Becky Chambers' ability to craft such a lush and beautiful, queer world that feels like a giant, warm hug is incredible.
Even though book one, The LonBecky Chambers' ability to craft such a lush and beautiful, queer world that feels like a giant, warm hug is incredible.
Even though book one, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, is still my favorite in this entire series, this was still a great last installment. I loved the characters that we follow in this! One of whom is someone we met in book one, Pei, who was my favorite to follow in this. Everything about the world is just so beautifully diverse and this book was just so wholesome. This series feels like home.
It's hard for me to explain what this book is about because it honestly doesn't have much plot. It's the 3rd book in the Wayfarer series which is a seIt's hard for me to explain what this book is about because it honestly doesn't have much plot. It's the 3rd book in the Wayfarer series which is a series that follows heartwarming characters going on dazzling space adventures!
Unfortunately, this is my least favorite in the series so far. It offers the same slow-paced narrative with a character-driven story. The world-building in this is so unique and Becky Chambers' stories are always thought-provoking. The characters - both human and not - are just living their lives, exchanging experiences all while having some underlying bigger questions. My biggest problem with this book is that it felt like 5 different novellas messily glued together. I enjoyed the two previous books far more but still, this was nice and charming....more
This is a story that doesn't have a "traditional story" behind it. We're mainly just following four explorers as they leave Earth to investigate diffeThis is a story that doesn't have a "traditional story" behind it. We're mainly just following four explorers as they leave Earth to investigate different planets. The planets are varied; some are teeming with life while others have none. And the book just basically explores how we, humans, can change to adapt to our environment instead of changing the environment to adapt to us. It's basically 150 pages of exploring moral dilemmas. But it's also about ethical space exploration, the consequences of disrupting natural habitats, life, familial love, science, pursuing knowledge, and space.
I love Becky Chamber's science fiction because there is something really approachable and comforting about it and Chamber's writing style. This, and many of Chamber's books, are chill, slice-of-life science fiction stories that do so well with exploring different themes and always have great, casual queer rep. This book has queer/poly characters, a trans side character, and an ace side character. Overall, loved, and highly recommend!...more
Trigger Warnings: racism, racial slurs, homophobia, transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, outing, dysphoria, bullying, sexual assault, rape, sexual hTrigger Warnings: racism, racial slurs, homophobia, transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, outing, dysphoria, bullying, sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment, child abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, alcoholism, self-harm, suicidal ideation, xenophobia, murder, war
I saw someone describe this book as Science Fantasy and that is so accurate.
We mainly follow three women, Shizuka Satomi who made a deal with the devil. She must deliver the souls of seven violin prodigies who are willing to trade their souls for success in exchange for her escaping damnation. At the start of the story, she has delivered six. We also follow Katrina, a young queer, Asian, transgender runaway who catches the ear of Shizuka with her wild talent. Shizuka feels that she might have found her last soul to sell. And lastly, Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four, AND she runs a donut shop. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, but Lan's kind smile and eyes just might redefine a soul's worth.
This book is so heartfelt and unique and quirky and humorous but also heartbreaking. I'm truly impressed with how much the author was able to pack into under 400 pages and do so with such grace and harmony.
The writing of this book was so raw and beautiful. It's simple, but that really allows the themes and characters to pack a punch. It's easy to read. The pacing is also great. I never felt bored or lost in the story. It was constantly moving forward and was never confusing, despite being an even mix of fantasy and science fiction.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters. I felt them. Katrina is growing up in a world that refused to see her as a woman. Lan is trying to navigate life on earth. Shizuka is learning the value of a soul. And there is another woman we're introduced to, Lucy, who is trying to find her place as a woman in her family's violin repair shop. Every single character in this is so distinct and well fleshed out and really comes to life in this story which makes for a very emotional read when the reader can be so well connected to the characters. And despite the fact that there are so many non-human characters, this book is deeply human.
I also really enjoyed how this book felt like a love letter. A love letter to Asian American culture, a love letter to the queer and trans communities, a love letter to the violin and music. Overall, this book was just beautiful and I cannot wait to read more from the author!...more
In an alternate historical Cairo that is filled with steampunk 12ft tall Angels, magic, and Djinn, a murder mystery unfolds with a queer, Black woman In an alternate historical Cairo that is filled with steampunk 12ft tall Angels, magic, and Djinn, a murder mystery unfolds with a queer, Black woman named Fatma who rocks a gentleman's suit, pocket watch, and cane leading the investigation. This story was wonderfully action-packed and filled with supernatural stuff and mysteries. All neatly packed into 50 pages!
I really think this is a great precursor to A Master of Djinn - which I am so excited to read now!. I absolutely adore Fatma's character and am so excited to learn more about her. I think the amount of character development done here in just 50 pages is truly impressive. I was instantly invested in this story. And the world-building was enough to navigate this short story without feeling bogged down. I need more. So, I'm so excited to continue in the Dead Djinn Universe!...more
TW: mention of suicide, mention of rape, animal death, death of a friend/loved one, abuse, violence, gore (this is a horror story)
Danielle Cain is a wTW: mention of suicide, mention of rape, animal death, death of a friend/loved one, abuse, violence, gore (this is a horror story)
Danielle Cain is a wanderer who makes her way to Freedom, Iowa looking for a reason behind her friend's recent death. These 120 pages hold such a dark, magical story. and in so few pages, this book touches on many important themes and discussions with such a racially diverse and queer cast.
- the importance of pronouns - living in the most powerful country in the world - distribution of power
- people's (and more specifically, figures of authority's) misuse of power but at its core, this is a book about imbalance. imbalance within ourselves, within our community, within our government, within our world. highly recommend, totally underhyped, from a trans author. im excited to read the sequel....more
so much nonbinary representation in this! the main character and many side characters. the story is following a tired, jaded tea monk and an eager, frso much nonbinary representation in this! the main character and many side characters. the story is following a tired, jaded tea monk and an eager, friendly robot who go on a trip together, trying to make sense of each others existence as well as their own.
this is a beautiful, soft, gentle little story about finding a purpose in life and coping with feeling lost and unsatisfied. it's a very character-driven, reflective, hopeful story and i highly recommend it!...more
This book was fucking perfection! It’s exactly what I look for in thrillers. It’s engaging, it screws with your mind, it has jaw-dropping reveals. ThiThis book was fucking perfection! It’s exactly what I look for in thrillers. It’s engaging, it screws with your mind, it has jaw-dropping reveals. This story focuses on two Black students at this elite, predominately white private school. Devon and Chiamaka are nominated for prefects. Everything seems great until Aces appear. Aces is an anonymous individual who begins to reveal dark, heavy secrets about both Devon and Chiamaka that could ruin them beyond just their school.
This book is the perfect example of great character development. The internal dialogue of both of our main characters really helps readers connect with them on a different level. They’re dealing with a lot at school obviously, but they also have a lot going on at home and in their lives outside of school. They deal a lot with just being Black in a white environment and how it’s not easy to navigate. Both characters and their stories and struggles broke my heart. The relationship between Devon and Chiamaka was a really interesting one as well. I liked how the author really showed how Black folks are not a monolith and just because these two characters are Black doesn’t mean they are going to be instant friends. They are very different people and their friendship develops in such a way that reflects that.
The pacing of this was great too! Very fast without feeling too fast. The creepiness factor is high too because what happens in this is not far off from what does and can happen in our real world. And of course, the added commentary in this on racism, classism, white privilege, and more was just on another level. perfection! ...more