Understated

[Pam]

I'm about a third of the way in. Rafael's got guts, doesn't he?! If I'd been in his place, I doubt I could function at all, let alone sass my captors like he does.

I'm not sure where the authors are going with this. We already have plenty of stories of humans meeting alien beings who are in some ways superior -- messy, emotional, inefficient humans versus races who don't eat, poop, or mate. It's fun to compare though. And I always leave the book being glad to be a messy, inefficient human.

[Paul]

He's been shown as the sort of person who reacts without thinking of what the consequences might be, so I think it's probably in character.

[Susanne]

Auntiepam, did you finish it? What did you think?

I didn't think it was about first contact, or about how aliens are different, in the end, but about Rafael's journey. And of course, the twist. :) I loved this book.