Mary Fan does a magnificent job entwining fantastical science fiction elements into a story about art, and particularly about the self-doubt of an artist striving to become a professional can feel. The interplay of mystery and the oppressive dystopian feel of future Earth, combined with the grandeur of the open stars above them and the lush descriptions of the planet Adrye, wove a spell as powerful as the music and dance of the Artists. I was absolutely captivated from the first page. Kirkus Reviews This was the best science fiction novel I have read in a long time. '.a sophisticated commentary on art, society, and how we perceive our own worth. The beginning of an elegant, spirited rebellion saga.' Her quest for answers leads her past her sheltered world to a strange planet lightyears away, where she uncovers secrets about Earth’s alien allies that shatter everything she knows. Then, she discovers that her visions of him are real-by way of telepathy-and soon finds herself lost in the kind of impossible love she depicts in her music.īut even as their bond deepens, Iris realizes that he’s hiding something from her-and it’s dangerous. When she starts hearing his voice in her head, she wonders if her world of backstabbing artists and pressure for perfection is driving her insane. Iris longs to learn about him and his faraway realm, but after the authorities arrest him for trespassing, the only evidence she has of his existence is the mysterious alien device he slipped to her. But only the best get hired, and competition is fierce.Ī sudden encounter with an Adryil boy upends her world.

Born penniless, Iris’s one shot at a better life is to attract an Adryil patron.

A century later, 15-year-old violist Iris Lei considers herself lucky to attend Papilio, a prestigious performing arts school powered by their technology. In 2157, the Adryil-an advanced race of telepathic humanoids-contacted Earth.

Wayward Stars by Mary Fan