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Zero Override
In a near-future London where humans and humanoid bots live side by side, a sophisticated virus is infiltrating the national system. If it uploads fully, every intelligent machine in the country – from home assistants to hospital bots to android enforcers – will shut down.
Zero, a 13-year-old hacker whose day job is to sneak into high-security server rooms and 'liberate' funds from undeserving corporations, has a serious distrust of bots – and no real interest in saving the world. But the virus threatens the life of Grace, his younger sister, who – as a result of the car crash that killed their parents ten years ago – now has a machine heart.
No one will work harder than Zero to stop the upload. Except perhaps Andi, a mysterious humanoid bot who has appeared with secrets of his own. With only hours on the clock, the only way to protect Grace might be to partner up. And along the way, he must come up against MI6 – and unravel his own past ...
Zero, a 13-year-old hacker whose day job is to sneak into high-security server rooms and 'liberate' funds from undeserving corporations, has a serious distrust of bots – and no real interest in saving the world. But the virus threatens the life of Grace, his younger sister, who – as a result of the car crash that killed their parents ten years ago – now has a machine heart.
No one will work harder than Zero to stop the upload. Except perhaps Andi, a mysterious humanoid bot who has appeared with secrets of his own. With only hours on the clock, the only way to protect Grace might be to partner up. And along the way, he must come up against MI6 – and unravel his own past ...
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 4, 2026
Really enjoyable read! Set in a (not so distant) futuristic world of AI driven bots and humanoids, this adventure follows the protagonist throughout London in a desperate attempt to outsmart MI6 and the robots who have taken over. Not my usual genre which made it all the more fun.
Well done Steve Blackman!
Well done Steve Blackman!
September 8, 2026
Zero lives in a society run by bots in which the haves and have-nots are dramatically divided. Orphaned at a young age, he and his beloved sister Grace live with a group of rebel hackers who survive by stealing from the rich and donating most of what they scavenge to charity. While only 13-years-old, Zero is brilliant at what he does, and life is good, aside from his worries about his sister's health. Then bots star malfunctioning, which is not supposed to happen. And a strange new bot, a "synth", appears and follows Zero around. This bot seems to know him, and it laughs and jokes like a human, which challenges Zero's belief that bots are nothing more than complicated computers. As the infrastructure of society starts to crumble, Zero needs to choose what he's going to do about it and enters into an exciting, action packed adventure.
Zero Override is a fun, engaging, extremely entertaining novel for full of diverse, colourful characters. I was gripped from start to finish. I loved the twists and turns and it was moving to see him grow and change through the course of the story. His relationship with the Synth was sweet and amusing and eventually very moving. Zero's love for his sister makes him a very sympathetic character. His friends, Kimi and Ronnie, are also endearing, and I loved the found family element as well.
This book does a fantastic job of challenging younger readers to think about technology from a variety of different angels, positive and negative. The ending was satisfying, while also leaving me excited for what might come next. I highly recommend it for readers who are interested in AI and the ways it might change the world in the coming years.
Zero Override is a fun, engaging, extremely entertaining novel for full of diverse, colourful characters. I was gripped from start to finish. I loved the twists and turns and it was moving to see him grow and change through the course of the story. His relationship with the Synth was sweet and amusing and eventually very moving. Zero's love for his sister makes him a very sympathetic character. His friends, Kimi and Ronnie, are also endearing, and I loved the found family element as well.
This book does a fantastic job of challenging younger readers to think about technology from a variety of different angels, positive and negative. The ending was satisfying, while also leaving me excited for what might come next. I highly recommend it for readers who are interested in AI and the ways it might change the world in the coming years.
August 2, 2026
As someone who works in web development, I had a real appreciation for the technology in the story and how Steve portrayed it. While I'm certainly no hacker, I could see enough overlap with my own work to appreciate the thought that had gone into making it all feel believable.
The story follows thirteen-year-old hacker Zero, who survives by robbing wealthy tech companies with his found family of hackers. But when a mysterious malware begins wiping out AI across the country, Zero is forced into a race against time to save his younger sister, whose artificial heart depends on the very technology he's always distrusted.
It's fast-paced, packed with action, twists and high stakes, but beneath all that it asks some fascinating questions about our relationship with AI, trust, identity and what it really means to be human.
If you're after exciting middle grade action that will get kids, and particularly boys, diving into the book corner, then this is one I'd absolutely recommend. A fun, gripping read from start to finish.
The story follows thirteen-year-old hacker Zero, who survives by robbing wealthy tech companies with his found family of hackers. But when a mysterious malware begins wiping out AI across the country, Zero is forced into a race against time to save his younger sister, whose artificial heart depends on the very technology he's always distrusted.
It's fast-paced, packed with action, twists and high stakes, but beneath all that it asks some fascinating questions about our relationship with AI, trust, identity and what it really means to be human.
If you're after exciting middle grade action that will get kids, and particularly boys, diving into the book corner, then this is one I'd absolutely recommend. A fun, gripping read from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is so refreshing to read with young readers in mind. Tackling modern fears of artificial intelligence set against a backdrop of a future gone mad for tech, Zero is a stand-out hacker protagonist with a troubled past and a bold future: to distribute the wealth of tech conglomerates to desperate families in need among his 'rob the rich to feed the poor' found family.
With a nod to the Alex Rider series - and inclusion of the famous London umbrella shop - within its pages, this book has sharp, witty prose with fast-paced chapters, propelling the reader forward with every single turn of the page.
With a charming AI bot sidekick, 'The Synth,' that promises to be much more important to Zero than he first realises (or wants), this book is sure to be a firm favourite with younger readers and will be a great recommendation for reluctant boy readers too.
Full review to follow in PaperBound Magazine.
With a nod to the Alex Rider series - and inclusion of the famous London umbrella shop - within its pages, this book has sharp, witty prose with fast-paced chapters, propelling the reader forward with every single turn of the page.
With a charming AI bot sidekick, 'The Synth,' that promises to be much more important to Zero than he first realises (or wants), this book is sure to be a firm favourite with younger readers and will be a great recommendation for reluctant boy readers too.
Full review to follow in PaperBound Magazine.
October 2, 2026
I had just finished a Horowitz mystery and felt the need for more. I'm all up to date on the Alex Rider series but saw this book recommended and it did not disappoint (also there is even a cheeky little reference to the Alex Rider books which was great).
The book follows Zero who must race across London with a mysterious 'bot' to stop malware that is putting his younger sister at risk. We get a really great bunch of characters and the near future world of London feels very real. There is more action than you can shake a stick at and it does not let up.
This was a fantastic first book in what I hope will be a long running series.
The book follows Zero who must race across London with a mysterious 'bot' to stop malware that is putting his younger sister at risk. We get a really great bunch of characters and the near future world of London feels very real. There is more action than you can shake a stick at and it does not let up.
This was a fantastic first book in what I hope will be a long running series.
August 2, 2026
What an amazing read, with vibes of a middle grade I, Robot meets Channel 4's Humans. Zero is such a likeable and engaging main character that made me want to go on the adventure with him. So fun to have the codes throughout to crack to access the secret chapter, which initially stumped me until I realised I'd been entering the code in lower case not upper case, face palm moment there. But I can highly recommend this fun and fast-paced adventure with plenty of exploration of just how scary AI can be.
Review of advance copy
I work with children and young people and understand how hard it can be to maintain their interest and attention. That should be no problem for this story, which is filled with themes are relevant to them - boys in particular. Yes there’s AI and robots, but there’s also heart and humanity, and lots of laughs. It pulled me along, and demanded I read it quickly – the ideal choice for both keen and reluctant young readers this summer.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was everything I thought it'd be and more. Likeable characters, robots, fast-paced action, more robots, family, solid friendships, and good banter all through. I also love how the story took us around London in different modes of transport in really clever chase scenes. Highly recommended for upper middle grade and teen readers!
October 3, 2026
Alex Rider takes on apocalypse inducing AI
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews