sentences:  Noted in one review as "a superb example of speculative fiction," the book was included in the "Locus" recommended reading list and nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel.It was 4th in the Locus Award among first novels and led to Carter's nomination for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1997 and 1998.In her 2010 retrospective review, writer and critic Jo Walton described it as "certainly one of the most important books of the last twenty years."