I think that Sally knocks it out of the park once again for Intermezzo. I found it to be an insightful examination of difficult relationship dynamics - both familial and romantic - and what we owe each other. Much of the narrative is this battle of wills between Peter and Ivan’s rigid internal moral compasses, however the Koubek brothers seem to have more in common than meets the eye. We see characters causing hurt out of unresolved or unrecognized grief and resentment, all the while re-examining the pressures of societal expectations and conformity. It can often feel uncomfortable experiencing the narrative, but I think it’s because the material is so grounded in reality. Overall they felt like very flushed out characters and it remains one of the reasons why I enjoy her work so much. I’d also like to drop a line on how truly CLEVER the cover art is with its hinting at the plot and dynamics of the work.