4.5 stars

Thanks to Flatiron for the copy of this book!!

Yume Kitasei coming in hot with an incredible debut!

The mission is straightforward: 80 recruits head to deep space in The Phoenix as humanity's last hope when the Earth is on the edge of environmental collapse. The recruits also have childbearing potentail to start a new generation. But it goes off course when a bomb kills multiple members of the crew. Asuka, our main character, is the only survivor of the explosion and the obvious suspect.

While the mission is simple, the charaters are complex. The narratives on mother/daughter relationships, estrangement, pregnancy and childbearing potential, belonging to multiple ethnicities, and friendship are all so well-developed in this dual timeline, locked-room mystery.

This is perfect for fans of:
- books with a diverse cast
- locked-room mysteries
- Project Hail Mary
- the movie Sunshine