Pangu's Shadow by Karen Bao is a YA sci-fi murder mystery that immerses readers in a beautifully written world brimming with science and intriguing social commentary. From start to finish, this book captivates with its engrossing plot, well-developed characters, and exploration of themes related to capitalism, inequality, queerness, and immigration.

Bao's storytelling prowess shines brightly as she expertly weaves a tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, science fiction, and social critique. The author's ability to create relatable characters and meaningful relationships within a futuristic setting is commendable. Furthermore, Bao's exploration of topics such as disability, queerness, and xenophobia in academia adds depth and relevance to the story without feeling forced or preachy.

While a minor drawback is noted in terms of pacing during the middle section, the overall experience of reading Pangu's Shadow is highly enjoyable. The intricate world-building and the race to uncover evidence of innocence keep readers engaged and invested in the outcome. The science explanations are both informative and accessible, making the book appealing to a wide range of readers.

Pangu's Shadow is a must-read for fans of thoughtful space mysteries and YA sci-fi. Karen Bao masterfully combines elements of mystery, science, and social issues to create a compelling story that balances entertainment and thought-provocation. This book showcases the author's talent for crafting relatable characters and exploring meaningful themes, making it a highly recommended addition to any reader's collection.


6 s Katie149 3

I wasn't actually looking to start a new book when I requested this one, but the name and description hooked me, and so did the story itself. I read this over the course of about two sittings; it's always fun to have that "can't put it down" feeling line up with a night when you have hours to actually not put it down, and that's the experience I got with Pangu's Shadow. The part that appealed to me - a sci-fi mystery - delivered, keeping me engaged the whole time. Throughout, Bao layered in nuanced world building, slow burn relationship development, and a thoughtful exploration of the characters and their experiences. As she writes in the author's note (I'm paraphrasing), it's a mystery, but it's also a book about science, about racism and xenophobia, about queerness, about disability, about the experience of being an immigrant. It really delivered on all fronts - engaging and thoughtful but still accessible. Bao really did a masterful job of utilizing a sci-fi setting to explore relatable experiences, especially regarding disability, queerness, and xenophobia in academia, without the whole thing feeling a story that exists solely to comment on the real world. I'd thoroughly recommend this book to anyone, but fans of thoughtful space mysteries in particular!6 s Kaavya172 28

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. Pangu's Shadow was a thrilling read, I loved it. Academic Rivals who must work together and end up falling in love and its sapphic - of course its beautiful. I really enjoyed reading from both Aryl and Ver's perspective and following along as they solved the murder of their boss. The science was fascinating and I loved the world building. I really felt for both characters and could empathize with them being others, and Ver being disabled. I loved how through solving this murder, we got a close look at the problems plaguing society in Pangu's moons and the inequality between One, Two and Three. The tension and suspicion between Ver and Aryl was really enjoyable to read, as well as watching them slowly trust each other and fall in love. I knew I really enjoyed when the genres fantasy and mystery are combined, but Pangu's Shadow made me realize that sci-fi blended with mystery is also really fun. This book was really fast paced and fun to read!3 s Ya'el Carmel30 4

What a remarkable book! It is no easy task to write a page-turning, space-academia, sci-fi murder mystery that YA audiences will love while ALSO delivering gentle insights and consideration of social inequity. Somehow, Karen does just that with Pangu's Shadow. The murder mystery plot kept me guessing - I kept a list of who I suspected as I read the book and had three entirely wrong guesses before I found the right culprit JUST shy of the end of the book and the big reveal.

As a scientist, I enjoyed Karen's obvious grasp of complicated scientific topics and her accurate distillation of them into engaging plot points. On top of the science, she captures the way that science research intersects with profit-driven capitalism and social stratification. I couldn't put this down until I found out "whodunit", and since finishing have been pondering the massive, existential questions she posed along the way.

I highly recommend this book for teens, for sci-fi lovers, for academics, for people who whodunit-style mysteries, and for anyone who wants a well-grounded journey through pondering how science, society, and capitalism relate to each other. 3 s Rea181 6

This book surprised me! A really interesting science fiction mystery focused on two women from disadvantaged backgrounds who are apprentices at a prestigious lab and are accused of murdering their boss when he is suddenly killed. It is an action-packed adventure as they are forced to work together to try to clear their names while knowing they shouldn't trust anyone, not even each other.

This novel tackles a lot of important themes (sexism, queerness, capitalism, immigration, inequality, wealth inequality, etc.), and I thought it approached each of them carefully and impactfully. Learning at the end that the author faced similar experiences made sense; this is a great own-voice story.

As someone who has read some sci-fi but not a ton, I thought the world was built in such an interesting way as well, and I'm glad we got to explore a lot of aspects of it. The best part of the story is the characters, especially the way the two main characters grow after having to work together to try to clear their names. I wasn't sure how I felt about them at first, but by the end, I loved them and would love to continue to read about their lives if the author ever wanted to write a sequel, even though this made a great standalone novel.

I don't think I ever would have picked this up if not for the Netgalley review copy, so thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm so glad I picked this up.netgalley3 s Madeleine70 1 follower

The murder of a famous scientist within a laboratory at the most prestigious institute in the universe forces Aryl and Ver, scientific apprentices, and Jaha, the lab manager, to either team up or rat each other out to save their skin. This murder mystery marries science, friendship, queerness, classism, and racism in an epic story that crosses many moons as Aryl and Ver discover secrets they were never meant to learn.

I found the only drawback to be the middle lagged for me. I would have d to pace from the beginning and end to match the middle section better! Once I got to the last quarter of the book, I was dialed in. I really enjoyed the theme of people from different backgrounds trying to find a place in a world that wouldn’t support them. I think it was a well-written story with a very intricate world built into it, I am very happy to get to read an ARC copy of Pangu's Shadow.3 s Brenna349 39

I am not much of science fiction reader, but I did enjoy Karen Bao's writing. The well developed characters deal with inequality, xenophobia, debilitating physical diseases, addiction and more.
A lot of science, a murder mystery, and action packed throughout. Rated for grades 7-12. Definitely for a reader that s science fiction and mystery.

***I received this book from Carolrhoda Lab (a Lerner Publishing Imprint) for Multicultural Children's book day in exchange for a fair review.***lerner-publishing-group mccd owned-books ...more3 s Laura RueckertAuthor 1 book81

I was lucky to read an early version of this YA sci-fi murder mystery. It’s beautifully written, with an amazing world, lots of science, and a sharp look at capitalism and inequality. Highly recommended! 3 s1 comment Mary Wegrzyn-Cole24

I didn't think I would this book. I am not a sci-fi reader but it got good so I gave it a try. I am glad I did. After the first few chapters, the drama starts and just keeps increasing through the book. Trying to figure out the mystery with the two main characters took me along on their journey.
It was suspenseful, frightening, and heartfelt read.2 s Chelsea203 2

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

Pangu’s Shadow by Karen Bao is a Sapphic science fiction mystery YA featuring chronic illness, Asian, and immigrant representation. Ver has a degenerative illness that leaves her needing a cane and aware that she could die before the age of thirty. She and Aryl are both students working in a medical research lab and both are immigrants from Moon Three and Moon Two, respectively. The pair do not get along but are brought together when Cal, their mentor, dies in the lab in front of them.

The novel explores the intersections of classism, immigration, and illness against this backdrop of a murder mystery. The social critique worked for me as did the use of scientific terms and explanations. It’s very easy to veer into sounding condescending or to use terminology that is hard to parse when discussing concepts that are often learned in the science classroom, but Bao made these explanations feel more a reinforcement than a lesson. It felt organic and true to the characters.

Ver and Aryl’s character arcs are linked to their identities as immigrants and to each other. Aryl is a dancer who is attracted to her teammate, Rhea, and frustrated by the way her family is treated on Moon One. Aryl herself is often treated as less than and an outsider despite being born on Moon One; what matters is where her parents came from, even if they are intelligent and hardworking. Ver’s mother suffers from addiction while Ver’s main goal is to find a way to slow down her illness.

I recommend this to fans of YA sci-fi, shorter chapters, and those looking for stories about immigrants with a bit of an SFF twist. ya-sci-fi-mystery2 s Phoenix81

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow.
I've never read any of Bao's books before, but after this, I'm definitely going to. This was not just a story, it was an experience. The characters felt real. You didn't just know what they d and didn't . You knew who they were; what they cared about. They were complete people, which made the plot even better.
To me, the worldbuilding and the characters are the two most important pieces of a story. If Aryl and Ver just went about their everyday lives doing absolutely nothing, I still would have read and enjoyed every single page of this.
Of course, they didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs. Pangu's Shadow is an innovative story that takes you to the moons of a foreign star to solve the murder of Cal. Aryl and Ver, two academic rivals, both accused of murder, must work together to clear their name.
That's where things got good. Having such incredible characters put to such extremes makes for a gripping story that I enjoyed every page of.2 s Michelle618 9

This was basically a one sitting read for me. I only paused to grab a snack and ensure my kids were surviving without me. From page one, I was taken into this world. I think it's brilliant and engrossing. The sci-fi murder mystery blends well with the social discrepancies we see between the three moons. The bias everyone throws upon those not of their world, it was done very well.
There was so much frustration on the first pages when the police nabbed their two suspects and decided to look no where else. Then while they try to find the murderer to save themselves how they find more than they were looking for.
I think this was a beautifully done book about social injustices and those who can walk away because of money, power and perceived importance by a supposed un-biased system.2 s Books_the_Magical_Fruit (Kerry)712 40

The different worlds are fascinating, and I enjoyed the race to find evidence of innocence. The main characters go from hate to love a little quickly to be believable, in my opinion. The science explanations were informative without being overly complicated.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 2023-read-in arc netgalley ...more2 s Cody Roecker924

Blurb to come, I wholeheartedly loved this book!2 s1 comment Mary767 16

Well. This is a difficult book for me to rate. The summary makes it sound so fantastic, and in many ways it is. It's well-thought-out, well crafted, and very relevant, and it should appeal to older teens--and adults--who enjoy hard SF. But--

I found it a bit of a slog, and I think that's because I couldn't relate to the characters. Aryl, in particular, bugged me. I found it hard to believe that someone with her stated goals and background would be such a party animal (those stated goals: she wants to help her immigrant parents, be a role model for her sister, and become a famous dancer. Then why all the partying? Why do things that work directly against those goals?)

Perhaps for that reason, the enemies-to-lovers trope in this book didn't quite come off for me, either.

Still, on the level of plot and theme Pangu's Shadow is excellent. It certainly deserves readers and will find them. 1 grosbeak610 23

This is a fine book for the younger side of YA. As it progressed, the messages became more and more heavy-handed, and the “hard realities” of them sat a bit weirdly with the easy resolutions to a lot of plot points.b-i-poc-authors f-ftw ya1 Hana Gabrielle (HG) Bidon213 8

This was an engaging read that kept me on my feet from start to finish. I'm glad that I heard about this book from Instagram, and as someone who is a queer and disabled Asian-American woman in STEM, I can painfully relate to some of her experiences. I never did a PhD, but some of the things she wrote in her book hit home for me.lgbtq-fiction netgalley1 Kennedy151 6

I wasnt too sure what I was getting into with this book, but I was suprised how much I enjoyed it.

The plot of the book flowed freely and I barely wanted to put it down. This was actually one of the rare books I didnt check how many pages I had left with. I think I read about 80% of it in one sitting.

Far as characters- I wish we saw a bit more development. Sometimes they felt very flat to me, even with all the background we got on them.

**Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a honest reveiw**1 Evelyn Salazar5

"Pangu’s Shadow" by Karen Bao is an interesting, futuristic mystery that blends sci fi with so many relatable themes.
I found the author's note as intriguing as the story: within the author's note, Bao explains that it is a mystery, but also about science, disability, racism and xenophobia, queerness, and immigrant issues. It was interesting how the story was able to tie in all of these topics in a mystery format. Bao's writing style made the story relatable and kept you intrigued the whole time.

Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group who provided a free and pre-publication print copy of this #gifted book as part of promotion for Read Your World Day and in exchange for an honest review. I am excited to share it with my students!
Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves.
#ReadYourWorld
#mcbd241 Michelle618 9

This was basically a one sitting read for me. I only paused to grab a snack and ensure my kids were surviving without me. From page one, I was taken into this world. I think it's brilliant and engrossing. The sci-fi murder mystery blends well with the social discrepancies we see between the three moons. The bias everyone throws upon those not of their world, it was done very well.
There was so much frustration on the first pages when the police nabbed their two suspects and decided to look no where else. Then while they try to find the murderer to save themselves how they find more than they were looking for.
I think this was a beautifully done book about social injustices and those who can walk away because of money, power and perceived importance by a supposed un-biased system.1 Alisha Dunn64 6

This was a fun and interesting story about two very different girls falsely accused of killing their mentor. I enjoyed the futuristic sci-fi world Bao built, complete with robotic limbs programmed with host DNA. The alternation between each girl's perspective made their initial dis of each other and eventual romance that much more layered. It was interesting how Bao embedded deeper cultural themes in the novel, which mirror some of the prejudices and struggles we see here on Earth-everything from disabilities, skin color, heritage, class, and LGBT+ issues. I really d this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction, science fiction, and murder mysteries.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this ARC through NetGalley!netgalley young-adult-fiction1 Nicole Austin140 1 follower

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

"Pangu's Shadow" by Karen Bao is a captivating YA sci-fi murder mystery that weaves together science, social commentary, and an engrossing mystery. The book immerses you in a beautifully written world that explores themes of inequality, queerness, and immigration through a sci-fi lens. While there are some slow parts to the plot (mainly in the middle of the book), I found "Pangu's Shadow" to be highly enjoyable and thought-provoking.

The positive aspects include the well-developed characters and their relationships, the expert blending of mystery and science fiction, and the exploration of relevant social issues. The storytelling prowess of Karen Bao is evident as she delves into topics disability, queerness, and xenophobia in academia, adding depth to the narrative without feeling forced or preachy. The social critique in the novel works well, exploring classism, immigration, and illness against the backdrop of a murder mystery. Even though the book was set on different planets with the sci-fi element, readers could definitely make connections to their own lives right now. The commentary was fresh and realistic, especially when considering the academic side, prejudice against women and immigrants in the academic world.

I thought the author did an excellent job at delivering on multiple fronts, including being a sci-fi mystery, layered with nuanced world-building, relationship development, and a well-developed mystery. The mystery had me guessing throughout, though I would say I was more invested in the characters over the mystery itself.

The characters in "Pangu's Shadow" are lauded for feeling real and complete, making the plot even more engaging. I think the character writing is the strongest part of this book. Bao took care to create two distinct characters, two distinct perspectives in the first person POV, which can be quite difficult to achieve. But I really felt I was in the minds of two separate characters when I was reading about Aryl and Ver. For example, I really how the start of every Ver chapter involved some sort of scientific information, which aligned perfectly with her character. I did feel a little detached to Ver’s voice, but I think that is mainly just because of her character and who she is as a person. Aryl’s perspective was very emotional and engaging.

Overall, I would recommend "Pangu's Shadow" for fans of thoughtful space mysteries, YA sci-fi, and anyone looking for a compelling story that balances entertainment with thought-provoking themes. Karen Bao's ability to craft relatable characters and explore meaningful issues makes this book a must-read for those who appreciate the intersection of science fiction, mystery, and social commentary.
2 s Annie3,999 72

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Pangu's Shadow is a very well written and engaging YA mystery SF standalone novel by Karen Bao. Released 6th Feb 2024 by Lerner, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The advice for writers has always been "write what you know". This is an *intelligent* story, written with the surety of experience in STEM science and labwork. She clearly gets it (including the minor day to day irritations of working in close proximity to other brilliant and driven colleagues.

At its heart, it's a murder mystery with two frenemy lab assistants who need to cooperate if they're going to prove their innocence of a murder of which they're suspected. The setting and world building are wonderfully detailed and believable, despite being set in deep space. The characterization is nuanced and intricately rendered.

Despite being marketed as a YA novel, this is going to be a highlight in SF/speculative fiction releases for the year for YA-adult audiences. Watch for it on the awards lists.

Four and a half stars. Very satisfying, and a real insider's look at life as a "lab rat" (except for the bionic body parts and manned deepspace research facility, those are still fiction currently).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.netgalley6 s Mrs. Kenyon1,290 26

Ver and Aryl have overcome many obstacles to become apprentices in a great biology lab. They know they have a long way to go, but everything changes when an explosion happens, and their boss is found dead. The authorities believe there was foul play involved and one or both girls are behind it. They are bailed out by Cal’s wife and have less than a week to figure out what exactly happened. Was it an accident? Was it suicide? Or was it murder?

Pangu’s Shadow is a stand-alone sci-fi mystery that wasn’t very long, which made the events appear that much more intense. I was swept into the story immediately and thoroughly enjoyed the science-fiction aspects and the mystery that needed to be solved. I have never read anything by Bao before, but I will be looking for more books by this talented author. A great escape whether you science fiction or mysteries.
1 Sierra57

This book was unexpected. I went into Pangu’s Shadow thinking it would be a fun YA sci-fi murder mystery. Pangu’s Shadow delivered so much more than that. I was hooked by the story immediately and could hardly put the book down. The world is unique and has characters with incredible depth to them. I had a harder time connecting with certain characters but they all felt so realistic. The themes explored in this book were done so thoughtfully and were well executed. The pacing was a bit off at times but was mostly fast paced. Karen Bao is an exceptional writer and I would love to read more of her works in the future! I recommend this to anyone looking for a unique YA sci-fi world with mystery elements and relatable characters.

Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group for providing this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.1 Amanda76 2

MG - no sexual content. Swearing is made up and minimal, e.g. "she tried to vack with his life." Also, the content skims the surface of difficult material and is repetitive.

Ver - closeted bisexual with a degenerative disease is doing secret experiments with researcher Cal to see if they can find a treatment for her condition. When Cal dies, she loses a respected mentor and hope.

Aryl - lesbian. Working as a scientist because the reliable pay allows her to help her immigrant family out. Wants to become a dancer.

Good for 6-8th grade students who are interested in science and a murder mystery. Lots of scientific explanations and terminology. I found them interesting and fresh, but for someone unfamiliar with the vocabulary, this could be a difficult read. disability friendship interesting-premise ...more1 John Clark2,492 46

Mix science fiction, good old desperation detective work, and an enemies to more-than-friends situation. This is what you get. Ver and Aryl are different physically, but inside there's plenty of commonality. Ver is fighting a terrible genetic disease that's going to eat away until she's dead. Aryl is tall, quite graceful, and an accomplished dancer. Both are interns in an advanced lab, working for Cal who is both brilliant and driven. When an emergency warning is activated and the lights go out, Cal is injected with a substance that kills him. Both girls are accused of his murder, but neither had reason to off their mentor. How they go about solving his murder makes for a dandy story.2 s Karen BaoAuthor 7 books180

This book drops in a week, and I'm so nervous yet proud of it. As some of you point out, PANGU is a sci-fi m*rder mystery, yes, but it's also about what it's to be an immigrant in an unforgiving society, to be judged for what you look rather than who you are. After 5 grueling years of being a queer Asian female grad student, and 7 years after I first had the idea to write this, I get to share a book about these feelings with the world. I know it won't be for everyone, but that's okay -- no book is. Thank you to everyone who gives it a chance.mystery sci-fi3 s Alaina420 5

This was a solidly enjoyable book. Not an abundance of things happened, but it kept my interest and I ended up devouring it pretty quickly. I'm a big fan of the short chapters and alternating POVS - it made me want to keep reading. 1 Paheli Desai-Chowdhry14

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