I really enjoyed this book for variety of reasons: Firstly, what a wonderful puzzle of a book, a book written by an intelligent author for intelligent readers. You constantly try to piece together the solution to the riddle, and it makes it a very fun read. Secondly, the treatment of sex and gender was incredible. It was queer in a brilliant, unapologetic, illuminating, kind of way (I have rarely read anything like it). Thirdly, I felt like the narrative was captivating and super emotion-driven. It wasn't bland in any kind of it. The style reminded me a lot of early Salman Rushdie or canonical Ursula Le Guin. Lastly, there are some brand new ideas in this book - ideas about life, love, ecology, religion.
Anyway, I'd definitely want to read whatever Byrne writes next.