Mind's Eye

Nick Hall #1

by Douglas E. Richards

Nick Hall awakens with powerful implants in his brain and assassins on his tail. And the future of humanity depends on his survival.

Now the subject of an upcoming movie franchise! ( Variety , 11/17/21) .

A riveting sci-fi thriller from the NY Times bestselling author whose books have sold almost three million copies.

When Nick Hall awakens in a dumpster, bloodied and without a memory, he can't imagine how things could get worse. But that's before multiple assassins promptly start trying to kill him. Hall soon discovers that advanced electronics have been implanted in his brain, and he now has two astonishing abilities--he can surf the web using thoughts alone, and he can read minds.

But who inserted the implants? And why? And why is someone so desperate to kill him?

As Hall races to find answers, he comes to learn that far more is at stake than just his life. Because his actions can either catapult civilization to new heights--or bring about its total collapse.

Based on actual research on neural implants and thought-controlled web surfing (and foreshadowing the emergence of brain implant companies such as Elon Musk's Neuralink) , Mind's Eye is a smart, roller-coaster ride of a thriller. One that raises a number of intriguing, and sometimes chilling, possibilities about a future that is just around the corner.

"Richards is a worthy successor to Michael Crichton." (SF Book)

"Richards is an extraordinary writer,"(Dean Koontz) who can "keep you turning the pages all night long."(Douglas Preston)

NEAR-FUTURE SCIENCE-FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)
TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD
DEVIL'S SWORD

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Book Club, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novels, Space Opera

362 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Write to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.

Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.

Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.

Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.

A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.

Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.

SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONE NOVELS

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)

TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD

DEVIL'S SWORD

Reviews

[Mosselyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book and the author had some interesting ideas about the implications of ESP and wired internet that were worth exploring. However, the writing was awful.

The characters felt like paper dolls, the dialog was stilted and contrived, and there was far too much telling you what happened rather than showing - long, prosy passages describing things that happened off stage, long philosophical rambles, a long villain's reveal that was further bogged down by the main character's own long reveal of his own cleverness. Telegraphed plot twists.

I won't be back for another.

[Gary Shelton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up half way through. The good guys are just too good while the bad guys are too bad.Great story line and the tech was awesome, but really, after killing 3 people the hero is concerned about the morality of using his abilities to win a poker game?

[Kassie · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most trope filled pieces of rubbish I've read in a while, I should have listened to my gut and stopped reading 50 pages in but the premise interested me enough even if I hated the characters so much and then BAM! Xenophobic garbage about Islamic terrorist sleeper cell brother team. I Can't Believe I Read The Whole Thing.

[Chris Chive · Rating 1 out of 5]

WOW!
I’m amazed what a glorious steaming pile of horses**t a novel can become, after such a promising and interesting outset.

Initially, I was intrigued by the technological environment depicted in this story and the mostly fact-based scientific approach to science fiction that the author took.

Even though the characters are very flat and not in the least nuanced (to the point of being almost satiric clichés of 60’s super villains and heroes), the story being foreseeable at best and the dialogues cheesy as a Full-House marathon on loop, I was still compelled by the core concepts of this novel.

I’ve come to think of it as The Six Million Dollar Man meets Nicholas Sparks and tried to dismiss the clunky, mechanical dialogue and lame story-progression as the work of a newbie author. (I have just learned that Mr. Richards is in fact not.)

However, after having read the last 100-or-so pages and suffering through the cringe-worthy (again, at best ) speeches of Colonel “ Oh my god, I have to kill this civilian to save humanity and in turn become a martyr, so I'm technically still a good guy… and I don’t understand women unlike our perfect, altruistic HERO, because I’m in the military ” and Mr. “ Evil-Supergenius, I’m gonna reveal all my secrets while you can work out a plan to free yourself of my torture [INSERT EVIL LAUGH ] / I just want to rule the world by obliterating all these western infidels… Allahu Akba!!! ”, I just can’t take it anymore.

Just WOW !

What kind of f***ed up, xenophobic bull***t this is!

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book easy to put down. So easy that I almost didn't finish it. The writing is often clunky and ham-fisted and the characters are cliched and as shallow as cardboard cutouts in a movie theater lobby. The cartoonish villains are ridiculous.

On the good side, Richards strings together a few creative ideas and throws in a few curveballs. It's also a fast read that is well suited to lounging by the pool, or heavy multitasking.

But it's all for naught, as he has the characters repeatedly explain the plot in exhausting detail. I felt like I was trapped in a Powerpoint presentation - here's what I'm going to tell you about, now I'm telling you about it and finally I'm going to summarize it all for you.

[Nichole Liza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't let the ratings and NYT best seller list fool you. Mediocre writing and poor character development.

[Andrea McFetridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few of Doug's books so far, so thought it was time I left a quick review. All his books are made from the same recipe: 1) a fantastical technology that makes you day dream of the possibilities even when you're not reading, 2) a crazy cat & mouse chase with commandos, government officials, and mercenaries, 3) a love story that's sometimes cheesy and coincidental, but I'm always rooting for them anyway, and 4) a twist at the end that you thought you had figured out what was going on, and he proves that you were only partly right.

For me, it's a recipe I can get behind. His books are a fast read. I can usually finish them in a couple nights of skipping tv.

I am also very impressed with the quality of a self-published author. To think that he finishes writing it, and instead of spending months at a publisher getting hacked to pieces by editors....it's available to download as the author wrote it.

And lastly, he's a local author! I live in Sacramento, CA, and it's always fun to read books that are set in places you're familiar with.

All in all, I'm a fan and will continue to look forward to the next book by Doug.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like military science fiction but once in a great while I latch on to a slightly different genre like techno thrillers, but only if they are very, very good!

This book is very, very good. I've missed a lot of sleep reading this book. Last night I was up until past 1 am trying to finish it because I just couldn't put it down. I'm a gadget geek so when I read about a PDA telling some guy his next appointment is coming up or that your house is secured for the night, that's gets my interest up. And I didn't know there was a nation-wide 6G wireless system; did you?

Well, maybe this stuff comes a little later down the road but this guy Nick Hall has some pretty interesting experiences to share with his readers. If you woke up in a dumpster one day, you'd know there had to be a pretty interesting experience behind it, right. Nick starts running for his life and he doesn't know why. Someone wants him dead but that's about all he knows, except of course he can now surf the web by just thinking of stuff he's interested in.

Yeah, that sounds pretty neat but how many of you sit around in front of your computers wishing you weren't waisting your time on the internet. Now imagine that you could just think about stuff and you'd be surfing the internet anytime / any where you wanted. Some of us wouldn't ever come back to reality. That's scary. Well, Nick Hall has to face his reality and he's also found out that he has another hidden talent that, you guessed it, will get him killed very quickly by the bad guys and the good guys.

This is a very good book. You should read it but be warned, you will spend a lot of time with staring at your ebook reader when you do. Please have the courage to quit, eat and drink something once in a while. The book will still be there. Or you can wait a few years (?) and may be just think about the book and read it with your mind's eye!!!!

[Lyndsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the book Brainweb, but when I started reading it, I realized I was missing something... Mind's Eye. Stopped what I was doing and then went back to read this one.

This is an excellent book. A really disturbing look at what may be coming next for humanity for sure. We seem to be using technology to avoid human interaction now, I can't imagine what being able to surf the web in our heads will do to our desire and ability to communicate with each other on a more personal level. I do suppose that's just *my* preference for humanity. I guess I have to allow for the idea that more disconnection is the better path.

I liked the characters in this one. Richards gives the main character some depth as the book progresses, which is great I wish he would have given more about some of the other characters as well since it seems that they'll be appearing in later books and intimately connected to them.

The writing style is enjoyable. Description is woven throughout the book so we gradually learn what the characters look like, what the environments look like, etc. I don't enjoy it when that stuff gets dumped on me all at once (unless it fits the book that is).

Given the advancing pace of technology, the ideas in the book aren't that farfetched. And we already know the despicable things people will do to each other to achieve their goals.

The end was a bit of a surprise, which is sort of annoying since I like to be able to see things coming. I thought about what I might have missed, but couldn't come up with anything. Either it wasn't there or the author was really subtle about the details. Either way, good job.

Definitely recommend this book.

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the forth of Richards works I've read. it was November 2012 when I read Wired and Amped, then October last year with The Cure. Each of them was very enjoyable, but I think this is my favourite of his published works to date.

Of course, the opening makes you think of Bourne. It's a comparison I've drawn for better or worse with lots of authors (see my thoughts on works by James Patterson, Jon Stock, Ken Follett, Marcus Sakey, Mat Nastos, and Thomas E. Sniegoski). This book transcends that, of course, and quickly takes itself off in its own direction.

With good, flowing prose and an author as self-effacing and humble as they come, there's little to dislike about the style. He has his tropes, and the things that you grow to expect in his novels, but who doesn't? Look at Dave Duncan, a paragraph of his would be identifiable a mile away and he's probably my most-read author of all time. I'm solidly impressed, and would without hesitation pass a recommendation to any thriller fans. In the league of people like James Follett (but not British, which does show), Richard Bard, Greg Iles, Daniel Suarez and Chris Ryan, without a doubt.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if I had never read it before, my Kindle Fire indicates it is new to me. Maybe a different view four years later.

I chose this book along with "Quantum Lens" by the same author. In the meantime I also read "Murder on the Isle of Capri". If you watch current TV series such as the Blacklist, Madam Secretary, Bones, the Librarians, and Scorpion, these three books fit the same genre. All three books are quick reads, excellent writing.

What if you could browse the Internet simply by bringing to mind whatever you wished? What if you could use the same technology, and like ESP, see and hear every thought from everyone within six miles, and filter it at will? Imagine who among your close friends, and intimate relationships would want to kill you because you knew their dark secrets. And, they in turn could use the same technology.

This story covers several aspects of the old cliches of military intelligence wanting your capabilities, and wanting to kill you. Unfortunately, if you already have bought into the early 2015 media propaganda ("be afraid"), you might target every follower of Islam as an extremist, and every corporate purveyor of the latest scientific advance as not acting in your best interests, based on this story. Thankfully, the lead female character is not a cliche, and plays a stronger role than the woman in "Quantum Lens".

[Nakia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out as a really great action packed mystery about a man searching for his identity after waking up in a dumperster. The book began to drag towards the 2nd half, too many unnecessary details and explanations. Some characters could have remained nameless just for the sake of keeping the reader more engaged. Overall, I give it three stars because the plot was brillant and the way the romance bloomed between the two characters is something I can surely appreciate.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

So promising. So disappointing...

Spoiler alert.

The main antagonist is revealed in the end. A jihadist. The book is revealed in the end. A justification of the American way. I tire of the continuous 'we are the world leaders and all is justifiable in the name of anti terror'.

[Janice Cronch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking!

I enjoyed the fresh ideas and creative twists. The questions posed about the growing dependence on technology were frighteningly realistic.

[Karen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was beyond “thriller”. Maybe scary thriller or frightening thriller because what do you call a story that seems possible and it excites you in a terrifying way. I don’t think there is a word or at least I don’t know what that word is.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book that seemed plausible at times. We’ve all heard of ESP and we don’t think anything much of it but what if you could read anyone’s mind or worst yet everyone’s mind, even when you wanted to turn it off? Think about it. Endless possibilities for good and evil or insanity and that is the very basic premise of this book.

The main protagonist mind reads during a poker game to fund his escape from the bad guys who are different factions at different times. Admittedly it was a lot of run, escape, and take a deep breath but all in all I still enjoyed the story of all the technology. There was a lot of who do I trust but that was fairly easily solved by the ESP ability of the main character, Nick Hall and of course he had a partner in crime, whose mind he couldn’t read but could communicate with her when she wanted. Megan was pretty trusting from the beginning but without her there was no love interest.

I won this ebook in a First Reads giveaway.

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shocking technothriller written by a master.

Mind's Eye is a book about Nick Hall. Hall wakes up in a dumpster with no memory of who he is or how he got there. What he discovers next will shock himself and you as the reader. Nick can read other people's minds and thoughts. While incredibly interesting, this is also full of incredible pain and annoyance as he cannot turn it off. He also realizes that he can surf the web within his own head. When he thinks of a question -- the answer pages just appear in his "vision" like a heads up display. There's one problem--Nick is being hunted. Someone out there wants him dead.

The narration was done by Adam Verner. I've listened to other titles from Verner before and really enjoyed his tone and narration style. He is definitely one of those narrators that adds to the story instead of taking away from it. Verner gets through incredibly technical and scientific sentences and paragraphs with ease. Using his ninja-like tongue to maneuver this complex, yet compelling novel.

So, I had to take a few days to gather my thoughts on this because I enjoyed it so much. I don't know if it was because it reminded me so much of a Michael Crichton novel, or if I had just been looking for a new author to fall in love with. But man, did I really enjoy this novel. Mind's Eye started out a little confusing, purposefully confusing the reader because Hall was also confused. As this book picked up though the pacing was blazing. There were a few times where I thought "he can't possibly take this up another notch" and he did. This book goes to 11... and then some.

Mind's Eye is a story with a lot of "hey that sounds really cool" ideas that are paved as both groundbreaking and terrifying. The way that Richards walks this tightrope is incredible. As a reader, I love being surprised and believe me when I tell you -- this book was full of them.

For those who enjoy a little romantic side to a thriller, this has some of that too. The woman that he literally walks in on (in her office, nothing dirty) and his chemistry is well thought out, enjoyable, and even a nice relief to the right left combo this book provides.

Douglas E. Richards is easily a new favorite author of mine and look for more reviews coming in the near future from Brian's Book Blog (after reading these last two, I bought 2 others back to back.)

Did you like this review and want to see more like it? Check out Brian's Book Blog

[Emil Girardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every one of Douglas E. Richards' books, and I can say without a shadow of doubt that his uncanny ability to write such riveting and intellectual fiction (based closely enough in technological fact that the "suspension of disbelief" comes ever too easily) is truly impressive. Mind's Eye is an incredible novel about a fellow who awakens in a dumpster with no knowledge of who he is, or how he came to be there, and who soon discovers that although bad guys and good guys alike are trying to kill him, he is able to escape their clutches because of a form of true ESP which allows him to "read" his attackers before they have a chance to strike their final blows. As the novel progresses, we see a psychopath, a love interest, and the "men who stare at goats" emerge which makes for a surprisingly quick and effortless read until you find out the clever "twist" found in most books and movies worth their salt. Mr. Richards, you, sir, are a genius, and your writing prowess is immediately evident in the first two chapters of Mind's Eye (and every other published novel/kid's story you've written). I look forward to reading everything you're planning for the future and remaining in the elite group of lucky individuals who can say they've read all your published works! To the rest of you reading this, don't hesitate. Buy Mind's Eye now! You won't regret it.

[Niles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man wakes in a dumpster with no memory of who he is or how he got there. If that's not bad enough, he soon discovers people are trying to kill him. So begins "Mind's Eye," a techno-thriller from Douglas Richards.

Our hero soon learns he has other capabilities, like being able to read people's minds and being able to surf the web with his thoughts. Through his mind reading, he learns his name is Nick Hall. By being able to access his assassin's thoughts, Nick is able to counter their efforts and escape their clutches. He also learns he has been a guinea pig for cerebral implants which give him the web surfing capabilities. But reading minds seems to be a double edged sword. He has no way to turn the ability off and as long as he is near other people, he receives a constant chatter in his brain. Also, he learns the innermost thoughts of anyone he comes in contact with and discovers a lot of the population to be sick and demented.

I won't get into much more of the plot as I don't want to give away any of the twists. The book is full of action and double crosses. It will keep you guessing as to what will happen next. The middle of the book slows down a bit as the pros and cons of mind reading and thought-driven internet access are debated. I think Nick and his friends make a good case for what is their final decision on his abilities. However, the government and certain sociopathic individuals have other plans.

If you enjoy a fast paced adventure with a slant to cutting edge technology, the I think you will enjoy "Mind's Eye."

[Gregory Lamb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Story Concept

This is the third Richards novel I've read and as expected, I enjoyed most of it. The story opens with main character, Nick Hall on the run from those who want him dead. Nick has no recollection of his past other than his name - reminding me of Jason in "Bourne Identity." Nick's unlikely relationship with Megan Emerson harkened back to the Ludlum novels as well. When Nick discovers he was the product of an ESP experiment he comes to realize why there are people that want him dead. The author does a good job with the narrative while exploring the implications of how Nick's brain implants enable telepathic communication, mind reading, and accessing the internet.

A couple of things I didn't like - When discovering the villains are revealed as cliche' Muslim extremists, I start to lose interest. I was also a little surprised that this novel received so much high praise because the quality of writing wasn't very polished (too many sentences beginning with the word "And" - I even started counting them before giving up). In spite of the detractors, it was still a thought provoking story.

Disclaimer - my review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Mercedes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes. This book had so much promise in the beginning. Besides a few stupid parts here and there, the book was off to a decent start and held my attention but then as the story continued it just spiraled out of control to become a terrible book. I feel like the author got lost towards the end and struggled with how to tie it up all while badly botching his characters and adding the worst, cheesiest dialogue ever. The concept of the ESP and implants were impressive and intriguing but the author could have done so much more to the carry the story through.

[Indira Seshadri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time,not an intelligent or insightful book, poor writing, artificial dialogue and characters, stupid and juvenile romance angles that are very unnecessary to the plot, silly jihadist ending, poor and superficial tech descriptins, remainds me of low budget action movies/video games, no more books from this author!

[Barry Moraller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could have gone without knowing every thought of every character during every scene of the book. It made it reading it akin to painting using a color by numbers. The reader was led through each scene in minute detail, each action explained before it happened, all thoughts detailed to make sure we knew the character's motives were pure as the driven snow.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was less than 400 pages, yet it felt like 800. The best book to put me to sleep within a half hour of reading. Thought I'd never finish. Sadly it could have been an interesting story, but Douglas E. Richards put in so many unnecessary words to say make a point. Before he reached what he was trying to say, I had no interest in it. Sorry. Won't be reading any more of his books.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting

Great book from start to finish. Good writing style, I didn't have any trouble keeping up with the story. Gripping and action packed, with a lot of twists and turns. I will continue with the rest of the series.

[Nico Kilmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bore

I pretty much skipped the last quarter of this book. I went on and on and on conjuring up the most convoluted and idiotic plot. What a bore

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mind's Eye" by Douglas E. Richards, released in 2014 and narrated by Adam Verner, is a thrilling dive into the realm of speculative science fiction that masterfully blends technology, suspense, and human psychology. This audiobook introduces us to Nick Hall, a man who wakes up in a dumpster, bloodied, amnesiac, and with voices echoing in his mind. The narrative quickly escalates as Nick discovers he's not only being hunted by assassins but also harbors two remarkable abilities due to brain implants: he can surf the web using his thoughts and read minds.

Richards, known for his ability to craft stories that are both scientifically plausible and grippingly entertaining, does not disappoint here. The premise, which delves into the future of neural technology, is both chilling and thought-provoking, especially given the recent advancements in brain-computer interfaces in our real world. What makes "Mind's Eye" particularly engaging is its exploration of the ethical and societal implications of such technology. The plot takes us through a whirlwind of action, with Nick racing against time to unravel the mystery of his own identity and the purpose behind his unique abilities, all while evading capture and death.

One of the key highlights is the character development of Nick Hall. From the outset, he's a sympathetic figure, thrust into an extraordinary situation that tests his resilience, intelligence, and moral compass. His interactions with other characters, particularly with Megan Emerson, who becomes a crucial ally, add layers of emotional depth to the story, turning it from a mere technological thriller into a narrative about trust, identity, and the human condition in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

Adam Verner's narration is another standout feature of this audiobook. His voice brings a dynamic range to the characters, managing to convey the urgency, fear, and determination of Nick, as well as the diverse cast around him. Verner’s performance enhances the listening experience, making the suspense palpable and the emotional beats resonate with the listener.

The pacing of the story is relentless, with twists and turns that keep you hooked, although some might find the exposition slightly overwhelming at times. However, Richards' background in science ensures that even the most complex concepts are explained in an accessible manner, making the technological aspects of the story not only believable but also intriguing.

In conclusion, "Mind's Eye" is a compelling listen for anyone interested in science fiction thrillers that don't shy away from exploring the darker sides of human nature and technology. Douglas E. Richards, combined with Adam Verner's engaging narration, delivers a story that is as much about the mind as it is about the eye that sees beyond the ordinary

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting, well written book. It explores the topic of brain implants and AI and what can be done with that. It is not so far fetched from where we are now, but there are a lot of pitfalls which the book illustrates very well. Read at your own peril.

[Nadim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost interest in the characters couldn’t finish it

[Mark Schumacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise, but did not enjoy the reading. There really was no real struggle with the new abilities from the character, only that he was good at everything.... right away.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the most ridiculous yet boring books I've ever read. The dialog was so unnatural, I felt like I was reading bad acting. Half the time I felt like I was trapped at a party talking to the most boring person on earth. The other half, I felt like I was listening to the ramblings of an insane person. And the ending reeked of Islamophobia to the point of my utter disgust for the author. The constant referencing of LOOOOOONG excerpts of science fiction pieces into conversational dialog was uncomfortable and unnatural. The constant "twists" were obvious and overdone by about 75%. I knew the identity of the "bad guy" within minutes of his introduction. I just wanted this book to end. I thought about putting it down at least 100 times, but I wanted to write this review, so I forced myself to finsish. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone ever.