3.5/4 stars. On a re-read, the rating for this one dropped for me. I think when I read it the first time I was really starved for some SF with some decent character work that wasn't sexist or racist. :')

My favorite part is the character of Ren and her journey. She has conflict that really lives on its own, separate from the plot, so she feels fully realized. Her mental health struggle, her unlikeability, her cowardice, etc. are all a strong part of the story for me.

I also still like the ending, even though I can see how it's easily divisive. It reminds me of the weirdness of Annihilation, which is not a winner for everyone either.

Newman really tried, but I found many of the descriptions of tech and setting beyond me. I have a hard time picturing SF as authors describe it in general, so this is no different. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but there's a lot of it here, so it's noticeable.

I also found it too slow on a re-read, though it's hard to tell if that's because I'd read it before and knew generally what would happen. Maybe it'd be stronger as a novella, or just a shorter novel. You kind of go in circles in Ren's head for a while which is pretty exhausting.
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4.5 stars. Not what I thought it would be, more of a personal journey in a sci-fi setting. Really moving ending.