A fun read set in space ! Thank yo it’s the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review.

Katrina Nguyen is a young transgender woman who has run away from her abusive home. Her father hates what she is and is ashamed of her. He beats her often. Her often refuge is music and she has a violin that is her most prized possession although she hasn't been able to take lessons outside of YouTube. She has little self confidence but knows that somehow she must play the violin.

Shizuka Satomi was the most famous violinist of her generation and the most famous violin teacher currently. She is also the Queen Of Hell, since she has signed a contract to deliver seven violinist souls to Hell which will relieve her of having to give up her own soul. She has already delivered six students' souls and is looking for her last student.

Lan Tran is a doughnut shop owner and meets Shizuka Satomi there when she stops to buy doughnuts. But Lan is more than a shop owner. She is an alien who has shepherded her family to this world to escape war and destruction. There is an instant spark between Lan and Shizuka although neither knows the other's secret.

The lives of these three women will intersect and change each life. Shizuka takes Katrina as a student, moving her into her own home and instructing her. Katrina has a feeling for the music that no student before her has had and Shizuka knows that she could become a star. But what of the contract she has made with Hell?

This book was a Hugo Award Finalist along with many other awards. It is a body positive story along with being a love story on many levels. The three women form a family that supports each individual and helps them find their way and give their talents to the world. The author, Ryka Aoki, is a transgender woman herself so writes Katrina's story from personal knowledge. Readers will fall in love with Katrina and keep reading to see how this story will turn out. This book is recommended for readers of science fiction, music lovers and those interested in the difficulties transgender people face in their daily life.

I wanted to like this but I could not get into the story or the characters. I felt that it was pretty far fetched and not something I could connect to.

Light from Uncommon Stars was incredible. A symphony of stories -- a musician's deal with the devil, aliens on the run from a galactic plague running a doughnut shop, and a trans girl struggling to survive and thrive in a world that so often despises her -- weave together in perfect harmony to create a beautiful and unique coming of age story.

This was a wild book to say the least. I'd call it a pleasant surprise. Truthfully when I hit play I thought it was nonfiction about astrology!!! Clearly no. I generally don't read sci fi and I don't read fantasy, so this was way out of my typical reading comfort zone but I stayed interested throughout. I enjoy reading stories from and representative of diverse voices, and this certainly checks those boxes. Aoki crafts a bizarre story that ultimately is a parable about immigration, and also the unrelenting pursuit of the American dream, what keeps us from it, what we're willing to give for it, and the unthinkable hurdles women and marginalized people encounter.
Overall it was weirdly fun, while not a book I'd widely recommend because most people I know would just think its too weird. But ultimately it was a hopeful story of redemption, the power of identity and authenticity, and the change that can happen in the world (or in this case the universe) when you open your heart and mind to others.
Particularly fun for me because I grew up in the area and recognized the streets and landmarks.

OMG, this book is so damn good. SO GOOD!

Before I go into my thoughts, there is quite a bit of transphobia in this book, which is called in and addressed in certain instances. I do want to make people aware of that since it can be quite triggering.

I went into this book thinking that it was going to be some sort of space romp, but instead, I got an incredible contemporary style story packed with wonderful characters and some pretty fascinating SFF elements. This story reminded me of what would happen if you took Mozart in the Jungle mixed it with Meet Joe Black then throw in aliens who are running a donut shop...oh lots of queerness as well.

I absolutely loved Katrina Nguyen's character. Unlike the classically trained musicians that the renowned Shizuka Satomi salivates over, Katrina talent is wild, passionate, and comes from a place of darkness thanks to her heartbreaking past. Even though Katrina has been shunned by both her family and community for being trans, she refuses to give up on her dreams of playing, and I couldn't help but immediately fall in love with her and root for her from start to finish.

When it comes to Shizuka, I immediately found her fascinating even though she's rather closed off (makes sense for someone who has made a deal with the devil though). Throughout this story, you see several instances where Katrina makes Shizuka think outside of her typical box, and they both push each other to be better than their circumstances.

Another big theme in this book is food, so I highly recommend not reading this one on an empty stomach.

I really hope that this isn't a standalone because I want to revisit these characters and watch them grow even further.

Light From Uncommon Stars is a comforting space opera filled with hope and doughnuts. It honestly felt as though I was receiving a warm hug throughout the whole novel and does an amazing job of balancing the light with the dark. Such a joy to read and it has some very unique characters, including an immortal violin teacher and a purple alien. Read this if you are looking for a lighthearted sci-fi with trans and lesbian representation.

TW: rape, abusive/unsupportive parents, death

A stunningly gorgeous novel about family and the found families we build for ourselves. How a novel combining violins, a donut shop run by an intergalactic spaceship captain, and a music teacher selling souls to a demon comes together so beautifully, I truly do not know. But rest assured it does. And the book also features exploration of transness and queerness amidst an extremely compelling speculative narrative. There are some dark moments including a lot of transphobia and an instance of sexual assault, but the book still somehow manages to come across as overwhelmingly hopeful.

TL;DR: a wonderful surprise from start to finish

DNF at 43%. I think I gave the book a fair shot since I'm almost halfway through, but it feels like nothing is happening. Yes, everything that you have read in blurbs about the book is going on, but that's it. If I can read the whole book in a summary of two paragraphs, do I need to devote more time to the whole thing....?

This was phenomenal and honestly, I think everyone should go into this knowing as little as possible. The story surrounds these three individuals and their lives become more and more intertwined learning about each other, themselves, and what they’re all capable of doing. The ending is where you see everything come together. I was so surprised. I had a feeling the ending would go a certain way; an ultimate sacrifice, but then it was completely thwarted and put a huge smile on my face. It was an incredible ending to finish off such an incredible experience.
Full review to come on YouTube.

This is a very modern fantasy - and one that the pre-publication comparisons to Neil Gaiman's Good Omens really made me excited to start listening. I must admit that I didn't really see the same kind of humor here, though. The three main characters come together by chance, but certainly all enrich and improve one another's lives. At the start of the book, Katrina runs away from home - her parents are abusive and not at all accepting of Katrina's true trans identity. Meanwhile, Captain Lan has fled with her family from a galaxy far away in search of a peaceful life - with the cover of turning the donut shop's giant donut they purchased into a Stargate. Shizuka, dubbed the Queen of Hell in the violin world, is ready to take on her seventh and final student (in exchange for their soul, of course). As the stories converge, the book really feels like a good appreciation for music as well as the food and the flavors. The focus on acceptance is huge here. It's a real window into a troubled teen's trans experience. And while the Stargate and demons make this a science fiction/fantasy story, the real core is a story of acceptance. I wish that there had been a little more interstellar or magical elements., but I did enjoy listening to this one. It's well-performed and quite original. It certainly engages all of the senses - and any time I listened to this hungry was a real idea-giver about just what I had a taste for!

This story took me for a wild and wonderful ride. I didn't know much about it going in, so with the introduction of each new character everything I thought I figured out about the book got up ended.

Trans teenager escapes an abusive home clutching her violin.... Oh, this is one of those stories. I wasn't in the mood to be depressed, but okay.

Violin teacher who gathers souls for Hell... Ohhhh, were doing THAT kind of story, OKAY!

Alien buys a donut store with her family and tries to blend in to the California suburbs... What the hell am I reading?!?

But it all works. It all comes together in a surprising and wonderful way. I loved all the characters and the nuance the author gave to each of them. Highly recommend.

This stunning book truly took me on a journey. The odd combination of demons, aliens, music, and donuts had me hesitant at first, but somehow it works. The speculative elements take a back seat to a beautiful, heartfelt story about identity, legacy, and overcoming trauma. Like music itself, the writing is lyrical and moving. Though it might not speak to every reader, this book is beautiful and meaningful to those it touches.

The story begins with Katrina Nguyen running away from her abusive family that will never accept her. She escapes to San Gabriel Valley, but still struggles to find acceptance as a transgender girl. Her only real joy left is her violin and the music that helps her both share and escape her reality. This dramatic opening is a heartbreaking and compelling opening that really sets the tone for Katrina’s character in the story. Constantly in survival mode, Katrina is hyperfocused on what others might be thinking or saying about her; braced for both physical and emotional danger at all times. Katrina’s thoughts and actions are not only motivated by a lack of self-confidence, but by the trauma she has experienced as a result of being transgender. Though difficult to read at times, Katrina brings a compelling and important perspective.

Similar to Katrina, each of the main characters has experienced some type of trauma that they are trying to manage. Each is unique and the story features both the highs and lows of this journey rather than finding a ‘fix’ to a problem. Helping them through their journey are their passions. Whether it’s fixing violins or baking the perfect batch of donuts, the characters connect to their craft on an almost spiritual level and find both purpose and place through that connection. For many, that connection is something inherited or passed down, linking them to the past and each other. As a musician and food enthusiast, a lot of what was being described resonated with me on a personal level. However, Ryka Aoki spends a lot of time describing these elements and it could become slow and/or repetitive to readers who might not connect with these themes as deeply.

If I were to fault this book for anything, it would be that I felt the speculative elements took away from the story instead of enhancing it. I don’t mind Shizuka’s deal with the devil as much as it adds stakes and plays a small enough role not to really get in the way. However, this sub-plot unfolds in a predictable way and doesn’t introduce anything that feels new or unique. Having Lan and her family be intergalactic refugees is an interesting approach to this type of trauma and sets the stage for certain themes to be explored, but it is a strange thing to include. Other than the advanced technology that provides some convenient solutions to certain problems, there is not much achieved with this alien identity that couldn’t be done in a different, less obtrusive way. These elements were decently executed and didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of the story, but I was left wondering why they were included.

Overall, this is a touching, character-focused book for those willing to brave a little weirdness to find something meaningful. There are a lot of different characters and the story bounces between all of their perspectives at different points. Though there are sci-fi/fantasy elements, this is not the book for someone looking for a hard sci-fi or fantasy read. I experienced this story as an audiobook and would recommend reading the book in print as it can be difficult to tell when the character's perspective has changed. Content warnings include: Child Abuse, Self-Harm, Underrage Prostitution, Mentions of Drug Use, Alcoholism, Transphobic and Racist sentiments, and characters dealing with trauma.

When you look at the variety of topics and subjects in this read- aliens, music, donuts, LGBTQ+, the devil, and so much more- it seems like nothing would make sense or come together. However, as I read this, I was transported to a world inhabiting all these strange and creative concepts that all started to make sense and became a beautiful, heartfelt story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Ryka Aoki has created a masterpiece with this book and its genre-bending prose is a feat that has left me in awe.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This could possibly be one of my new favorite books of all time! If you like TJ Klune, Becky Chambers, or The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu, I think you will really enjoy this book.

We follow a few main characters. Shizuka Satomi, a violin instructor who made a deal with the devil. Katrina Nguyen, a transgender runaway. And Lan Tran, an interstellar refugee posing as a donut shop owner. As their paths begin to intertwine, it weaves a story of hope, magic, identity and family.

This is seriously one of my favorite books I’ve read all year!! This was my first time reading about a trans main character and I found that very eye opening. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki is a beautiful, beautiful book. The most interesting part of the book is probably the strangely comforting writing style and the way Aoki builds up the book and switches from person to person within the chapter instead of switching from person to person in separate chapters. I really loved how Katrina started truly becoming herself and let all her worries go when playing the violin and I loved the overall queer representation. The narrator was truly amazing and had a very soothing and pleasant voice. I really loved all the descriptions of Katrina playing the violin and learning how to play the different pieces because it was incredibly touching, as a pianist, to finally see someone who loves music and playing an instrument and who has found themselves in music. While on the outside it seems like a very heartfelt story of a transgender musician finding herself and making friends along the way, it also tackles racism, sexism, transphobia and other much heavier topics. I really enjoyed the side story of Lucia Matias, the renowned granddaughter of a famous violin repairman because it showed the sexism in a traditional family: no matter how hard the woman tries, she is pushed away and told that it is not a job for her despite being good at it.
Overall, a really fantastic book that I recommend to everyone.

This was a ride from beginning to end. Not in the action packed kind of way, but in the there's no time to catch your breath because everything keeps happening. There were so many things going on that at times I had a hard time following who was talking. The audiobook narrator didn't really change voice intonation and the POV changed suddenly in the chapter so it took a while to get used to it. I'm sure the physical book would've been a better reading experience but in the audio it was a bit confusing.
I really liked the sci-fi elements of the story with the Stargate and the alien family with a donut restaurant, and I also really liked the fantasy elements with the deal with the devil. Another thing I love were the queer elements, good and bad, everything the three characters went through during the story. Long story short this book was nothing like I imagined, really totally different and I enjoyed it a lot.

So... I didn't really get this. And it's KILLING me that I didn't. I *want* to love it, I just...don't? I don't know if it's the emphasis on the technicalities of musician-hood, which I don't really care about, or the multiple POV shifts, but I just found it really hard to concentrate on.

The characters were well-drawn and the writing smooth, it's just not for me. Check it out if you love trans-rep, multi-character quiet dramas, and aliens who make donuts.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was really cool to feel a part of the publishing industry, even if it's just as a mere reviewer.

Light From Uncommon Stars is, in plain and simple terms, a love letter to music. And violin. It presents itself in modern terms, championing gender identity and racial equality as it goes, with a sprinkling of supernatural and science fiction features; but it is, in and of itself, a love letter to music.

Katrina Nguyen is a gifted violinist. Shizuka Satomi is a gifted violin teacher. It's a match made in Heaven. Or Hell, more like. You see, Shizuka has made a deal with the devil, and must deliver the souls of seven violin prodigies if she wants to keep hers from damnation. She's already provided Hell with six of her students, and Katrina is to be the seventh. But, many donuts, video game songs and conversations about Galactic battles and plagues later, what seems like a straight forward transaction might look a bit different.

Before I say anything else: this book is beautifully written. The prose is lyrical and evocative, and it drips with love and emotion, specially when discussing music. Many times I found myself longingly looking towards my own violin, itching to reach out and play it even when busy with work, and many more I caught my wrist moving as if holding a bow. Ms. Aoki's writing did that. Her obvious love and admiration for music did that. I'm happy I read it for that reason alone.

But then, this is a two star review. And that is because, sadly, the story fell somewhat flat for me. The plot was at times both too busy, and too empty. It felt like it was trying too many things at the same time for no good reason, mixing too many genres, twisting too many knots. The blurb claimed this book was a wonderfully weird medley of aliens, demons and violinists, and yet, the end result, in my opinion, provided a tangled mess that often left me wondering what the whole point of it all was.

There were too many storylines. The aliens and their donut shop were, again, in my opinion, an unnecessary plot device that added a degree of ridiculousness to a book that seemed to take itself too seriously for it to have been intentional. I saw no payoff that justified it, and it made me feel a little betrayed that I had spent so long with characters that could have just as easily been from a different state, instead of a different galaxy, and the consequences would have been the same.

And for the plot lines that were more grounded and developed, like Shizuka's deal with the devil, the stakes were low and soft. I never felt the sense of peril one expects from such a deal, and as such the conflict didn't seem very... conflicting. The main villain was more of a recurring character that would occasionally shake his head disapprovingly, and so the fight to keep Katrina's soul became more of a brisk walk in the park than an uphill battle.

The weight of this novel was shouldered by Katrina's struggle with her own gender identity and, once again, by Ms. Aoki's love of music. And that in and of itself, is fine by me. Those two aspects by themselves, paired with Ms. Aoki's beautiful writing, would have made a 5 star book for me, one I would be happy to re-read. Sadly, they were encumbered by an overachieving plot of galactic proportions.

But if that's something that appeals to you, which judging by the overwhelming love for this book here on Goodreads, then please read this book. It will enchant you.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. I was mildly interested in the premise of a soul stealing violin teacher, and then all of a sudden Ryka Aoki throws in a family of donut making aliens, as if that is the most natural thing in the world, and I loved it. I legitimately had to pick up my phone and skip back a couple of minutes in the audiobook to make sure that I hadn’t missed something, but this stark contrast of dark demons and purple aliens made for a fabulous and entirely unique novel.

Seriously though, Light from Uncommon Stars was incredible. I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to listen to an ARC of the audiobook through Netgalley. The book delves into some really deep questions about what it takes to create something, whether that something is music or food. Until reading this book I had never considered how both good food, and good music have the ability to make you feel emotions in the same way. It was fascinating to watch the way that the Tran family's journey to discover how to make a great donut paralleled Katrina’s Journey to becoming a talented violinist. And I was constantly hungry while reading because there were so many delicious meals described.

Ryka Aoki also did a fabulous job of helping the reader understand the difficulties that Katrina Nguyen faces as a trans woman trying to navigate the world. There are really no punches held. You see exactly what Katrina has to do to survive and how her experiences make the world seem like a harsh and unforgiving place. I desperately wanted to give this character a hug and tell her that not everyone in the world is cruel and hateful towards trans individuals. But it did what all great books should do, which is give their readers a new perspective to look at the world through.

I don’t have much to say about the audiobook itself. It was read in a very soothing calm tone, which worked well for certain parts of the book, but in others it felt a little incongruous with what was happening in the story. This is a small quibble though, overall the narrator had a great voice and the book worked well read out loud.