Like a warm hug. Sometimes it's nice to read something that isn't filled with major conflict or intrigue. This was the perfect book to read given the world right now.

It was mostly various people being nice to each other and discussing the differences between their cultures, but with enough tension and drama to avoid it being overly sweet. There were a lot of historical details hinted at, but sadly not explored. I'd have liked a little more of the Pei/Speaker conflict, but on the other hand I wouldn't have wanted more of it. More people (me included) need to be like Ouloo and be able to admit when they don't know enough about a situation to weigh in on it. The same is true of each character's handling of the others' difficulties.

The cheese bit was not good.

Whilst I preferred the more subtle treatment in To Be Taught, If Fortunate, I appreciate the exploration of gender and pronouns, but the use of “xe” and “xyr”, although perhaps necessary to get the idea across, is just as jarring as it was in The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.

There's nothing groundbreaking here, but not everything needs to be.