I thought the first book was pretty meh with big ideas but mid execution, but holy hell was the sequel exciting and leagues ahead in terms of quality. Really delivers on what the first novel sets up.

Idk it was fun for me. I thought it was interesting being from China, I'm not that well read so the Chinese author put a cool perspective on the novel.

I think it's similar to a lot of golden age SF novels from Clarke, Asimov, etc. Big, fantastic ideas combined with characters that are cardboard cutouts.

It was pretty meh.