pretty unsatisfying end to a trilogy that was always going to be difficult to end. neuvel can write intricate and exciting scifi with nuanced characters who are flawed and complex… but he can’t write a political story without being so heavy handed it was like being stomped into concrete. this book spent early 60% of its length going through cycles of humanitarian platitudes with flat dialogue preceding it, only to be followed up with nationalist racism and death-mongering. i just wish neuvel could have made better use of the page count.