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Neon Dust #2
Empaths and Operators: A Cyberpunk Adventure
Tony and Addie must up their game—or get put out of business for good—in the second volume of this dystopian series from the creator of Victor of Tucson.
The Blast isn't your typical New Manhattan neighborhood. It's the kind of high-tech, hardwired cyberpunk underworld where only the tough survive and maniacs thrive. So it's the perfect place for ex–corporate black bagger Tony Santoro and intrepid reporter Addie Jones to set up shop as legitimate operators.
Tony has the professional skills and experience while Addie has the budding ability to manipulate the ever-present, dimension-bending Dust to her advantage. Ready to take on the kind of work other people run from, they're hoping to make a difference—and some cash—along the way. And as new jobs present themselves, the simmering attraction between the duo grows . . .
But when they extract a scientist being held in a corporate biolab, they find themselves caught in a caper far beyond their pay grade. Someone in town is trying to build their own private army of very powerful, valuable, and dangerous enhanced humans known as "sparks." And the monstrously deranged leftovers from their illicit experiments are wreaking deadly havoc in the streets.
Human nature has taken an unnatural turn in this epic cyberpunk adventure that's perfect for fans of Neuromancer and Defiance of the Fall. Narrated in duet style.
The Blast isn't your typical New Manhattan neighborhood. It's the kind of high-tech, hardwired cyberpunk underworld where only the tough survive and maniacs thrive. So it's the perfect place for ex–corporate black bagger Tony Santoro and intrepid reporter Addie Jones to set up shop as legitimate operators.
Tony has the professional skills and experience while Addie has the budding ability to manipulate the ever-present, dimension-bending Dust to her advantage. Ready to take on the kind of work other people run from, they're hoping to make a difference—and some cash—along the way. And as new jobs present themselves, the simmering attraction between the duo grows . . .
But when they extract a scientist being held in a corporate biolab, they find themselves caught in a caper far beyond their pay grade. Someone in town is trying to build their own private army of very powerful, valuable, and dangerous enhanced humans known as "sparks." And the monstrously deranged leftovers from their illicit experiments are wreaking deadly havoc in the streets.
Human nature has taken an unnatural turn in this epic cyberpunk adventure that's perfect for fans of Neuromancer and Defiance of the Fall. Narrated in duet style.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Empaths and Operators is book 2 in the cyberpunk adventure series, Neon Dust. The action scenes are exciting and it was great to see Addie and Tony build a growing professional team of operators in this book, and to see them take on jobs, develop their skills and upgrade their operation. The side characters are interesting, particularly Beef and new teammember Glitch Witch, and I just really enjoy all the relationships between the characters.
I'm a sucker for a romance subplot within any genre, and so I'm a big fan of the developing relationship between Addie and Tony. I loved their chemistry in book 1, but was happy that their relationship didn't progress beyond an attraction in that first book. Tony was fresh off a betrayal and frankly just not in the right headspace for something real with Addy. Plus, if the main characters get together in book 1 of a series, it doesn't leave much room for it to develop in future books. So the progression of their relationship was perfect for me and I loved seeing them slowly move forwards together in book 2!
Both books in the series are available on Kindle Unlimited, but I definitely recommend the audiobook format. The duet narration is amazing. The two narrators are perfect at narrating their respective main characters, but every side character has a distinct voice and accent too, and I've flown through both audiobooks now. It's a great series overall, and I'm already looking forward to the third book!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
I'm a sucker for a romance subplot within any genre, and so I'm a big fan of the developing relationship between Addie and Tony. I loved their chemistry in book 1, but was happy that their relationship didn't progress beyond an attraction in that first book. Tony was fresh off a betrayal and frankly just not in the right headspace for something real with Addy. Plus, if the main characters get together in book 1 of a series, it doesn't leave much room for it to develop in future books. So the progression of their relationship was perfect for me and I loved seeing them slowly move forwards together in book 2!
Both books in the series are available on Kindle Unlimited, but I definitely recommend the audiobook format. The duet narration is amazing. The two narrators are perfect at narrating their respective main characters, but every side character has a distinct voice and accent too, and I've flown through both audiobooks now. It's a great series overall, and I'm already looking forward to the third book!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
September 14, 2026
Second book of a truly enjoyable trilogy! Tony and Addie grow in skills and love in this one, with Addie's incredible powers really growing into something cool. Tony continues to be the iceman pro that he is. I really love this story, and do not hesitate to recommend it for fans of cyberpunk, magitech, or the wonderful "up-and-coming mercenaries in love" storyline.
September 12, 2026
I like the direction this series is going. Definitely becoming my favorite
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews