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Progeny
"A powerful, thought-provoking story that pulled me in from the start . . . with twists and turns like a roller coaster, an absolute must-read." -Paula Abdul, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, producer, and television personality
"A heart-pounding sleigh ride into a twisted future world." -Gustav Carlson, award-winning international journalist and author
In a dystopian world, equity begins at birth. Every newborn is placed into a pool and randomly reassigned to a different family-no child should have the advantage of the "right" family. Even stillborn infants are entered into this cruel lottery.
Brooke Yeled is an agent of the powerful Progeny Agency, tasked with enforcing this chilling ideal. But when Brooke discovers she herself is pregnant, her world begins to unravel. Surrounded by betrayal, intrigue, and escalating violence, she quickly learns the fierce power of motherhood and the depths she will go to protect her unborn child.
As Brooke fights for what is hers, she becomes a target of the very system she once upheld-a system obsessed with absolute equity at any cost, guided by ruthless artificial intelligence and relentless surveillance.
With danger at every turn and trust becoming an impossible luxury, Brooke must find the truth hidden beneath layers of deceit. Can she gather the proof she needs in time to save her baby, as well as herself? Or will she become yet another victim of equity's unforgiving rule?
"A heart-pounding sleigh ride into a twisted future world." -Gustav Carlson, award-winning international journalist and author
In a dystopian world, equity begins at birth. Every newborn is placed into a pool and randomly reassigned to a different family-no child should have the advantage of the "right" family. Even stillborn infants are entered into this cruel lottery.
Brooke Yeled is an agent of the powerful Progeny Agency, tasked with enforcing this chilling ideal. But when Brooke discovers she herself is pregnant, her world begins to unravel. Surrounded by betrayal, intrigue, and escalating violence, she quickly learns the fierce power of motherhood and the depths she will go to protect her unborn child.
As Brooke fights for what is hers, she becomes a target of the very system she once upheld-a system obsessed with absolute equity at any cost, guided by ruthless artificial intelligence and relentless surveillance.
With danger at every turn and trust becoming an impossible luxury, Brooke must find the truth hidden beneath layers of deceit. Can she gather the proof she needs in time to save her baby, as well as herself? Or will she become yet another victim of equity's unforgiving rule?
114 pages, Hardcover
Published January 20, 2026
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 15, 2025
I was able to get my hands on this book before its release date. Progeny is a genuinely beautiful read. Peter Weiss tells a family story that feels honest and quietly powerful, and the writing has this calm clarity that pulls you in. The emotional moments land in a really natural way. If you like thoughtful books that stay with you after you’re done, this one’s a standout.
November 9, 2025
I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have always been a fan of dystopian reads and after finishing “The Choice” by Claire Wade, I was itching for something with a similar vibe. This preview stood out to me immediately. Rather than a world where the birth rate is declining or only certain people are granted permission to have a baby, this shifts the idea of births in the future to anyone still being able to have or adopt a baby, but the government trying to ensure “equality” by randomly assigning those babies. In other words, you will not receive the baby you birth, but a baby born within the same timing of yours for the sake of promoting equality straight from birth and not having a head start from who your parents are.
This already sounds like a mess before the narrative begins, in a great way, because you know many will have issue with it, especially readers who are mothers themselves. This makes for an exciting premise which remained true for me throughout the story. However, I didn’t realize that this was a short story and a good 50% of it was spent creating exposition that could have been handled quicker or done interwoven as snippets as we went along. This pacing further surprised me when I realized this was going to be 100 pages instead of 300.
There were a few typos and mistakes that I presume will be caught pre-publishing but they were distracting. I also was disappointed how the ending panned out. It was a cliffhanger, but it felt like a decision made from not knowing how to actually resolve/reveal things more than leaving the audience curious and wanting more. I also applaud Weiss’ background as an MD but felt like the writing could have been improved with some readers who are not in the medical field suggesting how to tone down some of the jargon and make it more colloquial and under the guise of storytelling rather than a medical report.
A stellar idea and interesting way of carrying it out, but it could definitely use some polishing and finessing and I would have loved it to be a full length novel to explore the idea further and get to know the characters on a deeper level
I have always been a fan of dystopian reads and after finishing “The Choice” by Claire Wade, I was itching for something with a similar vibe. This preview stood out to me immediately. Rather than a world where the birth rate is declining or only certain people are granted permission to have a baby, this shifts the idea of births in the future to anyone still being able to have or adopt a baby, but the government trying to ensure “equality” by randomly assigning those babies. In other words, you will not receive the baby you birth, but a baby born within the same timing of yours for the sake of promoting equality straight from birth and not having a head start from who your parents are.
This already sounds like a mess before the narrative begins, in a great way, because you know many will have issue with it, especially readers who are mothers themselves. This makes for an exciting premise which remained true for me throughout the story. However, I didn’t realize that this was a short story and a good 50% of it was spent creating exposition that could have been handled quicker or done interwoven as snippets as we went along. This pacing further surprised me when I realized this was going to be 100 pages instead of 300.
There were a few typos and mistakes that I presume will be caught pre-publishing but they were distracting. I also was disappointed how the ending panned out. It was a cliffhanger, but it felt like a decision made from not knowing how to actually resolve/reveal things more than leaving the audience curious and wanting more. I also applaud Weiss’ background as an MD but felt like the writing could have been improved with some readers who are not in the medical field suggesting how to tone down some of the jargon and make it more colloquial and under the guise of storytelling rather than a medical report.
A stellar idea and interesting way of carrying it out, but it could definitely use some polishing and finessing and I would have loved it to be a full length novel to explore the idea further and get to know the characters on a deeper level
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this story—my only real complaint is that I wished it were longer. The world was so compelling that I found myself wanting far more time immersed in it. I would have loved to see deeper world-building, especially more detail about how this society functions and how people live day to day within it.
I also wanted more time spent developing Brook and Derek’s relationship. Their story was engaging, and I felt there was so much emotional potential still left to explore. In the same way, I would have enjoyed a deeper dive into the antagonist’s life and motivations. Understanding their past and the experiences that shaped them would have added even more complexity to the conflict.
I was especially curious about the origins of progeny—how it was first created, how people initially reacted to it, and how society adapted in those early stages. That backstory feels rich with possibility and would have added even more weight to the present-day stakes.
While I won’t mention spoilers, I also wished the ending had been explored in greater detail. I wanted a bit more time to sit with the resolution and fully absorb the consequences of everything that happened. Overall, this is a fascinating and well-crafted world, and I would absolutely love a sequel—or even another standalone story set in this universe. It’s a world I’m not ready to leave.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
I also wanted more time spent developing Brook and Derek’s relationship. Their story was engaging, and I felt there was so much emotional potential still left to explore. In the same way, I would have enjoyed a deeper dive into the antagonist’s life and motivations. Understanding their past and the experiences that shaped them would have added even more complexity to the conflict.
I was especially curious about the origins of progeny—how it was first created, how people initially reacted to it, and how society adapted in those early stages. That backstory feels rich with possibility and would have added even more weight to the present-day stakes.
While I won’t mention spoilers, I also wished the ending had been explored in greater detail. I wanted a bit more time to sit with the resolution and fully absorb the consequences of everything that happened. Overall, this is a fascinating and well-crafted world, and I would absolutely love a sequel—or even another standalone story set in this universe. It’s a world I’m not ready to leave.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
November 15, 2025
I was lucky enough to be gifted an early copy for review and I can say that this is one thrilling story that I could not put down. Progeny depicts a futuristic dystopian world that feels very fleshed out and is painted with such color. It really put me in a chokehold. And while the eerie world is gripping of itself with lots of twists and turns, the heart of the story is the characters.
Peter Weiss really fleshes out each character and makes the reader truly feel that they are real and that no one is safe. Progeny is a unique story that feels authentic and clearly the author, Peter Weiss, has put a lot of thought and care into crafting it.
Progeny is a very quick and easy read. If you are a fan of science fiction, medical dramas, or thrillers, this book is the perfect book for you. Even if those genres aren’t your typical cup of tea, I highly recommend giving Progeny a chance as it is thought provoking, engaging, and keeps you at the edge of your seat. Once you start, you won’t want to put the book down until you’re done reading it. It’s perfect for a rainy night inside!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! And I already can’t wait for Peter Weiss’ next book and to see where his imaginative mind takes him and us next!
Peter Weiss really fleshes out each character and makes the reader truly feel that they are real and that no one is safe. Progeny is a unique story that feels authentic and clearly the author, Peter Weiss, has put a lot of thought and care into crafting it.
Progeny is a very quick and easy read. If you are a fan of science fiction, medical dramas, or thrillers, this book is the perfect book for you. Even if those genres aren’t your typical cup of tea, I highly recommend giving Progeny a chance as it is thought provoking, engaging, and keeps you at the edge of your seat. Once you start, you won’t want to put the book down until you’re done reading it. It’s perfect for a rainy night inside!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! And I already can’t wait for Peter Weiss’ next book and to see where his imaginative mind takes him and us next!
November 16, 2025
I was able to get “Progeny” before actual release date as I review new books quite often.
Although I’m usually not a huge fan of stories about dystopian worlds, this one really got me.
With the direction in which our societies seem to be moving, and being a mom, I can feel
the fear!
So well written, sharp and crisp.
Definitely one of my favorite reads in the last several years.
Being a cinephile as well, I am looking forward to this as a movie!
Although I’m usually not a huge fan of stories about dystopian worlds, this one really got me.
With the direction in which our societies seem to be moving, and being a mom, I can feel
the fear!
So well written, sharp and crisp.
Definitely one of my favorite reads in the last several years.
Being a cinephile as well, I am looking forward to this as a movie!
January 25, 2026
A dystopian short story with an interesting premise - children are reassigned to a new family randomly at birth, supposedly eliminating inequality. It was quite fast-paced because it's short, and I feel like more detail might have helped a bit, but I loved it.
November 29, 2025
I was gifted an advanced copy of “Progeny” in exchange for an honest review.
Whoa! What a concept. As a mother of multiple children, I was hooked from the first scene. Weiss sets up one hell of a story, and it’s a terrifying one. His writing style is straight to the point, which works well for the content at-hand. I can’t wait to see what Weiss comes up with next.
Whoa! What a concept. As a mother of multiple children, I was hooked from the first scene. Weiss sets up one hell of a story, and it’s a terrifying one. His writing style is straight to the point, which works well for the content at-hand. I can’t wait to see what Weiss comes up with next.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews