This book has more LGBTQ+ representation than I realized when I first started reading it! And since a queer author wrote it, that makes it all the better. If you're looking for a fun yet emotional LGBTQ+ sci-fi novel, look no further!
Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor takes place in a universe where tech destroyed the planet—now known as "Former Earth." For those living in the Settlement on the terraformed "Earth Adjacent," most forms of tech are strictly forbidden. That makes Anna's clockwork heart illegal, as is most of her work as the Technician helping people who need tech to survive. Meanwhile, Nathaniel wants nothing more than to make his father, the Commissioner, proud; and he's set his sights on the Technician to do it. Both Nathaniel's and Anna's plans are blown apart when Eliza arrives, a spy and assassin for the Queen, but she soon finds out that her latest mission is anything but simple. If the three of them can't find a way to work together, Earth Adjacent's future will be lost.
This book was unexpectedly heart-wrenching. With heart disease, orphans, and illegal tech, I didn't expect it to be all unicorns and rainbows, but it really tugged at my heart. In a good way—I could feel all the characters's pain and understand why they made certain decisions. They all had difficult pasts that molded them into the people they were at the beginning of the book, and they were stronger for overcoming their hardships.
As I mentioned, there's a good amount of LGBTQ+ representation. With plenty of gay and lesbian characters, it was a nice surprise to meet an asexual, aromantic character as well. It didn't feel rushed or thrown in for inclusion purposes either—it was a natural extension of the character that further explained his actions. It's exciting to see lesser-known identities like asexual and aromantic get the representation and spotlight they deserve.
My only issue with this book is how fast it moved. It seemed slow at first, but once things picked up in the middle, they never slowed down again. It was sometimes a bit of a stretch when the characters would jump from one action or decision to the next. By the end of the book, I still had unanswered questions about the central mystery and the motivations of the antagonists. I would have liked the climax to be drawn out to provide some of that explanation.
But overall, I still enjoyed the novel. I rate Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor 4/5 stars. If you're looking for your next LGBTQ+ book, try this one!
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