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candidceillie's review against another edition
5.0
Where the Stars Rise is an entire collection of Asian science fiction and fantasy. S.B. Divya’s “Looking Up” made my heart ache in the best way. I don’t think I would have been as forgiving as Ayla was. I also really loved “My Left Hand” by Ruhan Zhao. The whole collection was stunning, though, and I highly recommend it!
redrocketpanda's review against another edition
5.0
Laksa Media Groups is back with another stunningly brilliant anthology and I was thrilled for them to immediately approve my request to read Where the Stars Rise after I read and reviewed their previous anthology - [b:The Sum of Us: Tales of the Bonded and Bound|34666135|The Sum Of Us Tales of the Bonded and Bound|Susan Forest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490236550s/34666135.jpg|55833943]. Science-fiction is one of my absolute favourite genres but it is so often dominated by white men whose main characters are bland white men with savior complexes. So when I saw Where the Stars Rise up for request on NetGalley I jumped at the opportunity last year. Sadly, I didn't make time for it when I should have but I am delighted to have read it for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
Where the Stars Rise starts with one request - "more diversity in our art, please" - and that's exactly what the anthology delivers. With 23 stories contained with its pages, many of which are #ownvoices, Where the Stars Rise stands proudly above the whitewashed sea of SFF and offers something unique, thought-provoking and packed full of stories that stay with you long after you've read them. Together the short stories band together to challenge Asian stereotypes, cliche's and tropes while exploring themes such as cultural tradition, complicated histories and uncertain futures, belonging and difference, and prejudice alongside a diverse array of characters from different cultures, sexualities, ages, disabilities, and citizenship status'.
As it offers so much, it would be difficult to talk about every single story in a way that does them any justice so I've chosen a varied selection from throughout the anthology to review individually.
Overall, I absolutely loved Where the Stars Rise. Like any anthology, there are always additions which I didn't like as much as the others or didn't feel that they fit well within the anthology as a whole but there wasn't a story that I would rate below 2 stars. On average most stories are definitely in the 3-5 star category, many of which I would love to revisit at a later date to read again. My favourites from the anthology include Szal's dataSultans, Back to Myan by Regina Kanyu Wang, Weaving Silk by Amanda Sun, and Old Souls by Fonda Lee.
Once again the biggest thank you ever to Laksa Media Groups for allowing me to read Where the Stars Rise in exchange for an honest review. I am a huge fan of their anthologies and can't wait to get my hands on their next one <3
Check out my full review of Where the Stars Rise on my blog!
Where the Stars Rise starts with one request - "more diversity in our art, please" - and that's exactly what the anthology delivers. With 23 stories contained with its pages, many of which are #ownvoices, Where the Stars Rise stands proudly above the whitewashed sea of SFF and offers something unique, thought-provoking and packed full of stories that stay with you long after you've read them. Together the short stories band together to challenge Asian stereotypes, cliche's and tropes while exploring themes such as cultural tradition, complicated histories and uncertain futures, belonging and difference, and prejudice alongside a diverse array of characters from different cultures, sexualities, ages, disabilities, and citizenship status'.
As it offers so much, it would be difficult to talk about every single story in a way that does them any justice so I've chosen a varied selection from throughout the anthology to review individually.
Overall, I absolutely loved Where the Stars Rise. Like any anthology, there are always additions which I didn't like as much as the others or didn't feel that they fit well within the anthology as a whole but there wasn't a story that I would rate below 2 stars. On average most stories are definitely in the 3-5 star category, many of which I would love to revisit at a later date to read again. My favourites from the anthology include Szal's dataSultans, Back to Myan by Regina Kanyu Wang, Weaving Silk by Amanda Sun, and Old Souls by Fonda Lee.
Once again the biggest thank you ever to Laksa Media Groups for allowing me to read Where the Stars Rise in exchange for an honest review. I am a huge fan of their anthologies and can't wait to get my hands on their next one <3
Check out my full review of Where the Stars Rise on my blog!
faerieontheshelf's review against another edition
4.0
↠ 4.5 stars
A highly enjoyable, interesting collection of Asian-inspired science-fiction and fantasy short stories. The introduction to this collection was really thought-provoking ("It's no real secret that when it comes to Asian culture in books, much of what remains in the forms of stereotypes, tropes, cliches” ) and also gave rise to the quote up top.
I was also very interested to read this in the wake of the controversy that arose when an editor told writer Leonard Chang his characters weren't Asian enough (see an article on this here) which I think demonstrates that diversity is still a battle we have to fight, especially when it comes to mainstream publishing.
In Where The Stars Rise, the stories differed enormously, allowing breadth of genre and narrative. The only author in this collection I'd heard of before was [a:Amanda Sun|4649677|Amanda Sun|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1349367928p2/4649677.jpg] because I've read one of her YA books. (Her story was brilliant; a post-apocalyptic Japan, cut off from the rest of the world, with themes of fear and hope). The others were all new to me. The stories they brought to this collection were wonderful and interesting, with blends of history and the supernatural; space opera and sci-fi; post-apocalyptic settings and many more. Admittedly, some I did prefer to others simply because the narrative content aligned more with my interests. All in all, though, a wonderful read.
"More variety in our books, more colour in our characters, more of all the things that shape the voices and hearts of both."
A highly enjoyable, interesting collection of Asian-inspired science-fiction and fantasy short stories. The introduction to this collection was really thought-provoking ("It's no real secret that when it comes to Asian culture in books, much of what remains in the forms of stereotypes, tropes, cliches” ) and also gave rise to the quote up top.
I was also very interested to read this in the wake of the controversy that arose when an editor told writer Leonard Chang his characters weren't Asian enough (see an article on this here) which I think demonstrates that diversity is still a battle we have to fight, especially when it comes to mainstream publishing.
In Where The Stars Rise, the stories differed enormously, allowing breadth of genre and narrative. The only author in this collection I'd heard of before was [a:Amanda Sun|4649677|Amanda Sun|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1349367928p2/4649677.jpg] because I've read one of her YA books. (Her story was brilliant; a post-apocalyptic Japan, cut off from the rest of the world, with themes of fear and hope). The others were all new to me. The stories they brought to this collection were wonderful and interesting, with blends of history and the supernatural; space opera and sci-fi; post-apocalyptic settings and many more. Admittedly, some I did prefer to others simply because the narrative content aligned more with my interests. All in all, though, a wonderful read.
deadgoodbookreviews's review against another edition
4.0
Full review up on my blog: https://chaininteraction.wordpress.com/2018/01/11/where-the-stars-rise-arc-book-review/
I’m always trying to read more diverse books. It’s no secret that I fail at this a lot. I am by no means an example of how to read diversely. I’m too easily caught up in the latest hyped up book to really focus my reading. It’s something I’m hoping to improve as 2018 goes on. But this anthology is an excellent example of why we need diverse books. The stories told in this compilation draw from themes and references that I couldn’t hope to have come in contact with in my Euro-centric lifestyle. It creates something vastly different from anything I have read before and almost all of these stories are pure excellence.
As with any anthology there are some that are better than others. There’s one that involves spider babies that most definitely set of my arachnophobia (which doesn’t make it a bad story it just left me feeling itchy all over). You only have to read the summary to see that this is a book utterly full of imagination and creativity. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a set of short stories. There’s the added bonus that some of the proceeds from sales will go to charity!
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I’m always trying to read more diverse books. It’s no secret that I fail at this a lot. I am by no means an example of how to read diversely. I’m too easily caught up in the latest hyped up book to really focus my reading. It’s something I’m hoping to improve as 2018 goes on. But this anthology is an excellent example of why we need diverse books. The stories told in this compilation draw from themes and references that I couldn’t hope to have come in contact with in my Euro-centric lifestyle. It creates something vastly different from anything I have read before and almost all of these stories are pure excellence.
As with any anthology there are some that are better than others. There’s one that involves spider babies that most definitely set of my arachnophobia (which doesn’t make it a bad story it just left me feeling itchy all over). You only have to read the summary to see that this is a book utterly full of imagination and creativity. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a set of short stories. There’s the added bonus that some of the proceeds from sales will go to charity!
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fabulous anthology that not only realizes its purpose, but also delivers a stunning speculative fiction collection. It is entertaining and fantastical. It was also affirming to see the diversity within.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-stars-rise-asian-science-fiction-fantasy-edited-lucas-k-law-derwin-mak/
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-stars-rise-asian-science-fiction-fantasy-edited-lucas-k-law-derwin-mak/
klibri's review against another edition
3.0
"Old Souls" by Fonda Lee is the strongest story in this collection
sarabook's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this, for the most part. As with most anthologies I've read, this was hit and miss. My favourite was Memoriam by Priya Sridhar. Overall however, they were pretty decent and varied and I love that the anthology itself is so diverse in Asian fantasy characters. Would recommend.
I enjoyed this, for the most part. As with most anthologies I've read, this was hit and miss. My favourite was Memoriam by Priya Sridhar. Overall however, they were pretty decent and varied and I love that the anthology itself is so diverse in Asian fantasy characters. Would recommend.
helensbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I very much enjoyed this short story collection. The stories are a mix of sci-fi and fantasy and there are some absolute gems in it. I have loads of authors now I want to read more of!
My favourite stories include Back to Myan by Regina Kanyu Wang, Weaving Silk by Amanda Sun, A Star is Born by Miki Dare, The Bridge of Dangerous Longings by Rati Mehrotra and Old Souls by Fonda Lee.
Back to Myan is pure sci-fi. A mermaid on an alien planet whose homeworld overheats. She is evacuated and her tail replaced with legs so that she can live on other planets.
Weaving Silk is a beautifully written story about two sisters trying to survive in a city after an earthquake killed their parents and cut the city off from the outside world.
In A Star is Born an old lady in a home has found a way to time travel back to earlier points of her life.
The Bridge of Dangerous Longings is an unusual story about a bridge that will kill you if you try to cross it.
Old Souls is a tale of reincarnation and a young woman who can not only remember her own previous lives but also see the past lives of everyone she comes into contact with.
There are a couple of stories that I didn't get on with, one that I just couldn't follow and one that I didn't get the point of, but overall the quality is very high.
I highly recommend this, it's an interesting and high-quality collection and it's probably going to be one of my favourite books of this year. I hope they make volume two soon!
I received a free copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.
My favourite stories include Back to Myan by Regina Kanyu Wang, Weaving Silk by Amanda Sun, A Star is Born by Miki Dare, The Bridge of Dangerous Longings by Rati Mehrotra and Old Souls by Fonda Lee.
Back to Myan is pure sci-fi. A mermaid on an alien planet whose homeworld overheats. She is evacuated and her tail replaced with legs so that she can live on other planets.
Weaving Silk is a beautifully written story about two sisters trying to survive in a city after an earthquake killed their parents and cut the city off from the outside world.
In A Star is Born an old lady in a home has found a way to time travel back to earlier points of her life.
The Bridge of Dangerous Longings is an unusual story about a bridge that will kill you if you try to cross it.
Old Souls is a tale of reincarnation and a young woman who can not only remember her own previous lives but also see the past lives of everyone she comes into contact with.
There are a couple of stories that I didn't get on with, one that I just couldn't follow and one that I didn't get the point of, but overall the quality is very high.
I highly recommend this, it's an interesting and high-quality collection and it's probably going to be one of my favourite books of this year. I hope they make volume two soon!
I received a free copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.
thebooktender's review against another edition
4.0
I'd say 80% of these stories were 3* or higher. Well done! There were literal mermaids, reincarnations, creepy-ass spiders, stories about grief, racism, kinship, oppression, and even superheroes! All either set in an Asian country (including West Asia... not always represented) or had an Asian main character. Truly loved it.
Received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.