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The Aetherion Code: Book One: The Spark
SOMETIMES, ONLY THE YOUTH CAN SEE THE TRUTH.
In 2053, whether you live in Zimbabwe, South Korea, or America, the clouds all look the same.
You are living in the world of Atlas Hawkins. After a catastrophic world war, he controls how most people think and act. And yes, he even controls the weather.
If you're a teenager, wherever you are, your every move is monitored, and you must not step out of line. Even the smallest transgression will get you sent to the new juvenile penal colony on Camp Constellation.
But nineteen-year-old Hester is not your average teenager. She is on a secret mission that she's willing to risk everything for - and believes the newest AI being used as therapy bots at the camp on Mars might just hold the key.
Life at Constellation is a far cry from what Hester imagined it would be, though. She's thrown together with a group of juvies who are forced to confront not only their sins, but also their strengths. They realize this place might just turn out to be everything they wish Earth could be.
That is, if they can get out alive.
Serving time on Mars is one thing- but this just got WAY more complicated.
In 2053, whether you live in Zimbabwe, South Korea, or America, the clouds all look the same.
You are living in the world of Atlas Hawkins. After a catastrophic world war, he controls how most people think and act. And yes, he even controls the weather.
If you're a teenager, wherever you are, your every move is monitored, and you must not step out of line. Even the smallest transgression will get you sent to the new juvenile penal colony on Camp Constellation.
But nineteen-year-old Hester is not your average teenager. She is on a secret mission that she's willing to risk everything for - and believes the newest AI being used as therapy bots at the camp on Mars might just hold the key.
Life at Constellation is a far cry from what Hester imagined it would be, though. She's thrown together with a group of juvies who are forced to confront not only their sins, but also their strengths. They realize this place might just turn out to be everything they wish Earth could be.
That is, if they can get out alive.
Serving time on Mars is one thing- but this just got WAY more complicated.
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Published July 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 24, 2026
Although dystopian, “Black Mirror”-ish stories are not my genre, I found this a quick, thoughtful, and entertaining read. Adolescents are heroes in this story about youth sentenced to a “penal colony” in an autocratic regime that is trying out an “innovative” approach of using therapy with AI and other technological approaches to help rehabilitate kids in the “justice” system, many of whom are there unfairly. It was interesting to me that the tech approaches were really recreations of human connection, which had been squeezed out of the population by a leadership only focused on power and greed, the kind we find holding office today.
Told with multi-focal narration, the story flows quickly, and shows the experience of the writers with screenplays. I appreciated the respect shown by the writers for its target audience. And like them, I believe the younger generation is going to lead us out of this fucked up situation in which we find ourselves. I look forward to the next two installments of the series.
Told with multi-focal narration, the story flows quickly, and shows the experience of the writers with screenplays. I appreciated the respect shown by the writers for its target audience. And like them, I believe the younger generation is going to lead us out of this fucked up situation in which we find ourselves. I look forward to the next two installments of the series.
July 20, 2026
This book is everything I want in a dystopian story and more. The world-building is incredible a future where one man controls the world and teenagers are shipped off to Mars for the smallest crimes? Absolutely gripping. Hester is a fantastic lead strong, smart, and so easy to cheer for. The cast of characters around her is just as compelling, and watching them grow and fight together was so satisfying. The mix of suspense, heart, and rebellion kept me turning pages late into the night. And the ending? Wow. I'm already counting down the days until Book Two. Fay Masterson and Bellamy Young have created a world I never want to leave. Highly, highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews