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I'm back again with another review from a book I got on NetGalley! This book kind of feels like a change in pace from what I've reviewed in the past. I think it may be the first one I've done this year that's SF? Either way, it was really interesting to change it up—even if I do read a lot of SF in my free time. Anyway.

This book is by an author named An Yu. She was born and raised in Beijing. I've never read her work before or and I hadn't heard of her before I requested this book, but I am really glad that I picked it up even though it wasn't my favourite thing. In a way, I think that I'll actually grow to like it more as I get further away from the reading experience. I'll admit that I like when that happens. Books that can be chewed on are great.

I said the book is SF, and it is, but I would also call it speculative literary fiction. There's not a lot of action or extensive character and plot development. My explanation may not be good, but I think that's the overall tone. In fact, I found myself reminded of I Who Have Never Known Men (with the help of a friend). It has a similar uncanny eeriness and an underlying mystery for you to think about as you move forward with the characters.

If you're looking for clear cut answers and world building that clearly establishes the rules of the setting, then this isn't the book for you. But if you're interested in a book that doesn't give you the answers and allows things to happen without necessarily giving a resolution or explanation, then I do think it's worth reading. Unlike that book though, Sunbirth has multiple characters and even shifts time and character perspective throughout the novel—something I absolutely love in fiction.

It was just so interesting reading about characters in an apocalyptic setting in a town that seems that it's disconnected from the whole world. Is there even a world outside of this town? What about the sun? Why is it disappearing and what's all this weird mysterious stuff that's going on? I'm not sure that any of those questions are answered, but that makes it all the more interesting to think about.

This may not have been my favourite book, but it is making me think and just writing this review has made me respect and appreciate it as a story all the more. I definitely want to read more from the author.

Life feels like it's been absolutely off the charts lately. Some of that is, of course, because of what's going on globally in politics. But on the other side, is that I've simply been rather unwell since the middle of May. So even though I got the arc for this book from NetGalley many months ago, it's come down to the wire when it comes to actually reading it and getting out my review. But maybe that was actually for the best? Somehow it feels like it was exactly the right time to read this absolutely incredible story by Tashan Mehta.

Mad Sisters of Esi starts by talking about how time and stories are circular rather than linear, and I think that both within the world of the novel and in real life, that this is true. While I do think that the sometimes mundane nature of modern life in a globally connected place space and time may feel linear, it's my view that time is certainly far more circular than most of us have the power to contemplate.

But the fact that we often perceive our time as incredibly linear is what I think lends this story some of its power. We travel through the black sea alongside all of the numerous characters that take shape within the narrative. We are also looking for our sister. We are also looking for the whale of babel. And while we go on that journey together with these characters, much like the characters, time loops around over and over again. We jump forward and backward and sideways in both directions. The reading experience is incredible and I'm not sure that I was expecting to feel this level of catharsis by the time I reached the end.

I love stories that play with character perspective and time in interesting ways, and Mad Sisters of Esi does those things. The author has crafted a situation actually where there isn't even really an end. Because even for us, with the time that we process as linear, death isn't just an end—for some people, it's not an end at all—it's also a beginning.

What an absolutely wonderful novel. I highly recommend it. I am in absolute awe.