content warnings:

Spoiler

ableist language, animal cruelty, mention of euthanasia, precanon parent deaths, on-page non-graphic animal mating scene, self-harm (biting fingers until bleeding), epidemic, dementia, major character death

rep:

Spoiler

WLW MC [Gemma], ace MC [Sister Faustina], major F/F relationship, Black secondary char. [Sister Ewostatewos]

I think the premise is fascinating — living ships (I didn't get "slug" but apparently that's what they're modeled after?), queer humanitarian nuns, dilemmas of ethics and survival. There's a lot of potential in the complex characters and some unique worldbuilding.

However, I often have trouble getting fully invested in sci-fi, which was unfortunately the case here. The plot felt more bare-bones and packed than I would've preferred, even for a novella; there were just too many main characters for each of them to get a fair amount of narrative focus.

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CONVERSION: 8.07 / 15 = 3 stars

Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 5 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Memorability: 2 / 5