This is a thoughtful story set in a near-future world which suffers from many of the same issues as our own. The story follows a cast of characters that fall under two main plot arcs, both related to the increasing use of androids in society. 

The story is structured in a non-linear, multi-POV style, so we get to see some of the same events through multiple sets of eyes. At first I found this hard to get on with since I kept feeling the urge to check back to make sure I had the timeline correct in my head but once I learned to just go with the flow I enjoyed it a lot more - the author has done a good job of making sure things flow in a logical way.

The first plot is a long-running conflict between the authorities, including android operatives, and an anti-android militia led by one man but composed largely of child soldiers. We get a pretty well-balanced view on both sides' motivations, following agents and androids on the one side, adults and children on the other.

Secondly, a couple who run a farm but are forced to take on android help when the land is poisoned by a failed pesticide, which leads to not only the loss of their livelihood but also their health and aspirations for a family. Obviously this arc is incredibly sad but does lead to some of the most introspective and thought-provoking moments in the book.

The chapters from the android POV were my favourite element of the story - it becomes clear that

they are not just unfeeling robots but in fact capable of emotions, empathy and desire. They are effectively AGIs that have been deliberately hobbled in an attempt to keep them under control

. 

Of course, the androids prompt us to think about what constitutes a person, at what point does an AI become indistinguishable from a human, and how should we treat them? But I also got the feeling that the treatment of the androids could be seen as similar to the demonisation and treatment of immigrants and ethnic minorities. 

The androids are constantly othered and treated as less human, despite the revelation that

there's not really much separating them from humans in terms of consciousness

, and that it seems like the vast majority of androids are simply going about their lives while being tarnished by association with job losses and the actions of a tiny minority. One android who is unable to speak much human language (but is incredibly fluent in android language) is treated very differently to his later-model counterpart who isn't much different other than being more fluent.

Ultimately the real villain in this world is late-stage capitalism. The militia rails against job losses and the increasing mechanisation of labour, but those changes were made not by androids but by greedy bosses. The farming couple's tragic story happens because of shortcuts at a mega-corporation and the cold, inhuman operation of the insurance company. The androids are created as soldiers, another product of the military industrial complex. 

Obviously, there are a lot of parallels to be drawn with our current world.

If you're after an easy read with a lot of guidance, it might not be for you but if you're looking to explore the issues at hand and don't mind taking your time to think through the various viewpoints, I think you'll love this.

Many thanks to DAW and Edelweiss for the eARC. I was not required to leave a review nor influenced as to its contents.