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The Scorching: Just Press Play
A dying world, a terrorist uprising, and standing between humanity’s last hope and the end of the world is one cop, his sardonic humour and a modded partner.
On an Earth devastated by The Scorching climate event, the Drathken land their giant plantships with the promise of healing the planet. Joshua Nkosi, a sea-cop, vlogs and jokes his way through an easy life guarding a deep-sea mining operation while watching old vids. That is, until he and his tentacled MARC Unit get caught up in a plot to steal radiation rich materials from the seabed, fuelling the terrorists’ plan to destroy a Drathken plantship, and ultimately end the alien/human alliance.
Nkosi and MARC are forced to enter the Burnout Zone, and with the clock ticking, come face to face with humanity’s stark future when the hunt for the terrorist’s lab takes a devastating twist of fate. Temperatures soar, and conspiracies deepen as Nkosi forges into a dark journey of discovery—one humanity desperately needs to listen to.
The planet is pleading for help, but who is there left to listen?
“…staggeringly original and timely release from a masterful voice in modern sci-fi.” SPR Review
On an Earth devastated by The Scorching climate event, the Drathken land their giant plantships with the promise of healing the planet. Joshua Nkosi, a sea-cop, vlogs and jokes his way through an easy life guarding a deep-sea mining operation while watching old vids. That is, until he and his tentacled MARC Unit get caught up in a plot to steal radiation rich materials from the seabed, fuelling the terrorists’ plan to destroy a Drathken plantship, and ultimately end the alien/human alliance.
Nkosi and MARC are forced to enter the Burnout Zone, and with the clock ticking, come face to face with humanity’s stark future when the hunt for the terrorist’s lab takes a devastating twist of fate. Temperatures soar, and conspiracies deepen as Nkosi forges into a dark journey of discovery—one humanity desperately needs to listen to.
The planet is pleading for help, but who is there left to listen?
“…staggeringly original and timely release from a masterful voice in modern sci-fi.” SPR Review
- GenresScience Fiction
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2024
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Nick Snape
23 books80 followersNick Snape has been steeped in Science Fiction and Fantasy since his friends first dragged him from his schoolwork and stuck a book under his nose. Lost to the world of imagination he became a teacher by accident though he thoroughly enjoyed developing the joy of reading and writing in his pupils. Having retired after thirty years he thought it was high time to practise what he preached.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 22, 2024
The Scorching: Just Press Play
The two main POV‘s a cop anda vlogger ( yes !! you heard me right) and they are so different from each other that it lends to a lot of hysterical moments on the pages!. The jeerness tone throughout this book!
But at the same time, the future has some quirkiness that makes the story very appealing.
Everywhere on TV today you hear about climate this and climate that what can happen if this happens and what can happen if that happens …..well this book actually touches on that and takes a little bit further!
And the future isn’t so bright!!
Some stories have this long and winding road approach.
This one is forget about long. It’s always winding to left to the right to the left to the right.
Just don’t know what the heck is going on until you know what’s going on.!
The story altogether is pretty dark, because what is going on… and the Topic at hand!!
but it’s characters that make it uplifting and make it bearable, laughable and fun throughout the pages!!
I was given a copy from the author himself for an honest review!!
I give this 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The two main POV‘s a cop anda vlogger ( yes !! you heard me right) and they are so different from each other that it lends to a lot of hysterical moments on the pages!. The jeerness tone throughout this book!
But at the same time, the future has some quirkiness that makes the story very appealing.
Everywhere on TV today you hear about climate this and climate that what can happen if this happens and what can happen if that happens …..well this book actually touches on that and takes a little bit further!
And the future isn’t so bright!!
Some stories have this long and winding road approach.
This one is forget about long. It’s always winding to left to the right to the left to the right.
Just don’t know what the heck is going on until you know what’s going on.!
The story altogether is pretty dark, because what is going on… and the Topic at hand!!
but it’s characters that make it uplifting and make it bearable, laughable and fun throughout the pages!!
I was given a copy from the author himself for an honest review!!
I give this 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 30, 2024
5/5* Phenomenal read!
MIND BLOWING!!
“For what else is humanity, but an experiment gone wrong? One that destroys with indifference. Even their own home.”
Another winner!!
The world building is richly detailed with great, complex characters and original storyline. Unexpected revelations, the relentlessly paced and full of unexpected twists storyline led to page-turning thrills. A high quality writing with intriguing backstories. It’s an adrenaline-packed read from the first page! Sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes perplexing, but always intriguing.
It has it all, action, intrigue, snarky dialogue, grim and riveting characters, with an unpredictable ending.
A truly immersive story!
Again, Nick Snape has written an excellent post apocalyptic story. This has the making of another great series. Definitely a must read!!
MIND BLOWING!!
“For what else is humanity, but an experiment gone wrong? One that destroys with indifference. Even their own home.”
Another winner!!
The world building is richly detailed with great, complex characters and original storyline. Unexpected revelations, the relentlessly paced and full of unexpected twists storyline led to page-turning thrills. A high quality writing with intriguing backstories. It’s an adrenaline-packed read from the first page! Sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes perplexing, but always intriguing.
It has it all, action, intrigue, snarky dialogue, grim and riveting characters, with an unpredictable ending.
A truly immersive story!
Again, Nick Snape has written an excellent post apocalyptic story. This has the making of another great series. Definitely a must read!!
May 15, 2024
The Scorching: Just Press Play takes you to a future that could be all too real. A horrific climate event has left Earth with soaring temperatures and toxic air, prompting aliens to come to our aid. We follow the story of Joshua Nkosi, an underwater sea cop, paired and interfaced with an unlikely partner - an intelligent modded cephalopod named MARC. Nkosi's grating charm, smarmy humour, and aspirations of becoming a social media king are soon rudely overridden as he's ordered to the surface. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this plot unfold, from predictable to unpredictable, the twists and turns were wildly entertaining, as slowly, more is revealed. Without making light of the serious nature of the situation, The Scorching is a dark, compelling story with a punching, sometimes off-note banter, which simply brings out the true character that is Nkosi. I look forward to reading more of this story!
May 30, 2024
Yes please 🙌
I absolutely LOVE this author and I was really excited about reading it and I absolutely loved it! It is a bit different from his other series “Weapons of Choice” but I loved it just as much. I think if I talk to much about it I will definitely give spoilers so I don’t want to do that! I would categorize this as mostly science fiction with some fantasy thrown in the mix. If you love Science Fiction and Fantasy books you will absolutely engulf this book and love every second of it. I only found one grammatical error in his “About the Author” page but this is a solid five star book for me! Amazing job!
I was given this as an ARC reader but I was not paid nor benefited from it and this is my honest review. Mr.Snape is an amazing author and I am in awe of him and his work.
I absolutely LOVE this author and I was really excited about reading it and I absolutely loved it! It is a bit different from his other series “Weapons of Choice” but I loved it just as much. I think if I talk to much about it I will definitely give spoilers so I don’t want to do that! I would categorize this as mostly science fiction with some fantasy thrown in the mix. If you love Science Fiction and Fantasy books you will absolutely engulf this book and love every second of it. I only found one grammatical error in his “About the Author” page but this is a solid five star book for me! Amazing job!
I was given this as an ARC reader but I was not paid nor benefited from it and this is my honest review. Mr.Snape is an amazing author and I am in awe of him and his work.
August 24, 2024
The scorching, as you might imagine, is set on a world still convulsing after it's death throws. There are forces in play who's job it is to help the recovery of the scorched, then slowly drowning world but they do so with cold duty and violent apathy.
Our main protagonist and his cephalopod partner delivers the gory details of the broken world in insidious and sarcastic tones as they navigate this action packed story at a pace akin to a veteran sliding down a metallic ladder to the depths of a 1980's action sub. The charisma and interplay between these characters is a wonderful and nutritious injection amid the bleak and often reality-based suggestions of human greed and failure that Snape throws in so well without over-preaching.
"I do wonder, at times, whether we spend so much time watching our backs, that we fail to see what is in front of us."
Josh Nkosi has hidden depth. His world view and his life's experience hiss angrily from his broken pipework and his relationship with the pure genius that is MARC are not only fun but are such a vital voice in this story. The story itself is also a multifaceted beast. Like a crumbled post-apocalyptic high rise, each floor reveals another detail that paints a dramatic backdrop for the main narrative without ever dumping info or flattening the action packed groove of this book.
Snape also has a certain mastery in hiding his true characters within plain sight. He will literally tell you about a coming twist with such matter-of-fact charm that you will still feel the blow when it finally lands.
"We don't discuss the dreams. However light my conversation, you don't need the darkness that shrouds my slumbering mind."
The same reverence can be given to the environments in this book. It is easy to say the world has been mostly destroyed but crawls along still, but Nick Snape manages to drape flesh onto it's decaying bones. Each setting is a vivid and scientifically researched snapshot replete with a commentary on how it came to be (or ceased to be) as it flies past the window on our journey.
I have never experienced such bleak world building being drip fed through humour and sardonic charisma in this way and it is truly intravenous, never so much as tripping the reader on their desperate charge towards its conclusion.
A conclusion, I might add, that brings yet another layer to this unique and fascinating package. Snape's way of introducing emotion, social conscience, the human condition and love for all creatures great and small is mesmerizing and will live on in any readers mind.
I look eagerly towards the roiling skies for the next book in this awesome series.
Our main protagonist and his cephalopod partner delivers the gory details of the broken world in insidious and sarcastic tones as they navigate this action packed story at a pace akin to a veteran sliding down a metallic ladder to the depths of a 1980's action sub. The charisma and interplay between these characters is a wonderful and nutritious injection amid the bleak and often reality-based suggestions of human greed and failure that Snape throws in so well without over-preaching.
"I do wonder, at times, whether we spend so much time watching our backs, that we fail to see what is in front of us."
Josh Nkosi has hidden depth. His world view and his life's experience hiss angrily from his broken pipework and his relationship with the pure genius that is MARC are not only fun but are such a vital voice in this story. The story itself is also a multifaceted beast. Like a crumbled post-apocalyptic high rise, each floor reveals another detail that paints a dramatic backdrop for the main narrative without ever dumping info or flattening the action packed groove of this book.
Snape also has a certain mastery in hiding his true characters within plain sight. He will literally tell you about a coming twist with such matter-of-fact charm that you will still feel the blow when it finally lands.
"We don't discuss the dreams. However light my conversation, you don't need the darkness that shrouds my slumbering mind."
The same reverence can be given to the environments in this book. It is easy to say the world has been mostly destroyed but crawls along still, but Nick Snape manages to drape flesh onto it's decaying bones. Each setting is a vivid and scientifically researched snapshot replete with a commentary on how it came to be (or ceased to be) as it flies past the window on our journey.
I have never experienced such bleak world building being drip fed through humour and sardonic charisma in this way and it is truly intravenous, never so much as tripping the reader on their desperate charge towards its conclusion.
A conclusion, I might add, that brings yet another layer to this unique and fascinating package. Snape's way of introducing emotion, social conscience, the human condition and love for all creatures great and small is mesmerizing and will live on in any readers mind.
I look eagerly towards the roiling skies for the next book in this awesome series.
May 30, 2024
An excellent futuristic action thriller set on a future Earth deep into the catastrophic effects of global climate change, this has the makings of a cult classic. It follows an underwater police officer and his cephalopod partner as they are pulled into events above their pay grade, and way above their heads.
In the face of overwhelming climate change that has rendered the topics uninhabitable, national governments have collapsed, replaced by a world government. But humanity is not alone in facing the mess.
The plight of the Earth has attracted the attention of a passing alien fleet who has chosen to land and assist. But people are people. The world government has chosen to work with the aliens. The wealthy have used the aliens' technology to build starships and leave the Earth to its fate. Many have welcomed their assistance, but others have chosen to work against them...
The novel is written as the transcript of a rather enthusiastic YouTube vlog, with descriptions of the video sequences as seen through the eyes of the protagonist, interlaced with voiceover segments from the protagonist and his cephalopod partner that provide more context and description. It is an interesting and entertaining style, akin to being regaled by an enthusiastic raconteur about some wild escapade they've just been involved in.
The story draws you in, gradually revealing the milieu as the well-paced plot rattles along with the author's usual high tempo. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot twists and revelations keep pace with each other. The effervescence that characterises the start of the novel fades into the background as events become darker and the situation more dire. Similarly, the light-hearted banter between the protagonist and his cephalopod partner becomes more and more serious and desperate as they navigate their increasingly precarious situation.
It's a very different proposition from the author's other books, but it doesn't suffer in comparison. The humour is sharp, the major characters distinctive, their motivations understandable, the situation starts bleak and gets bleaker and, other than the alien intervention, the setting is unfortunately all too plausible.
I received an ARC of the novel for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.
In the face of overwhelming climate change that has rendered the topics uninhabitable, national governments have collapsed, replaced by a world government. But humanity is not alone in facing the mess.
The plight of the Earth has attracted the attention of a passing alien fleet who has chosen to land and assist. But people are people. The world government has chosen to work with the aliens. The wealthy have used the aliens' technology to build starships and leave the Earth to its fate. Many have welcomed their assistance, but others have chosen to work against them...
The novel is written as the transcript of a rather enthusiastic YouTube vlog, with descriptions of the video sequences as seen through the eyes of the protagonist, interlaced with voiceover segments from the protagonist and his cephalopod partner that provide more context and description. It is an interesting and entertaining style, akin to being regaled by an enthusiastic raconteur about some wild escapade they've just been involved in.
The story draws you in, gradually revealing the milieu as the well-paced plot rattles along with the author's usual high tempo. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot twists and revelations keep pace with each other. The effervescence that characterises the start of the novel fades into the background as events become darker and the situation more dire. Similarly, the light-hearted banter between the protagonist and his cephalopod partner becomes more and more serious and desperate as they navigate their increasingly precarious situation.
It's a very different proposition from the author's other books, but it doesn't suffer in comparison. The humour is sharp, the major characters distinctive, their motivations understandable, the situation starts bleak and gets bleaker and, other than the alien intervention, the setting is unfortunately all too plausible.
I received an ARC of the novel for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.
August 29, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a sci-fi thriller novel written by Nick Snape, which will be part of a series of standalone novels set on a post-apocalyptic Earth; a fast-paced story following a sarcastic sea-cop and his tentacled buddy MARC, in a race against time to stop the terrorist conspiracy that threatens to destroy the fragile alien/human alliance.
Joshua Nkosi, an underwater sea-cop, is tasked together with his modded cephalopod buddy MARC, going to the surface and work to stop a terrorist group which has been stealing enough radioactive materials from the seabed to explode a Drakthen plantship. If this happen, the alliance between humans and aliens will be broken, and the recovery labour of the Earth that the Drakthen are doing. Well, Nkosi dreams of becoming an internet celebrity might have evaporated, but at least he's deep into action. But definitely he didn't expect how dark this will end being.
With this premise, Snape throws us into a neck-breaking story, super fast paced and that will take us to different places on The Scorching, a post-apocalyptic version of the Earth because of climate change; only the collaboration with the Drakthen seems to be helping. But not only the operation implying Nkosi will be a breaking one, but Nkosi's own metaphorical journey will take him through really dark places that he will only be able to withstand with his sarcastic sense of humour.
While the plot is relatively simple at the start, Snape slowly takes advantage of how we are getting involved in the story to make it more complex, taking some turns that definitely will surprise you. The prose is really clear, simple, allowing us to devour the book, really adequate to the thriller subgenre.
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a great sci-fi thriller novel, a world with potential that you can devour in two-three days; Snape nails the pacing, and definitely, I would love to return to the Scorching.
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a sci-fi thriller novel written by Nick Snape, which will be part of a series of standalone novels set on a post-apocalyptic Earth; a fast-paced story following a sarcastic sea-cop and his tentacled buddy MARC, in a race against time to stop the terrorist conspiracy that threatens to destroy the fragile alien/human alliance.
Joshua Nkosi, an underwater sea-cop, is tasked together with his modded cephalopod buddy MARC, going to the surface and work to stop a terrorist group which has been stealing enough radioactive materials from the seabed to explode a Drakthen plantship. If this happen, the alliance between humans and aliens will be broken, and the recovery labour of the Earth that the Drakthen are doing. Well, Nkosi dreams of becoming an internet celebrity might have evaporated, but at least he's deep into action. But definitely he didn't expect how dark this will end being.
With this premise, Snape throws us into a neck-breaking story, super fast paced and that will take us to different places on The Scorching, a post-apocalyptic version of the Earth because of climate change; only the collaboration with the Drakthen seems to be helping. But not only the operation implying Nkosi will be a breaking one, but Nkosi's own metaphorical journey will take him through really dark places that he will only be able to withstand with his sarcastic sense of humour.
While the plot is relatively simple at the start, Snape slowly takes advantage of how we are getting involved in the story to make it more complex, taking some turns that definitely will surprise you. The prose is really clear, simple, allowing us to devour the book, really adequate to the thriller subgenre.
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a great sci-fi thriller novel, a world with potential that you can devour in two-three days; Snape nails the pacing, and definitely, I would love to return to the Scorching.
September 29, 2024
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a complicated but well executed Sci-Fi thriller by Nick Snape. Set on a version of Earth devastated by climate change, where the best hope for the future lies in the Drathken, an alien race that have landed on the planet and seem to be trying to heal it, the book follows the adventures of Joshua Nkosi, a sea cop and his partner. MARC, a technologically modified octopus, as they find themselves embroiled in a terrorist plot that could end the peace between the humans and the Drathken and condemn humanity to extinction.
I am not going to lie, I was initially drawn to this book because of MARC, I loved the idea of an octopus companion, but it did not take long for the story and characters to hook me. The author packs a lot of storytelling into this relatively short novel, it hits the ground running and the pace is pretty relentless, so if you like a fast paced action packed story this is for you. The characters are above all else interesting, and I loved that the author kept me guessing as a reader, not knowing who to trust , including the narrator. There were some shifts in perspective that left me a little confused at first but it did not take long to find my bearing, and there was maybe just a little too much jumping and forth in the timeline for my personal taste, but I could still appreciate that it worked well in terms of this story. There is a darkly humorous tone that I appreciated too, it worked well in the bleak version of the future that we encounter in the book.
If you enjoy fast paced and fast witted thrillers with science fiction twist, this one is definitely worth picking up.
I am not going to lie, I was initially drawn to this book because of MARC, I loved the idea of an octopus companion, but it did not take long for the story and characters to hook me. The author packs a lot of storytelling into this relatively short novel, it hits the ground running and the pace is pretty relentless, so if you like a fast paced action packed story this is for you. The characters are above all else interesting, and I loved that the author kept me guessing as a reader, not knowing who to trust , including the narrator. There were some shifts in perspective that left me a little confused at first but it did not take long to find my bearing, and there was maybe just a little too much jumping and forth in the timeline for my personal taste, but I could still appreciate that it worked well in terms of this story. There is a darkly humorous tone that I appreciated too, it worked well in the bleak version of the future that we encounter in the book.
If you enjoy fast paced and fast witted thrillers with science fiction twist, this one is definitely worth picking up.
November 8, 2024
I loved this book. Snape shows his range as a writer with his funny main character and his 8-limbed companion. And the humor disguises a very dark story about an all-too believable future. This, despite the plantships and creepy aliens. The second book is even better!
February 12, 2025
Just Press Play was ultimately something that I wished I liked more than I did. It has a strong premise, with the Earth long since being devastated by a climate disaster known as the Scorching, and an organization landing enormous ships to rejuvenate the planet. It has a wholly unique buddy cop dynamic between the wisecracking vlogger Joshua Nkosi and his modded octopus partner Marc. There are conspiracies, pirates, tense action, and all of it should have made for a riveting read.
Unfortunately, for me, the stream-of-consciousness vlog style of narration simply did not work. I found myself getting pulled out of the story by it more than pulled into it, which certainly disappointed me, as the bones are here for a strong tale. It just wasn’t one for me.
However, if you’re looking for a conspiracy-laden post-apocalyptic story with a unique buddy cop dynamic, I’d recommend giving this a whirl.
Unfortunately, for me, the stream-of-consciousness vlog style of narration simply did not work. I found myself getting pulled out of the story by it more than pulled into it, which certainly disappointed me, as the bones are here for a strong tale. It just wasn’t one for me.
However, if you’re looking for a conspiracy-laden post-apocalyptic story with a unique buddy cop dynamic, I’d recommend giving this a whirl.
May 23, 2025
I was not expecting this book to have such an emotional impact when I first started it. I thought having an octopus sidekick was gonna be for a few laughs or to solve some plot devices. While it does just that, there is so much more to the relationship than what I was expecting. There is a big twist about midway that really propelled me to read the rest of the book in a very short time. While I’m already hooked on reading the Scorching series, now I need more of Josh and Marc specifically! Excellent book highly recommend
January 1, 2025
The first book I read by Nick snape was a tad different. It was 'A dragon of the Veil', which I also devoured quickly, so I was excited to see what Nick had in store for us this time.
He did not disappoint! Funny, witty, sarcastic, and action filled, what more could we possibly want?
Sadness and darkness? You have got it!
Josh (I almost wrote Nick here) Nkosi is living what he feels is the sweet life with his sidekick, Marc (actually it is MARC). Well, as sweet as life can be subject to the circumstances and the state that planet Earth is in. It is a good thing humans are getting help from the alien species; The Drathken, right? We get an excellent picture drawn for us here, of how the world indeed could be, and I think “Could we possibly be saved from another species, or is Stephen Hawking right?”.
A routine mission takes eventually us to the surface. As the bullets whizz by as quickly as the sarcasm, we can sense more and more of how dependent man and octopus are of each other in their pursuit of answers.
Something is wrong here, and I am not talking about the fact that the man teaches the octopus sarcasm. You get no sympathy there, my man, that is on you.😂 However, as they are being hunted, the line of right and wrong gets blurrier, and who can we trust when it really comes down to it?
I found myself treasuring the dialogue between man and animal in this book. The humour, the sarcasm, and the emotional support, like the shoulder I wished I had to cry on after an unexpected twist.
No wonder this book won a Literary Titan award!
He did not disappoint! Funny, witty, sarcastic, and action filled, what more could we possibly want?
Sadness and darkness? You have got it!
Josh (I almost wrote Nick here) Nkosi is living what he feels is the sweet life with his sidekick, Marc (actually it is MARC). Well, as sweet as life can be subject to the circumstances and the state that planet Earth is in. It is a good thing humans are getting help from the alien species; The Drathken, right? We get an excellent picture drawn for us here, of how the world indeed could be, and I think “Could we possibly be saved from another species, or is Stephen Hawking right?”.
A routine mission takes eventually us to the surface. As the bullets whizz by as quickly as the sarcasm, we can sense more and more of how dependent man and octopus are of each other in their pursuit of answers.
Something is wrong here, and I am not talking about the fact that the man teaches the octopus sarcasm. You get no sympathy there, my man, that is on you.😂 However, as they are being hunted, the line of right and wrong gets blurrier, and who can we trust when it really comes down to it?
I found myself treasuring the dialogue between man and animal in this book. The humour, the sarcasm, and the emotional support, like the shoulder I wished I had to cry on after an unexpected twist.
No wonder this book won a Literary Titan award!
June 5, 2024
I loved this book. In the story (spoilers) we follow Joshua Nkosi, a marine cop with his augmented octopus side kick, as he is diverted from his usual duties in order to recover radioactive materials snatched from the deeps by a terrorist faction bent on ridding the planet of its alien rescuers. This mission leads Joshua to unpick layers of betrayal and duplicity as he learns more and more about the darkness into which his world has descended.
What happens to a man who still had human feeling in a world that is beyond redemption? Read and find out!
What happens to a man who still had human feeling in a world that is beyond redemption? Read and find out!
June 9, 2024
a wild and crazy ride
Where do I start? It’s a cyberpunk, cli-fi, military sci-fi tale and so much more. With an octopus in an exo-suit as a sidekick in a climate ravaged world, our hero (anti-hero?) takes us on an intense journey, with a fascinating narrative voice, breaking the fourth wall often.
More than just a rollicking action adventure, we peer into humanity, our failings, and our hopes. Loved it!
Where do I start? It’s a cyberpunk, cli-fi, military sci-fi tale and so much more. With an octopus in an exo-suit as a sidekick in a climate ravaged world, our hero (anti-hero?) takes us on an intense journey, with a fascinating narrative voice, breaking the fourth wall often.
More than just a rollicking action adventure, we peer into humanity, our failings, and our hopes. Loved it!
June 9, 2024
In a scorched, dying Earth, sea cop Josh and his modified octopus sidekick chase down a terrorist theft, aimed at an alien race who are trying to save us. But nothing is as it seems.
Absolutely thrilling, from the scheming characters and steam roller plot to the desperate pleas for environmental responsibility. But it's the utter gut punch of a twist that truly got me.
Absolutely thrilling, from the scheming characters and steam roller plot to the desperate pleas for environmental responsibility. But it's the utter gut punch of a twist that truly got me.
October 15, 2025
This is an uncanny offering for those who enjoy a weird, rule-breaking approach to storytelling.
Just Press Play is a fiercely imaginative, sharply rendered sci-fi thriller that digs beneath the surface of a world ravaged by climate catastrophe. At its core, it’s a survival story: of people, ecosystems, and fragile trust, set in a scorched Earth where the stakes are both intimate and planetary. Joshua, the sea cop at the center, is more than a hardened survivor; his sardonic vlog-style narration bristles with wit and vulnerability, a rare combination that humanizes the apocalyptic chaos around him. The inclusion of MARC, his cybernetically enhanced octopus companion, adds a strikingly original and often humorous counterpoint that keeps the narrative from tipping into despair.
Snape’s worldbuilding is painstaking and evocative, situating the reader in a future that feels plausible. The social and political complexities woven into the texture of this burnt landscape—the alliances, betrayals, and underlying conspiracies—are as compelling as the fast-moving plot. What stands out is how the novel balances action-packed sequences with pauses of reflection and emotional depth, especially in exploring Joshua’s internal struggles and his nuanced relationship with MARC. The shifts in perspective and timeline echo the fractured reality of the characters’ lives, challenging the reader but also enriching the mystery and suspense.
Critically, Just Press Play deftly uses humor as a coping mechanism and narrative tool, a contrast that deepens the story’s emotional impact rather than dilutes it. The unfolding mysteries and sudden twists are masterfully concealed through an unreliable narrator, heightening tension, but not without ever feeling gimmicky. Though some may initially find the pacing relentless or the narrative jumps jarring, these elements ultimately contribute to the novel’s urgency and distinctive voice. At the same time, the ever-present meta, fourth-wall-breaking style pulls at the readers' strings constantly, veering from cheeky to annoying, depending on the cadence.
Overall, Snape delivers a thrilling, thought-provoking examination of humanity’s precarious future and the bonds that sustain us amidst collapse. It's risk-on with bold choices. It may either want you to re-read whatever you've just experienced or frustrate you to the point where you toss the book, never to pick it up again. I, for one, lean to the former, but would not be surprised should someone come to the latter conclusion. The duality of man on full display...
Just Press Play is a fiercely imaginative, sharply rendered sci-fi thriller that digs beneath the surface of a world ravaged by climate catastrophe. At its core, it’s a survival story: of people, ecosystems, and fragile trust, set in a scorched Earth where the stakes are both intimate and planetary. Joshua, the sea cop at the center, is more than a hardened survivor; his sardonic vlog-style narration bristles with wit and vulnerability, a rare combination that humanizes the apocalyptic chaos around him. The inclusion of MARC, his cybernetically enhanced octopus companion, adds a strikingly original and often humorous counterpoint that keeps the narrative from tipping into despair.
Snape’s worldbuilding is painstaking and evocative, situating the reader in a future that feels plausible. The social and political complexities woven into the texture of this burnt landscape—the alliances, betrayals, and underlying conspiracies—are as compelling as the fast-moving plot. What stands out is how the novel balances action-packed sequences with pauses of reflection and emotional depth, especially in exploring Joshua’s internal struggles and his nuanced relationship with MARC. The shifts in perspective and timeline echo the fractured reality of the characters’ lives, challenging the reader but also enriching the mystery and suspense.
Critically, Just Press Play deftly uses humor as a coping mechanism and narrative tool, a contrast that deepens the story’s emotional impact rather than dilutes it. The unfolding mysteries and sudden twists are masterfully concealed through an unreliable narrator, heightening tension, but not without ever feeling gimmicky. Though some may initially find the pacing relentless or the narrative jumps jarring, these elements ultimately contribute to the novel’s urgency and distinctive voice. At the same time, the ever-present meta, fourth-wall-breaking style pulls at the readers' strings constantly, veering from cheeky to annoying, depending on the cadence.
Overall, Snape delivers a thrilling, thought-provoking examination of humanity’s precarious future and the bonds that sustain us amidst collapse. It's risk-on with bold choices. It may either want you to re-read whatever you've just experienced or frustrate you to the point where you toss the book, never to pick it up again. I, for one, lean to the former, but would not be surprised should someone come to the latter conclusion. The duality of man on full display...
December 4, 2024
This is another quality piece of SF from Nick Snape, set in the same world as ‘The Scorching: The World in My Hands’ which I have reviewed before. That book was a hard act to follow but this one, although quite different, didn’t disappoint. In fact far from it.
There is a lot of action, lots of excitement, and an underlying mystery to be solved. But it is the characterisation that really sets this one apart. Especially Marc!!! Marc had to be my new favourite character ever!
The other thing I loved about this book was the emotional ride it took me on. A good book makes you feel and resonates with you long after you turn the last page, and this book is a little bit heartbreaking, and I love that about it.
Nick is a relatively new author on my radar but I’m so glad I discovered these books. He writes fantasy too and I’ll be exploring some of that next.
There is a lot of action, lots of excitement, and an underlying mystery to be solved. But it is the characterisation that really sets this one apart. Especially Marc!!! Marc had to be my new favourite character ever!
The other thing I loved about this book was the emotional ride it took me on. A good book makes you feel and resonates with you long after you turn the last page, and this book is a little bit heartbreaking, and I love that about it.
Nick is a relatively new author on my radar but I’m so glad I discovered these books. He writes fantasy too and I’ll be exploring some of that next.
April 24, 2025
Originally Published @sffinsiders.com
The Scorching: Just Press Play by Nick Snape is a fast paced, action packed science fiction novel set in a post climate-catastrophe vision of Earth. Where the surface has become a brutal place, with many of the survivors of the human race crushed into feudal gangs, and others resorting to cannibalism for survival. Whilst the rich and famous fled in ships, Earth’s salvation came in the form of the Drathken, an insectoid alien race that made groundfall to assist humanity in saving the planet. But do the Drathken have humanity’s best interests at heart? Or do they have another agenda?
The story follows Joshua Nkosi, a submarine pilot who spends his days guarding heavy sea-bed trawlers from the HLA: A rebel human element who protest the Drathken and the ruling class of humans who facilitate their agenda. Accompanying him is his trusty octopus, MARC, bonded to him by a kind of neural-link that allows them to hear each other’s thoughts and see through each other’s eyes. With Josh acting as narrator, and MARC as commentator, the story is presented as if the protagonist is streaming, or vlogging. Giving the story, at least in its first half, a slightly jovial and familiar tone.
Things take a turn when a particular failure to prevent the theft of some exotic materials sends Joshua on an adventure to track down the thieves, taking him out of his comfortable life into an all out military action romp which is a real thrill to read. Fans of quick pacing and military action are in for a treat here.
Avoiding spoilers, I will say that Nick Snape has a knack for subverting expectations. The characters never failed to surprise me. I particularly enjoyed the protagonist's character progression, particularly in the second half of the book, with the finale leaving me reeling and racing to finish it. It was unexpectedly emotional, full of twists and events that came way out of left-field, and surprising moments that made me wonder whether I was rooting for Joshua or not.
I love a book that leaves you with mixed feelings about its protagonist, and this one certainly left me with a sense of wonder. Snape has set up a character and world here that leaves space for a series based around Joshua alone.
One the whole, and with the exception of a few ‘blink and you miss it moments,’ This is a standout indie read. I’m looking forward to checking out Snape’s Weapons of Choice series and I can’t wait to see what else the Scorching has in store for us.
The Scorching: Just Press Play by Nick Snape is a fast paced, action packed science fiction novel set in a post climate-catastrophe vision of Earth. Where the surface has become a brutal place, with many of the survivors of the human race crushed into feudal gangs, and others resorting to cannibalism for survival. Whilst the rich and famous fled in ships, Earth’s salvation came in the form of the Drathken, an insectoid alien race that made groundfall to assist humanity in saving the planet. But do the Drathken have humanity’s best interests at heart? Or do they have another agenda?
The story follows Joshua Nkosi, a submarine pilot who spends his days guarding heavy sea-bed trawlers from the HLA: A rebel human element who protest the Drathken and the ruling class of humans who facilitate their agenda. Accompanying him is his trusty octopus, MARC, bonded to him by a kind of neural-link that allows them to hear each other’s thoughts and see through each other’s eyes. With Josh acting as narrator, and MARC as commentator, the story is presented as if the protagonist is streaming, or vlogging. Giving the story, at least in its first half, a slightly jovial and familiar tone.
Things take a turn when a particular failure to prevent the theft of some exotic materials sends Joshua on an adventure to track down the thieves, taking him out of his comfortable life into an all out military action romp which is a real thrill to read. Fans of quick pacing and military action are in for a treat here.
Avoiding spoilers, I will say that Nick Snape has a knack for subverting expectations. The characters never failed to surprise me. I particularly enjoyed the protagonist's character progression, particularly in the second half of the book, with the finale leaving me reeling and racing to finish it. It was unexpectedly emotional, full of twists and events that came way out of left-field, and surprising moments that made me wonder whether I was rooting for Joshua or not.
I love a book that leaves you with mixed feelings about its protagonist, and this one certainly left me with a sense of wonder. Snape has set up a character and world here that leaves space for a series based around Joshua alone.
One the whole, and with the exception of a few ‘blink and you miss it moments,’ This is a standout indie read. I’m looking forward to checking out Snape’s Weapons of Choice series and I can’t wait to see what else the Scorching has in store for us.
June 23, 2024
‘What the Octopus Saw.’
Nick Snape’s ‘Just Press Play’ reads like a TV sci-fi drama transcript. But this is no amateur foray into climate change fiction, this is a meticulously crafted, thoughtfully realised future, told through the social media of tomorrow. This book is worth every penny and each white-knuckle, thought-provoking and mind-boggling moment of your precious reading time.
Our future world is ravaged by The Scorching. Deep water “simple sea cop” Joshua Nkosi finds himself on dry, scorched land on an unlikely mission with only his partner, Marc, to assist. An insectoid alien race, the Drathken, have saved the planet from environmental suicide by sending giant living, breathing plantships to germinate on Earth, but all is not what it seems.
Marc has a useful skill: she is quite sensitive to radiation, which is vital as Nkosi’s challenges come to a head. The two communicate with each other in a very particular way—they are both modified with a satcom linked electronic chip. This is key because Marc, a Multi-purpose All-terrain Recovery Cephalopod, is a common octopus, encased in a metal exoskeleton that allows her to stay with Nkosi in the brutal heat of the dusty, ruined air.
Snape’s writing is rich with clever interludes and flashbacks and incredibly charming as he shares a cephalopod’s humour with his readers. There are some great touches within its pages: a government decree on banning coffee production, 41°C being the cool of the day, an octopus driving a boat, and a revelation explaining why Marc couldn’t die.
It would be wrong of me not to touch on the climate fiction backdrop. Snape uses this to maintain his believable narrative. The Scorching started with gradual temperature rises, with interchanging heat buildup and storms. As the temperature soared, the reproductive behaviours of many species fell into chaos and the food chain collapsed. Food, water, diesel and weapons became the four essentials of life, while electronic modding became the only way humanity could control their destiny.
‘Just Press Play’ has something for every reader. It’s a sci-fi but isn’t full of technobabble or anything unbelievable. It’s a story about a badass police cop, literally out of water and guns blazing. And at its heart, it’s a mystery-thriller, with a very satisfying conclusion. However, whatever way our hero turns, the Drathkens have their own plan for Nkosi and attempt to stop him with their plant-based version of modding.
As Marc threatens in the final pages: “Anyone accidentally hurt or injured in the war that’s coming, we don’t apologise for, unless you’re Drathken, in which case please just leave us to our fate.” Of course, “Isn’t a tentacled conscience always supposed to be in control?”
Nick Snape’s ‘Just Press Play’ reads like a TV sci-fi drama transcript. But this is no amateur foray into climate change fiction, this is a meticulously crafted, thoughtfully realised future, told through the social media of tomorrow. This book is worth every penny and each white-knuckle, thought-provoking and mind-boggling moment of your precious reading time.
Our future world is ravaged by The Scorching. Deep water “simple sea cop” Joshua Nkosi finds himself on dry, scorched land on an unlikely mission with only his partner, Marc, to assist. An insectoid alien race, the Drathken, have saved the planet from environmental suicide by sending giant living, breathing plantships to germinate on Earth, but all is not what it seems.
Marc has a useful skill: she is quite sensitive to radiation, which is vital as Nkosi’s challenges come to a head. The two communicate with each other in a very particular way—they are both modified with a satcom linked electronic chip. This is key because Marc, a Multi-purpose All-terrain Recovery Cephalopod, is a common octopus, encased in a metal exoskeleton that allows her to stay with Nkosi in the brutal heat of the dusty, ruined air.
Snape’s writing is rich with clever interludes and flashbacks and incredibly charming as he shares a cephalopod’s humour with his readers. There are some great touches within its pages: a government decree on banning coffee production, 41°C being the cool of the day, an octopus driving a boat, and a revelation explaining why Marc couldn’t die.
It would be wrong of me not to touch on the climate fiction backdrop. Snape uses this to maintain his believable narrative. The Scorching started with gradual temperature rises, with interchanging heat buildup and storms. As the temperature soared, the reproductive behaviours of many species fell into chaos and the food chain collapsed. Food, water, diesel and weapons became the four essentials of life, while electronic modding became the only way humanity could control their destiny.
‘Just Press Play’ has something for every reader. It’s a sci-fi but isn’t full of technobabble or anything unbelievable. It’s a story about a badass police cop, literally out of water and guns blazing. And at its heart, it’s a mystery-thriller, with a very satisfying conclusion. However, whatever way our hero turns, the Drathkens have their own plan for Nkosi and attempt to stop him with their plant-based version of modding.
As Marc threatens in the final pages: “Anyone accidentally hurt or injured in the war that’s coming, we don’t apologise for, unless you’re Drathken, in which case please just leave us to our fate.” Of course, “Isn’t a tentacled conscience always supposed to be in control?”
November 28, 2024
The Scorching: Just Press Play, by Nick Snape, is an exhilarating sci-fi novel set in a future where Earth has been ravaged by a catastrophic climate event known as The Scorching. Amidst this devastation, the insectoid alien race Drathken arrives with their plantships, promising to heal the planet. The story follows Joshua Nkosi, a sea cop whose life of routine security guarding and vlogging in a deep-sea mining operation is upended when he and his tentacled MARC Unit become entangled in a plot to steal radiation-rich materials from the seabed. These materials are crucial to a terrorist faction's plan to destroy a Drathken plantship and disrupt the alien/human alliance.
Joshua and MARC are thrust into the Burnout Zone, facing extreme temperatures and uncovering deeper conspiracies. Their quest to locate the terrorists' lab leads them through escalating dangers and harsh realities. The narrative is enriched with humor, interludes, and flashbacks that vividly depict a world in turmoil. Nkosi's journey with MARC, an intelligent octopus encased in a metal exoskeleton, highlights the complexities of their mission and the dark truths of their world. The story masterfully blends sci-fi, mystery, and thriller elements, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that leaves readers contemplating humanity's fate.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the novel explores the impact of climate change and human-alien alliances. Snape's engaging writing style, incorporating vlogging and social media formats, adds dynamism and relatability to the story. Joshua Nkosi emerges as a charming protagonist, with his interactions with MARC adding a delightful layer to the narrative. The world-building is exceptional, with intriguing concepts like the Drathken plantships bringing the story to life.
The climate fiction backdrop is seamlessly integrated, portraying the gradual rise in temperatures and societal changes with stark realism. The pacing is well-balanced, mixing action, humor, and introspection. Clever interludes and flashbacks enrich the narrative, providing deeper insights into the characters and their world. One of the book's highlights is its emotional core, as Nkosi navigates personal struggles and the broader implications of his mission. The final twist and resolution are satisfying, leaving readers with a sense of closure and contemplation.
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a must-read for sci-fi and climate fiction fans. Nick Snape's creative storytelling, rich world-building, and engaging characters make this book an unforgettable journey into a future that feels both distant and alarmingly close.
Joshua and MARC are thrust into the Burnout Zone, facing extreme temperatures and uncovering deeper conspiracies. Their quest to locate the terrorists' lab leads them through escalating dangers and harsh realities. The narrative is enriched with humor, interludes, and flashbacks that vividly depict a world in turmoil. Nkosi's journey with MARC, an intelligent octopus encased in a metal exoskeleton, highlights the complexities of their mission and the dark truths of their world. The story masterfully blends sci-fi, mystery, and thriller elements, culminating in a satisfying conclusion that leaves readers contemplating humanity's fate.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the novel explores the impact of climate change and human-alien alliances. Snape's engaging writing style, incorporating vlogging and social media formats, adds dynamism and relatability to the story. Joshua Nkosi emerges as a charming protagonist, with his interactions with MARC adding a delightful layer to the narrative. The world-building is exceptional, with intriguing concepts like the Drathken plantships bringing the story to life.
The climate fiction backdrop is seamlessly integrated, portraying the gradual rise in temperatures and societal changes with stark realism. The pacing is well-balanced, mixing action, humor, and introspection. Clever interludes and flashbacks enrich the narrative, providing deeper insights into the characters and their world. One of the book's highlights is its emotional core, as Nkosi navigates personal struggles and the broader implications of his mission. The final twist and resolution are satisfying, leaving readers with a sense of closure and contemplation.
The Scorching: Just Press Play is a must-read for sci-fi and climate fiction fans. Nick Snape's creative storytelling, rich world-building, and engaging characters make this book an unforgettable journey into a future that feels both distant and alarmingly close.
October 11, 2025
It probably goes without saying that my experience reading this dystopian near-future "buddy cop" sci-fi novel featuring a technologically-enhanced octopus was a bit... different. Thus, if something unusual and unorthodox is what you're after, you'll likely have a good time with "The Scorching: Just Press Play."
Personally, I enjoyed the rich world-building, the sense of immersion, and the level of detail present in descriptions of the people, places, and events that comprised the story. I also found some of the plot twists, and the way that certain aspects of the relationship between the two main characters were revealed, very interesting and compelling.
There were some elements that either weren't a great fit for my personal taste, or that I felt were a bit lacking in their execution, such as a few instances of scientific inaccuracies, or stylistic choices that I found jarring, heavy-handed, or otherwise off-putting. Fortunately, these were brief and infrequent enough that I was able to easily look past them and focus on the positives when considering the work as a whole.
It's also worth noting that for me, this was a bit of a slow burn, finding myself somewhat tentative and unsure throughout the first few chapters for various reasons. That said, once things got going, I was increasingly intrigued and compelled until the last fifth or so, when some of the aforementioned issues I had slowed me down and somewhat dulled my enthusiasm.
Overall, I'd say that "The Scorching: Just Press Play" was an entertaining and thought-provoking read. Moreover, I think most speculative-fiction fans, particularly those who crave darker themes and significant sums of horror and social commentary in their sci-fi, will find it worthy and feel compelled to give it a "like."
Personally, I enjoyed the rich world-building, the sense of immersion, and the level of detail present in descriptions of the people, places, and events that comprised the story. I also found some of the plot twists, and the way that certain aspects of the relationship between the two main characters were revealed, very interesting and compelling.
There were some elements that either weren't a great fit for my personal taste, or that I felt were a bit lacking in their execution, such as a few instances of scientific inaccuracies, or stylistic choices that I found jarring, heavy-handed, or otherwise off-putting. Fortunately, these were brief and infrequent enough that I was able to easily look past them and focus on the positives when considering the work as a whole.
It's also worth noting that for me, this was a bit of a slow burn, finding myself somewhat tentative and unsure throughout the first few chapters for various reasons. That said, once things got going, I was increasingly intrigued and compelled until the last fifth or so, when some of the aforementioned issues I had slowed me down and somewhat dulled my enthusiasm.
Overall, I'd say that "The Scorching: Just Press Play" was an entertaining and thought-provoking read. Moreover, I think most speculative-fiction fans, particularly those who crave darker themes and significant sums of horror and social commentary in their sci-fi, will find it worthy and feel compelled to give it a "like."
May 24, 2024
It took me a little while to tune into the book’s unique viewpoint, but once I had, reading it was a lot of fun!
I liked the MC a lot, and really enjoyed the relationship between him, and his tentacled BFF. They had a really fun dynamic, and their banter was often a much-needed mood lift for what was – at times – quite a dark storyline.
The story itself is full of twists and turns, and thanks to the viewpoint, does a really good job of hiding things from you. I personally loved that the MC would talk to the reader, and often acknowledge some of the gaps in information, but also rationalise why you don’t need to know everything just yet. It keeps you guessing, and personally, there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming at all!
There were a few moments where I found myself a little confused, and sometimes, I wasn’t overly clear on where exactly we were or what was happening. This was most apparent towards the end of the book, though on that occasion, I think that was the intention. You were supposed to have that ‘WTF?!?!’ moment, and I certainly did!
Overall, I had fun reading, and would definitely want to read more stories set in this world!
I liked the MC a lot, and really enjoyed the relationship between him, and his tentacled BFF. They had a really fun dynamic, and their banter was often a much-needed mood lift for what was – at times – quite a dark storyline.
The story itself is full of twists and turns, and thanks to the viewpoint, does a really good job of hiding things from you. I personally loved that the MC would talk to the reader, and often acknowledge some of the gaps in information, but also rationalise why you don’t need to know everything just yet. It keeps you guessing, and personally, there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming at all!
There were a few moments where I found myself a little confused, and sometimes, I wasn’t overly clear on where exactly we were or what was happening. This was most apparent towards the end of the book, though on that occasion, I think that was the intention. You were supposed to have that ‘WTF?!?!’ moment, and I certainly did!
Overall, I had fun reading, and would definitely want to read more stories set in this world!
February 24, 2025
This book was an entrant in the SPSFC4 along with my own and I was keen to check out the competition.
I won't go into the plot like other reviews, I'll just say that this was a solid piece of work with endearing characters and a somewhat unique take on a dystopian future due to climate change. I did find the prose a little bit hard to follow here and there, and although the book is drily funny, it didn't always land for me. But having said that, it did for the most part which is such a difficult thing to pull off. Humour in books is tricky but the author did a great job here.
I'm not usually one that wants reams of world-building but I desperately want reams of world-building for this future. Thankfully the author has another book set in the same universe which is already on my kindle. I am definitely going to check out his back catalogue and will be looking out for his work in the future.
I won't go into the plot like other reviews, I'll just say that this was a solid piece of work with endearing characters and a somewhat unique take on a dystopian future due to climate change. I did find the prose a little bit hard to follow here and there, and although the book is drily funny, it didn't always land for me. But having said that, it did for the most part which is such a difficult thing to pull off. Humour in books is tricky but the author did a great job here.
I'm not usually one that wants reams of world-building but I desperately want reams of world-building for this future. Thankfully the author has another book set in the same universe which is already on my kindle. I am definitely going to check out his back catalogue and will be looking out for his work in the future.
May 29, 2024
A thrilling ride through the eyes of a sea-cop and his cephalopod partner
Snape has made a departure from his military sci-fi roots and quiet literally branched (aliens in organic plant ships) into sci/cli-fi, with a bang. On the surface, this is an action packed cop buddy story, where one of the cops is an octopus. Which obviously I was all over. But it doesn’t take long to realise there is a lot more going on here. The deeper story unravels bit by bit as the many layers of our MC, Nkosi, are revealed.
I really enjoyed this story. Get ready for all this rollercoaster ride through the dark imaginings of what our future could look like after the climate apocalypse that is ‘The Scorching.’
Snape has made a departure from his military sci-fi roots and quiet literally branched (aliens in organic plant ships) into sci/cli-fi, with a bang. On the surface, this is an action packed cop buddy story, where one of the cops is an octopus. Which obviously I was all over. But it doesn’t take long to realise there is a lot more going on here. The deeper story unravels bit by bit as the many layers of our MC, Nkosi, are revealed.
I really enjoyed this story. Get ready for all this rollercoaster ride through the dark imaginings of what our future could look like after the climate apocalypse that is ‘The Scorching.’
May 22, 2024
I received an ARC copy of The Scorching. Right from the off you realise you are in something completely different. Within a few pages you are immersed in a first person POV journey where narration merges with events as if watching the MC comment on his experiences. This pulls you into Nkosi’s world, and that of his octopus partner (yeah-but you’ll love her) as their interaction flows naturally-both humorous and dark. Ultimately this is a thriller, a dark one sprinkled with laughter. At its end, your perceptions of our potential future will have been put to task and hard questions will have been asked. Do I recommend it? Oh yes.
May 30, 2024
I wasn’t sure that an environmental thriller would be for me, but I was quickly won over by just how fun the opening chapter was!
Joshua Nkosi really jumps off the page as an under-sea cop by day turned wannabe youtuber by night. The humour and characters really make the story feel grounded despite the outlandish settings and hold the story together when it takes us to darker places later on.
I can’t wait for more!
Joshua Nkosi really jumps off the page as an under-sea cop by day turned wannabe youtuber by night. The humour and characters really make the story feel grounded despite the outlandish settings and hold the story together when it takes us to darker places later on.
I can’t wait for more!
November 12, 2024
Dystopian story about the earth nearing its end due to human activity. Aliens visit, saying they want to help heal the earth. After Nkosi and his sidekick Marc travel away from their home town, they discover all is not as it appears. They find experiments being performed on all life forms, and are horrified at the results! K
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