This was a fun read that I'm still trying to wrap my head around. It's split into three sections with the first and last telling two timelines simultaneously (1999 and 2002). The nameless narrator believes her mother has been abducted by aliens who are now attempting to communicate with her. The first section of the book is its strongest, even though I tend to get confused with this type of storytelling. I tend to lose track of the plot when jumping from one timeline and to the other. I'll get invested in what's happening in 1999, go back to 2002, and then forget what has happened once we return to 1999, but that may be my distracted ass trying to focus on two things at once lol. This section felt emotional and mysterious. By the end of the first section, I wanted to start the book over with the new information revealed (little did I know that I, in fact, did not have as much information as I thought). 

The middle section is where things started to slow down and complicate for me. Here, we jump to 2025, following our narrator as she is essentially dragged along from one strange event to another. The writing here slowed considerably from part 1. I can get so bogged down by slow writing that I put the book down for a few days. I didn't feel as invested as I did in part 1. Characters didn't get as much time to feel fleshed out like I feel Part and Litha did.

(Also, with M/A/R/K and The Returners and the surveillance company, there's too many secret organizations for me to follow and not enough aliens for me. There is some good creepy sci-fi, I feel, with the implant tests to monitor (and later influence) the poor citizens' activities.)

The final part of the book aims to tie everything together and I think Ntshanga did a decent job at doing so. The reveal

(about her mom)

was surprising but believable. After the second section, going back to the dual timeline format was refreshing. Overall, I'd recommend this book if any of its themes resonate. I like how it explores the themes of capitalism (and how it directly affects the environment) and post-apartheid South Africa. I like the messages and stories being told. I like the level of chaos that the book embraces, making me accept things that may seem... out of this world  😜 I am left wishing the book could have explored time more like it does riiiight at the end. Great book! Engaging writing for the most part and a creatively refreshing read.