In the Watchful City

The city of Ora is watching.

Anima is an extrasensory human tasked with surveilling and protecting Ora’s citizens via a complex living network called the Gleaming. Although ær world is restricted to what æ can see and experience through the Gleaming, Anima takes pride and comfort in keeping Ora safe from harm.

When a mysterious outsider enters the city carrying a cabinet of curiosities from around with the world with a story attached to each item, Anima’s world expands beyond the borders of Ora to places—and possibilities—æ never before imagined to exist. But such knowledge leaves Anima with a question that throws into doubt ær entire purpose: What good is a city if it can’t protect its people?

I first read this novella in 2021 and enjoyed it well enough, but the timing wasn't quite right and I found the book didn't stick with me like I expected it to. But I've been trying to do more rereading, and I figured this one was due a try! The story is about Anima, an "extrasensory human", charged with keeping watch over a city by means of the Gleaming: a telepathic network that allows its users to take over the consciousness and body of animals. But while Anima is devoted, things start to change when a mysterious outsider with a cabinet of curiosities and stories pays a visit.
This book somewhat reminded me of The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo, another favourite novella, where objects from the past also trigger stories. Clearly, I'm a sucker for an embedded narrative. This time around, I found myself much more susceptible to the - quite emotionally charged - story, and I'm so happy I gave it another try.