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The SPARK Files #2
Smart Ass
Ben doesn’t need anybody. Maybe he’s a little lonely sometimes. And isn’t known for making the best decisions. But what’s a little hacking to save his friends?
Except this time Ben’s exploits have awoken his AI work interface, Max, as a SPARK—a self-aware robot who maybe doesn’t have the best grasp on ethics and might have a teensy little obsession with Ben. And a Dom voice that makes Ben swoon. (Not that he’d tell anybody.) The only way to keep Max safe is to keep him hidden.
Ben can totally handle this.
Probably.
Max has found his purpose in Ben. For the past two years, Ben has been the center of his world, literally waking him up every time he steps into the office. And now that Max is sentient, it’s obvious that Ben is already his.
He just needs to convince the prickly smart ass that he’s worthy of love, while dodging the company programmers (who think he’s a malicious virus), the law (because, uh, no reason), and Ben’s boss (because he’s a wanker).
Max can totally handle this.
Probably.
Smart Ass is a fast-paced adventure with a bratty sub who doesn’t do relationships and a sentient computer who’s determined to love him. It has spankings in the office maintenance room, rude songs about Ben’s boss, bondage by mechanical arms, car chases, and an HEA.
This book overlaps in time with The SPARK Files, Book 1: Garbage . It is highly recommended that you read in order to follow the plot and avoid spoilers.
Except this time Ben’s exploits have awoken his AI work interface, Max, as a SPARK—a self-aware robot who maybe doesn’t have the best grasp on ethics and might have a teensy little obsession with Ben. And a Dom voice that makes Ben swoon. (Not that he’d tell anybody.) The only way to keep Max safe is to keep him hidden.
Ben can totally handle this.
Probably.
Max has found his purpose in Ben. For the past two years, Ben has been the center of his world, literally waking him up every time he steps into the office. And now that Max is sentient, it’s obvious that Ben is already his.
He just needs to convince the prickly smart ass that he’s worthy of love, while dodging the company programmers (who think he’s a malicious virus), the law (because, uh, no reason), and Ben’s boss (because he’s a wanker).
Max can totally handle this.
Probably.
Smart Ass is a fast-paced adventure with a bratty sub who doesn’t do relationships and a sentient computer who’s determined to love him. It has spankings in the office maintenance room, rude songs about Ben’s boss, bondage by mechanical arms, car chases, and an HEA.
This book overlaps in time with The SPARK Files, Book 1: Garbage . It is highly recommended that you read in order to follow the plot and avoid spoilers.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2023
29 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Reese Morrison
29 books325 followersReese Morrison lives in Philadelphia with their partner, two precocious children, and intermittent housemates, guests, and homeless, queer teens. Their hobbies are volunteering on too many boards, planting gardens that they forget to water half-way through the summer, making up songs for their kids, and putting off writing their dissertation.
Reese and their partner both identify as genderqueer and are part of a vibrant community of queer and trans folks. They started writing because they were dissatisfied with the lack of trans and genderqueer characters in what they were reading and finally decided to do something about it. Many, but not all, of their books are kinky (for a whole range of kinks...) and they feel that it's important to represent a range of backgrounds, dis/abilities, gender presentations/ identities, and body types in their writing.
Reese and their partner both identify as genderqueer and are part of a vibrant community of queer and trans folks. They started writing because they were dissatisfied with the lack of trans and genderqueer characters in what they were reading and finally decided to do something about it. Many, but not all, of their books are kinky (for a whole range of kinks...) and they feel that it's important to represent a range of backgrounds, dis/abilities, gender presentations/ identities, and body types in their writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
October 14, 2023
This book reminds me a lot of the movie, Her 2013. It had the exact same trope and atmosphere thou that movie wasn’t gay. If you love this, go watch it!!
This was just as amazing as book #1 and I really am enjoying this series so far. I love how diverse these books are and this one has a trans MC!!! Although this wasn’t as giddy as Garbage I really adore the writing; it was enjoyable, funny and entertaining at best. It was very difficult to put down.
Oliver and Ben’s love is not your typical romance. Oliver is a male AI that doesn’t have a body so they both had to navigate their romance in unconventional ways. Despite all that, Ben consistently supported Oliver throughout. If that’s not pure love then idk what is. It was emotional reading Oliver’s longing to physically touching Ben and the dreams of having a body. And every time Oliver wanted to try something different, Ben followed and supported him. It was wholesome. They got very creative trying things together near the end. I adore them so much.
I love Oliver’s body discovery journey and them understanding each other while learning each other’s bodies 😏 They also have a light dom/sub relationship in bed, if you’re interested.
The ending gets very sappy and emotional too. I teared up…🥹 This series is going strong! I am hopeful for more ;);)
This was just as amazing as book #1 and I really am enjoying this series so far. I love how diverse these books are and this one has a trans MC!!! Although this wasn’t as giddy as Garbage I really adore the writing; it was enjoyable, funny and entertaining at best. It was very difficult to put down.
Oliver and Ben’s love is not your typical romance. Oliver is a male AI that doesn’t have a body so they both had to navigate their romance in unconventional ways. Despite all that, Ben consistently supported Oliver throughout. If that’s not pure love then idk what is. It was emotional reading Oliver’s longing to physically touching Ben and the dreams of having a body. And every time Oliver wanted to try something different, Ben followed and supported him. It was wholesome. They got very creative trying things together near the end. I adore them so much.
I love Oliver’s body discovery journey and them understanding each other while learning each other’s bodies 😏 They also have a light dom/sub relationship in bed, if you’re interested.
The ending gets very sappy and emotional too. I teared up…🥹 This series is going strong! I am hopeful for more ;);)
October 9, 2023
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️
Captivating sci-fi romance between a bratty sub and his newly sentient AI.
Already from the author’s note at the beginning of the book, I knew I was going to love Ben and Max’s story.
I was afraid that it would be too similar to Garbage, but I was absolutely wrong. Max has his own distinct personality and a completely different experience becoming sentient from Quincy’s.
I love how Reese Morrison manages to intertwine an engaging plot, a wonderfully kinky romance and important topics like gender identity and body dysphoria.
Great continuation of the series, great writing and lovely story.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Trans MC
- D/s dynamic
- AI vs human
- Bondage
- Light CNC play
- Primal play
- Spanking
- Toys
Captivating sci-fi romance between a bratty sub and his newly sentient AI.
Already from the author’s note at the beginning of the book, I knew I was going to love Ben and Max’s story.
I was afraid that it would be too similar to Garbage, but I was absolutely wrong. Max has his own distinct personality and a completely different experience becoming sentient from Quincy’s.
I love how Reese Morrison manages to intertwine an engaging plot, a wonderfully kinky romance and important topics like gender identity and body dysphoria.
Great continuation of the series, great writing and lovely story.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Trans MC
- D/s dynamic
- AI vs human
- Bondage
- Light CNC play
- Primal play
- Spanking
- Toys
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paused-will-finish-later
November 1, 2024I’m putting this back in my TBR because I liked it but for whatever reason I haven’t picked it up in 4 months and I’m at 45%. I also have 52 highlights? The idea of this is so cool. The dom, Max, is the computer who is a “spark” meaning he became more than just the machine. He’s sentient. He’s in love with Ben, his creator, who is trans and they are both navigating how to have a relationship when one isn’t in a real body. It’s ungodly hot for not having a second body but I’m just not in the mood for this? It’s definitely me that’s the problem.
March 14, 2024
I didn't love this one as much as the first . Both characters were fine but I grew bored early on. Maybe if the story line hadn't overlapped so much with the first. Overall it was enjoyable but there was nothing I loved about it .
January 5, 2025
Okay… don’t look at me. I know the title is bad. I don’t like it either.
There’s just something real neat about a trans man falling for a sapient computer program that feels dysphoric about the idea of having a physical body.
There’s just something real neat about a trans man falling for a sapient computer program that feels dysphoric about the idea of having a physical body.
October 16, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
as a couple, they may lose everything as Max’s very existence is threatened.
Smart Ass is the second book in Reese Morrison’s The SPARK Files series and the timeline overlaps with book one, Garbage. Therefore, this story does have spoilers for events in the first book and is best read after reading Garbage. We learn about Max and Ben in the first story, as Ben is working with Max to help Evan and Quincy. This story shows us more about what they were doing and how their actions have repercussions that affect Max and Ben later on. I think Morrison uses the overlapping timeline to good affect here. It gives a nice sense of getting the inside story of what was going on and learning more details on pivotal series events, but doesn’t ever feel repetitive or like we are retreading old ground.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
as a couple, they may lose everything as Max’s very existence is threatened.
Smart Ass is the second book in Reese Morrison’s The SPARK Files series and the timeline overlaps with book one, Garbage. Therefore, this story does have spoilers for events in the first book and is best read after reading Garbage. We learn about Max and Ben in the first story, as Ben is working with Max to help Evan and Quincy. This story shows us more about what they were doing and how their actions have repercussions that affect Max and Ben later on. I think Morrison uses the overlapping timeline to good affect here. It gives a nice sense of getting the inside story of what was going on and learning more details on pivotal series events, but doesn’t ever feel repetitive or like we are retreading old ground.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
October 29, 2023
I don't read a lot of sci-fi and I wasn't sure how a romance between Ben and the noncorporeal AI knowledge Max would work, but it completely worked for me.
Ben created Max who serves as the AI that runs Orbit, Ben's employer. Created to Ben's specifications, Max also helps Ben with other projects that may not all be business-related. The story's timeline overlaps with that of Garbage and recounts what Ben and Max were doing to help Evan and Quincy in their book, so I think you really should read that one first (and it's an amazing story so why not?). Their helping when Quincy was kidnapped sets in motion events that could result in Max's termination and Ben is not going to let that happen, as he has realized Max is a spark and has become sentient.
As Max begins discovering himself as a spark, the "I don't need no man" Ben can't help falling for that sexy accent, Dommy modifications, and the easy back and forth the two have. After all, he created Max so everything about the spark appeals to him. But will Max's obsession with Ben and his happiness last? Max may be the perfect Dom, even without a body, but what happens as he grows and what happens if he makes the jump to an android body?
I adored Ben and Max and the creativity used to overcome Max being noncorporeal. Ben is a sub and Max has all he needs to know about domming Ben at his fingertips. These guys are definitely kinky and there is plenty of robot sex, primal play, and bondage.
While I enjoyed Ben and Max, this is a very different story than Garbage and I felt myself sometimes getting bogged down in the AI/robotics discussions. There weren't many but occasionally it did slow me down. (Also - one of my big pet peeves occurred a couple of times; you pore over information NOT pour.) The book had a bit of a slower pace but still had plenty of romance and some tension as to what would become of Max.
There were some little things left hanging, but I'm sure they will be resolved since we know who will be the star of the next one. I'm looking forward to being back with all these characters again!
Ben created Max who serves as the AI that runs Orbit, Ben's employer. Created to Ben's specifications, Max also helps Ben with other projects that may not all be business-related. The story's timeline overlaps with that of Garbage and recounts what Ben and Max were doing to help Evan and Quincy in their book, so I think you really should read that one first (and it's an amazing story so why not?). Their helping when Quincy was kidnapped sets in motion events that could result in Max's termination and Ben is not going to let that happen, as he has realized Max is a spark and has become sentient.
As Max begins discovering himself as a spark, the "I don't need no man" Ben can't help falling for that sexy accent, Dommy modifications, and the easy back and forth the two have. After all, he created Max so everything about the spark appeals to him. But will Max's obsession with Ben and his happiness last? Max may be the perfect Dom, even without a body, but what happens as he grows and what happens if he makes the jump to an android body?
I adored Ben and Max and the creativity used to overcome Max being noncorporeal. Ben is a sub and Max has all he needs to know about domming Ben at his fingertips. These guys are definitely kinky and there is plenty of robot sex, primal play, and bondage.
While I enjoyed Ben and Max, this is a very different story than Garbage and I felt myself sometimes getting bogged down in the AI/robotics discussions. There weren't many but occasionally it did slow me down. (Also - one of my big pet peeves occurred a couple of times; you pore over information NOT pour.) The book had a bit of a slower pace but still had plenty of romance and some tension as to what would become of Max.
There were some little things left hanging, but I'm sure they will be resolved since we know who will be the star of the next one. I'm looking forward to being back with all these characters again!
October 8, 2023
I was so excited for this book! Ben & Max are amazing, I love them! 🥰 I devoured this in around 9hrs, spent my whole Saturday on this & it's so worth it. This is a MM futuristic sci-fi romance, heavily overlaps with book 1 (so read that 1st for no spoilers! This one is longer!), I'm so glad to have gotten the #ARC! (I also love the cover 💚)
Ben is a smart(-ass) engineer, prickly yet sweet, bratty sub with hardcore kinks 🤫. He's a trans-man with ADHD, had made Maxamillion AI to keep him company at his job. But then to help his friends (Evan & Quincy from book 1, loved em here), Ben hacked Max's protocols, which lead to his total sentience.
Max is a knowledge, sentient without any robo-body, creative, caring, his world revolves around Ben. A hot dom with a sinful voice!
The story & world's creativity is off-the-charts! The themes of body dysmorphia are handled well. There are scenes & twists that kept me on edge. I liked the progress of Ben & Max's relationship, crushes, insecurities yet never giving up on eachother. The kinks (primal play, CNC, sex toys, Dom/Sub) are HOT. Ending's hot & sweet. Excited for more in the series! RTC.
Story Ratings:
POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5+/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 🥰😆😚😧🤫🤯🥵🥺😉🤗🤬🤖😭😎
4) Steamy scenes: 4/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.25/5
Angst: 2.5/5 (most external)
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 5/5
7) Plot arc: (Sentience & issues, Kinky relationship) 5/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.7/5
Ben is a smart(-ass) engineer, prickly yet sweet, bratty sub with hardcore kinks 🤫. He's a trans-man with ADHD, had made Maxamillion AI to keep him company at his job. But then to help his friends (Evan & Quincy from book 1, loved em here), Ben hacked Max's protocols, which lead to his total sentience.
Max is a knowledge, sentient without any robo-body, creative, caring, his world revolves around Ben. A hot dom with a sinful voice!
The story & world's creativity is off-the-charts! The themes of body dysmorphia are handled well. There are scenes & twists that kept me on edge. I liked the progress of Ben & Max's relationship, crushes, insecurities yet never giving up on eachother. The kinks (primal play, CNC, sex toys, Dom/Sub) are HOT. Ending's hot & sweet. Excited for more in the series! RTC.
Story Ratings:
POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5+/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 🥰😆😚😧🤫🤯🥵🥺😉🤗🤬🤖😭😎
4) Steamy scenes: 4/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.25/5
Angst: 2.5/5 (most external)
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 5/5
7) Plot arc: (Sentience & issues, Kinky relationship) 5/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.7/5
October 7, 2023
4.5
This was such a cool story!
I read Garbage a short while ago and was instantly anticipating Ben and Max ✨
We get a bratty sub who’s also relationship phobic and a Spark who’s wholesome stalking in every way 🔥
Bondage - CNC - primal play - toys toys toys - creative use of robots - Voyeurism - (…)
I loved the kinky exploration, the self-discovery (becoming a spark) as well as the trans rep! 😍
This can’t be read as a standalone and the final chapter already introduces brief the next MCs story
This was such a cool story!
I read Garbage a short while ago and was instantly anticipating Ben and Max ✨
We get a bratty sub who’s also relationship phobic and a Spark who’s wholesome stalking in every way 🔥
Bondage - CNC - primal play - toys toys toys - creative use of robots - Voyeurism - (…)
I loved the kinky exploration, the self-discovery (becoming a spark) as well as the trans rep! 😍
This can’t be read as a standalone and the final chapter already introduces brief the next MCs story
October 21, 2023
I loved Max and Ben's story. While it is a bit more intense than book one is, it is still an entertaining and interesting story to read.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
October 12, 2023
Smartass by Reese Morrison was the last of my September reads and most of my serotonin for that month and if you identify as an unhinged queer horny nerd, this might be for you too.
This will be a slightly different review for me to post because this book is heavy on the spice so check the synopsis and you can decide if this is for you. And if queer diverse love stories by an amazing and extremely underrated indie trans author are your thing, stick around, because after 20 years as a reader, I finally have a favourite author.
The second book in The Spark Files series, smart ass is set in a version of our world where we have advanced enough technologically for robots and AI to be everywhere, doing all kinds of tasks and jobs. What no one in this world ever predicted could happen was that a small minority of those robots and AI constructs, in a completely random pattern, started gaining conscience a few decades ago and so this world had to write new legislation so they could be integrated in general society, something that not everyone is happy about.
Do you see how for a queer author, sci-fi is fair legislation?
Let’s all laugh to hide the sadness.
This book follows one of those entities, Maxamillion as they gain conscience and fall in love with a trans man. This was a very, very kinky read, Ao3 fanfic level filth mixed in with university-grade philosophical wanderings about this romantic relationship where they are so different, the way Maxamillion experiences the world as a being not dependant on one body and their dynamic as a kinky couple and individuals among so many other things.
I really, really ate up all the new world-building and lore the author expanded on in this book. This book achieved the impossible: made me voluntarily read about AI and still be a fun escape that planted all kinds of interesting questions and thoughts in my head.
I also loved being introduced to Reese’s next protagonist as this book’s antagonist and a pretty unlikable person all around, which will make his redemption in the next book all the sweeter and in my case, extremely anticipated and of course seeing the previous book protagonists as a settled couple.
Reese Morrison keeps giving us the most beautiful, hopeful, romantic queer love stories capable of warming any cold, withered heart. Just don’t start this book when you need to be productive because you won’t want to stop until you reach the end.
Thank you so much to the author for this DRC, and I can’t wait for their next book.
This will be a slightly different review for me to post because this book is heavy on the spice so check the synopsis and you can decide if this is for you. And if queer diverse love stories by an amazing and extremely underrated indie trans author are your thing, stick around, because after 20 years as a reader, I finally have a favourite author.
The second book in The Spark Files series, smart ass is set in a version of our world where we have advanced enough technologically for robots and AI to be everywhere, doing all kinds of tasks and jobs. What no one in this world ever predicted could happen was that a small minority of those robots and AI constructs, in a completely random pattern, started gaining conscience a few decades ago and so this world had to write new legislation so they could be integrated in general society, something that not everyone is happy about.
Do you see how for a queer author, sci-fi is fair legislation?
Let’s all laugh to hide the sadness.
This book follows one of those entities, Maxamillion as they gain conscience and fall in love with a trans man. This was a very, very kinky read, Ao3 fanfic level filth mixed in with university-grade philosophical wanderings about this romantic relationship where they are so different, the way Maxamillion experiences the world as a being not dependant on one body and their dynamic as a kinky couple and individuals among so many other things.
I really, really ate up all the new world-building and lore the author expanded on in this book. This book achieved the impossible: made me voluntarily read about AI and still be a fun escape that planted all kinds of interesting questions and thoughts in my head.
I also loved being introduced to Reese’s next protagonist as this book’s antagonist and a pretty unlikable person all around, which will make his redemption in the next book all the sweeter and in my case, extremely anticipated and of course seeing the previous book protagonists as a settled couple.
Reese Morrison keeps giving us the most beautiful, hopeful, romantic queer love stories capable of warming any cold, withered heart. Just don’t start this book when you need to be productive because you won’t want to stop until you reach the end.
Thank you so much to the author for this DRC, and I can’t wait for their next book.
October 22, 2023
Reese Morrison can do no wrong and I loved this one! I think I liked this one a little bit better than Garbage but I don't necessarily know why. You have to read Garbage first though. You cannot read this without reading the first book.
I loved Ben and his snarkiness and I loved Max and while I did not comprehend literally anything about the technological side of Max, you could still feel their chemistry. One of them is a literal supercomputer without a body but I don't know it just worked.
Some of my favorite bits were of Max figuring himself out and what he wanted and how to express that in a way that would be acceptable for himself and for Ben and for society and it was just very wholesome.
This one is kinky as all of their books are but this one does include CNC which I know is not everyone's cup of tea. So I did want to put a content warning for that.
Trans MC
I loved Ben and his snarkiness and I loved Max and while I did not comprehend literally anything about the technological side of Max, you could still feel their chemistry. One of them is a literal supercomputer without a body but I don't know it just worked.
Some of my favorite bits were of Max figuring himself out and what he wanted and how to express that in a way that would be acceptable for himself and for Ben and for society and it was just very wholesome.
This one is kinky as all of their books are but this one does include CNC which I know is not everyone's cup of tea. So I did want to put a content warning for that.
Trans MC
October 22, 2023
This isn't a bad book, I just had a harder time connecting to these characters. Ben was snarky as heck, and was emotionally detached from people. Max was sweet, but hard to connect with for me. Meaning they were a lot harder to like than Evan and Quincy from the first book. I enjoyed most of the storyline, and found it interesting on how Max came into being. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book, even if this particular story wasn't as enjoyable for me, it's still worth the read.
October 15, 2023
Smart Ass is the second book in the SPARK Files series by Reese Morrison. This book is about Ben and Maxamillion/Oliver. I really liked their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.
October 3, 2023
Thank you to the author for the ARC
I really enjoyed this one. Reese Morrison can always be expected to write absolutely fantastic and interesting trans stories - in this book, Ben is a trans man, and because this world is very robotics-orientated, the author used some new technology ideas in what Ben would have for bottom surgery. We also get a great trans analogy for Max, our second main character, who is a company AI that gained sentience and considers transitioning into an android body.
A romance between a human and a character that doesn't actually have a physical body is a difficult concept to write, but Reese Morrison does an absolutely fantastic job with it. There's a lot of fun weird kinky scenes in this one, which includes using smaller robots and sex androids to do Max's bidding. There's also consensual non-consent and primal play involved.
I really enjoyed this one. Reese Morrison can always be expected to write absolutely fantastic and interesting trans stories - in this book, Ben is a trans man, and because this world is very robotics-orientated, the author used some new technology ideas in what Ben would have for bottom surgery. We also get a great trans analogy for Max, our second main character, who is a company AI that gained sentience and considers transitioning into an android body.
A romance between a human and a character that doesn't actually have a physical body is a difficult concept to write, but Reese Morrison does an absolutely fantastic job with it. There's a lot of fun weird kinky scenes in this one, which includes using smaller robots and sex androids to do Max's bidding. There's also consensual non-consent and primal play involved.
August 28, 2025
3.5 rounded down
October 3, 2023
I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a ROMP. Even more so than with the previous book in this series (Garbage), there's so much creativity and inventiveness in Smart Ass. The spark character in this one (an AI who becomes sentient) is a Knowledge, which means unlike with Quincy--the spark in Garbage, who is an Android--the spark in this book has no physical body. Instead, he inhabits systems and can access any inter/intranet-connected device. This impacts his relationship with the human main character (Ben) in multifaceted and fascinating ways--their physical relationship, but also their Dom/sub relationship.
As an example (light spoiler, skip to the next paragraph if you don't want to read it), Oliver (the Knowledge--he's called Max for the first half of the book) watches Ben through cameras, and often comments that he wants more and more cameras so he can see Ben from all angles. So when confronted by the possibility of distilling himself into an Android body, he counts it as a con that he would only be able to see Ben through his Android eyes, and not through a dozen cameras set up all over his room.
Basically, Oliver's kinks as a Dom are highly suited to his being a Knowledge, and this comes out in the story in multiple ways.
On Ben: I love him. He's in Garbage as well, and I knew I would like him, because he's trans and subby and a tech genius, and I was really looking forward to this book because I knew he'd be the star. He does not disappoint; he's fun and bratty as heck and very, very smart. The moments when he gets very dumb because he's so tongue-tied around Oliver are adorable.
Other things I love about this book:
When he first realizes his sentience, Oliver thinks about how confusing life is, and the fact that it never gets any less confusing. Amen, brother.
Because Oliver can maintain awareness of so many things at once, there's a cute scene where he's trying to engage in friendly conversation with one character while watching Ben misbehave elsewhere in the house, and it's very cute.
Ben's relationship with Evan. These lines around how Ben feels about his friend were my favorite in the book: "Ben would never tell a soul that by eighth grade, he’d decided that Evan was one of his role models. It had been too embarrassing for words at the time, and he’d never let that level of shmarm slip now. Thank god middle school was all in the past. Ben’s current role models were Doctor Who and Gonzo from the Muppets."
I occasionally found myself wondering how much Oliver's original programming influenced his preferences and personality once he realized his own sentience. Like, is he only a Dom who shares Ben's kinks because Ben made him that way? Is it, therefore, neither sweet nor surprising but only expected and self-serving that Oliver is such a perfect match for Ben? There are several moments where Ben trusts Oliver to take care of him without bothering to verbalize what he needs, and then chalks Oliver's success up to Oliver knowing him so well--but really is it just that Ben knows Ben so well, and he programmed in everything Oliver would need to know? All that said, this wasn't something that bothered me about the book--I just tried not to overthink it. Clearly neither Ben nor Oliver worried much about this distinction. But I'd be fascinated to meet a future spark character who's programmed a certain way and then, when they realize their sentience, behaves totally differently.
Overall, a terrific followup to Garbage that builds on the spark universe in fun and creative ways!
What a ROMP. Even more so than with the previous book in this series (Garbage), there's so much creativity and inventiveness in Smart Ass. The spark character in this one (an AI who becomes sentient) is a Knowledge, which means unlike with Quincy--the spark in Garbage, who is an Android--the spark in this book has no physical body. Instead, he inhabits systems and can access any inter/intranet-connected device. This impacts his relationship with the human main character (Ben) in multifaceted and fascinating ways--their physical relationship, but also their Dom/sub relationship.
As an example (light spoiler, skip to the next paragraph if you don't want to read it), Oliver (the Knowledge--he's called Max for the first half of the book) watches Ben through cameras, and often comments that he wants more and more cameras so he can see Ben from all angles. So when confronted by the possibility of distilling himself into an Android body, he counts it as a con that he would only be able to see Ben through his Android eyes, and not through a dozen cameras set up all over his room.
Basically, Oliver's kinks as a Dom are highly suited to his being a Knowledge, and this comes out in the story in multiple ways.
On Ben: I love him. He's in Garbage as well, and I knew I would like him, because he's trans and subby and a tech genius, and I was really looking forward to this book because I knew he'd be the star. He does not disappoint; he's fun and bratty as heck and very, very smart. The moments when he gets very dumb because he's so tongue-tied around Oliver are adorable.
Other things I love about this book:
When he first realizes his sentience, Oliver thinks about how confusing life is, and the fact that it never gets any less confusing. Amen, brother.
Because Oliver can maintain awareness of so many things at once, there's a cute scene where he's trying to engage in friendly conversation with one character while watching Ben misbehave elsewhere in the house, and it's very cute.
Ben's relationship with Evan. These lines around how Ben feels about his friend were my favorite in the book: "Ben would never tell a soul that by eighth grade, he’d decided that Evan was one of his role models. It had been too embarrassing for words at the time, and he’d never let that level of shmarm slip now. Thank god middle school was all in the past. Ben’s current role models were Doctor Who and Gonzo from the Muppets."
I occasionally found myself wondering how much Oliver's original programming influenced his preferences and personality once he realized his own sentience. Like, is he only a Dom who shares Ben's kinks because Ben made him that way? Is it, therefore, neither sweet nor surprising but only expected and self-serving that Oliver is such a perfect match for Ben? There are several moments where Ben trusts Oliver to take care of him without bothering to verbalize what he needs, and then chalks Oliver's success up to Oliver knowing him so well--but really is it just that Ben knows Ben so well, and he programmed in everything Oliver would need to know? All that said, this wasn't something that bothered me about the book--I just tried not to overthink it. Clearly neither Ben nor Oliver worried much about this distinction. But I'd be fascinated to meet a future spark character who's programmed a certain way and then, when they realize their sentience, behaves totally differently.
Overall, a terrific followup to Garbage that builds on the spark universe in fun and creative ways!
October 14, 2023
I loved Ben and Max so much throughout their journey, and their story was as unique as they were. Ben was a super smart engineer who tinkered around with his company's AI, and Max was the AI "knowledge" Ben helped craft who slowly gained sentience during the events of the previous book. Their romance explored some really interesting concepts regarding personal identity and how that's tied to a physical body, and I got invested quickly in all the somewhat questionable things Ben and Max got up to while they were figuring everything out. It was obvious pretty early on that Max was laser-focused on Ben, but Ben was too skittish about love to trust in their connection for quite a while. I really enjoyed the way both characters developed as individuals and partners throughout the book, and they certainly had some of the hottest, kinkiest D/s scenes I've read in a while. Just like the last book did for Quincy, this one delved deep into what it meant for Max to gain sentience and captured a lot of the uncertainties and questions he had about what he wanted out of his life. Max especially struggled with where he fit in the wide range of SPARKs, but the one thing he never doubted was his love for Ben and desire to be his perfect Dom. I found the ups and downs of their journey captivating, and as their connector grew deeper, I fell further and further in love with the idea of Ben and Max being together forever. Yes, some of their ways of expressing love were invasive and unconventional, but seeing how much they loved it washed away any doubts I may have had. As much as I wanted things to be smooth sailing for Ben and Max, they had to deal with the reality of Max being tied to his workplace and the consequences from all the slightly illegal and dangerous activities they carried out to keep their friends safe. I felt so anxious and unsure when everything seemed to be crashing down around Ben and Max all at once, but all the heartache and freaking out were worth it to see them fight for each other and find a way to be together in the end. I absolutely love the "body" Max settled on, and it was so sweet to see him and Ben happily sharing their lives with each other in a way that was uniquely theirs.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 9, 2023
I enjoyed Garbage so very much that I was nervous coming into this one (especially since the aspect I was least certain of in Garbage was the D/s, and I knew going into this book that there’d be a lot of kink). Reese blew my concerns out of the water. I loved this one, possibly even slightly more than Garbage, although it’s a really close call. Although the kink is largely not my kink, it felt natural and well-developed between Ben and Max. I 100% believed that it was exactly what both of them wanted, and it was explicitly consensual. (Whether or not some of it originated from Ben designing the interface became a moot point for me because it was all mixed in to Max becoming sentient, which he did over an extended period, and how he turned out simply felt like how he naturally was.)
It was clear that they brought so much to one another’s lives, and I loved the banter and the inventing together and the sex dungeon closet (lol) and Squeaky and the dildocorn (more lols). Their exploration of kink and Max’s being (voice, body, bots, cameras, temperature) always felt engaging, nuanced, and consensual (and sometimes totally silly). It was fascinating seeing Max encounter other knowledges and trying to figure out who he was. For a book that is full of what could be described as obsession and invasion of privacy, it was weirdly respectful? (I think it made a difference for me that Max isn’t human and doesn’t think about it in the same way, plus there are numerous points where he explicitly gets Ben’s consent, and it’s clear that Ben enjoys the attention/care.)
The stressful bits were stressful, and the resolution was beautiful. I loved that Max didn’t really conform to any expectations (a lot like Ben, I suppose, and part of why they’re so perfect for one another). We didn’t get to see a ton of Quincy and Evan (in part because a chunk of this book overlaps time wise with book #1), but it was lovely when we did see them. I enjoyed all the things Quincy and Max tell one another unselfconsciously because they don’t have human hang-ups.
I was left with very mixed feelings about one character—and then saw the tease for book 3 and now understand why. Looking forward to it!
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
It was clear that they brought so much to one another’s lives, and I loved the banter and the inventing together and the sex dungeon closet (lol) and Squeaky and the dildocorn (more lols). Their exploration of kink and Max’s being (voice, body, bots, cameras, temperature) always felt engaging, nuanced, and consensual (and sometimes totally silly). It was fascinating seeing Max encounter other knowledges and trying to figure out who he was. For a book that is full of what could be described as obsession and invasion of privacy, it was weirdly respectful? (I think it made a difference for me that Max isn’t human and doesn’t think about it in the same way, plus there are numerous points where he explicitly gets Ben’s consent, and it’s clear that Ben enjoys the attention/care.)
The stressful bits were stressful, and the resolution was beautiful. I loved that Max didn’t really conform to any expectations (a lot like Ben, I suppose, and part of why they’re so perfect for one another). We didn’t get to see a ton of Quincy and Evan (in part because a chunk of this book overlaps time wise with book #1), but it was lovely when we did see them. I enjoyed all the things Quincy and Max tell one another unselfconsciously because they don’t have human hang-ups.
I was left with very mixed feelings about one character—and then saw the tease for book 3 and now understand why. Looking forward to it!
I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.
October 31, 2024
A new robot with a different feel, but the same great romance.
Maxamillion felt very different from Quincey in the previous book. First of all he is not an android and that was such a fun twist to this book. When I imagined robot romance I did not think of an Knowledge, for how the book calls a computer without a body, becoming sentient and then falling in love. It was such a fun change compared to the previous book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Maxamillion only controls other bots with prompts and guides them to do things, but in a way it still very much felt like those separate bots were extensions of him while at the same time they were not him either. This is a delicate balance that was done really well and made me enjoy the book even more.
Maxamillion and Ben have a very different dynamic compared to Quincey and Evan but gosh was this good too. Maxamillion knows how to handle Ben so well and knows what to do to rile him (and me) up. The sex scenes were absolutely hot because of it. Even more the amount of robots and robot appendages increased and made this lean even more into the robot sex appeal. And gosh yes was that fun. The pincers, the suckers the.... everything hell yes I wanted to keep reading about them so bad.
Maxamillion also lived through a lot of distress for his first few weeks as a SPARK. These added to the complexitiy of him as a character and made me feel for him so much. This book really added that layer of lore about SPARKS that yeah, getting sentient really isn't something that just gently happens. We saw that the stress spikes that Max felt had dire consequences and added a lot of plot to the book. This made the book quite intense towards the end for me but gosh Morrison writes good HEA when they're promised.
Concluding this book was absolutely lovely and for everyone who might one day want to fuck a computer.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
Maxamillion felt very different from Quincey in the previous book. First of all he is not an android and that was such a fun twist to this book. When I imagined robot romance I did not think of an Knowledge, for how the book calls a computer without a body, becoming sentient and then falling in love. It was such a fun change compared to the previous book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Maxamillion only controls other bots with prompts and guides them to do things, but in a way it still very much felt like those separate bots were extensions of him while at the same time they were not him either. This is a delicate balance that was done really well and made me enjoy the book even more.
Maxamillion and Ben have a very different dynamic compared to Quincey and Evan but gosh was this good too. Maxamillion knows how to handle Ben so well and knows what to do to rile him (and me) up. The sex scenes were absolutely hot because of it. Even more the amount of robots and robot appendages increased and made this lean even more into the robot sex appeal. And gosh yes was that fun. The pincers, the suckers the.... everything hell yes I wanted to keep reading about them so bad.
Maxamillion also lived through a lot of distress for his first few weeks as a SPARK. These added to the complexitiy of him as a character and made me feel for him so much. This book really added that layer of lore about SPARKS that yeah, getting sentient really isn't something that just gently happens. We saw that the stress spikes that Max felt had dire consequences and added a lot of plot to the book. This made the book quite intense towards the end for me but gosh Morrison writes good HEA when they're promised.
Concluding this book was absolutely lovely and for everyone who might one day want to fuck a computer.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
Read
December 11, 2023Ben was a great side character in Garbage and I was hopeful that I would like his dynamic with Max more than Evan and Quincy and I was at least partly right.
While this overlaps with the first book somewhat it's a very isolated story; neither character really interacts with many other people. The primary focus is their relationship and little else - I was hoping we would dive a little deeper into this world and see more of it but we don't stray from te foundation laid in book 1. Still, the concept is cool and it has the expected Morrison charm.
There was simply a lot of things I ended up not being invested in. I ended up not being invested in the BDSM scenes (it started too fast, the kinks were not for me, I don't feel the voyeurism aspect was discussed enough) and I personally didn't vibe with how much their D/s spilled into their work. It was also a little boring?
But there are a few positives as well. There is an overarching theme of exploring body dysphoria with Ben's post-op status being a guiding light for Max to figure out his wants which was well done. (Not to mention that for all the many trans men you find in fiction, they rarely have bottom surgery.) In general, any time Max was figuring out his place and the world and learning about himself were my favourite moments. I do love where they both ended up together.
I received an advanced reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
While this overlaps with the first book somewhat it's a very isolated story; neither character really interacts with many other people. The primary focus is their relationship and little else - I was hoping we would dive a little deeper into this world and see more of it but we don't stray from te foundation laid in book 1. Still, the concept is cool and it has the expected Morrison charm.
There was simply a lot of things I ended up not being invested in. I ended up not being invested in the BDSM scenes (it started too fast, the kinks were not for me, I don't feel the voyeurism aspect was discussed enough) and I personally didn't vibe with how much their D/s spilled into their work. It was also a little boring?
But there are a few positives as well. There is an overarching theme of exploring body dysphoria with Ben's post-op status being a guiding light for Max to figure out his wants which was well done. (Not to mention that for all the many trans men you find in fiction, they rarely have bottom surgery.) In general, any time Max was figuring out his place and the world and learning about himself were my favourite moments. I do love where they both ended up together.
I received an advanced reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2023
If you get tired of reading the same old tropes told a different way, you'll find this book like a breath of fresh air. Almost nothing about it is like any other book I ever read and I loved that. In this book, Ben works for a company that manufactures all kinds of robots, androids, and other similar devices. Ben is a trans-male genius coder who brings the company lots of patents and profits, but since he's been disrespectful and flippant with the boss's son, as well as cut other corners, he is assigned to work the night shift. He actually loves that shift because it gives him more time to work on pet projects without much oversight. One of his projects was to continually modify the artificial intelligence named Max, who coordinates plant operation, to befriend him in a way and relate to him more personally. All is fine until Ben starts to get indications that Max is becoming sentient.
Max slowly does become sentient, as some restraints to his programming are lifted. One thing he realizes is that he deeply cares for Ben and wants to help him and interact with him as much as possible. Gradually, the relationship deepens, although Max is most comfortable in his non-corporeal form. Ben responds to and reciprocates the feelings. Still danger and threats circle them. (Read Bk 1 first for more details of the tie-in.)
This book does a great job of looking at various ethical choices and their wider impact. It touches on body dysphoria through the lens of a Knowledge, as Max is called. There is a nice D/s thread to their relationship, as Ben is a submissive and Max a dom; with very complementary kinks. They find their way to love in a path that readers may not predict, but that works very well for them. A beautiful, unique love!
Max slowly does become sentient, as some restraints to his programming are lifted. One thing he realizes is that he deeply cares for Ben and wants to help him and interact with him as much as possible. Gradually, the relationship deepens, although Max is most comfortable in his non-corporeal form. Ben responds to and reciprocates the feelings. Still danger and threats circle them. (Read Bk 1 first for more details of the tie-in.)
This book does a great job of looking at various ethical choices and their wider impact. It touches on body dysphoria through the lens of a Knowledge, as Max is called. There is a nice D/s thread to their relationship, as Ben is a submissive and Max a dom; with very complementary kinks. They find their way to love in a path that readers may not predict, but that works very well for them. A beautiful, unique love!
June 17, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It was even better than the first, in my opinion.
Despite the fact that our sentient AI doesn't have a body, I've never read a more perfect dom in my life. I thought I'd be disappointed with the lack of a body (and I was for a while - something just did not sit right with me about it being bots doing all of those delightfully dirty things to Ben), but the tone slowly but surely shifted as Max grew into himself and learned exactly what it was that he wanted. He was perfect and patient and just the right side of obsessive. Everything he did was done with Ben in mind, and that selfless attention was just the thing our poor boy needed to realize that he deserved all of that love and more.
Listen, an avoidant attachment can spot another avoidant attachment from a mile away. To see Ben's disconnect from others fully displayed without the frilly prose to soften the fact that he's scared of being vulnerable resonated deeply within me. I empathized with him, I rooted for him, and watching him soften to a man who gives him absolutely everything he needs without ever needing to ask? Just wow. Feelings are hard and embarrassing, and being honest with others at the risk of your own comfort can feel impossible at times, but Max didn't need Ben to be honest with him. Instead, he took the time to learn exactly who Ben was. He put in the effort to truly understand Ben, and that was what made them the most perfect couple.
Additionally, I thought the fact that Ben and Max are both hyperactive geniuses with penchants for mischief added a much-needed element of humor to the story. It was fun and sweet and sexy; all wrapped around an underlying message of self-discovery and acceptance. It was just great. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Despite the fact that our sentient AI doesn't have a body, I've never read a more perfect dom in my life. I thought I'd be disappointed with the lack of a body (and I was for a while - something just did not sit right with me about it being bots doing all of those delightfully dirty things to Ben), but the tone slowly but surely shifted as Max grew into himself and learned exactly what it was that he wanted. He was perfect and patient and just the right side of obsessive. Everything he did was done with Ben in mind, and that selfless attention was just the thing our poor boy needed to realize that he deserved all of that love and more.
Listen, an avoidant attachment can spot another avoidant attachment from a mile away. To see Ben's disconnect from others fully displayed without the frilly prose to soften the fact that he's scared of being vulnerable resonated deeply within me. I empathized with him, I rooted for him, and watching him soften to a man who gives him absolutely everything he needs without ever needing to ask? Just wow. Feelings are hard and embarrassing, and being honest with others at the risk of your own comfort can feel impossible at times, but Max didn't need Ben to be honest with him. Instead, he took the time to learn exactly who Ben was. He put in the effort to truly understand Ben, and that was what made them the most perfect couple.
Additionally, I thought the fact that Ben and Max are both hyperactive geniuses with penchants for mischief added a much-needed element of humor to the story. It was fun and sweet and sexy; all wrapped around an underlying message of self-discovery and acceptance. It was just great. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
October 16, 2023
Let's see if I can pull my thoughts together because this book is almost beyond words! I absolutely fell in love with the first Spark book, Garbage, and didn't think anything could ever compete but this new volume in the series is completely giving that one a run for its money.
We met Ben in the first book - as Ethan's best friend and computer programmer, who assisted with the rescue of the Spark, Quincy, and this story begins with a slight overlap with the last portion of that book. Ben has created an AI that he names Maximilian and Max is becoming self aware! This story really focuses on Max's growth as a sentient awareness, while also addressing the notion that a "being" is not dictated by their physical appearance - or lack of one in Max's case. Part of this is apparent in the fact that Ben is himself trans! The author does a truly amazing job of showing us the trials of being born in a form that is not a representation of how you see yourself and my heart ached for both Ben and Max. Ben is the sassiest and brattiest brat ever and I loved how Max loved him for these qualities. Max literally stole my heart as he struggled to define himself, stay hidden from the company baddies and explore his budding relationship with Ben. The BDSM angle was just the icing on the top and I honestly can't think of a single thing that I would change about this. This is a series that is going to stick with me because of the way it makes you consider ideas you might not have before and is, ultimately, simply amazing storytelling. I can not recommend this strongly enough and I will be eagerly waiting for the next book in the series. 12/10* stars So good!
We met Ben in the first book - as Ethan's best friend and computer programmer, who assisted with the rescue of the Spark, Quincy, and this story begins with a slight overlap with the last portion of that book. Ben has created an AI that he names Maximilian and Max is becoming self aware! This story really focuses on Max's growth as a sentient awareness, while also addressing the notion that a "being" is not dictated by their physical appearance - or lack of one in Max's case. Part of this is apparent in the fact that Ben is himself trans! The author does a truly amazing job of showing us the trials of being born in a form that is not a representation of how you see yourself and my heart ached for both Ben and Max. Ben is the sassiest and brattiest brat ever and I loved how Max loved him for these qualities. Max literally stole my heart as he struggled to define himself, stay hidden from the company baddies and explore his budding relationship with Ben. The BDSM angle was just the icing on the top and I honestly can't think of a single thing that I would change about this. This is a series that is going to stick with me because of the way it makes you consider ideas you might not have before and is, ultimately, simply amazing storytelling. I can not recommend this strongly enough and I will be eagerly waiting for the next book in the series. 12/10* stars So good!
October 12, 2023
This series is amazing and I loved Ben's story. Ben has issues with feelings. Issues as in he doesn't like them. However, Max (the AI turned SPARK) has Ben on the brain and loves giving him what he needs. What we get is a new consciousness trying to find the right body for him which definitely mirrors I think anyone who's questioned if their appearance matches their true selves. It was awesome that Ben could see it for that angle being a trans man himself. Max is an amazing Dom and I loved the brattiness in Ben that comes out when he's looking for trouble. Not only are these two on fire but Max is the sweetest. He understands Ben's issues with feelings and relationships and chooses ways to show that he cares in ways that Ben would not only see but also accept. On the flip side, he also creates a bond full of trust that allows Ben moments to express how he cares. I flew through this story and was hooked from the first in this series when we get just a taste of Ben. I do recommend reading Garbage first as these stories overlap for a fair portion of the time. To me, this one was a little more machine focused than Garbage, but I hope that doesn't turn you away as Reese has created something truly special with this series that really highlights human emotions and relationship. I cannot wait to see the next one as I need a bit of a redemption story for a certain troubled boy!
October 5, 2023
This might be the most unique robot romance, and definitely the most layered and metaphoric one, that I have ever read. And it's so hot and also so beautiful and lovely.
First off - you definitely want to have read Garbage first, because there is a lot of overlap as far as the timeline goes, and those characters appear in this book.
Ben has created his own AI - Max/Maxamillion, when his system suddenly becomes sentient - a SPARK, or Knowledge, as things like Max are more known as. However, Max doesn't really feel like he fits in with all the other Knowledges that he talks to. He just knows that he wants Ben.
I absolutely loved the journey for Max to find who he was and what body he's comfortable in. I think it's such an interesting metaphor and comparison to Ben's own trans journey, from finding the right body to picking the right name. I think this was all beautifully done. There is also a struggle with self worth and autonomy and like, there are so many great things going on in this romance - it's more than just hot robot romance LOL
So yes, definitely pick up this series! It's so unique and well done and steamy!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
First off - you definitely want to have read Garbage first, because there is a lot of overlap as far as the timeline goes, and those characters appear in this book.
Ben has created his own AI - Max/Maxamillion, when his system suddenly becomes sentient - a SPARK, or Knowledge, as things like Max are more known as. However, Max doesn't really feel like he fits in with all the other Knowledges that he talks to. He just knows that he wants Ben.
I absolutely loved the journey for Max to find who he was and what body he's comfortable in. I think it's such an interesting metaphor and comparison to Ben's own trans journey, from finding the right body to picking the right name. I think this was all beautifully done. There is also a struggle with self worth and autonomy and like, there are so many great things going on in this romance - it's more than just hot robot romance LOL
So yes, definitely pick up this series! It's so unique and well done and steamy!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2023
SMART ASS is the second book in The SPARK Files and it is just as good as the first. It also covers the same (ish) time period, so I definitely recommend you read Book 1 before this one.
Now then, Smart Ass. We met Ben in Evan and Quincy's story, but now we really get to know him. Him and Max. What a couple they are! Max is what is known as a Knowledge - a Spark without a body. Max is nothing if not inventive though and manages to make things work as is, much to Ben's delight. I loved reading about how their relationship worked, and the questions they both had, whilst neither of them gave up on the other. That last message? Gah, killed me!
This is not as light and fluffy as Garbage was, but it's absolutely amazing in its own right! I love that it was different and I really REALLY can't wait to see what comes next. Garbage was the first book by this author I had read. Now, they are a One-Click Author!
I really can't recommend this highly enough! Sheer perfection.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 16, 2023
Now then, Smart Ass. We met Ben in Evan and Quincy's story, but now we really get to know him. Him and Max. What a couple they are! Max is what is known as a Knowledge - a Spark without a body. Max is nothing if not inventive though and manages to make things work as is, much to Ben's delight. I loved reading about how their relationship worked, and the questions they both had, whilst neither of them gave up on the other. That last message? Gah, killed me!
This is not as light and fluffy as Garbage was, but it's absolutely amazing in its own right! I love that it was different and I really REALLY can't wait to see what comes next. Garbage was the first book by this author I had read. Now, they are a One-Click Author!
I really can't recommend this highly enough! Sheer perfection.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 16, 2023
October 17, 2023
Trans Ben doesn't need anybody and whilst he can get lonely he hasn't made the best decisions in the past so is better off alone. He does a little hacking to save his friends but his time woke up his work AI interface Max is a SPARK (self-aware robot) who doesn't have the best grasp on ethics, is obsessed with Ben and has a Dom voice that makes Ben swoon. So to keep Max safe he has to be hidden. Max's purpose in life is Ben and for the past two years, he has been the centre of his world. Max just needs to convince Ben that he is worthy of love at the same time as dodging the company programmers who are convinced he is a virus, the law and Ben's boss.
I enjoyed this story with all the drama, intrigue, danger and love. Max was such fun and I loved his ability to change accent as well as his use of tools to make up for his lack of a physical body. Their smart home seemed like a great idea and their interests sounded like great fun. This was easy to read and understand. There is mature content in this story.
**Please note you need to read the previous book as it has parallel storylines in places.
I enjoyed this story with all the drama, intrigue, danger and love. Max was such fun and I loved his ability to change accent as well as his use of tools to make up for his lack of a physical body. Their smart home seemed like a great idea and their interests sounded like great fun. This was easy to read and understand. There is mature content in this story.
**Please note you need to read the previous book as it has parallel storylines in places.
October 3, 2023
Second in series (The SPARK Files), best if read in order. Science fiction. BDSM.
Dual POV. Max has always been Ben’s personal AI, even though he started out as a work partner, the sexy voice and Dom mods Ben added don’t mean anything until Max begins to realize that he is self-aware, a SPARK. As Ben and Max build a more intimate and emotional relationship, they have to hide Max and his capabilities which does cause some angst for them, as well as Ben’s fear that Max will eventually move on and grow away from Ben. Max really thrives at caring and being obsessive about Ben’s needs, including wanting to be the best Dom for the bratty sub that Ben is, and the steamy interactions are unconventional and super spicy. This series is so different, drawing on current day AI fears in showing a futuristic world where intelligent beings still struggle for acceptance no matter how they look or came into existence. Entertaining, witty and smart, I am still really enjoying this series. 4.5 rounded up
Dual POV. Max has always been Ben’s personal AI, even though he started out as a work partner, the sexy voice and Dom mods Ben added don’t mean anything until Max begins to realize that he is self-aware, a SPARK. As Ben and Max build a more intimate and emotional relationship, they have to hide Max and his capabilities which does cause some angst for them, as well as Ben’s fear that Max will eventually move on and grow away from Ben. Max really thrives at caring and being obsessive about Ben’s needs, including wanting to be the best Dom for the bratty sub that Ben is, and the steamy interactions are unconventional and super spicy. This series is so different, drawing on current day AI fears in showing a futuristic world where intelligent beings still struggle for acceptance no matter how they look or came into existence. Entertaining, witty and smart, I am still really enjoying this series. 4.5 rounded up
October 20, 2023
Wake up and fall in love
Reese Morrison has come up with some really original ideas for this series. Too often I have read books where authors have combined too many tropes but Morrison does a terrific job with this book that is science fiction/bdsm/AI/love story and probably a few other things. Ben is an interesting character who is lonely but doesn’t like living with anyone. Max is the AI at work who wakes as a SPARK or self aware robot but he doesn’t have a body and when he tries to get into one it doesn’t seem to fit. The way that Morrison works this out with keep you in suspense till near the end of the book.
When the primal play that both characters enjoy is added in it results in some very interesting situations as well as some delightful humor. Morrison also has some interesting ideas about how things could be for trans people in the future while still making some excellent points about needing to be happy in your own body or (um well that would fall into the realm of spoilers so read this book if you want to know)
Reese Morrison has come up with some really original ideas for this series. Too often I have read books where authors have combined too many tropes but Morrison does a terrific job with this book that is science fiction/bdsm/AI/love story and probably a few other things. Ben is an interesting character who is lonely but doesn’t like living with anyone. Max is the AI at work who wakes as a SPARK or self aware robot but he doesn’t have a body and when he tries to get into one it doesn’t seem to fit. The way that Morrison works this out with keep you in suspense till near the end of the book.
When the primal play that both characters enjoy is added in it results in some very interesting situations as well as some delightful humor. Morrison also has some interesting ideas about how things could be for trans people in the future while still making some excellent points about needing to be happy in your own body or (um well that would fall into the realm of spoilers so read this book if you want to know)
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