Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the early proof copy.

*Spoiler Free Review*

First let me say; Tchaikovsky's earlier title, 'Children Of Time' is necessary reading to be able to fully appreciate and understand the story this book is telling.

This book contains everything I adored about the first installment. Brains, language, spiders, space travel, technology... All while making subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) comments on topics such as over-population, colonisation, religion, sentience, evolution... All of it is in there and a whole host more.
The world building is fantastic and that term can be taken very literally, I assure you. It's somewhat non-linear, but not overly complicated. The perspectives are a good mix of recognisable and relatable, and completely alien (pardon the horrible use of blatantly on-the-nose terminology).

I don't want to go into it too much, to avoid spoiling anything, but if you were as big of a fan of the first book as I was, you'll definitely want to pick this up ASAP.

Tchaikovsky is making a very strong name for himself as one of the best current writers of Science Fiction.

10/10; would go on an adventure again.