Kirkus Review: Best Fiction Books of 2024
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Sign up todayThe Stardust Grail
A Novel
Narrator
Katharine Chin
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Length
11 hours 40 minutes
Language
English
Bookseller recommendation
“A fast-paced, high-stakes space heist starring the most unlikely group of survivors you could imagine. Witty, tragic, and deeply empathetic, this book again proves how well Yume Kitasei can spin a tale.”
— Samantha • The Nonbinarian Book Bike
Bookseller recommendation
“With interstellar travel in danger and an alien species on the brink of extinction maya hashimoto may be the galaxy's only hope. Now in hiding thanks to a job gone bad she is forced out of retirement to help find the Stardust Grail to help save them all. This is the first sci-fi book I have seen migraine representation in and as someone who suffers from migraines I appreciated it so much. The Stardust Grail has such a deep message about anti- colonization, our environment and connections to others. Kitasei’s sophomore novel was stunningly brilliant, historical and a wild ride.”
— Sammie • Anderson's Bookshop
Bookseller recommendation
“Indiana Jones-esque, anti-colonial space heist to save a dying alien species that may or may not have caused its own extinction. Solid pacing, whirlwind world building, and aliens - truly so different from most other works I've seen. Also a sassy robot constantly trying to upgrade themselves in order to get sassier.”
— Sierra • Page 1 Books
Bookseller recommendation
“The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei is a phenomenal space adventure that expertly explores a lot of moral questions. I loved every minute and never wanted to stop listening. Definitely for my generation that loved Ender's Game, but wants a more modern story.”
— Anna • Katy Budget Books
Bookseller recommendation
“A thrilling chase through the galaxies blending philosophy, alien anthropology, morality, humor and cosmic horror into a vibrant tale that left me feeling deeply human.”
— Jericha Macie • Northshire Bookstore
Bookseller recommendation
“This audio book is an incredible journey in the stars with alien civilizations, interspecies drama, and plot twists that will keep you guessing and listening. Such a wonderful premise and the world building is second to none. The audio performance is so well done. This is such a great project to enjoy.”
— Matthew C • McIntyre's Books
Save one world. Doom her own.
Maya Hoshimoto was once the best art thief in the galaxy. For ten years, she returned stolen artifacts to alien civilizations—until a disastrous job forced her into hiding. Now she just wants to enjoy a quiet life as a graduate student of anthropology, but she’s haunted by persistent and disturbing visions of the future.
Then an old friend comes to her with a job she can’t refuse: find a powerful object that could save an alien species from extinction. Except no one has seen it in living memory, and they aren’t the only ones hunting for it.
Maya sets out on a breakneck quest through a universe teeming with strange life and ancient ruins. But the farther she goes, the more her visions cast a dark shadow over her team of friends new and old. Someone will betray her along the way. Worse yet, in choosing to save one species, she may condemn humanity and Earth itself.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.
Yume Kitasei is the author of The Deep Sky and The Stardust Grail. She is Japanese and American and grew up in a space between two cultures—the same space where her stories reside. She lives in Brooklyn with two cats, Boondoggle and Filibuster. Her stories have appeared in publications including New England Review, Catapult, SmokeLong Quarterly, and Baltimore Review.
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Audiobook details
Author:
Yume Kitasei
Narrator:
Katharine Chin
ISBN:
9781250350398
Length:
11 hours 40 minutes
Language:
English
Publisher:
Macmillan Audio
Publication date:
June 11, 2024
Edition:
Unabridged
Libro.fm rank:
#1,677 Overall
Genre rank:
#95 in Science Fiction
Reviews
ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Lithub, Bookshop.org, The Messenger, The Nerd Daily
"Kitasei’s outstanding sophomore outing clears the high bar she set in The Deep Sky, combining a high-stakes space adventure with exquisitely crafted worldbuilding and plausibly imagined interspecies communication." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Broad in scope, covering everything from the rise and fall of alien civilizations to what it means to be a person, this is a luminous work, vacillating between the highs and lows of human experience and how they might translate across alien worlds." —Kirkus, starred review
"Kitasei writes an emotional roller coaster of a space quest, highlighting friendship, family, and the ostracism of those believed to be different. The prose is as intimate as the universe is wide." —Library Journal
"Come to The Stardust Grail for Indiana Jones-style outer space heist adventure, stay for the sensitively drawn characters and thoughtful exploration of other forms of life far beyond our own—Yume Kitasei's second novel is an engaging, fascinating story that you don't want to miss." —Veronica Roth, New York Times bestselling author of Chosen Ones
"The Stardust Grail is a puzzle box of a book, one that invites readers into an ambitious and endlessly imaginative adventure. A strange, surreal, and startlingly tender glimpse into worlds beyond our own." —Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief
"The Stardust Grail is a boisterous journey, rife with protean planets, intriguing spaceports, and remarkable life forms. The stakes are high. The characters are engaging and delightful. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed. But at its core, the book is also an exploration of understanding, forgiveness, and the importance of being true to our friends, and ourselves. For any fan of space adventures, this book is a must-read.” —Emily Jane, USA Today bestselling author of On Earth as it Is on Television
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