This is a compulsively readable sequel to Carey's Widowland. I enjoyed it hugely. Carey builds on the dystopic alt-history she created in her previous book (think Orwell-meets-Harris) and leaves you wanting more.

In all honesty, I don't think it's quite as good as Widowland, which set up such a good premise; there's had to be some narrative contortions to explain why the protagonist is, frankly, still alive. And there starts to be a perhaps disconcerting amount of overlap between this and a series Carey has written under another name. Having said that, I was absolutely gripped. And am awaiting the next one avidly.