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I Repeat Myself
When the human race inexplicably begins to asexually reproduce, giving birth to their own clones, Ambrose Flint will have to learn what it means to raise himself. But Ambrose has a secret. A dark, wriggling secret that has infested his family tree, rotting the wood from the inside out.
The generations of Ambrose's asexually reproduced progeny that follow will need to determine where Ambrose ends, and they begin. They will need to learn how to grow, raise themselves, and forgive. But most of all, they will need to discover the wriggling rot at its core, diving deep into the VR world that holds the answers to their past, locked away in the graveyard of Ambrose’s subconscious.
It will take four generations before the men who are not Ambrose—no matter what their mirrors tell them—learn to heal their intergenerational trauma and end the cycle of abuse.
This is a story of redemption and will lead its readers from the darkest places into an unexpected light.
I Repeat Myself is a deeply psychological look at the metamorphosis of lineage, of nurture over nature, and of one man who must face his inner demons life after life before rising like a phoenix from his own hell-flame.
The generations of Ambrose's asexually reproduced progeny that follow will need to determine where Ambrose ends, and they begin. They will need to learn how to grow, raise themselves, and forgive. But most of all, they will need to discover the wriggling rot at its core, diving deep into the VR world that holds the answers to their past, locked away in the graveyard of Ambrose’s subconscious.
It will take four generations before the men who are not Ambrose—no matter what their mirrors tell them—learn to heal their intergenerational trauma and end the cycle of abuse.
This is a story of redemption and will lead its readers from the darkest places into an unexpected light.
I Repeat Myself is a deeply psychological look at the metamorphosis of lineage, of nurture over nature, and of one man who must face his inner demons life after life before rising like a phoenix from his own hell-flame.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2025
About the author
Natalia Shafa
5 books22 followersNatalia Shafa is a Persian-American-Australian speculative fiction author and solar punk game developer.
Her first novel, Descendants of Power was published in 2021 and became an Amazon Bestseller. Her second novel, I Repeat Myself, will be released late 2025. Her third novel, Samsara Inc., is coming soon.
She is the co-founder of the solar punk game, Descendants of Earth, a multiplayer environmental mobile game driven by real ecological action, which was funded by VicScreen.
Her work often reflects themes of human (and not so human) growth, exploring the process by which the ugliest manifestations of society become the compost to grow our most beautiful fruits.
In her spare time she boulders, swims in the beautiful Australian ocean, and has long and deeply complex philosophical conversations with her greyhound – all through unblinking eye-contact, naturally.
Her first novel, Descendants of Power was published in 2021 and became an Amazon Bestseller. Her second novel, I Repeat Myself, will be released late 2025. Her third novel, Samsara Inc., is coming soon.
She is the co-founder of the solar punk game, Descendants of Earth, a multiplayer environmental mobile game driven by real ecological action, which was funded by VicScreen.
Her work often reflects themes of human (and not so human) growth, exploring the process by which the ugliest manifestations of society become the compost to grow our most beautiful fruits.
In her spare time she boulders, swims in the beautiful Australian ocean, and has long and deeply complex philosophical conversations with her greyhound – all through unblinking eye-contact, naturally.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 5, 2026
"In seven years, I’ll still be exactly the same. In seven years, I’ll still be a monster."
Ambrose, an ambitious politician, an all-around not so nice person, has been one of the chosen to become pregnant by apomixis, an asexually produced child. Which also means cloned. Same looks, same genetics, and often the same inner turmoil passed down from generation to generation. Beginning with Junior, to Ari, and to Jade. Four generations to figure out who Ambrose really was, and who they are as their own person. Trying to separate themselves from the often-terrifying characteristics of Ambrose.
They are under the protection of the government association called HARP. But they also really do not understand the intergenerational trauma that each of them is suffering from or how to help them break the unrelenting cycle of abuse that resides in each of them. That is what they must figure out from deep within themselves. To become their own person and have their own distinct personalities and build from those strengths.
Ambrose is addicted to the world of VR. Delving deep within the world and staying there, separating himself from the outside world. This is where he has hidden his subconscious, his deepest, darkest secrets, and where each of the clones, as men, must break the cycle of trauma and abuse.
The whole concept of this book was very unique, and quite interesting. A thought provoking read, but also entertaining. The darkest parts were written and handled with a carefulness that I appreciated because trauma and abuse is never an easy subject. I felt for each of the clones as they struggled to develop their own personalities and break away from the cycles of the original Ambrose.
The last part of the book takes a deep delve into the VR world which, to be honest, I didn't really understand how someone could bury their memories within, but that is most likely just me. I also found it very strange as to the way that those memories had to be released. So, even though I enjoyed reading the majority of this book, the last part I didn't enjoy as much. I just found it all a bit strange. But I will say it had a satisfying ending.
Ambrose, an ambitious politician, an all-around not so nice person, has been one of the chosen to become pregnant by apomixis, an asexually produced child. Which also means cloned. Same looks, same genetics, and often the same inner turmoil passed down from generation to generation. Beginning with Junior, to Ari, and to Jade. Four generations to figure out who Ambrose really was, and who they are as their own person. Trying to separate themselves from the often-terrifying characteristics of Ambrose.
They are under the protection of the government association called HARP. But they also really do not understand the intergenerational trauma that each of them is suffering from or how to help them break the unrelenting cycle of abuse that resides in each of them. That is what they must figure out from deep within themselves. To become their own person and have their own distinct personalities and build from those strengths.
Ambrose is addicted to the world of VR. Delving deep within the world and staying there, separating himself from the outside world. This is where he has hidden his subconscious, his deepest, darkest secrets, and where each of the clones, as men, must break the cycle of trauma and abuse.
The whole concept of this book was very unique, and quite interesting. A thought provoking read, but also entertaining. The darkest parts were written and handled with a carefulness that I appreciated because trauma and abuse is never an easy subject. I felt for each of the clones as they struggled to develop their own personalities and break away from the cycles of the original Ambrose.
The last part of the book takes a deep delve into the VR world which, to be honest, I didn't really understand how someone could bury their memories within, but that is most likely just me. I also found it very strange as to the way that those memories had to be released. So, even though I enjoyed reading the majority of this book, the last part I didn't enjoy as much. I just found it all a bit strange. But I will say it had a satisfying ending.
March 25, 2026
If You Like Unique Strange Gems, Read This.
I’ll admit, I’ve been sitting on this review for a few weeks—life simply got in the way. However, for those who seek out unique, strange gems, I Repeat Myself is a must-read speculative title currently on Kindle Unlimited.
The premise is bold: spontaneous asexual reproduction (apomixis). Shafa uses this "off-the-wall" hook to explore the weight of epigenetic trauma and the complexities of found family. It is a heart-wrenching experience that left me tearful and introspective. Shafa expertly alchemizes darkness into light, using humor to balance the novel's more somber explorations of the human psyche.
The world-building is equally impressive. The near-future setting—defined by a blend of virtual reality and speculative pharmaceuticals—feels lived-in and intriguing.
Rating: 3.5 Stars. While this was a singular, fascinating experience, I’m curious to see how it lands with others. I’ve already passed the recommendation along to fellow readers of the "weird and wonderful," and I’m eager to compare notes.
I’ll admit, I’ve been sitting on this review for a few weeks—life simply got in the way. However, for those who seek out unique, strange gems, I Repeat Myself is a must-read speculative title currently on Kindle Unlimited.
The premise is bold: spontaneous asexual reproduction (apomixis). Shafa uses this "off-the-wall" hook to explore the weight of epigenetic trauma and the complexities of found family. It is a heart-wrenching experience that left me tearful and introspective. Shafa expertly alchemizes darkness into light, using humor to balance the novel's more somber explorations of the human psyche.
The world-building is equally impressive. The near-future setting—defined by a blend of virtual reality and speculative pharmaceuticals—feels lived-in and intriguing.
Rating: 3.5 Stars. While this was a singular, fascinating experience, I’m curious to see how it lands with others. I’ve already passed the recommendation along to fellow readers of the "weird and wonderful," and I’m eager to compare notes.
March 9, 2026
This was absolutely stunning. Any time an author can create a DEEPLY flawed character (and in this case, characters) that makes me cry for them, I end up shoving the book in people's faces to read.
I Repeat Myself is a master class in speculative fiction. Shafa takes a slightly off the wall concept (spontaneous asexual reproduction in humans?!) and layers in heavier concepts of epigenetic trauma, found family, and a generations long attempt at a redemption arc leaving this reader with a pit in my stomach, tearful, and thinking about my own family ties.
Multiple times I sat thinking of Growing Sideways by Noah Kahan and the line "I'm angry at my parents for what their parents did to them, but it's a start."
I'm so incredibly upset with myself for waiting to pick up my ARC copy of this for as long as I did, but I also know I likely had to be in the right place to read this and it's probably a good thing I waited.
Well WELL worth it.
(Stasha you're gonna wanna read this one.)
I Repeat Myself is a master class in speculative fiction. Shafa takes a slightly off the wall concept (spontaneous asexual reproduction in humans?!) and layers in heavier concepts of epigenetic trauma, found family, and a generations long attempt at a redemption arc leaving this reader with a pit in my stomach, tearful, and thinking about my own family ties.
Multiple times I sat thinking of Growing Sideways by Noah Kahan and the line "I'm angry at my parents for what their parents did to them, but it's a start."
I'm so incredibly upset with myself for waiting to pick up my ARC copy of this for as long as I did, but I also know I likely had to be in the right place to read this and it's probably a good thing I waited.
Well WELL worth it.
(Stasha you're gonna wanna read this one.)
December 9, 2025
When the human race inexplicably begins to asexually reproduce, giving birth to their own clones, Ambrose Flint will have to learn what it means to raise himself. But Ambrose has a secret. A dark, wriggling secret that has infested his family tree, rotting the wood from the inside out.
One of the most interesting books I've read this year, for sure. Thanks NetGalley and Natalia Shafa for the ARC. An exceptionally well written delve into what could happen if human beings began experiencing apomixis; asexual reproduction without fertilisation. Shafa does a really great job of writing characters who are essentially clones of each other while each clone feels like it's own being - one of the themes of the book is also how trauma is presented when each generation is a perfect generic copy of Original. The only real drawback for me was that I felt the last section could have been drawn out a little bit longer, but still satisfying nonetheless.
I Repeat Myself is out now, so grab your copy from the link below! Both physical and ebook available.
https://www.amazon.com/I-Repeat-Mysel...
One of the most interesting books I've read this year, for sure. Thanks NetGalley and Natalia Shafa for the ARC. An exceptionally well written delve into what could happen if human beings began experiencing apomixis; asexual reproduction without fertilisation. Shafa does a really great job of writing characters who are essentially clones of each other while each clone feels like it's own being - one of the themes of the book is also how trauma is presented when each generation is a perfect generic copy of Original. The only real drawback for me was that I felt the last section could have been drawn out a little bit longer, but still satisfying nonetheless.
I Repeat Myself is out now, so grab your copy from the link below! Both physical and ebook available.
https://www.amazon.com/I-Repeat-Mysel...
October 12, 2026
An Interesting Twist on Nature Versus Nurture!
Natalia Shafa's I Repeat Myself is a fascinating work of speculative fiction that begins with the unexpected predicament of a pregnant politician and develops into an intriguing examination of genetics, generational trauma, and personal identity.
I particularly enjoyed the philosophical angle. By exploring successive generations connected through a shared genetic legacy, Shafa raises compelling questions about whether our personalities are inherited, shaped by experience, or ultimately determined by our choices.
The novel also offers an interesting exploration of psychological trauma, compassion, and the possibility of breaking destructive generational cycles.
An imaginative, thought-provoking read for anyone who enjoys philosophical science fiction. I especially loved the nature-versus-nurture discussion!
Natalia Shafa's I Repeat Myself is a fascinating work of speculative fiction that begins with the unexpected predicament of a pregnant politician and develops into an intriguing examination of genetics, generational trauma, and personal identity.
I particularly enjoyed the philosophical angle. By exploring successive generations connected through a shared genetic legacy, Shafa raises compelling questions about whether our personalities are inherited, shaped by experience, or ultimately determined by our choices.
The novel also offers an interesting exploration of psychological trauma, compassion, and the possibility of breaking destructive generational cycles.
An imaginative, thought-provoking read for anyone who enjoys philosophical science fiction. I especially loved the nature-versus-nurture discussion!
September 28, 2025
'I Repeat Myself' is a powerfully moving tale of redemption, transformation and a deep exploration of the question of nature versus nurture.
The whole concept of raising your own clone magnifies the idea of passing on your best and worst attributes to your offspring and had me reflecting on how I would consider myself as both a parent and a child. I loved seeing the echoes of the original man (Ambrose) ripple outwards in subsequent generations, gradually flowering into completely new forms.
Shafa's well-placed humour brings levity to the darker scenes and the heart-wrenching moments, which helps as the novel is not afraid to venture into the shadowy recesses of the mind and alchemise the darkness into light. The book feels like a spiral staircase from torment to healing and self-actualisation.
Even aside from the apomixis reproduction (a concept I had never encountered before), the near-future setting was rich, intriguing and the characters felt real. Merging virtual reality with novel pharmaceuticals added another layer of depth and curiosity, as the author repeatedly plays with the imagined, the real and the rebirth throughout 'I Repeat Myself'.
The whole concept of raising your own clone magnifies the idea of passing on your best and worst attributes to your offspring and had me reflecting on how I would consider myself as both a parent and a child. I loved seeing the echoes of the original man (Ambrose) ripple outwards in subsequent generations, gradually flowering into completely new forms.
Shafa's well-placed humour brings levity to the darker scenes and the heart-wrenching moments, which helps as the novel is not afraid to venture into the shadowy recesses of the mind and alchemise the darkness into light. The book feels like a spiral staircase from torment to healing and self-actualisation.
Even aside from the apomixis reproduction (a concept I had never encountered before), the near-future setting was rich, intriguing and the characters felt real. Merging virtual reality with novel pharmaceuticals added another layer of depth and curiosity, as the author repeatedly plays with the imagined, the real and the rebirth throughout 'I Repeat Myself'.
October 19, 2025
Buckle up for a thrilling ride, humans can asexually reproduce. I was intrigued throughout, held my attention to the end. Throughly enjoyed this novel. Not my usual genre and a first read from this author but definitely one worth reading
November 17, 2025
I Repeat Myself is one of those books that moves quickly and keeps you turning the pages, but it also makes you sit with some very big questions about childhood trauma and how it affects each generation. It made me think a lot about whether trauma is something passed down genetically or whether there is always a choice not to repeat the footsteps of our parents. In that way, it reminded me a little of Margaret Atwood, especially the blend of science fiction with deeper questions about identity, memory, and the weight we carry from the past.
The writing is strong and the pacing is excellent. It is easy to see how this author became a best seller with her earlier work. I really liked how she created four different characters who all originate from the same source but each have their own distinct personality. At times I felt a genuine sense of empathy for all three of the later Ambrose Flints. The story does not shy away from showing how children can both love and hate their parents, even when they understand the damage that has been done and the damage that might continue. Not many writers capture that space in the middle where a parent can be both everything you have and the source of deep pain. The moments of humour in the characters' inner thoughts were a welcome balance to some of the darker parts.
What impressed me most was how carefully the author handled the difficult subject matter. The worldbuilding around fertility issues, VR, and the ethical questions that come with them felt believable and well thought out. By the end of the story, there is a strange kind of hope as the characters try to break the patterns that shaped them. It also leaves you questioning whether trauma that is embedded so deeply across generations can ever truly be erased, but I will leave that for readers to consider.
The writing is strong and the pacing is excellent. It is easy to see how this author became a best seller with her earlier work. I really liked how she created four different characters who all originate from the same source but each have their own distinct personality. At times I felt a genuine sense of empathy for all three of the later Ambrose Flints. The story does not shy away from showing how children can both love and hate their parents, even when they understand the damage that has been done and the damage that might continue. Not many writers capture that space in the middle where a parent can be both everything you have and the source of deep pain. The moments of humour in the characters' inner thoughts were a welcome balance to some of the darker parts.
What impressed me most was how carefully the author handled the difficult subject matter. The worldbuilding around fertility issues, VR, and the ethical questions that come with them felt believable and well thought out. By the end of the story, there is a strange kind of hope as the characters try to break the patterns that shaped them. It also leaves you questioning whether trauma that is embedded so deeply across generations can ever truly be erased, but I will leave that for readers to consider.
December 22, 2025
This is a remarkable second novel from Natalia (formerly P.N.) Shafa, exploring the power and persistence of intergenerational trauma, in a strange world in which the “sins of the fathers” are truly visited upon their children’s children. The reader is not burdened with causal explanations, but rather thrown into the reality of a bewildering twist in human evolutionary biology: spontaneous asexual reproduction. This phenomenon provides the framework for asking whether genetic determinism or human individuality shapes who we are. We follow four generations of genetically identical individuals, facing challenges with different choices. The ultimate test awaits them — will the cycle of despair be broken, and how? The story is rich in metaphor, with a heady mix of humour, horror and imagination. The action switches between mundane and virtual worlds. The going is not easy, as the reader must deal with some utterly hideous characters and perplexing scenes in a wilderness that is often bleak. But the writing style is cleverly observational, and the messages of courage and redemption are timeless. A real thought provoker.
October 25, 2026
What a strange little gem. I went into this book completely blind and the hook hit me hard. That initial shock is what pulled me in and kept me reading.
What worked best was the central idea itself. It’s strange, unsettling, and genuinely interesting in a way that feels fresh. The tone stays dark pretty much the whole way through with the ending , but it never fully collapses into despair, which I appreciated. There’s a restraint to how far it goes that keeps the story from becoming exhausting, and that balance is one of the stronger choices the book makes. It’s still possible to be serious and dark without stripping out all hope.
What didn’t work as well was the ending, I was pretty solidly confused and I walked away still trying to piece together exactly what it was going on.
Overall this is a solid, thought-provoking read for anyone who likes dark, concept-driven stories and doesn’t mind a bit of ambiguity. If you enjoy books that unsettle you without completely crushing you, this one is worth picking up.
What worked best was the central idea itself. It’s strange, unsettling, and genuinely interesting in a way that feels fresh. The tone stays dark pretty much the whole way through with the ending , but it never fully collapses into despair, which I appreciated. There’s a restraint to how far it goes that keeps the story from becoming exhausting, and that balance is one of the stronger choices the book makes. It’s still possible to be serious and dark without stripping out all hope.
What didn’t work as well was the ending, I was pretty solidly confused and I walked away still trying to piece together exactly what it was going on.
Overall this is a solid, thought-provoking read for anyone who likes dark, concept-driven stories and doesn’t mind a bit of ambiguity. If you enjoy books that unsettle you without completely crushing you, this one is worth picking up.
October 18, 2025
"I Repeat Myself" merges my two loves, psychology and sci-fi. Get ready to jump down a very trippy rabbit hole from page one of this intergenerational sci-fi thriller meets family drama.
Ambrose has some very serious issues that he is choosing not to deal with. But when the human race begins to asexually reproduce through the same process of 'apomixis' that some plants use, Ambrose, to his horror, becomes pregnant.
We follow the Flint family over four generations as the man who was Ambrose changes and evolves, baby by baby. This book asks, what would it be like to essentially raise yourself? Exactly what kind of parent would you be and what kind of child would you find yourself with? And most importantly, how many lives would it take to change ingrained familial patterns and what would finally alter its course?
Ambrose has some very serious issues that he is choosing not to deal with. But when the human race begins to asexually reproduce through the same process of 'apomixis' that some plants use, Ambrose, to his horror, becomes pregnant.
We follow the Flint family over four generations as the man who was Ambrose changes and evolves, baby by baby. This book asks, what would it be like to essentially raise yourself? Exactly what kind of parent would you be and what kind of child would you find yourself with? And most importantly, how many lives would it take to change ingrained familial patterns and what would finally alter its course?
June 10, 2026
What I Did Like:
+A beautiful example of speculative fiction. This takes a central question and runs with it to sort of extremes. That, of course, is the fun part of spec fict.
+The main characters throughout the timeline are just different enough to spark good discussions. While the nature vs nurture argument isn’t really addressed verbatim in the text, the skeleton is there for the flushing out.
+The ending, while odd, is also a very interesting take on addressing childhood trauma. Can’t say more for fear of spoilers.
Who Should Read This One:
-Speculative fiction fans, this truly is a perfect example.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2026/06/...
+A beautiful example of speculative fiction. This takes a central question and runs with it to sort of extremes. That, of course, is the fun part of spec fict.
+The main characters throughout the timeline are just different enough to spark good discussions. While the nature vs nurture argument isn’t really addressed verbatim in the text, the skeleton is there for the flushing out.
+The ending, while odd, is also a very interesting take on addressing childhood trauma. Can’t say more for fear of spoilers.
Who Should Read This One:
-Speculative fiction fans, this truly is a perfect example.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2026/06/...
March 10, 2026
Shafa picks you up and tosses you right in to her world and it is an incredible ride.
Nature? Nurture? Neither? Both? The story begins with Ambrose Flint and ends with ... well, getting to the end is the fun part. Shafa adds in plenty of colorful characters and some adventure and a little danger, but for me, it was the overall theme that fascinated me. Do we turn into our parents? Does their pain, their struggle, their trauma stamp our psyche forever or can we heal it?
I Repeat Myself is brilliant, funny, and compelling. I can't recommend it enough.
Nature? Nurture? Neither? Both? The story begins with Ambrose Flint and ends with ... well, getting to the end is the fun part. Shafa adds in plenty of colorful characters and some adventure and a little danger, but for me, it was the overall theme that fascinated me. Do we turn into our parents? Does their pain, their struggle, their trauma stamp our psyche forever or can we heal it?
I Repeat Myself is brilliant, funny, and compelling. I can't recommend it enough.
November 13, 2025
Psychological self body horror? Maybe parent's just try their best. Now you can do it yourself. Give yourself everything you wanted. This cycle of self rebirth is so cool!
It's like a nature vs nurture. But you nurture yourself. No parent is perfect, each of our lives shapes what we do and how to raise a child.
This book is like a surrealistic painting, never ending staircase, doors that lead back to themselves.
It's like a nature vs nurture. But you nurture yourself. No parent is perfect, each of our lives shapes what we do and how to raise a child.
This book is like a surrealistic painting, never ending staircase, doors that lead back to themselves.
October 12, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! Gripping read with a creative way of exploring very gnarled psychological content. As someone who is a social worker, I can easily detach if explorations of pain and trauma feel insincere or sensationalist, however this book felt like it held the characters in their fleshy fullness
January 13, 2026
A very powerful read about producing thir own clones and all the problems that come along with it all. It will make you wonder if this could ever happen and how it would all end.
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and makes you think
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and makes you think
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews