4.75 stars.

This was SUCH a good book. Newitz's writing is very reminiscent of Becky Chambers and her world-building was just magnificent. The characters are all so very creatively developed with the best of inclusion. The writing is seriously just so great. It is intriguing and immersing. I was absolutely absorbed into this book and I did NOT want to leave. Things were written so beautifully they just hit my heart.

Where I had issues was with the construction. If there ever was a case for a book to be expanded into a trilogy THIS IS IT. Constructed in three parts, this should have been made into three separate books. Putting them together was such a disservice to the story and made things feel like they transitioned and ended too abruptly. I not only wanted more, there NEEDED to be more. Annalee Newitz PLEASE consider writing the rest of the story...fill in the gaps, give more follow-up on an ending. This gorgeous world deserves it.

I will ABSOLUTELY be reading all of Newitz's backlist. Clearly their writing is right up my alley.