A wholesome TTRPG about hamster-like creatures and their adventures. With carefully thought out inclusive worldbuilding (including notes about society not really having gender roles, and intersex Michtim being commonplace), it's a fun read even for those not planning to play it. There are also notes for changing the complexity of individual character sheets based on what stage of life one's character is at, which is a wonderful accessibility feature. 4/5 stars - excellent.

This is deceptive in all the best ways. It's not the first time I get to read a book trying to emulate small cuddly animals going on adventures, but this one does it so well, it took me by surprise. I'm loving the emotions system, the Haus, the Callings, all of this is well done, simple enough to understand but rich enough to leave loads to explore during the game.

But what really clicked for me is the attention to small details like presenting a society where gender roles aren't important and telling us about family taking many different forms. Even in the fact that players can give each other experience, I get the strong feeling that Michtim is queer in all the ways that I want a game to be queer, I get the feeling this game has a message, and it's not just about hamsters vying for a better future.I get the feeling this is also about the stories that structure tells, and I'm so, so happy about the story this deliberate structure is telling me.

This is a remarkable achievement. The cards are a very cool element of visual aid, and the book is a pleasure to read.

A beautiful and thoughtful game, where the system and the setting are in total harmony