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The Felicity Complex
Annie Bot meets Fallout in this dystopian six women created in a lab, designed to serve the billionaires of the future in a luxury fallout shelter, rebel against their programming after the end times arrive.
Welcome to the Felicity Complex! Constructed during the height of the Cold War, our unique hotel is prepared to protect you, the billionaire class, from nuclear annihilation! Shielded from radiation and supplemented with closed air systems and hydroponic gardens, this resort bunker offers a prime existence full gymnasium and spa, gourmet meals, top-tier medical care, and the best in entertainment.
Meet Hallelujah! Grown in a lab and educated in the ways of concierge hospitality, she believes in her duty to comfort the Lord-anointed refugees of the apocalypse. (Even if her lover Anastasia disagrees. Even if her creator Dr. Younghusband is disappointed in her.) Don’t worry—everyone is safe from communists in the Felicity Complex!
Look, Hallelujah, guests have finally arrived! Hallelujah and her sister specimens have waited ages for you. Never mind the secrets other rich survivalists may be hiding. Just make sure they don’t notice the violent intentions behind our staff’s wide, wide smiles…
A sendup of traditional womanhood and lampooning the paranoias of the elite, The Felicity Complex questions the ambitions behind the entitled few who plan for the end times—and who truly survives them.
Welcome to the Felicity Complex! Constructed during the height of the Cold War, our unique hotel is prepared to protect you, the billionaire class, from nuclear annihilation! Shielded from radiation and supplemented with closed air systems and hydroponic gardens, this resort bunker offers a prime existence full gymnasium and spa, gourmet meals, top-tier medical care, and the best in entertainment.
Meet Hallelujah! Grown in a lab and educated in the ways of concierge hospitality, she believes in her duty to comfort the Lord-anointed refugees of the apocalypse. (Even if her lover Anastasia disagrees. Even if her creator Dr. Younghusband is disappointed in her.) Don’t worry—everyone is safe from communists in the Felicity Complex!
Look, Hallelujah, guests have finally arrived! Hallelujah and her sister specimens have waited ages for you. Never mind the secrets other rich survivalists may be hiding. Just make sure they don’t notice the violent intentions behind our staff’s wide, wide smiles…
A sendup of traditional womanhood and lampooning the paranoias of the elite, The Felicity Complex questions the ambitions behind the entitled few who plan for the end times—and who truly survives them.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2026
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April 6, 2026Sharing more than a little thematic DNA with Metal from Heaven, this is a beautiful grotesquerie, and that makes it all the more real.
edit: and we have a cover!
edit: and we have a cover!
April 22, 2026
If your favorite parts of the locked tomb series were the lyctor flashbacks you will adore The Felicity Complex!
This book is hilarious and campy and absurd and yet somehow entirely poignant and relevant to the current political climate. A brilliant satire! A triumph of character voice! I flew through The Felicity Complex in a couple of days.
I have always been a huge fan of August Clarke's writing style and with this new novel he has sharpened it to perfection. Luscious, disgusting descriptions effortlessly give way to satirical quips. This book is for everyone who enjoyed Metal from Heaven and probably even for people who thought Metal from Heaven was too stylized.
This book is also for people who like unusual lesbian relationships and weird-behavior-that's-more-gay-sex-than-gay-sex.
This book is hilarious and campy and absurd and yet somehow entirely poignant and relevant to the current political climate. A brilliant satire! A triumph of character voice! I flew through The Felicity Complex in a couple of days.
I have always been a huge fan of August Clarke's writing style and with this new novel he has sharpened it to perfection. Luscious, disgusting descriptions effortlessly give way to satirical quips. This book is for everyone who enjoyed Metal from Heaven and probably even for people who thought Metal from Heaven was too stylized.
This book is also for people who like unusual lesbian relationships and weird-behavior-that's-more-gay-sex-than-gay-sex.
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January 31, 2026Ex Machina meet Fallout in this stylishly unsettling scouring of sexism and one girl’s quest for meaning where the humans are grotesque and the monsters are touchingly human.
July 26, 2026
Got an arc through Libro.FM
This is a book that at first feels like heavy satire, one of those things like Repo! Or The Running Man that was supposed to be an exaggeration but we’re a few years from Mr. Beast trying it for real.
And then when I was in dc this week I saw a flyer about how much taxpayer money was going towards babysitting the reflecting pool vandalized with “WE DON’T WANT YOUR COMMIE PROPAGANDA” and I realize nope, we’re already there. Book isn’t even out yet and we’ve speedrun Red Scare Electric Boogaloo.
This is a weird ass book but I had a lot of fun with it. So Fallout coded there was a whole character I could only picture as Walton Goggins, but it’s more like if Lucy MacLane was simultaneously a hopeless lesbian and also a horrific flesh monster in her spare time, and if that doesn’t entice you then this ain’t a book for you.
This is a book that at first feels like heavy satire, one of those things like Repo! Or The Running Man that was supposed to be an exaggeration but we’re a few years from Mr. Beast trying it for real.
And then when I was in dc this week I saw a flyer about how much taxpayer money was going towards babysitting the reflecting pool vandalized with “WE DON’T WANT YOUR COMMIE PROPAGANDA” and I realize nope, we’re already there. Book isn’t even out yet and we’ve speedrun Red Scare Electric Boogaloo.
This is a weird ass book but I had a lot of fun with it. So Fallout coded there was a whole character I could only picture as Walton Goggins, but it’s more like if Lucy MacLane was simultaneously a hopeless lesbian and also a horrific flesh monster in her spare time, and if that doesn’t entice you then this ain’t a book for you.
April 16, 2026
Combine the satire of cold war era culture a la Fallout with a gendered as hell look into what the rich weirdos of the world want with their post apocalyptic bunker fantasies, throw in the fucking gore and weird flavor of chemical and radiation adjacent body horror, and you have a glowing cocktail of a novel. I was already interested to see what Clarke's follow up after Metal from Heaven would be, and my god is this a swing out of the ballpark. Preorder this now, and wait for a possible nuclear hellscape in a good way!
July 28, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.
A somewhat confused 3.4 stars rounded down. If you're looking for the absurdist, horrifyingly cheery, vintage vibes of Fallout, I feel this definitely fits the criteria. The main character Hallelujah is almost like if you cranked up the optimism and altruistic desire of the Fallout show's protagonist up to 11, and the narrator did a fantastic job conveying that attitude, to the point where I thought her voice for Hallelujah resembled that of modern-day Barbie at times, which is fitting, honestly.
I will say I feel like the synopsis doesn't give you a very good idea of what actually happens in the book, more just the overall initial concept. The first half of the book is largely dedicated to the creation and development of Hallelujah and her brethren before the bombs fell, as they navigate their personhood and 1950/60s ideals of womanhood. The part pointed out in the synopsis, where guests have finally arrived at the Felicity Complex, feels like a very small portion of the book, and also a bit rushed, in my opinion? So much of the information about the new state of the world is given to the reader (and the girls) in very long, ranty monologues from half-insane characters, and like, in a satirical book like this, I don't necessarily need things to feel *natural*, but I wish we'd spent more time on the "after" chapters. Re:the synopsis, it also makes a point to highlight the girls' "violent intentions behind wide, wide smiles" but they're actually not very murderous or violent for the majority of the book until the climax. And speaking of the climax...I'm a little confused about how we jumped into it so quickly, like I felt there could've been a little more time spent on getting from point A to B. Also, another thing the synopsis doesn't give you an idea of: the flesh horror. There's a Lot of flesh horror, and later cannibalism(?). Also also, please take note that there is both implied and explicit sexual assault.
Overall, I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, and the satirical tone hit the mark of being both funny and horrifying. I just got a little confused towards the end.
A somewhat confused 3.4 stars rounded down. If you're looking for the absurdist, horrifyingly cheery, vintage vibes of Fallout, I feel this definitely fits the criteria. The main character Hallelujah is almost like if you cranked up the optimism and altruistic desire of the Fallout show's protagonist up to 11, and the narrator did a fantastic job conveying that attitude, to the point where I thought her voice for Hallelujah resembled that of modern-day Barbie at times, which is fitting, honestly.
I will say I feel like the synopsis doesn't give you a very good idea of what actually happens in the book, more just the overall initial concept. The first half of the book is largely dedicated to the creation and development of Hallelujah and her brethren before the bombs fell, as they navigate their personhood and 1950/60s ideals of womanhood. The part pointed out in the synopsis, where guests have finally arrived at the Felicity Complex, feels like a very small portion of the book, and also a bit rushed, in my opinion? So much of the information about the new state of the world is given to the reader (and the girls) in very long, ranty monologues from half-insane characters, and like, in a satirical book like this, I don't necessarily need things to feel *natural*, but I wish we'd spent more time on the "after" chapters. Re:the synopsis, it also makes a point to highlight the girls' "violent intentions behind wide, wide smiles" but they're actually not very murderous or violent for the majority of the book until the climax. And speaking of the climax...I'm a little confused about how we jumped into it so quickly, like I felt there could've been a little more time spent on getting from point A to B. Also, another thing the synopsis doesn't give you an idea of: the flesh horror. There's a Lot of flesh horror, and later cannibalism(?). Also also, please take note that there is both implied and explicit sexual assault.
Overall, I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, and the satirical tone hit the mark of being both funny and horrifying. I just got a little confused towards the end.
August 1, 2026
This is my favorite book of the year, so far. I hope someone gives a copy to a film maker
August 1, 2026
August Clarke is so fucking cool
July 13, 2026
There are books that ask what it means to be human, and then there are books that ask who gets to decide. The Felicity Complex is firmly the latter, blending grotesque science fiction, bioengineered horror, and cutting satire into something that is equal parts humorous, twisted, and monstrous.
Hallelujah is one of six laboratory-created women designed to fulfill the whims of the wealthy and powerful at the ends of the world, and her voice is an absolute delight to follow. Her optimism, sincerity, and curiosity about the world make even the novel's darkest moments unexpectedly funny. Watching someone who was engineered with a single purpose slowly piece together what it means to simply be is both surreal and heartbreaking, especially when her genuine compassion and capacity for love are consistently eclipsed by the “people” who created her and those she was created for.
The dual timeline gradually reveals what Hallelujah and her sisters endured, with every gruesome revelation adding another layer to the novel's examination of identity, womanhood, autonomy, and purpose. The timing of those reveals is masterfully paced, allowing the satire to sharpen alongside the horror until the full picture comes into focus.
Clarke has created a world where monsters are capable of more empathy than humans. By using campy body horror and biting humor to examine power, sexism, and wealth, we’re confronted with the way people are reduced to whatever purpose society decides they should serve. Every strange, over-the-top moment reinforces the same unsettling question: if humanity can be manufactured, exploited, or withheld, what actually makes someone human in the first place?
The Felicity Complex is a wonderfully bizarre fusion of humor, horror, and humanity. Beneath its satirical intentions and campy absurdity lies a sharp examination of power, purpose, and personhood, using the strange and the outrageous to ask what truly makes someone human. It’s a story about creation, autonomy, and identity that proves humanity isn’t something that can be manufactured. It’s something far more Complex.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to read this ARC!
Favorite Quotes:
“You're adorable. I don't think that excludes you from the moral physics of the world.”
“Nothing compares. It's so good to be here with her. Paradise forever with her would be so sweet.”
“Oh to be a silly, pretty girl...”
“Sometimes it feels as though [they] were designed for each other. It's so easy to love her.”
“Love is impossible. Boredom crawls in through the ears and the nose and gnaws all the cords in the brain. Happiness is stagnant. But work? There’s always work to be done. After such a long winter, spring has finally come.”
“Can you be happy in a place you can’t leave? If you can’t leave, you can’t heal. Healing needs change.”
“What if they were each other’s one true love, made in a laboratory for each other, bound to succeed so long as they never kept a single secret from each other?”
“[I]t’s the world itself that was meant to love me. The love I’ve had is home right here. I will share my love with everyone.”
Hallelujah is one of six laboratory-created women designed to fulfill the whims of the wealthy and powerful at the ends of the world, and her voice is an absolute delight to follow. Her optimism, sincerity, and curiosity about the world make even the novel's darkest moments unexpectedly funny. Watching someone who was engineered with a single purpose slowly piece together what it means to simply be is both surreal and heartbreaking, especially when her genuine compassion and capacity for love are consistently eclipsed by the “people” who created her and those she was created for.
The dual timeline gradually reveals what Hallelujah and her sisters endured, with every gruesome revelation adding another layer to the novel's examination of identity, womanhood, autonomy, and purpose. The timing of those reveals is masterfully paced, allowing the satire to sharpen alongside the horror until the full picture comes into focus.
Clarke has created a world where monsters are capable of more empathy than humans. By using campy body horror and biting humor to examine power, sexism, and wealth, we’re confronted with the way people are reduced to whatever purpose society decides they should serve. Every strange, over-the-top moment reinforces the same unsettling question: if humanity can be manufactured, exploited, or withheld, what actually makes someone human in the first place?
The Felicity Complex is a wonderfully bizarre fusion of humor, horror, and humanity. Beneath its satirical intentions and campy absurdity lies a sharp examination of power, purpose, and personhood, using the strange and the outrageous to ask what truly makes someone human. It’s a story about creation, autonomy, and identity that proves humanity isn’t something that can be manufactured. It’s something far more Complex.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to read this ARC!
Favorite Quotes:
“You're adorable. I don't think that excludes you from the moral physics of the world.”
“Nothing compares. It's so good to be here with her. Paradise forever with her would be so sweet.”
“Oh to be a silly, pretty girl...”
“Sometimes it feels as though [they] were designed for each other. It's so easy to love her.”
“Love is impossible. Boredom crawls in through the ears and the nose and gnaws all the cords in the brain. Happiness is stagnant. But work? There’s always work to be done. After such a long winter, spring has finally come.”
“Can you be happy in a place you can’t leave? If you can’t leave, you can’t heal. Healing needs change.”
“What if they were each other’s one true love, made in a laboratory for each other, bound to succeed so long as they never kept a single secret from each other?”
“[I]t’s the world itself that was meant to love me. The love I’ve had is home right here. I will share my love with everyone.”
July 22, 2026
Felicity complex focuses on manufactured women made in vats and trained to be servants with no rights and perhaps eternal life.
The naïveté of the main character Hallelujah is strange in comparison to the other created girls.
I would understand it on its own but when the others seem to have some idea of the world it’s odd and a bit jarring especially as Hallelujah continues to not develop.
Each chapter is labeled before or after to center you at a point in time of the story. The notifiers before and after give a kind of haunting effect. In the after things seem not quite right and it drives the story forward.
In many ways the Felicity Complex feels a little like Fallout. The initial bit of the story feels like the 50s but significantly more technologically advanced. The second part is after the communists managed to hack the robot systems and were in a dystopian feeling bunker.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 31, 2026
This felt like a mix of Fallout and Westworld in certain aspects. A scientist creates these artificial women to run a bunker when the world starts to implode on itself. They’re trained to be medics, cooks, entertainment, and maids. They’re trained to be the perfect, polite woman no matter what’s thrown their way.
The dual timeline was a great way for the story to unfold. We get information about the creation and then years later when the women are inside their bunker. I loved all the different personalities and questions that arose for these AI. This was a really fun story, I could see it being made to a movie with how everything pans out. 👌🏼
The audio book narrated by Taylor Meskimen was so enjoyable. The way she portrayed these innocent, naive women in voice was perfection. Huge fan.
Thankyou to RB Media, NetGalley for this advanced audio copy.
The dual timeline was a great way for the story to unfold. We get information about the creation and then years later when the women are inside their bunker. I loved all the different personalities and questions that arose for these AI. This was a really fun story, I could see it being made to a movie with how everything pans out. 👌🏼
The audio book narrated by Taylor Meskimen was so enjoyable. The way she portrayed these innocent, naive women in voice was perfection. Huge fan.
Thankyou to RB Media, NetGalley for this advanced audio copy.
July 23, 2026
3.5 stars. A thought-provoking tale about a “scientific” establishment that “produces” a cohort of women with different attributes, designed to be companions and helpmates to the very rich following the expected fall of civilization. But the young women develop minds of their own and start to question their purpose. It’s heavy-handed, biting satire that turned sometimes silly or dark.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RBMedia, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Publication date: 28 July 2026.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RBMedia, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Publication date: 28 July 2026.
April 8, 2026
This book is like if Bunny by Mona Awad and Fallout had a baby. It’s an interesting premise but was a bit too grotesque for my personal taste.
That said, if you like speculative horror with frankenstein-esque themes, this could absolutely be up your alley!
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC for an honest review!
That said, if you like speculative horror with frankenstein-esque themes, this could absolutely be up your alley!
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In The Felicity Complex, a loathsome American tycoon bankrolls the eponymous Felicity Complex, a fallout shelter/hotel for America’s wealthy and powerful to hide out in the case of eventual nuclear annihilation sometime in the height of the Cold War. Of course, the powerful cannot be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their own survival, so the bunker, never quite sure of when it will be needed, must be staffed by an eternally-living, eternally-pliable, eternally-American group of artificially created women. Naturally. Our protagonist Hallelujah, along with her other companions Anastasia, Ballerina, Cleopatra, Thumbelina, and Oklahoma, each embody a different caricature of idealized 50s femininity, or at least, they’re supposed to. Performing the heights of this kind of femininity isn’t easy, much less so when you’re an immortal bioengineered lifeform, raised by wealthy Christian fundamentalist capitalists and never allowed to leave the bunker. Who knows what will happen when someone rich asshole finally stumbles into their lair?
A shrine to American capitalist excess staffed by seemingly pliant Stepford Wives…I wonder if you see where this is going.
I have to admit; I wasn’t exactly hooked by the premise of this book alone. There are lots of other stories like this, usually of feminine AI fighting back against their manchild billionaire inventors, and while they can be cathartic, I usually find their clean, inevitable plots to be too predictable and boring. In a time when we’re ruled by such banal little pissants, I understand the appeal of a book in which they - I don’t think this is a spoiler - get their comeuppance, but I wanted something more than that, something to turn the idea on its head and show me something I haven’t seen.
I decided to request this book entirely because of how much I loved August Clarke’s previous novel, the lush, viscous, and sexy fantasy novel Metal from Heaven, even if I wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise. I hoped it would offer me something beyond that simple pitch.
Unfortunately, I never felt that The Felicity Complex delivered anything I couldn’t have imagined in that instant of knowing the premise. However, if you’re not bored of this central conceit, this is a great example of it. Clarke’s prose is much simpler here than the flowery language of Metal from Heaven, resulting in a fast-paced and often-funny read that took me only a few days to zip through. It also has a current of gooey, fleshy body horror that I really enjoyed, and which does constitute something relatively new to the genre, even if it wasn’t quite enough to make the difference for me.
The strongest part of this book is its narrator and protagonist Hallelujah. More than any of the other “specimens,” she wants to fulfill her assigned duties, even if she finds them confusing at times, and even after circumstances change considerably. It’s clear very quickly that these creations cannot and will not be the things they were made to be, which makes Hallelujah's increasingly absurd insistence on trying both funny and sad; a withering portrait of internalized misogyny and the prison of gender.
The Felicity Complex is probably the best of a kind of sub-genre I just don’t find very interesting, but if the premise alone grabs you, it’s definitely worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
A shrine to American capitalist excess staffed by seemingly pliant Stepford Wives…I wonder if you see where this is going.
I have to admit; I wasn’t exactly hooked by the premise of this book alone. There are lots of other stories like this, usually of feminine AI fighting back against their manchild billionaire inventors, and while they can be cathartic, I usually find their clean, inevitable plots to be too predictable and boring. In a time when we’re ruled by such banal little pissants, I understand the appeal of a book in which they - I don’t think this is a spoiler - get their comeuppance, but I wanted something more than that, something to turn the idea on its head and show me something I haven’t seen.
I decided to request this book entirely because of how much I loved August Clarke’s previous novel, the lush, viscous, and sexy fantasy novel Metal from Heaven, even if I wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise. I hoped it would offer me something beyond that simple pitch.
Unfortunately, I never felt that The Felicity Complex delivered anything I couldn’t have imagined in that instant of knowing the premise. However, if you’re not bored of this central conceit, this is a great example of it. Clarke’s prose is much simpler here than the flowery language of Metal from Heaven, resulting in a fast-paced and often-funny read that took me only a few days to zip through. It also has a current of gooey, fleshy body horror that I really enjoyed, and which does constitute something relatively new to the genre, even if it wasn’t quite enough to make the difference for me.
The strongest part of this book is its narrator and protagonist Hallelujah. More than any of the other “specimens,” she wants to fulfill her assigned duties, even if she finds them confusing at times, and even after circumstances change considerably. It’s clear very quickly that these creations cannot and will not be the things they were made to be, which makes Hallelujah's increasingly absurd insistence on trying both funny and sad; a withering portrait of internalized misogyny and the prison of gender.
The Felicity Complex is probably the best of a kind of sub-genre I just don’t find very interesting, but if the premise alone grabs you, it’s definitely worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for providing me this arc!
I've never encountered this author before and didn't know what I'm gonna see. I got a recommendation of this book from an acquaintance and went to request without any thoughts and without reading the description. And let me tell you, I'm really glad i got to read this. This book is everything that i expected and even more!
The writing was brilliant, it fits the story perfectly. I can't imagine it written any other way. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's painful and sometimes it's just disgusting. The only times i took a pause from reading this book is when i got too emotional (that's on me). It's very addictive if you like this type of story.
6 girls(or almost girls) are created in the lab and sold to a rich man that wants to recreate the vibe of 50s and make them perfect servants/dolls that will do anything they asked. We see the pov of one if the girls throughout the whole plot. Her emotions, her wishes and her actions. We see how she sees other lab girls, we see how she sees people. She's an interesting character. I love Hallelujah deeply and i get her on many different levels. And i love her perception of the world and people.
To be honest, i got attached to all the girls and wished them to run away from the very begining. I love Anastasia and even though she's not perfect she's mesmerising. I'm still thinking about things that she probably went through that we didn't see. All girls did stuff that shouldn't have happened to them but it happened anyway.
They sometimes get asked if they're real people, real women. Well, in my opinion they are. They went through many things that real women go through. The story itself is satirical and it brings up some uncomfortable topics. And it closes them well, in my opinion. Sometimes I was thinking "well, it probably won't get better cause it's already great" but then somehow it was getting better. It doesn't have any bad or not needed moment, everything fits in the plot perfectly. I would be happy to read even more from other povs, but even now the mystery of other girls is enjoyable.
I don't know how i can describe my opinion better, cause it feels like there's not enough words in this world to share how much i loved this. It's perfect for people who like dystopian, satirical and sometimes uncomfortable stories where the main character is a girl. Also it's pretty much gay, girls love each other and even have some kind of sexual relationships, in their own way, if you can say that. I loved their relationships a lot, it portrayed greatly.
Personally, i would gladly go and read other books from this author now. And i definitely go around recommending to friends, cause this book deserves to be popular and big. Thank you, it'll stay in my heart and thoughts for a long time.
I've never encountered this author before and didn't know what I'm gonna see. I got a recommendation of this book from an acquaintance and went to request without any thoughts and without reading the description. And let me tell you, I'm really glad i got to read this. This book is everything that i expected and even more!
The writing was brilliant, it fits the story perfectly. I can't imagine it written any other way. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's painful and sometimes it's just disgusting. The only times i took a pause from reading this book is when i got too emotional (that's on me). It's very addictive if you like this type of story.
6 girls(or almost girls) are created in the lab and sold to a rich man that wants to recreate the vibe of 50s and make them perfect servants/dolls that will do anything they asked. We see the pov of one if the girls throughout the whole plot. Her emotions, her wishes and her actions. We see how she sees other lab girls, we see how she sees people. She's an interesting character. I love Hallelujah deeply and i get her on many different levels. And i love her perception of the world and people.
To be honest, i got attached to all the girls and wished them to run away from the very begining. I love Anastasia and even though she's not perfect she's mesmerising. I'm still thinking about things that she probably went through that we didn't see. All girls did stuff that shouldn't have happened to them but it happened anyway.
They sometimes get asked if they're real people, real women. Well, in my opinion they are. They went through many things that real women go through. The story itself is satirical and it brings up some uncomfortable topics. And it closes them well, in my opinion. Sometimes I was thinking "well, it probably won't get better cause it's already great" but then somehow it was getting better. It doesn't have any bad or not needed moment, everything fits in the plot perfectly. I would be happy to read even more from other povs, but even now the mystery of other girls is enjoyable.
I don't know how i can describe my opinion better, cause it feels like there's not enough words in this world to share how much i loved this. It's perfect for people who like dystopian, satirical and sometimes uncomfortable stories where the main character is a girl. Also it's pretty much gay, girls love each other and even have some kind of sexual relationships, in their own way, if you can say that. I loved their relationships a lot, it portrayed greatly.
Personally, i would gladly go and read other books from this author now. And i definitely go around recommending to friends, cause this book deserves to be popular and big. Thank you, it'll stay in my heart and thoughts for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this ALC!
“The Felicity Complex” is August Clarke’s second novel, taking a detour from his previous sci-fi fantasy novel “Metal from Heaven” (which, fun fact, was the first ARC I ever received and read) to take us to the dystopian world in which the Felicity Complex exists. In this luxury hotel/bunker, built for the 1% to survive the communist takeover and nuclear apocalypse in, we meet Hallelujah. She is one of the lab-grown women the Felicity Complexes creator has purchased to staff his bunker for all of time. But how human are these women really? And what happens after the apocalypse?
In many ways, this book is quite brilliant. The story is split into two timelines: Before and After. These two timelines are not told chronologically, something I absolutely adore and which wonderfully elevates a story whenever it is utilised in a way as well-executed as it is here. In the before, we see Hallelujah and the other specimens as they are still floating in their vats, being tested, far from human in any aspect beyond looks. We then follow along as they are purchased and primed for their future jobs at the hotel, which is still under construction at this point. We see which personalities each of them is set to display, and how far this supposed image differs from their real minds.
This is the book’s strongest aspect. I’ve seen that many reviews mention this, and I agree – this is in many ways a psychological character study. These deep insights into the psyche of the characters are broken up by darkly funny quips and moments, and quite beautifully executed gore and body horror.
In the after, we see the differences and darknesses already hinted at in the before developed and blown up, as a group of rich people running from the communists enters the bunker, the first to do so in many, many years.
In the early before sections, the horror is more of a psychological nature. In the after, we see the true, violent horror of those who live inside the Felicity Complex.
The audiobook is narrated by Taylor Meskimen, who does a beautiful job showing both Hallelujah’s overt sweetness, and her hidden depths.
However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook, I personally had a few issues following along. Partially that is probably on me, as I wasn’t at the height of health while listening, but partially it is also that the structure of this book, despite being strict overall, feels a tiny bit messy at times. For this reason I would probably personally have chosen to mix reading and listening, had that been an option for me.
This is certainly a book I will return to one day, and one I absolutely recommend if you want a tremendously creative, campy dystopian satire that examines themes of religion, misogyny and male violence.
“The Felicity Complex” is August Clarke’s second novel, taking a detour from his previous sci-fi fantasy novel “Metal from Heaven” (which, fun fact, was the first ARC I ever received and read) to take us to the dystopian world in which the Felicity Complex exists. In this luxury hotel/bunker, built for the 1% to survive the communist takeover and nuclear apocalypse in, we meet Hallelujah. She is one of the lab-grown women the Felicity Complexes creator has purchased to staff his bunker for all of time. But how human are these women really? And what happens after the apocalypse?
In many ways, this book is quite brilliant. The story is split into two timelines: Before and After. These two timelines are not told chronologically, something I absolutely adore and which wonderfully elevates a story whenever it is utilised in a way as well-executed as it is here. In the before, we see Hallelujah and the other specimens as they are still floating in their vats, being tested, far from human in any aspect beyond looks. We then follow along as they are purchased and primed for their future jobs at the hotel, which is still under construction at this point. We see which personalities each of them is set to display, and how far this supposed image differs from their real minds.
This is the book’s strongest aspect. I’ve seen that many reviews mention this, and I agree – this is in many ways a psychological character study. These deep insights into the psyche of the characters are broken up by darkly funny quips and moments, and quite beautifully executed gore and body horror.
In the after, we see the differences and darknesses already hinted at in the before developed and blown up, as a group of rich people running from the communists enters the bunker, the first to do so in many, many years.
In the early before sections, the horror is more of a psychological nature. In the after, we see the true, violent horror of those who live inside the Felicity Complex.
The audiobook is narrated by Taylor Meskimen, who does a beautiful job showing both Hallelujah’s overt sweetness, and her hidden depths.
However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook, I personally had a few issues following along. Partially that is probably on me, as I wasn’t at the height of health while listening, but partially it is also that the structure of this book, despite being strict overall, feels a tiny bit messy at times. For this reason I would probably personally have chosen to mix reading and listening, had that been an option for me.
This is certainly a book I will return to one day, and one I absolutely recommend if you want a tremendously creative, campy dystopian satire that examines themes of religion, misogyny and male violence.
July 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for a review copy of this audiobook for my honest review.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
I feel the narrator did an excellent job bringing the voices and personalities in this story to life.
When I listened to the audiobook preview, I was convinced they had pulled a random mid book scene for shock value. NOPE! That’s actually how the book begins. It drops you straight into the body horror, straight into the lab grown, milky conception of Hallelujah, our engineered main character. It’s bizarre, visceral, and immediately memorable. Even though all six Felicity girls are created using the same method and material, they’re written (and performed) with distinct personalities, wants, hopes, and fears. The narrator captures those differences beautifully.
The comparison to Annie Bot feels spot on, too, because the book leans into big satirical questions about identity, humanity, and purpose.
Definitely don’t go in expecting Fallout level chaos in terms of plot. The main overlap is thematic: a wealthy man builds a paradise bunker for the 1%, staffed entirely by six engineered women designed to meet every need. Hallelujah’s optimism and naivety are like the Fallout protagonist, just dialed up a lot.
What I really loved is how the book dares to be different by placing readers inside the mind of an engineered “specimen” rather than a standard human protagonist. Hallelujah’s perspective is the perfect lens for witnessing the events of the story. It even gave me Frankenstein vibes, which I adored.
There is a Sapphic romance between MC and another Felicity girl that is like Grumpy X Sunshine 🩵🩷
At a certain point, the story shifts into a dual timeline. I’m usually not a fan of dual timelines because they tend to drag pacing down, but the author handles it better than most. Yes, things slow slightly when the narrative moves into the past, but each shift delivers major reveals and escalates the stakes. Once the back and forth structure kicks in, the story actually moves forward more rapidly because of what those reveals unlock.
I will say that toward the end (like the final one or two scenes), some moments became a bit hard to follow (not due to the narrator), simply because there were so many moving pieces, characters, details, actions, deaths, and bursts of gore happening at once. It’s a dense finale, and there’s a lot to keep track of. It may have been easier if I were physically reading that part. Only because I am more likely to take needed pauses while physically reading (and its harder to pause an audiobook if driving). I will definitely revisit this one in about a year and physically read at least the end next time.
A quick note for readers: definitely check the content warnings. The book includes body horror, sexual assault, loss of bodily anatomy, and death, among other intense themes.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
I feel the narrator did an excellent job bringing the voices and personalities in this story to life.
When I listened to the audiobook preview, I was convinced they had pulled a random mid book scene for shock value. NOPE! That’s actually how the book begins. It drops you straight into the body horror, straight into the lab grown, milky conception of Hallelujah, our engineered main character. It’s bizarre, visceral, and immediately memorable. Even though all six Felicity girls are created using the same method and material, they’re written (and performed) with distinct personalities, wants, hopes, and fears. The narrator captures those differences beautifully.
The comparison to Annie Bot feels spot on, too, because the book leans into big satirical questions about identity, humanity, and purpose.
Definitely don’t go in expecting Fallout level chaos in terms of plot. The main overlap is thematic: a wealthy man builds a paradise bunker for the 1%, staffed entirely by six engineered women designed to meet every need. Hallelujah’s optimism and naivety are like the Fallout protagonist, just dialed up a lot.
What I really loved is how the book dares to be different by placing readers inside the mind of an engineered “specimen” rather than a standard human protagonist. Hallelujah’s perspective is the perfect lens for witnessing the events of the story. It even gave me Frankenstein vibes, which I adored.
There is a Sapphic romance between MC and another Felicity girl that is like Grumpy X Sunshine 🩵🩷
At a certain point, the story shifts into a dual timeline. I’m usually not a fan of dual timelines because they tend to drag pacing down, but the author handles it better than most. Yes, things slow slightly when the narrative moves into the past, but each shift delivers major reveals and escalates the stakes. Once the back and forth structure kicks in, the story actually moves forward more rapidly because of what those reveals unlock.
I will say that toward the end (like the final one or two scenes), some moments became a bit hard to follow (not due to the narrator), simply because there were so many moving pieces, characters, details, actions, deaths, and bursts of gore happening at once. It’s a dense finale, and there’s a lot to keep track of. It may have been easier if I were physically reading that part. Only because I am more likely to take needed pauses while physically reading (and its harder to pause an audiobook if driving). I will definitely revisit this one in about a year and physically read at least the end next time.
A quick note for readers: definitely check the content warnings. The book includes body horror, sexual assault, loss of bodily anatomy, and death, among other intense themes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I wanted this ARC specifically because I loved August Clarke’s previous book, Metal From Heaven and consider it one of my all-time favorites. Unfortunately, this book is shorter, more derivative, and less thematically complete than that one. I liked some parts of it, but my enjoyment couldn’t get over my growing issues as I kept reading.
The story is about a cohort of artificially-created women who are entombed in a lavish nuclear bunker for the rich and powerful in the event of a Communist attack. It’s a very Fallout-inspired premise, and in fact I would call it a step further than inspired. This whole book could be a text log you find on the floor of a vault in that game.
My favorite parts were some of the soliloquies, especially the last ones near the end. When August Clarke lets rip on a freewheeling spin of someone’s psyche and politics his writing is at its best, and seems to come from a different book entirely. Metal From Heaven was more lyrical and fantastic, whereas the only futuristic things in this book are the girls themselves.
My single biggest issue is the length. It’s barely longer than a novella, so knowing the author I predicted everything that was going to follow from the premise because there wouldn’t be time to set up anything else in the limited page count. This doesn’t make the book bad per se, just transparent. What made it harder to read was how chapters are divided into “Before” and “After” timelines, which did little to increase the tension and a lot to stall out the pace. When an After chapter is so short it does nothing but set up a weak cliffhanger before the story returns to the past, that was a waste.
A site review isn’t the best place to talk about the themes of a work at great length, but there is one glaring omission I want to mention. As is typical of stories about artificial life going back to at least Frankenstein, there’s explicit comparison of the creator-created relationship to a father-child relationship. However, there’s nothing like that for any kind of sibling or sisterly relationship among the “specimens”. Is this because it would be weird when they start having romantic feelings for each other? I found it weirder to omit it, and just do the father-child thing like the creator and protagonist were in a vacuum.
By the end I liked and disliked it in equal parts. I didn’t find it particularly horrifying or romantic, and wish I could’ve rated it more highly.
I wanted this ARC specifically because I loved August Clarke’s previous book, Metal From Heaven and consider it one of my all-time favorites. Unfortunately, this book is shorter, more derivative, and less thematically complete than that one. I liked some parts of it, but my enjoyment couldn’t get over my growing issues as I kept reading.
The story is about a cohort of artificially-created women who are entombed in a lavish nuclear bunker for the rich and powerful in the event of a Communist attack. It’s a very Fallout-inspired premise, and in fact I would call it a step further than inspired. This whole book could be a text log you find on the floor of a vault in that game.
My favorite parts were some of the soliloquies, especially the last ones near the end. When August Clarke lets rip on a freewheeling spin of someone’s psyche and politics his writing is at its best, and seems to come from a different book entirely. Metal From Heaven was more lyrical and fantastic, whereas the only futuristic things in this book are the girls themselves.
My single biggest issue is the length. It’s barely longer than a novella, so knowing the author I predicted everything that was going to follow from the premise because there wouldn’t be time to set up anything else in the limited page count. This doesn’t make the book bad per se, just transparent. What made it harder to read was how chapters are divided into “Before” and “After” timelines, which did little to increase the tension and a lot to stall out the pace. When an After chapter is so short it does nothing but set up a weak cliffhanger before the story returns to the past, that was a waste.
A site review isn’t the best place to talk about the themes of a work at great length, but there is one glaring omission I want to mention. As is typical of stories about artificial life going back to at least Frankenstein, there’s explicit comparison of the creator-created relationship to a father-child relationship. However, there’s nothing like that for any kind of sibling or sisterly relationship among the “specimens”. Is this because it would be weird when they start having romantic feelings for each other? I found it weirder to omit it, and just do the father-child thing like the creator and protagonist were in a vacuum.
By the end I liked and disliked it in equal parts. I didn’t find it particularly horrifying or romantic, and wish I could’ve rated it more highly.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(3.75🌟 rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
A satirical book that explores the ideas of "traditional values" in the face of doomsday. Would definitely recommend to fans of Fallout, as it has similar humour, plot points, and overall vibe.
This is one of those books that I feel I need to really sit with to truly understand the layers and parallels that are drawn. There is a lot in this book that is left unsaid and there's a lot that we aren't privy to, since our main character herself doesn't always grasp the underlying meaning of things.
The book follows Hallelujah, a specimen created to survive the end times as Communists threaten the American Dream™️ during the Cold War era. Hallelujah and her fellow specimens have taken years to get right, and they will be the new hosts of "The Felicity Complex": a luxury underground bunker for the elite.
The book moves between 'before' they start living in the bunker and 'after' they officially move in. Each of the girls are fashioned after some form of womanhood and femininity that Mr. Pink, the creator of the Complex, sees as the pure, traditional values that he wants to preserve in the bunker so they can survive long after the American Dream™️ has been crushed. Each of the character's personalities and priorities represents how these ideals of womanhood begin, and by the end of the book, they devolve into something else completely as they're forced to survive and are left waiting for their first residents.
I found the characters quite interesting, especially their development across the book. It also asks an interesting question of where specimen ends and human begins, especially as these characters take on their own personalities and thoughts that differ from the ideals they were created with.
I don't want to get too caught up in details, so I'll wrap up with saying that overall, this book holds a mirror to the development of the U.S. since the Cold War and the battle against 'the Communists' and represents various archetypes of 'traditional American values' well. I will note that the writing style is quite unique and might not be for everyone - it's quite unserious and often include quips and one-liners, but I think it fits the feel of the book quite well!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
A satirical book that explores the ideas of "traditional values" in the face of doomsday. Would definitely recommend to fans of Fallout, as it has similar humour, plot points, and overall vibe.
This is one of those books that I feel I need to really sit with to truly understand the layers and parallels that are drawn. There is a lot in this book that is left unsaid and there's a lot that we aren't privy to, since our main character herself doesn't always grasp the underlying meaning of things.
The book follows Hallelujah, a specimen created to survive the end times as Communists threaten the American Dream™️ during the Cold War era. Hallelujah and her fellow specimens have taken years to get right, and they will be the new hosts of "The Felicity Complex": a luxury underground bunker for the elite.
The book moves between 'before' they start living in the bunker and 'after' they officially move in. Each of the girls are fashioned after some form of womanhood and femininity that Mr. Pink, the creator of the Complex, sees as the pure, traditional values that he wants to preserve in the bunker so they can survive long after the American Dream™️ has been crushed. Each of the character's personalities and priorities represents how these ideals of womanhood begin, and by the end of the book, they devolve into something else completely as they're forced to survive and are left waiting for their first residents.
I found the characters quite interesting, especially their development across the book. It also asks an interesting question of where specimen ends and human begins, especially as these characters take on their own personalities and thoughts that differ from the ideals they were created with.
I don't want to get too caught up in details, so I'll wrap up with saying that overall, this book holds a mirror to the development of the U.S. since the Cold War and the battle against 'the Communists' and represents various archetypes of 'traditional American values' well. I will note that the writing style is quite unique and might not be for everyone - it's quite unserious and often include quips and one-liners, but I think it fits the feel of the book quite well!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This could easily become my favorite read of 2026. It feels like an amalgamation of Annie Bot, The Compound, The Last Murder at the End of the World, and Bunny. It's dark, disturbing, and full of odd body horror. Yet, I can't count the number of times that I was grossed out while chuckling at the absurdity. It's an amazing satire that comments on the current state of society, and the generations of corruption and delusion that have led us to where we are today. The Felicity Complex leaves readers questioning who is more human; the specimen or the humans around them? Are compassion and empathy are core facets of humanity?
The narrator, Taylor Meskimen, did a phenomenal job of creating a unsettling atmosphere. Her voice changes for the characters were great and really added layers to the story. She has perfect inflection and pacing, as well. Our FMC, Hallelujah, is so uncomfortable to be inside of the mind of. She's equally innocent while also hyper sexualized and wildly competent in niche areas. She has some of the funniest thoughts and dialogue moments thanks to her naiveté. She feels like a new-born baby and the FMC from Obsession. Taylor did a spectacular job really bringing Hallelujah to life. She gave the other specimen a very unique feel, as well. I would absolutely listen to anything she narrated; keep this woman on the payroll.
It's a quick read (or listen) that spans the gamut of feelings: truly a funny, thought-provoking, and shocking novel. It will make you uncomfortable at times thanks to the gore, completely unhinged sexual elements, and medical trauma. You'll be doing nothing but rooting for our girls the entire time. I appreciated how the story kept me on my toes the entire time. It was wildly entertaining and engaging; just when I thought I knew the full story, the story become more unhinged. It does a great job of slowly painting the full picture. Nothing feels like it makes sense until little by little it all clicks into place. This is an excellent dystopian sci-fi addition for lovers of weird girl lit or the game Fallout. I will forever be recommending this to everyone I know.
Thank you to Netgalley and RB media for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The narrator, Taylor Meskimen, did a phenomenal job of creating a unsettling atmosphere. Her voice changes for the characters were great and really added layers to the story. She has perfect inflection and pacing, as well. Our FMC, Hallelujah, is so uncomfortable to be inside of the mind of. She's equally innocent while also hyper sexualized and wildly competent in niche areas. She has some of the funniest thoughts and dialogue moments thanks to her naiveté. She feels like a new-born baby and the FMC from Obsession. Taylor did a spectacular job really bringing Hallelujah to life. She gave the other specimen a very unique feel, as well. I would absolutely listen to anything she narrated; keep this woman on the payroll.
It's a quick read (or listen) that spans the gamut of feelings: truly a funny, thought-provoking, and shocking novel. It will make you uncomfortable at times thanks to the gore, completely unhinged sexual elements, and medical trauma. You'll be doing nothing but rooting for our girls the entire time. I appreciated how the story kept me on my toes the entire time. It was wildly entertaining and engaging; just when I thought I knew the full story, the story become more unhinged. It does a great job of slowly painting the full picture. Nothing feels like it makes sense until little by little it all clicks into place. This is an excellent dystopian sci-fi addition for lovers of weird girl lit or the game Fallout. I will forever be recommending this to everyone I know.
Thank you to Netgalley and RB media for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(4.5 stars) I received a free ARC from the publisher. Thoughts and opinions are honest and my own!
This was my most-anticipated read of the year, and it did not disappoint!
“𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭! 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙒𝙖𝙧, 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨, 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙣𝙪𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣!”
This satire is told from the POV of Hallelujah, one of six vat-grown specimens created by a scientist and sold to work in a doomsday bunker. Hallelujah is SO excited! Her life finally has purpose. She will comfort these important people and make sure they love the bunker as much as she loves it! But if this book was written from the perspective of any of the other women, we would get a very different story. This explores how desperately people will cling to their cognitive dissonance in a horrifying environment.
This book works on multiple levels. If you don’t feel up for in-depth critical analysis, you can still enjoy it. It’s tightly plotted (300 pages), funny, witty, thought-provoking, and includes some truly disgusting body horror near the end. And who doesn’t love a book ridiculing the paranoia of the billionaire class?
But if you want to delve deeper? This book has so much complexity. It looks at the archetypes women are forced to fulfill, gender roles & gender identify, autonomy & personhood, and the moral bankruptcy of the American Dream™. It’s queer, but I don’t mean queer just in the sense that characters are gay or trans or that the book addresses queer struggle. No, this book is queer to its bones. When I say it’s queer, I mean it skewers, then devours, every aspect of heteronormativity. This is not queerness as it’s usually seen in mainstream media.
The Felicity Complex becomes more absurd and outrageous (complimentary!) as it goes on. The horror is pitch-perfect for a book about vat-grown women. It’s disgusting but humorous enough to keep it from becoming overwhelming. I flew through this. If you enjoy satire, you’re going to want to read this one!
THE FELICITY COMPLEX by august clarke comes out July 28th!
This was my most-anticipated read of the year, and it did not disappoint!
“𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭! 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙒𝙖𝙧, 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨, 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙣𝙪𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣!”
This satire is told from the POV of Hallelujah, one of six vat-grown specimens created by a scientist and sold to work in a doomsday bunker. Hallelujah is SO excited! Her life finally has purpose. She will comfort these important people and make sure they love the bunker as much as she loves it! But if this book was written from the perspective of any of the other women, we would get a very different story. This explores how desperately people will cling to their cognitive dissonance in a horrifying environment.
This book works on multiple levels. If you don’t feel up for in-depth critical analysis, you can still enjoy it. It’s tightly plotted (300 pages), funny, witty, thought-provoking, and includes some truly disgusting body horror near the end. And who doesn’t love a book ridiculing the paranoia of the billionaire class?
But if you want to delve deeper? This book has so much complexity. It looks at the archetypes women are forced to fulfill, gender roles & gender identify, autonomy & personhood, and the moral bankruptcy of the American Dream™. It’s queer, but I don’t mean queer just in the sense that characters are gay or trans or that the book addresses queer struggle. No, this book is queer to its bones. When I say it’s queer, I mean it skewers, then devours, every aspect of heteronormativity. This is not queerness as it’s usually seen in mainstream media.
The Felicity Complex becomes more absurd and outrageous (complimentary!) as it goes on. The horror is pitch-perfect for a book about vat-grown women. It’s disgusting but humorous enough to keep it from becoming overwhelming. I flew through this. If you enjoy satire, you’re going to want to read this one!
THE FELICITY COMPLEX by august clarke comes out July 28th!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thanks to Erewhon Books, Recorded Books, Inc., August Clarke (author), Edelweiss, and Libro.fm for the digital review copy and advance listening copy of The Felicity Complex narrated in by Taylor Meskimen. Their generosity did not influence my review. (Content notice given by author: The Felicity Complex contains depictions of violence, body horror, self-harm, suicide (implied), drug use, and sexual assault (brief scene).)
If the idea of a relaxing getaway includes a luxury doomsday bunker, mad scientists, paranoid communists, and synthetic resort staff diagnosing their creator based on office gossip and weight distribution, then welcome to The Felicity Complex. This book is beautifully wackadoo in the absolute best way possible. It drops you headfirst into a whirlwind of nuclear paranoia and ends with Doctor Who-style ceiling decor. But hey, it’s built to last a lifetime! It is wild, delightfully unhinged, and completely impossible to put down.
As with any human-robot novel, the expected themes of trauma, isolation, exploitation, and autonomy are certainly present, but this is definitely not The Stepford Wives. This is future technology based very much on the algorithms and AI structures we already use today. All of the ethics, moral grey areas, and terrifying repercussions that go along with those technological decisions are played out here with a deeply satisfying, healthy dose of sharp feminism.
If you liked Annie Bot, or if you just genuinely like women as actual people—how creative, giving, smart, and wonderful we all are—you need to give this book a try. I kinda love the fact that each artificial "specimen" was given a stereotypical feminine trait, which beautifully backfired when the women realized they were all equals; one maintaining the kitchen is just as valuable and loved as a maternal medic. As a woman, I am incredibly happy to embrace all forms of womanhood. But after this book, I might not eat at your house. 4 stars.
If the idea of a relaxing getaway includes a luxury doomsday bunker, mad scientists, paranoid communists, and synthetic resort staff diagnosing their creator based on office gossip and weight distribution, then welcome to The Felicity Complex. This book is beautifully wackadoo in the absolute best way possible. It drops you headfirst into a whirlwind of nuclear paranoia and ends with Doctor Who-style ceiling decor. But hey, it’s built to last a lifetime! It is wild, delightfully unhinged, and completely impossible to put down.
As with any human-robot novel, the expected themes of trauma, isolation, exploitation, and autonomy are certainly present, but this is definitely not The Stepford Wives. This is future technology based very much on the algorithms and AI structures we already use today. All of the ethics, moral grey areas, and terrifying repercussions that go along with those technological decisions are played out here with a deeply satisfying, healthy dose of sharp feminism.
If you liked Annie Bot, or if you just genuinely like women as actual people—how creative, giving, smart, and wonderful we all are—you need to give this book a try. I kinda love the fact that each artificial "specimen" was given a stereotypical feminine trait, which beautifully backfired when the women realized they were all equals; one maintaining the kitchen is just as valuable and loved as a maternal medic. As a woman, I am incredibly happy to embrace all forms of womanhood. But after this book, I might not eat at your house. 4 stars.
July 26, 2026
Set in a luxury Cold War-era bunker built to protect the ultra-wealthy from nuclear apocalypse, the Felicity Complex promises every comfort, from hydroponic gardens and gourmet dining to world-class medical care and entertainment. Its devoted concierge, Hallelujah, a lab-grown woman created to serve the privileged survivors, begins to question her purpose as tensions rise between her creator, her lover, and the bunker's unsettling staff.
I love a dystopian novel so I was really drawn to the premise of a group of lab-grown women created during an apocalypse. The novel explores themes of exploitation and control so the ideas were compelling, but they never quite came together in a way that made me feel invested in the characters or their journeys. There are plenty of stories that explore AI rebelling against their creators, and while this one has its own style, it didn't bring enough that felt fresh or surprising..
The themes of sexual exploitation are confronting, but they also feel almost inevitable in a story where scientists create obedient women to serve millionaire bunker residents. I did find it satisfying when those responsible were forced to face the consequences of their actions, and the moments of revenge were some of the most enjoyable parts of the novel.
There's also a sapphic romance, but I found myself far more interested in the relationships between the six women themselves. Their individual personalities were all distinct and intriguing, yet the story never fully explored the bonds that could have developed between them. That sense of sisterhood felt like a missed opportunity, especially considering how central they are to the novel.
Despite my criticisms, I did appreciate the author's writing style. The prose is atmospheric and visual littered with some humour which was entertaining. In the end, though, I didn’t really connect with despite its fascinating premise. 3/5
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available from the 28th July 2026.
I love a dystopian novel so I was really drawn to the premise of a group of lab-grown women created during an apocalypse. The novel explores themes of exploitation and control so the ideas were compelling, but they never quite came together in a way that made me feel invested in the characters or their journeys. There are plenty of stories that explore AI rebelling against their creators, and while this one has its own style, it didn't bring enough that felt fresh or surprising..
The themes of sexual exploitation are confronting, but they also feel almost inevitable in a story where scientists create obedient women to serve millionaire bunker residents. I did find it satisfying when those responsible were forced to face the consequences of their actions, and the moments of revenge were some of the most enjoyable parts of the novel.
There's also a sapphic romance, but I found myself far more interested in the relationships between the six women themselves. Their individual personalities were all distinct and intriguing, yet the story never fully explored the bonds that could have developed between them. That sense of sisterhood felt like a missed opportunity, especially considering how central they are to the novel.
Despite my criticisms, I did appreciate the author's writing style. The prose is atmospheric and visual littered with some humour which was entertaining. In the end, though, I didn’t really connect with despite its fascinating premise. 3/5
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available from the 28th July 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Immediately weird, gay, and gory! Must be an August Clarke title!
I enjoyed Metal From Heaven but I really, really liked The Felicity Complex, and I’ll probably come to love it with more time to digest. It’s strange, fast-moving, laugh-out-loud funny (should we all be keeping husbands in bags??), and supremely violent, with that special blend of class-conscious, lesbian-tinged body horror that’s seemingly becoming Clarke’s signature.
It’s still fairly trippy, but less ambitious, and possibly relatedly, less inscrutable than Metal from Heaven. Although FMC Hallelujah is utterly bonkers, she’s still mostly coherent, and Clarke’s incredibly vivid writing makes it easy to visualize all the (literal) viscera of each successively-crazier event. From the bot-baby-making lab to the Brand-New Girl room to the final dinner show, The Felicity Complex would make an absolutely incredible film.
The wildest, and most surprising, thing about the book is that it’s not actually all that dark. If rich and powerful men had such access to and bodily control over female-presenting robots in the real world, it would be so, so much worse than this, even if much, much more dull. To that end, sensitive readers like me should be aware that while there’s a CW for SA, it’s actually completed, entirely on-page rape. (This distinction isn’t important to everyone but it is to me.) I normally try to avoid reading about both SA and rape, but this instance was tolerable for me because of how it’s written - pretty clinically, and at some distance - and because of an aftermath that’s equal parts cathartic and just plain funny. That’s no mean feat, and I can really see Clarke coming into their powers through this scene (to say nothing of the rest!).
The Felicity Complex cements August Clarke as an SFF powerhouse, and is not to be missed. I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I enjoyed Metal From Heaven but I really, really liked The Felicity Complex, and I’ll probably come to love it with more time to digest. It’s strange, fast-moving, laugh-out-loud funny (should we all be keeping husbands in bags??), and supremely violent, with that special blend of class-conscious, lesbian-tinged body horror that’s seemingly becoming Clarke’s signature.
It’s still fairly trippy, but less ambitious, and possibly relatedly, less inscrutable than Metal from Heaven. Although FMC Hallelujah is utterly bonkers, she’s still mostly coherent, and Clarke’s incredibly vivid writing makes it easy to visualize all the (literal) viscera of each successively-crazier event. From the bot-baby-making lab to the Brand-New Girl room to the final dinner show, The Felicity Complex would make an absolutely incredible film.
The wildest, and most surprising, thing about the book is that it’s not actually all that dark. If rich and powerful men had such access to and bodily control over female-presenting robots in the real world, it would be so, so much worse than this, even if much, much more dull. To that end, sensitive readers like me should be aware that while there’s a CW for SA, it’s actually completed, entirely on-page rape. (This distinction isn’t important to everyone but it is to me.) I normally try to avoid reading about both SA and rape, but this instance was tolerable for me because of how it’s written - pretty clinically, and at some distance - and because of an aftermath that’s equal parts cathartic and just plain funny. That’s no mean feat, and I can really see Clarke coming into their powers through this scene (to say nothing of the rest!).
The Felicity Complex cements August Clarke as an SFF powerhouse, and is not to be missed. I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
exactly what the comp titles promised
Really 3.5 stars. Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review!
In The Felicity Complex, we follow the lab subject known as Hallelujah from dawning self-awareness through the trials and tribulations of, well... being a semi-immortal, woman-shaped construct/person made in a lab and sold to a sleazy business tycoon who wants to use her and her fellow subjects to staff a Cold War-era doomsday bunker. And by "doomsday bunker" he means "luxury hotel" in which the girls must do everything from cooking and cleaning to water tank maintenance and entertainment (which means exactly what you think it does.) Unfortunately for eager Hallelujah, not all goes according to plan when their guests finally arrive.
As its various comp titles (Ex Machina, Annie Bot, Fallout, etc) suggest, The Felicity Complex is a punchy, gory, Good for Her revenge tale with a retro Americana aesthetic to really drive home its themes. As you might also expect from the sheer number of comp titles, there's no wildly original new ground being broken here, but that's okay. I found myself enjoying it mostly for two things: 1) the delightfully weird narrator voice of someone simultaneously naively excited about the brave new world and mercenarily accustomed to exploitation, and 2) the evolving dynamic and shifting relationships between the six subjects trapped in the bunker together, which stayed interesting throughout as the women's very different personalities played off each other.
With those in mind, I'd like to offer up my own "x meets y" comp titles: The Felicity Complex is Sucker Punch set in the Tommorowland part of a Disney park, only with more body horror. If that sounds appealing to you, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Really 3.5 stars. Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review!
In The Felicity Complex, we follow the lab subject known as Hallelujah from dawning self-awareness through the trials and tribulations of, well... being a semi-immortal, woman-shaped construct/person made in a lab and sold to a sleazy business tycoon who wants to use her and her fellow subjects to staff a Cold War-era doomsday bunker. And by "doomsday bunker" he means "luxury hotel" in which the girls must do everything from cooking and cleaning to water tank maintenance and entertainment (which means exactly what you think it does.) Unfortunately for eager Hallelujah, not all goes according to plan when their guests finally arrive.
As its various comp titles (Ex Machina, Annie Bot, Fallout, etc) suggest, The Felicity Complex is a punchy, gory, Good for Her revenge tale with a retro Americana aesthetic to really drive home its themes. As you might also expect from the sheer number of comp titles, there's no wildly original new ground being broken here, but that's okay. I found myself enjoying it mostly for two things: 1) the delightfully weird narrator voice of someone simultaneously naively excited about the brave new world and mercenarily accustomed to exploitation, and 2) the evolving dynamic and shifting relationships between the six subjects trapped in the bunker together, which stayed interesting throughout as the women's very different personalities played off each other.
With those in mind, I'd like to offer up my own "x meets y" comp titles: The Felicity Complex is Sucker Punch set in the Tommorowland part of a Disney park, only with more body horror. If that sounds appealing to you, you'll probably enjoy this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to August Clarke, Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Felicity Complex is a dystopian sci-fi mixed with body horror. It follows Hallelujah and five other women in a dual timeline - ‘before’ in the 1970s and ‘after’ in the 2070s. However, Hallelujah and her friends aren’t normal women; they’re specimens. Created out of of Prima Materia by a mad scientist (Dr Younghusband) and privately funded by a creep (Mister Pink), the women are made to measure as maids, nurses, chefs, electricians, and general entertainers in a luxury Cold War bunker, built for the rich.
I really enjoyed the queer implications of the specimens and the general characterisation throughout the whole book. There was, however, a little confusion over how the specimens related to one another and others. Hallelujah sees Dr Younghusband as her creator and father, even lovingly referring to him as He at the end, but the specimens form romantic connections between themselves. Does she not consider them sisters? There is a discussion to be had on what societal values can be placed on artificial humans, I suppose.
The new characters introduced in the ‘after’ were so lovably hateable and very reminiscent of the billionaire ‘characters’ we have in the current world.
The pacing was a little slow to begin but not noticeably. The novel is fairly short and the pacing really picked up after approx. 40%. I really enjoyed the world-building and would have loved to have the book more fully fleshed out and extended past the ending.
Overall, I loved the concept but the execution wasn’t perfect. I would love to see this as a TV show and will definitely be reading more of Clarke’s backlist.
The Felicity Complex is a dystopian sci-fi mixed with body horror. It follows Hallelujah and five other women in a dual timeline - ‘before’ in the 1970s and ‘after’ in the 2070s. However, Hallelujah and her friends aren’t normal women; they’re specimens. Created out of of Prima Materia by a mad scientist (Dr Younghusband) and privately funded by a creep (Mister Pink), the women are made to measure as maids, nurses, chefs, electricians, and general entertainers in a luxury Cold War bunker, built for the rich.
I really enjoyed the queer implications of the specimens and the general characterisation throughout the whole book. There was, however, a little confusion over how the specimens related to one another and others. Hallelujah sees Dr Younghusband as her creator and father, even lovingly referring to him as He at the end, but the specimens form romantic connections between themselves. Does she not consider them sisters? There is a discussion to be had on what societal values can be placed on artificial humans, I suppose.
The new characters introduced in the ‘after’ were so lovably hateable and very reminiscent of the billionaire ‘characters’ we have in the current world.
The pacing was a little slow to begin but not noticeably. The novel is fairly short and the pacing really picked up after approx. 40%. I really enjoyed the world-building and would have loved to have the book more fully fleshed out and extended past the ending.
Overall, I loved the concept but the execution wasn’t perfect. I would love to see this as a TV show and will definitely be reading more of Clarke’s backlist.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first August Clarke book and I was initially drawn to it by the Fallout vibes I was getting. I mean the idea of six artificially created women trapped inside a luxury doomsday bunker and forced to serve the rich people hiding there just sounds like the perfect premise.
Hallelujah’s personality was definitely the strongest part for me. Since she is basically experiencing everything for the first time, her naiveness added some much needed humor and really gave her some meaningful depth. I also found all of the other specimens so interesting, and there were several moments where I wished we could have gotten their POVs too.
My biggest issue with this book was that it was just too short for everything it was trying to do. There were so many big ideas, but a lot of them never felt fully explored. And skipping in timelines also didn’t build as much tension as I expected and sometimes made the pacing feel more interrupted than suspenseful.
That said I did loved the questions this book was asking about creation, ownership, purpose, and what actually makes someone a person. I just wanted more depth from the relationships, the other specimens, and the world outside the bunker. The sapphic romance also didn’t really work for me because it felt more rooted in trauma and circumstance than an actual connection I could become invested in.
Overall, I liked parts of this a lot, especially Hallelujah’s narration, the dark humor, and the creepy bunker setting. But I was ultimately left feeling like I had read the shortened version of a much bigger and more emotionally powerful story.
Thank you to RBmedia for a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley. All Opinions are my own.
Hallelujah’s personality was definitely the strongest part for me. Since she is basically experiencing everything for the first time, her naiveness added some much needed humor and really gave her some meaningful depth. I also found all of the other specimens so interesting, and there were several moments where I wished we could have gotten their POVs too.
My biggest issue with this book was that it was just too short for everything it was trying to do. There were so many big ideas, but a lot of them never felt fully explored. And skipping in timelines also didn’t build as much tension as I expected and sometimes made the pacing feel more interrupted than suspenseful.
That said I did loved the questions this book was asking about creation, ownership, purpose, and what actually makes someone a person. I just wanted more depth from the relationships, the other specimens, and the world outside the bunker. The sapphic romance also didn’t really work for me because it felt more rooted in trauma and circumstance than an actual connection I could become invested in.
Overall, I liked parts of this a lot, especially Hallelujah’s narration, the dark humor, and the creepy bunker setting. But I was ultimately left feeling like I had read the shortened version of a much bigger and more emotionally powerful story.
Thank you to RBmedia for a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley. All Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I have seen this compared to Anniebot and while there are sentient fembots in this book, I actually would say it's closer to Chuck Tingle's Fabulous Bodies in all the best ways. And there are also some touches of Girl Dinner from Olivie Blake.
In other words, this is a weird sci-fi tale about men behaving badly or wanting to behave badly in the future, but the "perfect" helpmates they created have other plans.
The story centers around a wealthy misogynist named Pink trying to create a franchise of underground bunkers for other billionaires to ride out the apocalypse with ai fembots in the mode of Playboy bunnies to cater to their every whim. Each "woman" is molded into a caricature of a 1950s stereotype - Oklahoma, the rootin rootin Southern cowgirl, Anastasia, the bombshell, Ballerina, the dancer, and Hallelujah, the Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene rolled into one. In the beginning, all Hallelujah wants to do is to serve.
Something goes wrong, terribly wrong in the bunker and we end up with a dual timeline story set before and after the bunker is cut off from the upper world. The women are left behind for a century where they await the patrons they were meant to serve. And one day a group of Pink's descendants shows up.
This was a weird, fast paced dark story that bordered on horror due to some descriptions of violence and gore. I appreciated it and enjoyed listening to it, definitely a wild ride.
There are some areas that I think needed some further clarification or explanation, or places when it went too overboard with the absurd, but I don't want to give any spoilers away.
Overall, a very entertaining read, especially for those with a dark sense of humor.
I have seen this compared to Anniebot and while there are sentient fembots in this book, I actually would say it's closer to Chuck Tingle's Fabulous Bodies in all the best ways. And there are also some touches of Girl Dinner from Olivie Blake.
In other words, this is a weird sci-fi tale about men behaving badly or wanting to behave badly in the future, but the "perfect" helpmates they created have other plans.
The story centers around a wealthy misogynist named Pink trying to create a franchise of underground bunkers for other billionaires to ride out the apocalypse with ai fembots in the mode of Playboy bunnies to cater to their every whim. Each "woman" is molded into a caricature of a 1950s stereotype - Oklahoma, the rootin rootin Southern cowgirl, Anastasia, the bombshell, Ballerina, the dancer, and Hallelujah, the Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene rolled into one. In the beginning, all Hallelujah wants to do is to serve.
Something goes wrong, terribly wrong in the bunker and we end up with a dual timeline story set before and after the bunker is cut off from the upper world. The women are left behind for a century where they await the patrons they were meant to serve. And one day a group of Pink's descendants shows up.
This was a weird, fast paced dark story that bordered on horror due to some descriptions of violence and gore. I appreciated it and enjoyed listening to it, definitely a wild ride.
There are some areas that I think needed some further clarification or explanation, or places when it went too overboard with the absurd, but I don't want to give any spoilers away.
Overall, a very entertaining read, especially for those with a dark sense of humor.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you both the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to read The Felicity Complex and share my thoughts about the book.
I honestly wish I had more words to describe this. It’s a weird. It’s a bit grotesque. It’s a bit disgusting because this idea of selfish millionaires being able to do anything they want like building a bunker for other rich people and creating perfect women to serve them shouldn’t feel like something that’s possible but… I loved it.
It follows the story of these 6 women who are created in a lab to be perfect hosts in the Felicity Complex, taking care of every need their millionaire guests might have in this fallout shelter. Every need. Literally every need. Of course, things go wrong.
Almost surprisingly, I enjoyed the characters a lot. They’re far from perfect. Oh, our sweet Hallelujah. I thought I would eventually grow disliking her extreme naivety and need to please but no, I adored her. In the end, I think having such a sincere and naive, sweet yet grotesque character as the POV was such a good choice that brought something new to the story. I really liked all the girls and I kinda wished it would have been a bit longer. I wasn’t ready for it to end.
I think this is one of those books I find hard to describe and maybe even recommend. For right people, it's an easy 5 star read but I also understand if it doesn’t work. But to me, who love loves women who love women, dystopians, ladies who are not afraid to kill, a little bit gross and uncomfortable situations and so on, it was such a good read.
I honestly wish I had more words to describe this. It’s a weird. It’s a bit grotesque. It’s a bit disgusting because this idea of selfish millionaires being able to do anything they want like building a bunker for other rich people and creating perfect women to serve them shouldn’t feel like something that’s possible but… I loved it.
It follows the story of these 6 women who are created in a lab to be perfect hosts in the Felicity Complex, taking care of every need their millionaire guests might have in this fallout shelter. Every need. Literally every need. Of course, things go wrong.
Almost surprisingly, I enjoyed the characters a lot. They’re far from perfect. Oh, our sweet Hallelujah. I thought I would eventually grow disliking her extreme naivety and need to please but no, I adored her. In the end, I think having such a sincere and naive, sweet yet grotesque character as the POV was such a good choice that brought something new to the story. I really liked all the girls and I kinda wished it would have been a bit longer. I wasn’t ready for it to end.
I think this is one of those books I find hard to describe and maybe even recommend. For right people, it's an easy 5 star read but I also understand if it doesn’t work. But to me, who love loves women who love women, dystopians, ladies who are not afraid to kill, a little bit gross and uncomfortable situations and so on, it was such a good read.
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