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Jayu City Chronicles #3
The Cordelia Solution
"Fast-paced, action-packed, and full of twists and turns, The Cordelia Solution, the latest in Arnone's Jayu City Chronicles, does not disappoint." —J.H. Fleming, author of the Music the Gathering series
"Arnone's third entry in his cyberpunk series, The Jayu City Chronicles, continues to show us a future where technology isn't just used by evil corporations for nefarious purposes, but by innovative characters for anything from infiltrating and sneaking to expressing their sexual identity through body modification. Mixing high technology with the thrills of a heist story and the intrigue of a spy novel, the Cordelia Solution is a great adventure that expertly carries the intrigues and conspiracy through from the first two books. But be ready for a cliff-hanger that will have you waiting impatiently for Book Four!" - Greg Leunig, author of Colossus, Cold Wind Blowing, and Neon Citadel.
"Arnone once again deftly channels the sleek and sexy cyberpunk vibes of standards like Ghost in the Shell, Aeon Flux, and the Deus Ex game franchise in The Cordelia Solution, the third installment in his Jayu City Chronicles. It is a slick, high-intensity, corporate espionage thriller, featuring a diverse and inclusive cast, that leaves you on the edge of your seat begging for more." – A.G. Rodriguez, author of Space Brooms!
“First the NDA, then the kiss. Arnone’s Jayu City Chronicles are a ‘must read’ for the cyberpunk crowd. This third installment, The Cordelia Solution, is no exception.” – Phillip Drayer Duncan, author of The Blade Mage
“The Cordelia Solution plunges readers back into the intrigue of Jayu City, where danger, deception, and unexpected alliances keep the stakes sky-high. Elise Corto-Intel’s latest mission blends corporate espionage, high-tech thrills, and complex personal entanglements that keep readers turning the pages. Perfect for fans of nuanced characters and intricately built cyberpunk worlds where every choice could be the last.” – Michael Solis, Author of Deficient
"Deep undercover and in deep trouble! When her personal and professional missions collide, Elise must reassess her loyalties and confront her biggest fears to survive. But at what cost? The third installment of the Jayu City Chronicles raises the stakes and delivers a Cyberpunk thriller with heart." - Kagan Tumer, author of The Uregs series
"The Cordelia Solution is jam-packed with fascinating tech and heart-pounding action, but where it really shines is in the relationships. Arnone has a knack for building honest, genuine connections between characters - both positive and negative - that make the reader care about the outcome on a personal level. This is cyberpunk with heart." - Christine Hanolsy, Nebula Award-nominated author of “Katya Vasilievna and the Second Drowning of Baba Rechka”
About The Cordelia Solution
Elise Corto-Intel is a thief. Was a thief. Now, it seems like so much more is being asked of her. Despite her best efforts, a rogue operative is still on the loose and still trying to upset the careful balance of power in Jayu City. To sniff out the threat, Elise has to go deep undercover, accompanied only by her apprentice and her illegal AI.
"Arnone's third entry in his cyberpunk series, The Jayu City Chronicles, continues to show us a future where technology isn't just used by evil corporations for nefarious purposes, but by innovative characters for anything from infiltrating and sneaking to expressing their sexual identity through body modification. Mixing high technology with the thrills of a heist story and the intrigue of a spy novel, the Cordelia Solution is a great adventure that expertly carries the intrigues and conspiracy through from the first two books. But be ready for a cliff-hanger that will have you waiting impatiently for Book Four!" - Greg Leunig, author of Colossus, Cold Wind Blowing, and Neon Citadel.
"Arnone once again deftly channels the sleek and sexy cyberpunk vibes of standards like Ghost in the Shell, Aeon Flux, and the Deus Ex game franchise in The Cordelia Solution, the third installment in his Jayu City Chronicles. It is a slick, high-intensity, corporate espionage thriller, featuring a diverse and inclusive cast, that leaves you on the edge of your seat begging for more." – A.G. Rodriguez, author of Space Brooms!
“First the NDA, then the kiss. Arnone’s Jayu City Chronicles are a ‘must read’ for the cyberpunk crowd. This third installment, The Cordelia Solution, is no exception.” – Phillip Drayer Duncan, author of The Blade Mage
“The Cordelia Solution plunges readers back into the intrigue of Jayu City, where danger, deception, and unexpected alliances keep the stakes sky-high. Elise Corto-Intel’s latest mission blends corporate espionage, high-tech thrills, and complex personal entanglements that keep readers turning the pages. Perfect for fans of nuanced characters and intricately built cyberpunk worlds where every choice could be the last.” – Michael Solis, Author of Deficient
"Deep undercover and in deep trouble! When her personal and professional missions collide, Elise must reassess her loyalties and confront her biggest fears to survive. But at what cost? The third installment of the Jayu City Chronicles raises the stakes and delivers a Cyberpunk thriller with heart." - Kagan Tumer, author of The Uregs series
"The Cordelia Solution is jam-packed with fascinating tech and heart-pounding action, but where it really shines is in the relationships. Arnone has a knack for building honest, genuine connections between characters - both positive and negative - that make the reader care about the outcome on a personal level. This is cyberpunk with heart." - Christine Hanolsy, Nebula Award-nominated author of “Katya Vasilievna and the Second Drowning of Baba Rechka”
About The Cordelia Solution
Elise Corto-Intel is a thief. Was a thief. Now, it seems like so much more is being asked of her. Despite her best efforts, a rogue operative is still on the loose and still trying to upset the careful balance of power in Jayu City. To sniff out the threat, Elise has to go deep undercover, accompanied only by her apprentice and her illegal AI.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
Chris M. Arnone
6 books53 followersChris M. Arnone (he/him) was weaned on comic books and Hardy Boys novels, finding his first literary love in Lord of the Flies, though his longest-lasting is a love for Ray Bradbury. He reads and writes nerdy fiction in equal parts with literary fiction and poetry these days, but his imagination still leans toward the magical. As an intersex man, he is particularly interested in gender and sexuality in his writing.
Chris’ debut novel, The Hermes Protocol, is forthcoming from Castle Bridge Media on January 24, 2023. He is a contributor for Book Riot. He is represented by Katie Salvo at Metamorphosis Literary Agency.
He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He also performs on many stages in Kansas City, where he lives with his wife Christy and their cats.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 11, 2025
The Cordelia Solution by Chris M. Arnone
It's November 11th & it's publication day for the third in the series of the Jayu City Chronicles.
Thank you to @castle_bridge_media_publisher for the eARC of this new novel from @chrismarnone
First up, if you've not read the previous novels, you can still enjoy the main adventure in this book. And if you're following the series then there are developments on the overarching plot and the lives of the main characters.
This is a cyberpunk thriller set in a time and place far, far away from Earth.
The corporate espionage between the main families in control of the boroughs of Jayu City once again sucks in Intel operative, Elise.
She's a resourceful character, highly skilled in specialised heists, spying and sneaking around and now she's thrown into her most dangerous mission yet, going deep undercover with only her apprentice, Nox, and her illegal AI on hand to help out.
There is so much suspense in this novel and fantastic action sequences which make full use of the future technology, gadgets, and body modifications, including Elise's cybernetic limbs.
The future culture is really interesting. It's totally gender fluid and characters announce their pronouns when meeting someone new. Elise is asexual which brings another level to her characterisation and motivations.
The writing itself is fluid. The prose flows and takes the reader along at great speed through this high octane experience. This book is exciting!
Fantastic plot. Great characters. Tremendous ideas. Loads of surprises and a shocking conclusion that indicates that a fourth book has to happen. And I want it now!
Sci-fi, cyberpunk spy thriller with heart and soul.
It's November 11th & it's publication day for the third in the series of the Jayu City Chronicles.
Thank you to @castle_bridge_media_publisher for the eARC of this new novel from @chrismarnone
First up, if you've not read the previous novels, you can still enjoy the main adventure in this book. And if you're following the series then there are developments on the overarching plot and the lives of the main characters.
This is a cyberpunk thriller set in a time and place far, far away from Earth.
The corporate espionage between the main families in control of the boroughs of Jayu City once again sucks in Intel operative, Elise.
She's a resourceful character, highly skilled in specialised heists, spying and sneaking around and now she's thrown into her most dangerous mission yet, going deep undercover with only her apprentice, Nox, and her illegal AI on hand to help out.
There is so much suspense in this novel and fantastic action sequences which make full use of the future technology, gadgets, and body modifications, including Elise's cybernetic limbs.
The future culture is really interesting. It's totally gender fluid and characters announce their pronouns when meeting someone new. Elise is asexual which brings another level to her characterisation and motivations.
The writing itself is fluid. The prose flows and takes the reader along at great speed through this high octane experience. This book is exciting!
Fantastic plot. Great characters. Tremendous ideas. Loads of surprises and a shocking conclusion that indicates that a fourth book has to happen. And I want it now!
Sci-fi, cyberpunk spy thriller with heart and soul.
September 17, 2025
The Cordelia Solution is such a ride! From the very first scene, I was hooked. That corporate wedding opening wasn’t just clever, it was pure genius. It set the tone right away, mixing corporate power plays with Elise’s secret mission, and I knew instantly this was going to be good.
Elise is an incredible character. She’s strong and skilled, yet also deeply human and vulnerable. I loved the layers we get through her flashbacks, her sweet bond with Quynn, and the playful moments with Bastion. Even the brunch scene with her mom stood out as one of my favorites, such a tender touch of normal life in the middle of this high-tech, high-stakes world.
The world-building is stunning. From AR art to cybernetic limbs and neural interfaces, every detail felt vivid and believable. But what impressed me most was how the technology never overshadowed the story itself. At its heart, this book is about people, relationships, and choices, and that balance between thrilling sci-fi concepts and genuine human emotion is what makes it shine.
This book has it all: action, humor, heart, and characters you can truly root for. Chris has created something special here, and I can’t wait to see the next 🥰
Elise is an incredible character. She’s strong and skilled, yet also deeply human and vulnerable. I loved the layers we get through her flashbacks, her sweet bond with Quynn, and the playful moments with Bastion. Even the brunch scene with her mom stood out as one of my favorites, such a tender touch of normal life in the middle of this high-tech, high-stakes world.
The world-building is stunning. From AR art to cybernetic limbs and neural interfaces, every detail felt vivid and believable. But what impressed me most was how the technology never overshadowed the story itself. At its heart, this book is about people, relationships, and choices, and that balance between thrilling sci-fi concepts and genuine human emotion is what makes it shine.
This book has it all: action, humor, heart, and characters you can truly root for. Chris has created something special here, and I can’t wait to see the next 🥰
November 4, 2025
The Cordelia Solution by Chris M. Arnone is an electrifying dive into a high-tech, high-stakes cyberpunk world. As the third installment of the Jayu City Chronicles, it delivers pulse-pounding action, intricate espionage, and a nuanced exploration of loyalty, identity, and technology’s role in society. Arnone’s deft world-building paints Jayu City as a fully realized metropolis teeming with danger, innovation, and complex social dynamics.
Elise Corto-Intel’s journey, balancing personal risk with professional duty, keeps readers engaged from the first page to the last. The blend of suspense, futuristic technology, and genuine character relationships creates a cyberpunk thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed. Fans of Ghost in the Shell, Aeon Flux, and high-octane heist adventures will find themselves fully immersed in Arnone’s meticulously crafted universe.
Elise Corto-Intel’s journey, balancing personal risk with professional duty, keeps readers engaged from the first page to the last. The blend of suspense, futuristic technology, and genuine character relationships creates a cyberpunk thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is action-packed. Fans of Ghost in the Shell, Aeon Flux, and high-octane heist adventures will find themselves fully immersed in Arnone’s meticulously crafted universe.
November 5, 2025
I love this series so much. It’s such a unique world and original plot. Elise is back and in more crazy and intense situations. I wasn’t sure if a recent read of the first two books would be necessary to enjoy this one, but there are plenty of references back to some of the big events from the other books to help tie everything together if you happened to pick this up as a standalone.
From a story perspective, I love that Bastion is getting even more of his own personality. And Nox is definitely becoming a character I want to see more from.
That cliffhanger though is definitely the most dramatic of the series and now I’m on the edge of my seat to hear when book 4 is coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Castle Bridge Media for the arc!
From a story perspective, I love that Bastion is getting even more of his own personality. And Nox is definitely becoming a character I want to see more from.
That cliffhanger though is definitely the most dramatic of the series and now I’m on the edge of my seat to hear when book 4 is coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Castle Bridge Media for the arc!
November 30, 2025
Jayu City is built of huge towers and five huge corporate cultures, all very different and all competing with each other. Elise Corto-Intel, a corporate spy and thief, has four replacement limbs that allow her to accomplish impossible things while carrying tools in those limbs. In The Cordelia Solution (paper from Castle Bridge Media) she has to go undercover to stop the accession of a new CEO because he intends to merge his company with an evil one. She is an honorary body double for the other contender for the CEO position, Gloria. Chris M Arnone tells a pulse pounding tale as Elise faces her arch-enemy from previous tales I haven’t read. I enjoyed this tale well enough to put the two previous adventures on my reading list.
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November 2, 2025I had not read the first two installments in the Jayu City Chronicles, but now I'm going to have to pick them up. The Cordelia Solution was fast paced and packed with excellent cyber-spy action sequences, balanced out by a well defined protagonist with compelling flaws. Even without the context of the first two books, the world and characters were well described throughout the story, enabling me to just enjoy the read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews