There isn't nearly enough bite to this story. It doesn't waste any time getting to the main plot of Meggie's self-destructive obsession. Unfortunately, it's narrated by future, older Meggie, who seems fine. So we aren't ever in much fear that anything irreversible happens to Meggie, which takes away any sense of urgency we might feel.

Of course there is also the question of Sabine, but she is almost a non-character to us. We only get tiny snippets of information about her history and situation, and have every reason to distrust these. There's not much reason for us to have any more than a passing interest in an epilogue about Sabine.

The story is at least somewhat thought-provoking, but unfortunately not at all gripping.