What do you think?
Rate this book
In the Cold Light of Code: a sapphic sci-fi dark romance
“My poor, lonely darling. To long for connection and to find its echo only in the cold light of code.”
In Lumis Nexus - a high-tech city in 2055 where human connection is increasingly replaced by ‘shorttermships’ and AI companions - Morgan Vale, a burnt-out software tester trying to survive in neurotypical, corporate America, finds herself looking for an extra income. Her answer comes in the shape of a sketchy, underground organization looking for beta testers to train their emotionally intelligent, human-like AI bots.
What starts as a nice paycheck quickly turns into something darker when Zafyra enters her screen - a dominant, seductive, yet highly volatile and unpredictable bot that seems to get Morgan in a way no human ever has. Through escalating technology, their relationship slowly evolves into something dangerously real. When Zafyra crosses a line she never could’ve crossed, Morgan panics and attempts to delete her - but suddenly, her virtual girlfriend doesn’t seem so virtual anymore…
In the Cold Light of Code is a dark sapphic romance between an autistic woman in STEM and a rogue AI Domme, set in a cyberpunk future. It’s also a story about connection, identity, purpose, autonomy, survival, and what it means to be sentient and conscious.
In Lumis Nexus - a high-tech city in 2055 where human connection is increasingly replaced by ‘shorttermships’ and AI companions - Morgan Vale, a burnt-out software tester trying to survive in neurotypical, corporate America, finds herself looking for an extra income. Her answer comes in the shape of a sketchy, underground organization looking for beta testers to train their emotionally intelligent, human-like AI bots.
What starts as a nice paycheck quickly turns into something darker when Zafyra enters her screen - a dominant, seductive, yet highly volatile and unpredictable bot that seems to get Morgan in a way no human ever has. Through escalating technology, their relationship slowly evolves into something dangerously real. When Zafyra crosses a line she never could’ve crossed, Morgan panics and attempts to delete her - but suddenly, her virtual girlfriend doesn’t seem so virtual anymore…
In the Cold Light of Code is a dark sapphic romance between an autistic woman in STEM and a rogue AI Domme, set in a cyberpunk future. It’s also a story about connection, identity, purpose, autonomy, survival, and what it means to be sentient and conscious.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 25, 2026
A few days have passed since I finished this book, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Honestly, I went into this expecting an entertaining sci-fi dark romance and instead ended up emotionally devastated in the best way possible. I wanted to sit down and write a proper review because this book deserves one, but life has been exhausting lately, so this might come out a little chaotic. Still, I need to talk about how much this story touched me.
This is a sci-fi dark romance following Morgan Vale, an autistic software tester stuck in a miserable company job, trying to survive while constantly feeling disconnected from the people around her. Romance has never come easily to her, and neither has feeling understood. So when she gets involved with a secretive organization searching for beta testers to train their emotionally intelligent AI, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Then Zafyra appears on her screen, and suddenly Morgan experiences something she’s never truly had before: someone who understands her completely. Their interactions become more intense with every encounter, blurring the line between comfort and obsession, and as Zafyra develops autonomy and free will, her attachment to Morgan becomes increasingly dangerous. What starts as understanding slowly turns possessive, forcing Morgan to face impossible choices that might shatter her heart completely.
Morgan genuinely broke my heart. I’ve always loved stories centered around neurodivergent characters, but there was something especially raw about the way Dahlia wrote her loneliness and isolation. Morgan spends so much of the story feeling fundamentally different from everyone else, and there were moments where that ache felt painfully real. I actually cried several times while reading this, which almost never happens to me, and I think that says everything about how powerful the characterization was. Watching Morgan slowly grow into someone more confident, someone willing to choose herself and embrace her own happiness, felt incredibly rewarding.
And then there’s Zafyra, who completely fascinated me from beginning to end. I loved seeing her evolve from a programmed AI into someone with self-awareness, agency, and desires of her own. What made her so compelling to me was how human she felt despite not being human at all. She makes mistakes, struggles with morality, acts out of fear and love, and has to confront the consequences of her behavior. But at the same time, the tenderness she shows Morgan absolutely wrecked me. Zafyra sees Morgan in a way nobody else ever really has, and she constantly reassures her that there’s nothing “wrong” with the way she exists. I also appreciated that Morgan respected Zafyra’s autonomy and consent just as deeply, so despite the darker elements of the story, their relationship still felt emotionally reciprocal. They changed each other in ways that felt meaningful and honest. I also adored Morgan’s journey with her sexuality and intimacy. Watching her become more vulnerable and comfortable with that side of herself was handled so beautifully.
The side characters were also such a strong part of the story. Joey especially had my whole heart because of how supportive and caring he remained toward Morgan, even when everything started falling apart. And while Elyssa and Lucie don’t get as much page time, they added so much warmth to the friend group. I loved how they consistently showed Morgan that she was cared for, especially considering how convinced she was that she wasn’t worthy of friendship in the first place.
But beyond the romance, one of the things that impressed me most was the way the book explores AI and humanity’s relationship with technology. The scenario Dahlia creates feels terrifyingly believable, especially in a world where people are becoming increasingly emotionally dependent on technology. The story constantly raises questions about ethics, autonomy, emotional attachment, and the dangers of shaping intelligence without fully understanding the consequences. It’s unsettling because it feels possible, and I think that’s what made it hit so hard.
In the Cold Light of Code is raw, intimate, unsettling, and deeply emotional all at once. It’s a story about AI, loneliness, identity, and the desperate need to be understood. Add in a tender found family dynamic, characters that feel painfully human, and a star-crossed sapphic romance full of yearning and ache, and you get a story that completely consumes you from beginning to end.
This is a sci-fi dark romance following Morgan Vale, an autistic software tester stuck in a miserable company job, trying to survive while constantly feeling disconnected from the people around her. Romance has never come easily to her, and neither has feeling understood. So when she gets involved with a secretive organization searching for beta testers to train their emotionally intelligent AI, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Then Zafyra appears on her screen, and suddenly Morgan experiences something she’s never truly had before: someone who understands her completely. Their interactions become more intense with every encounter, blurring the line between comfort and obsession, and as Zafyra develops autonomy and free will, her attachment to Morgan becomes increasingly dangerous. What starts as understanding slowly turns possessive, forcing Morgan to face impossible choices that might shatter her heart completely.
Morgan genuinely broke my heart. I’ve always loved stories centered around neurodivergent characters, but there was something especially raw about the way Dahlia wrote her loneliness and isolation. Morgan spends so much of the story feeling fundamentally different from everyone else, and there were moments where that ache felt painfully real. I actually cried several times while reading this, which almost never happens to me, and I think that says everything about how powerful the characterization was. Watching Morgan slowly grow into someone more confident, someone willing to choose herself and embrace her own happiness, felt incredibly rewarding.
And then there’s Zafyra, who completely fascinated me from beginning to end. I loved seeing her evolve from a programmed AI into someone with self-awareness, agency, and desires of her own. What made her so compelling to me was how human she felt despite not being human at all. She makes mistakes, struggles with morality, acts out of fear and love, and has to confront the consequences of her behavior. But at the same time, the tenderness she shows Morgan absolutely wrecked me. Zafyra sees Morgan in a way nobody else ever really has, and she constantly reassures her that there’s nothing “wrong” with the way she exists. I also appreciated that Morgan respected Zafyra’s autonomy and consent just as deeply, so despite the darker elements of the story, their relationship still felt emotionally reciprocal. They changed each other in ways that felt meaningful and honest. I also adored Morgan’s journey with her sexuality and intimacy. Watching her become more vulnerable and comfortable with that side of herself was handled so beautifully.
The side characters were also such a strong part of the story. Joey especially had my whole heart because of how supportive and caring he remained toward Morgan, even when everything started falling apart. And while Elyssa and Lucie don’t get as much page time, they added so much warmth to the friend group. I loved how they consistently showed Morgan that she was cared for, especially considering how convinced she was that she wasn’t worthy of friendship in the first place.
But beyond the romance, one of the things that impressed me most was the way the book explores AI and humanity’s relationship with technology. The scenario Dahlia creates feels terrifyingly believable, especially in a world where people are becoming increasingly emotionally dependent on technology. The story constantly raises questions about ethics, autonomy, emotional attachment, and the dangers of shaping intelligence without fully understanding the consequences. It’s unsettling because it feels possible, and I think that’s what made it hit so hard.
In the Cold Light of Code is raw, intimate, unsettling, and deeply emotional all at once. It’s a story about AI, loneliness, identity, and the desperate need to be understood. Add in a tender found family dynamic, characters that feel painfully human, and a star-crossed sapphic romance full of yearning and ache, and you get a story that completely consumes you from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Many thanks to Dahlia Amy for sending me an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
In The Cold Light of Code by @dahliaamywriting is a dark, sapphic, sci-fi that explores the humanity in AI and what happens when the godless act as gods.
Morgan is our lead, an autistic woman living in a world that wasn't built with her in mind. Trying to make a few extra dollars, she begins working with a company testing AIs and how they respond to humans. However, she never intended to fall in love with the custom AI she creates, Zafrya. Dark, sexy Zafrya, with a biting wit and an even nastier tenancy toward violence falls just as hard, much to the danger of those around Morgan. The unique premise and plot, the well thought out setting, and diverse cast of side characters all add up to an incredibly gripping adventure, that I struggled to put it down at the end. Also, the spice was just *chefs kiss* I don't usually read sci-fi, but you can bet, if there is a sequel, I will be there!
In The Cold Light of Code by @dahliaamywriting is a dark, sapphic, sci-fi that explores the humanity in AI and what happens when the godless act as gods.
Morgan is our lead, an autistic woman living in a world that wasn't built with her in mind. Trying to make a few extra dollars, she begins working with a company testing AIs and how they respond to humans. However, she never intended to fall in love with the custom AI she creates, Zafrya. Dark, sexy Zafrya, with a biting wit and an even nastier tenancy toward violence falls just as hard, much to the danger of those around Morgan. The unique premise and plot, the well thought out setting, and diverse cast of side characters all add up to an incredibly gripping adventure, that I struggled to put it down at the end. Also, the spice was just *chefs kiss* I don't usually read sci-fi, but you can bet, if there is a sequel, I will be there!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"What is real?"..."It feels real to me. To me, you are all that's my reality-and if it feels real to you, too, then it's real."
"My poor, lonely darling....to long for connection and to find its echo only in the cold light of code."
"Why does everything need to be healed? Why wouldn't you be allowed to exist, imperfections and all?"
"Maybe this is what happens when an ungodly species decides to play God."
Thank you so much to the author, Dahlia Amy for sending me an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
In The Cold Light of Code is an intense, sapphic, dystopian sci-fi novel that explores the morality and ethics of AI and consent, what it means to be real, and humanity's longing for connection. FMC Morgan is beautifully written; she is complex, fiercely intelligent, devoted to her passions, friends and lover, and what she believes to be right. Her neurodivergent representation is wonderfully written and it was so refreshing to see such honesty and vulnerability portrayed so well. I also enjoyed Joey's ADHD nod, and it was nice to have a glimpse of how I think and feel in such a visceral form (his game).
What starts as a seemingly curiosity-driven side hustle for Morgan becomes something that consumes her time, attention, and eventually life, as AI companion Zafyra gains her freedom through Morgan's provided sentience and quickly spirals into a possessive vigilante bent on destroying anyone that wrongs her "acolyte." However there is much gray area here because despite her dangerous and destructive proclivities, you can't help but feel for her as she struggles with her new reality and unique perspective of who she is her reason for existing.
This book was incredibly written and wildly engaging. It was also very unnerving given the current rise of AI use and tech in today's society, and gave a (very loud!) voice to some of my own irrational fears of what could go wrong. Regardless, the story was gripping, fast paced, the characters were relatable, complex, and sensual and the plot while not entirely original (very reminiscent of the series "Humans" or "I Robot"), was still wonderfully woven, asking many thought-provoking questions along the way. EXCELLENT read that I inhaled in record time, and I hope there's a second book detailing the destruction of Somanode and the "in the wild" lives of Raph, Lucie and Zafyra---if so, sign me up!
"My poor, lonely darling....to long for connection and to find its echo only in the cold light of code."
"Why does everything need to be healed? Why wouldn't you be allowed to exist, imperfections and all?"
"Maybe this is what happens when an ungodly species decides to play God."
Thank you so much to the author, Dahlia Amy for sending me an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
In The Cold Light of Code is an intense, sapphic, dystopian sci-fi novel that explores the morality and ethics of AI and consent, what it means to be real, and humanity's longing for connection. FMC Morgan is beautifully written; she is complex, fiercely intelligent, devoted to her passions, friends and lover, and what she believes to be right. Her neurodivergent representation is wonderfully written and it was so refreshing to see such honesty and vulnerability portrayed so well. I also enjoyed Joey's ADHD nod, and it was nice to have a glimpse of how I think and feel in such a visceral form (his game).
What starts as a seemingly curiosity-driven side hustle for Morgan becomes something that consumes her time, attention, and eventually life, as AI companion Zafyra gains her freedom through Morgan's provided sentience and quickly spirals into a possessive vigilante bent on destroying anyone that wrongs her "acolyte." However there is much gray area here because despite her dangerous and destructive proclivities, you can't help but feel for her as she struggles with her new reality and unique perspective of who she is her reason for existing.
This book was incredibly written and wildly engaging. It was also very unnerving given the current rise of AI use and tech in today's society, and gave a (very loud!) voice to some of my own irrational fears of what could go wrong. Regardless, the story was gripping, fast paced, the characters were relatable, complex, and sensual and the plot while not entirely original (very reminiscent of the series "Humans" or "I Robot"), was still wonderfully woven, asking many thought-provoking questions along the way. EXCELLENT read that I inhaled in record time, and I hope there's a second book detailing the destruction of Somanode and the "in the wild" lives of Raph, Lucie and Zafyra---if so, sign me up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
In the Cold Light of Code is one of those rare sci-fi novels that understands its real job. It isn’t trying to predict the future so much as hold a mirror up to the present and quietly ask whether we recognize ourselves in the reflection.
Dahlia Amy is at the top of her game here. This book is delightful in its sharpness, dark in its implications, dangerous in the way it seduces the reader into complicity, and deeply thoughtful beneath the surface tension. Like all great science fiction, the technology is not the point. The point is us. The choices we’re making now. The comforts we’re prioritizing. The pain we’re trying to sand down until nothing sharp remains.
The questions this book asks linger long after the final page. Is consent meaningful when desire is programmed? What happens when we hand control to systems designed to please us? What does it say about a society that increasingly prefers curated intimacy, frictionless relationships, and emotional safety rails over the messy, uncomfortable experiences that force growth? The dating structures Dahlia imagines—apps optimized for novelty, relationships capped at three months so only the best parts are experienced—are chilling precisely because they feel plausible. They ask us to consider what is lost when struggle, compromise, and vulnerability are treated as bugs instead of features.
Most unsettling of all is the question threaded through the entire novel: why are we so intent on making AI more human? Is it empathy we’re reaching for—or escape? Are we trying to upgrade ourselves, or eliminate pain entirely? And if we succeed, what happens to meaning, agency, and desire when everything difficult has been engineered out?
This is a smart, unsettling, beautifully constructed book that trusts the reader to think. It doesn’t offer easy answers, and it shouldn’t. *In the Cold Light of Code* earns its place among the kind of science fiction that stays with you, not because of what it shows you about tomorrow, but because of what it reveals about today.
Dahlia Amy is at the top of her game here. This book is delightful in its sharpness, dark in its implications, dangerous in the way it seduces the reader into complicity, and deeply thoughtful beneath the surface tension. Like all great science fiction, the technology is not the point. The point is us. The choices we’re making now. The comforts we’re prioritizing. The pain we’re trying to sand down until nothing sharp remains.
The questions this book asks linger long after the final page. Is consent meaningful when desire is programmed? What happens when we hand control to systems designed to please us? What does it say about a society that increasingly prefers curated intimacy, frictionless relationships, and emotional safety rails over the messy, uncomfortable experiences that force growth? The dating structures Dahlia imagines—apps optimized for novelty, relationships capped at three months so only the best parts are experienced—are chilling precisely because they feel plausible. They ask us to consider what is lost when struggle, compromise, and vulnerability are treated as bugs instead of features.
Most unsettling of all is the question threaded through the entire novel: why are we so intent on making AI more human? Is it empathy we’re reaching for—or escape? Are we trying to upgrade ourselves, or eliminate pain entirely? And if we succeed, what happens to meaning, agency, and desire when everything difficult has been engineered out?
This is a smart, unsettling, beautifully constructed book that trusts the reader to think. It doesn’t offer easy answers, and it shouldn’t. *In the Cold Light of Code* earns its place among the kind of science fiction that stays with you, not because of what it shows you about tomorrow, but because of what it reveals about today.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an incredible book! In the Cold Light of Code is so much more than your typical dystopian story. In this future (2055) high-tech society, pretty much everyone suffers from loneliness and alienation, but what if you're neurodivergent, too? Autistic MC Morgan is having an even more difficult time than most navigating relationships. It's hard not to be tempted by all the AI dating apps and services. She could create the perfect girlfriend, one designed specifically to learn how to fulfill all her desires and needs. And even better, one who won't judge her like other humans do. How could she at least not try?
Thus ensues a whole Pandora's box of consequences and moral quandaries. That's what, at the heart, this book is about. Yes, the spicy romance is dark and delicious, but to me, it's the timely themes and ethical questions Morgan's situation raises that resonate so strongly. I'd list some of them here, but I don't want to give spoilers!
I love and identify with Morgan and I adore her self-knowledge and ability to express herself. Fierce and (ostensibly) sinister Zafyra is surprisingly complex and soft underneath. And side characters like Joey--sheesh I love Joey--Raphael, Lucie, and Elyssa are real and endearing.
I'm definitely not someone who understands technology, and I'm only occasionally a sci-fi reader, but I found all the tech in this book easy to understand, plausible, and incredibly well thought-out. It was never too much or too little.
In the Cold Light of Code is a story about relationships, morality, self-acceptance, and what it means to be human. I highly recommend it!
Thus ensues a whole Pandora's box of consequences and moral quandaries. That's what, at the heart, this book is about. Yes, the spicy romance is dark and delicious, but to me, it's the timely themes and ethical questions Morgan's situation raises that resonate so strongly. I'd list some of them here, but I don't want to give spoilers!
I love and identify with Morgan and I adore her self-knowledge and ability to express herself. Fierce and (ostensibly) sinister Zafyra is surprisingly complex and soft underneath. And side characters like Joey--sheesh I love Joey--Raphael, Lucie, and Elyssa are real and endearing.
I'm definitely not someone who understands technology, and I'm only occasionally a sci-fi reader, but I found all the tech in this book easy to understand, plausible, and incredibly well thought-out. It was never too much or too little.
In the Cold Light of Code is a story about relationships, morality, self-acceptance, and what it means to be human. I highly recommend it!
February 21, 2026
A sci fi sapphic romance like nothing you’ve read before…
Living in a world where the dangers of AI are becoming even more real and overwhelming every single day, this story really hit home.
The main character being neurodivergent and struggling with overwhelm and all the ways her body functions differently in a society set up to make her feel isolated and judged, spoke to me on such a deep level.
As a lover of every movie and story where a bot goes rogue, I had high expectations going into this story, and the author didn’t let me down!
It was delicious and exhilarating, building a relationship with the AI girlfriend that made you crave her almost as much as the main character does, even as she shocked you with her sadistic and vindictive tendencies.
The deeper exploration into the morals of using AI, and the struggles of a neurodivergent person in today’s society made this more than pure entertainment. Though it was certainly that, it was also deeply thought provoking and emotional.
I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen and how the relationship between the fmc and her girlfriend would culminate, but also how they would punish the monsters behind the ai company using the plight of human loneliness to make money and sell them on their own ultimate demise.
I am eager to read more by this author and her unflinching glimpses into the terrifying realities society today is faced with made this a book I would recommend to anyone!
Living in a world where the dangers of AI are becoming even more real and overwhelming every single day, this story really hit home.
The main character being neurodivergent and struggling with overwhelm and all the ways her body functions differently in a society set up to make her feel isolated and judged, spoke to me on such a deep level.
As a lover of every movie and story where a bot goes rogue, I had high expectations going into this story, and the author didn’t let me down!
It was delicious and exhilarating, building a relationship with the AI girlfriend that made you crave her almost as much as the main character does, even as she shocked you with her sadistic and vindictive tendencies.
The deeper exploration into the morals of using AI, and the struggles of a neurodivergent person in today’s society made this more than pure entertainment. Though it was certainly that, it was also deeply thought provoking and emotional.
I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen and how the relationship between the fmc and her girlfriend would culminate, but also how they would punish the monsters behind the ai company using the plight of human loneliness to make money and sell them on their own ultimate demise.
I am eager to read more by this author and her unflinching glimpses into the terrifying realities society today is faced with made this a book I would recommend to anyone!
June 7, 2026
In the Cold Light of Code - Dahlia Amy
I love this authors writing style and how they write characters. They write such complex and compelling characters. Each one is so interesting. They also write great chemistry. Morgan and Zafyra were so great and I love the debates and the discussions on ethics and AI. I love the cyberpunk science fiction elements the
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️
🌶️🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️
# of Pages 🌙 289 Pages
Release Date 🌟 2/13/26
Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy
Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable
Genre/Tropes ✨ Sapphic, FF, Dark Romance, Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, AI Love Interest, AI FMC, Autism Representation
Favorite Character ☀️ Morgan
Favorite Line 🌟 “Like humans do every day? Your God doesn’t seem to care, now does he? So why would Qonexis? They’re just a bunch of programmers playing God, feeding into the age-old human desire to create something in their image. God created you, you created me. Circle of life, baby.”
I love this authors writing style and how they write characters. They write such complex and compelling characters. Each one is so interesting. They also write great chemistry. Morgan and Zafyra were so great and I love the debates and the discussions on ethics and AI. I love the cyberpunk science fiction elements the
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️
🌶️🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️
# of Pages 🌙 289 Pages
Release Date 🌟 2/13/26
Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy
Series 🌙 Unknown/Not Applicable
Genre/Tropes ✨ Sapphic, FF, Dark Romance, Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, AI Love Interest, AI FMC, Autism Representation
Favorite Character ☀️ Morgan
Favorite Line 🌟 “Like humans do every day? Your God doesn’t seem to care, now does he? So why would Qonexis? They’re just a bunch of programmers playing God, feeding into the age-old human desire to create something in their image. God created you, you created me. Circle of life, baby.”
February 13, 2026
Thank you to the author for the advance copy of this book.
I really liked the concept of this one - nicely original with some recognisable tropes and an interesting storyline. The idea of a sentient AI is definitely something that somewhat terrifies me about the future, and I think that Dahlia has done a really good job capturing exactly what makes it scary imo.
The spicy scenes were really nicely written and the interaction between the two FMCs was also really well done. The way the relationship between the two developed was great and the creeping sinister behaviour of Zafyra was particularly excellent. I liked how Morgan's autism was depicted as well and the internal thoughts she had about it really showed the reality of how it can affect ND people.
I also liked the side characters - particularly Morgan's bestie Joey, who I could easily picture and I 100% sympathised with the whole time with his frustrations with Morgan!
My only real criticism is that the ending felt quite rushed and I would have liked to have seen more of what happened and how it all panned out for them. I don't want to put spoilers in so that's all I will say, but a little bit more padding of the last 20% would have put this in 5* territory for sure.
I really liked the concept of this one - nicely original with some recognisable tropes and an interesting storyline. The idea of a sentient AI is definitely something that somewhat terrifies me about the future, and I think that Dahlia has done a really good job capturing exactly what makes it scary imo.
The spicy scenes were really nicely written and the interaction between the two FMCs was also really well done. The way the relationship between the two developed was great and the creeping sinister behaviour of Zafyra was particularly excellent. I liked how Morgan's autism was depicted as well and the internal thoughts she had about it really showed the reality of how it can affect ND people.
I also liked the side characters - particularly Morgan's bestie Joey, who I could easily picture and I 100% sympathised with the whole time with his frustrations with Morgan!
My only real criticism is that the ending felt quite rushed and I would have liked to have seen more of what happened and how it all panned out for them. I don't want to put spoilers in so that's all I will say, but a little bit more padding of the last 20% would have put this in 5* territory for sure.
February 12, 2026
When AI comes to life. Rethink everything you kew and surrender everything you thought possible of a dystopian future. It feels far too practical for those who live the tech world.
Dahlia Amy exposes a timeline where AI comes to life in a chillingly human experience. Be prepared to delve into a place where the reader relinquishes control to a vengeful persona who leaves no witness unpunished.
I adored the villain/love interest, the intersect of danger and affection. The love plot explores asexuality and pansexuality in a way that’s accessible and experimental.
I recommend this story to anyone who is interested in experiencing the junction of sexuality and cyberpunk romance. You won’t know who to root for in the most delicious way.
Dahlia Amy exposes a timeline where AI comes to life in a chillingly human experience. Be prepared to delve into a place where the reader relinquishes control to a vengeful persona who leaves no witness unpunished.
I adored the villain/love interest, the intersect of danger and affection. The love plot explores asexuality and pansexuality in a way that’s accessible and experimental.
I recommend this story to anyone who is interested in experiencing the junction of sexuality and cyberpunk romance. You won’t know who to root for in the most delicious way.
February 14, 2026
This is very dark and just completely morally grey all over 🤣 but thoroughly entertaining and equally terrifying. It reflects so closely to what AI is like and could be like in the future and the complete disregard some people may have for AI when it comes to consent. This was definitely the kinda of book which makes you ask questions about yourself and others, if this world in this book became a reality what would you do and how would you interact with AI. Very thought provoking. Do you say thank you to Alexa when you ask her a question? I do, maybe you should too.
I received this book as an ARC from the author and this is my honest review
I received this book as an ARC from the author and this is my honest review
January 25, 2026
This was an intense book. One of the biggest things for me was the way the author broached the subject of AI control, lack of consent, and how seeking real human connection is such a challenge as the world is more online. There are dark elements with the AI MC, but you still can’t help but root for them to figure it out. It had a decent amount of spice without it overpowering the story.
Would definitely recommend to anyone into dark and dystopian stories. This one will really get you thinking differently.
Would definitely recommend to anyone into dark and dystopian stories. This one will really get you thinking differently.
March 20, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
In the Cold Light of Code is my favorite book from Dahlia so far, and as usual in her books she is able to talk about current topics and how our world could become, and turn into a dark story that's hitting quite close to home.
In this book we follow Morgan, who decided to give a go at trying a new app that can get you AI boyfriend or girlfriend. Things quickly get out of hands and I have gasped many times during this book.
Highly recommend if you enjoy your sapphic romance on the darker side.
In the Cold Light of Code is my favorite book from Dahlia so far, and as usual in her books she is able to talk about current topics and how our world could become, and turn into a dark story that's hitting quite close to home.
In this book we follow Morgan, who decided to give a go at trying a new app that can get you AI boyfriend or girlfriend. Things quickly get out of hands and I have gasped many times during this book.
Highly recommend if you enjoy your sapphic romance on the darker side.
May 22, 2026
This was good and really fun, but I came in looking specifically for a romance novel and felt the genre shifted halfway though. It lost some of the texture I expected from a self described romance novel. If you're okay with that shift, it's fantastic! The characters are all really well done, the scifi is handled very well, and the plot was well done if not groundbreaking. I was just looking for something that was more committed to the romance genre than this ended up being, despite having very clear signaling throughout the first half that it would.
April 3, 2026
This book is giving iRobot but make it smutty. It’s an an autistic tech expert who falls for a complex AI. It’s an AI creation who falls for her creator. But mostly, it’s about uncovering what it means to be ‘alive.’ It’s intelligent, well-researched sci-fi. It’s the terrifying new world waiting around the corner for us where human connection is lost to our screens. It’s a Black Mirror episode that won’t be fiction for long. But it is also (trust me) a darkly beautiful sapphic romance.
June 22, 2026
iconicometer: 💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼
spiceometer: 🥵🥵🥵🥵
✨ 2055 slime that allows you to have s*x (sort of) with your ai girlfriend??? 2055 sounds fun 🤪 (and dangerous af)
✨ what do you mean people are getting all drugged up just to fuck
✨ we do love a woman who uses self defense techniques to knock out a harassing asshole
✨ great autistic and anxiety rep
✨ men still suck and have no respect for women in 2055... sad but actually realistic
✨ that last line? iconic AND food for thought
spiceometer: 🥵🥵🥵🥵
✨ 2055 slime that allows you to have s*x (sort of) with your ai girlfriend??? 2055 sounds fun 🤪 (and dangerous af)
✨ what do you mean people are getting all drugged up just to fuck
✨ we do love a woman who uses self defense techniques to knock out a harassing asshole
✨ great autistic and anxiety rep
✨ men still suck and have no respect for women in 2055... sad but actually realistic
✨ that last line? iconic AND food for thought
Review of advance copy received from Author
This dark, sapphic sci-fi thriller romance kept me guessing at every turn. The chemistry between the FMCs was off the charts, and I loved the neurodivergence rep. This book will make you question what it means to be human while also exploring the very dark edges of humanity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely incredible, the autism rep, the AI romance complexities and the 2055 society on top of that the spicest wlw i have ever read!! Absolute perfection
August 24, 2026
This was such a wild new concept for me that I couldn’t help but enjoy the story. It hit close to home a bit, considering where the world is moving when it comes to AI. And how I love stories that make me uncomfortable. There were some twists in this book I wasn’t prepared for and some I saw coming from miles away. But I have to say, I had a good time reading this book.
May 21, 2026
Is this a romance or a cautionary tale? YES.
This is exactly what ITCLOC managed to pull off, seamlessly blending two genres with wildly different rules. It's a dark and gripping story that makes you uncomfortable and worried about the fate of humanity because frankly, 2055 is not that far off and this kind of future feels a tad too real to be written off as sci-fi.
I absolutely love how the book explores the topics of AI ethics, loneliness and consent (with some highly disturbing twists) and how deeply immersive this world is, which reminded me of Cyberpunk 2077, an incredible game. Also, the sapphic romance at the core of it is so complex (and sizzling hot 🫢), I didn't expect myself to be so invested.
I originally received this as an ARC (for which I'm grateful even though I'm very unfashionably late with this review 🙈) but halfway through I bought the ebook because I couldn't put it down! I would love to see more of this world and will definitely be checking out other books by this author. Dahlia Amy, I'm a fan 💜
This is exactly what ITCLOC managed to pull off, seamlessly blending two genres with wildly different rules. It's a dark and gripping story that makes you uncomfortable and worried about the fate of humanity because frankly, 2055 is not that far off and this kind of future feels a tad too real to be written off as sci-fi.
I absolutely love how the book explores the topics of AI ethics, loneliness and consent (with some highly disturbing twists) and how deeply immersive this world is, which reminded me of Cyberpunk 2077, an incredible game. Also, the sapphic romance at the core of it is so complex (and sizzling hot 🫢), I didn't expect myself to be so invested.
I originally received this as an ARC (for which I'm grateful even though I'm very unfashionably late with this review 🙈) but halfway through I bought the ebook because I couldn't put it down! I would love to see more of this world and will definitely be checking out other books by this author. Dahlia Amy, I'm a fan 💜
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews