meghan21's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
that_bookaholic_gal's review against another edition
3.0
She stood in the dark room and ran her fingers over the worn spines of the books on the shelves. Each one filled with a story to love, but forbidden in her world. The invaders marched outside, foreboding, her very presence among these books could be a death sentence, but she couldn’t part with them. The books were too important.
The Sound of Stars follows Ellie, who is human and working on passing on her love for books to others even though all art is forbidden after the invasion of the Ilori. When an Ilori commander, Morris, finds her secret library she’s at risk of execution.
This book took me a long time to get into. It’s heavy on the sci-fi, which isn’t a genre I typically read, so I found myself a little lost at first to be honest. I also couldn’t fully connect with the characters, but enjoyed the storyline. I loved Alechia’s book, The Kindred, and will certainly read more of her books. This one just wasn’t a favorite.
If you’re a sci-fi fan, love books about books, and want a story with great LGBTQIA+ rep, then definitely check this one out.
The Sound of Stars follows Ellie, who is human and working on passing on her love for books to others even though all art is forbidden after the invasion of the Ilori. When an Ilori commander, Morris, finds her secret library she’s at risk of execution.
This book took me a long time to get into. It’s heavy on the sci-fi, which isn’t a genre I typically read, so I found myself a little lost at first to be honest. I also couldn’t fully connect with the characters, but enjoyed the storyline. I loved Alechia’s book, The Kindred, and will certainly read more of her books. This one just wasn’t a favorite.
If you’re a sci-fi fan, love books about books, and want a story with great LGBTQIA+ rep, then definitely check this one out.
pinkyrae's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death
aclopez6's review against another edition
2.0
There is a LOT going on with this book. Some readers will really thrive with it. Others, nope. Labmade aliens and vaccines that make you easier to enslave + pop music + romance = ???
karenavila85's review against another edition
DNF- only got to page 70 but was completely bored. The plot was so promising but I just couldn’t get into it.
bookdragonmel's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a LOT of things! A lot of exciting things! Love, aliens, books, music, an excellent sci-fi novel with loads of relevant content surrounding our Covid lives here in 2020, and the book came out BEFORE all the crazy!
nedge's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
thecontrarybookworm's review against another edition
It's a shame that I let the pretty cover go to my head. Everything about this book was weird: the whole alien takeover (and their names), the nonexistent plotline, the books and music . . . It felt like something out of one of my bad dreams.
It also felt really political - the random forced representation and other liberal thoughts thrown around just seemed really unnecessary.
For example, "Avrola has been his personal assistant and companion since youth. They are nonbinary, efficient, and far more sensible than he."
Being nonbinary is not a personality trait. It's super lame to introduce a character this way. Also, if Avi is supposedly an "inferior" alien who is constantly working for Morris, I would think they would have more to worry about than coming out as nonbinary . . .
Furthermore, a character can be referred to as they/them. No problem. But once you start being like "They're nonbinary! They're nonbinary!" it shows a lack of creativity and word choice on your part.
All of this being said, I didn't necessarily disagree completely with some of the ideology in the story. But it was super extra, and unfair to people who don't think the same way and just want to read a sci-fi story.
It also felt really political - the random forced representation and other liberal thoughts thrown around just seemed really unnecessary.
For example, "Avrola has been his personal assistant and companion since youth. They are nonbinary, efficient, and far more sensible than he."
Being nonbinary is not a personality trait. It's super lame to introduce a character this way. Also, if Avi is supposedly an "inferior" alien who is constantly working for Morris, I would think they would have more to worry about than coming out as nonbinary . . .
Furthermore, a character can be referred to as they/them. No problem. But once you start being like "They're nonbinary! They're nonbinary!" it shows a lack of creativity and word choice on your part.
All of this being said, I didn't necessarily disagree completely with some of the ideology in the story. But it was super extra, and unfair to people who don't think the same way and just want to read a sci-fi story.
nyx_transfem_of_the_night's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
emmandm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75