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Aftermath: Regenerate Book One
What if the Philippines were a first-world country?
Be careful what you wish for.
By 2089, a first-world Philippines had beaten death itself. Manila is now Nu Metro. Neon to the clouds. Mecha wolves in the desert. A god, who hasn't aged in a hundred years, in a velvet tie at the top of a tower.
Marc Melendres, a tired corporate slave ready to quit on life, is dragged back in when a masked stranger says three words: I need you.
Teaming up as a crew of society's castaways—a clerk, a runaway heiress, a hacker, and an engineer—to infiltrate the tower of the corporation that owns forever, Marc is about to uncover what immortality is made of.
Immortality has a price. And they're about to find out who's been paying it.
Be careful what you wish for.
By 2089, a first-world Philippines had beaten death itself. Manila is now Nu Metro. Neon to the clouds. Mecha wolves in the desert. A god, who hasn't aged in a hundred years, in a velvet tie at the top of a tower.
Marc Melendres, a tired corporate slave ready to quit on life, is dragged back in when a masked stranger says three words: I need you.
Teaming up as a crew of society's castaways—a clerk, a runaway heiress, a hacker, and an engineer—to infiltrate the tower of the corporation that owns forever, Marc is about to uncover what immortality is made of.
Immortality has a price. And they're about to find out who's been paying it.
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About the author
John Luke Chica
2 books9 followersJohn Luke Chica is currently the Editor-in-Chief for an online publication and a Creative Director for an advertising agency. But his calling is to be a sci-fi and fantasy novelist for the remainder of his lifetime.
He followed his Mother in her footsteps in becoming a self-published author.
His debut novel, “The Shadow Immortals” is an ode to his mother. His novel was also nominated in the category of Best Fiction Novel (English) at the 40th National Book Awards in 2022 by the National Book Development Board of the Philippines. And the same novel was nominated in the category of Best Novel (English) at the Filipino Readers’ Choice Award.
He is also an avid toy collector and a console gamer. Despite his age, 45, he’s still into
Dungeons and Dragons — constantly looking for players and hopes to become a game
master.
He also supports local authors by providing them with tools on how to better market their work in collaboration with PaperKat Books and HS GrafikPrint Publishing.
He followed his Mother in her footsteps in becoming a self-published author.
His debut novel, “The Shadow Immortals” is an ode to his mother. His novel was also nominated in the category of Best Fiction Novel (English) at the 40th National Book Awards in 2022 by the National Book Development Board of the Philippines. And the same novel was nominated in the category of Best Novel (English) at the Filipino Readers’ Choice Award.
He is also an avid toy collector and a console gamer. Despite his age, 45, he’s still into
Dungeons and Dragons — constantly looking for players and hopes to become a game
master.
He also supports local authors by providing them with tools on how to better market their work in collaboration with PaperKat Books and HS GrafikPrint Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 18, 2026
It’s a cold, neon-lit, futuristic Manila—a Philippines that has become a superpower. But it’s also a terrifying world I would never want to live in. Not even if eternity ran through my veins.
Aftermath: Regenerate is a Filipino dystopian novel that brings a timeless question to life: What would you do if you could live forever?
I’d like to thank the author for allowing me to be among the first to experience the world of Nu Metro and its gray, sometimes dark, characters, despite the bursts of color shooting through every corner of its atmosphere.
The story opens with a doctor who solves the mystery of death and brings the possibility of immortality to the Philippines. A vial of this eternal-life serum, called Regen, eventually comes into the possession of Elliot Navarro, who uses it, along with his business acumen, to propel the country into first-world status.
I enjoyed this part because it made me think that perhaps the Philippines could become number one someday. However, the country doesn’t rise to the top through sheer hard work and unity. It simply outlives other countries that are too busy trying to destroy one another.
The futuristic dystopian setting is an ambitious and unique creation. I could almost feel the moving parts of this world: dizzying skyscrapers, flashing billboards, first-rate technology, bitter rain, hovering vehicles, and seriously cool body upgrades. Nu Metro is bleak, wet, and gray, with artificial lights keeping the masses in a trance as they shuffle off to work.
I thought it would be a relief to see Filipinos finally on top of the world. But not in this story. They’re still suppressed and discriminated against, even by their own people. You'd think they’d be living in some makeshift heaven on Earth, but that heaven exists only for a privileged few.
Everyone else still has to grind, hustle, and live under the threat of being discarded the moment they stop benefiting the city. The only difference is that now, there’s no end to their plight.
Enter the A-team: Marc, DotCom, Lu, and Jayne.
Marc is a nobody who gets a spark of what resembles hope. In his case, that spark comes in the form of an explosion that derails his ‘life plan’. His situation is supposed to be depressing, but I find him funny because he’s so quick to latch onto anyone willing to throw him a bone. His life is so dull and uneventful that it nearly pushes him over the edge. Yet when DotCom—a complete stranger—tells him he needs him, Marc doesn’t hesitate to go along.
My favorite line: “Don’t let the cyborg see me cry.” Hahaha!
He also develops a sudden protectiveness toward people he's known for only a couple of days. It felt a little forced, not because of how briefly they'd known each other, but because I wanted a more clearly defined emotional core behind his decision to treat these people as family.
DotCom, with his mysterious past as an ex-Psython, should have been shrouded in intrigue. Instead, I found him mostly indifferent.
Lu, a former Cybex engineer, is probably the most relatable member of the team and the one I find most reliable. I liked that he had a bigger role to play in all of this. It suited him in a way that was somewhat unconventional, yet made sense.
Jayne, meanwhile, fled a family that was never really there for her, seeking to escape her sheltered life and build something of her own. Props to Jayne for running the coolest, most insane underground club in Nu Metro. I’d want to be there, too, getting lost in the bass, the synth, and the lights.
Then there’s the South, which I actually preferred to the city and its manufactured perfection.
My favorite character? The Desert Alpha. Really. I did not see that coming.
I won’t spoil anything, of course, but the Interlude was my favorite chapter in the book. It wasn’t loud or filled with gray, battle-worn humans trying to take on the powers that be. It was simple and raw, and I found myself wishing there had been more of that in the earlier parts of the story.
I thought I wasn't going to get anything particularly emotional out of this book, but this part got me. It revealed a simple truth stripped bare of all the neon lights.
There were, however, moments when the story dragged because of repeated introductions and quips. Some dialogue also felt as though it could have been spoken by any character. There wasn’t enough distinction in their language or manner of speaking. Everyone sounded equally wistful, full of wisdom, and ready for battle.
The book could benefit from a little more editing, particularly when it comes to trimming repeated reminders and descriptions. At times, it felt like too much. The repetition also interrupts the flow of the action, pulling the reader out of scenes just when things should be picking up.
With all that said, I love the story. It’s a tale of lonely, discarded characters struggling to survive a bleak eternity, only to discover that life is still worth living—and fighting for.
I could see this on the big screen. And boy, I can't wait to see it there!
It’s the Philippine Revolution meets Star Wars! I believe that Filipinos can achieve world-class status in science fiction, too. Aftermath: Regenerate reminds us that we can dream up worlds just as ambitious, imaginative, and worthy of being explored.
I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy dystopian science fiction, ambitious worldbuilding, and stories about people fighting to find meaning in a world that seems determined to discard them.
Can’t wait for Book Two!
Aftermath: Regenerate is a Filipino dystopian novel that brings a timeless question to life: What would you do if you could live forever?
I’d like to thank the author for allowing me to be among the first to experience the world of Nu Metro and its gray, sometimes dark, characters, despite the bursts of color shooting through every corner of its atmosphere.
The story opens with a doctor who solves the mystery of death and brings the possibility of immortality to the Philippines. A vial of this eternal-life serum, called Regen, eventually comes into the possession of Elliot Navarro, who uses it, along with his business acumen, to propel the country into first-world status.
I enjoyed this part because it made me think that perhaps the Philippines could become number one someday. However, the country doesn’t rise to the top through sheer hard work and unity. It simply outlives other countries that are too busy trying to destroy one another.
The futuristic dystopian setting is an ambitious and unique creation. I could almost feel the moving parts of this world: dizzying skyscrapers, flashing billboards, first-rate technology, bitter rain, hovering vehicles, and seriously cool body upgrades. Nu Metro is bleak, wet, and gray, with artificial lights keeping the masses in a trance as they shuffle off to work.
I thought it would be a relief to see Filipinos finally on top of the world. But not in this story. They’re still suppressed and discriminated against, even by their own people. You'd think they’d be living in some makeshift heaven on Earth, but that heaven exists only for a privileged few.
Everyone else still has to grind, hustle, and live under the threat of being discarded the moment they stop benefiting the city. The only difference is that now, there’s no end to their plight.
Enter the A-team: Marc, DotCom, Lu, and Jayne.
Marc is a nobody who gets a spark of what resembles hope. In his case, that spark comes in the form of an explosion that derails his ‘life plan’. His situation is supposed to be depressing, but I find him funny because he’s so quick to latch onto anyone willing to throw him a bone. His life is so dull and uneventful that it nearly pushes him over the edge. Yet when DotCom—a complete stranger—tells him he needs him, Marc doesn’t hesitate to go along.
My favorite line: “Don’t let the cyborg see me cry.” Hahaha!
He also develops a sudden protectiveness toward people he's known for only a couple of days. It felt a little forced, not because of how briefly they'd known each other, but because I wanted a more clearly defined emotional core behind his decision to treat these people as family.
DotCom, with his mysterious past as an ex-Psython, should have been shrouded in intrigue. Instead, I found him mostly indifferent.
Lu, a former Cybex engineer, is probably the most relatable member of the team and the one I find most reliable. I liked that he had a bigger role to play in all of this. It suited him in a way that was somewhat unconventional, yet made sense.
Jayne, meanwhile, fled a family that was never really there for her, seeking to escape her sheltered life and build something of her own. Props to Jayne for running the coolest, most insane underground club in Nu Metro. I’d want to be there, too, getting lost in the bass, the synth, and the lights.
Then there’s the South, which I actually preferred to the city and its manufactured perfection.
My favorite character? The Desert Alpha. Really. I did not see that coming.
I won’t spoil anything, of course, but the Interlude was my favorite chapter in the book. It wasn’t loud or filled with gray, battle-worn humans trying to take on the powers that be. It was simple and raw, and I found myself wishing there had been more of that in the earlier parts of the story.
I thought I wasn't going to get anything particularly emotional out of this book, but this part got me. It revealed a simple truth stripped bare of all the neon lights.
There were, however, moments when the story dragged because of repeated introductions and quips. Some dialogue also felt as though it could have been spoken by any character. There wasn’t enough distinction in their language or manner of speaking. Everyone sounded equally wistful, full of wisdom, and ready for battle.
The book could benefit from a little more editing, particularly when it comes to trimming repeated reminders and descriptions. At times, it felt like too much. The repetition also interrupts the flow of the action, pulling the reader out of scenes just when things should be picking up.
With all that said, I love the story. It’s a tale of lonely, discarded characters struggling to survive a bleak eternity, only to discover that life is still worth living—and fighting for.
I could see this on the big screen. And boy, I can't wait to see it there!
It’s the Philippine Revolution meets Star Wars! I believe that Filipinos can achieve world-class status in science fiction, too. Aftermath: Regenerate reminds us that we can dream up worlds just as ambitious, imaginative, and worthy of being explored.
I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy dystopian science fiction, ambitious worldbuilding, and stories about people fighting to find meaning in a world that seems determined to discard them.
Can’t wait for Book Two!
October 20, 2026
A reason to still be here in the morning. Not forever. Just the morning. Just the next one. It was enough. It was everything.
Aftermath: Regenerate follows four individuals as they each bear their own heavy crosses in a Philippines that has conquered death. As their paths intertwine, they're thrust on a mission to answer the quadrillion-peso question:
"What is the true cost of immortality?"
The novel takes you on a tour of its intricately crafted world. High-rise towers draped in perpetual neon; chromatic, yet failing to lift the dismal air that chokes the streets. Forgotten underbellies deep beneath the concrete jungle where souls gather for a brief taste of freedom. Wastelands dotted by skeletons of the past. In these locales, you’ll find a host of factions, each with their own agendas and beliefs.
As for the characters, I can say that they’re a very relatable bunch. One of them most especially. Someone who’s basically a walking husk, treading days that drip with gray. In fact, it's been days since I finished the novel, yet I still keep thinking about this character.
And as we journey with them, we get to see that the wonderful ups and crushing downs of being human don’t care whether you’re 100% flesh or decked from head to toenail with cybernetics.
All in all, I had a great time being immersed in Aftermath: Regenerate. Looking forward to the sequel, where I hope we get to see more of this world, from the vast horizons we haven't been to yet, to maybe something as simple as a roadside ramen stall in the city. And of course, be with the loneliest people of Nu Metro again.
Aftermath: Regenerate follows four individuals as they each bear their own heavy crosses in a Philippines that has conquered death. As their paths intertwine, they're thrust on a mission to answer the quadrillion-peso question:
"What is the true cost of immortality?"
The novel takes you on a tour of its intricately crafted world. High-rise towers draped in perpetual neon; chromatic, yet failing to lift the dismal air that chokes the streets. Forgotten underbellies deep beneath the concrete jungle where souls gather for a brief taste of freedom. Wastelands dotted by skeletons of the past. In these locales, you’ll find a host of factions, each with their own agendas and beliefs.
As for the characters, I can say that they’re a very relatable bunch. One of them most especially. Someone who’s basically a walking husk, treading days that drip with gray. In fact, it's been days since I finished the novel, yet I still keep thinking about this character.
And as we journey with them, we get to see that the wonderful ups and crushing downs of being human don’t care whether you’re 100% flesh or decked from head to toenail with cybernetics.
All in all, I had a great time being immersed in Aftermath: Regenerate. Looking forward to the sequel, where I hope we get to see more of this world, from the vast horizons we haven't been to yet, to maybe something as simple as a roadside ramen stall in the city. And of course, be with the loneliest people of Nu Metro again.
October 21, 2026
Aftermath: Regenerate paints the punk in Cyberpunk. With a ragtag group of imperfect but lovable characters, they set out to beat an unbeatable foe.
Here’s what I love about this book.
[The Characters]
The stars of this book are the characters, and I have reasons from different angles.
I am a fan of grey and underdog characters, and this book has a multitude of them. When I say grey, I mean characters who are complex, fighting between the good and bad inside of them. Marc, DotCom, Jayne, and Lu are like this, but each has a distinct flavor of their own.
What I like is that they are given their own space to shine. None of them felt like secondary characters, because their motivations are well thought out. They have their own battles against Elliott and their own reasons to stand up against a god.
Of the characters, my favorite is Lu. What I like about him is his restraint and his ability to hold things in by himself. He has a trait of self-denial, the attitude that he can handle everything on his own. This makes him a complex character, which makes me wonder: what happens if Lu allows himself to be free?
[The Story]
How do you unite four seemingly unrelated characters? Give them a common enemy.
Even in the story, I can’t seem to separate the characters, because what ultimately brought them to the end are the decisions they make in their own unique situations.
Elliott is an effective antagonist, and he embodies the reason why people would fight back. He is effective because he is also a complex character. You could look at him and hate him, but also understand where he’s coming from. Without spoiling, I like the ending as is because it gives insight into what’s next.
[Verdict]
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. The characters will definitely stay with me, and I’m looking forward to what happens to them in the next books!
*I obtained my copy of this book as an ARC.
Here’s what I love about this book.
[The Characters]
The stars of this book are the characters, and I have reasons from different angles.
I am a fan of grey and underdog characters, and this book has a multitude of them. When I say grey, I mean characters who are complex, fighting between the good and bad inside of them. Marc, DotCom, Jayne, and Lu are like this, but each has a distinct flavor of their own.
What I like is that they are given their own space to shine. None of them felt like secondary characters, because their motivations are well thought out. They have their own battles against Elliott and their own reasons to stand up against a god.
Of the characters, my favorite is Lu. What I like about him is his restraint and his ability to hold things in by himself. He has a trait of self-denial, the attitude that he can handle everything on his own. This makes him a complex character, which makes me wonder: what happens if Lu allows himself to be free?
[The Story]
How do you unite four seemingly unrelated characters? Give them a common enemy.
Even in the story, I can’t seem to separate the characters, because what ultimately brought them to the end are the decisions they make in their own unique situations.
Elliott is an effective antagonist, and he embodies the reason why people would fight back. He is effective because he is also a complex character. You could look at him and hate him, but also understand where he’s coming from. Without spoiling, I like the ending as is because it gives insight into what’s next.
[Verdict]
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. The characters will definitely stay with me, and I’m looking forward to what happens to them in the next books!
*I obtained my copy of this book as an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews