I had my issues with the book at first. Highly praised, I had gone in expecting an ass-kicking story with diverse, interesting characters in an SF world. The book most definitely had the most diverse cast I have ever experienced in any SF universe. What it did not have was an ass-kicking story. Once I got over my disappointment that there's basically no plot and opened myself to the character relationships on the Wayfarer, then the book clicked for me.

The Wayfarer is the a punching ship, a spaceship that opens travel routes through out the galaxy. Humans are just one race amongst many in the Galactic Commons, the alliance that controls the galaxy. The Wayfarer has a human captain, a pilot from the reptile race of the Aandrisk, a doctor and chef in one person called Dr. Chef from a race that is described as a mix of gecko and otter, one of the techs on-board has dwarfism and is in love with the AI on board, etc etc. There are inter-species relationships, there are inter-species lesbian relationships, and the tech tries to illegally get their AI Lovey a body kit. These are just examples. There's a vague story about a new race trying to join the GC but ultimately it's not about the Toremi Ka but all the relationships of the Wayfarer crew. It's about people who ultimately love each other, and their reactions to that crazy world out there.