This was a fantastic look at a potential outcome for our future which actually gave me hope. It was well-researched, and gave me a lot of inspiration to see how concepts like cooperatives and mutual aid (which work in small pockets now) could actually become normal systems in the future. This is what we need more of in the world: belief that there can be something different, and that it can work.

I really enjoyed the duality of Larch and Kristina; it felt really accurate of the polarization that many people fighting for change face nowadays as well. It clearly showed that we can align on so much, but still have completely different ideas on what's best for the future, and sometimes there is no solution. That felt very realistic and appropriate in today's day and age. 

The format was unique with

parts of Emi's final project thrown in throughout

. The non-linear storytelling was nice. I 100% enjoyed everything that took place in the past way more than I enjoyed anything in the present.

I do not like coming-of-age themes and young adult books in general, so everything related to that is where this book lost a star from me. I didn't relate much to the teenaged main character, I felt like the writing was a bit simplistic, and I wish it wasn't so repetitive (with all the fights happening between everyone).

I liked it more than Ministry for the Future, but less than Station Eleven. I can see where the author drew inspiration from other books in the genre, including Parable of the Sower. Overall, I enjoyed it for what it is, the worldbuilding, and what it says about what we're capable of, rather than how it was written or the characters/plot themselves.

And a note for all future authors: please use quotation marks :')