I loved loved LOVED this book. I read it just when I needed it, Tennal and Surit are beautiful characters with so much conflict within them and between them, their dynamic was enchanting to watch. The way their trust in each other grows and blooms into admiration is so satisfying to read. All characters are interesting and 3d, and their stories and personalities have nuance to a one. The plot is fast paced without being overwhelming and the politics are not black and white, which I found refreshing in a sci fi standalone. I think the question of 'what do you do when you exist in a corrupt system?' is explored nicely. Both Tennal and Surit reach their own conclussions by their own merits and they disagree in a lot of things, that to me is very realistic. The conversation about consent is great too. The one thing that I found jarring was that at the end there's something that gets done amd undone like four times ?? I can forgive this though. What I canNOT forgive is that at the end they don't have a full makeout session, 6 pages long MINIMUM, where they AT LEAST get to third base and talk IN DEPTH about their feelings and then grope each other a whole lot. You hurt me SO MUCH in that last 20%, Everina, and then you don't even give me any aftercare???? rude. I'm going straight to ao3 after this.

And again, I say. PrairieOwl this your fault 🫵. And thank you 😌

Hazta aquí mi reporte, Joaquín. 👋