This was an intriguing novel that kept my attention all the way through. The ideas it explored - how humanity might doom itself or try to save itself, what the world might look like in the future or the far future, and what responsibilities we have to our planet - drew me to this book in the first place and were, in my opinion, explored well. Based on the acknowledgments page, it seems the author and I have read some of the same books!

My favorite aspect was the quality of the writing. A journal that gives us the context of the distant past is written in a strong and recognizable voice, while the more neutral 3rd-person narration of the far future is incredibly descriptive and immersive. The language and level of detail really drove home the beauty of the natural world and allowed me to visualize the main character’s surroundings better than any book I’ve read for a while.

The protagonists’ efforts to save humanity made the book quite engaging and well-paced. However, there were some worldbuilding and plot aspects that I found a bit distracting or disappointing. For example, I thought that the totally chaotic and broken-down nature of society at even the most basic level seemed unrealistic just a decade or so after a major disaster. This is at odds with how ordinary people often behave in disaster areas or even war zones, trying to maintain life as usual. I also found some of developments in the last few chapters a bit too fantastical for my suspension of disbelief, at least in a sci-fi novel. I absolutely loved the ending chapter though!

Finally, I felt like Natalie was characterized as perfect and all-knowing. Throughout the book, I can’t really remember her having a flaw, so she didn’t seem like a fleshed-out person. This was a minor complaint though, as I admittedly enjoyed reading about her.

Overall, I thought this book was a good entry into the climate fiction genre, well-researched and well-written. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an evocative and creative take on time travel and how humans might leave their footprint on our planet.

This book… I’m finding a hard time putting it into words…. It was beautiful. I really felt the writing. I could clearly see the imagery. I was very attached to our characters and their journey, each and every one. The research alone that went into this was 🤯. Reading this in today’s world really triggers my eco anxiety, my feeling of helplessness and the dread. But also the hope, the love, the human connection. It puts a lot of things into perspective. It was truly something special.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. I will absolutely be purchasing a copy upon release and I highly recommend it.