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Beaten to a pulp, drugged into a daze, and brainwashed into oblivion, human experiment Lukian Valentin gambles his life to evade another eviscerating afternoon with his trigger-happy superiors. Fifty stories of a maximum-security building and hundreds of trained special operatives can’t hold a candle to his will to escape. Beyond the laser bars of his holding cell, Lukian must surmount the even greater challenges of repairing the fragments of his broken mind, forgiving himself for his unwilling involvement with the Empire, and learning what it means to live on his own.
The sassy and commanding Naoko Nai wonders just what to do with the soft-spoken, socially awkward, and totally ripped guy she was assigned to train for employment. She knows nothing else about him, other than the fact he was granted asylum, is great with a knife, and his little white apron gives her distinctly unprofessional thoughts.
When the Empire comes to collect, Naoko unwittingly provides the perfect bait to reel Lukian back to headquarters for a fresh series of brain implants and repair.
To save the woman he loves, Lukian must summon the deadly powers implanted in him by the Empire--powers he fears he can’t control, powers he struggled to forgive himself for using, powers that may drive Naoko away forever--because no ordinary man has struck a blow against the Empire and lived to tell the tale. To save Naoko, Lukian must emerge victorious from the battle against himself.
Beaten to a pulp, drugged into a daze, and brainwashed into oblivion, human experiment Lukian Valentin gambles his life to evade another eviscerating afternoon with his trigger-happy superiors. Fifty stories of a maximum-security building and hundreds of trained special operatives can’t hold a candle to his will to escape. Beyond the laser bars of his holding cell, Lukian must surmount the even greater challenges of repairing the fragments of his broken mind, forgiving himself for his unwilling involvement with the Empire, and learning what it means to live on his own.
The sassy and commanding Naoko Nai wonders just what to do with the soft-spoken, socially awkward, and totally ripped guy she was assigned to train for employment. She knows nothing else about him, other than the fact he was granted asylum, is great with a knife, and his little white apron gives her distinctly unprofessional thoughts.
When the Empire comes to collect, Naoko unwittingly provides the perfect bait to reel Lukian back to headquarters for a fresh series of brain implants and repair.
To save the woman he loves, Lukian must summon the deadly powers implanted in him by the Empire--powers he fears he can’t control, powers he struggled to forgive himself for using, powers that may drive Naoko away forever--because no ordinary man has struck a blow against the Empire and lived to tell the tale. To save Naoko, Lukian must emerge victorious from the battle against himself.
- GenresCyberpunkScience Fiction
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2013
4 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Brie McGill
2 books36 followersDoctors suspect Brie developed an overactive imagination during childhood to cope with the expansive corn maze known as rural Pennsylvania. Unable to afford an operation to have the stories surgically removed from her brain, she opted instead to write them down.
Brie lives with her two shifty cats, Lunar and Loki. In her spare time, she enjoys making laser sounds with her MiniKorg, channeling entities in hyperspace, and roflstomping video games from the nineties.
Brie lives with her two shifty cats, Lunar and Loki. In her spare time, she enjoys making laser sounds with her MiniKorg, channeling entities in hyperspace, and roflstomping video games from the nineties.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 16, 2020
I picked this up thinking it was a paranormal romance (or sci-fi romance). You know, supersoldier romance, wherever that falls. It is not. Not at all. The only romance in it serves the cliched and disappointing role of allowing for ridiculously long and out of place sex scenes and providing the male protagonist motivation to act. That's it. There are two female characters of note, one of which is barely a side character and the nympho girlfriend who literally has no character development outside of the bedroom and nice tits.
The book started out well. Once I'd accepted it wasn't a romance, I thought it was lining up to be a smart and interesting sci-fi with themes of autonomy and self-determination. Then the whole thing spiraled into pseudo-mysticism (including several loooong visions), purple prose, and supersoldiers that don't manage to be particularly super. What's more, the supersoldiers literally did things like let the villain (who are caricatures, at best) monologue, pause, dig a syringe out of a drawer, inject themselves, put on a pair of gloves and reenter the fight. There were several (several!) ways and times that the villains could of and should have been disposed of and they just kept letting them come back to try and kill them again. It was ridiculous.
I did appreciate the side characters. Sven, J.J., and Rue (who all seemed to get more camp as the book went along) are probably the only reason I actually finished it.
Mostly, however, the book is just too long though. I'd say a full hundred pages could have been cut and it would have been a better book.
The book started out well. Once I'd accepted it wasn't a romance, I thought it was lining up to be a smart and interesting sci-fi with themes of autonomy and self-determination. Then the whole thing spiraled into pseudo-mysticism (including several loooong visions), purple prose, and supersoldiers that don't manage to be particularly super. What's more, the supersoldiers literally did things like let the villain (who are caricatures, at best) monologue, pause, dig a syringe out of a drawer, inject themselves, put on a pair of gloves and reenter the fight. There were several (several!) ways and times that the villains could of and should have been disposed of and they just kept letting them come back to try and kill them again. It was ridiculous.
I did appreciate the side characters. Sven, J.J., and Rue (who all seemed to get more camp as the book went along) are probably the only reason I actually finished it.
Mostly, however, the book is just too long though. I'd say a full hundred pages could have been cut and it would have been a better book.
February 12, 2014
At the end of this book, McGill asks the reader:
“Did this book give you nosebleeds, whiplash, or fear of black helicopters circling above?”
How can I answer that? Let me give you a visual reaction to my reading experience:
Now, that I have that out of the way, I’ll elaborate on my reactions to the book. It was an intense, somewhat mind-boggling story interspersed with a bit of humor to lighten the mood, oh, and some pretty steamy love scenes for mature readers. I experienced such a range of emotions as I followed Kain or Lukian Valentin’s emotional and physical journey to freedom: anger, disgust amusement, and hope. Lukian lives in a confined, ridiculously controlled, and sadistically abusive environment where he serves the warped “Glorious Empire Daitya.”
Lukian’s character has such depth that I could easily empathize with his misery and despair as he searches for a way to escape the suffocating and brutal life he is forced to endure. Lukian has been reduced to an object for experimentation by the Empire in their efforts to create a superior being, one who has transcended human limitations. So far, Kain is one of their best super soldiers, even though he isn’t fully cognizant of the ugly deeds he is commanded to carry out. His mind is scrambled, fragmented, dulled by the never-ending injection of drugs designed to stifle his personality, his individuality, and to ultimately try to turn him into a robotic, mindless being. However, Lukian will never become the “Kain” Commander Brigham wants to control; ironically, the Empire’s scientists have created a man who can use his super strength and abilities against them.
Only after I finished the book did I notice the last letters of Lukian have been transposed in Kain, which, for me, shows the contrast of Lukian’s true nature once he is freed from his perpetual drug-induced haze in Jambu. Lukian symbolizes the beauty and strength of the human spirit to endure and overcome. With that said, however, being in Lukian’s head was at times “mind blowing,” as if I were on an imaginary psychedelic trip right along with him as he fights to hold on to his crumbling sanity.
Another aspect of Lukian’s character that surprised me is the magnitude of his vulnerability. Although he has a magnificent physical stature, despite the scarring from brutal beatings, and is extremely dangerous, he doesn’t have the dominant “alpha” personality that is typical of other heroes often found in romances. Actually his personality is congruent with his upbringing since he has been cowed into submission for most of his life, and this actually makes his character more believable.
The plot is engaging and suspenseful but teeming with explicit violence. The characters who befriend Lukien after he settles in Jambu are oddly amusing and provide a bit of comic relief to the otherwise serious tone of the novel. However, I did find the scene shifts to be too abrupt for my preference, and there are a few minor proofreading errors that caught my attention. Overall, though, McGill has written a creative, vivid, and thought-provoking novel that certainly kept my attention.
I received a copy of this book from the author to provide an honest review.
“Did this book give you nosebleeds, whiplash, or fear of black helicopters circling above?”
How can I answer that? Let me give you a visual reaction to my reading experience:
Now, that I have that out of the way, I’ll elaborate on my reactions to the book. It was an intense, somewhat mind-boggling story interspersed with a bit of humor to lighten the mood, oh, and some pretty steamy love scenes for mature readers. I experienced such a range of emotions as I followed Kain or Lukian Valentin’s emotional and physical journey to freedom: anger, disgust amusement, and hope. Lukian lives in a confined, ridiculously controlled, and sadistically abusive environment where he serves the warped “Glorious Empire Daitya.”
Lukian’s character has such depth that I could easily empathize with his misery and despair as he searches for a way to escape the suffocating and brutal life he is forced to endure. Lukian has been reduced to an object for experimentation by the Empire in their efforts to create a superior being, one who has transcended human limitations. So far, Kain is one of their best super soldiers, even though he isn’t fully cognizant of the ugly deeds he is commanded to carry out. His mind is scrambled, fragmented, dulled by the never-ending injection of drugs designed to stifle his personality, his individuality, and to ultimately try to turn him into a robotic, mindless being. However, Lukian will never become the “Kain” Commander Brigham wants to control; ironically, the Empire’s scientists have created a man who can use his super strength and abilities against them.
Only after I finished the book did I notice the last letters of Lukian have been transposed in Kain, which, for me, shows the contrast of Lukian’s true nature once he is freed from his perpetual drug-induced haze in Jambu. Lukian symbolizes the beauty and strength of the human spirit to endure and overcome. With that said, however, being in Lukian’s head was at times “mind blowing,” as if I were on an imaginary psychedelic trip right along with him as he fights to hold on to his crumbling sanity.
Another aspect of Lukian’s character that surprised me is the magnitude of his vulnerability. Although he has a magnificent physical stature, despite the scarring from brutal beatings, and is extremely dangerous, he doesn’t have the dominant “alpha” personality that is typical of other heroes often found in romances. Actually his personality is congruent with his upbringing since he has been cowed into submission for most of his life, and this actually makes his character more believable.
The plot is engaging and suspenseful but teeming with explicit violence. The characters who befriend Lukien after he settles in Jambu are oddly amusing and provide a bit of comic relief to the otherwise serious tone of the novel. However, I did find the scene shifts to be too abrupt for my preference, and there are a few minor proofreading errors that caught my attention. Overall, though, McGill has written a creative, vivid, and thought-provoking novel that certainly kept my attention.
I received a copy of this book from the author to provide an honest review.
July 12, 2013
Once again we are daytripping (and I do mean tripping) into the realm of science fiction, this time a cyberpunk treat, Kain (Sex, Drugs, and Cyberpunk) by Canadian author Brie McGill.
The Blurb:
Counting days is irrelevant in the life of a well-to-do man, unless he counts the days passed in total service to the Empire. Salute. Submit. Shut up and scan the wrist. Therapists armed with batons and brass knuckles guide the derelict along a well-beaten path to Glory.
When human experiment Lukian Valentin escapes the Empire to save his crumbling sanity--through a grimescape of fissured highways, collapsing factories, putrescent sewers--he realizes the fight isn’t only for his life, it’s for his mind. Torturous flashbacks from a murky past spur him on a quest for freedom, while the Empire’s elite retrievers remain at his heels, determined to bring him home for repair.
Lukian needs one doctor to remove the implanted chips from his body, and another to serve him a tall glass of answers. Lukian attempts a psychedelic salvage of his partitioned mind, gleaning fragments of the painful truth about his identity.
A scorching, clothes-ripping rendezvous with a mysterious woman offers Lukian a glimpse of his humanity, and respite from his nightmarish past. It also provides the Empire the perfect weakness to exploit for his recapture.
To rise to the challenge of protecting his new life, his freedom of thought, and his one shot at love, Lukian must reach deep into his mind to find his true identity. To defeat the Empire, he requires the deadly power of his former self--a power that threatens to consume him.
My Review:
Wow! Where to start? This book had me up to 2:00 a.m. on a Sunday night, making for a rather cranky Monday morning.
Lukian is a compelling, deep character. As what he believes he knows about the world begins to crumble around him, Lukian finds one really good friend, one person he can trust, Aidan. Underneath his veneer of compliance Aidan, just like Lukian, is a rebellious citizen, and Lukian is drawn to him against his better judgement.
The evil characters are not simply evil, they are depraved. Brigham is cold, intent on his own agenda, even to sacrificing his own family with little thought or compassion. Skirra is Cruella deVille on steroids. Krodha—what can you say about a sadistic mental health professional in love with his cattle-prod and endowed with the tender mercy and empathy of Heinrich Himmler? The psychopaths are running the asylum!
There is a real atmosphere in this tale, and depth to both the characters and the two environments Lukian finds himself in.
Glorious Empire Daitya is a complete reflection of those who built her—cold, eternally dark and rigidly unforgiving, a teeming slum built on an arctic continent where the elusive sun rarely breaks through the smog.
Jambu is a tropical paradise, rather like a post-apocalyptic Jamaica, full of chaotic life and free spirits. Both countries on this world are vividly drawn without the author devolving into excessive detail.
There are ample quantities of intense sex, drugs and violence in this tale, balanced by an incredible plot and compelling characters that carry this book beyond sci-fi-erotica. Kain is a stellar example of the indie author breathing new life into the genre of science fiction. It is over the top, and wildly entertaining. There is a quality of plot and environment that reminds me of an immersive rpg. That sense of immersion is what I loved the most about this book—it was an rpg on my Kindle, with all the cutscenes and good parts and none of the grinding.
This is an adult novel, and it is not for every reader. This is a thinking person's sci-fi novel, deep, violent, erotic, and occasionally hilarious. All in all, Kain is a breath of fresh air in a genre that frequently takes itself too seriously.
February 12, 2014
From the very start it's clear that this book is like no other. With its blend of 1984, The Running Man, and The Bourne Identity this read ended up being complex, vividly detailed, heartpounding at times, as well as romantic as our hero ultimately finds the freedom to love. This book requires a bit of thinking as things aren't always as they appear and provides much fodder for debate in its depiction of a domineering society taking away free will. The journey to HEA didn't always go smoothly but it did entertain.
When the story opens Lukian is a model citizen, for the most part. He's starting to have problems though, blackouts and torturous dreams that leave him wanting answers. He won't find those answers from the government officials supposed to help society. This group of individuals are vile and immoral and generate feelings of foreboding whenever they come on the scene. The only ally Lukian has is his roommate Aidan who feels unsettled too as they long for something else. The world Lukian is in expects blind obedience and no deviation from the norm, a sterile environment that set me on edge waiting for something bad to happen. It's a cold environment that's as duplicitous as its officials.
It's no wonder Lukian wants to escape. There's a promise land that's the complete opposite of where he comes from. It's a land of energy and freedom where you can feel alive. Lukian's escape takes him on a dangerous journey through vastly different landscapes, both physical and mental. In his travels he slowly discovers himself and his sad and bloody past. These realizations lead him to discovering his true self, Kain. There's a sense of peace around his new self, a boyishness that's appealing, but also a naïveté that leaves him confused in certain situations. These issues especially impact his burgeoning relationship with Naoko which causes much strife and a bit of frustration to their romance. The fact that the government wants their highly trained prize back also imperils his romance as they'll use whatever means necessary to return him home in an action-packed conclusion that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Lukian/Kain is a compelling character who's had a tragic past of being sold and made into the government's creation. Until he breaks away he never really lived and seeing him do so was uplifting. His journey at first felt surreal and dream-like until the reality of saving Naoko crashed him back down into pulse-pounding and bloody scenes that were riveting after a slow start and draggy middle section. Overall this was a cleverly crafted read that gives readers much to talk about long after the final page is turned.
When the story opens Lukian is a model citizen, for the most part. He's starting to have problems though, blackouts and torturous dreams that leave him wanting answers. He won't find those answers from the government officials supposed to help society. This group of individuals are vile and immoral and generate feelings of foreboding whenever they come on the scene. The only ally Lukian has is his roommate Aidan who feels unsettled too as they long for something else. The world Lukian is in expects blind obedience and no deviation from the norm, a sterile environment that set me on edge waiting for something bad to happen. It's a cold environment that's as duplicitous as its officials.
It's no wonder Lukian wants to escape. There's a promise land that's the complete opposite of where he comes from. It's a land of energy and freedom where you can feel alive. Lukian's escape takes him on a dangerous journey through vastly different landscapes, both physical and mental. In his travels he slowly discovers himself and his sad and bloody past. These realizations lead him to discovering his true self, Kain. There's a sense of peace around his new self, a boyishness that's appealing, but also a naïveté that leaves him confused in certain situations. These issues especially impact his burgeoning relationship with Naoko which causes much strife and a bit of frustration to their romance. The fact that the government wants their highly trained prize back also imperils his romance as they'll use whatever means necessary to return him home in an action-packed conclusion that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Lukian/Kain is a compelling character who's had a tragic past of being sold and made into the government's creation. Until he breaks away he never really lived and seeing him do so was uplifting. His journey at first felt surreal and dream-like until the reality of saving Naoko crashed him back down into pulse-pounding and bloody scenes that were riveting after a slow start and draggy middle section. Overall this was a cleverly crafted read that gives readers much to talk about long after the final page is turned.
June 26, 2013
This futuristic sci-fi thriller is set in a world in which everyone is a subject of the all encompassing ‘Empire’. The opening pages depicting the programming of a soldier called Kain, grab you from the very first line. Kain is the mystery in this book, his story woven in throughout the plot.
The main protagonist, Lukian is implanted with mysterious chips which control his every waking moment and function, masking his true self. However, all is not perfect with the experiment to drive him to the limit of his capabilities and glimpses of his past manage to creep to the surface. He ends up trying to escape in order to find someone who will remove the implanted chips which control him and prevent him from fully remembering events from his past, however the empire will not let him go without a fight and his new roommate is a spy for the empire. He is chased by the retrievers whose job it is is to maintain the grip of the empire by recovering errant subjects like Lukian.
His feelings are further compounded by a sexual encounter which rips away some of the chemically induced masking and allows his memory to function again in parts. As his memory returns, disobedience to the demands of the empire increases. Lukian is no more a malleable compliant servant, and he rejects his privileged position in the hierarchy. By the climax of this gripping thriller, his challenge to the empire threatens to bring down the controlling elite. But they won’t give up absolute power without a fight which puts Lukian in mortal danger unless he can recover his original identity intact. Brilliant writing which is edge of the seat stuff.
The main protagonist, Lukian is implanted with mysterious chips which control his every waking moment and function, masking his true self. However, all is not perfect with the experiment to drive him to the limit of his capabilities and glimpses of his past manage to creep to the surface. He ends up trying to escape in order to find someone who will remove the implanted chips which control him and prevent him from fully remembering events from his past, however the empire will not let him go without a fight and his new roommate is a spy for the empire. He is chased by the retrievers whose job it is is to maintain the grip of the empire by recovering errant subjects like Lukian.
His feelings are further compounded by a sexual encounter which rips away some of the chemically induced masking and allows his memory to function again in parts. As his memory returns, disobedience to the demands of the empire increases. Lukian is no more a malleable compliant servant, and he rejects his privileged position in the hierarchy. By the climax of this gripping thriller, his challenge to the empire threatens to bring down the controlling elite. But they won’t give up absolute power without a fight which puts Lukian in mortal danger unless he can recover his original identity intact. Brilliant writing which is edge of the seat stuff.
May 21, 2013
I don't know what it was I was expecting from this novel but some weird nightmare of Ender's War and a 70s psychedelic trip come to mind first. The trip to self awareness (for lack of a better term) for Lukian Valentin (Kain of the title) had my head spinning after a few chapters.
This is not an easy read for me, the visual descriptions and the feeling of Big Brother are not my main favorites but the author pulled off a very complex plot with talent, but even then at times I felt like I was privy to some guy's LSD trip . Kain has had some serious mess in his life, not the least was his parents selling him when he was very young. His escape and journey to sanity takes up the majority of this novel and is a journey that excited and entertained at times, then other times it was the pits of despair (I got tired of the guy being sick)
Lukian/Kain's relationship with Naoko is the main thing that keeps this story from being overly dark but it is a long and clumsy relationship that you will be frustrated with at the beginning before it finally comes to somewhat of a fruition.
The bottom line of this story is freedom, the freedom to do as you wish, I felt there was a bit of a political bent to this also but it was still enjoyable. 4 Stars and depending on your mood at the time more or less, do not start this book if you are distracted, it requires your attention to enjoy it.
This is not an easy read for me, the visual descriptions and the feeling of Big Brother are not my main favorites but the author pulled off a very complex plot with talent, but even then at times I felt like I was privy to some guy's LSD trip . Kain has had some serious mess in his life, not the least was his parents selling him when he was very young. His escape and journey to sanity takes up the majority of this novel and is a journey that excited and entertained at times, then other times it was the pits of despair (I got tired of the guy being sick)
Lukian/Kain's relationship with Naoko is the main thing that keeps this story from being overly dark but it is a long and clumsy relationship that you will be frustrated with at the beginning before it finally comes to somewhat of a fruition.
The bottom line of this story is freedom, the freedom to do as you wish, I felt there was a bit of a political bent to this also but it was still enjoyable. 4 Stars and depending on your mood at the time more or less, do not start this book if you are distracted, it requires your attention to enjoy it.
February 17, 2014
Lukain Valentin is not happy living and controlled by the Glorious Empire Daitya. The Empire pushes conformity and obedience to the point of everyone acting and doing what they are told without question. Lukain’s biggest issue is what is going on in his mind is increasingly different from what he has been told to behave. He tries very hard but his superior’s target him and beating are a regular thing. Things get so bad for Lukain that he escapes.
Naoko Nai is tasked with helping train Lukain for employment on Jambu. Jambu is a typical paradise. Naoko knows nothing about Lukain other than he is easy on the eyes. The more they get to know each other the more they connect in ways neither expected.
The chemistry between Naoko and Lukain is blistering. The sex scenes were scorching. Lukain connected to Naoko in a way he did not expect and really began to live. She was his soft place to fall and what is better is he did not even expect it.
Kain is the first book in the Sex, Drugs, and Cyberpunk series by Brie McGill. This book is very slow to start but if you hang in there it turns into a great book. I found this book to be well written with the main and secondary characters interesting and realistic. This book is a combination of big brother and the book 1984. It definitely makes you think about technology and how it’s a part of our lives. Overall, this was a great book.
Naoko Nai is tasked with helping train Lukain for employment on Jambu. Jambu is a typical paradise. Naoko knows nothing about Lukain other than he is easy on the eyes. The more they get to know each other the more they connect in ways neither expected.
The chemistry between Naoko and Lukain is blistering. The sex scenes were scorching. Lukain connected to Naoko in a way he did not expect and really began to live. She was his soft place to fall and what is better is he did not even expect it.
Kain is the first book in the Sex, Drugs, and Cyberpunk series by Brie McGill. This book is very slow to start but if you hang in there it turns into a great book. I found this book to be well written with the main and secondary characters interesting and realistic. This book is a combination of big brother and the book 1984. It definitely makes you think about technology and how it’s a part of our lives. Overall, this was a great book.
June 10, 2013
Kain by Brie McGill is like the Bourne Trilogy on steroids. Full of action, adventure, mystery and romance, this story is like a roller coaster ride that begins and page one and doesn't end until it comes zooming in for the finish.
Although we don't actually meet Kain until somewhere around the middle of the story, by the time we do meet him, we know him, we feel for him, we are rooting for him, and hope that he will be able to overcome the massive technologies that are arrayed against and within him.
Lukian Valentin is a worker for the Glorious Empire. Blessed to have been lifted up above his common birth and home, he now lives in the Complex, a home literally far above the masses where he is provided food, education, clothing and a home. Obedience and normalcy are the words on which his life and health depend. But, Lukian feels like he is losing his mind. Prone to black outs and day dreaming, he is sure that he will soon be discovered and forced to 'counselling', a euphemism for physical re-education.
The truth about himself brings Lukian to the place where he knows escape is the only option. A harrowing ride through the escape and the efforts to bring him back packs this book with enough action to satisfy anyone. And discovering Kain satisfies the mystery buff.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
Although we don't actually meet Kain until somewhere around the middle of the story, by the time we do meet him, we know him, we feel for him, we are rooting for him, and hope that he will be able to overcome the massive technologies that are arrayed against and within him.
Lukian Valentin is a worker for the Glorious Empire. Blessed to have been lifted up above his common birth and home, he now lives in the Complex, a home literally far above the masses where he is provided food, education, clothing and a home. Obedience and normalcy are the words on which his life and health depend. But, Lukian feels like he is losing his mind. Prone to black outs and day dreaming, he is sure that he will soon be discovered and forced to 'counselling', a euphemism for physical re-education.
The truth about himself brings Lukian to the place where he knows escape is the only option. A harrowing ride through the escape and the efforts to bring him back packs this book with enough action to satisfy anyone. And discovering Kain satisfies the mystery buff.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
June 14, 2013
“Bladerunner” meets “1984” is the best short description I have for this book.
You can tell very much that the author, Brie, takes influences from one of her favourite authors George Orwell in the storyline of this book.
The start of the book can be a tad confusing because the main character really isn't introduced till mid-story. That's not to say you don't know everything about him long before you actually meet him.
It is a sci-fi thriller of “Big Brother” and Orwellian nature, with a very difficult plot line executed quite well for the age of the author or any author for that matter.
Kain, the main character around whom the story evolves is a very well developed complex character that in some ways is on the path of self realization, whilst living in a society where your every movement and thought is tracked for complacency.
If you enjoyed 1984, and are wary of the whole government watching over your shoulder movement, this book will have your mind reeling with possibilities and things you had yet thought of. It is a step into the future and a look at one I would rather not exist in.
Overall, this book is very well written, and an easy read. One to add to the bookshelf for sure.
You can tell very much that the author, Brie, takes influences from one of her favourite authors George Orwell in the storyline of this book.
The start of the book can be a tad confusing because the main character really isn't introduced till mid-story. That's not to say you don't know everything about him long before you actually meet him.
It is a sci-fi thriller of “Big Brother” and Orwellian nature, with a very difficult plot line executed quite well for the age of the author or any author for that matter.
Kain, the main character around whom the story evolves is a very well developed complex character that in some ways is on the path of self realization, whilst living in a society where your every movement and thought is tracked for complacency.
If you enjoyed 1984, and are wary of the whole government watching over your shoulder movement, this book will have your mind reeling with possibilities and things you had yet thought of. It is a step into the future and a look at one I would rather not exist in.
Overall, this book is very well written, and an easy read. One to add to the bookshelf for sure.
June 16, 2013
This is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Lukian Valentin lives in a cold world controlled by the Glorious Empire Daitya, where obedience and conformity are normal and no one is allowed to step out of line. Lukian is having real problems with all aspects of his life especially his mind, but has to hide this from everyone or he will be returned to therapy with the sadistic Krodha, his greatest fear. His room-mate dies serving the Empire and the replacement, Aiden, turns out to be unlike other workers.
The depiction of the Empire, complete with state controlled media, implanted chips and Big Brother attitude is scarily well portrayed as a living hell. The contrast between the Empire and Jambu, a world where heat, light and hope are the norm, is enormous and it is here that Lukian attempts to escape from his past.
The character of Lukian is extremely well developed, you know exactly where he is coming from and as the story unfolds you feel for him and want him to win through.
However, there are problems implanted far deeper than even Lukian imagines with the problem of Kain.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had me gripped from start to finish and I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fast paced story, regardless of genre.
The depiction of the Empire, complete with state controlled media, implanted chips and Big Brother attitude is scarily well portrayed as a living hell. The contrast between the Empire and Jambu, a world where heat, light and hope are the norm, is enormous and it is here that Lukian attempts to escape from his past.
The character of Lukian is extremely well developed, you know exactly where he is coming from and as the story unfolds you feel for him and want him to win through.
However, there are problems implanted far deeper than even Lukian imagines with the problem of Kain.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had me gripped from start to finish and I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fast paced story, regardless of genre.
February 6, 2014
Lukian just wants to escape and live a normal life. He has memory losses and remembers beatings. He isn't sure what all is going on just that he needs out. As he escapes with help he starts his new life. He enjoys the sunlight and even his new boss Naoko. As he begins to fall for her he still has to worry the Empire will come after him. When they do they are willing to use whatever it takes to get Lukian back. He doesn't want to use what the Empire forced on him but he will to save those he cares about.
This is a very interesting book. It has lot's of action and you can't help but feel for Lukian. Sometimes he seems like a killer others he will remind you of a teenage boy. He has been through horrible things that is no doubt. I liked seeing him enjoy the small things in life and how he will do whatever for those he cares about. The Empire is full of evil people and you wish hey would fall the whole time you are reading. The rules are strict and you never know what they will do next. I also love the sexy parts with Lukian and Naoko. They add spice to the story. If you like stories with lots of action, a great guy you get to know slowly even as he gets to know his self and some love give this one a try.
This is a very interesting book. It has lot's of action and you can't help but feel for Lukian. Sometimes he seems like a killer others he will remind you of a teenage boy. He has been through horrible things that is no doubt. I liked seeing him enjoy the small things in life and how he will do whatever for those he cares about. The Empire is full of evil people and you wish hey would fall the whole time you are reading. The rules are strict and you never know what they will do next. I also love the sexy parts with Lukian and Naoko. They add spice to the story. If you like stories with lots of action, a great guy you get to know slowly even as he gets to know his self and some love give this one a try.
June 3, 2013
The theme of mega-egomaniacal governments is one that is a common theme in many sci-fi stories. Brie McGill has put this fear in print in such a way that it is truly a bit frightening. In a world where free-will is a crime, we meet 24-year-old, Lukian Valentin, a human experiment trying to gain control over his own life.
What makes the premise of the book all the more frightening and intriguing is that we are on the verge of creating human life, cloning is just one facet of this. Once these beings are “alive” what roles do they play? Are they to be treated as property? Can they be controlled and exploited as things, rather than being given the same rights and respect that any natural born human would? These questions form the core of this body of work.
With cameras watching our every move today and governments listening in on private conversations becoming common place are we not headed in that direction? The book is well written and the ideas and concepts fully realized. You will be intrigued from beginning to end. Get a copy today and you will be reading it non-stop for a few fantastic hours.
What makes the premise of the book all the more frightening and intriguing is that we are on the verge of creating human life, cloning is just one facet of this. Once these beings are “alive” what roles do they play? Are they to be treated as property? Can they be controlled and exploited as things, rather than being given the same rights and respect that any natural born human would? These questions form the core of this body of work.
With cameras watching our every move today and governments listening in on private conversations becoming common place are we not headed in that direction? The book is well written and the ideas and concepts fully realized. You will be intrigued from beginning to end. Get a copy today and you will be reading it non-stop for a few fantastic hours.
May 22, 2013
I dig new science fiction, and I couldn't resist the blurb of this one—it sounds totally insane, hence appeals to me. It turned out to be pretty awesome.
The hero Lukian is oppressed by a totalitarian regime that evokes "They Live", "Consider Phlebas" and "Blade Runner", fragmented and reassembled in shocking vistas. Like many of the Empire's victims, he is drugged, nearly killed and made a slave—worse, they control his very identity. The bulk of the story follows Lukian's escape from the Empire and their vicious assailants; so I could also compare it to the "The Running Man" (the Bachman book, not the film).
The book really takes off around the midpoint, when Lukian encounters the sensual and smoking hot Naoko; their relationship injects vitality, and sets up a thrilling climax for the novel.
The hero Lukian is oppressed by a totalitarian regime that evokes "They Live", "Consider Phlebas" and "Blade Runner", fragmented and reassembled in shocking vistas. Like many of the Empire's victims, he is drugged, nearly killed and made a slave—worse, they control his very identity. The bulk of the story follows Lukian's escape from the Empire and their vicious assailants; so I could also compare it to the "The Running Man" (the Bachman book, not the film).
The book really takes off around the midpoint, when Lukian encounters the sensual and smoking hot Naoko; their relationship injects vitality, and sets up a thrilling climax for the novel.
May 31, 2013
Kain by Brie McGill is a 323 page sci-fi erotica (more sci-fi than erotica). I finished it in about four sittings. It is fast-paced, action-packed writing. It is about 24-year-old, Lukian Valentin, who is a human experiment trying to gain control over his own life. He has a chip implanted and the environment is very much big brother, makes for a very interesting story.
He flees from the Empire and is in the fight of his life to break down barriers and recover his own mind and freedom. On his journey you experience his exciting highs and bleak lows, as he discovers bits and pieces of who he was.
Lukian's love interest with Naoko is like most, a little slow to start, some mishaps then the relationship eventually comes full circle. It all makes perfect sense by the end. Might have to reread it now. I would recommend the book. Sci-fi fans will especially love it.
He flees from the Empire and is in the fight of his life to break down barriers and recover his own mind and freedom. On his journey you experience his exciting highs and bleak lows, as he discovers bits and pieces of who he was.
Lukian's love interest with Naoko is like most, a little slow to start, some mishaps then the relationship eventually comes full circle. It all makes perfect sense by the end. Might have to reread it now. I would recommend the book. Sci-fi fans will especially love it.
May 23, 2013
Lukian Valentin is 24 years old, and in perfect condition: a manufactured human. Sadly, his only role is to bring glory to the Empire of Daitya and its central megalopolis, and be subject to their vile experiments. Their creation transcends human limitations; but that means the Empire has given him all the tools he needs to escape.
This book starts fast, and the action intensifies throughout. Lukian escapes, finds love, suffers loss, and experiences things that his programming could never have predicted. I particularly enjoyed the game theoretic interest towards the end of the novel, where Lukian's zero-level programming and submerged protocols complicate the difficult choices he has to take in confronting the Empire.
This book starts fast, and the action intensifies throughout. Lukian escapes, finds love, suffers loss, and experiences things that his programming could never have predicted. I particularly enjoyed the game theoretic interest towards the end of the novel, where Lukian's zero-level programming and submerged protocols complicate the difficult choices he has to take in confronting the Empire.
June 3, 2013
McGill offers a rip-roaring ride through a futuristic, alternate universe where free will has been quashed, death awaits at every corner and swearing is a thing of the past. Everyone submits to the Empire. It's a brutal, big-brother glimpse of what can happen when power is distributed in all the wrong places.
Only Lukian holds a glimmer of hope that all may not be lost, that there may still be a chance at escape and regaining the ability to control his own mind once more.
This was a magical read and I can't wait for book two!
Only Lukian holds a glimmer of hope that all may not be lost, that there may still be a chance at escape and regaining the ability to control his own mind once more.
This was a magical read and I can't wait for book two!
June 9, 2013
This book is a fascination read and in light today’s current events it makes you wonder were our world is going. It has many subtle threads in the book that are there to remind the reader what lies behind the words. There is a message of spirituality and the fact that we determine our reality and future. It pits the forces of good and evil and those that seek freedom against those that seek to smother it and subject us to their will. In the end it is a triumph of the human spirit and the longing to be free that prevails. The book is well written and easy to read.
June 22, 2013
This novel is action packed and riveting. It,s a real page turner. Lukian, the stories main character escapes from a life of mind control and slavery to the empire and is nearly killed at every turn. It's really action packed. He makes a new life for himself and discovers love with the beautiful and sexy Naoko. The love scenes are a skillfully done and add greatly to the book.
I couldn't wait to finish this book and am looking forward to reading book number two. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
I couldn't wait to finish this book and am looking forward to reading book number two. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
July 25, 2013
Great book! It was an thrill following Lukain, super-human assassin fighting for his freedom from a futuristic, uncaring world only to be forced to return to save his new love.
September 10, 2016
Gritty, sexy and a lot of fun. Don't miss this exciting paranormal romance.
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