The set-up here is a solid one. We get two perspectives. Cee is alone on a deserted island, her only companion a robot without conversational skills. She remembers little, only that she is searching for her sister. Kasey lives in a futuristic city in the sky, protected from the increasing dangers of climate change, coping with the isolation that comes with the disappearance of her older sister. As the book progresses the two narratives begin to approach one another and we get hints of the larger story that is going on in both places.
Putting in it frankly, this story is a bit strange. It's sci-fi to be certain. Characters use stasis pods, virtual presences, brain-computer interfaces, even gravity reversal fields. But that's challenging part, I think. It's the plot. Through most of the book we are headed in a pretty clear direction. There is some exploration of privilege, social stratification, and ecological responsibility. Then, without getting into any spoilers, at a point where I thought I could see how the book was going to end, the plot shifts significantly. And the final chapters focus on an entirely different message. It was a bit jarring and means I would hesitate before recommending this book to other readers.
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