The novel does not shy away from the hardships that Katrina has suffered after running away from home – which, after all, reflect the experiences of so many real-life trans people. Here, we witness the feeling of having one’s cultural background discussed by one’s current social circle as an exoticised curiosity there, we find the harrowing experience of coming out as transgender to a family that views LGBT people as hellbound sinners. With its racially and sexually diverse cast, the novel paints not just a portrait of communal isolation and prejudice but an entire gallery wing. But for all of the froth and frivolity, Ryka Aoki’s story is also unflinching when it needs to be. It is hard to summarise the plot of Light From Uncommon Stars without making it sound like a thoroughly silly novel – and, yes, any book that contains dialogue like “Have you aligned the donut with the local continuum?” is a book unafraid to come across as a bit far-fetched.
And when Shizuka visits their restaurant, they begin to fear that she has picked up on their secret… The Tran family, who run a local donut restaurant, are secretly aliens on the run from an apocalyptic threat called the Endplague. But first, Shizuka must tutor this raw talent – all the while keeping her own conscience at bay.ĭemons, it transpires, are not the only otherworldly beings abroad in the world. Six of those souls have been dealt with, and with Katrina, a seventh is lined up. This monicker is more appropriate than might be expected, as Shizuka is in league with infernal powers: she has made a deal to procure seven souls for a demon named Tremon. She meets a woman named Shizuka Satomi, who previously coached six would-be musicians to stardom – only for each one to due young, thereby earning Shizuka the nickname of the Queen of Hell.
In Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, Katrina Nguyen is a young transgender woman who fled her abusive parents and hopes to pursue her passion as a violinist.
0 kommentar(er)
