An interesting perspective on what makes someone a person deserving of rights, where being human is not a prerequisite. It’s all written in a casual, slice-of-life style, with some deeper undertones. The writing is very accessible, and the characters are immediately easy to connect with.

Annalee takes the time to lay some solid groundwork for the characters, allowing us to understand the motivations behind their actions and decisions. It adds a surprising amount of depth to such a short story before delivering what the premise promises: robots running a cosy noodle restaurant. Quick and delicious 🙇🏻‍♀️

Tbvh, this wasn’t quite as…exciting as his other Secret Projects. The concept is interesting, and Sanderson has once again created a unique world and magic system, but the worldbuilding didn’t feel quite as grand? Majestic? Awe-inspiring? It never really gave me that sense of wonder I usually get from his books.

That may have something to do with how often Nomad references his (recent?) past, while revealing very little about it. There’s clearly a fascinating story there, but without enough context, I found it difficult to form a deeper connection (😉). I was more intrigued than invested in this story in that it almost felt more like a side quest for The Stormlight Archive (like Edgedancer or Dawnshard), rather than one of the Secret Projects. Still an important part of my journey through the Cosmere because of the connections it has, and will have, to the rest of the stories.

The author’s note at the end was lovely, as usual.