4 stars
A fascinating blend of science fiction and the supernatural paired with romance, music, found family, and questions of what makes a legacy.
I really enjoyed the genre mixing. Donut-making aliens, deals with the Devil, and passion for music collide in such a unique way. Like the Béla Bartók piece that plays such a significant role in the novel, the book plays with the unexpected, unafraid to be itself even when others perceive its choices as mistaken notes.
Beautifully written. Aoki balances violent realities with heartfelt moments of acceptance, love, and true connection.
Because the novel tackles so many storylines and so many topics, I didn’t feel that all of them fully wrapped up. Particularly the Markus and Katrina storylines felt like they ended too ambiguously for the seriousness of topics they brought up.
Despite its beauty, there is quite a bit of violence including sexual assault, self harm, misgendering, racism, and transphobia. Through it all, Aoki focuses on creating safe spaces, showing acceptance, and spreading love.
Fantastically written. I’m impressed Aoki was able to keep all those storylines straight.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Just the right amount of weird with truly beautiful moments.