GlitchBorn Heart

by H.J. Spence

In a neon-drenched city that never sleeps, falling in love is the ultimate glitch. Would you fall for the man who trapped your soul in his AI? What if he were the only one who could save you?

They were never supposed to want each other. They were never supposed to touch.

Dr. Kael Ryudon is control. Cold precision. Corporate teeth. A man who cages chaos and calls it order.
Lyra Vaille is fire. Wild magic. Reckless defiance. A glitch the system was built to extinguish.

He hunts anomalies.
She is one.

Dr. Ryudon designed the corporation's largest AI system to be his generation's sanctuary. Instead, it became her prison...and his obsession. Now the system is slipping into The Void, and he's trapped on the outside of a heart he no longer knows how to reach.

He was supposed to rescue her...but now she's his only hope.

628 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 31, 2026

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fully immersed in the city of Onerio. Described as a neon-drenched city that never sleeps, this dystopian, cyberpunk world had me immediately absorbed into the story.

After playing Cyberpunk 2077 and watching Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, I was excited to dive into this story, and I had unnecessarily high expectations. Fortunately, HJ Spence did not disappoint.

She did a fantastic job of describing everything, allowing the reader to create colourful imagery of a dark dystopian world where the majority of people are fighting for their lives. This is especially difficult for those anomalies who have magic, because magic is a threat. Our FMC, Lyra, just so happens to be one of those anomalies, and not only that, she falls head over heels for the one who is in charge of hunting them, Dr. Kael Ryudon. I enjoyed these two characters. They both had dark and mysterious vibes, and when they came together the tension was strong. He is immediately down bad for her, and she’s hesitant because he is an anomaly hunter! Not only that, he has also designed the corporation's largest AI system to be his generation's sanctuary, and in her eyes, he has built this for the enemy, so the tension is high.

Without giving anything away, Lyra’s soul becomes trapped in the doctor’s AI, and I was so intrigued by this. It actually created more enemies, and I couldn’t get enough. I was flying through this story. I will say, this is a personal problem. I was so into the dystopian and cyberpunk aspects of this novel that once the romantasy started to have more weight to it, I was annoyed. Enough of that; let's get down to the problem at hand, because this is serious, life or death. Stop flirting. Don’t get me wrong, they were a great pair, some great banter, and some very spicy scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed this story; it was a lot different from what I’ve been reading, so it held my attention. I definitely recommend adding Glitchborn Heart to your TBR.

[Jeannie Storm Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this to break up my normal fantasy reads! A dystopian cyber romantasy!! And need more like it immediately! An eccentric, intense, futuristic read! The whole thing gave me Matrix and fifth element vibes but more like if they were made today.. And that is a top teir compliment coming from my mouth because those are cult favorites in my house! This had More intense yearning. Technology that was so advanced but written so well i didn't feel like i couldn't understand. And with magic! The Characters are all so unique and it balances out perfectly. Lyra is pure emotion and loyalty. Her brother Eli is troubled but loving and I just want to hold him and shake him at the same time. Kael is a dark tortured soul who thrives on control and discipline. Ash is a rockstar heartthrob with amazing comedic timing. Ember is sweet, sassy and someone you'd want in your corner. Jett, mysterious rebellion leader, I need to know more before I decide my feelings so that will have to wait for the next book! He's hiding something but I cant tell if it will be for the greater good yet or not. And then there's LINK, the AI in the system that sees all and helps hunt and erase the magic anomalies, and is pretty terrifying..This book was action packed with a digital punch! Everything moment felt vibrant and alive! The playlist really Intensified each chapter!! The Action, emotions, Intense want even when you shouldn't.. All of the feelings, love and rage heightened. A high tech world, Corrupt government with magic weaved in and people who are worth risking it all to save. I can't wait to continue this creation!

[Erin Masura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I've ever read. Imagine your soul trapped in an AI, built by a hunky man willing to risk everything for you and that's just the beginning of this wild ride.

This dystopian cyberpunk romantasy pulls you straight into the LINK and doesn't let go. The FMC is refreshingly strong and unapologetically outspoken, delivering one liners so sharp they had me laughing out loud. Her wit is matched only by her resilience, making her a character you can't help but root for.

The writing flows beautifully, carrying you through a plot that's genuinely unique in the romance genre. The love story that unfolds is darkly beautiful,equal parts tender and twisted in the best possible way. And that ending? I didn't see it coming. I literally said "seriously, what the hell?" and stared at my tablet for several moments, trying to process what just happened.

The world building is impressive: high tech, futuristic, and immersive. Full disclosure I'm "old" and it took me a moment to catch up with some of the techie speech, but I loved every moment of it. The author creates a believable future that feels both thrilling and terrifying.

If you're looking for a romance that breaks the mold and takes you somewhere completely unexpected, this is it.

[Kim Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Let the stars fall all over again. I'll gladly catch every single one in my hands, even as they scorch me to the bone, just to place them at her feet so she'll never walk in the dark alone
again."

I'm still processing because this story is so unique and unlike anything else I've read. I'll be honest, when I got to the glossary in the beginning, I was intimidated. I messaged the author because I was worried I wasn't smart enough to read this!! After reassurance from her, I continued and I'm so glad I did! It has most of my absolute favorite tropes :

✨️Enemies to Lovers
✨️Forced Proximity
✨️Found Family
✨️Touch Her & Die
✨️Yearning
✨️Slow Burn
✨️Feminine Rage
✨️Dark Brooding Data Daddy MMC
✨️Strong Fmc
✨️Spicy
✨️Dual POV

This book is so well written, I could see and hear the story unfolding in my mind! I was hooked from the very beginning! Definitely load up the Playlist and listen to the songs corresponding with each chapter, it enhances the experience!!
And that ending...like what????
I cannot wait for the 2nd book to continue this wild futuristic ride!!
5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Kellie- SpicedTeaandChapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you don’t even know you’re in the mood for a dystopian romanatasy and one comes out of nowhere and hits you straight in the feels… yeah. That’s this book! Is it darkly poetic? Absolutely! And if you’re looking for your next read, go ahead and shove this one straight to the top of your TBR because you do not want to miss it!

This story honestly feels like a breath of fresh air. The world-building is rich and immersive, with vivid details, and the characters? Gut-wrenchingly good and heartstoppingly fantastic!

Lyra, our FMC, is fueled by rage and hunger in the best way. Kael? A dark data daddy and I will not be elaborating further because I don’t need to…if you know, you know. And Ash… Ash is my favorite. We all need a little humor to survive the chaos, and he delivers just enough to keep you from completely unraveling.

The pacing flows so well and keeps you locked in from start to finish. No lulls, no dragging…just pure, addictive storytelling.

I am already so ready for the next book. I need to see where HJ takes this series because I am fully invested at this point.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review 🖤

There’s something about a love story that isn’t supposed to exist…
especially when it’s built inside a system designed to destroy her.

Glitchborn Heart pulled me straight into a neon-drenched world of control, chaos, and obsession—and I didn’t want out.

Lyra is sharp, emotional, and unapologetically strong.
Kael? Cold, calculated, and dangerously easy to fall for.

The tension is immediate.
The chemistry is addictive.
And the concept? Her soul trapped inside his AI system… yeah, I was hooked.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💖💖💖💖🖤

And that ending…
I’m still sitting here like—
“…excuse me?? what just happened?”

🎧 The Spotify playlist is PERFECT for this book—every chapter hits harder with it.

Dark. Twisted. Emotional. Completely addictive

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.
I really enjoyed this book. The premise is so unique. I loved the tech based magic system and the futuristic dystopian world the author built.
The dark, “data daddy” MMC was great. I loved seeing his obsession and possession with the FMC. their interactions, especially since they had the physical barrier of her being trapped in the program, was so engaging.
I do feel like it was a bit hard to follow at times. The magic system and the technology were cool, but sometimes I had to just trust fall a suspend my disbelief more than I prefer when reading.
I also wish we spent more time with the climax of the story. Everything wrapped up so quickly that it took me a bit to wrap my head around how it all turned out.

[Ella Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. As an ARC reader, it was such a special experience getting to dive into this story early. It felt unique, intentional, and completely immersive. The soundtrack paired with each chapter made the experience even more unforgettable and added so much depth to the story. The way you’re pulled into this world is truly magical. The plot was beautifully crafted, and I already know these characters and this world will stay with me for a very long time. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to escape reality and completely lose themselves in a new world.

[Madison Olszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was immersive & pulse elevating🤌🏼
The most unique tech magic I’ve ever read about! Extreme VR-like escapism with love, loss, & a fight to the death against corrupt AI Corporations 📲🌌
A badass spicy FMC meets a DataDaddy MMC & a snarky rockstar SMC..
Will they beat the system or will AI take control?

This book had me on the edge of my seat & reeling for book 2 immediately! 🔥🏍️ The playlist is expertly paired with every emotion you won’t want to unplug 😈

[Sam 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, where do I even begin? when I tell you that I absolutely DEVOURED this book, I mean I DEVOURED IT. Glitchborn heart was such an incredible book. This book had me on the edge of my seat countless amount of times in suspense and also giggling like a little school girl. It took me through a whirlwind of emotions! What more could you possibly want from a book? HJ is so incredibly talented and worked so very hard on this book, and it really shows. The character development of each of these characters is just wonderful to experience. You can really feel the emotion she put into this book. The amount of love I now have for this book, is immeasurable. And can we talk about the chapter by chapter playlist on Spotify? Hello, that was BRILLIANT. It fit the vibe PERFECTLY! I was HOOKED, and I didn’t want to leave this neonsoaked city. This book is one that will have you addicted, and you will never want it to end! To say this was easily my favorite read in a while, is an understatement. I could not recommend this book more! Please go read it, you won’t regret it! HJ, you are brilliant! Thank you!