Vagabonder has an interesting world-building setting: a future in which much of our civilized world has been lost to rising oceans; a virus that neurologically altered many humans to create what most consider a new species (known as NiCIes or Dua) generally more equanimous and community-oriented but treated by most as damaged and less than human; multiple authoritarian cronyist governments that support a single massive corporation in oppressing and exploiting Dua; and the myth of a lost Dua tribe some think might be key to ending their oppression.

The story doesn't delve much into scientific explanations, as most of the main characters (and the primary main character) aren't scientists; the POV navigates through life and challenges in this possible future rather than explaining it, but the setting does feel like a reasonably consistent whole.

Much of the description and story is told relatively simply without a lot of scenic musing, carrying the story forward effectively and (IMO) for a fun read. Most of the characters feel reasonably well developed and three-dimensional with their own distinct backgrounds, contexts, and motivations, except for the main character who often seems relatively bland despite being the main lens through which we experience the story. One could argue that latter is due to the evenness of the MC's Dua mind or his particular background, although nothing in the story specifically calls that out.

Nothing I see in the book description calls out this being first of a series, but the story cuts off a bit abruptly just as events are significantly ramping up, so I presume sequels must be coming. I did enjoy the story that threads through the broad-stroke rendering of this semi-dystopic future, and am curious enough to maybe pick up the second in the series when it shows up.