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Daybreak
Harriet is excited for Oliver to return home as an adult MechaniBot, but when he finally arrives, their reunion is overshadowed by Harriet's deteriorating health. Desperate to help her, Oliver turns to an unlikely Harriet’s abusive ex-husband, Anthony.
Oliver was determined to seek revenge on Anthony, but instead, must befriend him.
As Oliver delves deeper into Anthony's world, he uncovers the dark underbelly of his business, all the while, the traumas of his past come back to haunt him. While he struggles to hold on to his true self, he realises he needs his mother more than ever before.
Will Harriet's unwavering love for her son be enough to outshine Anthony’s influence? Or will the sweet boy she raised slip further and further away from the man he has become?
Oliver was determined to seek revenge on Anthony, but instead, must befriend him.
As Oliver delves deeper into Anthony's world, he uncovers the dark underbelly of his business, all the while, the traumas of his past come back to haunt him. While he struggles to hold on to his true self, he realises he needs his mother more than ever before.
Will Harriet's unwavering love for her son be enough to outshine Anthony’s influence? Or will the sweet boy she raised slip further and further away from the man he has become?
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2025
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 5, 2025
Wonderful but heartbreaking end to this amazing series! I cried my eyes out at the end but it was a beautiful way to finish the story. I wish it was a happier ending but still I loved it.
June 13, 2025
A tense and emotional conclusion to an excellent series. Degrees of Freedom works really well as a trilogy but I still found myself wishing there were more books!
The dystopian setting is a near future with advanced tech but it could just as easily take place today. We see Oliver as an adult bot navigating a world he doesn’t fully comprehend and doing his best to unravel the complexities of power, loyalty, respect, trauma, friendship, and love. I liked how the story draws on some of the current concerns and discussions on the rapid development of AI. There’s also strong commentary on class inequity, rampant consumerism, and wastefulness.
I found the whole series to be very thought-provoking and engaging, and I had a lot of fun reviewing advanced copies of each book.
Highly recommended!
The dystopian setting is a near future with advanced tech but it could just as easily take place today. We see Oliver as an adult bot navigating a world he doesn’t fully comprehend and doing his best to unravel the complexities of power, loyalty, respect, trauma, friendship, and love. I liked how the story draws on some of the current concerns and discussions on the rapid development of AI. There’s also strong commentary on class inequity, rampant consumerism, and wastefulness.
I found the whole series to be very thought-provoking and engaging, and I had a lot of fun reviewing advanced copies of each book.
Highly recommended!
October 27, 2025
Heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time
The dystopian world continues in Degrees of Freedom Book 3, Daybreak. We see Oliver as an adult now, working and making his own decisions. We also see a much-aged Harriet as she grapples with situations common both to her age-group and other below-grounders. As the plot unfolded, I could see what was coming, except I couldn’t turn away. Emma Ellis has crafted another book which is hard to put down and leaves you thinking long after you’re done. Where will our current AI / robotic trend take us and is that place somewhere we really want to be? Read this series for a plausible look into our future so that perhaps we can avoid some of that future’s worst features — disposability, consumerism without restriction, oppression of the poor and destitute, exploitation of the vulnerable, and hatred toward fellow humans.
The dystopian world continues in Degrees of Freedom Book 3, Daybreak. We see Oliver as an adult now, working and making his own decisions. We also see a much-aged Harriet as she grapples with situations common both to her age-group and other below-grounders. As the plot unfolded, I could see what was coming, except I couldn’t turn away. Emma Ellis has crafted another book which is hard to put down and leaves you thinking long after you’re done. Where will our current AI / robotic trend take us and is that place somewhere we really want to be? Read this series for a plausible look into our future so that perhaps we can avoid some of that future’s worst features — disposability, consumerism without restriction, oppression of the poor and destitute, exploitation of the vulnerable, and hatred toward fellow humans.
January 6, 2026
This had been on my TBR since release after enjoying the first two in the series which have nice parallels to the Artificial Intelligence film from Spielberg back in 2001. I read this last in the trilogy over a few day(break)s as the pacing was right on point. It was interesting to see a grown-up Oliver with some darker shades to his character alongside the development of Anthony with a machiavellian plot that (no spoilers) really kicks up the narrative drive around the 60% mark. Harriet, Theo, Monty and the gang seem like real people; always a good sign of the writing and you're invested in their plight. There was also a dash of romance, adding another layer to the story. The ending was dramatic, compelling and I believe the right thing in terms of character arcs. Again no spoilers so give this a whirl and make your own mind up. Thanks Emma for an excellent series on KU :D
June 24, 2025
A fitting end to the trilogy. Oliver is a grown bot now and decides to do whatever it takes to help his family, while they attempt to keep him safe and the little boy they all loved. The worldbuilding continues to be strong and ever developing, and I liked seeing how the characters interact with the setting and different aspects of their world. Monty remains my favourite character, and the emotions were high reading this one. I disliked Oliver’s choices for a bit of it, but understood how it came to be, and the ending was satisfactory for the trilogy as a whole. It was a telling reflection of morality in the real world with technology and AI, and the nature vs nurture debate, with the mother/son relationship at its heart.
July 3, 2025
So Oliver now has his adult body and freedom, what exactly will he do with it?!
The themes are the first two books - Waste, Inequality and AI are all still present but now we see a commentary on the toxic masculinity plague that’s been flourishing in recent years.
I didn’t enjoy the final instalment in the series quite as much as the first two books but all in all still a good read. I think for me it just took a little too long to get going and I found the early parts a little predictable.
No spoliers because I’m not that kind of reviewer but I have to say I was shocked at the final outcome shocked in a good way because I think it turned out the way it needed to.
The themes are the first two books - Waste, Inequality and AI are all still present but now we see a commentary on the toxic masculinity plague that’s been flourishing in recent years.
I didn’t enjoy the final instalment in the series quite as much as the first two books but all in all still a good read. I think for me it just took a little too long to get going and I found the early parts a little predictable.
No spoliers because I’m not that kind of reviewer but I have to say I was shocked at the final outcome shocked in a good way because I think it turned out the way it needed to.
August 18, 2025
What a great ending to a great series. Daybreak is the conclusion to the dystopian series that explores AI sentience, classism, a mother’s love, found family, and revenge.
While the ending to this series was heartbreaking, it was also fulfilling. A fitting end for several of the characters. As always, Ellis writes characters with heart, and you find yourself loving and hating the characters in equal measure. Her dystopian world building is always frightening, because you can clearly see it happening in the near future, and her depiction of the uses for AI, also very realistic.
If you want to read another chilling dystopian series, this is one for your TBR list.
While the ending to this series was heartbreaking, it was also fulfilling. A fitting end for several of the characters. As always, Ellis writes characters with heart, and you find yourself loving and hating the characters in equal measure. Her dystopian world building is always frightening, because you can clearly see it happening in the near future, and her depiction of the uses for AI, also very realistic.
If you want to read another chilling dystopian series, this is one for your TBR list.
July 2, 2025
What an emotional roller coaster ride! Emma did such a wonderful job of telling Oliver and Harriet’s story. The triumphs, the despair, the tension, the unconditional love—it was all there, and I felt like I was embedded in their world right alongside them.
What more is there to say? This whole trilogy was so well done and so incredibly powerful. I would definitely recommend you add all 3 books to your TBR!
I will be forever grateful to Emma for the opportunity to be part of her ARC team. Now I can’t wait to check out her other books. I’m officially a big fan!
What more is there to say? This whole trilogy was so well done and so incredibly powerful. I would definitely recommend you add all 3 books to your TBR!
I will be forever grateful to Emma for the opportunity to be part of her ARC team. Now I can’t wait to check out her other books. I’m officially a big fan!
July 5, 2025
Highly emotional and fitting conclusion to the trilogy. No spoilers - loved the exploration of themes including family, both chosen and blood, AI and although this is a tale of dystopian proportions - I'd say it's firmly rooted in present day topics and concerns. Perfect!
August 15, 2025
These just weren’t for me. I read them all because I’m on vacation and had them downloaded but they were just ok.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews