I had such a good time with this book. It has all the big space-opera stuff I love...first contact, alien civilisations, AI, black holes, political conflict, and world-ending weapons...but what really made it work for me was how much heart it had underneath all of that. Rhea is a strong, complicated main character, and I loved watching her assumptions get challenged as the story went on. Her relationship with Ga’Runa was probably my favourite part, especially the way Ga’Runa’s perspective slowly changes how Rhea sees other people and even herself.

I also really liked how the book handled grief, revenge, and the danger of turning fear into a whole belief system. The story gets surprisingly emotional without losing its humour or sense of adventure, and the flashbacks added a lot to the way everything came together. There were a few moments where I wanted the darker parts to breathe a little more, but overall I found this thoughtful, fun, and genuinely moving. Definitely one of those sci-fi books that gives you plenty to think about while still being very entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!