[How it Works](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/) [Publishing](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/contact/) Log in or Sign up Light From Uncommon Stars Ryka Aoki Save to Your Books [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/84139/9781250789082) 100% of affiliate revenue supports Celestial Good Omens meets _The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet_ in Ryka Aoki's _Light From Uncommon Stars_, a defiantly joyful adventure set in California's San Gabriel Valley, with cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts. 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. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline. As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found. Show more Get the Bindery app * * * Posts about this title from Celestial [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Apr 15](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [which one convinced you the most? 🫨](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/cgweTFzZQ4N0wyWMuywm/) which one convinced you the most? 🫨 part twenty-three of one star goodreads reviews of books i enjoyed! 📚 books mentioned: \- On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah-Yah Scholfield \- No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull \- The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo \- Herculine by Grace Byron \- The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas \- Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan \- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt \- Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki 👗💄: \- eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite \- eyeshadow shimmer is Lucid Dream from Ourbella Cosmetics \- mascara is Highly Rated XL from Milani \- lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Shine-On Milky Lip Oil Jelly (Pistachio) from Tower28 \- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!) thank you to Saga Press and Little, Brown, and Co or the gifted copies! #onestarreviews #negativebookreview #goodreadsreviews #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @sagapressbooks @blackstonepublishing @henryholtbooks @berkleypub @littlebrown @eccobooks @torbooks . reading one star reviews of books i loved • recommending books using their negative goodreads reviews • 1 star book reviews • bookish humor • diverse books • Blackstone Publishing • Henry Holt & Co • Berkley Books • Ecco • Tor Books * * * 8 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Aug 16 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3kkfFJxjOg8Ox42WO3Ut/) what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!! 📚 books mentioned: \- The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente \- Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah \- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon \- The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei \- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone \- The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins \- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir \- Kindred by Octavia Butler \- The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark \- The Seep by Chana Porter \- Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki \- The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson \- The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart \- Sunrise: Radiant Stories by Erika Kobayashi thank you to Pantheon, Flatiron, Bindery, and Astra House for the gifted copies! #scifibooks #sciencefictionbooks #scifibookrecs #sciencefictionbookrecs #bestsciencefiction #FlatironPartner #binderybooks #celestial #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @tordotcompub @pantheonbooks @akashicbooks @flatiron\_books @sagapressbooks @bindery\_books @torbooks @beaconpress @titanbooks @delreybooks @ballantinebooks @astrahousebooks * * * 13 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Aug 9 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [who’s your greek godly parent? DEMIGOD BOOK RECS!!!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/qcI2UpUPUSXWJRR9RTVG/) who’s your greek godly parent? DEMIGOD BOOK RECS!!! 📚 books mentioned: \- Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott \- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki \- To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose thank you to Vintage for the gifted copy! #greekgodlyparent #demigod #percyjackson #greekgods #bookrecs #fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #scifibooks #scifibookrecs #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @ireadvintage @torbooks @delreybooks * * * 3 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • May 1 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [you never know how a magical bargain will end …](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/XHrXJIt3mbT6fluSiGtd/) you never know how a magical bargain will end … 📚 books mentioned: \- I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea \- Death’s Country by R.M. Romero \- Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki thank you to Peachtree Teen for the gifted copy! #horrorbooks #fantasybooks #darkfantasybooks #fantasyhorrorbooks #magicalbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @fiercereads @peachtreeteen @torbooks * * * 3 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Mar 9 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [30+ trans & nonbinary book recs \| trans rights readathon 2025 prep!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2R9lRBsd146BIun8UfBo/) feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!! let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm. ☆ featured links ☆ official trans rights readathon website (with TONS of resources): https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/ PLEASE sign up here to be included in the data: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/2025-trans-rights-readathon 💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/ ☆ everything I mentioned (in order) ↓ \- Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi \- Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi \- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi \- Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi \- The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi \- You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi \- Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi \- Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi \- The Deep by Rivers Solomon \- Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon \- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon \- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White \- The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White \- Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White \- The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros \- Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros \- Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros \- Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros \- The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey \- Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey \- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas \- The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas \- Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas \- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki \- Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison \- Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager \- The Seep by Chana Porter \- The Devourers by Indra Das \- The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson \- The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia \- Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo \- Station Six by S.J. Klapecki \- Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley \- Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto ↓ find me in more places ↓ 🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph 📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph 🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social 📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph 📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph 💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com more: https://beacons.ai/starrysteph ☆ resources ☆ 🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/ 🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/ 🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/ * * * 34 books 1 [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jan 25 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [trans book recs](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3xa2rpvoOEER7fWslYBN/) queer voices and stories matter and these ones (just a tiny selection of trans and nonbinary books i’ve read & loved) are phenomenal! 📚 books mentioned: \- Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto \- Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde \- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White \- The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas \- Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley \- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki \- The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth \- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon \- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi \- The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw \- The Stars Undying by Emery Robin #horrorbooks #scifibooks #fantasybooks #transbooks #nonbinarybooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #nycbooktok #bookstagram @harpervoyagerus @riverheadbooks @peachtreeteen @fiercereads @torbooks @titanbooks @akashicbooks @randomhousekids @faberbooks.us @tornightfire @orbitbooks\_us * * * 11 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Dec 5 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [book gifts for sci fi lovers](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/LNY3l3aKPLb9v946PnBS/) book recs to gift your sci fi loving reader friends! 📚 books mentioned: \- The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei \- The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson \- The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark \- The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar \- Singer Distance by Ethan Chatagnier \- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki \- The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente \- The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart #scifibooks #scifibookrecs #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram * * * 8 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Oct 10 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [recommending books that charles rated 1 star](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/adytStVZTG5xpq2efImC/) let's battle charles & celebrate queer lit together! (if you don't know who Charles is ... keep watching!) * * * 5 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Sep 21 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) ["booktok destroyed literature!"](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/RGlhkzSfTCN48oidpTJ6/) i know that it sometimes feels like you’re struggling against the tide, but your feed is what you make it! here’s a little reset for you all the same. * * * 20 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Aug 21 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [green flag books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/OXgGXo3X1ANu6UbEzfuY/) omg how many books did i even pull for this?? i would have more if i owned physical copies of more of my faves! 🟩 green flag books! * * * 20 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jun 24 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [musical theatre moment book recs](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/tNVEJfLChZQ3qjAUGFEu/) 🎭 book recs … inspired by musical theatre moments (part 2)! drop your favorite Broadway moments (the ones that give you chills) in the comments. * * * 3 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jun 8 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [you’ll LOVE these sapphic sci fi picks ✨ 🪐](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/r796JhEg35n2bMaYl8va/) this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar and max gladstone is my favorite book, so i’m a little biased. but if you want an ABOVE AND BEYOND love story, this is the one, okay? you’ll spend a lot of time trying to figure out how 3 very different stories connect in light from uncommon stars by ryka aoki, but when you do, you’ll ADORE it. even though the ending is lovely, this book has some dark and triggering content so please take care before reading. * * * 2 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • May 12 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [my 3 favorite queer sci fi & fantasy books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/dlrMVJizoH8zPh7ugdOR/) * * * 3 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Mar 19 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [one star reviews of books i loved!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/kg1L1O4H9lN6b752pxFX/) which one convinced you the most? 😈 part seven of one star goodreads reviews of books i enjoyed! Trans Rights Readathon edition! * * * 7 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Mar 13 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [trans\* sci fi books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2elXclerEQSID4tXp7dv/) are you a sci fi lover? i hope you check out these amazing reads either way! * * * 4 books Posts about this book from across Bindery [The Inky Phoenix\\ \\ Kathryn Budig\\ \\ • Jun 5](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Happy Pride from The Inky Phoenix! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/C8tMc4nG0Fvf0AJ3XhVi/) Some of our favorite LGBTQ+ books and authors * * * 16 books 1 [2](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/C8tMc4nG0Fvf0AJ3XhVi/#comments) [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • May 26](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/WMfXdCniXxjvfp6781gp/) [June Book Club Voting](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/WMfXdCniXxjvfp6781gp/) * * * 4 books 1 [2](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/item/WMfXdCniXxjvfp6781gp/#comments) [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Apr 15](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [which one convinced you the most? 🫨](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/cgweTFzZQ4N0wyWMuywm/) which one convinced you the most? 🫨 part twenty-three of one star goodreads reviews of books i enjoyed! thank you to Saga Press and Little, Brown, and Co or the gifted copies! . * * * 8 books [Wanderland Reads\\ \\ Sayer\\ \\ • Mar 16](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Sapphic Speculative Fiction Expands the Imagination\\ \\ Many people approach queer romance through familiar frameworks. Modern settings. Recognizable social rules. Families that resemble the structures most of us grew up around. I wrote about this a week or two ago, about looking beyond contemporary romance for great sapphic stories.\\ \\ Those stories matter. They reflect lived experience and present-day struggles.\\ \\ Yet some of the most thought-provoking sapphic stories appear in places where the rules look completely different.\\ \\ Speculative fiction offers writers a simple but radical tool. The ability to ask what happens when the world operates under different assumptions?\\ \\ What happens when gender does not function the way our societies expect?\\ \\ What happens when colonial hierarchies collapse or never existed in the first place?\\ \\ What happens when family and community follow different structures?\\ \\ **Sapphic speculative fiction thrives in these questions.**\\ \\ What counts as speculative fiction?\\ \\ Speculative fiction serves as an umbrella term for stories that imagine worlds different from our own.\\ \\ Fantasy explores magic, mythology, and alternate societies.\\ \\ Science fiction looks at future technology, space exploration, and evolving social systems.\\ \\ Alternate history reimagines historical timelines.\\ \\ Dystopian and utopian fiction examine political systems taken to extreme outcomes.\\ \\ Magical realism blends ordinary life with elements that challenge reality.\\ \\ All of these genres share a common feature. They build worlds where the assumptions we treat as natural begin to shift.\\ \\ When those foundations move, storytelling changes.\\ \\ **Reimagining gender systems**\\ \\ Many speculative worlds question the rigid gender frameworks common in contemporary culture.\\ \\ Some settings include fluid understandings of gender. Others remove the strict gender hierarchy. Some societies organize identity through entirely different categories.\\ \\ When gender works differently, relationships evolve as well.\\ \\ Characters express attraction without the scripts that dominate many romance narratives. Partnerships develop around compatibility, trust, or shared goals rather than predetermined roles.\\ \\ For readers, this shift opens new ways of thinking about identity and connection.\\ \\ **Challenging colonial power structures**\\ \\ Speculative fiction often explores empire, conquest, and resistance.\\ \\ Many worlds center characters fighting against oppressive systems or rebuilding communities after political collapse. Some stories draw inspiration from Indigenous traditions or non-Western perspectives to imagine societies structured around different values.\\ \\ Within these settings, sapphic characters frequently appear as leaders, rebels, scholars, or explorers. Their relationships unfold inside larger struggles over power, survival, and cultural memory.\\ \\ Love does not exist in isolation. It grows alongside questions about justice, resistance, and the future of entire communities.\\ \\ **Rethinking family and community**\\ \\ Another striking feature of speculative fiction involves how stories approach family.\\ \\ The nuclear family model rarely stands as the only option. Characters often live within chosen families, cooperative communities, traveling crews, or political alliances.\\ \\ Romantic relationships exist inside these broader networks of care.\\ \\ Two people falling in love may also share responsibilities to their crew, their village, or their resistance movement. Partnership becomes part of a wider web of loyalty and support.\\ \\ For many readers, this structure feels both imaginative and deeply familiar.\\ \\ Common tropes in sapphic speculative fiction\\ \\ Speculative fiction combines romance with adventure and conflict. Certain narrative patterns recur.\\ \\ A princess guarded by a loyal warrior or knight who begins to question her duty.\\ \\ Rival soldiers from opposing factions are forced to work together.\\ \\ A scholar and a fighter navigating a dangerous quest.\\ \\ Political enemies are forming uneasy alliances during a rebellion.\\ \\ Explorers encounter unfamiliar worlds and build trust through survival.\\ \\ These tropes create tension, intimacy, and emotional growth while the larger story unfolds.\\ \\ **Why these stories expand the imagination**\\ \\ Speculative fiction does more than entertain. It shifts perspective.\\ \\ When readers step into worlds built on different assumptions, the systems shaping their own lives become visible. Gender roles, political hierarchies, and family structures reveal themselves as historical constructs rather than permanent truths.\\ \\ Sapphic speculative fiction takes this imaginative shift even further.\\ \\ Queer women appear not as side characters but as central figures in the story of the world itself. They lead revolutions. Build communities. Explore unknown territories. Fall in love while reshaping the societies around them.\\ \\ These stories ask readers to imagine something larger than representation.\\ \\ They ask us to imagine entirely different ways people live together.\\ \\ An invitation to explore\\ \\ If you have not spent time with sapphic speculative fiction, consider this an invitation.\\ \\ Explore fantasy worlds where magic reshapes power.\\ \\ Read science fiction that questions identity in future societies.\\ \\ Look for stories where love grows alongside resistance, exploration, and discovery.\\ \\ These books stretch the imagination in ways that linger long after the final page.\\ \\ I am especially interested in reading more sapphic speculative fiction this year.\\ \\ Which books expanded your worldview?\\ \\ Which stories stayed with you long after you finished them?\\ \\ Here is a list of books I've read and books on my TBR!\\ \\ \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/dC3Z6zlKg411NPzu2Wgr/) [Worlds Where Sapphic Stories Rewrite the Rules](https://wanderlandreads.binderybooks.com/item/dC3Z6zlKg411NPzu2Wgr/) * * * 26 books 3 [Ronnica Reads\\ \\ Ronnica Fatt\\ \\ • Feb 26](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Poll:\\ \\ Which of these titles are you interested in for the Leans Literary book club?\\ \\ I've already announced that the Leans Literary book club (which you're a part of if you are reading this...if you want to be!) will be reading **_Good People_ by Patmeena Sabit** in April. \\ \\ But I know how hard it can be to get your hands on books sometimes, so I want to go ahead and make up a calendar for the rest of the year. \\ \\ Taking a look at my shelves, the below titles are books I think would be a good fit that I have already read. Feel free to suggest other titles as well.\\ \\ **The Leans Literary book club will focus on genre fiction** (sci fi, horror, dystopian, dark academia, etc) **written by marginalized authors that has literary character-development and/or themes**. We'll probably shy away from fantasy, as it's not generally my favorite, and I feel like there are already a lot of good book clubs out there focused on fantasy.\\ \\ Join for free or login](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/item/X5oIbwffHsB6y5qkdmvo/) [What Do You Want to Read Together?](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/item/X5oIbwffHsB6y5qkdmvo/) * * * 11 books 2 [1](https://ronnicareads.binderybooks.com/item/X5oIbwffHsB6y5qkdmvo/#comments) [Alyssa’s Library\\ \\ alyssa\\ \\ • Sep 29 2025](https://alyssaslibrary.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [in honour of a certain book coming out and just the state of the world, here are some books with trans, non-binary, and genderqueer characters that you should read. it’s so incredibly important to continue to uplift these voices and i hope you all enjoy these and feel free to comment some more recommendations!\\ \\ **fantasy & sci-fi**\\ \- the spirit bares its teeth / compound fracture by andrew joseph white\\ \- the unbroken by c. l. clark\\ \- the blighted stars by megan e. o’keefe\\ \- pet by akwaeke emezi\\ \- faebound / the final strife by saara el-artifi\\ \- these burning stars by bethany jacobs\\ \- she who became the sun by shelley parker-chan\\ \- lakelore by anna marie-mclemore\\ \- hammajang luck by makana yamamtao\\ \- the witch king by h. e edgmon \\ \- the city beautiful by aden polydorous\\ \\ -her majesty’s royal coven by juno dawson\\ \\ -light from uncommon stars by ryka aoki\\ \- a bone in his teeth by kellen graves\\ \\ -brighter than scale swifter than flame by neon yang\\ \\ -mistress of lies by k m enright\\ \\ -cemerety boys / the sunbearer trails by aiden thomas\\ \\ -sorrowland by rivers solomon\\ \\ -seven devils by laura lam and elizabeth may\\ \\ **romance**\\ \- a gentlemans gentleman by tj alexander \\ \- make room for love by darcy liao\\ \- love & other disasters by anita kelly\\ \- i wish you all the best by mason deaver\\ \\ -felix ever after by kacen callender](https://alyssaslibrary.binderybooks.com/item/xvcngUfXw6yPpEccQhga/) [TRANS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS](https://alyssaslibrary.binderybooks.com/item/xvcngUfXw6yPpEccQhga/) * * * 27 books 9 [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Aug 16 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3kkfFJxjOg8Ox42WO3Ut/) what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!! thank you to Pantheon, Flatiron, Bindery, and Astra House for the gifted copies! * * * 13 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Aug 9 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [who’s your greek godly parent? DEMIGOD BOOK RECS!!!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/qcI2UpUPUSXWJRR9RTVG/) who’s your greek godly parent? DEMIGOD BOOK RECS!!! 📚 books mentioned: \- Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott \- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki \- To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose thank you to Vintage for the gifted copy! * * * 3 books [The Inky Phoenix\\ \\ Kathryn Budig\\ \\ • May 15 2025](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [We’re celebrating AAPI Heritage Month!](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/heYRV208yaxylRTXACHw/) ... with our amazing AAPI Inky Phoenix authors with a fun little game! * * * 7 books 5 [2](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/heYRV208yaxylRTXACHw/#comments) [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • May 1 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [you never know how a magical bargain will end …](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/XHrXJIt3mbT6fluSiGtd/) you never know how a magical bargain will end … 📚 books mentioned: \- I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea \- Death’s Country by R.M. Romero \- Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki thank you to Peachtree Teen for the gifted copy! #horrorbooks #fantasybooks #darkfantasybooks #fantasyhorrorbooks #magicalbooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @fiercereads @peachtreeteen @torbooks * * * 3 books [Tattooed Bibliophiles\\ \\ Zee\\ \\ • Mar 21 2025](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ As I lay here in bed, cozy with my family all tucked into their warm beds, my mind can't help but drift to the trans kids who aren’t as lucky. Whether they’re stuck under the roof of unsafe people, trapped in a family that won't accept them, living on the streets, in a country hell-bent on demonizing them—these kids aren’t safe. They’re not warm, they’re not happy, and that just _devastates_ me.\\ \\ Earlier today, I posted a video with one book for the Trans Rights Readathon because, frankly, I don’t have the spoons to get into it with all the trolls and bigots on these apps. Instagram’s a dumpster fire, TikTok’s gone through more transformations than a changeling, and let’s be real—the thing that was supposed to be a safe space for millions is now quietly shifting gears to help the billionaires. But tonight, as I lie awake thinking about my trans neighbors, I know I have to dig deeper. I must find the spoons, even if they’re buried under the weight of it all. Because here’s the thing: this is how it always starts. Nazis didn’t just go after Jews—they came for trans, gay, and disabled people first.\\ \\ I’m terrified. Not just for _trans people_, but for all of us. The thing that terrifies me most isn’t just the rise of hate, but the _silence_ from people who won’t stand up until it directly affects them. By the time it does, it’s already too late. That’s the road to ruin, and I refuse to walk it.\\ \\ So, I’m vowing right now to find the spoons. To dig deeper. To fight tooth and nail, because, quite frankly, this is the _only_ thing that matters now. Not my survival—but everyone’s survival.\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ **Fighting the Good Fight: The Trans Rights Readathon** \\ \\ And in that spirit, I’m throwing my full weight behind the Trans Rights Readathon. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an annual call to action for readers to uplift books written by or about trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender-nonconforming authors and characters, in honor of Trans Day of Visibility on March 31st. From March 21 onward, the goal is to read, amplify, and, of course, raise funds for causes that support the trans community. This year, I’m aiming to raise $400–$500 for _Point of Pride_, an amazing organization that provides financial support for trans folks in need of health and wellness care.\\ \\ If you want to join me in this mission, subscribe to any of my paid tiers this month, and all of my proceeds will go directly to Point of Pride. After this month, you can drop back down to the free tier—I get it, times are tough right now.\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ **Privilege, Self-Care, and the Fight for Marginalized Voices** \\ \\ I want to take a moment to acknowledge my privilege. I’ve got a job that feeds my family comfortably, and trust me, I don’t take it for granted. (And let’s be real, this job is thanks to DEI initiatives—yep, white women benefit from affirmative action the MOST.) This platform, though, this is my side gig. My hobby. My self-care. It’s where I can channel all the rage and frustration and _do something_ to push back against the hate machine. Everything I make from this goes right back into promoting marginalized authors. Sometimes that’s buying books by marginalized authors to read and review, and sometimes it’s donations to other Bindery creators like @michael.laborn and @fromthemixedupdesk. One day, I hope to fund a marginalized sci-fi author’s audiobook or help with marketing costs. This month? It’s going to Point of Pride.\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ **The Fight for Independent Bookstores and More** \\ \\ As an extra incentive to subscribe this month, EVERY subscriber, both paid and free, will be entered into a giveaway for a **$50 gift card to** **_Bookshop.org_**, an online bookstore that supports independent booksellers—the true rebels fighting for their lives against the Amazon empire. If you’re not down with the corporate machine, this is where you want your book money to go. (Or if you're an audio nerd like me, Libro.fm is a great resource!)\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ **Read for Trans Rights, Read for All of Us** \\ \\ Trans people are people. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not reading books by trans, queer, disabled, Black, Brown, and Indigenous authors and featuring those characters _all year long_, what the hell are you doing? Reading about people who aren’t like you _expands_ your world. It helps you see things from their perspective, helps you walk a mile in their shoes. And guess what? That’s the real reason people want to ban these books. They can’t stand it when we normalize the humanity of trans, queer, and marginalized folks. They need us to stay divided, to dehumanize, and they need it to feel powerful. And they need to convince you that queer people aren’t _real_ people so they can justify their bigotry. Because the billionaires are making them feel powerless and those billionaires know it - so they create media to point the hate of the weak minded at the marginalized. \\ \\ But we _see through it_. We know better. So read, keep reading, and lift up these voices. We’re not just reading for the plot—we’re reading for justice. We’re reading to smash the system that thrives on hate.\\ \\ As always: _FUCK NAZIS_, fight the system, and be the revolution. Read books by trans authors, with trans characters. Keep pushing back against the machine. This is _our_ fight, and we’re not backing down.\\ \\ K thanks, byeeee. ✌️](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/hPWnorEWov8dRCkKlEgV/) [Rage Against the Machine: Read Sci-fi Books for the Trans Rights Read-a-Thon](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/hPWnorEWov8dRCkKlEgV/) * * * 6 books 3 [Written Reveries\\ \\ Krystal\\ \\ • Mar 21 2025](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Trans Rights Readathon 2025 Recs & TBR](https://writtenreveries.binderybooks.com/item/MMqHwbxBRNPhhXWqJW66/) Trans Rights Readathon 2025 Recs: A Psalm For the Wild Built & A Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers Pet & Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi Light From Uncommon Stars Ryka Aoki Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi House of Frank by Kay Synclaire The Deep by Rivers Solomon Legendborn by Tracy Deonn The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez TBR: Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi Model Home by Rivers Solomon She Who Became the Sun and He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto The Unbroken by C. L. Clark #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookstagram * * * 21 books 4 [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Mar 9 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [30+ trans & nonbinary book recs \| trans rights readathon 2025 prep!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2R9lRBsd146BIun8UfBo/) feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!! let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm. * * * 34 books 1 [The Inky Phoenix\\ \\ Kathryn Budig\\ \\ • Feb 14 2025](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Love, but make it messy. 😈](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/Q5CxukB8J5SdpSVYQJrZ/) A list of our favorite “romances” from Inky Phoenix titles for people who don’t do romance. * * * 5 books 3 [1](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/Q5CxukB8J5SdpSVYQJrZ/#comments) [Tattooed Bibliophiles\\ \\ Zee\\ \\ • Feb 4 2025](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [If you, like me, have been avidly fascinated by Chels (chels\_ebooks) who talks about romance novel covers and their history, you might find the topic of science fiction book covers _a whole other beast_. But equally fascinating I think. While your run-of-the-mill contemporary paperback might showcase a happy couple in front of a sunset (yawn), sci-fi covers have the audacity to feature sandworms the size of skyscrapers, robots with more feelings than you, and dystopian landscapes that look like someone spilled neon paint all over a decaying city. Seriously, it’s like the genre’s motto is “Go big or go home,” with the _big_ being some weird alien overlord and the _home_ being a planet on the brink of destruction.\\ \\ But here’s the kicker: While these covers were once crafted by actual artists (remember those?), now the shiny future of science fiction covers involves... _AI_. Yes, you heard that right. Instead of talented, living, breathing humans, AI tools are being handed the reigns to create cover art. And if you’ve ever wondered what happens when you give an algorithm access to the entirety of the internet, the answer is _terrifying_. But before I dive too deep into my existential rage about the dehumanization of creativity, let’s take a nostalgic stroll through the _actual_ science fiction covers that made this genre _legendary_—because, let’s face it, those robots didn’t create themselves.\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ ****The Early Days: Frankenstein and the "What Even Is a Cover?" Era**** \\ \\ Let’s kick things off with _Frankenstein_ by Mary Shelley. First, Mary is the mother of sci-fi. Mansplainers begone. Now, we know the 1931 Boris Karloff film version of the monster had some serious visual impact, but the first edition of _Frankenstein_ in 1818? Nah, no fancy illustrations for you. That first cover was about as exciting as a bag of stale chips—literally what does this cover even have to do with the story?! But as time went on, the covers slowly became as dramatic as the story itself—complete with ghastly depictions of a stitched-together monster. If you ever feel like your life is falling apart, just remember—at least you're not a misunderstood monster who can't catch a break, right?\\ \\ \\ \\ Here's a sideline shot of my favorite Frankenstein cover btw, it's not even technically collectible, you can find it anywhere, but it's so bold and pulpy and can't you just feel his ANGST?! We've really come a loooong way since 1818!\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ ****The 1900s: The Golden Age of Sci-Fi Covers (Sort of)**** \\ \\ \\ \\ Fast forward to the early 20th century, and suddenly, we’re _really_ getting somewhere with sci-fi covers. H.G. Wells and other legends were cranking out some wild, futuristic adventures, and the artists were _truly_ flexing their creative muscles. A lot of early science fiction was initially published in pulp magazines like _Amazing Stories_ (launched in 1926), which featured colorful, eye-catching covers to capture the imagination of readers. Artists like Frank R. Paul were pioneers in illustrating futuristic cities, rocket ships, and alien creatures. These covers were often dramatic and otherworldly, capitalizing on fantastical elements.\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ ****The 1950s-1960s: Where Things Got REALLY Weird**** \\ \\ Enter the pulp era, where covers started going all-out. No more “meh” art; now we had space ships the size of _planets_, aliens with tentacles, and robots with far too much personality. The covers didn’t just sell you a book—they _entranced_ you into entering a completely new reality. Gone were the days of minimalism. Now it was all about that _wow_ factor.\\ \\ **"The Stars My Destination" (1962) by Alfred Bester**\\ \\ Here, the cover was _a glorious mess_ of sci-fi goodness, with space pirates, bold colors, and the sense that _everything_ was about to explode—because it was. This cover set the tone for the space opera genre: gritty, dangerous, and so over-the-top, you couldn’t help but love it.\\ \\ \\ \\ **"Dune" (1965) by Frank Herbert**\\ \\ Oh, _Dune_—that verbose behemoth of science fiction. The first edition cover featured a terrifying sandworm emerging from the desert, giving readers the immediate “yep, I’m about to be blown away” vibe. The novel has since earned some of the _most_ iconic covers in sci-fi history. If you don’t see a sandworm and think _"I need this book"_—are you even human? The content of the book is another story - but that's a post for another day!\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ ****The Present Day: AI Ruins Everything (Sort Of)**** \\ \\ Now, here comes the 21st century, where things start to get... _interesting_. As if movie feature book covers weren't bad enough already, enter: AI. Yep, that’s right—artificial intelligence is now churning out science fiction covers, and honestly, it’s as terrifying as it sounds. AI doesn’t know how to capture the soul of a story or the uniqueness of an author’s voice. Instead, it grabs some random data from across the web, spits out something that looks vaguely like a scene from a fever dream, and calls it a day.\\ \\ But because authors are _desperate_ for some cool art without breaking the bank, and publishers are greedy and don't want to pay real artists, AI covers are _becoming a thing_. And let’s be real: when you see an AI-generated book cover, do you really think, “Ah yes, this is a masterpiece created with love and care,” or more like, “Hmm, this looks like it was designed by a malfunctioning vending machine.”\\ \\ AI-generated covers often lean heavily on abstract landscapes, neon glows, and creepy visuals that are supposed to evoke the “alien” or “futuristic” elements of the genre, but they often miss the _soul_ of what makes sci-fi _so good_. I mean, I get it—AI can spit out an image faster than you can say "cyberpunk dystopia," but come on, this is the genre that gave us \* _epic_ covers of giant space monsters and mind-blowing worlds—are we really going to settle for robot art that looks like it was created after too many cups of coffee?\\ \*If you're wondering why I used this specific image in this post, source material here: https://gizmodo.com/tor-book-ai-art-cover-christopher-paolini-fractalverse-1849904058\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ ****Wrapping It Up: The Glory Days vs. The AI Takeover**** \\ \\ As much as I _love_ the idea of science fiction authors getting super creative with their covers, there's something deeply unsettling about letting an AI decide the fate of your book’s visual identity. With the new information coming out that not only does AI attempt (badly) to put real, creative humans out of creative jobs but also has an astoundingly bad impact on the environment, let's be reminded again—real, human artists gave us some of the most iconic and jaw-dropping covers in history. They captured the weirdness, the chaos, and the beauty of otherworldly concepts in ways that no machine ever could. HUMANS SHOULD BE MAKING ART, NOT AI, FULL STOP.\\ \\ So, until AI learns to _feel_ and _think_, let’s just agree that when it comes to book covers—especially sci-fi ones—nothing beats the human touch. Except maybe a few giant sandworms. Those are always a win.\\ \\ * * *\\ \\ **What do you think? Have AI covers won you over, or are you side-eyeing them like I am? Let me know, and don’t forget to check out these covers that are way cooler than anything an algorithm can produce.**](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/f36kEXmyStxC87WfnCfc/) [Science Fiction Book Covers: Where Art Meets Insanity (And AI Ruins Everything)](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/f36kEXmyStxC87WfnCfc/) * * * 4 books 2 [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jan 25 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [trans book recs](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3xa2rpvoOEER7fWslYBN/) queer voices and stories matter and these ones (just a tiny selection of trans and nonbinary books i’ve read & loved) are phenomenal! * * * 11 books [Peppered Ink\\ \\ Mary\\ \\ • Jan 14 2025](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Liquor in the Library, Part 7](https://marysmanybooks.binderybooks.com/item/PtO8ZuBfV1KlEOPekXH0/) As far as vodka goes, this one was tasty! 😋 * * * 9 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Dec 5 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [book gifts for sci fi lovers](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/LNY3l3aKPLb9v946PnBS/) book recs to gift your sci fi loving reader friends! #scifibooks #scifibookrecs #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram * * * 8 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Oct 10 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [recommending books that charles rated 1 star](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/adytStVZTG5xpq2efImC/) let's battle charles & celebrate queer lit together! (if you don't know who Charles is ... keep watching!) * * * 5 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Sep 21 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) ["booktok destroyed literature!"](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/RGlhkzSfTCN48oidpTJ6/) i know that it sometimes feels like you’re struggling against the tide, but your feed is what you make it! here’s a little reset for you all the same. * * * 20 books [The Black Bird Commons\\ \\ Tim\\ \\ • Sep 3 2024](https://blackbirdcommons.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Accidental Bookfluencer](https://blackbirdcommons.binderybooks.com/item/SO3LrlmfwnzXdArBz3pN/) Welcome! * * * 23 books 3 [2](https://blackbirdcommons.binderybooks.com/item/SO3LrlmfwnzXdArBz3pN/#comments) [Skies Press\\ \\ Emma\\ \\ • Sep 2 2024](https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Book you may not know are on Kindle Unlimited: Part 3](https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/item/9pbxXgTHYQITvVlZhyfK/) * * * 6 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Aug 21 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [green flag books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/OXgGXo3X1ANu6UbEzfuY/) omg how many books did i even pull for this?? i would have more if i owned physical copies of more of my faves! 🟩 green flag books! * * * 20 books [Skies Press\\ \\ Emma\\ \\ • Jul 15 2024](https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/item/ZHhIn5PsYbrkie1z5Fb1/) [Newsletter #4: July 15, 2024](https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/item/ZHhIn5PsYbrkie1z5Fb1/) Wow, hi, did y’all know I’m really bad with dates? (If you’ve been in book club for a while, I’m sure the answer to that is yes) * * * 4 books 14 [4](https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/item/ZHhIn5PsYbrkie1z5Fb1/#comments) [The Inky Phoenix\\ \\ Kathryn Budig\\ \\ • Jul 14 2024](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Best Books of 21st Century](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/Pqi4jif1KGuEN2XGZ27u/) But make it Inky Phoenix style. 😎 * * * 10 books 6 [2](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/Pqi4jif1KGuEN2XGZ27u/#comments) [Cozy Quill\\ \\ Meg\\ \\ • Jul 3 2024](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/) Join for free \\ \\ Upgrade for $12 or login](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/item/zgy3fUdnLhaNAHmSPoOE/) [Cozy Cooking feat. Sammie Virella](https://cozyquill.binderybooks.com/item/zgy3fUdnLhaNAHmSPoOE/) Join me and hilarious booktoker, Sammie Virella (@booksdogsandcoffee), for a frenzied night of celebrating Pride Month with some baking and book chats! * * * 25 books 3 [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jun 24 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [musical theatre moment book recs](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/tNVEJfLChZQ3qjAUGFEu/) 🎭 book recs … inspired by musical theatre moments (part 2)! drop your favorite Broadway moments (the ones that give you chills) in the comments. * * * 3 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • Jun 8 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [you’ll LOVE these sapphic sci fi picks ✨ 🪐](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/r796JhEg35n2bMaYl8va/) * * * 2 books [The Inky Phoenix\\ \\ Kathryn Budig\\ \\ • Jun 5 2024](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️](https://inkyphoenix.binderybooks.com/item/tTbOVRTKCG1qvsHjVsOa/) We always love LGBTQIA+ representation at The Inky Phoenix, but here are just a few highlights to get you inspired for Pride month! * * * 8 books [Celestial\\ \\ Steph\\ \\ • May 12 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/) [my 3 favorite queer sci fi & fantasy books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/dlrMVJizoH8zPh7ugdOR/) * * * 3 books