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Light from Uncommon Stars

Ryka Aoki

First published September 2021
Type Novel

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. (taken from the OCLC entry for the first edition's first printing)

YearAwardCategoryStatus
2021 Goodreads Choice Awards Science Fiction Nominee/Finalist
2021 James Tiptree, Jr. Award / Otherwise Award Gender-bending SF Winner
2022 Dragon Award Best Fantasy Novel Nominee/Finalist
2022 Hugo Award Best Novel Runner-up
2022 Ignyte Award Best Novel - Adult Nominee/Finalist
2022 Locus Poll Award Best Fantasy Novel Nominee/Finalist
2022 Mythopoeic Award Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature Nominee/Finalist

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
September 2021 Cover Light from Uncommon Stars Tor Novel
September 2021 Cover Light from Uncommon Stars Tor Novel
September 2021 Cover Light from Uncommon Stars Macmillan Audio Novel
July 2022 Cover Light from Uncommon Stars Tor Novel
January 2024 Cover Das Licht ungewöhnlicher Sterne Heyne Novel 11