[2][3][4] The novel follows the stories of Jem and Isley, two veterans who served on opposite sides of the human invasion of the planet Qita, where the native inhabitants surrendered immediately.
Whiteley has stated that the idea behind the novel was inspired by a radio documentary she heard while driving about a Scottish man who moved to Japan to start a pub.
[6] Beret Petersen of SciFiNow said that the book explored "themes of loneliness and isolation," calling it a "startling study on the impact of colonial and imperialist attitudes and actions.
"[7] Kibby Robinson of The Nerd Daily said the novel "crafts an atmosphere of creeping uncertainty and strangeness that will follow readers past its pages" and "ultimately boils down to an intimate story of identity, belonging, and fractured relationships.
"[8] Lisa Tuttle of The Guardian described the book as combining "an intriguing, character-driven plot with great splashes of science fictional weirdness," saying that it "feels like an instant classic of the genre.