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[4.5 stars] Such a thought-provoking and nuanced little gem. I ended up reading it across two sittings (damn sleep getting in the way) and I had no idea where things were going to go, but I enjoyed every step of the ride.

The novel follows a narrator who is destined for life imprisonment after he commits an unknown crime. He escapes to a remote island where he eventually encounters mysterious inhabitants, and he grows infatuated with a particular woman in the community. As he observes the colony, he notices oddities in their behaviors and seeks to unravel the mystery behind their origins.

I didn't expect the direction this ended up going, but I really enjoyed the philosophical questions it asked about experimentation, consent, consciousness, and existence. Commenting any more would likely lead into spoiler territory - but it's a really interesting and creative concept. All the initially ambiguous phenomena are fully explained by the conclusion of the novel, which felt satisfying and saved me from having to revisit earlier scenes. The ending is absolutely perfect - no notes.

If you enjoyed Piranesi or the TV show LOST, I think those are the closest comparable titles I can offer. I'd highly recommend this one, and think it would be especially good for a book club or discussion to dissect further.