Nophek Gloss is the first novel in the Graven trilogy, the debut of Essa Hansen, as it is kinda unique, partly due to how this space opera fits better into the fantasy genre (I would definitely call it science-fantasy), the nature of Hansen's prose, and the main character, as it is not usual for them to be neurodivergent.

We are thrown directly into the action from the start, Caiden and his family being thrown into a planet to be the meal of nopheks; Caiden escapes alive mostly due to sheer luck, as he finds an abandoned spaceship where he hides until a crew finds him. They were mostly looking after the slavers; but they basically teach Caiden the basics about this world, giving him the necessary knowledge to infiltrate those that enslaved his family.

With this premise, we get a certainly expansive story, a sort of space opera that puts a great focus on the world elements, while exploring an almost infinite set of universes. All of this gets reinforced by Hansen's prose, as it is possible to appreciate a big focus on the sensorial aspects, producing a really unique effect; a highly enjoyable experience.

Nophek Gloss features a diverse cast, with a focus on Caiden, the main character. He will grow during the novel, getting to experience a whole new world towards his own senses, and after almost losing everything at the start, a sort of found family theme will arise, especially around those that found him.

The plot is complex, and I found myself sometimes having to reread scenes because I felt a little bit disoriented. This is probably a consequence of how well the world is developed, with many scientific details that take your attention (I would argue that this is one of the most logical world-building I've seen). 
Pacing is in a really sweet spot, as it never feels excessive to any of the extremes, even when the sci-fi goes hard.

I found Nophek Gloss to be an excellent science-fantasy novel, that kind of sci-fi novel that will be loved by fantasy readers, with serious Mass Effect vibes. Definitely, I will be reading book 2 of The Graven, because there are many questions that I hope to answer in the sequel.