I never know what to say about ambitious novels that don't quite meet their ambition.
I'm glad it wasn't a by the numbers read. But I'm not sure this book ever figures out what it is and what it's trying to do.

That said, the story is inventive and interesting enough. Just don't keep reading because you expect it to end up somewhere plotwise, characterwise, themewise.

The book raises a lot of interesting ideas without fully exploring them. And then takes other interesting ideas and says them straightforwardly, when showing the theme through the story would be more effective and intriguing.

I will definitely read future stuff by this author, because anything that does meet the ambition of this book will be a classic.