Sterling Karat Gold

It was wonderful to read a novel that centered trans poc characters, and the sharp energy and inventive, vibrant world created by Waidner was, for the most part, a thrill to read. However, for me, the story sat in an uncanny valley between convention and experimentation. The slippery dream logic often strayed towards deus ex machina, which, along with the chaotic pacing, gave the feeling that the narrative was being supplied off the cuff—like the entirety of the novel comprised Cataclysmic Tabloid #43.