Narration annoying whispering and sibilance

I almost gave up on this because of the whispering nature of the narration. It was hard to hear and "S" was often very sibilant. On occasion, different characters would sound exactly the same.

I could not tell when scenes changed. Person A might say or think something. Then person B would be doing something immediately, as if they were part of the same event, when it was really a different place and time.

In fact I only stuck it out because I had paid for this hard to understand porridge.

The story was initially interesting. Concepts of alien doughnut store, violin teacher in hock to hell. But after a while that became a bit of a side issue. The trans character was fine, if a little shallow. It felt a bit shoehorned in.

From a potentially good story, this got to be a bit meh by halfway through. In fact, If a piano fell on the protagonist leaving the teacher and starship captain unhurt, this would have been a better book.

I know this was a Hugo nominated book, but I don't think I would have voted for it.

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Being trans makes you better at string instruments

I absolutely love this book. Cried like 15 times. Ordered myself a cello… Love u all

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Confusing

This book is odd. Usually that would be a compliment from me but I'm not so sure it is this time.
There were lots of great moments in this book but it suffered from a lack of focus which should have been on Katrina's and Shizuka's storylines (which I loved as a queer ex-violinist).
I am not sure the science fiction elements meshed at all well or were developed enough in this with the rest of the story. And yes, those parts were like Star Trek which is part of the problem. I reckon the author is likely a star trek fan and wanted to write something similar which is not a bad idea but should have been it's own book. Not a part of this one.
Overall I hope the author continues to write and develop. I certainly wouldnt mind reading more once some more development is had.

As for the narration, I enjoyed it but the recording was bad in some parts and I think at one point a small section was missing.

I cant cut the stars right down the middle so I'll round up for the cursed violin plot which I really enjoyed. But in my heart of hearts this is a 2.5 star experience

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Moving, inspiring and fuffilling

this story is 3 different things that shouldn't go to gether but when mixid in just the right way an amazing doughnut comes out.... I need to find an Alaska doughnut now!

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a story of our times

This was told for those who imagine what could be, what might be, and what is.

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1 person found this helpful

Made me cry, want to take up my old violin, and crave doughnuts simultaneously

A wonderful, heady blend of almost ridiculous supernatural and sci fi elements exploring ideas about the best and worst parts of humanity, identity, gender, and creativity... Which sounds very pretentious and it almost is but then you have [spoiler alerts from here on] a doughnut selling alien and a virtuoso with a pact with hell feeding the ducks. Yep, literally. There's a phenomenal sequence with Katrina near the end that absolutely floored me (in the best way).

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Absolutely gorgeous

This book is beautifully written. On the face of it, this shouldn't work. It's trying to do too much in too short a space, but if you make it through the first hour of doubt and uncertainty, you will read something magical.

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Donuts, and Daemons, and Runaways, oh my!

Good solid writing that that doesn't quite live up to its excellent premise, but still tells a wholesome story of love, loss, demonic performance.

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Star Trek meets cursed violins

Shizuka Satomi, world famous violin teacher, has delivered six violin prodigies to the devil who had willingly traded their souls for success, she has one more to find when Katrina, a trans runaway with a untapped talent crosses her path.
Shizuka meets Lan Tran, a starship captain with four children, escaping an interstellar war disguising her portal to the stars as a doughnut shop. Lan’s kindness enchants Shikuka and although she has a mission to break her curse she is drawn to the gentle Lan.
This is a difficult book to review, it is epic in scope, it has magic, cursed violins, demonic deals and found family worth fighting for. As Shizuka, Katrina and Lan’s lives become entangled the struggles they each have becomes defined. Shizuka wants to end her curse but as her heart is opened her view changes, Katrina has spent her life hiding who she is, running from a violent home and trying to find her path and identity, Lan wants to protect her family and crew from the war that rages in the stars but longs for connection and home.
It is a cursed violinist played out with an alien family and a transgender teenager all finding their way in modern day Los Angeles. At the root of this is a story of love, acceptance and family. The struggles of Katrina are not watered down, she is young but so jaded from the abuse she has suffered for being herself. This is art and music, good food and three women finding each other and themselves. It is so beautifully written, it just works, it is a joy to read. I listened to this on Audible and the narrator, Cindy Kay, is exceptional.
 
 

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An Interstellar Love Story with Donuts & Demons

Very absorbing, unusual premise, compelling characters, beautifully read. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

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1 person found this helpful