Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars is full of many of my favorite things from both life and literature.

There’s music and an exploration of genius. There are alien refugees. (Actual aliens, not “illegal aliens.”) There are demon contracts.

And did I mention the donuts?

Or the dozens of fabulous Asian dishes I now want to try?

The story follows a transgender music prodigy who is running from an abusive home to…a less than ideal situation. (This part is heartbreakingly realistic and could well trigger trauma responses in some people. It may not be best for very young people, unless they’ve got someone mature and safe to read and talk through this with.)

And, through the magic of the music, or just magic, this teen meets our other hero–who is running out of time to harvest the seventh soul she’s required to provide Hell to get out of her own (literal) deal with a devil.

If you’re looking for un-put-downable science fiction with amazing (of course, flawed) characters and lots to think about, consider Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars. I suspect you’ll like it as much as I did.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Feel like it’s not your cup of tea, but want another sci-fi recommendation? The Last Cuentista also has great characters–and great food. It avoids trigger issues, though, and is written for a younger audience.