Today’s word is “unexpected”: the book started off so, then kept right on unexpecting along different directions. First, the setting, unlike any world I’ve seen before. The conflict, which at first appears to be thinly-disguised evangelical whitemales against everyone else but then ... well, that remains part of the story, but it goes in other interesting directions.

Not everything made sense, either in the story or in hindsight. Not the motivations, or some logistics. But none were showstoppers: the story kept me going, enough so for me to defer a couple of my day’s priorities. It’s a great little novella, suspenseful and provocative. And fascinatingly compassionate—not in the hugs-and-I-care way, but in a deeper, more reflective and caring way.

And, oh, so much more I’d love to say but nope. No spoilers.