Centuries after Earth's collapse, a crew of genetically engineered Martian bioforms responds to a desperate signal from the ruined planet, only to become entangled in a chaotic struggle among feuding factions, techno-feudal warlords, and a religious order devoted to the outlawed hive-mind intelligence known as Bees. Exploring themes of cooperation, identity, and the consequences of technological hubris, the story unfolds through multiple perspectives, highlighting the clash between advanced Martian ideals and Earth's fractured, post-apocalyptic society.

Reader Review Summary

Set several centuries after the previous entries in the series, the story takes place in a future where Earth has suffered a gradual collapse due to a series of environmental disasters, wars, and societal breakdowns, leaving behind a fractured, post-technological world. Mars, in contrast, has managed to survive and even thrive, thanks to the cooperation between genetically engineered Bioforms—enhanced animals and humans—and the outlawed distributed intelligence known as Bees. The plot is set in motion when a desperate signal for help is sent from Earth to Mars, prompting a small team of Martian Bioforms to return to their ancestral planet. Upon arrival, they find Earth divided among feudal bunker societies, a monastic order devoted to preserving knowledge of Bees, and remnants of advanced technology in the form of the Factory. The narrative unfolds through over sixty short chapters, each told from the perspective of one of nine main characters, including Martian visitors and various Earth factions, as their mission to help quickly devolves into chaos and conflict among the survivors.

Readers praised the book for its imaginative worldbuilding, particularly the depiction of a devastated Earth contrasted with a cooperative Martian society. The portrayal of Bioform characters, especially the reptilian Irae and the dogform Wells, was frequently highlighted as a strength, with many noting the author's skill in conveying non-human perspectives and internal conflicts. The ensemble cast and the use of multiple points of view were appreciated by some for providing insight into the different factions and their motivations. The fast pacing, short chapters, and the exploration of themes such as distributed intelligence, cooperation, and the blurred line between technology and magic were also cited as positive aspects. Several readers enjoyed the dark humor, the depiction of post-apocalyptic societies, and the way the book built on the foundations of the previous novels while introducing new conflicts and settings.

A number of readers expressed dissatisfaction with the book's narrative structure, finding the frequent shifts in perspective and overlapping retellings of events from different characters to be repetitive and at times confusing. The large cast of nine main characters led some to feel that the story was cluttered, with certain points of view perceived as less engaging or necessary. Others criticized the pacing, noting that the story was interrupted by frequent exposition and info-dumps, which slowed momentum and made the middle sections feel laborious. Some felt that the focus on the distributed intelligence Bees and the post-apocalyptic Earth setting diminished the unique qualities of the earlier books, making the plot feel more generic or reminiscent of other science fiction works. There were also comments that the stakes felt lower, the ending was predictable, and that the book did not match the impact or novelty of the previous entries in the series.

The book is the third installment in a series but is structured to function as a standalone, with several reviewers noting that prior knowledge of the earlier books is helpful but not strictly necessary. The story incorporates a mix of human, animal, and distributed intelligence perspectives, and explores themes of cooperation, survival, and the consequences of technological and societal collapse. The setting draws on elements of dystopia, science fiction, and even science fantasy, with references to feudal societies, monastic orders, and advanced but decaying technology. While the book leaves room for further sequels, it provides a conclusive ending to its immediate storyline. The average reader rating is 4.33 out of 5, based on 539 ratings and 87 full reviews, with a range of responses from highly enthusiastic to disappointed, reflecting a diversity of reader experiences and expectations.