TW: includes scenes of sexual assault and graphic violence, including a scene with an adult engaging in inappropriate behaviour with a child

I’m tired of books about abuse. Mostly this book is not that, but there’s enough to make me dock a star rating.

Mostly, it’s a road trip horror story, battling the elements of a post-climate disaster world of tsunamis, rising sea levels and navigating new technology in a plausible, speculative future.

I found this book in a street library and the premise was intriguing. A science fiction book about a world where India and Ethiopia have emerged as global powers, written by a woman, about a queer non-white woman. It has a lot going for it.

Vaguely spoilery bits below:

It takes a really really long time for the story to start connecting it’s two halves together in a meaningful way. When it does, it feels somewhat implausible. I didn’t think the violent turn it took was necessary. I was reminded of the things I did not like about The Life of Pi in that regard. I’m not even sure the parallel plot was even necessary, it didn’t add anything to the story that really interested me.
I don’t know if I’m supposed to think the main character is having a paranoid psychotic break or if this is some kind of magical realism element intruding into the story. It gets a bit confusing.
I did like how complex the main character is. She’s unapologetically unlikable, and yet despite this I did want her to succeed in her mission.
The fantasy world building of a possible near-future is excellent. I enjoyed the science and was pleased to see the author does have a solid background in various scientific disciplines.
I can’t think of anything else I’ve ever read that is quite like it.