starrysteph's Reviews (471)

Reread January 2025 with book club!

I think I enjoyed the reflections on Earth and funding and nationalism and radicalization even more this time around (thinking about billionaires playing around in space while cities burn). And the messy mother-daughter relationship, though I didn't entirely love that conclusion.

Asuka's arc is still awesome, advanced immersive reality and AI with emotions (maybe?) is fascinating, and in general I love how much this book gave me to chew on. Beyond the actual plot and pages, I found myself brainstorming so much about what would happen afterwards and the elements we didn't see in the book.

An above-and-beyond space thriller for sure.

---

Get ready to send yourself into a tailspin as you try to unravel the truth in this fast-paced sci-fi thriller. 

It’s hard to be an avid thriller reader when so many of the plots feel recycled – but I found <i>The Deep Sky</i> to be fresh, engaging, and anxiety-inducing (that’s a compliment).

Asuka is a skilled crew member of The Phoenix, a ship carrying eighty young graduates of EvenStar, an elite academy created by a wealthy augmented reality tech inventor.  They’re meant to be humanity’s last hope: heading to Planet X and leaving environmentally-destroyed Earth in the dust.

All the crew has is each other (and their future generation of children). So when someone sets off a lethal bomb 11 years into their journey, nobody knows who they can really trust. Asuka - as the ship’s Alternate - takes on the investigation, but time is running out and the bomber may just try again.

The world-building is so well-done. Between the shifting world of tech, the complex political climate, the media frenzy that surrounds the young crew – it’s all captivating yet clearly laid out. And the stakes couldn’t be higher; the crew is fighting for their own survival, but also the survival of humanity.

The plot jumps back and forth through time. On one end, we’re following Asuka’s investigation of the terrorism on board. And that’s illuminated through past journeys: the crew’s training at EvenStar, Asuka’s strained relationship with her family, and the chain of circumstances that secured Asuka’s spot on The Phoenix.

I enjoyed exploring the themes of belonging, heritage, and imposter syndrome (there’s definitely an Among Us joke to be made here … someone should run with it). Different countries have selected representatives to populate Planet X, and Asuka is selected by Japan. She was mostly raised in the US and feels anxiety and doubt about her ability to claim Japan. Asuka also questions her abilities and her worth as a crew member - she’s loyal and honest and doesn’t puff herself up like some of her once-competitors and now-crewmates. There’s also some exploration of survivor’s guilt after the catastrophic bombing.

The relationships between crewmates were varied and complex, and there’s a really diverse set of characters here. The ship only launches with those who are able to bear children (mostly women, with some nonbinary and trans men characters as well) which created a fascinating dynamic. It was curious to me that everyone was totally cool and happy with expected pregnancy - when did they learn that aspect of the mission? Would that have been an interesting flashback scene?

I also wish that we’d been able to explore the onboard characters further within these 400 pages (we probably only get to know 8 or so of the 80 members) - I think spending a bit more time in the present would have solved this for me. Additionally, because our time in the investigation portion was limited, the red herrings became clear. But it’s all nuanced, and my interest in the culprit/motive never waned.

Things also went from bad to fatal REALLY quickly. It felt a little unrealistic for such a massively-funded project meant to be humanity’s chance of survival (like why are there no backups for some of the tech components of the ship?). But maybe that’s intended commentary.

It is dark, but cautiously optimistic. There’s a lot of thoughtfulness here around technology, trust, friendship, and family. There were moments of quiet hope as we watched this team sort through complicated issues and learn to rely on each other. And as we see them grow, maybe we can hold onto some hope for the larger community of Earth.

CW: death, miscarriage, fertility issues, pregnancy, terrorism, racism, gore, grief, fire, medical content, war, drowning
(also there is a reference to eugenics but the concept is not quite used correctly)

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

Wheww this one made me sweat!

Marcus is a young soldier with vitiligo – he’s left on his own after his adventurer parents go missing, his people mock him for his skin blemishes, and he’s just a norm in a world of Divines (superpowered humans). After a brutal attack on his village, Marcus feels survivor’s guilt and is ready for revenge. He soon learns that his skin may indicate huge power, and that the land he has been so loyal to might be planning something pretty terrible.

The world and lore were really unique & interesting, and the world-building felt natural. There’s a large cast of characters, but I never felt overwhelmed.

Marcus is definitely likeable and boy, does he go THROUGH IT! He learns a lot about himself, he’s starting to melt away his internal shame for his skin marks, and he’s slowly starting to form a circle of friends (and maybe romantic partners) that will actually have his back.

The plot is very fast-paced, and there’s a good central mystery with plenty of twists. There are a lot of battle scenes, and they’re messy! 

My stumbles were mainly around the writing style and uneven pacing. Everything that happened was interesting to me, but the flow of the story felt stilted and sentences themselves were sometimes a bit unnatural and choppy. The switching of tenses was a little awkward (especially when it would go back and forth within one chapter) and sometimes information was repeated again and again. 

As for the pacing, we’d spend pages and pages on small moments with a LOT of detail, and then battle scenes would fly by. Often, crucial things were left unresolved and the tension dissipated for me.

I’m curious to see where the gender segregated storyline will lead. Some of the language used to describe women was a little peculiar, so I’m hoping that all gets unpacked really well during the next book.

CW: death (parent/child), murder, violence, blood, gore, bullying, sexism, abandonment, torture, violence, war, genocide/mass murder

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

😭 ❤️

An interesting little novella - I loved that we were watching everything unfold in real time over the course of a single night.

Both Shera and Max are surrounded by the ghosts of past relationships, haunted by ways they were hurt and ways they were cruel. It’s an exploration of vulnerability, intimacy, and processing past pain in order to open yourself up to something new.

It’s simple and realistic, but all of the conflict is centered around exes and past flings, which is not really what I like to read about (and not necessarily the best way to start a potential new relationship). Both leads can also be a bit hard to like. I think they needed to go talk to professionals more than each other! 

Still kind of cutesy, still kind of tender, but a bit too cheesy at times for me. 

CW: infidelity, alcohol, panic attacks, sexual content

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

Fun & mischievous (and actually pretty dark, but we glossed over it) & sapphic reimagining of Harley Quinn inspired by Jekyll & Hyde. 

I really enjoyed the artwork. The plot was a bit slow, and the takeaways for young readers might be a bit confusing haha. Nice little bit of Jewish rep. Go lesbians! 

CW: child abuse, domestic abuse, medical content, biphobia, violence, murder (off-page), animal cruelty (testing)

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

WOW did this make me feel seen. 

Conditions of a Heart follows Brynn, who hides her chronic illnesses (EDS, POTS, MCAS) from the world. Her life looks sweet & ordinary from the outside - she’s popular, she has friends, she gets decent grades - but in truth she’s gritting her teeth and keeping everyone at a distance.

After a punch from a privileged douchebag leads to Brynn’s suspension from all senior life, she goes on a bit of a doom spiral and has to figure out what she really wants for herself. And her dream life may or may not include her ex-boyfriend, Oliver…

The disabled teenage perspective was absolutely perfect: vulnerable, honest, and funny. (If you’re chronically ill, you’ve got to have a great sense of humor. You’ve just GOT to.) The medical gaslighting and snide doctors were groan-inducing and deeply relatable, and Brynn’s paperwork reminded me of the FAQ binder I had started to put together as a teen to just stop engaging at whatever new specialist I was forced to see next.

The father-daughter relationship here was spectacular and also made me realize I haven’t read a lot of books with disabled main characters that also have disabled parents. Their banter and quips were the best, and he was also so kind and looked out for Brynn in ways that her mom couldn’t always comprehend or relate to. 

All of the family dynamics were interesting, but I wish there was more time spent healing Brynn’s relationship with her other two (able-bodied) family members. They often serve as (mild) antagonists who misunderstand Brynn’s needs, but both have shining moments towards the end and are genuinely trying. I just wish we had gotten to see more explicit conversations and gotten a little more insight into their lives and struggles. 

The romance was a little silly to me because Oliver talks like that most theatre kid to EVER theatre kid - it made me giggle, but I’m genuinely not sure if a young reader would have fun with it as well or just cringe. Also since they’re on the outs at the start of the book and we don’t get much insight into their previous relationship, the arc isn’t as satisfying as Brynn’s overall personal growth journey (and her journey with her family and letting her existing best friends into her life). 

There’s a bit of brief yet impactful discussion about how the world moved on swiftly post-pandemic (in the world of this book, COVID-19 was completely eradicated), but didn’t stop to consider who was included and who was promised safety. And how thoughtless side comments can have lasting, hurtful impacts. 

Overall, a beautiful read. 

CW: ableism, medical content, chronic illness, pandemic, classism, homophobia, bullying, grief, racism (brief mention - Brynn is Korean American and is reflecting on racist COVID-19 remarks)

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome superhero?! Say less! 

Kori is a kind rule follower and an introverted stargazer - who constantly finds herself clashing with her sister Kira. Kira is popular, she’s dating lazy and hot and kinda manipulative Tate Fairweather, and she won’t listen to anything Kori has to say about it.

When both sisters join a clinical trial to advance treatments for EDS, they each learn that the other is developing strange powers … and the Tate’s uncle’s pharmaceutical company might have more going on behind the scenes.

It’s a simple storyline. I loved the artwork and I loved Kori’s characterization, though it was hard not to feel frustrated and angry by the supporting antagonists, including her sister. 

Would definitely recommend for young readers & I always appreciate great chronic illness rep! 

CW: ableism, chronic illness, violence, medical content, classism, fire

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

An unsettling and eerie collection of three short stories – the first (Nails and Eyes) was so much stronger than the accompanying two, but I was still hungering for a more powerful conclusion.

Told in second person, a young woman moves in with her formerly secret lover and his young child after his wife’s tragic death. The three year old puts on an obedient and simplistic air, but is aware of much more than she lets on. Meanwhile, the young woman can barely see what is in front of her face (both literally and metaphorically) as the walls slowly close in …

Each of the stories had interesting and distinctive character work and heavy tension, but flitted away a little too easily for my tastes. I wanted a little more to dissect, and weighter climaxes and finales. 

Overall though, I enjoyed this writing style and appreciated the shivers these stories left behind.

CW: death (parent), infidelity, injury, sexual assault, body horror, bullying, animal death, child abuse

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

Heavyweight is a memoir, an exploration of family trauma & how our identities can shift from victims of hatred to upholders of colonial violence, and a diligently researched historical legacy.

Solomon Brager is fascinated by the story of their great-grandfather, a boxing champion - and the various threads of their family who both escaped and died in Nazi Germany. They’re wondering about what they carry in their own body and mind, and what it means when you contextualize the Holocaust among larger historical patterns.

So they decide to find out as much as they can, and deliver a hauntingly beautiful portrait of family mythology. We bounce between Brager’s modern day discoveries and commentary, conversations with their grandfather and recorded conversations with their great-grandmother, reimaginings of family stories & piercing together lore from documents, and beyond.

It’s a new type of reflection on the Shoah, and while this is definitely a personal story (and Brager’s family is absolutely fascinating), it offers challenges and guiding questions to every reader, Jewish or not.

The organization (both of the throughline and the placement of artwork and panels and text on each page) was a little bit hard to follow at times, and sometimes I had to retrace a few sentences and flip back and forth to the opening family tree to truly understand what was happening. 

I appreciated the vulnerability and the humor, and the strong anti-Zionist commentary. And the research was truly impressive (coming from someone who has struggled to find threads on so many of my ancestors). However, it often felt like we hopped from topic to topic without truly diving deep and chewing on the uneasy questions this memoir asks. 

CW: murder (parent/child), death, antisemitism, racism, slurs, violence, genocide, transphobia, queerphobia, classism, colonization, deportation, grief, terminal illness, war

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

An intense conclusion to an epic, bloody, and captivating fantasy duology.

I definitely felt what other reviews felt here – bummed at a condensed plot with very uneven pacing. I can see the bones of what this would have looked like as a full series, and I’m so sad that publishing took away that chance.

But there’s still lots to love. Ikenna grows SO much over these two books, and so do her relationships with the people who become her new family. There were quiet & thoughtful & nuanced conversations between some of the wildest battle scenes out there. All the conversations around systemic issues (racism and classism), how they could hope to reshape their world, and Ikenna’s personal growth & vulnerability were really nice to read. 

The battle scenes? Absolutely amazing. Who knew all the different ways blood could be used, spilled, and mutilated? 

The antagonists intrigued me as well. There are some standout villains, but there’s also a lot of juicy moral murkiness, and so many shades of gray. People grow, people stay stubbornly in the past, and people also betray those they are supposed to protect and care about. I wasn’t sure what to anticipate next.

There was too much silent communication between glances, lol. Nobody is THAT in sync.

It wasn’t exactly the ending I hoped for after how much I adored The Blood Trials (just SO MUCh chaotically crammed in without getting a chance to simmer), but this is still a duology I’d recommend.

CW: murder, death (parent/child), war, blood, racism, gore, sexual assault, slurs, misogyny, genocide, torture, guns, xenophobia, religious bigotry, fire, body horror, classism, kidnapping, vomit, sexual content

Follow me on social media for book recommendations!