My first attempt at reading The Quantum Thief was during my last year of grad school. I barely made it through the first few chapters because it required more deciphering than I had energy for at that time. I vowed to pick it up again once I had my brainmeats back, and was not disappointed.

Perhaps my favourite part of the experience of reading this book was the lack of exposition used to get me emotionally invested. That said, I was constantly aware I was reading as I was reading. This isn't entirely a bad thing, but readers who prefer straight-up escapism and losing themselves for hours in a setting they can seamlessly slip into -- this isn't that story. There is work to be done here, and I think the payoff is worth it.

I am definitely looking forward to the rest of this trilogy, and would recommend it to anyone enjoying a bit of a jaunty heist with their hard SF.