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Division Zero #1
Division Zero
Most cops get to deal with living criminals, but Agent Kirsten Wren is not most cops.
A gifted psionic with a troubled past, Kirsten possesses a rare combination of abilities that give her a powerful weapon against spirits. In 2418, rampant violence and corporate warfare have left no shortage of angry wraiths in West City. Most exist as little more than fleeting shadows and eerie whispers in the darkness.
Kirsten is shunned by a society that does not understand psionics, feared by those who know what she can do, and alone in a city of millions. Every so often, when a wraith gathers enough strength to become a threat to the living, these same people rely on her to stop it.
Unexplained killings by human-like androids known as dolls leave the Division One police baffled, causing them to punt the case to Division Zero. Kirsten, along with her partner Dorian, wind up in the crosshairs of corporate assassins as they attempt to find out who – or what – is behind the random murders before more people die.
She tries to hold on to the belief that no one is beyond redemption as she pursues a killer desperate to claim at least one more innocent soul – that might just be hers.
A gifted psionic with a troubled past, Kirsten possesses a rare combination of abilities that give her a powerful weapon against spirits. In 2418, rampant violence and corporate warfare have left no shortage of angry wraiths in West City. Most exist as little more than fleeting shadows and eerie whispers in the darkness.
Kirsten is shunned by a society that does not understand psionics, feared by those who know what she can do, and alone in a city of millions. Every so often, when a wraith gathers enough strength to become a threat to the living, these same people rely on her to stop it.
Unexplained killings by human-like androids known as dolls leave the Division One police baffled, causing them to punt the case to Division Zero. Kirsten, along with her partner Dorian, wind up in the crosshairs of corporate assassins as they attempt to find out who – or what – is behind the random murders before more people die.
She tries to hold on to the belief that no one is beyond redemption as she pursues a killer desperate to claim at least one more innocent soul – that might just be hers.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2014
80 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
184 books265 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 30, 2018
Division Zero
(Division Zero #1)
by Matthew S. Cox
I didn't read the blurb before reading the book, I just love everything this writer writes so I dove in, WOW! I was not prepared for this! A team known as Division Zero, (in the future), has the ability to not only see spirits but battle them. They also can read minds but that is a no-no unless necessary. They sometimes, in extreme cases of life and death, have wiped minds clean! Think vegetable! Division zero is feared by all!
This is a story about one of those Agents and her story. Her case involves dolls, (androids), going crazy and killing people. She believes it is paranormal activity. Super exciting! Wow, I was hooked right away! Glad I have the next few books!
(Division Zero #1)
by Matthew S. Cox
I didn't read the blurb before reading the book, I just love everything this writer writes so I dove in, WOW! I was not prepared for this! A team known as Division Zero, (in the future), has the ability to not only see spirits but battle them. They also can read minds but that is a no-no unless necessary. They sometimes, in extreme cases of life and death, have wiped minds clean! Think vegetable! Division zero is feared by all!
This is a story about one of those Agents and her story. Her case involves dolls, (androids), going crazy and killing people. She believes it is paranormal activity. Super exciting! Wow, I was hooked right away! Glad I have the next few books!
August 16, 2015
I’ve read a few other books by Matthew Cox and loved them and could kick myself for having not started this series sooner! This is an amazing book and great start to the series! The story takes place in the year 2418 and the world as we now know it, is nothing like it is then! Even the police force which Agent Kirsten Wren is a part of is drastically different. She belongs to Division Zero which investigates paranormal type crimes and is called in more times than not. She is also a psionic which means she has abilities that a normal human doesn’t and can also see ghosts and demons. As this story continues, we learn so much about Kirsten’s past and how she became an agent and what makes her tick which is a lot of compassion and emotion! Her past comes back to haunt her many times while trying to apprehend “suspects” but that is what also makes her the strong and competent woman that she is. I cannot say enough good things about this book and the imagination that this author has. It goes so much deeper than just words on a page. It shows emotions so real that you will cry or at least get tears in your eyes when you read certain parts. Yes…that is the sign of a good book and an amazing author. I highly recommend this book to everyone that loves a truly remarkable book and is looking for something new and different to read.
April 20, 2014
In a future where adbots chase after an endless stream of hovercars, where bionic enhancement has become commonplace, where telekinesis is an accepted skillset, where any food that isn't based off of the ubiquitous OmniSoy is a luxury, Kirsten Wren still manages to be an oddity. Kirsten is a psyonic in the police force's Division Zero, the psych squad. Her rare talent allows her to look into others' minds and wield literally mindblowing blasts of psionic energy, to see into the astral plane and interact directly with the ghosts that inhabit it. Rarest of all, Kirsten can do more than simply see ghosts: she can deal out damage. When Division Zero starts getting reports of android "dolls" going crazy with no evidence of hardware or software failure, Kirsten is sent to take a look. What she finds will take her on a path that will lead to vengeful spirits, corporate espionage, paid assassins, and some seriously narrow escapes.
My favourite aspect of the book was definitely the worldbuilding. The world is drawn with sparse, broad strokes: we know that Mars is settled, that there's some kind of war going on between a massive corporate conglomerate and what's left of the united states, that huge areas of the mega-cities were abandoned to fall into dangerous and disreputable Dark Zones, that towering city-structures caused the Beneath, the city under the city, to become the home of mutant humans and apocalyptics. I would have loved to understand more of the political climate, to see more of the underpinnings of the world, but I liked its wide scope. I really loved the little details such as the in-apartment auto-laundry machines and the restaurants perched atop the skyscrapers whose offerings consisted entirely of imaginatively reconstituted OmniSoy. Cox's imagined future has a multitude of rich detail, from the stint packs that can heal on command to the digital sticks used as money to the smart mattress gels that change shape and temperature to accommodate a body.
Despite the immersive worldbuilding, I had some difficulty getting into the book. Cox has a rather grating tendency to fall into infodumping, mostly of the "As You Know" variety. For example, the book starts out with a conversation between Kirsten and an old friend who proceed to have a long, awkwardly revelatory conversation about Kirsten's talents and background as well as the current structure of the world. While I understand that Cox is trying to avoid direct exposition, having people "tell" in a set of artificial conversations isn't quite the same thing as "showing." This infodumping led to a vague dissatisfaction because the characters' tendency to discuss and debate their own culture made them feel a bit like outsiders in their own society. While I looked forward to more details about the world, most of the infodumps centred on Kirsten's history.
Unfortunately, I also found Kirsten herself somewhat irritating. She has an impressively tragic past, but in my opinion, tragedy is not a substitute for personality. Kirsten is a slight blonde with beautiful "sapphire" eyes and a figure that is displayed to advantage by her skintight black uniform, and Cox never lets you forget it. Cox certainly put a lot of effort into writing an indisputably female character: despite the urgent situations around her, Kirsten spends a lot of time "hugging," "pouting," and "sulking," and also emotes and cries at the drop of a hat. She appears to think about men at least once every seven seconds and sizes up every Y-chromosome she meets for desirability; at the ripe age of twenty-two, she is already bemoaning her inability to catch a man and her inevitably single future. Even though the main character is female, the book came terrifyingly close to failing the Bechdel test, mainly because Kirsten's friend Nicole is even more appallingly "man-mad" than Kirsten. The two spend most of their conversations giggling about men, discussing "tits and asses" (yes, in those terms), and bemoaning the fact that men tend to stop sexually harrassing them as soon as they discover the women are Division 0. Take Kirsten's reaction to crude come-ons:
The "tits and ass" jokes, are, in fact, ubiquitous throughout. As far as I could tell, most of the "humour" appears to be derived from the impressive amount of sexual harassment that Kirsten and other women receive from their male counterparts. Given that we encounter several women who are in positions of power, plus the fact that bionic enhancements would remove any disparities in strength, I found the entrenched sexual harassment to be unrealistic as well as utterly unamusing. Kirsten's attitude didn't improve matters. Given that she thinks that
The ghosts also felt like a missed opportunity. The general idea is promising: ghosts with unfinished business stick around. They will either vanish into a place of light or be dragged off by the shadowy Harbingers. While this setup provides a lot of interesting directions, most of the discussion centres around a somewhat sophomoric philosophical discussion of religion. Because of her background, Kirsten is vehemently anti-religious and takes the bisected world of bright light and horrible dark to be "proof" that there is no god. Not only did her self-righteous, narrow-minded attitude do nothing for her likeability; the standard light/dark duology constricted an interesting idea into a rather heavy-handed and pedestrian religious debate.
The plot itself is fast-paced, with plenty of adventures, attacks, and ghostly encounters. Kirsten spends most of her time with her partner Dorian, and I liked both his character and their dynamics. Certain awkward phrasing, such as "He sent a belaboured face at the ceiling" pulled me out of the narrative, but in general, I think the fast pace and heavy action made the book an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, the pacing meant that many of the world's most intriguing aspects were left unexplored. For example, I think the droids had a lot of potential, but internal inconsistencies lessened their appeal. In Kirsten's world, self-aware droids are able to gain citizenship and failing to repair a seriously broken droid is considered murder. Leaving aside the fact that failing to provide medical assistance to humans isn't considered murder unless you're a doctor, these same dolls are casually spoken of as objects to be bought and sold, as tools "on the market." All the dolls we see, even the self-aware ones, are utilized as tools by their owners rather than people, which seems inconsistent with the descriptions in-text. I was struck by certain similarities to a video game: the plot is action-filled, convoluted, and has a heavy dependence on concatenations of coincidence. At the same time, there was at least one twist I really enjoyed.
Overall, I really admired the breadth of imagination that went into the worldbuilding, and I think the interesting ideas and large scope did much to offset some technical flaws. While my issues with Kirsten and some aspect of the plot decreased my enjoyment in the story, if you're in the mood for a cyberpunk adventure with a lot of action and creativity, it's definitely worth a look.
~~I received this ebook through NetGalley from the publisher, Curiosity Quills, in exchange for my honest review.~~
Excerpted from my review at Booklikes.
My favourite aspect of the book was definitely the worldbuilding. The world is drawn with sparse, broad strokes: we know that Mars is settled, that there's some kind of war going on between a massive corporate conglomerate and what's left of the united states, that huge areas of the mega-cities were abandoned to fall into dangerous and disreputable Dark Zones, that towering city-structures caused the Beneath, the city under the city, to become the home of mutant humans and apocalyptics. I would have loved to understand more of the political climate, to see more of the underpinnings of the world, but I liked its wide scope. I really loved the little details such as the in-apartment auto-laundry machines and the restaurants perched atop the skyscrapers whose offerings consisted entirely of imaginatively reconstituted OmniSoy. Cox's imagined future has a multitude of rich detail, from the stint packs that can heal on command to the digital sticks used as money to the smart mattress gels that change shape and temperature to accommodate a body.
Despite the immersive worldbuilding, I had some difficulty getting into the book. Cox has a rather grating tendency to fall into infodumping, mostly of the "As You Know" variety. For example, the book starts out with a conversation between Kirsten and an old friend who proceed to have a long, awkwardly revelatory conversation about Kirsten's talents and background as well as the current structure of the world. While I understand that Cox is trying to avoid direct exposition, having people "tell" in a set of artificial conversations isn't quite the same thing as "showing." This infodumping led to a vague dissatisfaction because the characters' tendency to discuss and debate their own culture made them feel a bit like outsiders in their own society. While I looked forward to more details about the world, most of the infodumps centred on Kirsten's history.
Unfortunately, I also found Kirsten herself somewhat irritating. She has an impressively tragic past, but in my opinion, tragedy is not a substitute for personality. Kirsten is a slight blonde with beautiful "sapphire" eyes and a figure that is displayed to advantage by her skintight black uniform, and Cox never lets you forget it. Cox certainly put a lot of effort into writing an indisputably female character: despite the urgent situations around her, Kirsten spends a lot of time "hugging," "pouting," and "sulking," and also emotes and cries at the drop of a hat. She appears to think about men at least once every seven seconds and sizes up every Y-chromosome she meets for desirability; at the ripe age of twenty-two, she is already bemoaning her inability to catch a man and her inevitably single future. Even though the main character is female, the book came terrifyingly close to failing the Bechdel test, mainly because Kirsten's friend Nicole is even more appallingly "man-mad" than Kirsten. The two spend most of their conversations giggling about men, discussing "tits and asses" (yes, in those terms), and bemoaning the fact that men tend to stop sexually harrassing them as soon as they discover the women are Division 0. Take Kirsten's reaction to crude come-ons:
"That's hot. Pure girls are the best." [...]
"Kirsten appraised him with an unprepared blink, surprised at her disappointment in the lack of direct come on."
The "tits and ass" jokes, are, in fact, ubiquitous throughout. As far as I could tell, most of the "humour" appears to be derived from the impressive amount of sexual harassment that Kirsten and other women receive from their male counterparts. Given that we encounter several women who are in positions of power, plus the fact that bionic enhancements would remove any disparities in strength, I found the entrenched sexual harassment to be unrealistic as well as utterly unamusing. Kirsten's attitude didn't improve matters. Given that she thinks that
"It's harassment only if you don't want it, and they don't stop when you tell them to get lost."I surmise that someone is in need of basic sensitivity training.
The ghosts also felt like a missed opportunity. The general idea is promising: ghosts with unfinished business stick around. They will either vanish into a place of light or be dragged off by the shadowy Harbingers. While this setup provides a lot of interesting directions, most of the discussion centres around a somewhat sophomoric philosophical discussion of religion. Because of her background, Kirsten is vehemently anti-religious and takes the bisected world of bright light and horrible dark to be "proof" that there is no god. Not only did her self-righteous, narrow-minded attitude do nothing for her likeability; the standard light/dark duology constricted an interesting idea into a rather heavy-handed and pedestrian religious debate.
The plot itself is fast-paced, with plenty of adventures, attacks, and ghostly encounters. Kirsten spends most of her time with her partner Dorian, and I liked both his character and their dynamics. Certain awkward phrasing, such as "He sent a belaboured face at the ceiling" pulled me out of the narrative, but in general, I think the fast pace and heavy action made the book an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, the pacing meant that many of the world's most intriguing aspects were left unexplored. For example, I think the droids had a lot of potential, but internal inconsistencies lessened their appeal. In Kirsten's world, self-aware droids are able to gain citizenship and failing to repair a seriously broken droid is considered murder. Leaving aside the fact that failing to provide medical assistance to humans isn't considered murder unless you're a doctor, these same dolls are casually spoken of as objects to be bought and sold, as tools "on the market." All the dolls we see, even the self-aware ones, are utilized as tools by their owners rather than people, which seems inconsistent with the descriptions in-text. I was struck by certain similarities to a video game: the plot is action-filled, convoluted, and has a heavy dependence on concatenations of coincidence. At the same time, there was at least one twist I really enjoyed.
Overall, I really admired the breadth of imagination that went into the worldbuilding, and I think the interesting ideas and large scope did much to offset some technical flaws. While my issues with Kirsten and some aspect of the plot decreased my enjoyment in the story, if you're in the mood for a cyberpunk adventure with a lot of action and creativity, it's definitely worth a look.
~~I received this ebook through NetGalley from the publisher, Curiosity Quills, in exchange for my honest review.~~
Excerpted from my review at Booklikes.
July 31, 2014
3.5 stars.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Initial Reaction...
I really liked the characters in Division Zero and the world was fascinating. It was a bit more procedural than I expected or typically like, but if that's your thing you'll probably like it even more than I did.
The Characters...
The main character in Division Zero is Kirsten Wren, a psionic with many gifts. She's not only able to communicate telepathically, but she is able to control people psychically, see ghosts, and has this psychic whip that makes ghosts heel. So yeah, her powers are freaking cool and what drew me to Division Zero. She's a pretty complex character, though, too. Her mother used religion as an excuse to abuse her "demonic" daughter and Kirsten is incredibly scarred by the experiences that led her to run away from home and eventually find safety with Division Zero as a small child. I loved learning her backstory and seeing how it had shaped her as an adult - especially in some really fantastic moments with small children. My only complaint would be that sometimes her character development seemed a bit jarring - all of a sudden an action sequence would be over and Kirsten would be crying or thinking about her past and I just was like "whoa! how'd we get here?"
The only other character we get to know very well is Dorain Marsh, Kirsten's partner. He is one big mystery (which I'm pleased to say I figured out before the big reveal) but the hints are there if you're paying attention and it's a pretty neat twist for the story. I was kind of on the fence about him but what I liked about Dorian most were the conversations he'd pull Kirsten into about religion and God - including her mother. Needless to say, her childhood has left a bit of a sour taste in Kirsten's mouth about religion and Dorian is her constant Devil's Advocate - no matter what she's thinking, he pushes her to see the other side. I absolutely loved the way they took on such serious topics - especially from the vantage point of the futuristic world they live in.
I really would have liked to get to know some of the other characters much better, but they're well enough defined for the story. I suspect future books will let us get to know them better.
The Story...
The story for Division Zero just didn't pull me along - but that's because it was very procedural, not because anything was wrong with it. When I read the synopsis, I think I got so excited by the supernatural/sci-fi elements that I completely missed that Kirsten was a cop and what that would mean for the kind of story this was. And I just get bored with procedural story lines - but if that's your thing, Division Zero is for you. The elements that pull the crime investigation along are well done and managed to keep me engaged - particularly with some great action segments - despite my general preference for other types of storylines - so that's saying something.
I have to say, Matthew Cox did a really good job establishing this world. We're in 2418 (I LOVE that he gave us a date, by the way. I hate it when it's just randomly "in the future") and technology has progressed in a really believable way/extent. People have the ability to do all sorts of physical/technological surgeries to add weapons or computer interfaces to their bodies. Cars can drive on the road or float through the air. Drive-through restaurants are now floating places that you can hoover up to. And dolls - robotic people - are part of society. I loved the way these dolls came in so many different levels. You have the sentient, basically people dolls that look 100% real. And you have the dolls that are clearly not human. And every level in-between. There's marvelous attention to detail in the world building that really hooked me.
Concluding Sentiments...
Division Zero has complex characters and a solid, detailed world to keep you engaged. If I were more of a fan of procedural plots, this probably would have been a 4+ book for me, so it may be perfect for you!
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Initial Reaction...
I really liked the characters in Division Zero and the world was fascinating. It was a bit more procedural than I expected or typically like, but if that's your thing you'll probably like it even more than I did.
The Characters...
The main character in Division Zero is Kirsten Wren, a psionic with many gifts. She's not only able to communicate telepathically, but she is able to control people psychically, see ghosts, and has this psychic whip that makes ghosts heel. So yeah, her powers are freaking cool and what drew me to Division Zero. She's a pretty complex character, though, too. Her mother used religion as an excuse to abuse her "demonic" daughter and Kirsten is incredibly scarred by the experiences that led her to run away from home and eventually find safety with Division Zero as a small child. I loved learning her backstory and seeing how it had shaped her as an adult - especially in some really fantastic moments with small children. My only complaint would be that sometimes her character development seemed a bit jarring - all of a sudden an action sequence would be over and Kirsten would be crying or thinking about her past and I just was like "whoa! how'd we get here?"
The only other character we get to know very well is Dorain Marsh, Kirsten's partner. He is one big mystery (which I'm pleased to say I figured out before the big reveal) but the hints are there if you're paying attention and it's a pretty neat twist for the story. I was kind of on the fence about him but what I liked about Dorian most were the conversations he'd pull Kirsten into about religion and God - including her mother. Needless to say, her childhood has left a bit of a sour taste in Kirsten's mouth about religion and Dorian is her constant Devil's Advocate - no matter what she's thinking, he pushes her to see the other side. I absolutely loved the way they took on such serious topics - especially from the vantage point of the futuristic world they live in.
I really would have liked to get to know some of the other characters much better, but they're well enough defined for the story. I suspect future books will let us get to know them better.
The Story...
The story for Division Zero just didn't pull me along - but that's because it was very procedural, not because anything was wrong with it. When I read the synopsis, I think I got so excited by the supernatural/sci-fi elements that I completely missed that Kirsten was a cop and what that would mean for the kind of story this was. And I just get bored with procedural story lines - but if that's your thing, Division Zero is for you. The elements that pull the crime investigation along are well done and managed to keep me engaged - particularly with some great action segments - despite my general preference for other types of storylines - so that's saying something.
I have to say, Matthew Cox did a really good job establishing this world. We're in 2418 (I LOVE that he gave us a date, by the way. I hate it when it's just randomly "in the future") and technology has progressed in a really believable way/extent. People have the ability to do all sorts of physical/technological surgeries to add weapons or computer interfaces to their bodies. Cars can drive on the road or float through the air. Drive-through restaurants are now floating places that you can hoover up to. And dolls - robotic people - are part of society. I loved the way these dolls came in so many different levels. You have the sentient, basically people dolls that look 100% real. And you have the dolls that are clearly not human. And every level in-between. There's marvelous attention to detail in the world building that really hooked me.
Concluding Sentiments...
Division Zero has complex characters and a solid, detailed world to keep you engaged. If I were more of a fan of procedural plots, this probably would have been a 4+ book for me, so it may be perfect for you!
September 2, 2016
[I got a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
3.5 stars. The idea of mixing cyberpunk, crime, psychic powers and ghosts was really interesting, and in general, I liked what the author created here. The world depicted here seemed true enough to what I expected of such a setting, seen through the eyes of a young police officer who's had her share of difficult moments and knows how far from rosy and sheltered life is. It addressed the matter of consciousness in various ways, the main ones being ghosts, but also AIs (the most advanced ones are granted citizen status, and failing to repair them is legally considered as murder).
I really enjoyed the way the normal world existed alongside the "dead" world. Ghosts tend to linger due to various reasons, from revenge to being tied to items or places (we get to see a few of these throughout the course of the story). Apart from that, their options are to either "go to the light", or to fall prey to the strange, shadowy Harbingers, who (which?) come for the darkest souls. The way the novel ends leaves room for more on that, I think, but since we already learn a lot in this first installment, I felt satisfied.
I found it a little hard at times to get into the story, especially in the first half, but after a while things flowed more seamlessly. I think what bothered me in the first part was that a couple of side characters popped up, without exactly being solved. So I was left wondering, when do I see them again, and... nothing.
Kirsten also annoyed me in the first half, because she's such a whiner about never finding a boyfriend (they all run away when they find out she's psychic). She's 22, there's still plenty of time for that, and I don't like it when a female character who has a lot of potential is shown as pining after men, as if everything else wasn't important. Everytime it happened, I wondered why she kept putting herself in such situations, too (it was as if she set herself for failure?). I must admit that behaviour made me knock off one star here. Fortunately, the second half of the novel was better in that regard, and she was more focused on her job. She also got to battle her own demons, and with this came a new acceptance, too, and another perspective on life.
Dorian... Dorian had his annoying quirks, but I liked what the author did with him, and I hope he appears in the next story.
In spite of my initial qualms with Kirsten, I do want to read the next installment. I've seldom seen ghosts used in such futuristic settings, so the whole premise was interesting, and remained so in my opinion. (Also, I still hope we'll see some of the minor characters again, such as the ones I've already mentioned.)
3.5 stars. The idea of mixing cyberpunk, crime, psychic powers and ghosts was really interesting, and in general, I liked what the author created here. The world depicted here seemed true enough to what I expected of such a setting, seen through the eyes of a young police officer who's had her share of difficult moments and knows how far from rosy and sheltered life is. It addressed the matter of consciousness in various ways, the main ones being ghosts, but also AIs (the most advanced ones are granted citizen status, and failing to repair them is legally considered as murder).
I really enjoyed the way the normal world existed alongside the "dead" world. Ghosts tend to linger due to various reasons, from revenge to being tied to items or places (we get to see a few of these throughout the course of the story). Apart from that, their options are to either "go to the light", or to fall prey to the strange, shadowy Harbingers, who (which?) come for the darkest souls. The way the novel ends leaves room for more on that, I think, but since we already learn a lot in this first installment, I felt satisfied.
I found it a little hard at times to get into the story, especially in the first half, but after a while things flowed more seamlessly. I think what bothered me in the first part was that a couple of side characters popped up, without exactly being solved. So I was left wondering, when do I see them again, and... nothing.
Kirsten also annoyed me in the first half, because she's such a whiner about never finding a boyfriend (they all run away when they find out she's psychic). She's 22, there's still plenty of time for that, and I don't like it when a female character who has a lot of potential is shown as pining after men, as if everything else wasn't important. Everytime it happened, I wondered why she kept putting herself in such situations, too (it was as if she set herself for failure?). I must admit that behaviour made me knock off one star here. Fortunately, the second half of the novel was better in that regard, and she was more focused on her job. She also got to battle her own demons, and with this came a new acceptance, too, and another perspective on life.
Dorian... Dorian had his annoying quirks, but I liked what the author did with him, and I hope he appears in the next story.
In spite of my initial qualms with Kirsten, I do want to read the next installment. I've seldom seen ghosts used in such futuristic settings, so the whole premise was interesting, and remained so in my opinion. (Also, I still hope we'll see some of the minor characters again, such as the ones I've already mentioned.)
July 8, 2014
I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for giving me a copy of this e-book to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.
Goodreads Blurb:
This is a great futuristic, paranormal thriller that's got it all, including a great cast of characters. There is Mr. Cox's excellent world building, in which he created an environment that is molded to his story like spandex to a superhero. Rich and detailed, the plot maintains measured pacing that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Though this could easily be spun into a series, it was nice to have a chance to read a stand-alone book.
While the book isn't stuffed full of complex characters, the main characters have more complexity than anticipated, especially given the status of one of them. Both are very believable characters, each in their own way. There is certainly something endearing and vulnerable about Kirsten, a quality that made me want to see her prevail and win against all odds. Her partner Dorian is also a great character. His issues become clearer and more understandable as the story progresses. Yet despite any inherent 'flaws', he is a tremendous help to Kirsten, and others. Like his partner, Dorian also made me want to cheer for him and see him find the peace of mind that he was lacking.
This was an exceptionally well-crafted tale, and I find that I enjoyed it so much I'd love for this to become at least a sequel or trilogy, if not a full blown series. Kirsten has more to say I think, and I'm guessing Dorian and Evan may play important roles in any future installments that feature these appealing characters. Aside from the great characters there is also the desire to return to this fascinating world that Cox has created, where anything might happen. The many surprises that were built in further enhanced an already exciting story, and I'd be surprised if there weren't more to be uncovered should Cox ever come back to this wonderful world he's envisioned.
Goodreads Blurb:
Most cops get to deal with living criminals, but Agent Kirsten Wren is not most cops.
A gifted psionic with a troubled past, Kirsten possesses a rare combination of abilities that give her a powerful weapon against spirits. In 2418, rampant violence and corporate warfare have left no shortage of angry wraiths in West City. Most exist as little more than fleeting shadows and eerie whispers in the darkness.
Kirsten is shunned by a society that does not understand psionics, feared by those who know what she can do, and alone in a city of millions. Every so often, when a wraith gathers enough strength to become a threat to the living, these same people rely on her to stop it.
Unexplained killings by human-like androids known as dolls leave the Division One police baffled, causing them to punt the case to Division Zero. Kirsten, along with her partner Dorian, wind up in the crosshairs of corporate assassins as they attempt to find out who – or what – is behind the random murders before more people die.
She tries to hold on to the belief that no one is beyond redemption as she pursues a killer desperate to claim at least one more innocent soul – that might just be hers.
This is a great futuristic, paranormal thriller that's got it all, including a great cast of characters. There is Mr. Cox's excellent world building, in which he created an environment that is molded to his story like spandex to a superhero. Rich and detailed, the plot maintains measured pacing that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Though this could easily be spun into a series, it was nice to have a chance to read a stand-alone book.
While the book isn't stuffed full of complex characters, the main characters have more complexity than anticipated, especially given the status of one of them. Both are very believable characters, each in their own way. There is certainly something endearing and vulnerable about Kirsten, a quality that made me want to see her prevail and win against all odds. Her partner Dorian is also a great character. His issues become clearer and more understandable as the story progresses. Yet despite any inherent 'flaws', he is a tremendous help to Kirsten, and others. Like his partner, Dorian also made me want to cheer for him and see him find the peace of mind that he was lacking.
This was an exceptionally well-crafted tale, and I find that I enjoyed it so much I'd love for this to become at least a sequel or trilogy, if not a full blown series. Kirsten has more to say I think, and I'm guessing Dorian and Evan may play important roles in any future installments that feature these appealing characters. Aside from the great characters there is also the desire to return to this fascinating world that Cox has created, where anything might happen. The many surprises that were built in further enhanced an already exciting story, and I'd be surprised if there weren't more to be uncovered should Cox ever come back to this wonderful world he's envisioned.
July 3, 2014
Should I give you a short description? I don’t think that’s the case, because the book’s synopsis is more than enough. Anyway, it’s not my style to tell you what happens in the book, and I don’t think that’s the purpose of a review. All that’s left for me to do is the recommendation to read it or not. I don’t usually write negative reviews and I prefer not to post at all if I didn’t like the book. So, if I’m writing these lines, you already know what my recommendation is. Yes, Division Zero is worth reading.
It’s a pleasant, attractive science fiction book a little bit different from the ones you are used to. A novel that succeeds to entwine more than one style, current and theme. Of course, we could only read it in the Cyberpunk current key. The twist of the virtual universe with the real and the spiritual one is wholly succeeded and controlled by the author. The world imagined in Division Zero is enhanced in such a way, that it becomes a live metauniverse, interesting and fascinating. It’s a world in which the barriers between the physical and psychical are broken, that, at first glance, may seem barren or dystopian, but that will let itself be discovered step by step, and will amaze you with every page you read. Even if, in the beginning, it starts like a ghost story, and later on it will lead you to a futuristic story with androids anxious for revenge, you must know that you won’t attend neither Ghostbusters, nor Blade Runner. The only resemblance you could find – at least I found it or imagined it – it’s the setting, the atmosphere in which the action is developing, that I saw similar to the one from Blade Runner the movie, not the book. Nothing more. It’s not a comical story, neither one in which the creation defies its Creator. You mustn’t search for facile explanations, but not for philosophical ones either. Just read the novel as it is and you will find that the subject is simple: the human condition. A science fiction novel in which you will find questions and maybe answers, it’s up to you, about our way to be. Evil, glutton, vengeful, but also kind, generous or ready to make the supreme sacrifice for another one of our own. A novel in which you will come face to face with the idea that’s tormenting us for millennia: is there something after death? Is there something more after it, or the end is equivalent to removing the power source of an electrical appliance? A dreamy place, a terrifying place, everything depends of our actions, or is it the absolute void? The author will offer you another alternative, even if you still can’t avoid the final judgment, not even here. Where, how and why, you will find out by yourselves, when reading the book.
Or, if you wish, you can read it as a crime novel with science fiction elements. The setting of the space and time is compulsory, the rest of the ideas are variables that each one of you can add or remove, based on the approach that you’ll have towards the book. An engaging, interesting, full of action novel that will intrigue you and you will read it with pleasure. The book presents a new approach of the science fiction genre and, I guarantee that it won’t disappoint you.
Happy Reading!
GZM http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/...
It’s a pleasant, attractive science fiction book a little bit different from the ones you are used to. A novel that succeeds to entwine more than one style, current and theme. Of course, we could only read it in the Cyberpunk current key. The twist of the virtual universe with the real and the spiritual one is wholly succeeded and controlled by the author. The world imagined in Division Zero is enhanced in such a way, that it becomes a live metauniverse, interesting and fascinating. It’s a world in which the barriers between the physical and psychical are broken, that, at first glance, may seem barren or dystopian, but that will let itself be discovered step by step, and will amaze you with every page you read. Even if, in the beginning, it starts like a ghost story, and later on it will lead you to a futuristic story with androids anxious for revenge, you must know that you won’t attend neither Ghostbusters, nor Blade Runner. The only resemblance you could find – at least I found it or imagined it – it’s the setting, the atmosphere in which the action is developing, that I saw similar to the one from Blade Runner the movie, not the book. Nothing more. It’s not a comical story, neither one in which the creation defies its Creator. You mustn’t search for facile explanations, but not for philosophical ones either. Just read the novel as it is and you will find that the subject is simple: the human condition. A science fiction novel in which you will find questions and maybe answers, it’s up to you, about our way to be. Evil, glutton, vengeful, but also kind, generous or ready to make the supreme sacrifice for another one of our own. A novel in which you will come face to face with the idea that’s tormenting us for millennia: is there something after death? Is there something more after it, or the end is equivalent to removing the power source of an electrical appliance? A dreamy place, a terrifying place, everything depends of our actions, or is it the absolute void? The author will offer you another alternative, even if you still can’t avoid the final judgment, not even here. Where, how and why, you will find out by yourselves, when reading the book.
Or, if you wish, you can read it as a crime novel with science fiction elements. The setting of the space and time is compulsory, the rest of the ideas are variables that each one of you can add or remove, based on the approach that you’ll have towards the book. An engaging, interesting, full of action novel that will intrigue you and you will read it with pleasure. The book presents a new approach of the science fiction genre and, I guarantee that it won’t disappoint you.
Happy Reading!
GZM http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/...
March 20, 2014
Division Zero by Matthew Cox is a nonstop action novel based centuries into the future, and not out of the realm of possibility. Kirsten is a Division Zero, those with psionic talents, police officer chasing down a supernatural force that is embodying dolls, and wreaking havoc. Among her psionic talents Kirsten is able to see and communicate with ghosts, mind blast her enemies into temporary paralysis, and use telepathy to speak into the brains of others. Her patrol vehicle is a bit quirky and comes with an added bonus, and partner Dorian.
Matthew Cox paints a vivid futuristic world with his use of details beckoning the reader to continue. Money comes in the form of credit sticks, cars have the ability to hover, and auto correct, and stimpacks with the aid of nanobots heal wounds almost immediately. Everyone carries a netmini, a small device with many functions from communication to nav guide. Food is no longer grown on a farm or caught in the sea, but a variation of omnisoy and animals produced for consumption. Androids, or dolls are found perusing within every level of society, and come in varying forms from newer lifelike models to older robotic like models. In this futuristic, fantasy world the dolls have some level of rights not quite equivalent to humans. This author's creativity is unmatched by few.
Division Zero takes the reader on a wild ride as protagonist Kirsten bounces from one heroic action packed stop to the next. From the beginning the reader is placed in the driver’s seat experiencing Kirsten's world as a psionic cop as she wrestles with a lingering evil ghost inhabiting a prewar building, endangering the lives of fellow police officers to the culminating end. Each new peril drives and thickens the plot.
A must read for all action, fantasy, and sci-fi fans!
Matthew Cox paints a vivid futuristic world with his use of details beckoning the reader to continue. Money comes in the form of credit sticks, cars have the ability to hover, and auto correct, and stimpacks with the aid of nanobots heal wounds almost immediately. Everyone carries a netmini, a small device with many functions from communication to nav guide. Food is no longer grown on a farm or caught in the sea, but a variation of omnisoy and animals produced for consumption. Androids, or dolls are found perusing within every level of society, and come in varying forms from newer lifelike models to older robotic like models. In this futuristic, fantasy world the dolls have some level of rights not quite equivalent to humans. This author's creativity is unmatched by few.
Division Zero takes the reader on a wild ride as protagonist Kirsten bounces from one heroic action packed stop to the next. From the beginning the reader is placed in the driver’s seat experiencing Kirsten's world as a psionic cop as she wrestles with a lingering evil ghost inhabiting a prewar building, endangering the lives of fellow police officers to the culminating end. Each new peril drives and thickens the plot.
A must read for all action, fantasy, and sci-fi fans!
March 5, 2015
I love mysteries. I love humor. I love action. I love scifi. And… I love this book. It was just fun to read. The characters had depth, nothing flat in these pages. They all had very different personalities. Even the minor characters were interesting. The plot moved along quite well. I do a lot of skimming when I read books, for two reasons, one I just don’t have that gift of stretching a plot out for pages so I skim over what I can’t write, secondly, that stuff I can’t write I usually have no interested in reading (which is probably why I can’t write it. Yeah I suck—but enough about me). Even a perfect ten does not escape my skim speed read technique. This book has the distinction of my least amount of page scanning for the year. That is how much I loved this book.
So were to begin. Kristen was a delight to read. Our heroine Division 0 (which I called division O) operative of the law. More comfortable taking down ghosts than she is with living people. Something about not feeling bad about taking the life of someone who’s already dead. I probably shouldn’t smile at that but it makes more than enough sense in my twisted little brain. She’s in her twenties but still looks young enough to get carded, had a troubled childhood that has defined her weirdness with humans and a strong opposition to religion. All in all she was a perfectly well rounded character who developed as she went further into the book. Sadly she did not hook up with her super sexy partner, but we can’t get everything we want as readers. There was this guy she got a number from. Maybe he’ll return in another book. Who knows
Her best friend Nicole’s ADD was just hilarious. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I loved her. Just brilliant. And completely confident in her womanness, which was the complete opposite of Kristen who got awkward if ghosts saw her naked. She made a habit of locking her bathroom door to ghosts before showering. One of Kristen’s many interesting quirks. But, yes, Nicole was definitely the best friend that you loved to have if only to be amused by the fact that they got lost in conversations after only two sentences. Not even two minutes. Just a delight.
The partner Dorian. Sadly not alive, but that didn’t damper my hopes that a Kristen Dorian romance would ensue. He never seemed nearly as into her as she was him. He found her amusing. Points for that cause so did I. He also had a past, associated with a woman and child and his family that was keeping him in the world. I had a weird sense he was afraid of closure because then he would move on. Then he wouldn’t be able to be Kristen’s partner. But that’s just a hunch.
The plot was very good. It starts of with Kristen heading to a case with Nicole, in Nicole’s hover craft which she drives rather recklessly, And they pass a news droid that is giving the update on a series of AI’s that have gone postal and murdered people. This is of course the real plot but it’s a very nice way to slip it in there like random news while she’s going to a completely unrelated case. It’s clue is laid out right when it should be. The problems that she has to face dealing with ghost in a world where it’s obvious they’re real is interesting. I found it rather unique that Division 0 was relied on so much, and telekinesis was prevalent, and yet people still acted like it was weird that ghost were real. Even when regular people had seen them. Further proof that even in the face of facts we will always try to deny what we can not understand.
Along the way Nicole has to face inner demons and even learn herself better in order to get the villain. Mostly I like that everything in the world, from the descriptions of it to the gadgets in it, make sense. I don’t have to guess at how they work and what they do and so on. I find so much in books with this whole ‘show and don’t tell’ that I’m expected to take too much for granted. Maybe I’m weird but I don’t mind a bit of exposition here and there. I like to know. This book however didn’t leave me with that wanting feeling. In fact the only thing I couldn’t figure out was the stempack. They healed and okay I just assumed that this is what they are called. Okay that’s’ a lie. I knew they meant something but could never quite get my head around it. Until I started mapping out my review. Stem cells. Right. Regeneration. Now it makes sense. In this instance I was just an idiot, however as I said, sometimes books forgo explanations to stick to the rules of writing and there’s nothing that bugs me more than reading a whole book like ‘no. I will not just take it for granted. Tell me’ till the end. I’d give this book an eleven for not leaving me feeling like that. Hell a perfect 15 out of 10.
There just wasn’t much wrong about this book. The comedic timing was perfect. The character arch was excellent. The action was descriptive enough and how the mental powers worked were clearly defined. Even the battle between when to save a life and when to fight for your own never felt overdone in the book. None of the characters ever done anything that would make me think ‘no this character wouldn’t do that’ and the ending wasn't one of those perfect-bottled-up-tight pieces of boring happy that so many people like to write. In the real world bad shit happens. And the easiest way to take me away from my reality into yours is if I can actually envision the things in your world happening. And this book hits the perfect balance of pushing the limits of make-believe while still keeping it grounded in something relatable.
That about sums up my love of this novel. It was a perfectly crafted work of fiction. Kept me entertained till the last page. Never made me feel bogged down, or why wont this book pic up the pace. And there’s nothing like a murder mystery, an ADD best friend, and a sarcastic partner to make me smile into oblivion while reading a book. Anyone who reads this will be more than satisfied. This is a novel I would probably read again. Yes it was that awesome.
So were to begin. Kristen was a delight to read. Our heroine Division 0 (which I called division O) operative of the law. More comfortable taking down ghosts than she is with living people. Something about not feeling bad about taking the life of someone who’s already dead. I probably shouldn’t smile at that but it makes more than enough sense in my twisted little brain. She’s in her twenties but still looks young enough to get carded, had a troubled childhood that has defined her weirdness with humans and a strong opposition to religion. All in all she was a perfectly well rounded character who developed as she went further into the book. Sadly she did not hook up with her super sexy partner, but we can’t get everything we want as readers. There was this guy she got a number from. Maybe he’ll return in another book. Who knows
Her best friend Nicole’s ADD was just hilarious. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I loved her. Just brilliant. And completely confident in her womanness, which was the complete opposite of Kristen who got awkward if ghosts saw her naked. She made a habit of locking her bathroom door to ghosts before showering. One of Kristen’s many interesting quirks. But, yes, Nicole was definitely the best friend that you loved to have if only to be amused by the fact that they got lost in conversations after only two sentences. Not even two minutes. Just a delight.
The partner Dorian. Sadly not alive, but that didn’t damper my hopes that a Kristen Dorian romance would ensue. He never seemed nearly as into her as she was him. He found her amusing. Points for that cause so did I. He also had a past, associated with a woman and child and his family that was keeping him in the world. I had a weird sense he was afraid of closure because then he would move on. Then he wouldn’t be able to be Kristen’s partner. But that’s just a hunch.
The plot was very good. It starts of with Kristen heading to a case with Nicole, in Nicole’s hover craft which she drives rather recklessly, And they pass a news droid that is giving the update on a series of AI’s that have gone postal and murdered people. This is of course the real plot but it’s a very nice way to slip it in there like random news while she’s going to a completely unrelated case. It’s clue is laid out right when it should be. The problems that she has to face dealing with ghost in a world where it’s obvious they’re real is interesting. I found it rather unique that Division 0 was relied on so much, and telekinesis was prevalent, and yet people still acted like it was weird that ghost were real. Even when regular people had seen them. Further proof that even in the face of facts we will always try to deny what we can not understand.
Along the way Nicole has to face inner demons and even learn herself better in order to get the villain. Mostly I like that everything in the world, from the descriptions of it to the gadgets in it, make sense. I don’t have to guess at how they work and what they do and so on. I find so much in books with this whole ‘show and don’t tell’ that I’m expected to take too much for granted. Maybe I’m weird but I don’t mind a bit of exposition here and there. I like to know. This book however didn’t leave me with that wanting feeling. In fact the only thing I couldn’t figure out was the stempack. They healed and okay I just assumed that this is what they are called. Okay that’s’ a lie. I knew they meant something but could never quite get my head around it. Until I started mapping out my review. Stem cells. Right. Regeneration. Now it makes sense. In this instance I was just an idiot, however as I said, sometimes books forgo explanations to stick to the rules of writing and there’s nothing that bugs me more than reading a whole book like ‘no. I will not just take it for granted. Tell me’ till the end. I’d give this book an eleven for not leaving me feeling like that. Hell a perfect 15 out of 10.
There just wasn’t much wrong about this book. The comedic timing was perfect. The character arch was excellent. The action was descriptive enough and how the mental powers worked were clearly defined. Even the battle between when to save a life and when to fight for your own never felt overdone in the book. None of the characters ever done anything that would make me think ‘no this character wouldn’t do that’ and the ending wasn't one of those perfect-bottled-up-tight pieces of boring happy that so many people like to write. In the real world bad shit happens. And the easiest way to take me away from my reality into yours is if I can actually envision the things in your world happening. And this book hits the perfect balance of pushing the limits of make-believe while still keeping it grounded in something relatable.
That about sums up my love of this novel. It was a perfectly crafted work of fiction. Kept me entertained till the last page. Never made me feel bogged down, or why wont this book pic up the pace. And there’s nothing like a murder mystery, an ADD best friend, and a sarcastic partner to make me smile into oblivion while reading a book. Anyone who reads this will be more than satisfied. This is a novel I would probably read again. Yes it was that awesome.
May 2, 2019
I received an Audible code from the author via Audiobook Boom for an honest review. What follows is my honest opinion of the work. I have not been compensated for this review.This is not my first Cox book nor is it my first book in this scifi/post-apocalyptic world. But I wish it was. The books set in the same world weren't bad and I still highly recommend, but this one helps set the world better. You get a feel of who psionics are and what the government is like. You get a feel of the underbelly of the West City and the beginnings of a larger mythos. In all, I suggest starting with this book and then branching into the others set in the same world.This book is a mix of scifi, post-apocalyptic, and paranormal. It pulls you in every direction and opens you to an interesting world. Most of all though, is Kirsten Wren. I love how Cox writes his female leads. I can gush forever about how they are portrayed. Agent Wren has PTSD from the broken and horrible childhood she lived with. But she doesn't let that stop her from saving lives and helping the dead cross over. She's probably my favorite lead from Cox. Next to Emma and Kit (from two different books).The narrator for the audiobook is a good choice. I feel she did a good job. That said, when you listen to it on Audible at 1.0x, it can feel like she's very slow when she's ready. I found 1.25x being the best listen speed.All in all, I'm definitely going to want to listen to the rest of the series if they get to be audiobooks.Final Rating: 4/5
dnf
October 4, 2014DNF at 60%
I apologize to the author, but I can't stand Division Zero anymore. It's giving me a serious bout of nausea. No, it's not due to horrific content or monsters galore. It's simply motion sickness.
This book can't decide what it is. An "In Death" fan? Or a Dante Valentine's one? Is it a thriller or a futuristic Bridget Jones?
Past mid-mark I still don't know. And I fear I don't really care.
Imagine a high-trill chase on your favorite thriller. A killer on the loose. A city on the verge of panic.
Now, put it on stop, imagine your main characters stopping to go for a mani-pedi or shopping. Start again. Rinse and repeat. Any adrenaline on your part is well on its way from the toilet to the ocean.
This is what happened to the story. Not the details of course, but this stop and go is the way I felt the "action".
Division Zero suffers of this ping-pong-ing in all its aspects. Its heroine should be a cop with a few years of experience, but she's barely 22 going on 13. She keeps blushing every other page. She giggles, for god' sake, she whines because she's single and oh everyone hates and fears her. (Never mind her kind is part of a police force, so no maybe this is not the case. Nor are we told this fear of pitchfork is based on something real.)
The book is in third person narration, but pieces of actions are missing (the way it is with the usual UF 1st person pov). Paragraph upon paragraphs about what she's doing, then all of a sudden her partner appears on scene. And you jolt, like he's a ghost. The same goes with the "investigation". She muses, investigate like she's alone in the scene, then her partner is in the car with her. (See spoiler.)
At the beginning of the book she's attacked by a suspect. She's left electrocuted and tied in a alley. In the scene her partner was with her. How is it possible she ended up tied? Her partner simply disappeared, to appear again a page forward saying that he's followed the perp. The book is full of situation like this, where the action seems disjointed, both because the third person narration still follows only one character, making all the others seem ghosts, but also because it's not what you'd expect. Cops are not the Marine corp, but it's still pretty strange that one would leave an officer down on the street.
But what I found disturbing in this constant changing scenario is the total lack of professionalism in characters who are supposed to be cops. Both in her behavior, but above all in her partner's. I found it "disturbing" not in a moral sense, but simply in a eye-rolling, "disbelieving what you're reading" kind of. Ok, this is the future, but it's a very "standard" future except from people with certain ability. So if a cop starts behaving in a totally inappropriate way, I notice. And I expect to be told why.
I don't know how the book ended, if the undead perp was killed forever, the bad guys stopped. But given that at 60% nothing really happened (or rather it was all starting then), I can't say I'm that sorry to remain ignorant.
Arc courtesy of publisher via Netgalley.
I apologize to the author, but I can't stand Division Zero anymore. It's giving me a serious bout of nausea. No, it's not due to horrific content or monsters galore. It's simply motion sickness.
This book can't decide what it is. An "In Death" fan? Or a Dante Valentine's one? Is it a thriller or a futuristic Bridget Jones?
Past mid-mark I still don't know. And I fear I don't really care.
Imagine a high-trill chase on your favorite thriller. A killer on the loose. A city on the verge of panic.
Now, put it on stop, imagine your main characters stopping to go for a mani-pedi or shopping. Start again. Rinse and repeat. Any adrenaline on your part is well on its way from the toilet to the ocean.
This is what happened to the story. Not the details of course, but this stop and go is the way I felt the "action".
Division Zero suffers of this ping-pong-ing in all its aspects. Its heroine should be a cop with a few years of experience, but she's barely 22 going on 13. She keeps blushing every other page. She giggles, for god' sake, she whines because she's single and oh everyone hates and fears her. (Never mind her kind is part of a police force, so no maybe this is not the case. Nor are we told this fear of pitchfork is based on something real.)
The book is in third person narration, but pieces of actions are missing (the way it is with the usual UF 1st person pov). Paragraph upon paragraphs about what she's doing, then all of a sudden her partner appears on scene. And you jolt, like he's a ghost. The same goes with the "investigation". She muses, investigate like she's alone in the scene, then her partner is in the car with her. (See spoiler.)
At the beginning of the book she's attacked by a suspect. She's left electrocuted and tied in a alley. In the scene her partner was with her. How is it possible she ended up tied? Her partner simply disappeared, to appear again a page forward saying that he's followed the perp. The book is full of situation like this, where the action seems disjointed, both because the third person narration still follows only one character, making all the others seem ghosts, but also because it's not what you'd expect. Cops are not the Marine corp, but it's still pretty strange that one would leave an officer down on the street.
But what I found disturbing in this constant changing scenario is the total lack of professionalism in characters who are supposed to be cops. Both in her behavior, but above all in her partner's. I found it "disturbing" not in a moral sense, but simply in a eye-rolling, "disbelieving what you're reading" kind of. Ok, this is the future, but it's a very "standard" future except from people with certain ability. So if a cop starts behaving in a totally inappropriate way, I notice. And I expect to be told why.
I don't know how the book ended, if the undead perp was killed forever, the bad guys stopped. But given that at 60% nothing really happened (or rather it was all starting then), I can't say I'm that sorry to remain ignorant.
Arc courtesy of publisher via Netgalley.
July 22, 2014
I received a copy of this ebook from Xpresso Tours in exchange for my honest review.
YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS REVIEW IN HERE
Division zero tells about psionics (people who are gifted), ghosts, policemen, flying cars and a whole new advanced level of technology and environment. For me, Division zero is the very nice mixed quality of Sci-fi, Fantasy and Crime and is told in a very casual and not exaggerated way of writing. I liked the way how the Science-Fintasy thing blend perfectly into the story that it felt like the events in the book are true. It is like reading a non-fiction, documented history of the future. Now, that is impossible, but that is how this book made me feel.
I like mostly the character of our main hero, Kirsten, she’s the kind of girl that despite all the harsh experiences she had, she did not turn into some evil bitch but became somebody who will fight and protect the safety of the humanity. Well, too bad, guys would always run their asses off the moment they come to know that Kirsten is a Div 0 agent and a psionic. I really like this book; I can’t help but dream about this. Every flipping page has potential to turn into a movie/TV series scene.
I’m excited to know why and how the hell the Harbringers acted like Kirsten is their dear princess, always following her unconscious wants, needs and pleas. I will be very happy to have the chance to read and review the next chapters of Kirsten’s life and maybe her romantic interests! Oh, and looking forward for some more peeping ghosts.
If you were looking for a little romance, a little fantasy and packed science, mystery and crime with policemen and detectives in a book, this one is really for you!
May 26, 2016
The Atheistic Ghost Whisperer?
••• Not for the transphobic, homophobic, or closedminded •••
This series must be read in order. Though this is technically the first book I recommend reading Virtual Immortality first as it is set before this book in the same world and a few of the characters make appearances in here :) The short Into The Beneath can be read before or after this book. I can't wait to read Loose Ends!
Kirsten had a horrible childhood... Especially after she came into her powers. Her mother abused and starved her for being Devil Spawn just because she could not understand or accept that her daughter was Gifted. This left Kirsten an Atheist who helps ghosts crossover or destroys them if they are too dangerous to leave to Fate. Division Zero is not just her job... It is her family! Between her partner Dorian and her best friend Nicole she gets by. Too bad men are either terrified of her powers ... Or just want to use her for sex! It feels like she will never make a meaningful connection with anyone outside of Division Zero... But anything is possible. Right? Now that Dolls are running amuck all over the city, it is up to her to figure out the cause, and put a stop to it! Is it a Psionic controlling the murderous dolls? Or a ghost possessing them? Or a truly gifted hacker? Who would make dolls kill innocent people? Why these dolls in particular? What is the endgame? Can they stop the killing before the whole city panics? Or will their society fall even farther under martial law?
***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy dystopian futuristic sci-fi with plenty of intrigue set in a post postapocalyptal world where nothing is as it seems and the paranormal vies with advanced science for control of the world :)
••• Not for the transphobic, homophobic, or closedminded •••
This series must be read in order. Though this is technically the first book I recommend reading Virtual Immortality first as it is set before this book in the same world and a few of the characters make appearances in here :) The short Into The Beneath can be read before or after this book. I can't wait to read Loose Ends!
Kirsten had a horrible childhood... Especially after she came into her powers. Her mother abused and starved her for being Devil Spawn just because she could not understand or accept that her daughter was Gifted. This left Kirsten an Atheist who helps ghosts crossover or destroys them if they are too dangerous to leave to Fate. Division Zero is not just her job... It is her family! Between her partner Dorian and her best friend Nicole she gets by. Too bad men are either terrified of her powers ... Or just want to use her for sex! It feels like she will never make a meaningful connection with anyone outside of Division Zero... But anything is possible. Right? Now that Dolls are running amuck all over the city, it is up to her to figure out the cause, and put a stop to it! Is it a Psionic controlling the murderous dolls? Or a ghost possessing them? Or a truly gifted hacker? Who would make dolls kill innocent people? Why these dolls in particular? What is the endgame? Can they stop the killing before the whole city panics? Or will their society fall even farther under martial law?
***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy dystopian futuristic sci-fi with plenty of intrigue set in a post postapocalyptal world where nothing is as it seems and the paranormal vies with advanced science for control of the world :)
June 30, 2014
Wow!!! That is the first thought that went through my mind. I love this book. The story is wonderful and so well-written it is easy to fall in love with. The story follows Kirsten as she tries to solve a case where dolls seem to be going crazy and randomly killing people. Kirsten is a psionic and has the ability to see ghosts and interact with them. She can also converse telepathically and read people’s minds. We are also given a glimpse into Kirsten’s childhood and the reasons behind who she is today.
Kirsten’s abilities have her shunned by people in general as they react to her with fear. There are very few people who like her and stay with her and thus leads to her feeling of loneliness. We are also given a glimpse into a world where technology has evolved to such an extent that society is completely dependent on it for everything. This is just one example of how the world could be so many years down the line. This paranormal fiction will have you believe in the existence of ghosts and Kirsten’s struggle to accept religion, the existence of god and the difference between good and evil in a person will get you thinking.
There is some amount of philosophy that the author has subtly discussed through the book without coming across as preachy. The author has beautifully crafted this story with the right amount of suspense and twists that will have the reader surprised. A gripping plot and a wonderful writing style lend more credit to the author’s work and make this story worth the read.
Kirsten’s abilities have her shunned by people in general as they react to her with fear. There are very few people who like her and stay with her and thus leads to her feeling of loneliness. We are also given a glimpse into a world where technology has evolved to such an extent that society is completely dependent on it for everything. This is just one example of how the world could be so many years down the line. This paranormal fiction will have you believe in the existence of ghosts and Kirsten’s struggle to accept religion, the existence of god and the difference between good and evil in a person will get you thinking.
There is some amount of philosophy that the author has subtly discussed through the book without coming across as preachy. The author has beautifully crafted this story with the right amount of suspense and twists that will have the reader surprised. A gripping plot and a wonderful writing style lend more credit to the author’s work and make this story worth the read.
July 2, 2014
Curiosity Quills Press is fast becoming a favorite publisher of mine. They seem to have that special knack that finds authors like Matthew Cox, who can weave a story that whisks you away, submerging you in the plot and characters, and make your reality melt away for a few precious hours.
Kirsten Wren is a psionic cop from Division Zero in 2148. First off...let's talk about how much I love the fact that the author gave us an exact year. So often, futuristic books are just left as post-apocalyptic without a definite time frame. I like books like this one where you're given a time frame; I think it makes it easier to suppose everything.
I don't quite know what to compare this book to that will encompass what you're getting. It's futuristic, gritty, detective/cop action, thriller. And yet all those adjectives don't quite grasp the story in its entirety. Cox has created characters with bite and personality, with histories that are visceral, quirks that make you smile, and action that keeps you moving while our heroine unravels the mystery of the murderous AIs. There were some hints regarding her partner early on in the book that made me question him. When we finally are shown, my doubts reared up again and it was this wonderful AHA! moment. I love those moments as you read! I certainly hope this isn't the last book set in Division Zero. I would happily read more and look forward to watching characters and relationships develop from case to case.
Kirsten Wren is a psionic cop from Division Zero in 2148. First off...let's talk about how much I love the fact that the author gave us an exact year. So often, futuristic books are just left as post-apocalyptic without a definite time frame. I like books like this one where you're given a time frame; I think it makes it easier to suppose everything.
I don't quite know what to compare this book to that will encompass what you're getting. It's futuristic, gritty, detective/cop action, thriller. And yet all those adjectives don't quite grasp the story in its entirety. Cox has created characters with bite and personality, with histories that are visceral, quirks that make you smile, and action that keeps you moving while our heroine unravels the mystery of the murderous AIs. There were some hints regarding her partner early on in the book that made me question him. When we finally are shown, my doubts reared up again and it was this wonderful AHA! moment. I love those moments as you read! I certainly hope this isn't the last book set in Division Zero. I would happily read more and look forward to watching characters and relationships develop from case to case.
April 8, 2015
Division Zero is a wild ride. Full of suspenseful investigation, feeding the reader tasty tid-bits at regular intervals. The action is a punch in the face, hurling you along with the speed of a psionic astral whip. The story revolves around Agent Kristen Wren. A pretty, delicate lass who suffers intense loneliness and the scars of a painful past. But that’s where the fragility ends, she can hold her own with the most vicious of adversaries. Most of her enemies come in the form of ghosts she must banish before they wreak havoc, but plenty of human villains are intent doing her harm as well.
The plot is a complex web of mystery woven around androids, dolls, which are going on murderous rampages well outside of their programming. Kristen follows the investigation to discover a vengeful ghost is at the heart of the killings.
The twists and turns are fast and furious, as is the action, the characters deep and complex. The cyberpunk world is beautifully detailed. The author paints with such a vivid brush you can hear the bots whiz by, see the skyscrapers tower overhead and the weapons explode and disintegrate everything in sight.
The first of a series, Division Zero sets the stage for lots of harrowing adventures with Kristen and her pals. A marvelous read all on its own, but the promise of more to come makes it all the sweeter.
The plot is a complex web of mystery woven around androids, dolls, which are going on murderous rampages well outside of their programming. Kristen follows the investigation to discover a vengeful ghost is at the heart of the killings.
The twists and turns are fast and furious, as is the action, the characters deep and complex. The cyberpunk world is beautifully detailed. The author paints with such a vivid brush you can hear the bots whiz by, see the skyscrapers tower overhead and the weapons explode and disintegrate everything in sight.
The first of a series, Division Zero sets the stage for lots of harrowing adventures with Kristen and her pals. A marvelous read all on its own, but the promise of more to come makes it all the sweeter.
April 16, 2014
Guess what?? I have a Wed. Afternoon review for you!! "Division Zero" By Matthew Cox is nothing like I have ever read before, Mixing The Paranormal in the Futuristic world of Cyberpunk. Agent Kirsten Wren is a "Psionic Division Zero Police Detective." She investigates the paranormal in a very special squad because she can see, communicate, destroy or Send to the Silver light, Ghosts. She also has the ability to wipe your mind clean so you can imagine the loneliness of having everyone afraid that she will do this to them. We Follow Kirsten and her partner Dorian ( Love Love Love Dorian) on the hunt for whatever is making The "Dolls" ( A.I. Androids so close to human, that not helping one in distress would be considered a crime) go crazy and randomly Kill Innocents.. Add in a religious conflict between Kirsten and Dorian and this story moves very fast .. Filled with Action around every haunted corner! Feeling what Kirsten feels and the descriptions of this future world are just amazing! I give this Book 5 "whips" (yeah ya gotta read it ) Very well done and I can't wait for Kirsten's next case!
July 15, 2014
WOW!! What a rush! This book was so freaking exciting.
Once I got used to the Sci-Fi jargon, this book grabbed hold of me and didn't let go until the very end. It played out in my head like a movie with amazing descriptions and electrifying characters. I was sent on a thrilling ride along with Kirsten each time she had to face another evil spirit, and the action never ended. I loved getting to know the world she lived in and the many abilities of Division 0.
But this book wasn't only action and adventure with plenty of ass-kicking. Kirsten's demons were deeply rooted and she had to face them day after day. Cox slowly revealed just how deep her scars were, and as the story developed I was given more of an inside look at the horror she had faced growing up, until the moment she was able to face it once and for all. My heart went out to her, but it made her the strong character she was - although kinda lacking confidence - and she has to be one of my favorite characters EVER!
This book was an exhilarating Sci-fi Fantasy full of mayhem. Think Ghost Whisper + R.I.P.D. Get ready for a crazy ride into the paranormal.
Once I got used to the Sci-Fi jargon, this book grabbed hold of me and didn't let go until the very end. It played out in my head like a movie with amazing descriptions and electrifying characters. I was sent on a thrilling ride along with Kirsten each time she had to face another evil spirit, and the action never ended. I loved getting to know the world she lived in and the many abilities of Division 0.
But this book wasn't only action and adventure with plenty of ass-kicking. Kirsten's demons were deeply rooted and she had to face them day after day. Cox slowly revealed just how deep her scars were, and as the story developed I was given more of an inside look at the horror she had faced growing up, until the moment she was able to face it once and for all. My heart went out to her, but it made her the strong character she was - although kinda lacking confidence - and she has to be one of my favorite characters EVER!
This book was an exhilarating Sci-fi Fantasy full of mayhem. Think Ghost Whisper + R.I.P.D. Get ready for a crazy ride into the paranormal.
January 4, 2015
I really had trouble getting into the story as I found the first part of it a bit confusing and almost stopped reading it. Boy am I glad that I persevered!
I loved the rest of the story! So many new original ideas I sometimes had to put the book down for a while just to let them percolate for a bit. I found Matthew's take on ghosts completely enthralling and if I write any more about the book there will be spoilers galore.
Therefore, I'm just going to say that I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes ghosts, sci-fi and thinking about the meaning of life. There is no love-story in this book so if you are looking for romance you will have to go elsewhere, although I'm wondering if a certain someone who made a very brief appearance in this book will be back in the next as the love interest for the heroine. Again, if I talk any more about him it will be a spoiler.
To wrap this review up, I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.
I loved the rest of the story! So many new original ideas I sometimes had to put the book down for a while just to let them percolate for a bit. I found Matthew's take on ghosts completely enthralling and if I write any more about the book there will be spoilers galore.
Therefore, I'm just going to say that I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes ghosts, sci-fi and thinking about the meaning of life. There is no love-story in this book so if you are looking for romance you will have to go elsewhere, although I'm wondering if a certain someone who made a very brief appearance in this book will be back in the next as the love interest for the heroine. Again, if I talk any more about him it will be a spoiler.
To wrap this review up, I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.
September 6, 2016
Agent Kirsten Wren is strong, smart, funny and beautiful. But even in a world full of androids and ghosts, she’s the freak - thanks to her psionic abilities. Still, psionics give her an edge as an agent in Division Zero (think Fringe meets X-Files). Her newest case is one of murders being committed by dolls (human-like androids) in futuristic Seattle. Her investigation leads her through twists and turns full of corporate greed, unhinged cyborgs and sexbot sexcapades. Believe me when I say that this book will keep you up all night!
The sci-fi geek in me relished in the incredibly detailed plot and dedicated worldbuilding, while the writer in me adored the beautiful writing and perfect voice. Not only was it hard to put down, I can’t wait to pick it up again.
The sci-fi geek in me relished in the incredibly detailed plot and dedicated worldbuilding, while the writer in me adored the beautiful writing and perfect voice. Not only was it hard to put down, I can’t wait to pick it up again.
March 7, 2014
PARANORMAL CYBERPUNK MYSTERY! I'm not kidding. This book is as awesome as it sounds. Matthew Cox's debut novel is innovative and emotionally powerful. The characters are fresh and the fast paced story gripped me to the last page.
June 27, 2014
*Blogtour*
Review to be posted on July 2nd 2014 on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Review to be posted on July 2nd 2014 on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
March 4, 2014
"Cause I'm a ninja."
August 24, 2018
Welcome to the future 2418 where being a police officer means that you are trying to keep the rampant violence down . But if you are also a police officer that is also a psionic you will be battling the ghosts . Meet Kristen Wren a young psionic and police officer . She has a talent to track and kill ghosts .. When a series of attacks puts Kristen on the case . She is now in the cross hairs for corporate assassins and a vengeful ghost . Will she survive to close the case or will she become one of the killers victims .
I truly fell in love with the main character Kristen , you really feel for her . She has been through hell and back with her family . Even in the big city she feels alone and actually kind of scared. Her special powers have her chasing ghosts and she well doesn't like it . She has so many feelings and sometimes she is scared . You just want to wrap her up in a blanket and hug her tight . As you read her though she really does become a strong character and she really does come into her own . With her best friend Nicole and Dorian keep her grounded and help her figure everything out . Oh and there is something special about Dorian that kind of made me go wow .
This book is a mix of sci fi and paranormal . Which the author mixes quite well. The characters are very well written and complex . You really feel for them and want to care for them . The author has a way with words and can really paint a picture .But there were just a couple of times I felt like I needed to look up a couple of words . other then that this story had me sucked in by the second chapter . This book so has a blade runner / ghost buster vibe . Its dark and gritty with some comic relief . You will get sucked in and want to figure out what the heck is happening along with the rest of us . So add this book to you fall reading list . You will not be disappointed
I truly fell in love with the main character Kristen , you really feel for her . She has been through hell and back with her family . Even in the big city she feels alone and actually kind of scared. Her special powers have her chasing ghosts and she well doesn't like it . She has so many feelings and sometimes she is scared . You just want to wrap her up in a blanket and hug her tight . As you read her though she really does become a strong character and she really does come into her own . With her best friend Nicole and Dorian keep her grounded and help her figure everything out . Oh and there is something special about Dorian that kind of made me go wow .
This book is a mix of sci fi and paranormal . Which the author mixes quite well. The characters are very well written and complex . You really feel for them and want to care for them . The author has a way with words and can really paint a picture .But there were just a couple of times I felt like I needed to look up a couple of words . other then that this story had me sucked in by the second chapter . This book so has a blade runner / ghost buster vibe . Its dark and gritty with some comic relief . You will get sucked in and want to figure out what the heck is happening along with the rest of us . So add this book to you fall reading list . You will not be disappointed
March 29, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author, Matthew S. Cox, for an honest review.
I really loved this book.
I found myself really engrossed in the life of Kirsten. I found myself wanting to know more about her and her background and had a hard time putting the book down.
The psionic aspect of the story was very interesting as well. Even though the story takes place in the future, the futuristics of it were not over my head. You do not need to be an avid reader of dystopian stories to follow the flow.
I highly recommend reading this story and can't wait to start book 2 in the series.
I really loved this book.
I found myself really engrossed in the life of Kirsten. I found myself wanting to know more about her and her background and had a hard time putting the book down.
The psionic aspect of the story was very interesting as well. Even though the story takes place in the future, the futuristics of it were not over my head. You do not need to be an avid reader of dystopian stories to follow the flow.
I highly recommend reading this story and can't wait to start book 2 in the series.
August 27, 2018
Not a new author for me but I really enjoy what he writes. This isn't any different. Okay rephrase this was really different. Its got cyber punk which I am a fan of. Its also a mixture of supernatural in the way of psychic powers and some other things. Wont give too much away but I think a lot of people will dig this. I wasn't sure at first because going into it I didnt know about the cyber punk :). It was a great surprise. Think Bladerunner kinda if you are familiar with that. It reminded me of that a little bit. Just a completely different story. I liked Kristen. She's got her own gifts and not everyone is comfortable with it. She's a cop and I totally like her partner Dorian. He's a really good partner because Kristen doesnt always follow rules and he kinda makes her see both sides. This has great world building and makes you want to go on and read more of the series. I'm definitely a fan.
August 24, 2018
In a world come undone who does protect innocence?
With every technical gadget one could imagine. Still no way to logically deal with paranormal activity. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away. Even one with sight to see can't comfortably accept it. Traditional beliefs tragically tarnished by abusive opportunists. So the innocent become Division Zero.
With every technical gadget one could imagine. Still no way to logically deal with paranormal activity. Ignoring it doesn't make it go away. Even one with sight to see can't comfortably accept it. Traditional beliefs tragically tarnished by abusive opportunists. So the innocent become Division Zero.
September 2, 2016
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I love a bit of paranormal fiction, and I love watching CSI TV shows, so the fact that policing, murders and ghosts have all been mixed into this book is really great for me, and let's not forget the futuristic setting too. The blurb really ticked all of my boxes so I was so excited to be a part of this tour. So without further ado:
Kirsten works for Division Zero, a group of police officers with extra-ordinary abilities, and her latest case is something that has left all the other police baffled. It starts with one rogue robot malfunctioning, but quickly escalates into a series of gruesome murders of innocent civilians. Kirsten soon realises the truth; they're being posessed by a very powerful and very angry ghost.
Being perfectly honest here, at first I was confused by this book; there were a lot of words that were made up for the futuristic setting and I felt immediately bombarded with the fact I didn't understand this world. However, that feeling soon passed and the technical speak became more apparent to me after that.
Also, before the writer really gets into a stride, I often found myself flicking back a page to ensure I hadn't glossed over bits. There were a few instances where things that may well be obvious to the writer are left out, for example the fact that Dorian, her partner, has accompanied her into a bar. At one point he wasn't actually mentioned until he made a remark.
Speaking of Dorian, there was one more confusing thing to go with the odd omissions; the fact that at one point I was trying to guess who was dead and who wasn't, because to Kirsten they appear solid and act like normal people. I was wondering why people were giving her weird stares when she was on the bus with her dad, and then I figured it out! That being said, as soon as the story got into the full flow, there was nothing to confuse me.
Now for the good stuff. Sometimes in books, the subplots are really rubbish, but in this one, they really helped the story along, and they added more soul to Kirsten's character. One or two subplots can easily be developed through to a second book, should the author choose to write a sequel. Oh! And one thing that is really great? No romance! OK, there is a little bit hinted at, but nothing comes to the fore over this short space of time; kind of like how it is for every single career girl in her early twenties, only this one happens to be a kick-ass psionic. Kirsten could have easily been a Mary Sue if not for her fears and her lack of control when unexpectedly threatened, so I was really glad to see some flawed attributes coming through.
The ending was really satisfying; a culmination of all that non-stop action and emotional tension built up to a dramatic and bloody scene, levelling its-self out with a perfect end, with all the strands of plot tied off nicely.
Warning: This is quite a interesting novel in terms of themes, and some readers may not like what they read. There is the discussion of death, heaven, hell and faith, as well as scenes of child abuse and mentions of homosexuality. However, the main overwhelming theme seems to be that of overcoming your demons and doing what you think is right.
Like an American, sci-fi version of Rivers of London, but with a lot more gross scenes and ghost handling rather than detecting.
I love a bit of paranormal fiction, and I love watching CSI TV shows, so the fact that policing, murders and ghosts have all been mixed into this book is really great for me, and let's not forget the futuristic setting too. The blurb really ticked all of my boxes so I was so excited to be a part of this tour. So without further ado:
Kirsten works for Division Zero, a group of police officers with extra-ordinary abilities, and her latest case is something that has left all the other police baffled. It starts with one rogue robot malfunctioning, but quickly escalates into a series of gruesome murders of innocent civilians. Kirsten soon realises the truth; they're being posessed by a very powerful and very angry ghost.
Being perfectly honest here, at first I was confused by this book; there were a lot of words that were made up for the futuristic setting and I felt immediately bombarded with the fact I didn't understand this world. However, that feeling soon passed and the technical speak became more apparent to me after that.
Also, before the writer really gets into a stride, I often found myself flicking back a page to ensure I hadn't glossed over bits. There were a few instances where things that may well be obvious to the writer are left out, for example the fact that Dorian, her partner, has accompanied her into a bar. At one point he wasn't actually mentioned until he made a remark.
Speaking of Dorian, there was one more confusing thing to go with the odd omissions; the fact that at one point I was trying to guess who was dead and who wasn't, because to Kirsten they appear solid and act like normal people. I was wondering why people were giving her weird stares when she was on the bus with her dad, and then I figured it out! That being said, as soon as the story got into the full flow, there was nothing to confuse me.
Now for the good stuff. Sometimes in books, the subplots are really rubbish, but in this one, they really helped the story along, and they added more soul to Kirsten's character. One or two subplots can easily be developed through to a second book, should the author choose to write a sequel. Oh! And one thing that is really great? No romance! OK, there is a little bit hinted at, but nothing comes to the fore over this short space of time; kind of like how it is for every single career girl in her early twenties, only this one happens to be a kick-ass psionic. Kirsten could have easily been a Mary Sue if not for her fears and her lack of control when unexpectedly threatened, so I was really glad to see some flawed attributes coming through.
The ending was really satisfying; a culmination of all that non-stop action and emotional tension built up to a dramatic and bloody scene, levelling its-self out with a perfect end, with all the strands of plot tied off nicely.
Warning: This is quite a interesting novel in terms of themes, and some readers may not like what they read. There is the discussion of death, heaven, hell and faith, as well as scenes of child abuse and mentions of homosexuality. However, the main overwhelming theme seems to be that of overcoming your demons and doing what you think is right.
Like an American, sci-fi version of Rivers of London, but with a lot more gross scenes and ghost handling rather than detecting.
June 5, 2022
Balancing fast-paced, street-level cyber-strife with psychological (and psionic) nuance, Cox makes the reader feel the decaying substance beneath the frenetic style.
Rampant corporations tore the old world apart in their struggle for economic supremacy. Now those same corporations all but rule the technological enclaves scattered across the tainted wastelands that were nations. Caught between these duelling behemoths and a disadvantaged populace, the police are rarely loved. But none are more shunned than Division Zero, a unit formed of psionics. When a series of killings by android servants leave regular police baffled,
Agent Kirsten Wren, cursed and blessed with the ability to interact with ghosts, is tasked with investigating possible paranormal causes.
With filthy urban sprawl, flashing neon, cutting-edge technology, and the same base perversities as every period of history, this novel immediately evokes the feel of cyberpunk. However, unlike the stochastic processors and quantum detectors of classic street-grunge, psychic powers are real. Science and the spirit world are not always comfortable bedfellows, but Cox skilfully contrasts reason and fantasy to create something that is neither order nor chaos. As such, the high-technology feels more real for the continued presence of faith.
One key to this balancing act is the grittiness of psychic powers: most people either don’t believe in or fear the rare psionics; even other police officers usually don’t view them as real police. And, while psionics can achieve things ordinary people can’t, using powers costs energy or exposes them to added risk. This makes Kirsten’s extra ability as much an obstacle as an advantage, turning it from a magical benefit into a different-yet-equal tool to the cybernetic upgrades and other technologies wielded by ordinary people.
However, Kirsten’s death-sight also opens up fresh psychological ground: if the ghosts of the dead linger until they either release their hold on this world or are torn from it by mysterious forces, then is there an afterlife and a set of rules to earn it?
Kirsten herself displays this same mix of classic cyberpunk trope and fresh psychological quirks. The child of a dysfunctional family that was unwilling to accept her powers, her behaviour is unconsciously limited by her fear and hatred of her parents for their inadequacy; a situation not helped by her father’s ghost trying to be part of her life. And when she does escape him, there are plenty of other ghosts to berate her for not helping, demand she explain what’s going on, or leer while she takes a shower.
The supporting cast have a similar balance between grimy neon and shaped emotion: hackers might be skilled programmers, but might equally have an electrokinetic edge; energy bladed assassins stalk people who can shred minds by will alone; and the corporations keep getting richer from both sides.
Overall, I enjoyed this greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a fusion of cyberpunk and paranormal thriller that does justice to both.
I received a free copy from the author with no obligation to review.
Rampant corporations tore the old world apart in their struggle for economic supremacy. Now those same corporations all but rule the technological enclaves scattered across the tainted wastelands that were nations. Caught between these duelling behemoths and a disadvantaged populace, the police are rarely loved. But none are more shunned than Division Zero, a unit formed of psionics. When a series of killings by android servants leave regular police baffled,
Agent Kirsten Wren, cursed and blessed with the ability to interact with ghosts, is tasked with investigating possible paranormal causes.
With filthy urban sprawl, flashing neon, cutting-edge technology, and the same base perversities as every period of history, this novel immediately evokes the feel of cyberpunk. However, unlike the stochastic processors and quantum detectors of classic street-grunge, psychic powers are real. Science and the spirit world are not always comfortable bedfellows, but Cox skilfully contrasts reason and fantasy to create something that is neither order nor chaos. As such, the high-technology feels more real for the continued presence of faith.
One key to this balancing act is the grittiness of psychic powers: most people either don’t believe in or fear the rare psionics; even other police officers usually don’t view them as real police. And, while psionics can achieve things ordinary people can’t, using powers costs energy or exposes them to added risk. This makes Kirsten’s extra ability as much an obstacle as an advantage, turning it from a magical benefit into a different-yet-equal tool to the cybernetic upgrades and other technologies wielded by ordinary people.
However, Kirsten’s death-sight also opens up fresh psychological ground: if the ghosts of the dead linger until they either release their hold on this world or are torn from it by mysterious forces, then is there an afterlife and a set of rules to earn it?
Kirsten herself displays this same mix of classic cyberpunk trope and fresh psychological quirks. The child of a dysfunctional family that was unwilling to accept her powers, her behaviour is unconsciously limited by her fear and hatred of her parents for their inadequacy; a situation not helped by her father’s ghost trying to be part of her life. And when she does escape him, there are plenty of other ghosts to berate her for not helping, demand she explain what’s going on, or leer while she takes a shower.
The supporting cast have a similar balance between grimy neon and shaped emotion: hackers might be skilled programmers, but might equally have an electrokinetic edge; energy bladed assassins stalk people who can shred minds by will alone; and the corporations keep getting richer from both sides.
Overall, I enjoyed this greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a fusion of cyberpunk and paranormal thriller that does justice to both.
I received a free copy from the author with no obligation to review.
July 29, 2014
Kirsten is a police officer in Division Zero. This Division is feared by all others, its a division for people with special abilities. Kirsten can see, touch and talk to ghosts. She deals with any cases thought to be paranormal so when Division One send a case of Dolls killings people for no reason to Division Zero, Kirsten investigates.
Dolls are human like androids so Kirsten thinks it may be simply a glitch that is until she gets there and feels that psionics was involved. In other words, a ghost possessed the Doll and made it kill people. Why is this happening? Can Kirsten figure out who is behind this before another innocent person is killed? And why are people trying to kill her?
When the wonderful Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours advertised the up coming tour for this it caught my eye. A mix of murder/mystery, ghosts, physic powers and cyperpunk sounded awesome! Im glad to say it was just as good as I thought!!
The world Mathew Cox has created is a futuristic hell. There's rampant violence and people rely on the Dolls that are available. There's Dolls that are simple workers, ones that are made to be as close to human as possible and ones just for sex. Its a world filled flying cars, adbots, stimpaks and tons of cool gadgets ;) I loved diving into it and seeing imagination come to life.
I loved Kirstens character. She was beaten by her mother when she was young because her mother believed the devil was inside her. She was eventually saved and brought to Division Zero where her unique gift was needed. She was tough, smart and kick ass but also lonely and broken. She never shirked her responsibility and was always there when needed. She got into so many bad situations simply because she can deal with ghosts. The only thing that annoyed me about Kirsten was her whining about men and being single! It got out of hand in the first half of the book but thankfully she was more focused on the second half.
Dorian is Kirstens partner and for some reason wont leave the car they drive alone!! He wont go too far from it for fear of it being stolen. The car they drive has caused a lot of bother for other cops driving it but it seems to like Kirsten and Dorian and works fine for them. Dorian has his quirks but I liked him. I hope he hangs around and we see more of him in future books.
The start of the book is slow but once it gets going I was hooked.When I was young I imagined a world full of flying cars and robots and Mathew cox brings it to life. It was awesome to dive into this futuristic psionic world and I really enjoyed it. Division Zero is an action packed, edge of your seat page turner. With a strong female lead, fight scenes that leave you gasping and ghosts that leave you shivering, Division Zero is a must read for fans of sci/fi, fantasy and any reader that loves getting lost in an awesome new world :)
Dolls are human like androids so Kirsten thinks it may be simply a glitch that is until she gets there and feels that psionics was involved. In other words, a ghost possessed the Doll and made it kill people. Why is this happening? Can Kirsten figure out who is behind this before another innocent person is killed? And why are people trying to kill her?
When the wonderful Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours advertised the up coming tour for this it caught my eye. A mix of murder/mystery, ghosts, physic powers and cyperpunk sounded awesome! Im glad to say it was just as good as I thought!!
The world Mathew Cox has created is a futuristic hell. There's rampant violence and people rely on the Dolls that are available. There's Dolls that are simple workers, ones that are made to be as close to human as possible and ones just for sex. Its a world filled flying cars, adbots, stimpaks and tons of cool gadgets ;) I loved diving into it and seeing imagination come to life.
I loved Kirstens character. She was beaten by her mother when she was young because her mother believed the devil was inside her. She was eventually saved and brought to Division Zero where her unique gift was needed. She was tough, smart and kick ass but also lonely and broken. She never shirked her responsibility and was always there when needed. She got into so many bad situations simply because she can deal with ghosts. The only thing that annoyed me about Kirsten was her whining about men and being single! It got out of hand in the first half of the book but thankfully she was more focused on the second half.
Dorian is Kirstens partner and for some reason wont leave the car they drive alone!! He wont go too far from it for fear of it being stolen. The car they drive has caused a lot of bother for other cops driving it but it seems to like Kirsten and Dorian and works fine for them. Dorian has his quirks but I liked him. I hope he hangs around and we see more of him in future books.
The start of the book is slow but once it gets going I was hooked.When I was young I imagined a world full of flying cars and robots and Mathew cox brings it to life. It was awesome to dive into this futuristic psionic world and I really enjoyed it. Division Zero is an action packed, edge of your seat page turner. With a strong female lead, fight scenes that leave you gasping and ghosts that leave you shivering, Division Zero is a must read for fans of sci/fi, fantasy and any reader that loves getting lost in an awesome new world :)
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