After a mysterious cataclysm splits the city of Fairharbour into two parallel worlds—one trapped in endless winter, the other in perpetual summer—cousins Jamie and Esther, separated across these mirrored realities, discover ways to communicate and unravel the family secrets behind the city's division. Blending science fantasy and magical realism, the novel explores themes of family legacy, art as connection, and the struggle against oppressive powers in a fractured world.

Reader Review Summary

Set in the divided city of Fairharbour, the story follows cousins Jamie and Esther Pike, each trapped in a mirrored version of their hometown—one locked in perpetual winter, the other in endless summer. The split occurred after a cataclysmic event, often referred to as a 'weatherbomb,' which fractured the city and its inhabitants into two separate realities. The narrative alternates between Jamie and Esther’s first-person perspectives as they discover ways to communicate across the divide, exchanging objects and memories in an effort to unravel the mystery behind the city’s split and their family’s role in it. The Pike family, especially their grandmother Carmen, a renowned film director, plays a central role in both the city’s history and the cousins’ quest, with themes of art, memory, and familial legacy woven throughout. The book blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and dystopia, and is described as atmospheric, introspective, and experimental in structure, with a focus on the emotional and psychological impact of the city’s division.

Readers frequently praised the book’s atmospheric worldbuilding and evocative prose, particularly the vivid sensory descriptions of the contrasting climates—Jamie’s biting cold and Esther’s oppressive heat. Many found the alternating perspectives engaging, with some noting that Jamie’s chapters were especially lyrical and immersive. The exploration of family history, the significance of art and film, and the layered supporting cast were highlighted as strengths, with several reviewers appreciating the way the narrative wove together personal and communal histories. The book’s structure, with its nested stories and symbolic objects, was seen as inventive, and some readers enjoyed the slow reveal of the city’s mysteries and the emotional resonance of the cousins’ attempts to reconnect.

Common criticisms centered on the pacing and character development. Several readers found the story slow, with long chapters and a focus on introspection and flashbacks that sometimes overshadowed present action and made the plot feel stagnant. The dual authorship was noted by some as leading to a disjointed or uneven narrative voice, and a number of reviewers struggled to distinguish between Jamie and Esther’s personalities. The ending was frequently described as anticlimactic or rushed, with some plot points and worldbuilding elements left underexplained or resolved too quickly. Others felt emotionally distant from the characters, citing a lack of depth or agency, and some were disappointed by the book’s reliance on telling rather than showing, especially regarding major plot revelations. Expectations set by the marketing—such as a more action-driven or magical story—were sometimes unmet, leading to further dissatisfaction.

The book is positioned as adult speculative fiction and has drawn comparisons to works like 'Every Heart a Doorway,' 'This Is How You Lose the Time War,' and 'The City & The City,' though readers noted significant differences in tone and structure. The narrative is theme-driven, focusing on family, division, and the role of art in survival and connection, rather than on traditional plot or action. The setting evokes a vaguely twentieth-century, small-town atmosphere, with the Pike family’s influence permeating both versions of Fairharbour. The book’s experimental style and refusal to provide all the answers were divisive, with some readers appreciating the ambiguity and others finding it frustrating. The average reader rating is 3.52 out of 5, based on 77 ratings and 64 full reviews, and the book is scheduled for publication on April 29, 2025.