TLDR; Strikes me a bit like an X-Files from the point-of-view of an experiment's victim rather than Smolder and Kelly.
Overall I'd rate it 2 smashing out of 5, its weaknesses out weigh its strengths.
Main Characters - Average - The first thing to know is that the main character suffers from a symptom called Allodynia. The story revolves around this. The author, admittedly, did most of her research after starting the story, but with updates, research, feedback from people who do suffer from it, and plenty of caring has done the best she can to bring someone who suffers from it to the written word. I went into this a bit skeptical, as the last time I read a story (Million Dollar Baby) where the MC suffers from a condition it was the worst Mary Sue, self-insert, self-pitying, victim-hood, project I'd ever touched; but this story did not turn the MC into a Mary Sue, instead someone that is human and very relatable for anyone who suffers from a similar condition. The MC has an obvious set of flaws and weaknesses within her condition, a set of not-so-obvious flaws in her personality, and strengths that come out from the same source naturally. So while I want to say she is a strong character, there are unfortunately things lacking. What does she want? What is her motivation? What are her dreams? What are her fears? What drives her? I cannot answer any of these questions (and not wanting to have allodynia doesn't count, as at the time it is presented as an impossibility and daydream) after reading the story and it seems neither can the character, as she is entirely reactionary. Its understandable. The author presented her well enough that every day is a struggle and naturally the character is entirely reactionary from it. The ability to make plans for the future like striving to be an astronaut is impossible for some people when every day is about basic survival. Yet as understandable as it is, it still produces a MC that has difficulty carrying the weight of the story.
It would be possible for the MC to carry the weight of the story if the villain, plot, or world building helped her, but none have and the MC suffers for it.
You have a villain. Which, despite the threats, come across about as dangerous as a box full of puppies and kittens. All bark, no bite. The reason is two fold and simple. 1) there is no follow-through. The villain draws lines in the sand and MC crosses it, then the villain draws another line in the sand, and the MC crosses it, then the villain draws yet another line in the sand and yet again the MC crosses it. I think if I counted the number of times this happens in the first 1-2 chapters of their meeting it would be more than 10x. This is something straight out of loony tunes. The villains threats mean absolutely nothing at any point because they don't take their own selves seriously and while reading I was left wondering if they were meant to be villains or comic relief. 2) The MC doesnt consider them, nor treats them, like a threat. Sure, she is shocked by a few things at times and at the start. But she doesn't take them seriously, doesn't take their threats seriously, and lets her personality flaws flare up without a care, also showing a possiblity she doesn't care if her family dies. Which if so, fair enough, but it seems more like a disconnection in action/dialogue/ motivation and shows how little she takes them seriously more than anything.
