Kirkus Review

“A moving, introspective love story with poetic prose and complex characterization.” — Kirkus Reviews

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"The vast majority of Pollux’s novel is told from Castor’s point of view (with occasional one-off glimpses into Centauri’s thoughts, which prove to be a bit jarring). Castor is revealed as an eloquent narrator, with verse-like thoughts that often spill out in the notes she writes to Centauri: “Sometimes I imagine the library as a living thing, some dormant beast, and that my presence in this room is an irritation.” So much of the novel focuses on her introspection, in fact, that the events that make up the external plot—the desperate attempt to save the library from shutting down, and Centauri’s long distance grant opportunity—feel like a mere backdrop to an account of Castor’s internal turmoil. Luckily, Pollux has constructed such a complex character that Castor’s thoughts are a compelling and beautiful, if often lonely, place to dwell. She’s a largely empathetic character, pining from afar and struggling with her own vulnerability, even if her sentimental philosophies can sometimes feel a bit dense and overwrought: “What if the universe isn’t expanding, just trying to get away from its own shame?” Readers looking for a brisk plot may want to search elsewhere, but those who enjoy deep, rich character studies will likely revel in Castor’s and Centauri’s deliberately paced romance. Overall, it’s an intimate and haunting look at the emotional intricacies of love, identity, and figuring out one’s place in the universe.

A moving, introspective love story with poetic prose and complex characterization."