The Experiment

by Catherine Egan

Welcome back to the Factory in The Experiment, the highly anticipated sequel to The Factory that Kirkus called a "thrilling and complex beginning to what will surely be a sought-after series"!It's been only moments since Asher Doyle made an impossible decision -- a matter of seconds since he set off a time bomb on the rooftop of the Factory that would change his life forever.At least, it felt like only moments to Asher. But he was wrong.In reality, twenty years have passed since that fateful night. Twenty birthdays, and yet Asher is still the same thirteen-year-old boy he was when he arrived at the Factory. Asher Doyle, The Boy Frozen in Time.And it get's Not only is his best friend, Vi, twenty years older -- she's the new director of the evil place she and Asher swore to bring down. What could possibly have happened to make her switch sides?As Asher wraps his head around all he's lost, he finds himself at the center of an experiment at the hands of his former ally and best friend. It's up to him and a new group of friends to expose what new sinister secrets lie buried at the Factory -- if he manages to make it out alive . . .

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

My superpowers: forward momentum, list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My weaknesses: overthinking, excessive list-making, simultaneously holding two opposing opinions
My allies: My made-for-walking-in black boots, Mick, the English Language
My enemies: decaf, low blood sugar, the passage of time
My mission: the coexistence of ambivalence and joy.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too shabby for a sequel. No spoilers for this novel but potentially for its predecessor.

The Experiment begins with a 20-year jump from when Asher was frozen in time as indicated at the end of the series’ first installment. Still technically 13yo, Asher rejoins reality in the revamped factory now led by his once rebellious teenage ally Vi. She claims to want to continue with this time tech research but by countering their own experiences decades ago through her prioritization of the adolescent participants, and it looks that way on the surface. Not surprisingly, though, Asher just knows something is amiss— with the facility, his former comrade in arms, family, and, frankly, himself.

After linking up with two new confidantes, Asher sets out to uncover what nefarious plots and persons are really at play all while trying to navigate new and bewildering aspects of online spaces, AI, slang, and evil corporatism. What a ride.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

[Gena · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much better than the first book but you do have to read the first book to understand what's going on. a great page turner. I didn't want to put it down.