This book definitely doesn’t go or do what you expect. Much like the weird creature/entity from the book itself, it often feels like a rolling bolus of bonkers. As such, it’s quite compelling, despite how sometimes the book throws some really gross stuff at you. The imagery and world-building are immersive, as what seem like metaphors often turn into literal descriptions, giving the planet a sort of strangeness that is palpable. We aren’t told much, being forced to infer the state of the planet and people and the mysterious time-bendng disease (which I still don’t fully understand) from the dialogue and action rather than info-dumping, which I did appreciate, but at times I did find myself a little lost. Crysth is an empire. Like most, it expands and consumes and imposes structure and form. Different factions, all with different hierarchies, goals and rules, intertwine to create the expanseless, aching machine of empire. Within this system, a group of not-friends and barely colleagues, work together to bring the Apechi world into the fold. This world is tainted by a strange ailment that horrifies and intrigues. An MGS level of 5+ means that the level of MGO is 100+ and this level also appears on the label. Watson & Son produce a variety of manuka honey and some have a much higher level of MGO. For the better part of the Twentieth century, the Canadian government forcibly removed Indigenous children from their homes and sent them to boarding schools to be assimilated into "southern culture." The way they treated the tama was bad-bad. And look, I get that it is supposed to be bad, and I have read some downright horrifying things in my day, but usually there is some kind of... retribution? Consequence? But no, here it is just fine to assault the feeble-minded, use them for whatever, and then get rid of them. I just wanted some justice, any justice, but alas.

I did quite enjoy some of the secondary characters and was invested in their fates. Now, I did not feel the same about the "main" character (I use that loosely since there are quite a few characters' viewpoints that are offered, which is good because if you're anything like me, you don't want to hang out in Ming's head the whole book), but the secondary characters were more... tolerable? Multifaceted? Sure let's go with that. Also, they were kind of funny at times, which helped.If you have allergic reactions to pollen, celery, or other bee-related products, steer clear of using honey on your skin. When their subsequent investigation uncovers a web of collusion and conspiracy in the ranks of their own diplomatic corps, the envoys find themselves caught in the middle of a bloody civil war. As bodies pile up above ground, a deranged fanatic stokes an existential threat below, coaxing the embers of a forgotten god, and its temporal virus, to life. I loathed Ming. In fairness, I think we are supposed to loathe her? But it's hard to read a book where the main character just gets to be crappy and that is... kind of the point? Like they're all just willing to continue being awful no matter the consequences, and to me that seems short sighted to the point of being unbelievable, I guess. But she, and most of the people aside from a few, are just next level unlikable, so I had a hard time caring about what happened to them. I cannot say for sure what Watson's influences were in crafting this novel, but it reminded me a lot of the films of David Cronenberg, Frank Herbert's Dune, and Samuel R. Delany's Dhalgren, but do not misunderstand me. This is not the kind of science fiction story that regurgitates or imitates its predecessors; it is truly a marvelous and imaginative work of its own that pushes science fiction storytelling into compelling new regions.

Lessons in Birdwatching is a mind-bending, fast-paced read that plays with the reader’s ignorance. Like the hapless grad students from Crysth, the reader enters Lon Apech without a clue about what’s going on — or any of the key players’ true motivations. Its depiction of visitors in an ooky spooky alien land reminds me of Jeff Vandemeer’s Southern Reach trilogy, which is a high compliment. Lessons in Birdwatching take you on an exhilarating journey to the planet Apech, where a time-distorting illness has wreaked havoc. Among the visitors are Wilhelmina Ming and her four elite peers from the Crysthian Empire. However, their research post turns into a nightmare as they bear witness to horrifying acts of brutality that defy all logic. Struggling to cope with the trauma, they turn to unconventional means of escape, resorting to psychedelic antidepressants and group activities.

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The grading system used by Watson & Son is the Molan Gold Standard – MGS – and this is based on the research of Professor Peter Molan, who discovered the unique qualities of manuka honey. Watson & Son 10+ Manuka Honey has an MGO level of 300+, which means it has 300+ mg of MGO per kg. Lessons in Bird Watching” by Honey Watson STARS Genre: Sci-Fi Horror. Location: The planet Apech. Time: Dystopian future. NOTE: Many triggers: Sexual torture, cannibalism, gore, body horror. I so wanted to love this one, especially since the whole bird thing didn't even come into play. But alas, it just didn't hit the mark for me.

This company was founded by the Watson family in Wairarapa and is now owned by Ngai Tahu who are the main Maori iwi of New Zealand’s South Island. Watson & Son is now a well-recognised and coveted global brand, known for the purity and high quality of its Manuka Honey.There is a battle scene in the novel that is excellent, though I would have cared more about the outcome if I’d understood what everyone was fighting for (I mean, I do understand, but more at the micro level, not in general). The worldbuilding, character building, and events move at a fairly brisk pace, so be prepared. This book went by pretty fast, it's a fun, snappy romp. I found many comedic moments shining through despite grotesque sequences, but YMMV. From humble beginnings in a shed to a major operation with 85 employees and over 20,000 beehives, Watson & Son are at the forefront of both production and research into manuka honey.