I've been reading the 2016 sci-fi book "Too Like the Lightning", by Ada Palmer -- and loving it so much! Honestly I was hooked by the *title page*, because it just jumped right into the world building with gusto. (The pic is a bit blurry, sorry. But take a look anyway!)
@gabe
"stray"? I don't remember what I meant to type there. O.o Perhaps "strange"...