Echoes of [b:Heart of Darkness|4900|Heart of Darkness|Joseph Conrad|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392799983s/4900.jpg|2877220] mixed with [a:Paolo Bacigalupi|1226977|Paolo Bacigalupi|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375566282p2/1226977.jpg] and [a:David Mitchell|6538289|David Mitchell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1409248688p2/6538289.jpg] - and maybe even a bit of [b:The Picture of Dorian Gray|5297|The Picture of Dorian Gray|Oscar Wilde|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424596966s/5297.jpg|1858012]. Complicated and unwelcoming, there is nonetheless something here to draw the reader in. I don't know that I can say I truly liked it, but images and characters will remain with me for a while. 3.5 stars, rounded down.