Huh. So that's what all the fuss was about. This book, I believe, was the author's first published novel. It also won the Hugo award, the Nebula award, and won said author the Campbell Award. 
 As far as I know, that's the first time that particular trifecta has occurred in the history of literary achievement. 
 Which sucks, royally, because I was really hoping I was going to be the first to achieve such honors. 
 So, when this thing exploded onto the scene last year, I was a bit hesitant to read it. One, I heard the novel was written without the use of gendered pronouns. And also that it's about an AI that had thousands of 'bodies' that were all part of that single AI (which is really a warship) and that was also the story's protagonist. 
 Sounds good enough. But I'd been a bit nervous because I'd heard such effusive praise from io9 before, about other books, books I'd read, and books that I did not enjoy with anything that I would describe as enthusiasm. 
 It was the same reviewer who'd led me down that wrong path before. So I held off. Then it was on the Sword & Laser podcast as their book of the month. Then I read about it here, then there, then an interview with the author, then another, then I saw it on sale, then the awards talk started. At that point it was becoming a matter of pride for me. It was too popular. Couldn't be good. Also, well, whatever. Just let me not read it, please. It's like I was being force fed this damn book. Screw you, book establishment! I can read whatever I want. And I want to read this book about peinisless vampires! Leave me alone. 
 And then I calmed down, all that annoying publicity died down, and it was safe to get on with my life. 
 Many moons later, I find that I absolutely have to purchase a phone case for my nephew. I've adamantly refused to become an Amazon Prime member, because screw them, that's why. 
 Except, I still buy all that stuff from them, and free shipping is a pretty sweet deal... so when I have to purchase something, well, I tend to make sure I get enough to qualify for free shipping, even if it isn't two day. Which means I had a $7 phone case and needed to come up with another $28 in stuff to make the purchase worthwhile. 
 And that's when I pulled the trigger. I really feel like I won that battle. Don't ask me how. I don't know. As I said last time I reviewed something, I'm much more concerned about how I 'feel' about a thing that the actual facts of the thing. Sometimes. Well, in this case at least. 
 So, in a single fell swoop, I'd beaten both this book and its endless hordes of praise, AND defeated internet giant, Amazon, in a single purchase, where I gave money to both the book people, and to that afore mentioned internet megadalon that also, I just realized, owns the site I'm putting this review up on. 
 (Dear Amazon, anything that sounds even a little bit negative towards you is totally a joke, meant to endear me to your haters, but you're too smart for that to fool you - kisskiss) 
 Once book was here, I immediately put it on my too-be-read shelf, which not holds well over a hundred books, and forgot about it. 
 Then the SECOND book came out. Godammit. The second round of flattery was just beginning. I hated this book so much. It was sitting on my shelf, mocking me. 
 So I, finally, decided to read it, and comment smugly to myself about how it wasn't that great, and that people are all sheep getting sucked into that hype machine... uh... might have mixed a metaphor there. But you get the idea. 
 So I read it. Turns out. The book was really good. I mean, I really liked it. 
 Double dammit. 
 As it stands, it's one of those novels that sort of defies easy explanation. Sort of a revenge tale, sort of a double-cross story, and certainly a mystery. I don't know, it's all of those things, and none of them. Also, it's got a lot of other things going on too. You know, that fact that our story's hero does indeed come from a genderless society, and spends some time going undercover in different places and always has to worry about getting someone's gender right. 
 I got to be a game with me as I read. Was that character really a female, as our lead calls everyone, or is it a male? I don't know, and it really didn't matter. I continued to be amazed at how this lead character struggled to define exactly what she was, since she was once a mighty warship, with thousands of vassals that shared her consciousness, and now was all jammed up in a single person. 
 In all, it's a pretty masterful piece of work. 
 Pisses me off to no end. 
 As it stands though, it's a 4 star book, really I'd give it a 4 and a half, but I rounded down, partly because of my desire to quit handing out so many 5 star reviews. I feel like that guy in the Lego movie, you know, the guy always singing the 'Everything is Awesome' song. So I'm being a hardass about things now. But I'm trying to be honest too. I did love it, but as I put the book down, I wasn't so giddy I couldn't think about anything else. I didn't run out and buy the sequel either. 
 I will read it though, and I won't wait very long, either.