Solid fantasy quest featuring a female protagonist. The back story is explained through use of having characters tell stories, and this is overused and gimmicky. Otherwise though, a fun read.
Read next: Phillip Pullman's The Firework-Maker's Daughter.

Absolutely brilliant, everything a sci-fi novel should be. It's a thought experiment, an adventure, and a deep exploration of so many many things. Culture as a function of time. Imperialism. The concept of "self." AI. Gender. It's all here.

This is the book that I keep trying to get other people to read, because I really want to discuss it with them.

Seemed like generally sound parenting advice, but the authors insist the whole thing is based on brain science without providing a single solitary footnote. I was not impressed.

This book is surrealism defined. It's like reading a Dali painting. It's disconcertingly disorienting, but wonderful as well. I'm going to hide the next bit, because even though it ins't a plot spoiler it's a format spoiler. And if thinking about what a format spoiler could be is a little mind bending and a totally captivating idea, then you should definitely read this book.

Spoiler

Early on in our story, Jane makes a decision. The story plays out, almost reaches a resting point, and then the reader is jerked back in time. Jane makes the same decision, differently. The story plays out again, completely differently but also recognizably. And again. And again. Jane makes each decision, and each time we learn new and different things about the mysterious goings on in Tu Riviens. It's a really cool way to tell a story with an almost god-like panoramic view, but still from the limited viewpoint of only one character moving through time.

The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I'm not totally sold on the way the book ends. But I still am left feeling I want to read it again, to see what else I can notice that I missed before, and if I can sell myself on the end. So I guess call this 4.3 stars and a definite re-read.