The concept for this book is interesting: it takes place in a future where humans are genetically engineered and life is lived half on the internet, and there are "menials", humans who are basically servant slaves. The world building right out the gate was incredibly strong here, and very intriguing. However, it's presented in a way that is so, so dull. By page 58 we've met 6 characters, 3 of whom have had POV chapters, and I just...don't care. I'm interested in the world itself, but the characters and everything else filling in the world didn't do a single thing for me. 

 The biggest strength of this book was also the biggest issue for me: Nghi Vo seems to embody Fitzgerald's writing in a way that makes it truly feel worthy of The Great Gatsby. She writes beautifully, and it doesn't feel like a poor attempt at a retelling. It feels natural and effortless.

Unfortunately, it just reminded me of how much I really, really, really, really, really fucking HATE The Great Gatsby. I was hoping that my love for Nghi Vo's writing could outweigh my hate for Gatsby, but alas. Hate wins this time.

 Max Gladstone always has interesting ideas, but this simply could not hold my attention for long periods of time. It felt like my brain kept sliding away from the book every time I sat down to read this. I honestly don't even feel like I read nearly 200 pages of this, because it never felt like anything was happening despite so much happening with the plot. 

I'm always going to check out whatever Max Gladstone releases because he's got a weird, beautiful, creative mind, but this didn't do it for me. 

 I'm genuinely surprised at how great this was. (I'm not sure why I'm so surpised, I know it's a classic graphic novel for a reason.) The story moves forward with good pacing, the world building as the story moves along is interesting, and I think I loved the ending.

I have watched the movie, so it was also really neat seeing how this book provided a really good foundation of a story for the movie to build upon and make even better, in some respects.

I did end up docking 1 star in my rating because despite knowing this was written in the 80s, I couldn't choke down how terribly this book treated women. I kept waiting and waiting for something, anything, to get better and it never did. As I was reading, I accepted it for the sake of the story and to give it some allowances for being ~a product of its time~ but then I got to the end and just sighed.

Nevertheless, I do think this is a very good book and I can absolutely see why it's considered a classic of the genre. Really compelling storytelling and great, solid art.