunk of the tagged. Perfect world scenario is I finish the tagged this week.

It‘s finally cool enough for me to do some side yard reading. Trying to make good progress in this now that I‘ve met my #ReadingWesteros commitment for the day. Eagle eyes can maybe spot Rolo catching some sun in the back corner.

You have to believe in aliens and demons living in the same story simultaneously, but if you can get with that, this is a great story about food, violin music, being trans, immigrants, families and finding your own music.

I'd waited so long for this to come into the library that I was worried it might fall flat, however, it was fantastically engaging and I loved it!
It wasn't quite what I was expecting, and that confounding was interesting: the story went in directions I hadn't anticipated, which hooked me in.
The trans MC's narrative line is awful then wonderful, and I think Aoki succeeds in making it a generally relatable arc about survival of abuse, finding ⬇️

I needed something bit more portable to read as I walk to the shops, and as the library *finally* got this in for me after months of waiting and an intense librarian investigation as to what it was taking so long, I thought I'd take it 😊✨🍩🏳️‍⚧️🛸

Music, pacts with a devil, LGBTQ characters and storylines, transgalactic travel, and donuts. This book has everything.

Wow. There is a LOT going on here. Space travel, galactic wars, pacts with demons for souls, virtuoso violinists (including a young trans woman fleeing an abusive home), magic violins, and doughnuts. A fascinating novel.

I can‘t believe it‘s already time for the March #BookSpin lists. I‘m already behind but hopefully that will change soon. This month‘s new comers are the tagged and Sorrowland.

Gatsby and Ozzie continue to jockey for position on my lap as I start this book club book. I think closest to me wins based on the silliness.

I read 4 books (and one sequel) from my #auldlangspine list from @Soubhiville . I really enjoyed these books, and how to read more from the list throughout the year.

Thanks @monalyisha for organizing!

Like @Soubhiville my favorite book of the month was an #auldlangspine read. Thanks @monalyisha for organizing!

Thanks @chasjjlee for the layout!

Shizuka Satomi, the queen of hell, sold her soul and has to deliver 7 phenomenal violin players and only needs one more. Katrina is a transgender runaway with a raw (but untrained) talent. Lan is a space captain running a donut shop, and falls for Shizuka. I loved the conversations regarding queerness (sapphic and transgender), but the plot jumped around and at times was hard to follow I thought.

#ReadHarder challenges 8&9: a novel about a trans character written by a trans author; any book from the Ignyte awards shortlist/longlist/winner list

The story somewhat defies summaries but this picture somehow fits perfectly, sending light from an uncommon place as well.
I love how well the title fits the story!

I think it's best to go into this book without too many expectations and preconceptions, just read it! I strongly recommend the audiobook, it creates an amazing atmosphere. Make sure snacks are readily available at all times, preferably doughnuts😄🍩

5/5

This book is incredible and defies summary. Violins and demons and alien refugees come together to create this beautiful, reflective, but also sometimes absurd sci-fi novel.

I always hope to start my year off with a 5 star read. Thanks to @Soubhiville for this incredible rec. #auldlangspine @monalyisha

My highlight in June was this sci-fi novel.

#12Booksof2022

@Andrew65

What a fantastic book and a wonderful read. I learned a lot about music, life, yearning and love. Katrina Nguyen has her violin, her escape bag and although she can‘t recognize it yet: hope. She meets Shizuoka Satomi, the damned violinist looking for her seventh student/soul. And then there are the alien donut makers! Wondrously, they find and become a family. And to all who lob hatred and slurs at trans folk may you be damned by Tremon Phillipe.

#adventrecommends

@emilyrose_x

I love this incredible #auldlangspine list from @Soubhiville . I've been going through my library and scribd, and I've decided that these 5 will go on my bookspinbingo list for January, and I hope to get through all five. I'll likely read others throughout the year, since there are so many interesting titles on the list.

@monalyisha

A wonderfully weird story with deep, revealing layers. Surface level: a contemporary fantasy and sci-fi that at times goes off the rails but is pulled back just in time by strong character development. Digging in: the misery unsupported transgender youth endure, long-standing sexism excused by "tradition", and the ever present racism underlying it all. The book does a lot but it's successful with it's charm and honesty.

This book has so much heart! 💜

“We can afford neither defective space-time filaments, nor any further drops in donut sales.”

I know I‘m really in the minority here, but this was not for me.
Pros: Great LGBTQ and Asian representation. Great cover. And donuts. Lots of donuts.
Cons: Overly long, too much plot crammed into one book, disjointed and jarring writing style
I almost DNF this book, but I was too close to the end. An end which I thought would never come.

There are plenty of things to love in this space opera/urban fantasy/portrait of an artist genre mashup - & first and foremost is the focus character - the brave & luminous Katrina. It's also a love letter to LA - & specifically to the food & cultures of Asian Americans living in the Southland. But there is just so much stuffed into it that by the (pleasantly unexpected!) end I felt like I was dragging myself across the finish line. A soft pick.

I really thought I would like this but the writing style… it‘s just absolutely not working for me. I tried. #doublespin

I picked this up for the cover, purchased for the TJ Klune quote. Enjoying it for the three lovely women.

So fun!

Bedside book stack: July 16th edition. I‘m all kinds of in love with the tagged book. It‘s thoroughly steeped in music, which is exactly what I want right now. Maybe we can blame THE OXFORD ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF OPERA for that?

This mash up of sci Fi and urban fantasy was beautiful, devastating, and hopeful all at once. Full of music, demons, aliens, donuts, and a trans woman protagonist; it's a story of found family, love and acceptance.

I love Becky Chambers and Martha Wells so I'm kicking off July with Ryka Aoki.

This was good. Maybe a bit too much talk about donuts, though. 😁

#JoysOfJune #readathon @Andrew65

Have you read this one yet, @Leniverse?

Sold my soul to the devil and need to find a musical prodigy to save myself + alien refugees running a donut shop + Asian American + LGBTQ

That Charlie Jane Anders quote on the cover is very apt, me thinks. I like this better than CJA's books and I'm only 5 chapters in.

#JoysOfJune #readathon @Andrew65