This book was a wild ride. How to even begin describing it? Firstly, I loved it, just so we're clear on that. This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 and I am glad to say it did not disappoint. It is about Sunai, who died 17 years ago but continues to be alive despite his best intentions. It is about Iterate Fractal, a powerful AI who controlled and was worshiped by a beautiful island nation until it died and killed them with it. It is about a land of city states ruled either by heavy handed AIs or heavy handed humans, where AIs can be called up to join an empire we never really see, and where far above orbits the Cradle, to which humanity fled and from which it returned, once upon a time.

It is a book that doesn't hand you anything, but forces you to pay attention as you read and do the math in your head to connect the dots of what is going on. I admit I was occasionally lost, but my brain absolutely enjoyed the exercise. There will never be a lengthy explanation for what is going on, for how the world came to be the way it is, but that is okay because why and how don't matter particularly to our main characters, they are just trying to deal with what is.

It is the type of book that rewards rereading, because once you know the general storyline you can pay attention to all the little details that form threading roots to bring this conglomerate structure together. I might go back and reread it right now actually.

In conclusion, I don't feel like I have the words to describe what reading this book was like. But I loved it. I loved Sunai, I loved Veyadi, I loved Jin and the Maw and I can not wait to read more about them. I hope you love them too. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for this honest review.