This review is to explain my 3 star rating. While the writing is of high quality (the reason for the 3 stars) I've unfortunately come to the conclusion that I dislike this story on a conceptual level. The objective of the "Affini" reeks of European imperialism and colonialism, certain that wresting control and agency from other races is justified by their superior technological prowess and economic system. Apparently not satisfied to simply take control on a macro level, they also have a system of effective slavery often used for s*xual purposes, backed by inherent mind control mechanisms and liberal applications of drugs to work around the concept of consent. Very liberal applications, often via needles which are frankly nightmare fuel for me. That's not the full extent either, as a mechanism much like a parasite is often applied, sometimes forcefully. This is effectively an active lobotomy to ensure that their prey are compliant and in some cases incapable of thought.I understand the concept of wish fulfillment and this story/setting is clearly within that realm for some, however as much as I've tried to give it a chance I find the concepts which it's based on immoral and several of the details disturbing. Again, I have nothing against the quality of the writing itself, but I vehemently do not subscribe to the concepts on which the setting is based.

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