I was really prepared to not love this book. To begin with, the cover was too appealing. I loved it and even though I knew that Bao was not the topic of the book, the cover called to me. Secondly, as I read the description, it seemed to involve some sort of time manipulation. I may have mentioned it before, but I am not generally a fan of time travel, as it makes things...strange and often convenient. So, what did I do? I hit the Request button at and hoped that I might get a copy from Macmillan Audio.
Even after I downloaded the copy, I was hesitant. WELL, I LOVED IT. So much so that I actually went looking for more stuff written by the author. (As if I do not have a stack of books waiting in the wings!)
Chu is a Hugo and nebula award winner for former works, and this full length novel really pulled so many things together.
With no plot spoilers, Ellie- our main character is a grad student who is juggling school, and caring for her ill mother in another state, as well as her place in the universe as a Builder and maintainer of space as we know it. It's a lot for her to handle. Luckily she has some support in her cousin Daniel, a gentle mountain of a man. Unfortunately, she also has to contend with Chris, her elder sister who is a bit... toxic. All of them are involved in one way or another in the delicate balance of the Universe, and it seems that some are more committed to this balance than others.
When Ellie's Mother passes, she must return for the funeral, and finds herself facing a series of tests and challenges as she unravels some truths about the world she inhabits, her relationships and the way of the universe at large.
Chu handles many large topics with ease, while also building an entire world and fleshing out his characters to make them very VERY real for readers. I was really transported to a world where room size could shift, secret trails could be left, and the workings of the universe could be adjusted with the flick of a wrist all the while the world continues on with people living, loving and loathing and finding time to indulge in some delicious pan fried fish. The construction of the novel allowed me to absorb all of these elements and enjoy them for what they were rather than feeling confused by the concepts or relationships.
Narration was done by Katherine Chin. She did a really great job, and when I write this, I mean... OUTSTANDING. It was so outstanding that I went to look up the Narrators- plural because I believed that a man had narrated Cousin Daniel. Nope. just Katherine Chin. Her ability to modulate her voice and use certain accents really made it feel like a multi-narrator book, so I'm now going to see what other books she's narrated!
While Science Fiction isn't always for everyone, I feel like Chu has created a novel that could be an excellent entry point for people wanting to get into Sci-Fi. The setting is real world and real world adjacent, and the struggles faced by Ellie, Daniel and the crew are intensely relatable to anyone who has had a family at some point in life.
I don't really give star ratings that often, but.. 5/5 stars. in fact. 8/5 stars.
I'm so excited to read more from John Chu! Thank you to Macmillan Audio/Tor for the Advanced Listener Copy. It was a joy to read.
STATS
First Published : 4/7/2026
Pages: 240
Available as an Audio Book : YES (~ 7.5 hrs)
Trigger Warnings: Death, illness, toxic family, brief mention of unsuccessful suicide, attempted murder (this is not a full list, read responsibly)
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