kleonard's review
2.0
The premise--a murder/conspiracy mystery set in a tiny, autonomous, Russophone country in an alternate reality--is a good one. But the writing is repetitive, sluggish, and needs a heavy copyedit, and the descriptions of women throughout are sexist and off-putting. The male gaze is overwhelming. There are also a few too many echoes of Gorky Park in this as well, which will inevitably invite comparison--and this book will not come out the winner in that.
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