3.5 stars.

I like the way it’s written and the idea behind the structure and correspondances is probably the most compelling aspect of this book. That said, this book borders on preachy. I know that the very premise tips the book in that direction, but it often felt heavy handed.

I felt like the author never quite picked up on the economy of language (choosing words that do double/triple duty so your writing is more concise and powerful). She also seemed to struggle with the idea of "show not tell" and building tension. Basic Creative Writing 101 things.

Spoiler

Too much time was spent in the trees with Tunde & Roxy and not enough tension was built. Similarly, there was little tension about whether Margot would ascend to political prominence. We never doubted Mother Eve. It was clear what would happen to Jocelyn.

The story was largely predictable and my early enthusiasm seemed to be misplaced. It started strong and ended weakly.

At the end I saw that Margot Atwood was involved in the creation of this book, and that made a lot of sense.