RaveSFFWorldHow goddamn cool is the idea of a character being a spy and an astronaut? Seems a little over the top when it is plainly stated, but this is part of the genius of Kowal’s writing—as we get to know Nicole, it is impossible to not believe this about her ... The fact that this story hinges on a woman in her fifties (with arthritis) is, quite frankly, out of the ordinary for Science Fiction. Add to that the her eating disorder, and you’ve got even more traits that aren’t typically associated with protagonists in Science Fiction. But here again is what makes this such a brilliant novel, Kowal is thrusting such an atypical character at the forefront of this novel ... Nicole is believable and human ... Kowal doesn’t allow plot or narrative power to take a back seat. This novel is very much an espionage thriller in many respects, with the natural tension of a novel where one of the main themes being that there are untrustworthy characters mixing with our protagonist ... What I found particularly gripping and fascinating was how prescient and relevant the novel is to the world we live in today ... a hopeful, beautiful, gripping, powerful continuation of The Lady Astronaut saga, which is emerging as a Modern Masterpiece of the Genre.