Aaron | FanFiAddict https://fanfiaddict.com A gaggle of nerds talking about Fantasy, Science Fiction, and everything in-between. They also occasionally write reviews about said books. 2x Stabby Award-Nominated and home to the Stabby Award-Winning TBRCon. Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:33:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://fanfiaddict.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-FFA-Logo-icon-32x32.png Aaron | FanFiAddict https://fanfiaddict.com 32 32 Review: Embargo on Hope (Star Marked) by Justin Doyle https://fanfiaddict.com/review-embargo-on-hope-star-marked-by-justin-doyle/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-embargo-on-hope-star-marked-by-justin-doyle/#respond Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:11:58 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=83987
Rating: 8.7/10

Synopsis

On planet Vastire, worth is set by the sins of one’s ancestors. Good families rise to the elite and the wicked fall into poverty. Unfortunately for sixteen-year-old Darynn Mark, his father incited a revolution. Now, Darynn scrounges his way through life in the slums. When Vastire is surrounded by an embargo, it gets even harder to survive. 

That all changes when an alien ship slips through the embargo, seeking Darynn with an finish the revolution and the embargo ends. He might have a chance thanks to mysterious magic powers, and his two clairvoyant crush Fyra and soldierly alien Kaylaa. 

Cutthroat killers, mystical beasts, Vampires, power-hungry priests and lords, and self-serving spies stand in their way. If the three of them can crack his father’s secret, maybe they can end the embargo and save the poor. If not, another poor orphan will be added to the growing piles of dead.

Review

Embargo On Hope is a beautiful sci-fantasy adventure, packed with so much to love. 

I was immediately hooked with this story by the end of chapter one. This first chapter alone is action-packed, full of lore, delivers the motivation of the main characters, and has an unexpected ending. From here, we go on an epic quest that takes us through an immersive world. 

If you’re a fan of the “chosen one” trope at all, I think you’ll enjoy Doyle’s unique spin on the concept. It was something I haven’t read before but thoroughly enjoyed being a fan of more sci-fi-based novels. Another core theme of this story is the dystopian nature of how people are split into different castes. This caste system of course plays into the story and our main character’s upbringing and motivation.

Embargo also includes a great cast of characters that all feel fleshed out and unique. Our main character, Darynn Mark, is told through a first-person POV which I can always appreciate. Following a single character from page one to the end is something I tend to enjoy more compared to multi-character POV-driven stories. However, the main character that we follow needs to be compelling and be someone we enjoy reading for the entire story. Darynn, I am happy to report was someone who was able to keep my interest and be someone who I wanted to see succeed. He is quickly thrust into a dangerous journey that will hopefully provide answers to his past and potentially end an embargo that is keeping his people in an oppressed state.

Chapter one introduces us to some interesting creatures like necromancers that fill the stars in this universe. Aliens, vampires, minotaurs, and more can be found in the following chapters. The story also has many unique settings that take us from the slums of a lesser caste system to elegant manors, dark and cold prisons, and then religious temples that hold dark secrets.

I also wanted to highlight that Doyle’s prose is very poetic at times and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

All in all, Embargo on Hope contains a complex universe, engaging characters, a compelling quest, and a lot more to love. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something that feels like Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward mixed with Star Wars. I say Star Wars because it’s not necessarily a hard sci-fi book where technology or ideas are the focus. It’s more like an epic fantasy tale with bits of technology to serve a fantastical story.

Ready to see where the story takes in book 2, Betrayal of Hope.

Another side note, the audiobook version of this story, narrated by Christopher Dukes, delivered a fantastic performance.

I hope you enjoyed this review and thanks for reading!

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all. I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Curran Gill

Ousters Members

Sean Bobby Kerr

Follow me on other socials or check out my book below

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

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Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bibliotheory

My Book (Falling Into Oblivion) – https://www.bibliotheory.com/my-books

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Review: Halo: The Rubicon Protocol by Kelly Gay https://fanfiaddict.com/review-halo-the-rubicon-protocol-by-kelly-gay/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-halo-the-rubicon-protocol-by-kelly-gay/#respond Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:13:45 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=81198
Rating: 9/10

Synopsis

December 2559. Humanity has its back against the wall after the United Nations Space Command flagship Infinity drops out of slipspace into a devastating ambush launched by the Banished. As this fierce enemy alliance seeks to claim a mysterious object hidden within the ancient Forerunner construct known as Zeta Halo, the surviving UNSC corps finds itself compromised and its leadership out of reach—with remaining personnel forced to abandon ship and take their chances on the fractured, unpredictable surface of the Halo ring.

Now survival in this strange, alien environment—whether for Spartan super-soldiers or those who never thought they would see the battle up close—is measured day to day against a relentless and brutal adversary that always has the upper hand. Desperation grows, but the will to keep on fighting and enduring no matter the odds is never in doubt…even as the Banished seek to unleash a frightening new enemy that could doom them all…

Review

The Rubicon Protocol is an exhilarating tie-in novel taking place right before the beginning of the video game, Halo Infinite.

Not only is this my first Kelly Gay read, but it’s also the FIRST time I’ve read a Halo book. After reading this story, it will NOT be my last.

Page one of this book immediately drops you straight into the action with an ongoing conflict of the UNSC Infinity being torn apart. We follow multiple storylines of the evacuation process of the thousands of UNSC personnel being dropped into The Banished filled ring of Zeta Halo. From here, it’s a thrilling story of survival, from multiple POVs.

Highlights for me

  1. Blistering action across iconic & vivid environments.
  2. Unique POVs that gave a nice peek into the lives of Spartans & UNSC personnel.
  3. Separate and equally engaging storylines.
  4. Themes of duty, loss, and hope are beautifully interlaced throughout the story.

There were multiple scenes that really stuck out to me with one of my favorites involving a Spartan working with an unlikely ally.

I also love that this story touches on all the audio logs you find within the game, offering more depth to the established lore.

TIME FOR MORE HALO, PLEASE!

(I’m not including this in my 200-word review… I also wanted to point out that you do not have to play the game first to enjoy this story. There is enough context and info given that will keep you from feeling lost on what’s going on. Playing the game first, however, will expose you to some characters and give you a more complete picture of the surrounding conflict.)


I hope you enjoy this 200-word review and thanks for reading!

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all. I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Curran Gill

Ousters Members

Sean Bobby Kerr

Follow me on other socials or check out my book below

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/BiblioTheory

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/bibliotheory

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BiblioTheory

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bibliotheory

My Book (Falling Into Oblivion) – https://www.bibliotheory.com/my-books

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Review: The Knife of Sorrows (The Blood & Steel Saga) by E.J. Doble https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-knife-of-sorrows-the-blood-steel-saga-by-e-j-doble/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-knife-of-sorrows-the-blood-steel-saga-by-e-j-doble/#respond Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:18:10 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=81100
Rating: 9.5/10

Synopsis

“On a desert plain, in the coursing winds, death approached from the south like a ghost…”

A MAN.
Taken by death, returned in ashes, with a tale of revenge on his lips.

A BOY.
Cast out by his people for wrongs he never committed, longing for a chance at redemption.

THEIR FATES.
Intertwined by chance; forged by the gods.
Into the depths of Tarraz, they go.

Behold, the Knife of Sorrows…

Review

Below is my first 100-word review, a new review format that will hopefully allow me to get more reviews out while trying to contain my thoughts in exactly 100 words.


The Knife of Sorrows is TOP TIER GRIMDARK STORYTELLING. EJ Doble has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy authors of all time. The Blood and Steel Saga continuously blows my expectations.

When coming into any EJ Doble book, there are a few things I now expect.

  1. Beautiful and descriptive prose.
  2. Intense and brutally fun action.
  3. Riveting and distinct characters.

Let me be clear, this “novella” has everything I expected and MORE. A jaw-dropping and electrifying returning character. A new character that pulled my heartstrings. Blood pumping intense and visceral action. And oooh boy… WHAT AN ENDING!

Book 3, please.

(I’m not including this in my 100-word review… I say “novella” because this book is easily over 40K words coming at 280 pages… WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING. GIVE ME MORE MR.DOBLE 🫴)

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Review: Blood Rites (The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher https://fanfiaddict.com/review-blood-rites-the-dresden-files-by-jim-butcher/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-blood-rites-the-dresden-files-by-jim-butcher/#respond Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:41:00 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=80804
Rating: 7.5/10

Synopsis

For Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, there have been worse assignments than going undercover on the set of an adult film. Dodging flaming monkey poo, for instance. Or going toe-to-leaf with a walking plant monster. Still, there is something more troubling than usual about his newest case. The film’s producer believes he’s the target of a sinister entropy curse, but it’s the women around him who are dying, in increasingly spectacular ways.

Harry is doubly frustrated because he got involved with this bizarre mystery only as a favor to Thomas, his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can’t quite figure out, until his investigation leads him straight to Thomas’ oversexed vampire family. Harry is about to discover that Thomas’ family tree has been hiding a shocking secret; a revelation that will change Harry’s life forever.

Review

From cute little puppies to the adult entertainment industry, this book packs a punch of urban fantasy goodness. Blood Rites takes us in a lot of different directions while still feeling limited in scope compared to previous entries.

Before starting this book and being five entries deep into The Dresden Files, there are a few things I expect to see in a Harry Dresden story. 

  1. Harry getting into dredges of some wild case or goose hunt
  2. Harry not being able to go to sleep
  3. Harry saving the world interlaced with a sprinkle of comedy
  4. Harry being desperate for money

Blood Rites, the sixth installment in this series touches on most of the things I expect and want out of this series. It’s fast-paced, fun, and most of all, it’s entertaining urban fantasy. However, I was left wanting just a touch more out of the story. 

This entry starts off with a flaming pile of poop. I’m being for real! Right off the bat, we start with some over-the-top comedic action that sets the stage for another classic Harry Dresden story. After successfully (well sort of) completing a case, Dresden is quickly brought on for a new assignment that sweeps him off his feet more than a few times with multiple twists. 

So, what should you expect to find in Blood Rites? Fun action, an interesting case, witty one-liners, incredible world-building, and revelations in terms of Harry Dresden’s past. We also get to explore themes of family, love, and relationships.

If you’re a fan of the previous entries, you might feel that there is a certain “formula” when it comes to a Dresden story. New case, potential threat, surprise secondary threat, twist, climax, Harry (sometimes) gets paid. I don’t think this formula is necessarily bad to have but I can see how it can become monotonous for some readers. With Blood Rites, I do feel we slightly break away from this framework but not by much.

In terms of what was lacking for me in this entry is the case itself, the limited scope of the plot, and the major focus placed on character relationships. 

The mystique of the adult industry case slightly fell off for me in the latter half of the book. For some reason, I was just not invested in this case as I have been with previous Harry Dresden debacles. I’m not saying the case was bad by any means. It’s interesting, but it just didn’t have the same level of punch as some plots in earlier entries.

We do have some huge character revelations that furthered some relationships with folks that appeared earlier in Harry’s life. One in particular, Thomas, was a lot of fun to learn more about since his appearance in previous books was memorable. At the same time, I think this is where this story slightly fell off for me. 

The focus on relationship building felt like it took center stage, putting the plot in the background. In place of an initial interesting case, the story went down a few rabbit holes of character development. I will say though, that I enjoyed most of these character development moments with Thomas and Murphy being highlights.

Blood Rites fits the classic mold of a Dresden story and overall, I had a fun time. It touches on most of the points I listed above besides the big scope of a story that deals with huge impacts on the world or city. It wasn’t my favorite story up to this point but I am more than ready to continue and see what other shenanigans Harry gets himself into.

Hope you enjoy the review and thanks for reading!

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all. I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Curran Gill

Ousters Members

Sean Bobby Kerr

Follow me on other socials or check out my book below

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/BiblioTheory

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/bibliotheory

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BiblioTheory

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bibliotheory

My Book (Falling Into Oblivion) – https://www.bibliotheory.com/my-books

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Review: Disquiet Gods (The Sun Eater) by Christopher Ruocchio https://fanfiaddict.com/review-disquiet-gods-the-sun-eater-by-christopher-ruocchio/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-disquiet-gods-the-sun-eater-by-christopher-ruocchio/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:44:38 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=79008
Rating: 9.5/10

Synopsis

The sixth novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire.

The end is nigh.

It has been nearly two hundred years since Hadrian Marlowe assaulted the person of the Emperor and walked away from war. From his Empire. His duty. From the will and service of the eldritch being known only as the Quiet. The galaxy lies in the grip of a terrible plague, and worse, the Cielcin have overrun the realms of men.

A messenger has come to Jadd, bearing a summons from the Sollan Emperor for the one-time hero. A summons, a pardon, and a plea. HAPSIS, the Emperor’s secret first-contact intelligence organization, has located one of the dreadful Watchers, the immense, powerful beings worshipped by the Pale Cielcin.

Called out of retirement and exile, the old hero—accompanied by his daughter, Cassandra—must race across the galaxy and against time to accomplish one last, impossible task:

To kill a god.

Review

[This is a script for my YouTube video review of this book, which can be found here.]

Okay, so here we are, the sixth book in The Sun Eater series by Christopher Ruocchio. Are we still riding a golden wave of Hadrian Marlowe’s greatness?

Yes, for sure yes. 

Disquiet Gods is sci-fi fantasy at its best.

The Sun Eater series is currently my favorite ongoing series, so I am thrilled to report that Ruocchio is not steering us wrong in this latest entry. I was extremely excited to get my hands on this book. And guess what? I didn’t read the physical version….

This was my first Sun Eater listen with Samuel Roukin as the narrator. You’re in good hands with Mr.Roukin if you are an audio-exclusive listener. 

Disquiet Gods is the penultimate book in this series and I think it did a fantastic job setting up the final dominoes for the big conclusion. This book, to me, was strange but also enlightening. Not only did we have some long-lasting questions answered, but we also got more questions. I mean, what’s a story without questions, right?

Right off the bat, we’re told we have another time jump when starting this book. 200 years have passed since the events in Ashes of Man. This time jump is actually pretty common in the series besides the gap between book 4, Kingdoms of Death, and book 5, Ashes of Man. Suffice to say, I’m pretty used to time jumps but I know it’s sometimes a little jarring for some readers. 

In my opinion, these time jumps allow a sense of ambiguity in the story. For one, you’re thinking, ok, what the heck have you been doing the past 200 years, Marlowe? Slowly, some details are interspersed with you as the reader about what’s been going on. For Disquiet Gods and most of the predecessors in this series, the first 50ish pages or so gives you some breathing room to become reacquainted with the characters. It’s in this first chunk of text, I was like, “Oh yeah, we’re back baby. More Sun Eater goodness.”

The previous two books were pretty dark and uhh, a bit sad, to be honest. So I was pretty happy to be somewhat out of that melancholy feeling that we’ve had for about 1000 pages of text in the previous two books. Okay, for real, though, the 1000+ pages were all sad but still, a pretty good amount.

Characters

  • I am a huge fan of Hadrian Marlowe, the main character in the Sun Eater series. I love how each book is almost like a new arc of his life. From the very beginning in book number one, Empire of Silence, he was just a kid—a baby with dreams of interstellar peace and learning. Now, with six books, we have a new Hadrian. A new mentality. A new purpose. A new responsibility.
  • This book features a mix of new and returning characters. By far, one of the most important new additions is Cassandra. This character changes Hadrian’s dynamic in a positive light. We get to see Hadrian from a new perspective we haven’t seen before in this series. Coming from the pits of solitude in the previous books, I was all for Hadrian moving into a new mindset.
  • Hadrian is older, and you tell from his actions, his dialogue, and 
  • One of my FAVORITE characters from previous books made their reappearance and I was so happy to see it. Actually, there were a couple, but I wont spoil it here.
  • One thing that I would have liked to see more of in this book was the Ceilcin (the looming threat to the universe). We really didn’t get to see much of them in this entry. 

Atmosphere

  • In the Sun Eater universe, we have seen a plethora of different environments and settings. This is still the case with Diquet Gods, and I love every moment. We saw the infamous planet of Jadd (for a little bit). We saw a giant planet of sand, which was a little reminiscent of Dune. We saw glamorous and opulent palaces. We saw dark and gritty dungeons in the future… Plus, giant spaceships that are the size of planets.
  • I love the Sollan Empire, and it’s crazy to think that we’ve only seen a fraction of it, but Ruocchio has done a beautiful job in painting a vivid landscape across this universe.
  • In this book, we get to learn a LOT about the universe and it’s origins.

Prose/Writing

  • If you read anything by Christopher Ruocchio, you know his writing style almost has a poetic touch to it. Words flow off the page and make you think, “Damn, that sentence was written beautifully.” That continues to be the case in Disquiet Gods. Beautiful writing that really pulls you into wanting to read more.
  • With that in mind, there are some scenes in the middle of this story that do go into a meandering type of territory where I can see a lot of people becoming less engaged. This is similar to Empire of Silence in a sense where Hadrian was just present and walking the streets of Emesh. There are a couple of chapters that are just walking to the next area with a boatload of exposition.
  • So, I would say, if you want constant, fast-paced action, this is not that book. You probably already know this since you’re six books into this series already. Your patience will be rewarded.

Plot

  • After the events in book 5, Ashes of Man, we know Hadrian is not in the best light with the Sollan Empire. He basically pulled a Will Smith slap on the Emporer, so he had to high-tail it out of there. Now, 200 years of passed since then. We are still in a losing battle against the Cielcin, and our boy Hadrian Marlowe is called is to rise again and fight. He is sought to fight a god.
  • On this journey, we follow Hadrian and a diverse cast of characters as they seek to find the god and destroy it.
  • There are many BIG MOMENTS in this book that will leave you dumbstruck, in awe, or even confused. Literally, there were a couple of scenes where I was like, “Wait… did that really just happen?”
  • In addition to these BIG cinematic moments, we have a fair share of strange, almost psychedelic scenes—cosmic horror in a sense.
  • Don’t get me started on the ending of this book either… okay fine, it was simply fantastic! Twists and turns in a setting I was so happy to be back in again. This was over 100 pages of just pure adrenaline-spiking, eye-widening, heart-thumping fun!

Final Thoughts

Coming close to 700 pages, this is, without a doubt, a big book. There is much to absorb, think about, visualize, and theorize about what’s coming next. This is book that has exactly what I want from a sci-fi story—action, technology, emotion, big ideas, and a plot that grips you. I will say, though, that some bizarre moments in this book make you stop and reread a couple of times over. There are several revelations that we learn in this entry, and the way they are presented is a bit strange in some instances. 

If you’re a fan of any of the previous entries, you will most likely enjoy Disquet Gods.

This is not my favorite Sun Eater story, but it’s up there. I think I’ll always be leaning toward Howling Dark as my favorite, but I can totally see this new entry becoming the King of Hill for many readers that are caught up with the series.

From a non-story perspective, talking about the cover. The U.S. edition of Disquiet Gods is my least favorite cover. I totally understand the significance of the character on the cover, and of course, two high-matter bladers are cool, but… there’s so much brown. Does it stand out from the other covers in the series? Yeah, but all brown? I don’t know; it just doesn’t speak to me like Howling Dark or Ashes of Man does. That’s just my opinion, though but I am looking forward to seeing what the Broken Binding team chooses for this cover. 

Also, I have no idea what is going on with the audiobook covers. They’re just not hitting for me.

Hope you enjoy the review and thanks for reading!

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all. I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Curran Gill

Ousters Members

Sean Bobby Kerr

Follow me on other socials or check out my book below

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/BiblioTheory

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/bibliotheory

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BiblioTheory

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bibliotheory

My Book (Falling Into Oblivion) – https://www.bibliotheory.com/my-books

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Getting Started in the Cyberpunk Genre: Top Books to Read https://fanfiaddict.com/getting-started-in-the-cyberpunk-genre-top-books-to-read/ https://fanfiaddict.com/getting-started-in-the-cyberpunk-genre-top-books-to-read/#comments Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:52:22 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=76480

[This is an updated version of a script for one of my YouTube videos, which can be found here.]

The cyberpunk genre is one of my favorite genres, not only in books but also in visual media. I love the aesthetic you typically see within this genre in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Deus Ex. And, of course, I love the movies and TV that delve into this genre as well, like The Matrix, Blade Runner, Edgerunners, Altered Carbon, and so much more.

In this article, I will go over three essential cyberpunk reads to get started within the genre. I’ll also mention a couple of honorable mentions that you can check out as well if you are really digging this genre.

Now, when it comes to books, I know there is a fluid definition of cyberpunk. So, for the purpose of this article, I’m going to use a very simple definition of high-tech and low-life.

So, what are my 3 essential picks for this genre?

  1. Neuromancer by William Gibson
  2. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
  3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

Each of these 3 books can be considered cyberpunk, but I can tell you that each read is an entirely different experience.

So, if you’re ready, let’s dive into it.

High Tech & Low Life

What does this even mean? To expand on this a little bit, cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on high-tech, such as AI, cybernetic body modifications, virtual reality, and other computer-based technology that is commonplace in society. Lowlife means a decaying dystopian world filled with vandals, outcasts, and, in other words…punks! These individuals are usually fighting a losing battle against an elite few vying for control or ruling corporations that are only growing. 

Neuromancer, Snow Crash, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep fit within this definition, but what are their similarities, what are their differences, and most importantly, what can you expect to find in your read-through?

Neuromancer

I first wanted to start with the book that pioneered the genre Neuromancer by William Gibson. This book was published in the 1980s when the concept of the internet and computers was still pretty unknown to many people.

This book even popularized the word “cyberspace,” which is now a core component in many cyberpunk books and media. Cyberspace refers to the data-driven landscape we know as virtual reality, which is becoming increasingly mainstream in our world today.

So Neuromancer…high tech and low life? Yes, absolutely. Both of these elements play a huge role in the story.

So, what is Neuromancer all about?

In this story, we follow our main character, Case, a cyber cowboy and hacker who is recruited into a group to infiltrate a heavily guarded corporation within cyberspace and confront a rouge AI.

Many of these words, like hacker, AI, and cyberspace, are pretty common today, but this book came out at a time when this concept was unheard of, so this story was way ahead of its time.

But this sounds like a storyline that could fit in Cyberpunk 2077s narrative.

The world-building in this book is pushed to the absolute max, immersing you into a gritty neon-drenched world that feels very similar to Night City in Cyberpunk 2077. What’s funny is that there is a city in Neuromancer called Night City.

Technology surrounds you on almost every page, from cybernetic implants, beauty enhancers, cyberdecks that transport you into cyberspace, holographic projections, and so much more.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait to re-read it soon and get into the sequels within this series, which is called The Sprawl. Also, this book is only 250 pages, so it’s not a huge commitment if you want to try it out.

One thing I do want to note, though, is that it did take me a little bit to really get into this story. I re-read the first 50 pages about three times to fully grasp what was being said.

Snow Crash

The next book I want to mention is Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. Is this another story about high-tech and lowlife? Yes, yes, it is.

Snow Crash was an absolute wild ride for me, especially for our main protagonist. And uh… guess what? Our main protagonist’s name is Hiro Protagonist. It’s not an easily forgettable character name.

In this story, we follow Hiro, a freelance hacker who also delivers pizza for the mafia, who happens upon a virus that can potentially throw society into chaos.

Yeah, a lot is going on here!

This book is another example of a story being ahead of its time in terms of the virtual reality landscape, known in this story as the Metaverse. Sound familiar? This book came out in the early 90s, but it described many of the virtual chat rooms we see today, like VR Chat, Facebook’s Metaverse…, and more soon to come.

This story heavily focuses on the genre’s corporate ruling element, where huge corporations put humans’ needs on the back burner and are simply out for more power and profits.

This story also heavily focuses on linguistics, specifically how language shapes reality and virtual reality. I really enjoyed this component of the story, as I love it when language is used to further a narrative. I have always found it interesting that language plays a part in almost all aspects of society.

Of course, technology is another strong focus, with virtual reality, skateboard wheels that adapt to the ground, robot killing dogs, body modifications, and more.

I also loved reading this book and would highly recommend it if you are a fan of satirical writing, as there is a lot of it.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

My next pick has to be Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. Now, this story is sometimes debated if it’s really “cyberpunk,” but I think the best way to describe it is alpha or proto cyberpunk.

This story was cyberpunk before the term became popular from Neuromancer. Also, as an FYI for anyone who doesn’t know, this book inspired the movie Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott.

So, does Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep have high tech and lowlife?

Once again, yes!

One of the main components of this story is AI, in terms of androids trying to live their lives outside the enslavement humans place on them. Also, this heavily delves into the dystopian element we find common within the genre, where decay surrounds almost all society on Earth, which is ever-growing with kibble or dust.

Just like in the Blade Runner movie, we follow our main character, Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter who is on the lookout for rogue androids that “pose” a threat to society. It’s his job to “retire” them.

This book is by far the most existential of the three, making you constantly question what it means to be human. There is also a huge religious component of this story that can be interpreted and experienced in multiple ways. There is also a big sensational expose within this story that helps explore ethical and philosophical issues of religion, empathy, and survival.

Something that I thought was interesting is that if you haven’t read the book yet and only watched the movie, you would expect the same environment in terms of gritty neon-drenched streets filled with ads everywhere, but this really was not the case in the book. Gritty, yes! Just not what you see visually in the movie that we expect for something to be “cyberpunk.”

In my opinion, these are the 3 essential cyberpunk reads, and each story is unique.

The overarching element that most stood out to me in each of these stories was actually different.

For Neuromancer, it was immersion.

For Snow Crash, it was character-driven.

For Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, it was thought-provoking big ideas.

Now, what you get out of these stories could be different.

Honorable Mentions

Cyberpunk 2077: No Coincidence by Rafał Kosik takes place in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe but could be read without playing the game. This is a heist-based, action-packed story that delves into almost all the cyberpunk elements we talked about earlier. I really enjoyed reading this story, and if you enjoyed the game at all, I think you would love this book.

My next honorable mention is Thrill Switch by Tim Hawken, which is a self-published cyberpunk thriller about a detective on the hunt for somebody who is on a killing spree, ending the lives of people who are jacked into the virtual reality landscape known as The Holos.

I also have an interview with Hawken on my channel, which you can check out here.

36 Streets by T.R. Napper is an award-winning cyberpunk novel that takes place in a futuristic Vietnam. Full of grit and neon, we follow Lin Thi Vu, an alcohol-addicted gangster, while she’s in the middle of a murder mystery while dealing with complex family dynamics. Plus, there’s an addictive and traumatic VR simulation spreading throughout the city called Fat Victory that might have an underlying purpose.

You can find an interview I had with Napper here.

These were fantastic reads, and I highly recommend that you pick any one of them.

And just like that, we have 6 fantastic cyberpunk books to get you started in the genre. Also, I have to plug it here: I also ventured into the cyberpunk genre with my debut novel, Falling Into Oblivion, coming out in October 2024.

This is a cyberpunk thriller about a detective trying to make ends meet for his family. It touches on many of the tropes and themes you expect to see in the cyberpunk genre, with some twists, of course. Vicious droids, mega corps, brutal gangs, cyber dragons, and more.

I aimed to capture the essence of the lengths people will go to in order to provide for and protect their loved ones. In the story, we follow our main character, Sol Harkones, a detective for the Nox City Police Department. You, as the reader, are dropped into the middle of an ongoing investigation into somebody installing defective or counterfeit modifications that cause people to become permanently brain-dead.

If this sounds interesting, you can check out the book here or follow me on any of my social media accounts. And remember, modifications come at a price…

Hope you enjoyed the article, and happy reading!

Follow me on other socials or check out my book below

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

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My Book (Falling Into Oblivion) – https://a.co/d/0bdi8yE0

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Review: Wistful Ascending (The Hybrid Helix) by JCM Berne https://fanfiaddict.com/review-wistful-ascending-hybrid-helix-by-jcm-berne/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-wistful-ascending-hybrid-helix-by-jcm-berne/#respond Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:30:58 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=76281
Rating: 10/10

Synopsis

A superhero space opera for grownups.

For fans of Guardians of the Galaxy or Invincible.
Like Dragonball Z but wish it had a little more hard science fiction in it?

The il’Drach Empire spans half a galaxy, built on the feet and fists of their Powered hybrid children.

At eight Rohan of Earth learned that he was only half human. By sixteen he was an active superhero, using his inherited powers to fight crime, in mask and spandex. At twenty-two he left his home to fight for the his father’s people, expanding the il’Drach Empire and protecting it from local and interdimensional threats. At thirty-two, exhausted by ten years of ruthless warfare, he retired to Wistful, a vast sentient independent space station, to try to live a normal life.

With a steady job, someone far out of his league to date, and the most cosmopolitan selection of fine dining in the sector, things are looking up.

Then a long dormant wormhole in Wistful’s system is opened by a ship full of refugees, drawing unwanted attention from the Empire. The appearance of the refugees sets off a chain of events that will force Rohan to confront his checkered past and cast doubt on whether he can ever leave behind his violent warrior heritage.

To keep his friends safe, and himself in one piece, Rohan has to face giant insects, body-skipping assassins, vengeful armored aliens, an inquisition of intelligent bears, and a team of his fellow hybrids. The open question is whether tapping into his savage alien powers will end up destroying the peaceful life he has been trying to build.

Review

Wistful Ascending is a MUST READ space opera filled with action, humor, complex characters, and so much more.

Genesis

I honestly do not remember when I first became aware of The Hybrid Helix series. Most likely, though, it was while scrolling through X/Twitter one day. Since starting my YouTube journey and becoming more acquainted with the indie SFF space, JCM Berne is a name that would have come up eventually on my feeds. Why? Well, it’s because Berne has an indie sci-fi series that is becoming increasingly popular.

I don’t know how the exchange went down, but at some point, Berne offered a code to download the audio version of his debut novel, Wistful Ascending. 

I am so happy that he did because… WOW! I had a great time with this book.

Preamble

Wistful Ascending is book number 1 in an ongoing series called The Hybrid Helix. Four additional books in this series are out and available to read with JCM writing as you read this review.

The first thing you typically see when checking out a new book or series is… the cover. Crazy right? Well, for Wistful Ascending, we have a pretty unique cover (IMO) for this sci-fi space adventure filled with “superheroes.” We got a dude hovering in space, looking like he’s ready to fight with a big ol spaceship in the background. Usually, with space-focused sci-fi, we typically have… a spaceship, a spaceship battle, or…. (you’re not going to believe it) a planet in space. 

With this cover and the beginning of the blurb being “A superhero space opera for grownups,” I really did not know what to expect in terms of the plot. 

The word “superhero” in the blurb made me wonder if I have ever read a book about superheroes. I don’t think I have, so I was excited to see how Berne pulled it off in a sci-fi space opera.

Currently, Wistful Ascending has close to 400 ratings on Goodreads, which is a fantastic feat in the indie space. So, obviously, Berne was doing something right. With that all being said, it was time to dive into the il’Drach Empire and immerse myself in a world of superheroes.

Aftermath

WOW! 

This book, completely took me by surprise. As I write this review in July 2024, Wistful Ascending is my favorite read of 2024 so far. 

Right off the bat, you will instantly tell that Berne has a knack for dialogue. The quick and witty banter between characters instantly drew me into this world and left me wanting more. It was a good thing because I only just started listening to the story and had many more hours to go.

Our main character, Rohan, is a hybrid with a human mother and an alien father. As a hybrid, he has a pool of power within him, allowing him to tap into super strength and the ability to fly. 

So, what does our main character do with all this power? Well, he’s basically an overpowered pallet mover. Instead of pallets, he pulls and moves spaceships to dock at his space station, Wistful. That’s right, a pretty mundane job, but… there is a deep-rooted reason why he has this job. As readers, we don’t get to know right away, but throughout the story, we get to pull back layers of this Rohan onion slowly.

Also, another thing you will quickly notice in this story is the prominence of alien races outside of humans. Two words… SPACE BEARS. That’s right; we have bears who not only know how to talk but also how to operate a spaceship. This species has comically funny Russian accents that really make any interaction enjoyable to read.

When it comes to the components of Wistful Ascending, this story does a lot of things that shock, surprise, intrigue, and keep me wanting more.

World Building

  • Through our main character, Rohan, we quickly get caught up in this universe that Berne has crafted. We explore politics, planets, sentient spaceships, aliens, and crazy wild creatures. 
  • One of my favorite world-building elements in this story was the use of sentient spaceships, the most prominent of which is Wistful. This space station has a mind of its own, and it was a joy to learn more about how it came to be what it is today. 
  • On another note, I feel that we have barely scratched the surface of what this universe contains. In this first entry into the Hybrid Helix, we mainly focused on the Wistful station while occasionally visiting a couple of planets, but there is so so much more.

Character Development

  • This is one of the strongest elements in this story. Rohan quickly becomes someone you can root for. His witty external and internal dialogue makes him feel REAL. He has a complex past, demons that he wants to sort out, and a desire to live a peaceful life, but… we don’t always get what we want. He’s also funny as hell.
  • I also enjoyed the fact that we had a limited cast of characters that felt more fleshed out than if we had pages and pages of side characters. When a familiar name came across the page, I wasn’t racking my brain on who that character was again. 

Action

  • Being a space opera, you will most likely expect some action here, right? Well, you expected right because several action-packed moments in this story keep you on the edge of your seat. Some of these scenes are more intense than others because, at the same time, we get to see a different side of Rohan. 

Plot

  • Essentially, we have a backwater station turned into a central convergence point. Rohan, our boy, is caught up in the middle of the action as multiple parties are vying for control of something that formed near Wistful.
  • Through this event, we start off with a pretty lighthearted tone that slowly gets darker throughout the story.
  • I had a blast reading this plot, which quickly caught my interest and kept me entertained throughout.

Overall, I recommend anyone who can read to check out this book, especially if they are fans of the MCU. Great action, humor, characters, and a very engaging storyline. If you have the chance, I would also recommend checking out the audio version of this book because Wayne Farrel delivers an exceptional performance.

5 stars.

I also have an interview with JCM on my channel that you can check out here – https://www.youtube.com/live/34x8XqtYu2M?si=KMwwfBeALSL2J3XJ

Hope you enjoy the review and thanks for reading!

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all. I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Curran Gill

Follow me on other socials or check out my book below

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/BiblioTheory

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Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BiblioTheory

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bibliotheory

My Book (Falling Into Oblivion) – https://a.co/d/0bdi8yE0

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Review: Ascendant (Songs of Chaos) by Michael R. Miller https://fanfiaddict.com/review-ascendant-songs-of-chaos-by-michael-r-miller-2/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-ascendant-songs-of-chaos-by-michael-r-miller-2/#respond Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:01:54 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=74170
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis

Holt Cook was never meant to be a dragon rider. He has always served the Order Hall of the Crag dutifully, keeping their kitchen pots clean.

Until he discovers a dark secret: dragons do not tolerate weakness among their kin, killing the young they deem flawed. Moved by pity, Holt defies the Order, rescues a doomed egg and vows to protect the blind dragon within.

But the Scourge is rising. Undead hordes roam the land, spreading the blight and leaving destruction in their wake. The dragon riders are being slaughtered and betrayal lurks in the shadows.

Holt has one chance to survive. He must cultivate the mysterious power of his dragon’s magical core. A unique energy which may tip the balance in the battles to come, and prove to the world that a servant is worthy after all.

Review

Genesis

Michael R. Miller was the first author to reach out to me for a book review when I started my BookTube journey. I was over the moon excited, and now… the channel has grown as well as the TBR. Since Michael has reached out, I now have a stack of indie books that I am looking forward to reading. Indie books are sometimes hidden treasures of goodness that need a little more help pushing them out to the masses. In Michael’s case, his Songs of Chaos series was already doing phenomenal before he ever reached out to me. This is why I was surprised when I was requested to do a review but I gladly accepted.

Before Michael reached out, I was seeing his covers bounce around in our SFF community on all the social media platforms I was on. Hype was out there for his series, and Michael was doing something right. I had no clue what the series was about with me, only knowing that it was HOT in the indie and fantasy scene.

Preamble

Ascendant is the first entry in the Songs of Chaos series. Currently, this book has over 6500 ratings on Goodreads, which is astounding to see from a self-published book.

When looking at this cover, clearly, you can see that it deals with dragons. Like most fantasy fans, I’m a big fan of dragons in my SFF books. Right before Michael reached out to me, I was actually in the middle of reading Ryan Cahill’s The Bound and the Broken series, which also deals with dragons. So what do we have here? Two indie authors publishing fantasy books with a core element being dragons? Yep, exactly that, and IT’S NOT A BAD THING AT ALL!

Just like eating at different steakhouses, the flavor and experience you have with each respective steak will be different. If you are a steak fan (dragon fan), you will most likely want more of it… right?? You seriously are not only going to have one steak your entire life. Same thing here with dragons. If you like them, you will probably want more stories involving them. At the same time, though, not every experience will be positive with you coming out of the other end going… “Hmm, that wasn’t for me.”

Now, did Ascendant have a unique story? Did I have a good experience? Will I continue into the series? Well, you can find out below how it went.

Aftermath

The beginning scene of Ascendant quickly introduces us to our main character, Holt Cook. As his last name suggests, he is low on the totem pole of this society, which is filled with dragon riders. Holt serves to clean the kitchens and does so until, one day, he discovers a secret. Young dragons deemed as “flawed” are doomed to a certain death. Holt makes a difficult decision, saving a flawed egg from being thrown into the deep pits below. He vows to protect the tiny creature and keep it secret as long as possible. This decision changes Holt’s path to an entirely new direction that leads to a world of war and chaos.

Coming into this story, it felt familiar and fresh simultaneously. Saving a dragon egg, a world of chaos, an army of evil rising, and of course, the chosen one trope are all ideas and things you have most likely encountered if you read anything in the fantasy genre before. Heck, most of this fits pretty in line with Ryan Cahill’s first dragon rider entry as well. However, the experience is different and is very enjoyable.

As a fantasy reader, I am getting many things I love out of the genre.

  1. Dragons
  2. Magic
  3. Battles
  4. A main character that rises to the challenge
  5. A friendship that slowly grows over time

In terms of the overall tone of this book, I would lean a lot closer to the Young Adult (YA) side of fantasy than the adult side. Instead of a bleak world full of grit, you follow a fairly young character who is still growing. It is fast-paced, but the overall themes were not that heavy-feeling (to me) and were more focused on the warm-hearted nature of friendship with a touch of coming of age.

So, if you are a fan of dragons and fond of the chosen one/coming-of-age tropes, I think Ascendant will be right up your alley. It might feel pretty YA now, but I’m unsure how much that will carry over to the other books already out in the series. The covers give a much darker vibe compared to the first book, which, to me, feels more hopeful, which is exactly what you will find in this story, HOPE.

No, there wasn’t anything that was particularly mind-blowing to me, but I don’t think you need that for every book. Sometimes, you just want a fun and enjoyable story that you can sit back and relax. This is a well written book that has intention from the author exuding from each page. Michael came in with a mission to provide a fun trope-filled story, and he did exactly that.

I enjoy darker-themed fantasy books, so it was a bit challenging to get into at first. If you are looking for a fantasy book that feels similar to The Song of Ice and Fire or First Law, this might not be your best bet.

Overall, ascendent will scratch your fantasy dragon rider itch and make you want to read more of The Songs of Chaos series. Full of charm and great fun!

4 stars

“A Cook was a cook for life. That was that. And he, the lowly pot scrubber in his father’s service, shouldn’t dare to dream beyond the life laid before him.”

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all. I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Ouster Members

Mel

Follow Me on other socials

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

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Review: DIEROCK 88 (Kosmonautai #1) by S.A. Ernster https://fanfiaddict.com/review-dierock-88-kosmonautai-1-by-s-a-ernster/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-dierock-88-kosmonautai-1-by-s-a-ernster/#respond Sat, 04 May 2024 11:14:26 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=72573
Rating: 9/10

Synopsis

AS DARKNESS DESCENDS, ATLAS MUST RISE.

In the sprawling tapestry of the Aurorion Galaxy, Atlas Viridian dreams of escaping the junk-strewn life of the Salvage Belt. However, his aspirations crumble when his father is arrested under suspicion of being the elusive terrorist, “Typhon.” Accused of aiding and abetting, Atlas is thrust into the relentless grip of Horizon Corporation, condemned to toil for resources beneath the surface of a distant moon.

Trapped in the Dome of Dierock 88, Atlas’ destiny becomes entwined with the clandestine machinations of “Vanguard,” a shadowy Black Operations group. Their motives remain elusive—Atlas is the key, but to what?

Learning to live with a ragtag group of very different people, he’ll navigate the treacherous depths and discover that Horizon’s facade of happiness conceals a darker truth: Deadly creatures, remnants of the ancient alien Kosmonautai, haunt the caverns below. Every descent brings not only deadly adversaries but inexplicable mental turmoil.

BENEATH THE SURFACE, SECRETS AWAIT.

In the crucible of survival, he’ll grapple with the tragic lives around him and the harsh truths of the galaxy he inhabits. Dierock 88 becomes a dangerous journey of self-discovery, challenging a young man to unearth the mystery of his own existence, and decide what matters most in an unfair, and cruel society. Will Atlas survive the descent and emerge from the darkness? Or will the battle within himself be his downfall?

TORN ALLEGIANCE. FRACTURED TRUST.

BE REBORN.

Review

Dierock 88 is a sci-fi debut that is engrossing and full of life.

Genesis

I first became aware of Dierock 88 when I was randomly scrolling through Twitter/X. Yes, another book found on the interwebs of social media. The first thing that really pulled me in was the cover. It’s simply a beautiful cover illustrated by Rafael Andres. It captures a scenic view in space with a mysterious person in a suit holding a glowing green sword like object. My eyes were immediately drawn to the sword leaving me thinking… is that a lightsaber? Why is this person on a rock? Where is that spaceship going in the background? Also, what the heck does Dierock 88 even mean?

Questions. I was left with a plethora of questions after a quick glance of the cover so… the cover did exactly what it’s supposed to do. It spiked my interest before even reading a single word of the description.

So I did what every person would do right? I commented on the author’s post saying “Hot dang, that cover is🔥. Where can I get it?” This is actually when I found out that the book wasn’t even out yet. S.A. Ernster was incredibly nice and offered a review copy of the book and I happily accepted. After reading through Dierock 88, I am so happy that I did.

Preamble

Dierock 88 is book 1 in the Kosmonautai series with the title of book number 2 already being announced. Paradiso is actively being worked on right now as you’re reading this. (S.A. you better be writing right now because I need more…)

Also, slight confession, for the life of me, I can not say the name of this series without butchering it. This is why even though I talked about Dierock 88 several times on my channel, I haven’t said the series name once. Welp, I’ll keep trying to sound it out because I am in for the ride with this series going forward.

Now, I talked a lot about the cover, the series, and basically everything besides the content of the book. Did I enjoy the story and did it live up to the epic cover? Well, you can see my thoughts below.

Aftermath

The opening scene in Dierock 88 is a perfect example of a story quickly hooking a reader. I immediately became intrigued, lost, and immersed into the story with the first paragraph giving me a glimpse into the world and our main character, Atlas.

“The cardinal rule of the Junk Scrappers trade was etched deep into the fabric of their existence: never work alone and never, under any circumstance, work untethered. Atlas had brazenly shattered both rules.”

From here in chapter one alone we get action, character development, world building, and more… all within the first chapter?! Wow, I was excited to continue forward and guess what? It only got better from here.

Not too far from chapter one, we are introduced to the main conflict in the story that is described in the book’s description, Atlas’s father is arrested under the suspicion of being a large scale terrorist. From here, our quirky and young protagonist is sent off to the prison rock/planet of Dierock 88… the title of the book! After being greeted with a warm welcome (he’s not) he is to serve as an indentured worker who mines under the surface of DR88. In the depths of these mines, we see some crazy things happen which I will not delve to much deeper in this review.

Does Atlas deserve to be here? Is his dad really a terrorist? Why the heck is this rock called Dierock 88?

We get answers to these questions and more.

World Building

From a world building perspective, Ernster does a fantastic job painting the immense universe our characters live in. I found beautiful descriptions throughout my entire read that made the world in this story feel alive.

Character Development

During this story, we see Atlas transform before our very eyes into something else entirely. Our character is lost in this expansive universe but, he is not without hope. There is a wide cast of characters in this story where you are not exactly sure who to trust. Who are your friends and who is just trying to take advantage?

Emotional Depth

Ernster’s prose and her ability to capture raw emotion from our characters is TOP NOTCH. My favorite relationship was the connection between a father and son that deals with our main character. You feel the fatherly love exuding from the page which also made me upset learning that he could potentially be a terrorist?!

The only way to find out the truth though, is to read.

Technology

This book is FULL to the brim of really cool technology that I just gobbled up. I think some would say that its pretty close to what you would typically see in a Cyberpunk book with holograms, neural links, net runner type of people (love the way this is executed in DR88) and more. I would not say that this is a cyberpunk story though with the main focus being science fiction. To me, it more or less felt like a sci-fi blend with fantasy with sprinkles of cyberpunk themes too.

Creatures

Yeah, there are some freaking crazy creatures in this story that I don’t want to describe here but WOW. We are not alone in this universe and the way it’s tackled in this story is very horrifying and awe inspiring at the same time. I had a blast seeing Atlas traverse the mines on this rock, traveling down dark tunnels into the unknown with maybe, just maybe something other than crystals pop out.

In terms of my tiny little issues comes from the tone of this book. Our main character is young which I think results in the tone flip flopping from serious to juvenile. At some points, it felt like I was reading a YA sci-fi book (which is fine with me if that is what its meant to be) but then the next page, the tone can shift to something more serious and dramatic followed by very gruesome scenes.

Also with a rock named DIE-rock, I was expecting the rock planet to be a little more bleak. If I am remembering this correctly, there were shops, bars, restaurants, and more that lessened the dramatic name of Dierock for me.

So did Dierock 88 live up to the stunning cover Image? Yes, I absolutely think so. This was a fantastic sci-fi debut from somebody who “has it” when it comes to writing. This book had everything I could want out of a sci-fi thriller.

  • A character I could root for
  • Overarching mystery that keeps you questioning what is really going on
  • Intense action that gets your blood pumping
  • Lore that expands your mind
  • Technology that makes your jaw drop
  • AND MORE

So overall, I recommend any sci-fi fan to check out this book. If you are a fan of Red Rising by Pierce Brown or Skyward by Brandon Sanderson, Dierock-88 will fit right up your alley.

4.5 stars.

I want to read it again… already!

“Kindly remain aware that you may encounter intermittent confrontations with extraterrestrial entities during the course of your hazardous exploits.”

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all, I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

Exalted Members

Timothy Wolff 

Ouster Members

Mel

Follow Me on other socials

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory

Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/BiblioTheory

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/bibliotheory

Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BiblioTheory

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Review: Theft of Fire (Orbital Space #1) by Devon Eriksen https://fanfiaddict.com/review-theft-of-fire-orbital-space-1-by-devon-eriksen/ https://fanfiaddict.com/review-theft-of-fire-orbital-space-1-by-devon-eriksen/#respond Sat, 30 Mar 2024 13:04:16 +0000 https://fanfiaddict.com/?p=70477
Rating: 9/10

Synopsis

At the frozen edge of the solar system lies a hidden treasure which could spell their fortune or their destruction—but only if they survive each other first.

Marcus Warnoc has a little problem. His asteroid mining ship—his inheritance, his livelihood, and his home—has been hijacked by a pint-sized corporate heiress with enough blackmail material to sink him for good, a secret mission she won’t tell him about, and enough courage to get them both killed. She may have him dead to rights, but if he doesn’t turn the tables on this spoiled Martian snob, he’ll be dead, period. He’s not giving up without a fight.

He has a plan.

Miranda Foxgrove has the opportunity of a lifetime almost within her grasp if she can reach it. Her stolen spacecraft came with a stubborn, resourceful captain who refuses to cooperate—but he’s one of the few men alive who can snatch an unimaginable treasure from beneath the muzzles of countless railguns. And if this foulmouthed Belter thug doesn’t want to cooperate, she’ll find a way to force him. She’s come too far to give up now.

She has a plan.

They’re about to find out that a plan is a list of things that won’t happen.

Review

This is a transcript of my video review of this book which can be found here.

Theft of Fire.

This is a new book by a new author named Devon Eriksen. This is a book that I also see spreading like wildfire because I am seeing it everywhere. So Theft of Fire spreading like wildfire? Coincidence? I think not.

The reason why I know of this book is really because Christine Eriksen is marketing the heck out of this story which I have to commend. She is giving these traditional publishers a run for their money.

One thing that stuck out to me when checking out this book is that people are really enjoying it. And some of those people are … billionaires. Really, I am not joking here.

John Carmack

Garry Tan

John Walker

Now did I know who these people were before making this review, no, no I did not but still, these three are singing high praises to their massive amount of followers about this book.

Theft of Fire, more like Theft of Billionaires Heart… Sorry, bad joke.

Now, I am not saying that just because certain people like a book that it necessarily makes it good. It does help though to get eyes on that book. It doesn’t hurt!

So getting to the thumbnail, did Elon Musk read this book. No, maybe, I don’t know but anything is possible. So was it click bait using his face on my thumbnail, possibly but but… Tesla is in the book so double the reason to use him on the thumbnail.

Ok, so now that we established that billionaires are loving this book, average Joe’s like me are loving this book, the million or should I say billion dollar questions is, why?

Why is this book blowing up? How is Christine Eriksen sending this book to the moon? Is this book actually good?

I set off to answer this question so you know what I did, I sat my butt in that chair, I opened that book, and I read that book. Now I have thoughts.

“At the frozen edge of the solar system lies a hidden treasure which could spell their fortune or their destruction—but only if they survive each other first.”

Theft of Fire is sci-fi space opera that takes place in the distant future but not so distant where you will find some things very familiar.

This is a story of a hemorrhaging asteroid miner who is just trying to make ends meet and get through the day when his whole world is turned upside down. Where this all starts, well it’s when a beautiful but super genetically modified woman is suddenly aboard his spaceship and is making a sandwich.

Now, this is just where the story starts and we go so many directions in this story. I read this book a lot quicker than I normally do so that is a good sign right?

Yes, yes it is. I loved it!

There was so much that I really enjoyed out of this story.

Action, humor, relatable characters, really cool technology, and of course a mystery that involves a heist type of operation. All of this is wrapped together into a fun enjoyable story that really felt like a movie. I could picture so many scenes vividly in my head.

I’ve seen from a few people that they described this book as hard sci-fi but to me, it didn’t really feel like hard sci-fi because the plot was at the forefront of this story, at least in my opinion. The plot, the characters, and the action first come to mind for me compared to “hard sci-fi elements”.

This does not mean there are not hard sci-fi elements because there are many moments and elements in this story that deal with how certain things work, especially technology. In some scenes, we do go into technical detail on how the spaceship functions and how it should be fixed or restored.

Plus, we have some really badass technology in here that gives me cyberpunk vibes like neural links, AI, holograms, drones, and more. Also humans have come to the point where we can modify ourselves down to the cell level where we can literally change the scent of our sweat. You want your sweat to smell like peanut butter? Well you can do that in this universe!

I didn’t even mention this just yet, there is also a sprinkle of alien technology that sparked a whole new boom of tech in this universe so there’s that too.

Now outside the cool tech, the very interesting AI that I didn’t even really talk about, and the plot, what I enjoyed probably the most out of this was the human element.

There was a huge focus on making these characters feel real and I think it was successfully done and is really another reason why it felt like a movie to me. You were right there with these characters who felt real and had real complex emotions. There’s a backstory laid out that helps you understand each of these characters’ motivations and goals. Relationships are built on the exchange of conversation. Conversations can be positive or negative. In this story, we get both and it was a lot of fun to see the relationships grow throughout all the physical conflicts that occur and also the emotional conflicts.

If I had to compare it to another book, it would be Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, the first book in The Expanse and it’s not just because they both take place in space ok. Both are very character driven with crazy intermittent actions with a pinch of humor. Ok maybe a little more than a pinch, more like a handful of humor.

So, do I think that this book will be put on a pedestal like Dune or Hyperion being hailed as one of the best sci-fi books of our generation? No, I don’t think so but that is not a bad thing. Why are we reading in the first place? To be entertained. To fall into a story and be swept away.

Theft of Fire does exactly that and overall I had a great time and I am so looking forward to book number two in this series. Uhh, I need it because I need to see what happens next.

4.5 out of 5 stars, I highly recommend it.

To check out more of Devon’s work, check out his site here – https://devoneriksen.com/

Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all, I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!

Thank you to my Patrons ❤

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