Flashes of Brilliance suggests a larger canvas, and I tend to pause for books that hint at the larger world around the book and why it matters now instead of empty spectacle.
Anika Burgess is working in n09 history, which means I want more than ornamental scale. I want memory in the setting, pressure in the institutions, and the bigger frame rather than just the plot machinery.
If this one delivers that, it belongs with the books that reward patience instead of merely filling it. That is the real test for readers who like immersive books but still expect discipline. W. W. Norton & Company has it listed for 08-Jul-2025.