One of the best things about climate fiction is the numerous ways that authors find to both destroy and save the world. The idea of a global cloud covering to protect humanity (and some other species) from the increasingly dangerous sun was one I had not heard before, so my interest was piqued. The immediate logical problem I saw with this plan was, in fact, the primary conflict of the book, but I was significantly more interested in the relationship between the two main characters, Mallory and Rein. The naive city-dweller and rebellious outlander dynamic is rarely one I like because I feel like the dynamic is too often flattened in boring stereotyping, but Mallory and Rein both gave the other space to be what their circumstances made them to be without blaming or accusing the other of willful ignorance or unnecessary disobedience. Their relationship was gentle and charming. To be clear, there aren't really romantic overtones to their relationship, and that's one of the things that made it all the sweeter. Platonic love can be (and often is) just as powerful if not more so than romantic love. And their motivations for each other were believable, sincere, and deep.

My biggest critique of the book was the ease with which the crisis was resolved. I can't say more without giving too much away, but I think the book needed about 50 more pages to more successfully manage the fallout of the characters' choices and the culmination of their relationship. I'd love to see what Pichette would do with a full-length novel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.