Weakest of the Southern Reach trilogy. VanderMeer's writing never really shines here, and the atmosphere is distinctly lacking when compared to Annihilation and Acceptance - which does make sense since they derive so much of their impact from Area X itself. Still well worth a read though - John/Control is a very fun character,

by which I mean he is clawing desperately for any authority and utterly fails to ever truly get it.