Beyond retelling a folktale, Barnhill (When Women Were Dragons) constructs nuanced characters with conflicting motivations and loyalties. The plot is sometimes slow-moving as readers wait for the narrator to catch up, but it arrives at a thought-provoking conclusion.
Multiverse stories are popular right now, and Tavares’s first novel will appeal to fans of the concept, along with readers who enjoy science fiction that digs into characters’ relationships in a setting that spans worlds. Recommended.