Light From Uncommon Stars

Written by Ryka Aoki

Narrated by Cindy Kay

"Cindy Kay masterfully narrates this unique audiobook, which combines a variety of genres to tell a moving story of self-acceptance and finding safety even in the bleakest of times." - AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award review

Good Omens meets The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in Ryka Aoki's Light From Uncommon Stars, a defiantly joyful adventure set in California's San Gabriel Valley, with cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts.

Hugo Award Finalist
A National Bestseller
Indie Next Pick
New York Public Library Top 10 Book of 2021
A Kirkus Best Book of 2021
A Barnes & Noble Best Science Fiction Book of 2021
2022 Alex Award Winner
2022 Stonewall Book Award Winner

Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six.

When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She's found her final candidate.

But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline.

As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Sep 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250824479

Ryka Aoki

RYKA AOKI (she/her) is a poet, composer, teacher, and novelist. Her latest novel, Light From Uncommon Stars, was an Alex, SCKA, and Otherwise Award winner, and was also a finalist for the Hugo, Locus, and Ignyte Awards. Ryka is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist for her collections Seasonal Velocities, and Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul, and her first novel, He Mele a Hilo, was callled one of the "10 Best Books Set in Hawaii" by Bookriot. She has been recognized by the California State Senate for “extraordinary commitment to the visibility and well-being of Transgender people,” and her work has appeared or been recognized in publications including Vogue, Elle, Bustle, Autostraddle, PopSugar, and Buzzfeed, as well as the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. She was also honored to work with the American Association of Hiroshima Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors, where two of her compositions were adopted as the organization’s “songs of peace.” She has an MFA in creative writing from Cornell University, and is currently a professor of English at Santa Monica College.

Reviews for Light From Uncommon Stars

[Amy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful prose, interesting and beautifully chaotic story of what gives life meaning

[Shayna · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent audio production. The story itself dips in and out of extreme depth and levity. A beautifully woven and unexpected tale where every element that seems not to belong, belongs perfectly. Strange and delightful and heartwrenching.

[iam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely stunning. So heartfelt and hopeful despite being devastating at times. Fantastical yet mundane, and beautiful all the way throufh

[portal 11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a beautiful journey. I loved every part of it

[Abigail Cook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A stunning masterclass of worldbuilding, characters that are imperfect and realised in their peculiarities and a plot that keeps you wondering how can it all be alright in the end?
Marvellous.

Love is love
Trans rights are human rights
This too, will pass


~Abi

[Paul H · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was one of the best books I've enjoyed so far this year. The characters were all compelling, flawed and interesting. The drama and suspense was intense and the story had me absolutely hooked.

If you enjoyed Becky Chambers or Neil Gaimen, you'll definitely like this book that feels like a collaboration between those two amazing authors.

[Billie Muller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just gorgeous. Really uplifting and hopeful while still acknowledging the hurt we all face in our lives.

[Hannah Faber · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was one of the most unexpected and joyful stories I've read this year - it was delightful, heartfelt, sometimes painful but always with a touch of whimsy. The characters and the writing will stay with me for a long time. Could not recommend this more highly!

[Robin KD · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful. I loved this and the narrator was perfect

[Isabella Scucchi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely beautiful. I have no words other than that. I'm in tears.

[strilinga · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

all I want is doughnuts now. please provide some :)

[Tansy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful, moving, inspiring and heartfelt as well as really important social commentary. This is a fantastic book and is read perfectly.

[Mark Espina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was surprised at how much humor that was in this book. Really fun cast of characters and sumptuous descriptions of food

[luisarcenyc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book, it is a beautiful, moving, uplifting story.

[Jade Watts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really beautiful and just something else; great writing. I’ll be buying the physical book!

[Bontle Senne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Moving, funny, dreamy, and so rich with characters you feel you know like family by the end