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wordswritinstarlight's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book made me feel. Several distinct emotions, none of which I was necessarily expecting when I started it. First and foremost, a great space adventure, with a frankly…very believable take on humanity’s space-faring future (space!Amazon, for example) and the low-explanation type of sci-fi that’s easy and accessible even if you’re usually not a science fiction reader. Castor and Juno are incredibly sweet together, a great balance of genuine affection and being deeply horny for each other, which I tend to grade sapphic and trans romances on—whether or not they acknowledge that women can have a sex drive, and, in the case of trans characters, whether they’re allowed to have sexual contact without being an obvious fetish moment. Castor’s journey to giving a shit about the bigger picture is very believable without feeling preachy, and Juno’s moments of guilt and doubt were incredibly relatable after watching the news for the past few years.
Now, on the subject of emotions. I am a deep, dyed-in-the-wool cynic and this book made me feel…like…hope? Made me entertain the idea of hope? This was the first book I’ve literally ever read where the main character is a post-top-surgery nonbinary person, never mind being disabled, and it’s so unfamiliar that I don’t really know how to respond. I think the last time I saw a protagonist and went “oh, it’s me” to this extent was maybe Furiosa in Fury Road. Moreover, this book has a super realistic take on how resistance is hard and often costs lives, and that makes the moments of just…small resistances hit so much harder. There’s a ton of really good emotional beats in this book but for some reason the one that made me need to put the book over my face and collect myself wasa waiter in a restaurant slipping Castor and Juno a warning that the cops are coming. It’s such a nothing interaction with a character who isn’t even named and it broke me.
Final note: Gabe, you sound like you loved this book, why isn’t it 5 stars? The proofreading. Self-publishing means paying for your own editing and I totally get that, but people pay me money for editing and proofreading and I really struggled to un-see it. None of it is glaring, it’s all the kind of thing that naturally happens to everyone—missed letters, missing prepositions, that sort of typo. If you’re not, again, paid to notice it on the regular, it probably won’t even register. Olive, babe, hit me up for your next book and I will proofread it for you!!! Kick me $50 and being able to read it early and I’m your guy!!!
Recommended for anyone who says Rogue One for their favorite Star Wars movie, or anyone who loved Firefly when they were younger and then rewatched it more recently and went “😬.”
Now, on the subject of emotions. I am a deep, dyed-in-the-wool cynic and this book made me feel…like…hope? Made me entertain the idea of hope? This was the first book I’ve literally ever read where the main character is a post-top-surgery nonbinary person, never mind being disabled, and it’s so unfamiliar that I don’t really know how to respond. I think the last time I saw a protagonist and went “oh, it’s me” to this extent was maybe Furiosa in Fury Road. Moreover, this book has a super realistic take on how resistance is hard and often costs lives, and that makes the moments of just…small resistances hit so much harder. There’s a ton of really good emotional beats in this book but for some reason the one that made me need to put the book over my face and collect myself was
Final note: Gabe, you sound like you loved this book, why isn’t it 5 stars? The proofreading. Self-publishing means paying for your own editing and I totally get that, but people pay me money for editing and proofreading and I really struggled to un-see it. None of it is glaring, it’s all the kind of thing that naturally happens to everyone—missed letters, missing prepositions, that sort of typo. If you’re not, again, paid to notice it on the regular, it probably won’t even register. Olive, babe, hit me up for your next book and I will proofread it for you!!! Kick me $50 and being able to read it early and I’m your guy!!!
Recommended for anyone who says Rogue One for their favorite Star Wars movie, or anyone who loved Firefly when they were younger and then rewatched it more recently and went “😬.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings
the_vegan_bookworm's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a fun read! I loved the representation of a disabled and Autistic non-binary lesbian as our protagonist, and the hopefulness of taking on fascist politicians, corrupt businesses, violent police and far right agitators all at once. I think that this spoke of trans resilience and the ways we can create the revolution in a way that warmed my heart. I also felt the autism rep was great as an Autistic person.
Looking forward to the second book!
Looking forward to the second book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Car accident
izzyrbell's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Junker Seven is a very promising debut book! Its characters are highly loveable and revolution-inciting, making it easy to root for them along their fugitive romp through the stars.
The only major faults with this book were editorial in nature (some misspellings and clunky phrasings), but given that this is an indie published debut without the enormous resources of a traditionally published book, I'm willing to let those slide (especially since the story itself is great!)
Overall, this is a world I want to continue sinking my teeth into and a story I can't wait for the next installment of!
The only major faults with this book were editorial in nature (some misspellings and clunky phrasings), but given that this is an indie published debut without the enormous resources of a traditionally published book, I'm willing to let those slide (especially since the story itself is great!)
Overall, this is a world I want to continue sinking my teeth into and a story I can't wait for the next installment of!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Car accident
Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
madscientistcat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
fizzy_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
leilorenzo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was won in a Story graph giveaway.
Luckily, I loved it. I found the plot to be original, it is well paced, the characters are lovable, albeit a little young.
There's non-binary, autistic representation, LGBTQ rights and a frighteningly similar fight to defend them like in our world.
Set in a future where humans have made Earth uninhabitable, people still eff it up in other galaxies. There are also good people, and here we get to see their journey as they learn to expand their minds, embrace change and each other.
It is part of a series, so that's the only downside, you don't get it all in this book. However, there is some sort of closure.
Luckily, I loved it. I found the plot to be original, it is well paced, the characters are lovable, albeit a little young.
There's non-binary, autistic representation, LGBTQ rights and a frighteningly similar fight to defend them like in our world.
Set in a future where humans have made Earth uninhabitable, people still eff it up in other galaxies. There are also good people, and here we get to see their journey as they learn to expand their minds, embrace change and each other.
It is part of a series, so that's the only downside, you don't get it all in this book. However, there is some sort of closure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Deadnaming, Violence, and Vomit
irisestacansado's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Olive Kelley has debuted with an outstanding story of a disabled, autistic, nonbinary lesbian, in space. Taking contemporary issues of climate change, transphobia, homophobia, etc. and transporting them into the distant future shows us a glimpse into both our present and an alternative sci-fi future while maintaining a level of hope. Kelley challenges complacency, intentional or not, and highlights the intersections of marginalization and the ways people experience them, from Juno explicitly saying she's in a place of privilege because she has more money and is white to Junker/Castro saying they had the privilege of an upper middle class upbringing before their crash.
Every page of this book has something to further the characters and/or plot, leaving you always saying "Just *one* more page," even when you're in class or supposed to be going to bed or whatever else gets in the way of reading. While Junker starts with some serious flaws in this novel, they remain loveable from the start. I appreciate, as well, that Kelley doesn't insta-fix Junker - their changes come gradually and are not fully resolved by the end of the novel, because change is constant.
This is ultimately an uplifting novel, but balances well with the realities of end-stage, accepted bigotry. Death is given the space it needs, but doesn't drown out the hope and capacity this story's universe has for better. Junker Seven is the first of a duology, and I can't wait to read the next part.
Every page of this book has something to further the characters and/or plot, leaving you always saying "Just *one* more page," even when you're in class or supposed to be going to bed or whatever else gets in the way of reading. While Junker starts with some serious flaws in this novel, they remain loveable from the start. I appreciate, as well, that Kelley doesn't insta-fix Junker - their changes come gradually and are not fully resolved by the end of the novel, because change is constant.
This is ultimately an uplifting novel, but balances well with the realities of end-stage, accepted bigotry. Death is given the space it needs, but doesn't drown out the hope and capacity this story's universe has for better. Junker Seven is the first of a duology, and I can't wait to read the next part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Police brutality, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment