This felt like a slog at every step. Really truly just not for me 🤷🏽‍♀️ characters didn’t feel compelling nor relatable, just made me sleepy every single time I picked it up. 

Read the first three or so chapters and did not get any more invested in the story nor main character (what felt like a self absorbed, whiny man for me personally). Might be enjoyable for fans of works that are fantastical and attempt to follow in the footsteps of the British greats. Not sure I see the same greatness here, but it’s simply not for me. 

Was reading this book for Indie Ink 2023-24 for the "Writing the Future We Need: Latinx/e Representation by a Latine/x Author." At 71% of the way through the novel, there were exceedingly brief mentions of skin color, and one reference to drinking yerba mate (the only direct reference to Latinidad to that point in the novel). Otherwise, there were no real references to Latinidad/Latine identity, so this book did not feel a good fit for this category. 

At nearly 3/4 of the way through the novel, I preferred to spend my time for Indie Ink on other novels that needed additional readers and might fit the category better. 

Picked up for Voyage Out to try to re-engage and the book was so so but didn’t really do it for me/not the right mood. 

Book feels particularly triggering as a neurospicy survivor, as it goes into trauma in detail in ways that just don’t feel like a good fit. Mental health professionals recommended a couple others instead. Not worth hanging onto or trying to finish. Felt dissociated while reading it, although first brain chapters were interesting. Unfortunately, author has been accused of faking their studies, and having bunk science included (yikesssss). Just not the book for me. 

Just didn't hit at the right time - was reading an electronic copy of the book, which may have contributed to the DNF. 

Big thanks to NetGalley + Rebellion Publishing for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

Really interesting premise with a beautiful cover (dragons + dinosaurs + spaceships? + matrilineal/matriarchal society + political intrigue + polyamory + trans folk + sex work + magic of a sort + lots more) and interesting universe. Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me due to pacing  + muddled narrative (some chapters kept me on the line/made me turn the page, but then I'd stumble into one that felt chaotic and incredibly difficult to follow). This is an ambitious book whose execution felt lacking for me and/or could benefit from intensive editing for greater clarity for the reader. 

Some additional that had me struggling with this read included:
- lots of info dumping that didn't end up providing clarity about the universe or setting (as a reader I want to know the things I need to know, and am happy with unfamiliar/universe-specific words for things that I'll figure out with context but that balance was off with this one)
- execution of the gender role reversal bit (love the concept here, but the execution felt like a simple 180 of clichéd understandings of gender roles for this reader)

Also note: not for the faint of heart (please read TWs before picking this one up), but potentially the right fit for folks who enjoy heavier SFF and are comfortable with the type of content covered by TWs.