2021 was the first year I accidently learned to fear death. I try not to obviously but I lost 5 people in a year in a variety of ways. That messed me up a little truth be told. I think going through this story with the detail and care given to his characters helped.
It is a supremely good book equivalent if not greater then Jason and Finns story don’t discount it because of its “side story” status. Travis Bagwell did what he does best. He created a REALLY good character put them in a shall we say learning situation and allowed them to act naturally and learn. If you like his other work at all worth the listen.
If you feel the weight of loss and the fear of death you will identify hard with the main character, and maybe you’ll learn the same lesson as them. If your lucky at least haply reading