First, I would like to extend my thanks to V.S. Nelson, the author, and to Storygraph for the giveaway.

This book presents a very exciting story of a girl, Violet, and her robot companion, Jackdaw. A unique and mysterious science fiction setup that kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.

At the beginning, we meet Violet's friends, which creates a familiar feeling of a found family. We're also introduced to the time marbles. A collectable treasure Violet used for currency in place of money.

To me, the depiction of Earth in this book is both vast and claustrophobic. While the Earth is

looking to expand through the Earth ring

, the stakes involve saving all of humanity and the ecosystem, the environmental devastation makes the world feel small and oppressive.

There are so many twists and turns that keep the plot exciting! I found myself growing as cautious as Violet,

uncertain of who might "betray" her next.

As an audiobook, some technical aspects near the end were a bit confusing, with new concepts piling on top of each other in each chapter.

It's important to note that this is not a book for those seeking a technical closure to the science fiction components. However, it serves as a wonderful story for building empathy, especially for young readers. The emotional depth and character experiences make it a valuable read.

Rosie Akerman's performance was spectacular! She embodies each character with distinctive voices that feel firm and sure. However, one downside is that when characters shouted or screamed, it was too loud for comfortable headphone listening.

This experience was a delight, and I highly recommend the book to others who love or want to introduce SF/dystopian stories!