The Seep Hardcover – January 21, 2020

As a trans woman who has a doctorate (speech communication, not medicine) and loves to hike in the mountains, I found the protagonist to be a rare treat. Thanks!That being said, I found the protagonist's mourning her wife to be the center of the story. The reader's connection to this story kind of hinges on them being able to identify with this struggle. It was a co-dependent relationship in some ways, but also tender and deeply authentic. If anyone is having issues with understanding a death, a breakup or an end to a friendship in which fault is shared, this touch of magical realism is a parable. The reason this story, which features a utopia verging on the overpowered, doesn't get boring, is because the protagonist suffers from melancholia. If the reader has a similar affliction, it is likely that the story will be a therapeutic punch to the gut, like a heroic dose of mushrooms. Experiencing this world through the protagonist's eyes can be a helpful thing for those who are going through loss.

I started this book over breakfast and finished it over dinner. The first half had me thinking all day about what I would do with the capacity for limitless change and the second half touched me as a meditation on loss and what it means to be human. Trina's queerness is an integral part of the character but not the whole story, there are layers of exploration in an alien-infused dreamscape. It's speculative fiction where the "what if" of alien occupation takes a kinder, gentler but all-consuming turn. The hardcover edition is gorgeous and totally worth it.

Utterly gorgeous. A quick read that takes us to a near-future utopic world, and shows the impossibility of perfection. Porter's details are on-point and her protagonist Trina's narrative of loss and picking her self up is truly compelling. The novel is slim, but Porter manages so much with time shifts and changing points of view, that as I reader I felt pulled into a prismatic and wholly different world, just a hair's distance of possibility from our own.

I loved this book. I loved the examination of change, of grief, of individuality and what makes us human. I loved the quality of the writing and the way the author can turn a phrase.

My copy came with pages missing, which isn’t Amazon’s fault or the authors. It’s massively infuriating anyway, but as I wasn’t really enjoying the book, it is what it is. The cover is stupidly gorgeous, so it’ll be nice to display. But other than that, it’s not a book I would go out of my way to bring up for any reason other than the odd page count.

You don’t need to be a fan of science fiction to love this book, this world and these characters. I devoured it!

There is wisdom and truth, as well as a very good story, packed into this small tomb. I enjoyed it!

A wonderfully imaginative and engaging read, especially for these odd times we are living in. You won't want to put it down!

Does this Trans thing really have to seep into every part of our life? Unintelligible nonsense.

Interesting read. Not really my cup of tea.