The characters are well-sketched and come across as real people. Their motivations and interactions are believable and serve the plot well. However, they don’t evolve much over the course of the story, leaving that aspect of the book a bit flat. Having the characters shift a little more as a result of their experiences would make them feel more grounded, and give their losses more stakes.

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Overall the voice and style are consistent and well-executed. The writing is clear and sophisticated. However, many sections are a bit overwritten and overly dramatic. This is especially notable when Langston explores his attraction to Tia, which often results in extremely theatrical writing about falling into her eyes and such. Nothing wrong with that per se , but it doesn’t match up well with the style of the rest of the narrative.

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An excellent premise, a unique and interesting fictional universe. I loved the idea of the Gentle Hand and the Archons, and Felicitas as a corporation/planet. Pacing was excellent. Just enough time to establish the setting, the stakes, and the players and then we’re off to the races, but you also weren’t afraid to slow down here and there for more thoughtful explorations. The romance aspect was refreshing in a genre that often overlooks it entirely or treats it shallowly.

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A little overwritten. Some of the sequences where Langston struggles with his attraction to Tia and his past swerve into a wholly different tone that pulls the reader out of the narrative.