The Stardust Grail: A Novel | 
so-so53/100 I did enjoy the world building and the unique alien species, but I found the ending disappointing and vague. I am assuming the author plans a sequel, because this was left too open to really qualify as a conclusion. Too many unanswered questions, too many dangling plot points. If there is a sequel, I'd probably read it just to see what happens to the friendroe. 3.5/5 #Read2025 #LitsySciFiBookClub
pick📚📚📚📚📚 Fast moving quest story set in the future and in space/ other planets. Interesting collection of characters too. #LSFBC
Pictured are books read in May 2025
so-so#LitsySciFiBookClub #LSFBC
I could sum this book up as an Indian Jones wanna be in a SciFi setting. I liked the idea but I thought the execution was all wrong. It felt like the characters rushed from one heist to the next with something always going wrong in between and yet it was too quickly resolved. I think less scenes and more time spent struggling to find a resolution would have worked better. I also thought some of the interactions between
pickI really enjoy discovering new worlds and aliens cultures. The Frenro and the Belzoar, in particular, were well drawn up. The human main character was complex. This is a morally ambiguous sci-fi novel that makes you think. Different species just do the best they can, and they all screw it up.
pickA far flung future where it‘s possible to travel all across the universe and interact with a wide variety of aliens. I enjoyed Maya‘s viewpoint. She just wanted to do the right thing even as that became harder and harder to discern. The world building was fun though there were a couple of plot holes that could‘ve been tightened up. A fast paced space heist full of interesting characters.
#jumpstartsummer @TheSpineView
pickMay 2025 #LitsySciFiBookClub #Read2025 I loved this! Every species encountered in this book is vastly different from humans and those humans who care to meet these species are subject to so many new and wonderful challenges, opportunities, and ideas. There still are plenty of earthbound humans who think they are superior or are just afraid. So the racism and nationalism we experience now don‘t exist in this future but it now becomes (cont)⬇️
My #bookspin is also the #LSFBC pick this month. I love it when a plan comes together. 😹
My #doublespin was recommended by a knitting/book YouTuber I follow and it just came off hold at the library.
#LitsySciFiBookclub
repost for @TheSpineView:
The votes are in and the June selection for #LitsySciFiBookClub #LSFBC is The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei. The US price on Amzon is $14.99. My library doesn't have a digital or audio copy. I hope they have the physical book. I haven't checked other sites for the book. Hopefully, it will be less other places.
#BuddyRead
The votes are in and the June selection for #LitsySciFiBookClub #LSFBC is The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei. The US price on Amzon is $14.99. My library doesn't have a digital or audio copy. I hope they have the physical book. I haven't checked other sites for the book. Hopefully, it will be less other places.
@Larkken @bnp @Johanna414 @BookmarkTavern @julesG @BookBelle84 @Readergrrl @CSeydel @Roary47 @Lizpixie @PaperbackPirate @PageShifter
What is it about my focus these days that even though I'm enjoying this book and it's quite good so far, I hit the 30-35% mark and something in my brain is like cool, that's enough for now, let's switch to something else for a bit.
I wonder if it's my reading speed being slower right now. Libby's estimate says it'll take me about 8.5hrs total to read this book. I think I'd have read it in 6 hrs or less before.
Ah well. Onwards!
Interesting quest space opera with really alien aliens and nicely drawn characters. I enjoyed her imaginative retelling of the grail quest.
pickMaya, a graduate student & former thief, promises to help her dearest friend steal the object xyr species needs to repopulate. Only w/ Earth‘s military after them, & something destroying the pathways between space, everything is much more complicated.
Gorgeous. Heists in space, a wildly diverse & interesting cast, & a twisty turny plot that kept me hooked. A slow start, & a little info dump heavy sometimes, but well worth the read.🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
pickI had a really good time with this because heists in space but also this has some flaws so it's not really perfect. Would I go on another adventure with the cast in this world yes but I'd hope for a little more depth than this provided.
Decided to take a reading break while at Disney. When I wasn‘t looking all the Halloween lights came on!
pick@julesG described this as Becky Chambers‘ Wayfarer series crossed with Martha Wells‘ Murderbot and I think that‘s pretty apt. 🥰
It‘s a sci-fi quest sort of story, with very diverse characters. If you‘d like exposure to help you get used to all the pronouns, this book is for you!
I don‘t think it‘s a story that will stick with me, but very enjoyable while listening to it.
pickBook 250/250 🥳🥳
Diverse cast of characters - reminded me of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers and Martha Wells' Murderbot. The Stardust Grail must be found to save at least one civilisation and keep the different corners of the universe connected. Maya, a 31 year old PhD student of xeno-anthropology with Japanese roots and a decade of experience in stealing alien art, teams up with an ancient alien she calls Uncle (who looks like a potato... ⬇️
Two books delivered today. I got my July #aardvarkbookclub pick. I'm excited to read this one.
And I ordered the other book because 1. the title, Filthy Rich Fae🧚♀️, is absolutely ridiculous and 2. the pretty yellow edges.
Pippin, Tommy, and I are finishing up the tagged ebook. While I liked Kitasei's first novel better overall, I still think this one is worth reading if you're a scifi fan. It took me a little while to connect with the characters. Maya (the MC) isn't super likeable, but she definitely grew on me. This is part museum heist, part space horror. There's some great banter, really unique "alien" races, and just the right amount of nail biting action.
