Deadlock

The StrangeLoom Trilogy #2

by Chloe Gong

The heart-stopping sequel to Coldwire!

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of critically acclaimed fantasy and science fiction novels, including These Violent Delights, Immortal Longings, and Coldwire. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and she was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and International Relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City. Visit her online at thechloegong.com and on Instagram, X, and TikTok at @thechloegong.

Reviews

[charisse ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

it's been a hot minute but i'm here to write up my review! *everyone pls clap* anyways since it's the second book of the trilogy, i don't want to say too much and accidentally spoil it for anyone.. but just know that i DEVOURED this book the same day i got the arc!

first things first, i loved how we got different povs in this book, and like being able to go into their heads and understanding their background and history.. especially for miz and rayna!

the subplot with rayna and hailey too?? i literally love them with my whole heart! like rayna lwk yearning and pining for her for years in school, doing whatever it takes to save her, like ashdhsjwj- anyways, with that said, i like how chloe handles diversity too, like the relationship between these two feel so grounded in the world, rather than just dropping it in the book just to check a box, or market with an extra trope.

i also loved how we got more liakieran moments in this book! like the fact that they're rivals makes their banter so much better?? if that makes sense? and i'm just glad that there's no third act conflict with these two or i will sue! lmao

also loved the eiralenik moments, how they're always both there for each other, no questions asked. lwk so intrigued by how the plot plays out by the end..

anyways that last line is DIABOLICAL!!1! like what the actual fuck??

literally, i'm sorry but like i fear i'll never be able to shut up about this book..

bye idk how this review got this long..

anywhooo watch me sitting in a corner staring at a wall counting down the days till book 3 comes out.. i need it like i need air!

⤷ thank you to netgalley, simon & schuster and chloe gong for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

SOOOOO FUCKING GOOD! chloe gong, the fucking mastermind that you are!!? i need like at least 3-5 business days to figure out how to put my thoughts into words instead of just cussing about how good it is lmao, full rtc!

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
THE WAY I COMPLETELY LOST IT WHEN I GOT THE ARC??!! i just know i'm going to be sooo insufferable after this! asdfghjkk-!!!

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadlock picks up exactly where Coldwire left off.
In the sequel we get more POVs and a deeper understanding of the characters and their pasts, I was particularly very interested in Miz. I like how everything flowed, it was very fast paced because it's action and more action, we don't get a second to breathe.
It's also very twist-y again, but nothing can top the shock I had while reading Coldwire.
Overall I really liked it, it does everything a sequel needs to do and I'm very excited to read the conclusion of the trilogy!

Thank you Netgalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster Children for the ARC!

[books (samaira's version) ~on a hiatus~]

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS AND I'M STILL NOT OVER COLDWIRE😭

[oli]

so excited to jump back into this universe

[julia ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

miss chloe gong, the genius you are. i can’t wait for everyone else to read this.

and i need book three asap 😭

[shannon (books by the glass) · Rating 5 out of 5]

somebody sedate me!!!! I need answers!!!! 😭❤️

I love lia and kieran and miz and blare with my entire heart, and while I knew this was a trilogy, a part of me still hoped it wouldn’t end on a cliffhanger again 🥴 chat, I was wrong

picking up soon after COLDWIRE ended, lia is undercover with nilecorp, pretending she didn’t get all of her data restored - and I loved her scenes with the nilecorp execs, but I’m also grateful that she didn’t spend the entire book undercover 🙂‍↕️ I needed scenes with her and her friends back together ASAP

miz is on her own after disagreeing with blare and kieran about how to move forward with destroying nilecorp, and her chapters were the most emotional and heartbreaking I swear- she just deserves happiness okay

I absolutely loved every second of this book! the pacing and plot was very well done with keeping it even & mixing the action scenes with emotional character development 🥹 10/10 no one does it like chloe gong

I could gush about this book for hours but if you love westworld, stellar plot twists, dystopian government takedowns, and forbidden romance - PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR!

thank you thank you thank you to simon schuster for the advanced copy!!

rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: ao yun cabernet sauvignon

[rin ⋆˚✿˖° · Rating 4 out of 5]

timeline of events:

i finished cold wire
i checked instagram to see when the next book was coming out
i refreshed net galley every single day waiting for “deadlock” to be added.
August 25 my prayers were answered.

thank you so muchhhhhhh net galley (&publishers!) for approving me and thank you chloe gong for writing this characters. i could read so many books about kieran and lia. and miz and blare and haliey and this whole world. a cyberpunk fantasy about AI taking over the world? count me in!

the book picks up pretty immediately after the events of the first. from there we go on a wild journey and it kept me engaged the whole time. some of the wording lost me just because it was kinda technical but i can’t really even complain because i loved the story! i can’t wait for book three! (like actually i can’t wait it’s ridiculous my lack of patience).

i’m so grateful that lia and kieran don’t have any icky third act conflict. they’re fighting the world together in this book, and it’s so cute but not nauseating. this brings me back to the good ol’ days of YA literature.


BRING BACK GOOD DYSTOPIAN NOVELS !!!

[Justin Smith]

i can not wait to read it

[shriya]

I just finished Coldwire today and I CANNOT WAIT for this book
Gonna be camping out at my local Barnes & Noble until it comes out ✌️

[Lucy (the invisible life of a reader)]

November please come faster I need more 😭

[Kayla O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review ♥
Deadlock- Chloe Gong
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

After Eirale, Nik, Blare, and Miz successfully find all three parts of Project Wit and return Lia's memories to her newfound body, Nilecorp once again takes Eirale back into their forces. Another wipe and Eirale Ward is a puppet of the regime... or so they believe. Now working with the Coalition, an operations group from Medaluo, to take down Nilecorp from the inside, Eirale Ward is tasked with finding a valuable person hidden within Research & Development. While working undercover, Eirale divulges new secrets from the heads of Nilecorp, deepening her understanding of Strangeloom's purpose and Nilecorp's motives for her production. At the same time, Nik Grant is with the Coalition, albeit hesitantly, working desperately to find Lia and take down Nilecorp's oppressive control over society. On the other side of town, Mizuna Ward seeks to find her crush, Hailey Murray, who has been taken by Nilecorp and forced into upcountry virtual reality for unknown testing. Will they finally end the tyranny that holds them to Strangeloom's system, or will they find themselves stuck in a deeper dilemma than they could have possibly imagined?

I say it every time, but Chloe Gong is a master of creativity and genius in plot-building. If you thought Deadlock couldn't get more corrupt or interesting than Coldwire, you are sadly mistaken. Deadlock furthers the reader's understanding of the evil monopoly that is Nilecorp, the reasoning for its creation, and the long-term goals for Strangeloom. Eirale (Lia) and Nik (Kieren) are still renegade teenagers whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the system. Lia has been connected to a living body, finally gaining autonomy over herself as a woman in society. However, she is still the product of AI and holds the code to Coldwire, the key to sentience. Kieren's father has been indisposed by Nilecorp, no longer the human he once was. At the same time, Kieren's twin sister has been abducted by the corporation. They hold Hailey as a test subject for their futurization of Strangeloom's system. The tyranny and corruption deepen, strengthening the plot as the characters make calculated moves to prevent a fully waged war between Atahua and Medaluo.

Lia and Kieren took the backside of Coldwire, but this is finally their time to shine. Now amalgamations of both identities, the two figure out how to navigate the stressors of a corrupt government whilst still growing in their interactions with one another. Their relationship strengthens, no longer one of contempt and competition, but one where they must work together to complete a common goal. I loved the slight bit of romance that was added into this story, especially since it didn't take away from the characters or the forward movement of the plot. I also adored how the character Miz had a deeper exploration and role in this novel. Her shy demeanor but fierce way of loving is extremely palpable.

Additionally, you know Chloe Gong cannot write a book without a massive plot twist and cliffhanger. She absolutely nails the anticipation and tension leading up to the multiple plot twists. Unveiling these secrets to the reader in a fashion that has them hopeful for the best and then crushes their soul. Chloe knows how to get the audience going and has me extremely excited for the final installment in the trilogy. Although this book divulges the necessary backstory and character motives, there is still so much to learn. Even though so much progress was made, it feels like this is only the beginning of what is to come in the Strangeloom Trilogy. I can't wait for more action-packed fun, secrets unveiled, betrayal, and plot twists in the future!

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for providing me with a free copy to review!

#DeadlockChloeGong #Coldwire #ChloeGong #StrangeloomTrilogy #Nilecorp #Dystopia #YoungAdult #BookReview #SimonTeenInfluencer

[laura (taylor’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you chloe for giving me an arc at your q&a night in sydney!! truly still pinching myself that i got it!

the short version of this review is that i love all of chloe gong’s books (5 stars across the board) and deadlock is no exception. the long version involves me yapping about why that’s the case. enjoy!

each book that chloe writes further solidifies her in my mind as nothing short of a genius. the first time i picked up these violent delights at fifteen and devoured it in three days (which is extremely fast for me as a slow reader!), i knew i’d found something special. after tvd, i got my hands on her new books as fast as i could every year when they came out and every time, without fail, was far from disappointed. her writing has never ceased to feel equally poetic and politically-charged, but wholly enthralling. her characters, across all of her books, are all uniquely distinct and complex. perfectly intimidating and flawed, but inspiring. and deadlock, of course, is no exception to this.

after the masterpiece (in my obviously unbiased opinion) that is coldwire, my hopes and expectations for its sequel were naturally through the roof. i’m happy to report (as you already know by this point in my rambling review) that chloe gong has once again successfully written an absolute banger of a book. there’s really no other way to put it. deadlock is a perfect example of chloe gong’s genius. so many aspects of this book had me utterly floored, and just when i think chloe couldn’t possibly surprise me anymore, bam. jaw on the floor, staring at the wall, the personification of “????!!!!!!?!?!??!!?!”. and it wouldn’t be a chloe gong book if that didn’t happen to me at least once while reading. not only is deadlock gripping and addictive, it’s also emotional and almost painful to read at times (but in a good way, i swear). we’re rooting for the downfall of certain characters and watch them rise in power, and yearning for peace in other characters and watch them thrown into the fire. (these are all metaphors, of course) chloe loves to tease and subtly torture us and every time, i’ll take the bait.

there is so much i want to discuss and quote but for the sake of keeping this review spoiler-free, i shall refrain. and instead i’ll reiterate my point. call your friends, call your family. the literary world has no idea what’s gonna hit it on november 17th. get excited!

thank you chloe for this arc 🫶 fifteen year old me is giggling so much right now 💛

[Jordan Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadlock by Chloe Gong

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5

If you know me, you KNOW that Chloe Gong is one of my ALL-TIME favorite authors!! The way I screamed when this approval came in and immediately started reading. I have a whole shelf in my library dedicated to her books. I have read every book she’s ever published and immensely loved each one, and I have to say that the Strangeloom Trilogy is very quickly becoming one of my favorite series of hers. I thought Coldwire was phenomenal and one of the best books I have ever read. I knew going in that Deadlock was going to have a hard time competing with how genius Coldwire was, but I was so excited to see these characters and this story again. Every character in this story was great. I love Lia and Kieran, I love Blare, I love Miz and even Verity. The subplots were super entertaining, and I always get so excited to see how they tie into the main story. I thought it was cool that most of Coldwire was spent upcountry and most of Deadlock was spent downcountry. It was neat to showcase the dichotomy of the two separate worlds and to look at how that shapes “reality” in this setting. The commentary on how technology is used and perceived in our world was fascinating. It did start to get a smidge repetitive toward the end, and the ending felt a bit too similar to Coldwire, but this is such a strong story that I didn’t mind too much. I will be anxiously awaiting the final installment in this series to see how everything plays out!

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

[Elena_19_02 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!🇮🇹

Le nuove copertine dando YA dystopian ma con stile colorato di adesso😩mi dispiace siano uscite come rimpiazzo di quella prima e ora vedrò se cambiarle su Goodreads ahaha
Chloe Gong nei Ringraziamenti dice “It is a strange climate to be writing a book about resisting the mega-corporation that wants to control your life and your data”😀ma amo ne abbiamo bisogno!
Quanto vorrei degli adattamenti cinematografici, potrebbero rendere questi libri il nuovo distopico mainstream per questa generazione e invece…😀💔



Ahimè classico libro di mezzo che si perde un po’. La prima metà è stata lenta, e con la costante ripetizione della necessità di salvare Hailey senza dirci altro su di lei. Avrebbe giovato un suo POV, visto che stanno separando la sua mente dal corpo con la nuova tecnica ideata da Moore chiamata “Divorcing”, e poi si scopre che la torturano con immagini traumatiche che…? Un po’ random e non spiegato. Avrei tagliato qualche POV di Miz, la cui storia è meno interessante perché si separa da Kieren in quanto non è d’accordo con la sua attitudine fervente e vuole salvare la ragazza che ama da sola😚. Okay il conflitto, ma è poco sostenuto ed è debole come espediente, rapido e inconcludente da quando va a casa della madre e questa poi viene quasi rapita dai soldati, al suo costante girovagare… boring, ha appesantito e frammentato la narrazione :/


La nuova idea nasce dal lutto di Moore per la morte della cognata e il dolore di suo fratello; pensa alle possibilità di non provare più dolore🤡di staccare completamente il corpo per creare la mente vivibile solo a upcountry.
È una escalation del già presente ordine, anche questo sempre più attuale: siamo così spaventati e cinici verso qualunque emozione in una società opprimente, che è realistico pensare di eliminare persino… ciò che ci rende umani. A tal punto, niente ci distinguerebbe da una macchina non senziente.
Del tipo, la gente parla con i chatbot come se fossero amici dissociandosi dalla realtà e usandoli come psicologi🤡
Qui si parla di uno smembramento fisico e biologico, l’estremizzazione di ciò che stiamo vivendo mentalmente (che poi, in alcuni casi si concretizza— quante notizie di persone che sono convinte di avere fidanzati/e virtuali sentiamo? Quanti adolescenti si sono suicidati credendo all’AI? Il target del libro è PERFETTO💔per la solitudine che statisticamente prova la Gen Z)
A distanza di solo un anno dal primo libro, Chloe Gong ha toccato un’altra evoluzione attuale della critica alle big corporate che lucrano sui disagi emotivi. Praticamente sta scrivendo la storia man mano😗l’AI di merda cresce troppo velocemente😭


StrangeLoom era stato fatto in virtù dell’emergenza climatica, un trasporto di vita altrove. Ma riflettendo su questo progetto, Lia usa la parola “immortalità”, che fa pensare all’accumulo eccessivo di potere, andare oltre ciò che la natura consente. Una bella lettura dell’avidità dei politici:

“This is the ultimate phase that NileCorp is pushing into. Digital immortality. Living forever even when the body is dead. NileCorp already rules upcountry with an iron fist: sees all, hears all, controls all. Dad is in danger for the very act of boycotting virtual reality. What happens when people only have virtual form? What happens when they can't even flee downcountry anymore?”😃👋


E infatti cominciano le prime ribellioni, non solo la Coalizione ma anche gente comune che lamenta la mancanza di cure mediche nonostante l’innovazione (si collega alla scarsità di vaccini nel primo libro) e dubita di NileCorp se la guerra intanto continua. Ottimi spunti✊

Imtanto, il DOWN BADISM di Kieren continua, quando ritrova Lia non perde occasione per flirtare😩

“If my avatar was the random face that Chung's code spat out, then that's what I'm supposed to look like. It's how I was born, for a lack of a better term. It's not this. This improvement I'm walking around down-country with-these longer limbs, this face with perfect symmetry […]
Kieren frowns. "I think you've been beautiful in any countenance” […] "You're beautiful because you have fire behind your eyes and steel in your spine," Kieren goes on. "Not because of how they laid out the proportions between your nose and your mouth. None of that makes you. Your laugh does. Your ambition does””🥹❤️


Ora Lia/Eirale è nella Coalizione, il gruppo che vuole distruggere NileCorp dall’interno. Sono però sospetti dal momento in cui la rilegano a una missione minore come “liberare un prigioniero”, che si rivela una bugia e al suo posto c’è lo zio Chung, che con tutta la sua malvagità ha però ragione sul loro opportunismo. Lia aveva accettato per non essere l’arma di NileCorp, ma loro stessi vogliono sfruttarla per la sua mente digitalizzata.
È una premessa originale rispetto alle tante scritture fake di resistenza scopiazzata (ad esempio, qui l’unica citazione è il nome “Capitol” ovviamente per Hunger Games, una città così centrale e in tal modo l’autrice fa un semplice tributo a una delle opere più influenti di questo secolo senza copiare nulla LOL), fa capire che spesso non ti puoi fidare di nessuno, che ognuno ha un’idea diversa di ribellione, come anche Kieren che freme per mettere bombe e… si lascia prendere la mano, uccidendo suo padre una volta che ha capito che non è più umano😬
Però non è spiegato abbastanza bene secondo me, Chung quasi sparisce, si passa da una stanza all’altra con solo pochi paragrafi dedicati alla realizzazione di Lia; un po’ meglio per il rapporto fraterno tra Kieren e Blare, ma non non ho capito perché al padre è stato iniettato un chip che l’ha reso diverso?? Non ci sono strategie accattivanti. Stavolta i mille termini tecnologici sono pesati🧍

E le scappatoie nei noiosi POV di Miz… l’unico momento in cui ho sorriso è stato in una delle classiche battute sulla queerness come scrive Chloe Gong

“shoulders pushing back, and horror coils down my spine in a sudden, tight snap.
When has Hailey Murray ever stood straight?” — per dire che era un avatar e non la ragazza vera, ma colgioco di parole AHAJAJA✈️con la parola straight non invecchierà mai😔sempre un’ottima conoscenza della cultura e un linguaggio Gen Z perfetto😚




La parte migliore è stata la relazione di Lia e Kieren, DAVVERO SLOWBURN, FINALMENTE😭🙏wow è così difficile scriverla, soprattutto in tempi in cui le trilogie YA sono quasi inesistenti e quando il romance è principale e non sottotrama😐. GRAZIE MUM AGAIN👏


“Love, on the other hand—what do I know about love? I was made to break new ground. As angry as I am with Chung, his logic was clear back at the base: Our world is one great big simulation, and the limits of my mind draw out its bounds. Even before I knew my mind was artificial, I was already convinced love existed on a wavelength I wasn't made to see. I was the perpetual outsider; I was Medan in a world ruled by Atahua. I fought so hard to deserve a place inside the room, only to turn around and find out that I wasn't given humanity's most intrinsic infrastructure at all.
"I can see the gears in your head turning," Kieren says.
"Not gears” I say. "Chips”
His thumb smooths over my cheek. "It doesn't have to be complicated." But I want to have been dealt a guarantee. I want to have been born as an organic body, if only to know that love is something I am owed by simple virtue of being human”
"You don't know what it's like" […]
[…] "Then let's share notes," he says. "Let's crack the exam code. Tell me what you wrote, and I tell you what I wrote. The answer key will emerge in our overlap”
My inhale hitches. Our noses are a hairbreadth away. I nod in agreement, and Kieren eliminates any distance between us. His lips press to mine, tentative at first, until I respond, until I shift forward, and then he cradles the back of my neck, he kisses me truly, deeply.
He's pulled back too soon.
"What do you feel?" Kieren murmurs
[…]
"I’ll go first, then. I feel like I could burst” He takes my hand. Kisses the inside of my wrist, the edge where the bandage starts. "I feel like I could pry apart my ribs and put you inside." My skin prickles everywhere he is.
His lips touch the length up my arm. When Kieren reaches my shoulder, his teeth graze skin, and I gasp. I'm alight to my bones. "I feel like I could survive until the heat death of the universe. As long as I have you"
"You do know," I rasp, "that some of those statements were contradictions, right?"
Kieren's head settles into the crook between my neck and my shoulder
[…]
"If you disagree” he says, "mark the points now. But the rubric would say that it's love otherwise. Don't take it up with me—take it up with the exam makers."
"You're a menace”😭💞

Lui parla di punti come quando erano a scuola😭e la presa in giro di lei è quasi fatta dall’autrice stessa, sulle dichiarazioni d’amore pompose e senza senso, in questo caso genuina proprio perché tra ragazzi giovani !! che possono esagerare con le parole, ma non il sentimento😓
Sempre perché Chloe Gong ama scrivere protagoniste femminili più fredde rispetto a quelli maschili (senza stereotipo grumpy x sunshine YOU SEE😙), ho amato quando Kieren sussurra “I love you” prima di chiudere la chiamata e lei ha pensato “Jerk” AHAHAHAHAH. Ancora più divertente poi che, quando si ri-incontrano, le loro clip diventano virali e si sviluppa una ship online di persone convinte che stanno insieme da come combattono vicini AHAHAH TOP META NARRAZIONE✈️come noi che guardavamo i film distopici di anni fa😭e mettono pure una canzone d’amore sotto ai video = i video edit AHAHHAHA. Chloe Gong è cresciuta nella cultura fandom del 2010, e interagisce con i contenuti dei fan, SHE KNOWS😔🙏


Lia decide di mantenere il primo nome, quello con cui il padre l’ha conosciuta e non quello da orfana come le hanno fatto credere, e ho trovato molto carino il confronto con lui che si scusa di non averle rivelato che la madre si era suicidata, perché non pensavano che l’esperimento di Chung andasse così, e che lei sarebbe stata contenta🥲. Di nuovo, un po’ troppo rapido rispetto alle ripetitività iniziali con la Coalizione che la chiamava Eirale, avrei preferito un confronto anticipato, però ci sta dai.
Eppure, rifiuta Kieren perché si sente ancora più AI che umana, nonostante abbia avuto corpo e crescita nel mondo umano, ma lui vede la sua bellezza nonostante la faccia cambiata in “Eirale”, ricorda la persona di cui si è innamorato e vede il coraggio dimostrato❤️‍🩹


E come tutte le storie teenager scritte bene, serve il dialogo imbarazzante con l’adulto sul tema del sesso AHAHAHA ed è bello che sia con la protagonista femminile, non credo ci siano tanti esempi nei media YA del passato😴🙏Qui è la prozia paterna LMAO

"Remember, you might have been artificially grown, but you still have all the parts that you would if you'd aged into a teenager. That means practicing safe-“
"Tamera!"I screech before she can go any further.
"I'm just saying," she remarks, "being demisexual doesn't mean being demi-careful. It's always when you think you're not going to that you go ahead and-“
"I'm going to jump from the balcony" I take a big bite of my toast.
"I'm going to scream for NileCorp to drag me away so I don't have to hear the rest of this”✈️il gioco di parole poi😭ed è realistico che dica, da demisessuale, che non aveva avuto problemi a baciarlo prima, capendo solo la cos’era l’attrazione, che sottintendo che aveva capito di amarlo ma non sa come esprimerlo perché per quello serve concedersi con vulnerabilità ❤️‍🩹


Ma i battibecchi da ex rivali erano il top🙏

“I hate it when you do that”
"When I read your mind?"
"I'm going to stop supporting sentient intelligence if you claim you can read my mind”
"Excuse me. It is so rude to take away my robot civil rights."
"Take them away? Baby, you don't even have them to begin with." I step on his foot. He jumps, whining, "Ow," but he's smiling. I am too-absurdly, senselessly. The world is ending, the world has ended... and here we are, in the middle of a fallen, functional city”🥲❤️


A confronto, la crush di Miz per Hailey è tell not show e 😬. Non si vede l’innamoramento perché non passano nel tempo insieme, dato che la sua storia è basata sull’andarla a salvare e non c’è neanche il gusto di una reunion! Ne parla con questa tipa che l’aiuta a scappare dagli ennesimi soldati che la rintracciano, che si fa chiamare Verity e vuole il suo aiuto per riconnettersi col suo avatar, visto che sta morendo di una malattia data dall’aria irrespirabile in quella zona🚶. È un bel reminder del motivo per cui il worldbuilding è così, cioè che il downcountry è invivibile per gli effetti della crisi climatica😃e il trope narrativo di due persone che si trovano per caso e si aiutano stringendo un legame nel mentre, sarebbe stato carino…

"When I went to school with Hailey Murray” I say, "I barely spoke to her. I stared at the back of her head in class. I held my breath when she turned around to talk to her friends, on the off chance we made eye contact […] Okay, don't laugh […] I was fourteen at the time. Having a crush was the worst thing that could ever happen to a person. I wrote bad poetry. I touched the chairs she'd touched after class. I listened to songs on repeat for hours at a time if they reminded me of her." A lump forms in my throat. "I made her into something otherworldly. Of course I did. It was more for me than it was for her—it was my insecurity as an outsider at the academy latching on to the prettiest girl in class. I didn't hold a full conversation with her until our final assignment last year. It took me until then to actually hear about the games she liked and the insects she’d collected as a kid. It turns out she’s just a person. A good person”

Aw cute, ribadisco che Chloe Gong scrive benissimo le sensazioni da adolescenti, questa è una perfetta descrizione del caos e tenerezza del primo amore, pure con la percezione diversai dai 14 ai 17 anni🥺però, ecco, nulla in più rispetto a quella awkwardness accennata nel 1º libro.
Ahimè, la sua coppia secondaria migliore rimangono Benedict e Marshall in TVD VA DETTO🫢


Ma dico sarebbe, perché hanno solo 2 capitoli insieme e la rivelazione che Verity è in realtà Teryn, la superiore del gruppo di Lia quando era cadetto, non ha grande pathos. Certo, è stata introdotta bene nel 1º capitolo, indirizza l’attenzione per la regola che se mostri qualcosa all’inizio, quel qualcosa deve tornare in modo rilevante dopo👌. Però non ha una grande caratterizzazione, e non è neanche che torna sul finale come grande plot twist emotivo o da antagonista😅 spiega che stava indossando la “mente” di Hailey (???), infatti quando Miz hackera il sistema, lei si risveglia nel corpo di Teryn.
WTF??? va bene la fantasia tecnologica, ma mi pare un po’ troppo😭forse questo è l’effetto di scrivere contemporaneamente il finale della trilogia “Flesh and False Gods”, uscito quest’anno, perché parla di scambi di corpi, si sarà confusa💀💀


In soli due capitoli, Hailey parla attraverso il corpo di Teryn e aiuta Lia, non dice manco grazie a Miz perché non è sicura di ciò che è— ma guarda manco io che leggevo eh💀non è chiaro perché l’abbia fatto, immagino per la sopravvivenza ma non si capisce come ci è arrivata e non c’è abbastanza conflitto morale. Ed è come se avesse due menti in un corpo che si spengono e riattivano a caso, cioè boh🤌


Il vero piano è quando puntano a usare il padre di Lia come esca per una giornata politica importante a downcountry, e lei può confrontarsi ancora con James Moore: dopo quelle inquietanti risposte nell’intervista, insiste che lei è un prodigio scientifico in quanto misto tra umano e macchina, e che non può negare un beneficio a qualcuno di stare meglio🤡 a cui ribatte che il lutto è la consapevolezza di star vivendo l’emozione, anziché cancellarla🥲🙏


"Grief is the only way I know my father loved his wife." My eyes stay on the picture of Fina. "It's how I know he's telling the truth when he claims she would have loved me too. It is the only marker I have been afforded, because I don't have any of that data in front of me otherwise." I look back at James Moore. "Pain is information too. Human or machine, our only purpose is to interpret information from the world around us. Why do you think you get to be different?"‼️


E poi il momento di ammissione del suo umore per Kieren🥲con la piccola gestualità e intimità PERFETTA. THE REAL YEARNING !!

“Without changing where his hand is hovering, he raises one finger, pressing it into my palm. It's a peculiar motion. I mimic him. I lift one finger too. Press into his palm. We are a live system, and my charge dissipates where my skin meets his, completing a circuit, letting the energy spiral. He is my grounding element. My cold wire”

IL NOME DEL PROGRAMMA E IL PRIMO TITOLO !! Perché Coldwire è ciò che li tiene in vita😭così come lui quando aveva messo i dati di Lia nel corpo di Eirale, è viva grazie a lui😭✨
Questo mi fa pensare che è il primo libro di Gong in cui il personaggio maschile è più eguale rispetto a quello femminile e non poco sotto— nel senso, le protagoniste femminili sono un po’ più “attive” o peculiari tra morale grigia, poteri o asset, e anche in questo caso lei è diversa ma Kieren dall’inizio è un ribelle che crea scompiglio e l’ha salvata. Forse è lo spirito della collettività nelle distopie YA, in cui ognuno ha la sua risorsa per combattere il sistema👀


"Do you remember when that spider landed on the back of your hand?" Kieren asks […]
"[…] you came to rescue me”
"Yes" Kieren says. "I'm actually very afraid of spiders."
"You are not."
"I am. But you were in danger, so I didn't care. The same applies here.
If the Pod tries to take you away from me, I'll break it apart with my own hands. If StrangeLoom doesn't let you go, I'll chase you up there. You can't get away from me, Lia Sullivan. Neither can your spiders."
I manage a shaky laugh. I press harder into his palm. This is considerably different from the last time I was upcountry. I have a home- not in the sense of a place or a locale, but in this. In Kieren.
"If a spider appears, I can simply will it away”
[…] "Are you ready?"
[…] "Make sure I stay human, because maybe I love you after all”
His grin could fuel a thousand suns. I could burn the sight into my eyes.
It is not a memory that can be captured as data. I could never recover it if it was lost.
"I knew it." […]
"I love you too," he says, muffled through the Pod. "In case that wasn't clear."
I give him a thumbs-up”😭🙏

MINUSCOLI IMBARAZZATI😓❤️

Il finale il vicepresidente e il segretario vengono uccisi, e ora Moore gestisce tutto, prova un 3º esperimento in cui stavolta Eirale sarà solo una macchina è… particolare ma lo trovo anche ripetitivo. Ancora lei?💀
Si sente solo una voce e fa pensare al recente disprezzo verso l’AI che usa i dati per altro senza: i video sui social doppiati in automatico con le voci di altre lingue, attrici create con l’AI a cui i veri attori si sono opposti con lettere aperte, e pure Taylor Swift che ufficializza i copyright per minime sigle🫡. Dobbiamo mettere in conto il furto incontrollabile, dei server invisibili dei capitalisti. Poiché non sono concreti, ci sono ancora poche leggi sull’uso dei dati personali digitali senza consenso, ma in un worldbuilding basato sull’uso di questi aggeggi e sulla commistione e stacco tra fisico e digitale, è interessante👀

Questa serie ha perso un po’ di ritmo e coesione rispetto al 1º, ma la denuncia tematica rimane pazzesca💣🤖

[Karolina Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 4.5 ⭐️ read for me.

I have one question for Chloe Gong… WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO END A BOOK LIKE THAT?! Because I would like to file a formal complaint. 😭 After Coldwire, I already knew the StrangeLoom world was going to get complicated but Deadlock took everything I thought I understood and started rearranging the furniture in my brain. The stakes are bigger, the politics are messier and the whole situation with StrangeLoom and AI gets increasingly wild. I really loved being back with Lia/Eirale. Her identity and everything she has been forced to question made her such an interesting character to follow. She’s technically something completely different from what she always believed herself to be, yet her emotions, memories, relationships and choices feel so deeply human.

And then we have Kieran again. Their relationship continues to be one of my favorite parts because it isn’t constantly screaming ROMANCE! LOOK AT THEM!. It’s in the little things; the trust, the teasing, the way they rely on each other when everything around them is falling apart.

That ending scene between Lia and Kieran? Yeah, I AM NOT OKAY.

The “cold wire” meaning suddenly hit me right in the feelings and I just sat there like 🥹🫠. After everything Lia has been through, having someone who reminds her that she is still herself was such a beautiful moment. I also really enjoyed getting more of Miz this time around. Her perspective gave me a much better understanding of her and I loved seeing the person underneath all that toughness. She has so much history and so many reasons to be guarded.

The one thing that took some getting used to was the structure. There are several perspectives and moving pieces and I occasionally had to pause and mentally go “Wait…where are we, who knows what and WHY is everyone lying again?” The AI/StrangeLoom side of things could also get pretty dense for me. But once everything started connecting, I was absolutely invested. This author really knows how to build a political mess. The long standing conflict between nations, the power struggles, NileCorp and the way information can be manipulated all made the world feel increasingly unstable. There’s this constant feeling that one wrong move could send everything completely off the rails.

That final stretch had me STRESSED.

I obviously won’t spoil the major reveals but the last chapters went from “hmm, something feels wrong” to EXCUSE ME, WHAT IS HAPPENING?! The reveal surrounding Lia/Eirale alone was enough to make me stare into the middle distance and then Chloe just kept going.

And that final line???

Girl.

GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually had to put my glasses down. 😭

I also appreciated that the romance never swallowed the dystopian plot. There’s enough tenderness between Lia and Kieran to make my heart happy but the larger conflict remains the star of the show. Their relationship feels like an anchor in the middle of absolute chaos, which made those softer moments hit even harder.

If I had one real complaint, it would be that some of the more technical explanations went over my head and I sometimes wanted the book to slow down and explain certain things more clearly. I also found the beginning a little slower while all the pieces were being positioned. But once it picked up? Good luck getting me away from this book. I’m informing that this book left me with approximately 900 questions, emotional damage and an urgent need for the final book. I’m genuinely fascinated by where this trilogy is going because at this point, I don’t trust ANYTHING. Not people. Not technology. Not memories. Probably not my own brain either.

If book one was just okay for you or didn’t wow you that much, trust me when I say you absolutely need to continue. In here the world gets bigger, the character relationships get deeper, the stakes get MUCH higher.

I am ready for the final book…

I am also absolutely not ready. 😱

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Chloe Gong for allowing me to read this eARC before its release through NetGalley. It was such a privilege to return to the StrangeLoom trilogy early and I’m already counting down to the release on November 17, 2026.

[Peyton Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Simon Teen and McElderry Books (and Chloe Gong too hehe), for the free ARC to read and review before release day!

4.5!!!!

Deadlock picks up where Coldwire left off and follows Coldwire’s cast of characters as they attempt to outwit the trap NileCorp has set for them and stop total control of both realities from landing in NileCorp’s hands.

Writing ARC reviews for sequels is HARD! All I want to do is yell (lovingly) at Chloe Gong for stressing me so bad. She has truly mastered immersing you fully in the story. My heart was beating wildly in those last 100 pages, my knee was bouncing, my entire body was so TENSE. I could not tear myself away from this book. She sure knows how to stick a landing when it comes to ending her books.

There is something so electric about the way she writes character dynamics. This book started off a little slower, we had to set a baseline for where all our characters ended off in Coldwire and realistically get them from point A to B, to eventually have them interact again in a way that made sense and wasn’t rushed. So the book eased into that, which meant the pacing wasn’t quite as quick as the rest of the book! But the minute these characters came back together, it was lightning. Their interactions are brilliant and clever and FUN. I was always grinning or laughing or tearing up over them. They are so vibrantly alive and easy to connect to and feel for. Chloe Gong established all of them so well in book one and only built them up even better in this book. Lia has one of the most incredible character arcs I’ve ever read in this book and it violently pulled at my heartstrings. Her emotions are so big and so lost, and her entire arc is crafted in such a vulnerable way that helps you connect so deeply with her. This feels true for the other characters’ arcs as well. Genuine attention is given to all of them and it created something really meaningful for each of their emotional journeys.

This book feels so relevant for our current world. A lot of attention was given to government corruption and big corporations having a hand in the government when they shouldn’t. These themes were prevalent in book 1 as well, but Chloe hit harder and faster with them in Deadlock. But, I also appreciated the spotlight she put on community, and action, and coming together. She emphasized the damage of inaction, how people have the power to decide the kind of world they want to live in, what rallying behind a cause TRULY means and the power of ordinary citizens. It was intentional and LOUD. I loved every bit of it.

There’s only so much I can say without revealing spoilers. This one will take you by surprise just as Coldwire did, but maybe not in the same way. It opens up a lot of new avenues for the characters and brings to light questions about what’s next for this world. I’m already anxiously waiting for book 3, because I’m not sure how I couldn’t after that ending. As I said earlier, Chloe knows how to end her books and make you desperate for more.

Thank you again so much to Simon Teen and McElderry books, and of course Chloe herself for getting this ARC to me to read and review before it releases on November 17th!

- Retired NileCorp Employee signing out ;)

[Carmela Agatha Enriquez (agathafeelingg.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @simonteen for an early copy of Deadlock by @thechloegong. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Release date: November 17th, 2026

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Who knew Chloe Gong could raise the stakes even higher? Deadlock picks up immediately after Coldwire's jaw-dropping epilogue, and while I didn't think the story could get any more intense, this sequel proved me wrong.

This time around, Eirale finds herself acting as a double agent for the Coalition while continuing to serve as a NileCorp soldier, all while carrying Lia's sentience within her. The premise is incredibly compelling, though I did find the opening a little slow. Eirale's mission takes a while to find its footing, and I wished there had been a bit more context early on to ground everything that was happening.

Once the story gets going, though, it never really slows down. The addition of Miz and Rayna's POV, alongside Nik and Keiren's, made the story feel much bigger in scope and gave a broader perspective on the conflict unfolding across Atahua. The action sequences were exhilarating, the pacing picked up significantly in the second half, and I found myself flying through the pages.

As with Coldwire, Chloe Gong delivers plenty of twists, although this time I found several of them easier to anticipate as the story unfolded. They were still enjoyable and satisfying, but they didn't shock me quite as much as the reveals in the first book. That said, the execution was strong enough that I was fully invested until the very last page.

After everything that happened, especially the damage Lia has caused to Strangeloom. The story feels like it's only getting started. The pieces are finally falling into place for an even bigger conflict, and I have no doubt the next installment is going to be the biggest one yet.

I already can't wait to see where this series goes next.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Teen for the E-Arc and Physical ARC copy!

Im actually in shock about the ending cause WHAT??? CHLOE GONG WHAT??? WHAT IN THE CLIFFHANGER???

Chloe Gong’s mind is so insane, she is truly transcending the game. Every plot point is so carefully mapped out and is so easy to digest for readers which makes her writing style highly favourable for me.

Lia/Eirale’s character is honestly so interesting to me. The idea that she is a replica of her father’s dead daughter that has the capabilities to destroy StrangeLoom as an AI bot is actually insane. I really enjoyed connecting with her character in Coldwire and it was so much more interesting to reunite with her character. Her thought process is so interesting because she almost feels human even though she isn’t.

I really found it interesting that we were given a Miz POV this time because shes actually so insanely cool. It was not as frequent as Lia but her plot line is so interesting. I feel like this book we had the chance to actually connect with her because we were given a look into her story and background. I love how Chloe Gong brings in diversity through her characters and doesn’t force them, making it natural.

I also love how there is an obvious romance subplot brewing between Lia and Kieren but it doesn’t overshadow the main plot. We see soft moment between the two which is so heartwarming to see but it doesn’t feel like its being pushed onto the reader which is rather pleasant.

If you are looking for a dystopian cyber punk read, I would 100% recommend this book. It is the second in the Coldwire trilogy and truly was a 6 ⭐ read for me.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh no, what happened?🥺🫣

Coldwire was one of the most addicting books I read last year. It’s a prescient techno dystopian. 
The future is screwed. Climate change, wars, illness… That’s why most of society lives "upcountry" in NileCorp’s virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in "downcountry".

Book one was rip roaring fun and thrilling. 

Book two didn’t really know what it wanted to do. I had the same issue with Gong’s previous completed trilogy These Immortal Longings, so I hope book three doesn’t follow that trajectory. Basically, this should have been a duology. That’s where Gong excels with pacing, character dynamics, and a satisfying plot and arc. 

The plot jumped around and the characters (and readers) were scrambling to keep up. This was too fast-paced and both characters and readers alike couldn’t keep up. 

When Gong has rare quieter moments, the character dynamics and dialogue shines. However, compared to book one, this was lacking. 

I still tore through this book and will be reading the finale: the subgenre is something I love reading about: Artificial Wisdom by Thomas Weaver, The Infinite State by Richard Swan, Toothsucker by Kaden Love, Silver Elite by Dani Francis (kinda)…

I also wonder about Gong’s publishing schedule. Putting out two books a year is intense work. 
2.75 stars.🌟 

Arc gifted by Hodderscape. 

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[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

I won’t say too much as this is the second book in a series, but Chloe Gong definitely shows her international relations degree in her novels. This book is no exception. The Cold War in this story has been going on for decades. It’s been so long that people forget that danger is just around the corner. Tensions are starting to boil and it’s reaching a point of no return. I will admit, the sci-fi/artificial intelligence aspect gets a little confusing to me sometimes but that’s just a personal thing.

While I enjoyed reading the different perspectives, it was a little bit difficult to understand how Miz’s separate timeline would integrate with Kieran’s/Nik’s and Eirale’s/Lia’s. It became more apparent at the end (duh), but I still struggled to read Miz’s perspective.

I loved how Chloe Gong incorporates romance into the story. It’s not an in-your-face kind of love. It’s subtle. It’s quiet. It’s built in a foundation of friendship and trust. I love Kieran and Lia so much. They just fit so well together. They have times of tenderness but also times of banter and sarcasm.

Overall, I’ll continue to read anything Chloe Gong releases.

[Cris ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes Deadlock stand out most is the exceptional character work, particularly the quiet, grounded connection between Kieran and Lia. Rather than relying on dramatic tropes, their relationship feels authentically built on trust and mutual respect, balancing soft, tender moments with fantastic, witty banter.

The political world-building is equally impressive. Chloe Gong's grasp of geopolitical strategy shines through as the decades-long Cold War reaches a dangerous boiling point, keeping the tension remarkably high throughout the story.

The narrative does present a few hurdles along the way. Miz's separate timeline initially felt disconnected from the rest of the plot, making those chapters a bit harder to settle into until the threads finally merged toward the end. Additionally, some of the denser sci-fi and artificial intelligence concepts were occasionally tricky to grasp, though they never completely derailed the story.

Despite those small complexities, this is a thoroughly captivating sequel that proves once again why Chloe Gong remains an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Yara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If I'm not in control, then I'm at someone's mercy."

4.25⭐️

Once again, I was left speechless by the ending 🤯 if there is one thing Chloe Gong always delivers on is a well written plot-twist. The stakes are higher than ever in this second book as Eirale infiltrates NileCorp to take them down. Everyone is one wrong move from being captured.

The first 20% of the book everyone is kind of separated so the pace felt a bit slower without the banter and bonding of the friends being in proximity. Still, I enjoyed getting Miz & Kieren's POV. We get to see how much the events since Kunlun have affected them, and their internal struggles and fears.

Once some of the characters are reunited the plot progresses faster with more tension and banter. What I loved most about this book is that there is more action and more Kieren & Lia moments. Also, NileCorp is doing some suspicious stuff throughout and it's fun to try and piece things together and make predictions about what could unravel in the end.

I can't wait to see how the story concludes in the 3rd book!

NetGalley ARC

[Sam Rude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Coldwire last year I thought it was a fun and really inventive work from Chloe Gong. I think Deadlock continues the trend. The ante is upped a bit with more plot lines and POVs than last time but it’s obvious that Gong is building to something and I am not worried about a disappointing conclusion.

I find it very difficult to rate the middle book of a trilogy without the last being finished. I’m not sure how successful it was setting up the finale without a finale in place. I view the second book of a trilogy as a book whose role is “to get people where they need to be for the third book” and as far as I am aware Deadlock delivers there. This time we get to spend a bit more time in the relationship between Kieren & Lia and I loved it (although not quite as much as I loved the Rayna/Miz and Hailey bits). I am continuously impressed by Chloe Gong and if Deadlock does nothing else it makes me excited/impatient/enthusiastic for what’s next in the StrangeLoom trilogy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I reread the first book in preparation and it remains as one of my favorite books ever. Book two, Deadlock, is a continuation of everything Gong introduced in book one. The tension continues to build and never really lets up. Nile Corp’s crimes become more and more horrendous and our main characters are faced with the difficult decisions of how to respond. More importantly, will they and those around them still like who they become in the aftermath.

This book is just as twisty as book one. I thought some of the twists were a bit more predictable, except the big one at the end. It didn’t really matter either way, I loved this book all the same. I cannot wait to read the conclusion.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: "If every headline, dinner table conversation, or workplace program nowadays seems to center around AI, Chloe Gong shows us that fiction too can provide a different and much-needed evolution of familiar real-life AI narratives. With Deadlock, the successor to 2025’s Coldwire and the second installment of the Strangeloom young adult trilogy, Gong leverages the changing modern world of technological progress around us to complicate her own cyberpunk universe."

Full review published online at Asia Blooming.

[sara :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

screaming crying throwing up

thank you chloe for writing these characters that I see myself in, for writing about war and resistance and the danger of inaction, for showing me that yes, I really could love kieran murray more than I loved him in the first book.

thank you thank you thank you

I don't even know what I am allowed to say in an ARC review but just know... I will be coming back... I need to drop quotes...

[lilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The explosive sequel to Coldwire, this story continues to follow our favorite band of characters who continue to have such an amazing dynamic while also delving even deeper into their backstories. As always, the plot twists were very well executed. Deadlock will for sure be one of my favorite reads from this year and I look forward to seeing where the finale will take us!!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I read an advance reader copy of this book won through a Goodreads giveaway.

Very satisfying and eventful sequel to Coldwire!! My one major complaint is that now I'll have to wait til next year to find out how it all ends!!

[fer ✨]

QUE YA SALGAAAAAAA

[Jennifer Sipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It had a clever plot, interesting characters, and a lot of action. Very engaging read.