One of the most well-written fantasy books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The author has a unique voice with an uncanny ability to paint vivid images in novel ways. As an author myself, I have tendency to read with an analytical mind in terms of mechanics, which is one of the leading causes of me failing to finish a book; however, the mechanics of this piece had me “fangirling” throughout. It is an impressive work, and the author does not hold back or coddle the reader. The story is engaging and intriguing, with relatable characters. Errors are minimal, and the narrative flows effortlessly. I’m beyond excited to read more of the series.

Melissa Mickelsen’s Tearfall is set on a spectacularly ruined Earth. The reworking of humanity's digital preservation in place of biological life is unique in a genre full of the same rinse-and-repeat ideas. The tech is well executed, with ship-mounted hyper cannons that vaporize and wholly believable chains of command. An aptly named Rex is a sanctimonious commander with a warped view of what, and who, are expendable for his own preservation. I found it eerily relatable to real life right now. Caitlin is the perfect combination of likeable, reactive, flawed, and emotionally transparent, and rubs some of that goodness onto Tavik, whom I'd follow across a wasteland. Perhaps that desire comes from the author's ability to breathe visual life into the landscapes, the standout being a dry inland sea and its miles of cracked earth ringed by mountains, a living perimeter, and the vertical glow of migration. I'm here for whatever Mickelsen gives us next. Very highly recommended.