Reviews

2021 READ: I think I enjoyed the story even more the second time reading it, largely due to reading about a slow-burn apocalypse while living in a slow-burn apocalypse. Thompson is a superb storyteller and worldbuilder. I loved this close-in portrait of one man, and am excited to be able to immediately dig into the next one and think through more of the wider implications of first contact, genocide, and the people who carry on with their lives while the world metaphorically burns. And I have to hand it to Thompson -- Kaaro is a sexist narcissist, but he is never written sympathetically. We are not told to love him in spite of his horrid traits. We are given him at face value, and allowed to make our own judgments. As a reader, to be able to stick with a character while finding parts of him charming and parts of him absolutely vile without sinking into worship or detestation is a hard needle for an author to thread. Thompson threads it better than most.

2019 READ: A fun, well-paced read. Consistently lifts enough of the veil to satiate the reader and make sure they aren't confused, but not so much as to solve the mystery. Although it could have been more concise at points, the slow build-up to the twist on what the alien invasion means for humanity was superbly crafted. The twist didn't go for shock and awe, but instead a slow surprise that didn't really hit me until thinking about it after I finished the book. I am excited to explore the "sociological" implications of this in the rest of the series!

laurarhds's review

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mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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