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The Mindless: A Futurist Novel
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Expected 4 Aug 26208 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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May 31, 2026I received this book through NetGalley.
The Mindless had the kind of premise that usually pulls me in. A closed-off city created to save humanity, genetic engineering, control, progress, and humans trying to play god? That is very much the kind of sci-fi setup I normally gravitate toward.
I liked the ideas behind the story. The questions around humanity, survival, and what happens when people try to shape the future without fully understanding the consequences were the strongest parts for me. That concept is what kept me interested.
Where I struggled was with the actual reading experience. There were parts where I felt confused about what was happening, and because of that, I had a harder time connecting with the story as a whole. I wanted to feel more pulled in than I did, especially because the premise was something I usually love.
Overall, this was a solid read with an interesting concept, but it didn’t fully land for me personally. I’d recommend it to readers who like sci-fi about closed-off societies, genetic engineering, humanity’s need for control, and the danger of trying to fix the future without realizing what might be created instead.
The Mindless had the kind of premise that usually pulls me in. A closed-off city created to save humanity, genetic engineering, control, progress, and humans trying to play god? That is very much the kind of sci-fi setup I normally gravitate toward.
I liked the ideas behind the story. The questions around humanity, survival, and what happens when people try to shape the future without fully understanding the consequences were the strongest parts for me. That concept is what kept me interested.
Where I struggled was with the actual reading experience. There were parts where I felt confused about what was happening, and because of that, I had a harder time connecting with the story as a whole. I wanted to feel more pulled in than I did, especially because the premise was something I usually love.
Overall, this was a solid read with an interesting concept, but it didn’t fully land for me personally. I’d recommend it to readers who like sci-fi about closed-off societies, genetic engineering, humanity’s need for control, and the danger of trying to fix the future without realizing what might be created instead.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Mindless follows Jake, a journalist living in Neo Angelica, one of the last cities on Earth. He's given the rare opportunity to spend a day inside Dios, the mysterious domed city of dreams nestled within Neo Angelica, that's home to the very best humanity has to offer. Tasked with documenting what a day in the life is like for its privileged inhabitants, Jake is granted unprecedented access to Dios, and will be the first ever to return to tell the world about it.
Serving as his guide is Venz, one of the city's overseers, who offers both Jake and the reader an all-access pass to everything Dios has to offer. As Jake explores the city, we gradually uncover the nature of Unity, the fascinating system that powers this seemingly perfect society. The Mindless presents a compelling vision of a not-too-distant future, giving us a glimpse into what life might look like when every need and desire can be effortlessly fulfilled.
Jake is an excellent protagonist, just inquisitive enough to satisfy, while leaving you wanting more. Venz, on the other hand, reveals just enough information to keep the mystery alive, making it difficult to determine where the story is heading. Their interactions are some of the most engaging parts of the story, seeing this world through each of their eyes. Despite their differing perspectives, both characters are relatable and genuinely likeable.
Overall, I found The Mindless to be well-paced, with believable characters and engaging world building. The premise hooked me, and I was curious to see where the story would lead. Ultimately, it was a satisfying read with a fresh take on an affluent society and the often overlooked costs of pursuing a life of absolute comfort. Thanks to Mark Bozon, Collective Ink Limited, and NetGalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed this one.
Serving as his guide is Venz, one of the city's overseers, who offers both Jake and the reader an all-access pass to everything Dios has to offer. As Jake explores the city, we gradually uncover the nature of Unity, the fascinating system that powers this seemingly perfect society. The Mindless presents a compelling vision of a not-too-distant future, giving us a glimpse into what life might look like when every need and desire can be effortlessly fulfilled.
Jake is an excellent protagonist, just inquisitive enough to satisfy, while leaving you wanting more. Venz, on the other hand, reveals just enough information to keep the mystery alive, making it difficult to determine where the story is heading. Their interactions are some of the most engaging parts of the story, seeing this world through each of their eyes. Despite their differing perspectives, both characters are relatable and genuinely likeable.
Overall, I found The Mindless to be well-paced, with believable characters and engaging world building. The premise hooked me, and I was curious to see where the story would lead. Ultimately, it was a satisfying read with a fresh take on an affluent society and the often overlooked costs of pursuing a life of absolute comfort. Thanks to Mark Bozon, Collective Ink Limited, and NetGalley for the ARC, I really enjoyed this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of those don't judge a book by its cover books. And don't let this short book fool you, it packs a punch. An emotional, heavy one. This is a book about humanity starting over again, but it's also about hope, loss, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be human when everything you've ever known has been stripped away.
I went into this expecting a quick sci-fi novella, but what I got was so much more. Even with its short page count, it managed to make me care about the characters and the world they were trying to rebuild. Every chapter felt like it had a purpose, and there wasn't any wasted space. It's impressive how much emotion was packed into such a small book.
What I loved most was that beneath all the futuristic ideas and science fiction elements, the story never forgot its heart. It asks some really interesting questions about humanity and whether we ever truly learn from the mistakes of the past. There were moments that left me hopeful and others that honestly hit me harder than I expected.
The pacing was fast without feeling rushed, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. By the time I reached the final pages, I just sat there thinking about everything that had happened. Those are my favorite kinds of books, the ones that stay with you long after you've finished them.
If you're looking for a massive sci-fi epic, this isn't that. But if you're looking for a thought-provoking, emotional story that proves you don't need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impact, this is absolutely worth your time.
A short read with a huge heart. Five stars from me.
I went into this expecting a quick sci-fi novella, but what I got was so much more. Even with its short page count, it managed to make me care about the characters and the world they were trying to rebuild. Every chapter felt like it had a purpose, and there wasn't any wasted space. It's impressive how much emotion was packed into such a small book.
What I loved most was that beneath all the futuristic ideas and science fiction elements, the story never forgot its heart. It asks some really interesting questions about humanity and whether we ever truly learn from the mistakes of the past. There were moments that left me hopeful and others that honestly hit me harder than I expected.
The pacing was fast without feeling rushed, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. By the time I reached the final pages, I just sat there thinking about everything that had happened. Those are my favorite kinds of books, the ones that stay with you long after you've finished them.
If you're looking for a massive sci-fi epic, this isn't that. But if you're looking for a thought-provoking, emotional story that proves you don't need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impact, this is absolutely worth your time.
A short read with a huge heart. Five stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
OMG what a book. What a rollercoaster of emotions. What an amazing premise and story.
Jake, a journalist, is one day invited to the domed city Dios to document the lives of those living inside the greatest capital of the world. Only he never knew that he would never make it out of there. And what a ride that was for him. Venz, his guide, will show him more than he initially believed he’ll witness in the capital city, and while Venz’ character is utterly mysterious and charming, you can tell there’s something darker and secretive about him.
What follows Jake’s incursion in Dios is not far from maddening experiences that leave the mind in crumbles and makes you question ethics and life and value. On a few, certain occasions I felt completely overwhelmed by emotions. And other times, things were simply mindbending. The city is built to overwhelm, to seduce, to numb you, but to those willing to see beyond the veil, it is nothing but a fog concealing a more obscure world.
I can’t even give out too many details of the story because it would ruin the whole mystery and beauty of it, but I can say that this book is without a shadow of doubt the definition of what an engaging novel should look like. It confuses you, moves you, touches you and your mind on many levels.
If you enjoy mindbending stories, the kind that makes your brain kick in high gear and question everyone’s beliefs and actions, then this is the book for you.
Many, many thanks to Mark Bozon, Collective Ink Limited, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Jake, a journalist, is one day invited to the domed city Dios to document the lives of those living inside the greatest capital of the world. Only he never knew that he would never make it out of there. And what a ride that was for him. Venz, his guide, will show him more than he initially believed he’ll witness in the capital city, and while Venz’ character is utterly mysterious and charming, you can tell there’s something darker and secretive about him.
What follows Jake’s incursion in Dios is not far from maddening experiences that leave the mind in crumbles and makes you question ethics and life and value. On a few, certain occasions I felt completely overwhelmed by emotions. And other times, things were simply mindbending. The city is built to overwhelm, to seduce, to numb you, but to those willing to see beyond the veil, it is nothing but a fog concealing a more obscure world.
I can’t even give out too many details of the story because it would ruin the whole mystery and beauty of it, but I can say that this book is without a shadow of doubt the definition of what an engaging novel should look like. It confuses you, moves you, touches you and your mind on many levels.
If you enjoy mindbending stories, the kind that makes your brain kick in high gear and question everyone’s beliefs and actions, then this is the book for you.
Many, many thanks to Mark Bozon, Collective Ink Limited, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you both the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an opportunity to read The Mindless and share my thoughts about the book.
The story follows Jake Tentlewood. Jake is a journalist who gets a chance to get to know Dios, a city under a dome where only those who are chosen (and have money) get to live for a day-long visit. Naturally, that kind of closed off paradise is never a paradise, and also Jake will learn that during his journey.
To be fair, it took me a moment to get really into the story but when it started to roll, I had fun. I think that’s quite typical with scifi; sometimes it takes a moment to catch up what’s happening in the world. Eventually, I ended up really enjoying the world and I think that was the best part of the world. After I started to get into the story, I really wanted to figure out the situation with Jake.
It’s not the most fast-paced one but more like a slowly unraveling mystery that Dios is and figuring out that the world is not what it seems like. For me, it felt more like reading a book that could be a game or an episode of Black Mirror, which made sense after I found out that the author has a background in game development.
Overall, I really enjoyed how the story developed and the world building and I had a fun time reading this one.
The story follows Jake Tentlewood. Jake is a journalist who gets a chance to get to know Dios, a city under a dome where only those who are chosen (and have money) get to live for a day-long visit. Naturally, that kind of closed off paradise is never a paradise, and also Jake will learn that during his journey.
To be fair, it took me a moment to get really into the story but when it started to roll, I had fun. I think that’s quite typical with scifi; sometimes it takes a moment to catch up what’s happening in the world. Eventually, I ended up really enjoying the world and I think that was the best part of the world. After I started to get into the story, I really wanted to figure out the situation with Jake.
It’s not the most fast-paced one but more like a slowly unraveling mystery that Dios is and figuring out that the world is not what it seems like. For me, it felt more like reading a book that could be a game or an episode of Black Mirror, which made sense after I found out that the author has a background in game development.
Overall, I really enjoyed how the story developed and the world building and I had a fun time reading this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The mindless is one of them books that has your brain working overtime long after you've read the last page. The world building was immersive and interesting. The characters were written in great detail and there thoughts and feelings were expressed really well. The plot was well thought out and the plot twist was explosive. I truly didn't see it coming and that's unusual for me. Jake's character is fantastic and he truly questions the paradise that is dios. I think many in his position would just take the offer and never look back but his morals wouldn't let him and that makes him truly special. Venz is a well thought out character- I'm not sure I can call him a villain. I think he's just stuck in his ways of what his perfect looks like and can't see any other way. Both characters are 2 side to a coin and both relatable. This story is well written and executed and I wouldn't change a thing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Mindless was such an intriguing read, following Jake through the streets of Dios gets weirder and weirder the more he continues on his tour. Venz was such a captivating yet cryptic character. it was so hard to figure out his true motivation for the tour, yet i couldn’t stop myself from continuously trying to guess.
The characters were so well thought out and explored that by the time of the end of the book, you feel like you know each of the three main characters.
Having Jake as a journalist helps to make his probing of “paradise” more realistic from the get-go. His continuous questioning feels more earned, knowing his position.
The world was fun to learn about as the book went on, and the hope for the future really stuck with me considering today’s political climate.
The twists of this book had me hooked and caught me completely off guard. Definitely recommend reading this one!
The characters were so well thought out and explored that by the time of the end of the book, you feel like you know each of the three main characters.
Having Jake as a journalist helps to make his probing of “paradise” more realistic from the get-go. His continuous questioning feels more earned, knowing his position.
The world was fun to learn about as the book went on, and the hope for the future really stuck with me considering today’s political climate.
The twists of this book had me hooked and caught me completely off guard. Definitely recommend reading this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4.5 stars rounded up.
The Mindless is one of those novels that hooks you and doesn't let your brain rest throughout. It does a fantastic job building this immersive futuristic world and bringing life to its characters. You get presented with new technologies and philosophical questioning regarding life throughout your reading experience. With the current rise of AI and fast-paced advances in technology; the scenarios that play out in the novel is quite plausible for humanity's near future -- which I believe will make the readers even more engaged with the story.
I would also have to note, how the plot-twist caught me off guard. However, I wish we had more time to see the events that took place after - as the ending felt a bit rushed for my taste.
If you are into sci-fi that revolves around tech controlling the way we live - this is the book for you!
4.5 stars rounded up.
The Mindless is one of those novels that hooks you and doesn't let your brain rest throughout. It does a fantastic job building this immersive futuristic world and bringing life to its characters. You get presented with new technologies and philosophical questioning regarding life throughout your reading experience. With the current rise of AI and fast-paced advances in technology; the scenarios that play out in the novel is quite plausible for humanity's near future -- which I believe will make the readers even more engaged with the story.
I would also have to note, how the plot-twist caught me off guard. However, I wish we had more time to see the events that took place after - as the ending felt a bit rushed for my taste.
If you are into sci-fi that revolves around tech controlling the way we live - this is the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley for free.
I didn’t like this. I hated how the author described women and the plot felt just a mitch match of other scifi works.
I didn’t like this. I hated how the author described women and the plot felt just a mitch match of other scifi works.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance copy of The Mindless: A Futurist Novel from NetGalley. This book was so engrossing that I read it in one sitting. I absolutely loved it.
The twists and turns will have you guessing what's going to happen until the end.
Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.
The twists and turns will have you guessing what's going to happen until the end.
Give it a read, you won't be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews