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IN/HUMAN: A Cyberpunk Fantasy
They forged me, trained me, made me into a weapon.
But weapons only exist to be used…
Maxine “The Fist” Ali believes what her church and the Inquisition have told Nova Mundo is a city of sinners. Six hundred years ago, the Ayu saw fit to bless humanity with divine magic. Then came the alterations. The disrespect. Now, the filthy, mutated Inmani must be eradicated.
Deployed to quash an Inmani insurgency, Max’s zealous mission is upended prematurely by her reckless gambling and an unlucky fight. Desperate for a dime, she finds work with charming local fixer Jaq — nonbinary, queer, and street-smart.
But carrying out “you pay I punch” jobs means Max can no longer avoid the Inmani. Tangled in their dangerous day-to-day, Max stumbles on a mass grave — evidence of a horrifying socio-scientific experiment. And the Inmani are far from its only victims.
As she slowly begins to question the authorities that propel her to violence, Max is forced to confront an earth-shattering if her life so far is a lie…she has no idea who she is.
In/Human is an LGBTQIA+ science fiction novel that explores religious power, identity, belonging, and the morality of justice.
Click ‘buy now’ to dive into the dystopian world of In/Human!
But weapons only exist to be used…
Maxine “The Fist” Ali believes what her church and the Inquisition have told Nova Mundo is a city of sinners. Six hundred years ago, the Ayu saw fit to bless humanity with divine magic. Then came the alterations. The disrespect. Now, the filthy, mutated Inmani must be eradicated.
Deployed to quash an Inmani insurgency, Max’s zealous mission is upended prematurely by her reckless gambling and an unlucky fight. Desperate for a dime, she finds work with charming local fixer Jaq — nonbinary, queer, and street-smart.
But carrying out “you pay I punch” jobs means Max can no longer avoid the Inmani. Tangled in their dangerous day-to-day, Max stumbles on a mass grave — evidence of a horrifying socio-scientific experiment. And the Inmani are far from its only victims.
As she slowly begins to question the authorities that propel her to violence, Max is forced to confront an earth-shattering if her life so far is a lie…she has no idea who she is.
In/Human is an LGBTQIA+ science fiction novel that explores religious power, identity, belonging, and the morality of justice.
Click ‘buy now’ to dive into the dystopian world of In/Human!
Paperback
Published April 1, 2025
5 people want to read
About the author
Cullen McHael
5 books14 followersCullen McHael (they/them) writes fiction about heroic figures tackling complex problems with wit, good intentions, and bloody knuckles. Cullen lives in a crop circle carved into the vast cornfields of the American midwest, where the stars shine a little too brightly.
At various times Cullen has been a monk, an aid worker, a university instructor, a journalist, a film-maker, a circus acrobat, a spotter at a lighthouse, and a faint echo of breaking glass in a house occupied by two cats and too many doors.
At various times Cullen has been a monk, an aid worker, a university instructor, a journalist, a film-maker, a circus acrobat, a spotter at a lighthouse, and a faint echo of breaking glass in a house occupied by two cats and too many doors.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 21, 2024
Maxine "The Fist" Ali is on trial, and this book relays her testimony of what happened on Nova Mundo.
Max had been sent there as a spy and had been picking up odd jobs that required the use of her fists so she could build up a reputation.
But things start to spiral out of control when Max finds that nothing on Nova Mundo is as she was taught to believe. Struggling to make sense of who she is and her part of what's happening, Max makes increasingly riskier decisions.
Meeting and getting to know nonbinary fixer Jaq is almost more than Max can handle because not only is her life imploding, but she also may not be as straight as she thought either.
Follow Max as she fights through the battle for Nova Mundo, the increasing awareness of what's being asked of her, and her awakening to who she is beyond her fists.
This book is action-packed and will keep you turning the pages.
The cyberpunk elements are great, plus the world building is clever and extensive. This is not a surface-level scuffle retold by a witness. This is a complex world with magic, belief systems, Gods, paladins, technology, and cats.
There are face-to-face fights, skirmishes, full-on fighting on top of adventure, angst, humour, romance, and flirting.
Please note that whilst this is the first book of a series, the tale of Nova Mundo does conclude within. As to whether Max survives her tribunal... for that, you will need to read the rest of the series to find out!
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
Max had been sent there as a spy and had been picking up odd jobs that required the use of her fists so she could build up a reputation.
But things start to spiral out of control when Max finds that nothing on Nova Mundo is as she was taught to believe. Struggling to make sense of who she is and her part of what's happening, Max makes increasingly riskier decisions.
Meeting and getting to know nonbinary fixer Jaq is almost more than Max can handle because not only is her life imploding, but she also may not be as straight as she thought either.
Follow Max as she fights through the battle for Nova Mundo, the increasing awareness of what's being asked of her, and her awakening to who she is beyond her fists.
This book is action-packed and will keep you turning the pages.
The cyberpunk elements are great, plus the world building is clever and extensive. This is not a surface-level scuffle retold by a witness. This is a complex world with magic, belief systems, Gods, paladins, technology, and cats.
There are face-to-face fights, skirmishes, full-on fighting on top of adventure, angst, humour, romance, and flirting.
Please note that whilst this is the first book of a series, the tale of Nova Mundo does conclude within. As to whether Max survives her tribunal... for that, you will need to read the rest of the series to find out!
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
December 22, 2024
In/Human by Cullen McHael is a cyberpunk fantasy novel set in the city of Nova Mundo. It follows Maxine Ali, as she investigates the seedy underbelly of a cyberpunk city.
The worldbuilding is spectacular. McHael goes to great lengths to build up a detailed and complex world that really feels lived in. The blend of fantasy and cyberpunk brings a uniqueness to the world that really makes it stand out above the crowd. The writing is well done and has a good balance of grittiness and humour that at times strays into the territory of noir novels. The style really helps it fall into its own and makes it a pleasure to read.
The plot is solid, but sometimes gets in the way of itself. Sometimes it spends a little too much time on interpersonal romance in situations that seem a little out of place. That being said, the story is intriguing and the plot unfolds like a great mystery.
Maxine’s inner dialogue is unique, flicking between reason, regret, optimism and other emotions so that it reads a lot like a conversation between different parts of her brain. While this started out as an interesting premise, it did sometimes go a little over the top.
Even so, the compelling world and decent writing are two good reasons to give this one a shot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The worldbuilding is spectacular. McHael goes to great lengths to build up a detailed and complex world that really feels lived in. The blend of fantasy and cyberpunk brings a uniqueness to the world that really makes it stand out above the crowd. The writing is well done and has a good balance of grittiness and humour that at times strays into the territory of noir novels. The style really helps it fall into its own and makes it a pleasure to read.
The plot is solid, but sometimes gets in the way of itself. Sometimes it spends a little too much time on interpersonal romance in situations that seem a little out of place. That being said, the story is intriguing and the plot unfolds like a great mystery.
Maxine’s inner dialogue is unique, flicking between reason, regret, optimism and other emotions so that it reads a lot like a conversation between different parts of her brain. While this started out as an interesting premise, it did sometimes go a little over the top.
Even so, the compelling world and decent writing are two good reasons to give this one a shot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 27, 2025
Spoiler Free Review - A tight-action story with quotable witty dialog, unique worldbuilding and gritty intensity. Hoping to see more of Max in later books. It was quite enjoyable to be in her brain for a bit. I'll be paying close attention to everything else Cullen McHael puts out in the near future.
Comps - Gideon the Ninth and Max would absolutely get along. Maybe fight each other first for the fun of it, then get along. Otherwise, it feels like a faster-paced Red Rising that hits a little harder on themes.
Comps - Gideon the Ninth and Max would absolutely get along. Maybe fight each other first for the fun of it, then get along. Otherwise, it feels like a faster-paced Red Rising that hits a little harder on themes.
March 28, 2025
This was an engaging read. It’s not often that science fiction novels capture my attention, but the mention of Cyberpunk piqued my interest, and I felt compelled to explore it. I am genuinely impressed; the story feels like it originates from the same universe as the game, but with additional space western elements and a more pronounced representation of queer themes. The plot, characters, and romance were all exceptionally crafted, and I would certainly be interested in reading the next installment in the series.
October 24, 2025
This one hooked me from the first chapter. Maxine is such a fascinating protagonist tough, indoctrinated, and slowly unraveling everything she’s ever believed. The worldbuilding feels gritty and lived-in, with religious authority, identity, and rebellion all tangled together in a way that feels both uncomfortable and deeply compelling. I loved the dynamic with Jaq, and how Max’s perspective shifts as she starts to actually see the Inmani as people. The emotional stakes hit hard. If you like sci-fi that challenges systems and dives into identity and belonging, this is one to pick up.
November 21, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that cyberpunk element that I was looking for. It uses the fantasy concept perfectly and enjoyed the use of spies and how it worked in the story. Cullen McHael has a strong writing style and was hooked from the first page, I'm glad I got to read this and am excited for more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews