This is literally perfect. You don’t get many setups like it, especially not ones where the affini are forced into a situation where some level of…not equality or equal standing but delayed gratification is needed.

The PoV characters are all just perfect, the dynamics of the characters are lovely, there’s this quality to the affini here that I love — they aren’t human but there’s a person-like quality to even their inhuman features that makes them really pop. I absolutely adore the captain and their affini, the captain’s admirable leadership is very nice to see, and I love how the affini react to it. Pack-leader, brood mother, ‘captain’ — all of it’s just amazing in a way that’s hard for me to put into words.

My favorite work by this author and definitely one of my favorite works in the affini-verse as a whole!