In a dystopian world that somehow does not feel far off from the future, technology is an intrinsic part of everyday life. The Pulse is an implant that allows people to have constant social media access: filters over vision, messaging, news, and tracking etc. Technology has even started to creep into dreams- all in the name of helping people, of course! Moremi is a young girl when her life is changed by a horrific tragedy. As she and her sisters are forced to grow up too fast, Moremi clings to the feeling of wholeness and distraction offered by technology, but is unable to entirely conquer her darkest thoughts. When she meets a dreamer named Orpheus, the two of them must decide how far they will go to escape the manipulations of a technological society built to give power and control to the elite. 

Temi Oh’s writing is clever and thought-provoking. Moremi (Eurydice) is a very complex and original character. Oh follows Moremi’s journey as a young girl and her life before tragedy, to Moremi’s insistence on getting the implant, and how these experiences affect her as an adult. Moremi is relatable as she struggles with mental health and wishes for any way, no matter how improbable, to undo the grief that she feels. Orpheus has a similarly nuanced childhood and is impacted by grief at a young age. The retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice is woven throughout the story and creates a sense of anticipation and dread, as most readers will likely be familiar with how that story ends. Readers will be unable to look away as Moremi and Orpheus attempt to keep themselves above water in a society built to work against them. I also particularly loved the relationship between Moremi and her sisters. Even though they all held different levels of comfort with technology and had very different opinions, they were always there to protect each other.  

More Perfect is reminiscent of the movie Minority Report, where technology is used for dubious purposes in the name of safety for all. Oh raises compelling ethical questions and examines the way technology intersects with humanity and mental health. I really enjoyed how dreams were impacted by technology in this re-imagining of Eurydice. The way that Orpheus was able to design dreams and delve into the magic of others’ dreams was fascinating. Oh is clearly a sci-fi writer to watch as she creates vivid characters, complicated ethics, and unputdownable stories. I’m excited to see what she writes next! 

Thank you so much to Temi Oh, Gallery Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.