A review by ergative
Planetfall by Emma Newman

5.0

 Outstanding! Such a well-constructed plot. I find hoarding indescribably sad---and because it is so destructive and dangerous it's not the kind of thing that can just be included for the sake of representation. If it's going to be in my book, I want it to be there for a reason. For a long time I was worried it was included just for the sake of inclusion, but it turned out to be so beautifully integrated with the other mystery that it worked exquisitely. That line: 'The door isn't locked. There was no need. My entire house was the lock that prevented its opening' is the keystone pulling together the two plotpoints---Ren's hoarding and the mystery behind whatever it was that happened when Suh died. I don't love the 'ascend to a higher plane of being' ending, but I do love how Sung-Soo's colony mates come back and exact their revenge. Fuck yeah! They never died--they adapted and became stronkk and now they're back for blood.