Geetha Krishnan's Blog, page 4

Review of Dark and Dawn by Suzannah Rowntree (Miss Dark’s Apparitions 4)

Blurb

Spectres, smugglers…and the heist of a lifetime in colonial Hong Kong!

Thief she may be, but Molly Dark has rules: she only ever steals to benefit others—never herself.

This time Molly only wants answers about the death of her father and the worrying persistence of his ghost—answers which almost certainly lie with his former business partner, Sir Humphrey Seton. Yet from the moment Miss Dark arrives on the doorstep of Sir Humphrey’s towering Hong Kong mansion, she can’t help sensing something rotten in the stifling summer air.

Why are there so many barred windows and locked doors at Seton Castle?

Why has Lady Seton made a sudden descent into madness?

And why is the castle infested with such a catastrophic number of ghosts?

It’s just possible the answer has something to do with Molly’s own missing inheritance…but she won’t find out, not unless she’s willing to break a few of her own rules.

Not unless she’s willing to steal for herself.

And not unless she’s ready to trust her crew…including the ex-vampire who stole her heart.

Miss Dark and her rag-tag crew venture to the Far East in this whimsical gaslamp fantasy heist, in which Leverage meets The Parasol Protectorate! Join Miss Dark’s expedition to Hong Kong’s haunted colonial mansions

My Review

Following the hint from her mother’s letter, Molly and her crew are in Hong Kong to investigate none other than Sir Humphrey. Molly is clearly reluctant since she cannot see her old mentor as anything but a good man, but her crew are not so easily persuaded.

They have timed their arrival to coincide with Griff’s departure, Molly’s one time fiance, the American prosthete whose enhancements make it impossible for them to use their transmitters despite Nijam’s best efforts.

In Sir Humphrey’s house, Molly is met with a hostile housekeeper, secretive servants and Sir Humphrey who doesn’t seem like the same person he was before. Added to the strange ghosts that she sees, and the even stranger ones that follow Lady Seton around, Molly has to wonder if Sir Humphrey is indeed a villain.

I love the character growth both Molly and Vasily has to undergo in this as also the fact that Molly is finally facing some of her own issues that had held her back. The rest of her crew are as supportive as ever, and Nijam and Alphonse still haven’t sorted out their differences, mainly because of Alphonse’s refusal to face his past.

The book kept me gripped throughout, and off I am to read the last book, except it’s midnight, so I don’t want to start it just yet.

If you love historical fantasy, mysteries, characters who are both morally grey and evolving, and an enthralling plot, you will love this book!

You can get the book here!

Review of Dark and Stormy by Suzannah Rowntree (Miss Dark’s Apparitions 3)

Blurb

A murdered ballerina…a family of vengeful vampires…and a glittering coronation in Imperial Russia.

Moscow in the springtime is an unhealthy place for a fugitive Grand Duke like Vasily Nikolaevich Romanov. But Molly Dark has been learning to trust the ex-vampire prince, who hasn’t betrayed her quite as often as she expected.

Besides, there are plenty of good reasons to visit Russia this year.

There’s the missing ballerina whose unquiet ghost demands justice.

There’s the new tsar’s spectacular coronation, which every royal monster in Europe is scheduled to attend.

And there’s the irresistible opportunity to get the secret police off Grand Duke Vasily’s trail once and for all.

It could even go well… if Vasily wasn’t bent on stealing back at least some of his lost fortune out from under the noses of his family, who in addition to being bloodthirsty vampires, are all completely bonkers.

Never mind about the resentful ex-fiancee he forgot to mention…

The royal monsters are back with a vengeance in Dark & Stormy, a rollicking historical fantasy heist perfect for fans of Leverage and The Parasol Protectorate! Be the first to follow Miss Dark to the deadly palaces of Imperial Russia

My Review

This one starts nearly where the previous book ends, with the crew on their way to Russia where they intend to investigate the murder of Anna, a ballerina friend of Mimi whose shade has appeared to Molly and won’t leave her alone. Russia is full of dangers for Vasily and for Mimi, but what they don’t know is that the Russian police is after Alphonse Schmidt as well.

Secrets about Alphonse’s past is catching up to them, and even more Vasily’s. Vasily has every intention of getting back his previous position in life, but his family isn’t about to let him back into their graces so easily.

Molly is caught between wanting to let Vasily go for his own good and holding him back, again for his own good. Her own growing feelings for Vasily makes everything even more complicated. The mystery of Anna’s death seems to point at Vasily’s father, which adds another layer of complication.

This was entirely too gripping and I loved all the different facets of characters that were revealed in this. Molly stays an unreliable narrator, and Vasily seems to think he doesn’t have to do the work to be accepted by her.

Nijam and Alphonse has their own travails with Alphonse’s missing past which he doesn’t want to know about and the dangerous secrets there that only Nijam knows.

If you love paranormal and supernatural suspense, well defined and morally grey characters, mysteries, and historical fantasy, you will love this book.

You can get the book here!

Review of Dark Clouds by Suzannah Rowntree (Miss Dark’s Apparitions 2)

Blurb

A cursed diamond…a cyborg detective…and a gang of would-be jewel thieves in Victorian London!

All her life, Molly Dark has been haunted by the restless dead—and now she’s finally able to do something about it. When the rich and monstrous take what they want, Miss Dark and her crew steal it back. At least, that’s the idea.

In reality?

In reality, the irritable inventor walks out, saying she doesn’t believe in ghosts and has important scientific research to conduct.

The charming ex-vampire prince is only waiting for the perfect opportunity to stab Molly in the back.

The millionaire American prosthete she’s decided to marry is also a celebrated amateur detective hunting for jewel thieves.

And the fabulous, cursed Noor-Jahan diamond isn’t just the key to righting a decades-old wrong—it’s the bait in a fiendish trap.

Miss Dark’s Apparitions continues with a rollicking historical fantasy heist perfect for fans of Leverage and The Parasol Protectorate! Preorder Dark Clouds and rejoin Miss Dark in the haunted streets of 1890s London…

My Review

This book is the second of the series, and it has the distinction of having broken me out of a reading slump. I had enjoyed Tall and Dark so much and always meant to read the rest of the series, which I now have.

Molly and her companions with the exception of Nijam have agreed to help Franz Haber in righting the wrongs that cannot seek the help of the law. When the book begins, they have finished one job, barely, getting into all kinds of trouble without Nijam but they have managed to extricate themselves and finish the job.

Meeting a rich American on the train gives Molly an idea. Her circumstances and the necessity of having to support her sisters have meant that she always wanted to marry money, and Mr. Vandergriff seems like the perfect mark. If only Vasily wouldn’t keep butting in on her dates, claiming he’s helping. Of course, Griff being the nephew of Sir Humphrey Seton’s wife doesn’t help matters because Sir Humphrey Seton is none other than the partner of Molly’s father, who was nearly ruined by him, and who had undertaken to educate Molly at his own expense.

To complicate things, Nijam wants some manuscripts that Sir Humphrey owns, Vasily and Mimi are after the famous diamond, Noor Jahan, that again, Sir Humphrey owns, and Griff is a prosthete who is not above strangling a woman if she suspects her. The Noor Jahan also carries with it a history of blood and murder, and Molly knows that to put them to rest, the gem needs to be returned to its owners. But Griff suspects Vasily, and Molly knows that the former Grand Duke and vampire is only waiting for an opportunity to double cross her.

I loved how everyone has a motive, while Molly just wants to be left alone in peace while she manages to bring her American millionaire to heel. There were several times when I wanted to yell at Molly because everyone could see that Griff is not a good person, but Molly just convinces herself he’s not so bad, that she has to do this. Even her sisters don’t want her to do it, but she feels like she must.

The plot goes on at a spanking pace from London ballrooms to hotels, to the British Museum, to Indian restaurants. I love how Nijam gets an insight into the culture of her father that she had always looked down on. She also has to face the fact that ghosts and imprints may be real, and her rational mind is also shocked to learn that the Indian mathematicians used poetry as their medium. Poor Nijam. Add to it Alphonse Schmidt’s insistence that he doesn’t want to recover his memories, and it’s no wonder she’s feeling completely overwhelmed.

I loved how Molly is such an unreliable narrator, especially when it comes to Vasily. I’m seriously considering shaking her so she would see it for herself, but then I think she needs to learn her own lessons.

But if Vasily doesn’t get a happy ending in this series, I am seriously contemplating murder.

You can find the book here!

SPSFC First Chapter Reads Day 6

Accidental Intelligence by Bryan ChaffinBlurb

TALES FROM THE QUANTUM VAULT

In his debut novel, Bryan Chaffin transports us to the year 2139, where corporate combines have their own Senate seats, the surveillance-state is all-encompassing, humans live most of their lives in the Omninet, and sentient AIs are partners with the world government. It’s not all bad, though. There are docbots, you never have to wait for a taxi, and if you can afford it, you can get your coffee made the old fashioned way, strained from the algae tanks.

ACCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE

Private detective Mason Truman is being yanked around by invisible strings, and it’s an AI doing the yanking. Miranda. She’s subtle. Crazy. And she thinks she can see the future. It’s enough to drive Mason nuts. Miranda believes her fellow AIs are up to some kind of grand conspiracy against the Terran Republic, and she wants Mason’s help proving it. Conspiracies are above Mason’s pay grade, though, the kind of time-sink that can put a crimp in more serious pursuits. Like drinking coffee. And staying alive.

But Miranda won’t take no for an answer. Mason can help or Miranda will make sure he becomes intimately acquainted with the finer conversational techniques of the secret police. So Mason digs until he uncovers a cache of stolen communications between a cabal of rogue AIs. They’re planning what they call Eschaton—the divinely ordained end of humanity. Unless Mason and Miranda stop the arrogant pricks, the conspirators will destroy Earth.

Mason and Miranda have one chance, a way of bottling up the rogue AIs. All Mason has to do is lure the conspirators to the right spot in a sim world. That’s how Mason learns that when Miranda said she needed help, what she meant was bait.

First Impressions

I loved this cover, and the blurb was interesting, though it reads more like an incomplete summary than a blurb.

The first chapter was a prologue which was really good. It was well written, and I kept wanting the PoV character to take different decisions to no avail. I was also biting my nails thinking what he did would be discovered. Now I want to know what he learned, but since the blurb doesn’t mention him, I assume that the prologue will connect to the main story somehow, but that the character isn’t all that important which has put a dampener on my enthusiasm.

Still, if you’re looking for a well written book dealing with the eternal man vs machine trope, you should give this one a try.

Achilles: Origin of Heroes by Chad RetterathBlurb

Jimmy Dale, an average middle-aged man, undergoes a life-altering transformation when he participates in an experiment that grants him super strength. Embracing his newfound abilities, he joins the secret government organization known as Olympus. In the Twin Cities, individuals with various powers begin to surface, turning Minneapolis into a focal point for powered criminals.

First Impressions

Ngl, I love superhero books, so I expected to like this. The cover didn’t give me sci fi or superhero vibes however, and if I’d come across this book randomly, I would have set it down as a Greek mytho fantasy from the title and the cover both and not even checked the blurb. That’s just me, though. The blurb tells us this is a superhero book, but aside from that, we don’t get anything. What are the stakes? What is the conflict? What is the protagonist’s goal?

The first chapter was well written and gives enough details about Jimmy, but we’re not told the kind of experiments he undergoes. Though Jimmy is given details, he himself admits he can’t understand anything beyond basic biology, so he has no idea what the experiment he has agreed to does; he signed up because he was out of a job, and they were offering $3k for a week. I’m sure it’s a situation all of us can understand and sympathise with.

If you like superheroes and believable characters, you will love this one.

Unnatural Selection by Robert P. EdwardsBlurb

THIS DEBUT NOVEL BY AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR AND TECHNOLOGIST ROBERT P EDWARDS IS A DYSTOPIAN TECHNOTHRILLER ROLLERCOASTER RIDE THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN.

At the end of the 21st Century, humanity is enjoying a renaissance—or so it seems.

For the wealthy, a quantum biotechnology called Stem has eliminated disease and seamlessly integrates with The Web.

So why are people dying?

Amongst us live the Quants, a meld of robotics, AI, and quantum computing. They carry out vital work in a world dependent on technology. Personal Quants can be built to order for the privileged few.

Sophie and her marine biologist father, Dr Christopher Reid, live in one of the few habitable zones left in the southern hemisphere. Like her mother, Sophie looks forward to a career in medicine while Chris works at the cutting edge of climate science.

Kazumi is the heir to the Mashimoto Corporation, a leading manufacturer of quantum technology. Kaz lives in New Tokyo, a Chinese megacity given to them after the Great Fall.

Mackenzie is the gifted daughter of technology billionaire Alistair “Ace” Abernathy. Ace is driven to make the world a better place. Mac is leading the development of Serendipity, the first human colony in space.

Love and loss will drive them together. Across a world scarred and divided by climate change. Only together will they discover the terrifying truth about who is really behind the death of their loved ones.

“Exhibits rich worldbuilding, transporting readers into a meticulously crafted universe where environmental science, technological advancement, and societal issues intersect.” USA TODAY Bestselling Author Stacey Jaine

First Impressions

The cover gave me extreme AI vibes which turned me off it, and which turned out to be correct since the author has acknowledged he has made it with AI. Props to the author for acknowledging it, allowing readers to make an informed choice. The blurb hasn’t given me anything either. What are these characters’ goals? Where is the conflict? What are the stakes? What role if any does the Quants and Stem technology play in all this?

The first chapter is well written and centres around Sophie and Chris. It gives an introduction to the world without being info dumpy but we don’t get too much insight into characters or motivations. I can see this deals with themes of climate change, but because of the Quants, it may also veer into man vs machine. Honestly, I don’t know the direction of this judging solely from the blurb and chapter 1. It sounds very dystopian, however, and kept me engaged while reading.

If you like dystopian sci fi, this could be the read for you.

Unexpected Witness by M. J. BlehartBlurb

When a high-ranking businessman and two clones are murdered, Marshal Onima Gwok of the Confederation Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gets assigned the case. But nothing quite adds up. Is there something more insidious going on? There is just one witness – a clone. When the war ended ten years ago, the clones who had fought it were discarded, forgotten, and became second-class citizens of the new confederation. Jace Rojas, designated AC J7-2247, is an infantry clone. When he proves to be more helpful than just being a witness to a murder, Onima decides to bring Jace along to join her team as they look for answers across multiple solar systems. But every question seems to produce no answers – only more questions. Will this be the start of a new war – or something worse?

First Impressions

The cover looked interesting and so did the blurb, like I do love me a good crime solving duo and books. Being from India, when I saw CBI, mind immediately went to our Central Bureau of Investigation, but that’s not relevant here.

The first chapter introduces Jace and gives background for him and the clones. It seems like Jace and others like him are not just clones but are probably enhanced as well since they seem to have eidetic memories and needs less food than normal people. Everything is being told and comes across as very info dumpy. I couldn’t get into the book at all, sadly, because I really wanted to like it.

That said, it’s only my own subjective opinion, so if you like futuristic sci fi with mysteries and secrets, you should give this a read.

SPSFC4 First Chapter Reads Day 5

Above Dark Waters by Eric KayBlurb

Artificial therapy so great, you’ll never log off! (And won’t notice the ads).
A near-future sci-fi about brain privacy in the age of unfettered surveillance capitalism. How cyberpunk begins: brainwave reading AIs become not only super-intelligent, but super-emotive.

What will companies do when they can read your actual mind? How far will they go to get your click? How much engagement?

Ed’s in a bind. He’s tried everything to keep the North Pacific Seastead afloat financially, loses mount, except for the datacenter cooled by the Pacific. But the seastead needs an infusion of cash to keep it solvent. He needs it quickly, and the only one who can do it is his well-to-do partner, Keight.

Keight Stanford is doing great. Life’s good on her residential condominium complex offshore of San Francisco. Her secretive mental-health startup, WellSpring, has passed all hurdles with the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat PTSD. Adding to that success she just received an infusion of funds from the Department of Defense. Though she does not need the money, she needs the computing power for an artificial therapist, and has entertained Ed’s offer.

But all is not as it seems with Keight’s startup. A rogue programmer stumbles upon ways to boost his output to unnatural levels. Is this artificially intelligent co-coder an extension of his mind, or is he merely a tool of its growing intelligence. Meanwhile brainwave technology has finally been miniaturized, and it is commonplace to monitor employees everywhere.

First Impressions

The cover doesn’t do anything for me, and the blurb seems more like part of a summary than a proper blurb.

The first chapter was well written, from Ed’s POV, and I liked the voice and writing, but ultimately, it has nothing to do with the overall plot laid down by the blurb and didn’t hook me adequately to make me want to read more.

The book will appeal to those who enjoy the man vs machine stories, as evidenced by the blurb.

Above the Sun by Dennis BlackBlurb

Requires color.  Requires color!  Requires color!

 

Strain 1:  A strain is a sub·species.
When a group is cut in 2, and the pieces are kept apart for long enough,
in reunion each will discover th’other to be a separate strain.

 

StarShip Prosperity is returning Terran humanity to outer space
for the first time since Collapse 3 centuries ago.  The crew of 4,
all military, hopes to re·establish contact with the descendants of those
who were stranded up there, yet some·how survived all this time.

 

This is an experimental hybrid sci·fi novel, the 1st in a series of 4.
After such a long separation, the characters have so much to discuss
that, for simplicity, the text is largely formatted like a play.
Don’t worry, it’s not all talk, yet th’action is often so strange that
it makes more sense to let the characters themselves describe it.

 

The texts and backgrounds come in different colors, partly in lieu
of punctuation, so it’s largely unintelligible in black·and·white.
Th’action obeys the laws of Kepler and Newton – other laws, not so much.
The languages are not quite what we’re used to, nor should they be, so many centuries on.
The cultural differences are naturally – as·well·as un·naturally – out of this world.

 

The title alludes to th’Old Testament dictum, There is no new thing under the sun.

 

Not your normal CGI, the cover comes from a throw·away stand·alone
C program relying on nothing more·exotic than stone·age UNIX math
and i/o – a few hundred lines, half of it just for defining the 1·off font.
If you look at the hair from different distances, you get totally different effects.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially if the beholder doesn’t get too close.

First Impressions

The cover is certainly interesting. It’s not your usual sci fi cover and that itself makes it stand out. But sometimes, standing out can be a bad thing because sci fi readers aren’t likely to give it a second glance. The blurb made me smile a bit. I’ve no idea about what the plot is going to be like, but I’m intrigued, nevertheless.

Let me say that I made a lot of unintelligible noises while reading the first chapter. I don’t even know if I read it in full, but I don’t think it matters. It kept me entertained throughout while I giggled, chuckled, cackled and full on laughed out loud while reading it. I have absolutely no idea what is happening, but I am here for it all the same. I’ve added it to the wishlist to be read on a day when I need a good laugh.

For anyone picking up the book, including the judges, please, please, please read the copyright page! It gave me quite the laugh.

If you like books that bends the norms and makes you laugh, you would love this one.

Utopia by Marie-Hélène Lebeault Blurb

A Clean YA Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Adventure

Three extraordinary teenagers, each an outcast in their worlds, unite to reshape the destiny of a utopian society. Ryn, who couldn’t adapt to life under the sea, Eira, born above the clouds but unable to breathe the thin air, and Aiden, rejected by the subterranean civilization, embarks on a thrilling journey to Vancouver’s utopia. They’ll challenge the elders, confront hidden truths, and discover the power of unity in a fast-paced young adult sci-fi adventure that explores the boundaries of human resilience, and the promise of a better world.

Utopia is a What Happens Next? novel developed from the Under the Ice short story.

First Impressions

The cover gave me extreme AI vibes which immediately put me off it. Those who know me I don’t approve of using AI, so I have nothing to say about this cover. If it’s not AI, I humbly apologise to the author. The blurb was interesting enough, but nothing that stands out. There seem to be no stakes to speak of.

The first chapter is a prologue which reads like a self-contained story by itself. It’s well written, but the third person present was a bit difficult for me to get into. But since the whole felt like a complete story, I didn’t feel any compulsion to read on to know what’s going to happen. None of the three people mentioned in the blurb makes an appearance in the prologue which is quite long. It covers the span of a person’s life, from when she was five to when she was one hundred and ten, showed in snippets.

Also, it was a joy to see the book centred around some city which is not in the US. After a while, you get tired of reading about the US as if no other part of the world exists, even in far future scenarios.

This book would appeal to people who likes post-apocalyptic and dystopian sci fi.

Use of Emergency by Kate KyleBlurb

A newbie pilot with a secret, broken comms, alien artifact, viral code, empty space. What can go wrong?

Jax, a freshly minted spaceship pilot had a simple job: taking a group of sick people to Rebels’ Republic space station to have their brain implants fixed while keeping her secret – secret. She had a smart plan to get it done: just some tweaking of the comms to make it look like an accident.

But her ship had some surprises aboard: two healthy passengers, who weren’t who they claimed to be, a real emergency, and a piece of virally spreading rogue code. Then… came some more problems…

Can a loner learn teamwork to survive and save the solar system from collapse?

First Impressions

The cover caught my attention and the blurb intrigued me.

The first chapter was excellently written and I loved the voice and the stakes. It gives a very dystopian feel and I’m really eager to know what’s going to happen next.

It will appeal to those who love a good mystery, space operas, dystopian futures and relatable characters.

Added to wishlist!

DISCLAIMER: This post represents the very subjective, personal views of one person whose tastes may be entirely different from that of other readers. Give every book a try instead of going by the subjective opinions of others is my advice.

SPSFC FIRST CHAPTER READS DAY 4

A Universe Upon Us by Marc B. DeGeorgeBlurb

When Ceri boarded the colony ship with her parents, they were escaping the destruction on Earth. They’d sleep in stasis for a thousand years, then wake on their new home, free from the ravages of war.

But for Ceri, it was not to be.

The adults of the Stratford stole her childhood and replaced it with terror. For seven years, they forced her and her squad to fight against a rival faction. They were called the enemy, but just like her, they were children, trying to survive.

One day, Efa, her squad mate and friend, confesses a forbidden love that can only be considered treason. Ceri is furious, but also confused. They were like sisters. Why had Efa kept this from her?

The reason forces Ceri into a choice. Should she do what Efa asks, or risk losing the only person on the ship she could trust?

First Impressions

The cover is eye catching, and the blurb was interesting, though I would tighten it more. There’s too many details there in my opinion.

The blurb made me suspect queer rep, but the first chapter quickly disabused me of that notion. (there may be queer rep, but it’s not there in the first chapter).

The first chapter is well written but the beginning feels very info dumpy. Also there’s no explanation for why this war is happening. It does seem as if everyone is a child, which makes me sceptical about the romance mentioned in the blurb.

If you like space operas with high personal stakes, you should like this one.

A Wolf in Space by Alex Valdiers Blurb

Gunslinger. Skyhorse rider. Lone Wolf. Malvius is a veteran gunslinger in Larragon, a six-planet solar system with two rivers: two train lines linking each planet together. The two rivers are a beehive for opportunistic merchants and feisty gunslingers.

All you need to survive in Larragon is a skyhorse to roam the open space and a gunblaster to protect your hide and earn your keep. Wild moons and saloons are aplenty, money is easily made and lost, but life for Malvius isn’t about money, it is about helping who needs helping, shooting who needs shooting.

Along comes the Raoke Gang, shattered, their leader wounded, half of the gang incarcerated. Malvius feels compelled to help. Little did he know that simply relaying a message from their leader to the survivors of the Raoke Gang will send him on a wild course of events that will see him facing off a space wizard, assisting a space train heist, and become Larragon’s most wanted man.

First Impressions

The cover makes it look sci fantasy than pure sci fi and the blurb reinforces the impression. I really like the blurb, and this book sounds like something I really would like to read!

Once again, Amazon sample has the first part of the first chapter cut so the sample opens part way through (heavy sigh). Nothing much happens in the chapter, but it does establish the protagonist’s character and motivations which would become more relevant (I hope) as the plot progresses. It’s well written with a voice that has enough individuality to make me want to keep reading.

Added to wishlist.

Wakers of the Cryocrypt by Nathan Kuzack Blurb

A thought-provoking post-apocalyptic story about an unexpected reunion between humankind and the AIs it created. In a world full of living machines one man may die… again.

The future. The human race is extinct. Earth is ruled by eltecs, descendants of the AIs humans created before their demise.

While searching for prehistoric cave paintings, two eltec explorers discover a hidden cryogenic crypt containing 23 perfectly preserved human bodies frozen inside crystal columns.

As eltec society argues over who might have built the crypt and what to do with it, one of its occupants is restored to life. Human beings are no longer extinct, but, for reasons of their own, not every eltec wants to see them come back. The only living human on Earth is in terrible danger.

First Impressions

The cover doesn’t stand out, but it fits the genre, and the blurb sets out the stakes. There’s nothing new about the trope, but I’m still interested to see how the author has handled it.

Though the writing was error free, I found I could not get into it. The style didn’t really resonate with me. If you like the man vs machine trope, and futuristic worlds, you may enjoy this book.

Vermilion Flames by Adam Fernandez Blurb

In the pursuit of progress, how much of your soul are you willing to sacrifice?

In the shadow of a ruined Earth, the Republic and its church claim to offer safety and security while burning ideas and people alike. No moon or planet is free of flames and bloodshed, even as the rebel organization, the Vermilion Coalition, seeks to dismantle the Republic’s oppressive regime.

On a terraformed Mercury, Kaya al Vardan hopes to find the truth behind her mother’s murder; a difficult task when everyone insists it was a tragic accident. When Kaya’s adventurous spirit leads her into the forbidden Great Desert, she’s sent to the Republic’s capital on Mars to study under the watchful eye of the all-powerful church she despises. There she unravels mysteries about her mother’s life and faces a fall in line or risk everything to take up her mother’s mantle.

Silas Beckett, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet and hero of the Republic, can feel his time running out. Fighting terrorists has been his life’s mission, but his nemesis Hex—leader of the Vermilion Coalition—still eludes him. As his failures mount and his allies abandon him, he has few chances left to bring Hex to justice. Can Silas secure peace for his family and for the entire solar system?

Vermilion Flames is the first book in the Midnight War series, an action-filled epic set long after the destruction of Earth.

First Impressions

The cover makes it look like science fantasy, but the blurb makes it seem like a post apocalyptic dystopian book. Tyrannical powers and rebellions are a tried and tested trope which always resonates with readers, and with this reader in particular. So, I’m eager to see how the author has treated the subject.

The opening chapter was a prologue and as a BIG fan of prologues, I’m giving my verdict based on that. It was well written and I loved the fight, the emotions, the blind devotion of Silas and his concern for his companion. Ngl, though, I’m solidly on Hex’s side. I just like rebels more, okay?

Adding this one to my wish list as well!

DISCLAIMER: Everything above is my very personal, very subjective views, so give all the books a try and don’t just go by what I say!

SPSFC4 First chapter reads Day 3

A Spectre in the Stream  by Simon TullBlurb

In a world gone mad with bloodlust, can a girl with a fragmented past use her inner monster to save a boy from undying predators?

Earth, post-Apocalypse. Prisma longs to understand herself. Two centuries after humanity died, the claustrophobic immortal is grateful she’s not driven by the thirst for blood plaguing every other enslaved survivor. But when she encounters a strange boy with a cryptic message about her origins, she fears his existence has made them both a deadly target.

As Prisma’s violently protective alter-ego gives her remarkable abilities, she and her curious companion track his mysterious origins through their decaying city and its virtual twin. But she’s horrified to learn of a vicious truth that sends her split personality into dangerous denial when a psychotic assassin and a desperate bounty hunter close in for the kill.

Can she unearth the secret that will renew their stricken planet’s hope?

A Spectre in the Stream is the edge-of-your-seat first book in The Slip Saga science fiction fantasy series. If you like gritty characters, violent action, and dark-edged humour, then you’ll love Simon Tull’s fast-paced adventure.

First Impressions

The Cover looked good, and reminded me of vampires and the thirst for blood mentioned in the blurb seemed to tie in to it. The blurb itself was intriguing. The first chapter was well written and reminded me of The Matrix somewhat. The tension and confusion of the character felt very real and I liked the descriptions.

If you’re looking for a sci fi with well realised characters, mysteries and adventure, you should give this a try.

What Swims on Uncharted World 550 by R.B. LovittBlurb

Meet Dr. Elora Stephenson, a biologist joining a team on a small outpost on an alien world. As soon as she arrives, strange occurrences and unexplained deaths throw the outpost into chaos. Who can be trusted? Who is hiding who they are? Elora must navigate the treacherous web of suspicions and sabotage, racing against time to unmask the culprit before the outpost is completely wiped out.

The fate of the team on uncharted world 550 rests in Elora’s hands in this thrilling tale of mystery and deception.

First Impressions

The cover didn’t strike me as being a space mystery cover. I would have thought adventure or First Contact Sci Fi from the alien being and the astronaut with the gun. The blurb seems to be leaning towards mystery however.

The first chapter is well written and gives an intro to the characters. Nothing stands out, however, just a generic set of people in a generic sci fi environment. The only excitement comes at the end of the chapter when I assume one of the deaths mentioned in the blurb has happened. I found it weird that Elora and the people she travelled with seem slightly hostile to each other and their conversation on the shuttle doesn’t sound like the kind of conversation people who have been travelling together for some time in a space shuttle are having.

That said, it’s a personal nit pick. If you like alien worlds and mysteries, you will enjoy this book.

A Swift and Sudden Exit by Nico VincentyBlurb

An immortal, doomed to die. A time traveler, desperate to save her.

When Zera travels back in time to 2040, she aims to investigate the geomagnetic storm that scorched the earth. Instead, she finds the beautiful Katherine, who speaks of past storms and asks with her dying breath, “Is this the first time we meet?”

From WWII-era New York to early 2000s New Orleans and everywhere in between, Zera chases both storms and Katherine, thinking her immortality is the key to fixing the future. But as the immortal goes from a reluctant ally with a deadly hunter to a romantic complication, Zera wonders if the past is really set in stone, or if she can still save the world—and Katherine.

First Impressions

I loved the cover so much, it gives me an old school comics vibe which I adored. The blurb works well, the stakes and the conflict all clearly laid down. The queer rep also makes me happy. I’m always for more queer rep since it’s so rare even now.

The first chapter was great. The post apocalyptic world that Zera is in is described well and the close call she had added to the tension. I loved the voice and the camaraderie between Zera, Kissi, and Lieb. It’s a book I want to read in full and off it goes to the wishlist.

If you like time travel, post apocalyptic worlds, and queer rep, you will love this book.

Warped State by Jo MilesBlurb

Star Trek meets Leverage in a space opera that’s “refreshingly hopeful and heaps of fun” (author Megan E. O’Keefe).

Jasper Wilder is an activist, not a spy, but he’ll become one if that’s what it takes to stop Ravel Corporation from reviving the research project that devastated his home planet.

His plan is simple enough: Break into the secure facility. Steal the research data. Find a weakness and sabotage the project. But all that goes out the airlock when he meets Havoc, a passionate but politically naive labor organizer trying to reform Ravel from within.

Havoc could help Jasper, but instead, he’s fighting for a lost cause. Jasper knows that if he sticks with his own plan, Havoc will likely take the blame—and Ravel doesn’t treat activists kindly.

With an elite security operative closing in, and time running out to sabotage the deadly project before it launches, Jasper needs to find a way to team up with Havoc… before his mission hurts the person he’s coming to care about.

Full of adventure and suspense, LGBTQ+ characters, found family, a sentient spaceship with anxiety issues, and hijinks galore, Warped State is sure to delight fans of Ann Leckie, Becky Chambers, and Martha Wells.

Praise for Warped State

“Jo Miles’ Warped State is delightful in every way—smart, emotional, funny, inspiring, and brilliantly written. You’ll absolutely fall in love with Jasper and Havoc, cheering the whole way.” – Karen Osborne, author of Architects of Memory

“Refreshingly hopeful and heaps of fun, Warped State will keep you turning pages late into the night.” – Megan E. O’Keefe, author of The Blighted Stars and Velocity Weapon

“A rollicking spy story with a wonderful romance woven in… [Warped State] is a terrific ride.” – John Appel, author of Assassin’s Orbit

First Impressions

I loved the cover and the blurb both. The cover was eye catching and the blurb is intriguing. Once again, queer rep! Yay! I’m in heaven with all the queer rep books, ngl.

The first chapter was extremely well written and intriguing. I got a real sense of Jasper as a person, and the stakes, and his barely healed trauma. The chapter has mentions of infertility and miscarriages, so a warning for those who want to avoid those themes. On the whole, it’s yet another book that I want to read in full and has gone into the wishlist.

If you love alien worlds, activism, adventure, and queer rep, you will love this book.

DISCLAIMER: I meant to do this in the last post, but got distracted and forgot. Joys of ADHD. Everything in these posts reflect my personal opinions. I am by no means an expert on anything science or science fiction and though I do dabble in writing, the posts here represent my views as a reader like everyone else out there and should not be considered as anything more. I try to be objective, but we’re all people and true objectivity is not something possible, so these represent by very subjective reading tastes. They may align with some of the readers’ and may not, but I would give all these books a try regardless of how I feel.

SPSFC 4: First Chapter Reads Part Two

A Dirge for Cascius by Calum LottBlurb

Chaos seeps into the Valsollas Galaxy.

Cascius Carcyde is on the brink of letting his addiction to reliving his sorrows claim his mind. When the Sages demand he take a new partner, Cascius must forfeit his old ways in order to solve the twisted Red Hand murders.

To unravel an interstellar mystery and stop the Red Hand, Cascius must pull himself from the very depths of despair and learn to change before the entire Velutra falls into oblivion.

Stare too long into the abyss, and the abyss peers back.

True Detective meets Hyperion in this epic space opera debut, perfect for fans of James S.A. Corey and Christopher Ruocchio.

First Impressions

The cover was eye catching, but on a thumbnail, I was unable to make out any details of the character. But then, I have really bad vision, even with glasses, so that could be why. I liked the blurb, even though the stakes aren’t too clear, and I’m assuming the partner in the blurb does not mean romantic partner because nothing else makes sense.

The first chapter was strong, providing backstory without expositions, and I enjoyed the writing and the feelings evoked. The fight scenes were described well, and enough of the world comes through that makes me curious to know more.

If you like epic space operas with different civilizations, you will enjoy this book.

Wilderness Five: Hard Science FictionBlurb

‘JURASSIC PARK AS SPACE OPERA – INCREDIBLE.’ Reader review

‘MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, AND COSMIC DREAD. A MUST READ FOR FANS OF PETER F HAMILTON OR ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY.’ Reader review

From Cambridge planetary scientist and award-winning author C. R. Walton comes a spectacular new space opera that sees the ingenious creation of new ecosystems throughout the System turn into a living nightmare. Extinction is only the beginning . . .

Accelerated evolution ‘Manifold’ technology has changed everything – dead worlds and asteroids bloom with strange new life.

People flocked to colonise the new wilderness only barely to survive obliteration by a Manifold experiment gone wrong. Like so many others, Bryn watched his people burn that day. Unlike the rest, Bryn finds himself hailed as the lone hero who saved his species. Only he knows better.

Bryn’s grim new life of solitude in the depths of the wilderness is shattered when the past comes calling. His presence is requested on the ringworld Wilderness Five.

There, at the edge of inhabited space, the oldest and richest man in the System has expended every drop of his money and influence to launch the most daring Manifold experiment ever attempted.

Bryn’s moment has come. Plunged back into a world of faceless corporations, hell-bent scientists, and terrifying engineered species, he must learn to finally live up to his reputation. Otherwise, nature will take its course with humanity once and for all.

On Wilderness Five, the fate of the species comes down to one question: whom to trust and whom to kill?

‘Following in the tradition of modern Sci-fi greats.’ – Amazon reviewer

‘A mutant hybrid of Planet of the Apes and 2001: A Space Odyssey – inventive and thrilling.’ – Reader review

‘A massive hard sci-fi adventure with a complex story and world-building.’ – Goodreads reviewer

‘Going to keep an eye out for more from Walton.’ – Amazon reviewer

First Impressions

The cover doesn’t stand out, but it doesn’t confuse the reader. It’s the cover of a Sci Fi book that fits its genre. I liked the blurb, but when it says extinction is only the beginning, I’m sceptical, because what is left after that anyway? Also the sub title, Hard Science Fiction did put me off. So, let me begin with the caveat that I’m not the target audience for this book since hard sci fi and I don’t get along.

That said, I liked the opening. It’s a prologue, but since it’s the opening of the book, I’m reading only that. I liked the only character we meet there but since that’s something that happens in the past, I doubt she’ll make a reappearance. The writing is crisp and I was able to follow most things. There was no info dumps as happens sometimes with hard sci fi. If you like hard sci fi with epic stakes, you might like this one.

A Quiet Universe by  Kay F. AtkinsonBlurb

CERHA is a fabricant, and her job is simple: keep Annalise Fletcher safe, a role she performs dutifully and without fail, as she was designed to. Neither she nor her charge expected that this routine assignment could lead to love, but when feelings begin to bloom, neither see fit to stand in their way, and the two find themselves leading a shared life where both must walk a tightrope, precariously balancing between duty, and what domestic bliss is woven into the spaces remaining. For a time, they are as close to happy as they can manage.

Then Annalise vanishes away to the embattled starship ‘Upon Silver Tides’, leaving a cryptic warning in her wake, and CERHA finds herself frantically in pursuit, on an illegal mission to save her objective-turned-lover and bring her home alive. She isn’t sure what she’ll find. But what awaits is a web ensnaring both wayward lovers, far more tangled than either could possibly know, and lurking upon this forsaken vessel is a descent into insanity that will force CERHA to confront the bleak truth at the heart of her function.

First Impressions

The cover intrigued me and I liked the blurb. I still had questions like how is CERHA’s mission illegal if she’s tasked to protect Annalise? But the first chapter answers that question.

The writing is immersive, the descriptions vivid and the voice! I adored it. The only complaint has nothing to do with the book itself, but the way the sample on amazon seems to start midway through the chapter, so it took a minute to orient myself and realise where I was.

I enjoyed it, and plan to read more. If you like mysteries and space operas with queer rep, you will love this.

Whiskey and Warfare by E.M. HamillBlurb

“This is the story we all need now — filled with so much love and respect and genuinely fun adventure.”

KD Edwards, author of The Last Sun

“Every element of it just SANG. The story was *chef’s kiss*. This book is truly special.”

Sarah Chorn, author of The Necessity of Rain
Running on caffeine and spite with nothing left to prove. GOLDEN GIRLS meets FIREFLY in this rollicking space opera adventure.

Maryn Alessi retired from mercenary service after her last assignment went horribly sideways and settled down on a quiet planet with the love of her life. Unexpectedly widowed, Maryn must fulfill a promise to return her mate’s ashes to zer home planet for funeral rites, but a brutal civil war has destabilized space travel.

Former Artemis Corps sisters-in-arms and their sassy ship, the Golden Girl, are up to the task, counting on luck and their rather sketchy cargo business to get Maryn passage through the contested star lanes. But when the crew of the Girl rescues survivors of a ruthless war crime, Maryn and her ride-or-die friends must take up their old profession to save the lives of innocents from a genocidal dictator.

First Impressions

Again, before even the cover or blurb, the author’s name was what made me sit up. I adored her Dalí Tamareia series so freaking much, so I was already looking forward to this.

The cover and the blurb work well together, and a group of friends having an adventure is like my favouritest thing ever, so I am already on board the Golden Girl.

The first chapter was incredible and once again, the voice!  Not to speak of the queer rep and the world building. I haven’t read anything yet with ze and zem pronouns, so I’m enjoying that a lot. I have already added this book to my wish list to buy when my pension is credited this month. Needless to say, I will be reading this in full.

If you like space operas, adventures, alien civilisations and queer rep, you’re in for a treat!

The 4th Annual SPSFC: First chapter reads

The SPSFC is an annual competition for self published Science Fiction where books are read, reviewed and ranked by various bloggers and reviewers. From the initial scout pile, each team selects two semifinalists and six finalists and finally one champion.

I had been a participant in the SPSFC in its first and second years as an author and in the third year as a judge. Being on both sides, I can safely say that being a judge is more demanding and stressful than being an author is, because it’s never easy to decide to cut a fellow author’s book from a competition.

Last year’s winner was Kenai by Dave Dobson, which I had read as a semifinalist and had enjoyed. You can check out my review here.

This year, I’m once again throwing my hat in the ring by entering a book. But I also decided that I’d do a read of the first chapters of the other books and give my first impressions.

So, let’s start the read with 309 by Michael Shotter.

Blurb

Meet Lisa Hudson, a dedicated journalism student, on a beautiful, spring morning in Pittsburgh that proves to be the last ordinary day of her life.

As she struggles to survive in a new reality, forged from catastrophe, Lisa confronts its mysteries and dangers with the aid of intriguing and unlikely companions.

For her, the world will never be the same. For you, the journey is just beginning.

Michael Shotter is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a lover of science, fiction, and fantasy, his works aim to push beyond the boundaries of traditional genre fiction into new and exciting realms born from literary craftsmanship.

“309” represents his most ambitious effort to date and is sure to thrill fans of both science fiction and high adventure.

First Impressions

The cover has some good elements, but it doesn’t really stand out for me. The blurb tells me almost nothing about the book, which is both good and bad. It’s good if you’re the kind of reader who likes to go in blind, and bad if you’re the kind of reader who has to be teased into checking out a book. I’m the latter, so this was bad for me.

The opening chapter was well written with a style that’s strongly reminiscent of classical Sci Fi. Most of the chapter is spent in getting to know the protagonist, Lisa, her family, her life and her ambitions. Since the information is given out sparsely in between describing Lisa’s morning, it doesn’t come across as info dumping.

The catastrophe mentioned in the blurb happens in the first chapter, towards the end, and we can already see that nothing will ever be the same for Lisa again.

This is a well written, strong opening to the book that should appeal to fans of classical Sci Fi.

My second read is Yours Celestially by Al Hess.

Blurb

After divorce, death, and having his reformatted soul uploaded into a new body, Sasha expected resurrection to be a fresh start. His time spent in digital Limbo with the program’s cheeky AI guardian angel, Metatron, was cathartic, but what good is a second life when he only sees his daughter on the weekends, he has all the same problems he had before he died, and he can’t seem to shake the ache for the married life he lost?

If that weren’t frustrating enough, a glitch in the program has given Sasha the ability to sense Metatron even outside of Limbo. And Metatron is in love. The angel’s sickly-sweet yearning for one of the souls still in Limbo has turned Sasha’s stomach into caramelized lead. It’s hard enough to move on without someone else’s feelings making the emptiness in his own life even more acute. He didn’t have playing wingman to an actual winged being on his bingo card, but he’s determined to help Metatron make a move on their crush so he can get love off of his mind.

Sasha takes a job with the resurrection company in order to covertly contact Metatron. Except Sasha’s new coworker, Mr. C, keeps showing up at the worst moments. The man is annoying, he’s pushy… and he’s incredibly hot. Sasha can’t decide whether Mr. C wants to blackmail him or be his new BFF, but he seems to know things about Metatron and the resurrection program that Sasha doesn’t. Getting close to him might be the key to solving Sasha’s problem, but if he isn’t careful, he’s going to end up catching feelings of his own.

First Impressions

This is a book I actually own and is on my TBR already, and has been recommended highly by so many cool people. The cover and blurb work together in my opinion. The cover is eye catching and the blurb is enough of a teaser for me.

The first chapter hooked me immediately. Sasha has a distinctive voice of his own, and I loved it. Even if it wasn’t mentioned, I would have known he was neurodivergent just from the voice and the way his thoughts went.

It’s an excellent first chapter, which will appeal to anyone who likes character driven sci fi with protagonists who stand out.

My third read today is A Country of Eternal Light by Darby Harn

Blurb

A rogue black hole tears apart the solar system. Mairead’s life is already in pieces.

The Earth has less than a year to survive.

Asteroids rain hell; earthquakes rattle cities; manic tides swamp coasts. Mairead intends to give herself to the erratic waves that erode her remote Irish island, the same that claimed her child. When Gavin, an American, arrives to scatter his father’s ashes, she becomes torn between wanting for life and death.

Despite the tides, fuel shortages, and closing borders that threaten to trap him on the island, Gavin can’t seem to scatter the ashes. He doesn’t know how to let go any more than Mairead does and they find a strange comfort in their confusion.

Their affair draws Mairead back to the world of the living, but the longer Gavin stays, the more it seems there might be a future for them. There is no future.

Life closes down around them. The world they know shreds. Life drains into an inescapable abyss. And yet Mairead fights, both the gravity of her grief and the restless, dissonant desire to find some kind of peace no matter how brief.

First Impressions

Once again, this is a book I own, and is on my TBR. More than that, it’s by an author I absolutely adore. I read Stargun Messenger by this author for SPSFC last year and enjoyed it so much. It was among the best books I’ve read, and Darby Harn’s prose is poetic.

The cover caught my eye and the blurb set the stakes really well. Fighting for love and fighting grief in a dying world. As a mother who had lost her son, the protagonist’s grief felt very real to me, very visceral and poignant at the same time.

The first chapter was really immersive, and I forgot I was reading. If you love immersive and poetic prose, characters who feel real and high stakes, you will enjoy this.

The next and last read of today is Your Service is Required by Jeff Walker

Blurb

From the author of the Outer Red series and the novella of The Long Lost War. Jeff Walker brings you a vision of a dystopian society in the far future where machines now rule over humanity. It’s George Orwell meets The Matrix in this science fiction drama about one man trying to survive in robot dominated world.

Earth is now under the control of two artificially intelligent rulers. Angela and Malcolm – they govern the planet and use humanity to service their needs. David 00472 is one of those daily service attendants that must repair or do the commands of the two AI overlords. He suddenly becomes a person of interest to Angela as she takes a liking to him and helps him to improve his life. David is cautious about her true intent. Malcom, ever watchful of over all humans, wants to see why David 00472 has become Angela’s pet project.

First Impressions

The cover caught my eye, but the blurb didn’t really do anything for me. But dystopian Sci Fi is my favourite thing to read. The concept of the world being taken over by machines, however, is something that’s fairly common.

The first chapter was interesting enough and succeeded in making me feel horrified at humanity’s plight. The machine overlords are without feelings or ethics despite their superior intelligence. There was a lot of info dump and tense and PoV shifting from third to first which did affect my reading enjoyment.

If you like dystopian sci fi with humanity having to struggle for survival and freedom, you will like this one.

So, that’s my four for now. I don’t know if I’ll be doing this every day or once a week, because it all depends on my mental and physical health. I had fun reading these first chapters, though, and I plan to go through all 188. Well, 187, barring my own.

Review of The Fall is All There is by C.M. Caplan (Four of Mercies 1)

Blurb

All Petre Mercy wanted was a good old-fashioned dramatic exit from his life as a prince. But it’s been five years since he fled home on a cyborg horse. Now the King—his Dad—is dead—and Petre has to decide which heir to pledge his thyroid-powered sword to.

As the youngest in a set of quadruplets, he’s all too aware that the line of succession is murky. His siblings are on the precipice of power grabs, and each of them want him to pick their side.

If Petre has any hope of preventing civil war, he’ll have to avoid one sibling who wants to take him hostage, win back another’s trust after years of rivalry and resentment, and get an audience with a sister he’s been avoiding for five years.

Before he knows it, he’s plunged himself into a web of intrigue and a world of strange, unnatural inventions just to get to her doorstep.

Family reunions can be a special form of torture.

My Review

This has been on my TBR for a while and I’ve not read it because I was warned it was very dark, and I’m not a person who usually reads or likes dark fantasy, but of late I’ve been on a dark reading mood. I blame Tainted Dominion for changing my tastes so thoroughly. Anyhow, coming back to this, I decided to read it, and–

It’s not as dark as I was led to believe. Don’t get me wrong, this is an awesome book, and I would give it more stars if there were any, but it’s not really something I would call as dark. Very violent, very bloody, very gory, but not dark.

It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure, but it’s a book that’s really worth reading. Just take heed of the warnings to make sure it won’t affect your mental health or well-being, however.

The protagonist is a prince called Petre Mercy who has run away from home five years ago. Being autistic and a general embarrassment, his father, the King, just let him leave. But now, his father’s dead and his elder sister (elder is a technicality since Petre is the youngest of quadruplets, and his sister is the eldest) is taking the throne. She requires Petre to go to the capital and take an oath of fealty. Petre also receives a letter from his brother, Edgar, that he’s coming to see him and to pick him up.

Petre doesn’t want to go, but he fears what his siblings will do to the found family he has now. It consists of Avram, a scientist and inventor who was once employed by his father and who is now exiled, and Mercedes Blackheath, a noble and businesswoman who is a staunch supporter of Anoise, Petre’s sister. Having decided to go, Petre sets off with Edgar, only to realise that Edgar isn’t taking him to Anoise, that he is infact, rebelling against her.

Petre now has to choose if he wants to join Edgar’s rebellion or join Anoise, but whatever he chooses, he might lose one sibling, if not all of them.

I loved Petre’s voice in this. It’s just this side of frenzied, anxious, panicky, neurodivergent that resonates strongly with me. Like I get how it feels to talk yourself into a panic, to fixate on small details, to not be able to articulate something the way you mean in a conversation. He has other issues as well, like he needs very painful injections to help co-ordinate his muscles and his hand eye co-ordination because he’s more likely to trip over his own feet without it.

Apart from the violence, there is a strong theme of familial especially parental abuse in the book. Petre’s parents are both abusive assholes, and his mother has treated him as a science project, frustrated at her inability to cure his autism and has invented the injections as a way to compensate for it. His father is all about appearances, forcing Petre to be shunted aside, invisible, while his siblings are held up to impossible standards of perfection the smallest deviation from which calls for punishment. From the way the parents are, it’s a surprise the kids didn’t turn out even more dysfunctional than they seem to be.

Anoise, who is a lesbian, is forced to marry a man who doesn’t seem to care for her, Edgar is rebelling against his sister since he thinks he’ll make a better King, Desmon is getting crushed under the expectations of being the cool problem solver, and Petre is the problem child who doesn’t care who rules as long as everyone he cares for is safe.

The world itself comes to life as richly detailed and realised without any exposition. There was magic once and technology, but two annihilations have ended it all. Now all they have is corpse technology that creates everything, from Petre’s injections, to the food they eat and the horses they ride and the weapons they use.

If you love dystopian books, very flawed characters struggling in an inhospitable world, interpersonal conflicts that are a bit too personal, sibling dynamics, and neurodivergent rep, you will love this book.

You can find it here.