In California’s San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka Satomi has struck a deal with a demon to escape eternal damnation by delivering the souls of seven violin prodigies. She has already traded six and identifies her final target in Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway with raw musical talent. Their lives intersect with Lan Tran, a mother and retired starship captain who operates a donut shop while hiding her family from an interstellar war. The narrative follows these three women as they navigate deals with the devil, galactic escapes, and the technical demands of classical performance.
Readers interested in the intersection of hard science fiction, Faustian mythology, and the technical artistry of the violin find a detailed look at creative ambition. It appeals to those seeking stories about found family and the physical realities of the immigrant experience in suburban Los Angeles. The book provides a technical perspective on how music is practiced and a specific look at how food and craft create community. You finish the book with a concrete understanding of how individual identity persists despite cosmic threats and supernatural debts.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
