Yoke of Stars is one of the most beautifully written books that I have ever read. From the first page, the writing winds its way around the reader like a warm, but sharp, hug. It carries an air of folklore and mythology, and quickly world-builds in a way that is so lyrical and poetic that it brought tears to my eyes.

This novella is part of the Birdverse series, but I have not read any of the books in the series or any of R. B. Lemberg's work. However, that did not impede my enjoyment of the novella, making it an excellent standalone. It is slow paced, but I found that to be a respectful and important choice with the heavy subject matter that the book focuses on, including trauma, war, and violence.

The world of Yoke of Stars is incredibly gender inclusive, which made my nonbinary/agender soul so happy. The novella also focused heavily on linguistics, the concept of "motion," and the ways that we describe motion and what it really means. As a scholar, I found the presented ideas to be philosophical and intriguing, while portrayed in a way that even those who are not interested in linguistics will enjoy. That with the celestial elements fed my soul, while the difficult topics broke my heart, and put it back together again. This book is an emotionally conflicting read in all of the best ways. It will send you on a transformative journey, and if you are really ready to commit yourself to it, it will alter your very being. Proceed with caution.