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fictionalcass's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book!
This book was truly such a delight to experience. Even before the halfway point I knew it was going to be a stunner, and I was not disappointed!! It’s a book that is bringing so much to the table, and I found myself completely wanting to sink into the pages.
One of the things that makes this book shine is the cast of characters. We get to know Maya the best, as she is our protagonist, but the rest of the crew and her experiences with each of them adds so much depth to her character and each of the others as well. It’s a great ensemble that works so well together and they develop in a trajectory that makes sense and also feels rewarding. You simply cannot help but to root for the whole crew and if I’m being honest, I could read 20 more books about all of them.
I loved the high stakes heist quest style of the plot of this book. An adventure spanning across the universe to secure an ancient artifact? Oh, I was hooked SO fast. The conflicts were interesting and never felt too complex, and while the pace was fluctuating a lot at the end, it matched my emotional state as I was frantically turning pages to know what happened through the ending. It was extremely cool to see this kind of a take on a future of our world and the many endless options of what else could be out there.
Could not recommend this little space romp more, and will be eagerly picking up the copy of The Deep Sky I’ve let sit for too long as well as awaiting any future works. 5⭐️ from me!! Vibes were exactly what I look for in a book. 💯
danreadsitall's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Been a bit under the weather so let's read a story involving getting infected with some inconvenient recognition. I did not get any benifit from my cold.
"The Stardust Grail" by Yume Kitasei (out June 11, 2024) follows Maya Hoshimoto, a galactic art thief. Stealing from various places to return alien artifacts to their civilization of origin. But we are following her in grad school. With an old classmate as her advisor because she has been gone so long. But when her old partner, an alien that you can call a bit of a gregarious octopus, drops into orbit because of a possible lead to save xer species from extinction Maya has to take a leave of absence. Also steal a book from the uni that has further details on the lead. And the device they are looking for might be capable of preventing humanity from being cut off from the rest of galactic civilization, so yay ethical conundrum!
Narrated by Katherine Chin, fantastic work. The exasperation of being in academia and wanting to contribute really resonated through your voice. *flashbacks*
Reasons to read:
-That belongs in a museum...of the cultural of origin's care
-Delightful robot
-Really sweet reshaping technology
-A great ethical issue
-I enjoy when things go sideways for large organizations that just start blasting
Cons:
-I would have left my advisor there, no question
"The Stardust Grail" by Yume Kitasei (out June 11, 2024) follows Maya Hoshimoto, a galactic art thief. Stealing from various places to return alien artifacts to their civilization of origin. But we are following her in grad school. With an old classmate as her advisor because she has been gone so long. But when her old partner, an alien that you can call a bit of a gregarious octopus, drops into orbit because of a possible lead to save xer species from extinction Maya has to take a leave of absence. Also steal a book from the uni that has further details on the lead. And the device they are looking for might be capable of preventing humanity from being cut off from the rest of galactic civilization, so yay ethical conundrum!
Narrated by Katherine Chin, fantastic work. The exasperation of being in academia and wanting to contribute really resonated through your voice. *flashbacks*
Reasons to read:
-That belongs in a museum...of the cultural of origin's care
-Delightful robot
-Really sweet reshaping technology
-A great ethical issue
-I enjoy when things go sideways for large organizations that just start blasting
Cons:
-I would have left my advisor there, no question
whenimreading's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The Stardust Grail delivered an engrossing space heist adventure story I entirely devoured in a couple days. I loved pretty much everything about this book - the world building was fantastic and imaginative with super likable characters.
It was very fun to follow Maya, Auncle, Wil and, Medix on their interstellar space heist. The mystery of the grail and the history of Frenro made such an engaging plot that kept me guessing up until the end. Maya was a great MC, adding extra mystery with her visions, her shared history with Auncle was everything sweet I adored. I’m a sucker for wholesome and Auncle was hands down the best thing here, I loved their way of talking and thinking, it was very cute. Even Wil and Medix had heartfelt moments, and I like how the whole band had great chemistry.
Katherine Chin’s narration and delivery was superb. I loved the voices she created for the various species, especially Auncle and their unique way of speaking, like saying Maya’s name with elongated y’s, it added a charming quality that made me so happy.
All in, this is delightful and action packed, very much on the approachable sci-fi spectrum and I recommend it to fans of adventure and found family stories.
Thank you Flatiron Books for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the listening copy to review.
ash06's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed The Stardust Grail! I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator did an amazing job, especially with the different voices for each character. The story of Maya Hoshimoto, a skilled art thief turned reluctant hero, is both thrilling and immersive. The plot is packed with action, high stakes, and a fascinating blend of human and non-human characters. The narrator’s performance truly brought the characters to life and made the listening experience even more engaging.
When I wasn’t listening, I was constantly thinking about what would happen next. The book is not just entertaining but also thought-provoking, exploring themes of loyalty, morality, and the tough choices one has to make. The blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements is perfect, making it a must-read for fans of both genres. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and captivating adventure.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Publication date is set for June 11, 2024.
When I wasn’t listening, I was constantly thinking about what would happen next. The book is not just entertaining but also thought-provoking, exploring themes of loyalty, morality, and the tough choices one has to make. The blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements is perfect, making it a must-read for fans of both genres. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and captivating adventure.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Publication date is set for June 11, 2024.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Colonisation, War, and Genocide
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, and Chronic illness
Minor: Torture and Vomit
nicnackerz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
allthingseryn's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
gondorgirl's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What starts as collegiate scifi turns into a museum heist, and finally evolves into space horror. I'm not precisely sure how these things worked so well together, but they really did! The tension kept building, the hits kept coming, and I read that last third of the book whilst holding my breath. If you like emotional scifi with characters of questionable morality and a lot of action, check this one out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Gun violence, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Grief, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Torture, Violence, Bullying, Gore, and Chronic illness
kabrahams's review against another edition
4.5
(I received a free eAudio ARC from NetGalley for review purposes.)
Lately, I've been struggling to find a sci-fi audiobook that actually worked for me, and, thankfully, this one did! On the surface level, this is about an unlikely band coming together for an intergalactic heist, but below the surface it is so much more. What does it mean to belong? What does it mean to be a person and what if not all people are human? What should be risked for the greater good and when should that be set aside to save a friend?
Maya doesn't fit in on Earth or in her graduate program, so when an opportunity to help out an old friend and partner in crime arrises, she takes it. Uncle might be an alien who is sometimes hard to understand, but they have a special bond and need an ancient artifact to keep their species from extinction. To Maya's annoyance, she finds out that Uncle has also hired a crew that she thinks will only get in the way. Can they get along and survive long enough to find the Stardust Grail even as the stakes continue to rise?
Katherine Chin's narration is gripping and a great way to experience this fast-paced yet philosophical novel. I'm sort of surprised that this is a standalone, because it seemed like there is the possibility for more and I'm not ready to leave this fascinating world! Truly one of the best explorations of aliens and alien planets that I've encountered! Will have to read more by Yume Kitasei.
Lately, I've been struggling to find a sci-fi audiobook that actually worked for me, and, thankfully, this one did! On the surface level, this is about an unlikely band coming together for an intergalactic heist, but below the surface it is so much more. What does it mean to belong? What does it mean to be a person and what if not all people are human? What should be risked for the greater good and when should that be set aside to save a friend?
Maya doesn't fit in on Earth or in her graduate program, so when an opportunity to help out an old friend and partner in crime arrises, she takes it. Uncle might be an alien who is sometimes hard to understand, but they have a special bond and need an ancient artifact to keep their species from extinction. To Maya's annoyance, she finds out that Uncle has also hired a crew that she thinks will only get in the way. Can they get along and survive long enough to find the Stardust Grail even as the stakes continue to rise?
Katherine Chin's narration is gripping and a great way to experience this fast-paced yet philosophical novel. I'm sort of surprised that this is a standalone, because it seemed like there is the possibility for more and I'm not ready to leave this fascinating world! Truly one of the best explorations of aliens and alien planets that I've encountered! Will have to read more by Yume Kitasei.
annagwritesandreads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5/5 Stars
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and Yume for the advanced reader copy of this book!
General Description:
Maya Hoshimoto used to be an intergalactic thief. However, now she's in college, so she's changed her way. However, one object that would take her out of retirement would be the Stardust Grail, an object that her friend Auncle could use to have children and create nodes (the intergalactic airways). When a journal from a famous explorer is found, Maya feels the grail is closer than before. Then, her friend Auncle reappears and Maya knows it's time to officially find the grail. However, the government wants the grail too. Who will get to it first?
All the goods:
- Yume is SUCH a creative. I loved the world that was built and wish I could be as creative.
- Maya is such a great main character. She's quick witted, smart, and leads with her heart which I love.
- There are some twists in this book that had my jaw on the floor.
- I would read more about the side characters and other beings in this book. I was left wanting more stories from the universe but also felt the book tied up with a bow at the end, which is a weird feeling but I was very happy with it.
The loss of a star:
- This is definitely on me as a reader, but due to me needing to essentially see a movie in my head while I'm reading. Some of the places were just very hard to imagine in my mind and it took me out of the book a bit. Maybe if I went to space it'd be easier to imagine...oops.
Overall, Yume does it again with a great sci-fi book. I feel like any sci-fi fan needs to add Yume immediately to their TBR. If you're unsure about sci-fi, I think Yume's books are also accessible enough that they are great books to introduce you to the genre.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and Yume for the advanced reader copy of this book!
General Description:
Maya Hoshimoto used to be an intergalactic thief. However, now she's in college, so she's changed her way. However, one object that would take her out of retirement would be the Stardust Grail, an object that her friend Auncle could use to have children and create nodes (the intergalactic airways). When a journal from a famous explorer is found, Maya feels the grail is closer than before. Then, her friend Auncle reappears and Maya knows it's time to officially find the grail. However, the government wants the grail too. Who will get to it first?
All the goods:
- Yume is SUCH a creative. I loved the world that was built and wish I could be as creative.
- Maya is such a great main character. She's quick witted, smart, and leads with her heart which I love.
- There are some twists in this book that had my jaw on the floor.
- I would read more about the side characters and other beings in this book. I was left wanting more stories from the universe but also felt the book tied up with a bow at the end, which is a weird feeling but I was very happy with it.
The loss of a star:
- This is definitely on me as a reader, but due to me needing to essentially see a movie in my head while I'm reading. Some of the places were just very hard to imagine in my mind and it took me out of the book a bit. Maybe if I went to space it'd be easier to imagine...oops.
Overall, Yume does it again with a great sci-fi book. I feel like any sci-fi fan needs to add Yume immediately to their TBR. If you're unsure about sci-fi, I think Yume's books are also accessible enough that they are great books to introduce you to the genre.
bookspam's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0