Now, let me start by saying this book isn’t bad. This book has all the wonderful, warm, friendly, and inviting writing of Chambers’ other work. It has fantastically complex and interesting characters. It has incredible world building, awesome science fiction, explores engaging concepts, and depicts more unusual lifestyle choices with respect.

But.

Other than one or two small overlapping events, there was no one driving story to this book. That may be wholly intentional. Each of the main characters has their own, smaller story. A personal journey. More like four or five vignettes than a singular cohesive novel. I enjoyed the book when I was reading it, but with a lack of driving action, of true stakes, and binding narrative… i had very little desire to pick it up and continue reading it. It was nice, but it wasn’t thrilling. It was well-written and interesting, but lacked any kind of powerful plot. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.