ralith.com

Flat characters, erratic pacing, contrived and predictable plot, thin world-building, and a poor English translation combine to make this a disappointing read.

Richer characters and deeper exploration of established setting elements make for a pleasant improvement over the previous entries in the series.

Solid sci-fi action while you wait for the next Dungeon Crawler Carl. Shamelessly consistent with Dinniman's established themes. Surprisingly thoughtful world-building and an interesting conclusion manage to elevate this above its formula.

Builds an intriguing, recognizable world, and successfully delivers on the fine details. Rational characters that pursue relatable motivations. Plenty of conflict, but no simple "bad guy," which is especially striking in cyberpunk.

Striking descriptions and interesting narrative gimmicks. I was disappointed that the world-building wasn't deeper. Multiple characters considered themselves scientists studying the setting, yet we never learn much about it, and its strangeness doesn't matter in the end. Still, it didn't overstay its welcome.