Abandoned by her parents, Ichikawa Aspen has one goal: get out of her broken city and take her brother with her. As one of the world’s most infamous technomages, Aspen’s escape depends on complete anonymity. But her brother, Thayer, doesn’t believe their parents left voluntarily, and he will stop at nothing to prove otherwise. When Thayer inadvertently draws the attention of the ruling authorities, Aspen, with her remarkable abilities, becomes a primary target.
Grappling to salvage the future—and safety—she’s worked for, Aspen has no choice but to join a declared terrorist group in an attempt to keep herself and Thayer out of prison. With the might of her government against her, Aspen’s only shot at a new life is to bring down the system, or she won’t be the only member of her family facing death-row.
SEIBER is the first novel in new a YA dystopian duology, perfect for fans of Divergent and Under the Never Sky.
Erin (E.A.) Whyte is an editor and the author of A Thief Among Liars, her debut YA fantasy about a master thief tasked with stealing the heart of her enemy. When not writing, you'll find Erin exploring local coffee shops, reading, and jotting down the many story ideas in her head.
A Razor-Sharp Descent into Darkness 😮💨 Unputdownable!
I. Adored. This. Novel!
Seiber is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling wrapped in crisp, electric prose. At the story’s heart is Aspen, a protagonist whose fierce love for her brother propels her down a rage-fueled path that is both gripping and realistic. Her transformation is rendered with such nuance and intensity that you can’t help but root for her, even as she burns through the lines of morality. Her descent raises the question: what would each of us do to survive and to save the ones we love? It’s a relevant and important theme in this day and age (unfortunately), and in this story is framed not only by Aspen’s character arc, but also by strong eco-dystopia worldbuilding and a villain that raises the dark mirror before Aspen.
And the writing! The writing! Whyte's writing crackles with energy. Every sentence feels purposeful, propelling the story forward with a pace that demands to be devoured in a single sitting. The prose is clean, sharp, and often searing, perfectly tuned to match Aspen’s crash out and the high-stakes world she navigates. This novel also delivers a tone perfect book one in a duology structure, leaving the story and world wide open for book two. It’s as emotionally charged as it is action-packed, the tension never letting up, and the character work is so compelling that even in its darkest moments, you can’t look away.
Seiber is a quick read, but it leaves a deep mark. Fans of cyberpunk, fierce heroines, moral complexity, and breakneck pacing will find themselves hungry for more.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review, and tbh, I couldn’t be more honest! So keen for book two!
It’s time, y’all 😏 I’ve been dying to talk about this one!!!!
Genre: YA cyberpunk dystopia
Fav Quote: One of my favourite quotes may actually count as a spoiler so I’m going to redact it for now 😉
What I Loved: * I love my FMCs with some rage and this delivered! The complexity of Aspen and her drive to accomplish her goals (potentially at any cost), made her so tangible and relatable. * While Aspen is a strong lead, she didn’t wash out any of the supporting characters. I’m not going to delve into any specifics so that you get the pleasure of meeting them on your own, but ugh I love them all. * The world-building was so refreshing and captivating, with a mix of cyber-punk, science and magic while diving into political schemes, environmental concerns and the impacts of both on socio-economic status (feeling a bit too relevant these days). * Slow burn, found family is my bread and butter 😏 I’m eating that up every single time. * YA dystopias hold a special place in my heart thanks to my childhood and this has joined the ranks with my favourites.
For Fans of: * Julie Kagawa * Suzanne Collins * Scott Westerfeld
Thank you so so much to E.A. Whyte for this physical ARC!
If you're looking for a YA dystopia with cyberpunk vibes this book is for you! It is action packed with a very unique magic system, a group of rebels allied to save the world, a leader with a skewed view of progress, family secrets and the beginning of a found family dynamic.
It gave me the same feelings I had when I read YA dystopian books as a teen.
The magic system is so unique and interesting, especially Seiber, the type of magic used by our main character. As a software dev myself, it was fascinating to read about coding and programming in a magical way. I usually hate books that come anywhere close to my work but it worked so well in this book, especially with the cyberpunk/dystopian vibes.
I won't lie, Aspen really irritated me at some point in the book. Maybe I can't relate to her because I'm not a big sister but the way she wanted to control Thayer made me so mad. But whit that said I love a strong willed female main character.
I was so excited to dive into this book after reading the summary and boy did it live up to expectations!
E.A.’s mind always amazes me with the world building and concepts she creates through her storytelling and Seiber especially blew me away with this. From the characters, to the setting, to the concept itself I found myself so drawn into the story she had woven together and it kept me incredibly hooked throughout.
Aspen as a character was full of female rage and passion and as much as her actions frustrated the hell out of me sometimes with her stubbornness, I absolutely adored her. Along with that, E.A. did a fantastic job in building strong supporting characters that I find myself incredibly attached to.
I think the story also happened to mirror a lot of what we see happening now in the world and that also really resonated with me and brought me more into the story and their fight.
I’m so excited to see where this goes in the next book and I would highly recommend checking this out when it comes out tomorrow!
And a huge huge thank you to E.A. for the ARC copy! It’s one of my new favourite reads!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved a lot of things about this book! The magic system is really cool, and the conflict had me invested in this dystopian world. Whyte mixed in very current environmental fears (global warming) that felt very real, but then added in the mix of magic that didn’t feel like your typical “fantasy” book. I wish there was a bit more world building - I was really invested in the state of the world post global warming wiping out cities but wasn’t given enough answers about it. I also really like the potential of the FMC - at times, her stubbornness got to be a bit much and I wanted to reach into the book and shake her and tell her it’s ok to like people (even if I don’t like people lol). Overall, this was a great YA read and I will definitely recommend it to others. I’m excited to see where this story goes, if we’ll find out more about what’s happened to the world, and if Ichikawa Aspen can finally just let someone in!
E.A. Whyte's world-building is immersive, and the technomage concept feels both fresh and timely. Aspen is a fierce, flawed protagonist full of rage and heart and her bond with her brother adds real emotional depth. The supporting cast is just as memorable, and the story's reflections on power, control, and rebellion hit close to home.
What impressed me most is how the book mirrors real-world oppression and rebellion themes that feel urgent and authentic without being preachy. The tension stays taut, the pacing rarely slips, and by the end, I was desperate for the sequel.
Seiber is perfect for fans of Divergent and Scythe who want high-concept rebellion with a character-driven heart. Highly recommend!
Thank you, E.A Whyte for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful ARC.
Seiber is a futuristic, dystopian, YA novel that reminds me of the Hunger Games and Divergent with its strong female lead and “rebels vs. the government” premise. Seiber also has an interesting magic system with a few different types of magic. The main character, Aspen, has magic that combines with technology to allow her to “see,” “hear,” and manipulate the code running in computers near her. It’s a unique take on a classic premise and I thought it was very well executed. I am looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.
Seiber is well written, has characters you will fall in love with and will root for. I enjoyed learning about the magic system and the dilemma faced by inhabitants in this dystopian universe. Seiber, the protagonist, is feisty, smart and fiercely loyal. By the end I was considering dying my hair blue in solidarity with her! Looking forward to book two!
Huge shoutout and thank you to EA Whyte and Moira McInnis for the opportunity to read this book as an e-arc! Oh this book was a delight to read during a hectic time in my life. A well-written YA dystopian novel following Aspen, Thayer, the Neon Witches, and the beginnings of their journey with DOMATA. Aspen is your typical big sister protecting her brother from the evils of the world who can go too far at times and not think about others. While we spend the most time with Aspen, it is not hard to tell just how others have reacted to her actions and the ache they have felt. The story grips you in- every time I read for half an hour I would look down and see I just read a good chunk in a short period of time. We’ve got action packed scenes but it is well balanced with the rest of the book and leaves us in just the right spot for the next book to pick up. I am truly curious to see where Aspen goes and excited to see her growth in the next book!