If this book had been honest about itself from the start, it might have been solid. But the issue I couldn’t get over is this: the entire synopsis is about octopus, and their foray into language. But the actual exploration of that concept occurs in maybe 40 pages of this 452 page book, and the rest is unrelated cyber-future consciousness rambling. Which I like usually. But because I was expecting something else entirely, and the book barely elaborated on its titular subject, I was extremely disappointed by this. By the end I could see how things connected and understood why there is more portrayed than just the octopus but there is still not enough. Why would you promise a story like this and come up with a creative concept if you do not feel like exploring it in depth or giving it the wonder it deserves?

It also in general did not dive deep enough into any of its subjects. There were multiple ideological points brought up and almost discussed, but then at the last second the author back off from actually making a point. It was maddening.

And lastly, there is no actual suspense in this book. Jeff Vandermeer blurbed this book, of course my standards were high. But it was just a series of cliche chapter cliffhangers that don’t build anything, just frustrate and elude. At multiple points the “item of suspense” was just the author saying something might happen later and then us having to wait. Like okay??? It was written in a matter-of-fact and (imo) bland way, refusing to engage with itself or participate in storytelling rather than explaining. 

TLDR: This promised something that it did not deliver, and constantly stood on the precipice of being unique and interesting. But what it is in reality is a creative concept wrapped up in lackluster writing and derivative philosophies on consciousness that never actually went anywhere.