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Aeon #1
False Idols
In the year 2047 neural implants have given a small slice of the population superhuman abilities. Are these Aeons brilliant humanitarians dedicated to saving civilization, or venal psychopaths bent on its destruction?
When Sarah Fenton is recruited out of her orphanage into a mysterious government program, this question becomes her mission. Answering it incorrectly could spell the end of the human race.
Her only path to the truth lies in beguiling an Aeon named Nick Lal, the reclusive scion of one of the planet’s wealthiest families. Even as she realizes she’s falling in love with him, she begins to fear that he is not as innocent as he appears.
As famine and religious strife threaten to push the nation into a three-way civil war, Sarah’s time runs short. Will she be wily enough to choose correctly and save the world?
False Idols is the fast paced first novel in the Aeon trilogy by Alexis Grove.
When Sarah Fenton is recruited out of her orphanage into a mysterious government program, this question becomes her mission. Answering it incorrectly could spell the end of the human race.
Her only path to the truth lies in beguiling an Aeon named Nick Lal, the reclusive scion of one of the planet’s wealthiest families. Even as she realizes she’s falling in love with him, she begins to fear that he is not as innocent as he appears.
As famine and religious strife threaten to push the nation into a three-way civil war, Sarah’s time runs short. Will she be wily enough to choose correctly and save the world?
False Idols is the fast paced first novel in the Aeon trilogy by Alexis Grove.
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2015
4 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Grove
2 books11 followersI hail from Brooklyn, New York, but right now I'm living with my young family in London.
I read a pretty wide range of books, from non-fiction to mystery thrillers (e.g., Lee Child) to fantasy/Sci-fi (e.g., GRRM).
I enjoy writing character driven high concept soft sci-fi aimed at a YA audience. I hope you will check out some of my work and give me helpful feedback.
I read a pretty wide range of books, from non-fiction to mystery thrillers (e.g., Lee Child) to fantasy/Sci-fi (e.g., GRRM).
I enjoy writing character driven high concept soft sci-fi aimed at a YA audience. I hope you will check out some of my work and give me helpful feedback.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 5, 2015
False Idols – the first book of the Aeon Trilogy – is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. It is an intelligent, well-written and fast-paced Sci-Fi with one foot grounded in the real world. This means that the setting is our own familiar world, just some decades in the future when problems such as energy and food for the earth’s population have reached a climax. In such a climate anyone with exceptional computer skills can manipulate stock markets and even governments, and this is what the Aeons are doing in this very promising first book of the trilogy.
The main characters are young adults in their late teens, as this is the best age to receive the new, state-of-the-art MindWave implant that enables the already superior, genetically-engineered teenagers to enter cyberspace and interact within it. They soon create their own virtual realities and worlds, but one of them believes she is god-like – hence their name, Aeon – and embarks on her quest to control the world and even rid it of most ‘gnats’ (as she refers to ‘naturals’ without the MindWave implant)
The writing style is always easy, smooth and compelling, and I particularly enjoyed dialogue and scenes that made the main characters feel like real, 3-dimensional people, which is often lacking in hard-core Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. The real heroine of this first book is, in fact, an orphan struggling with emotional problems who is recruited by the government to infiltrate the Aeons’ activities so that they can be prevented from destroying the world of mankind. There is also romance, action, humour and down-to-earth situations, and although this falls into the Science Fiction category, I would also recommend this book to general readers with an interest in virtual reality and computer science, as well as Young Adult readers. The story so far has been exciting and unpredictable, and this first book leaves the reader impatiently waiting for the second book to be released!
The main characters are young adults in their late teens, as this is the best age to receive the new, state-of-the-art MindWave implant that enables the already superior, genetically-engineered teenagers to enter cyberspace and interact within it. They soon create their own virtual realities and worlds, but one of them believes she is god-like – hence their name, Aeon – and embarks on her quest to control the world and even rid it of most ‘gnats’ (as she refers to ‘naturals’ without the MindWave implant)
The writing style is always easy, smooth and compelling, and I particularly enjoyed dialogue and scenes that made the main characters feel like real, 3-dimensional people, which is often lacking in hard-core Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. The real heroine of this first book is, in fact, an orphan struggling with emotional problems who is recruited by the government to infiltrate the Aeons’ activities so that they can be prevented from destroying the world of mankind. There is also romance, action, humour and down-to-earth situations, and although this falls into the Science Fiction category, I would also recommend this book to general readers with an interest in virtual reality and computer science, as well as Young Adult readers. The story so far has been exciting and unpredictable, and this first book leaves the reader impatiently waiting for the second book to be released!
June 20, 2015
False Idols (Aeon Book 1) readership can easily range from young adult to OAP. The main characters are teenagers, which I thought would be off-putting for a mature reader like me. I was so wrong, the book held me captive from the beginning. From the get go there is explosive action, literally. Grove's characterisation and plot developed as I read on. I liked the computer science which is easily explained in an informative way, it doesn't detract the reader from the story, it adds to it.
For a debut novel this is an exceptional read. Both the protagonist and the antagonist are strong well developed female characters who I found interesting, I found myself rooting for the protagonist Sarah all the time. Romance, religion even politics can be found in False Idols. The author has set in stone characters we will meet again.
Alexis Grove doesn't cheat on the descriptive, especially with Laura who I will always remember as a shape-shifter. I felt every improtant detail was put under a microscope and described in a concise, relevant manner. It is a well written book and I would advise any reviewer to read it - what's more it's only Book 1, I will definitely be interested in reading Book 2.
For a debut novel this is an exceptional read. Both the protagonist and the antagonist are strong well developed female characters who I found interesting, I found myself rooting for the protagonist Sarah all the time. Romance, religion even politics can be found in False Idols. The author has set in stone characters we will meet again.
Alexis Grove doesn't cheat on the descriptive, especially with Laura who I will always remember as a shape-shifter. I felt every improtant detail was put under a microscope and described in a concise, relevant manner. It is a well written book and I would advise any reviewer to read it - what's more it's only Book 1, I will definitely be interested in reading Book 2.
May 26, 2015
They were genetically engineered to be smarter than their peers.
As teenagers they were also enhanced with implants that allow them nearly unlimited access to cyberspace where they can not only satisfy their every whim but also manipulate global economies at will.
They call themselves "Aeons," an ancient word once used to describe demigods who derived their divinity from infinite information.
The rest of the world calls them "Cybarians," a new word that describes these young men and women who act like barbarians seeking only to accumulate vast wealth and seek pleasure while the rest of the world suffers.
In 'False Idols' author Alexis Grove has given readers a brilliantly imagined future in which fewer than a hundred young adults profit while humanity as a whole suffers. The Aeons have a terrifying agenda that will, if they succeed, lead to a world in which they are worshiped as gods. Opposing them are a few dozen young federal agents under the command of three military men. They are not, however, soldiers in the strictest sense: They are orphans who have been selected and trained to do battle with the Aeons both in cyberspace and in the real world.
In addition to some pretty awesome battle scenes, Grove has managed to weave into the narrative an interesting romance in which the leader of the Aeons and one of the agents vie for the affections of an Aeon named Nick Lal. What makes this an interesting romance is the fact that two strong female characters are competing for a young man who seems not to be the equal of either one. Nick Lal, the son of fabulously wealthy parents, is easily manipulated. He is self conscious, slow on the uptake and indecisive, especially when it comes to issues of morality. On the other hand, Laura Mayer, who leads the Aeons, is a classic Type A personality with a clear - if somewhat twisted - vision and the strength of mind to see it come to fruition. Sarah Fenton, one of the agents trying to defeat the Aeons, is also an Alpha female although she does come with some insecurities. Both young women are smart, tough and resourceful while Nick Lal is handsome and not much else.
Because this is the first book in a trilogy, that could change, however.
As all good novels do, this work of fiction also speaks to some fundamental truths, raises interesting questions about morality and ethical behavior, and draws some real parallels with current events. In the world Grove has created humanity is suffering from soaring energy prices, a worldwide depression, a lack of clean drinking water and food shortages.
Though set in the near future, it is not all that different from today's world in that respect and, for me, that makes 'False Idols' an excellent start to what should be a very interesting trilogy.
It's a novel that I highly recommend.
As teenagers they were also enhanced with implants that allow them nearly unlimited access to cyberspace where they can not only satisfy their every whim but also manipulate global economies at will.
They call themselves "Aeons," an ancient word once used to describe demigods who derived their divinity from infinite information.
The rest of the world calls them "Cybarians," a new word that describes these young men and women who act like barbarians seeking only to accumulate vast wealth and seek pleasure while the rest of the world suffers.
In 'False Idols' author Alexis Grove has given readers a brilliantly imagined future in which fewer than a hundred young adults profit while humanity as a whole suffers. The Aeons have a terrifying agenda that will, if they succeed, lead to a world in which they are worshiped as gods. Opposing them are a few dozen young federal agents under the command of three military men. They are not, however, soldiers in the strictest sense: They are orphans who have been selected and trained to do battle with the Aeons both in cyberspace and in the real world.
In addition to some pretty awesome battle scenes, Grove has managed to weave into the narrative an interesting romance in which the leader of the Aeons and one of the agents vie for the affections of an Aeon named Nick Lal. What makes this an interesting romance is the fact that two strong female characters are competing for a young man who seems not to be the equal of either one. Nick Lal, the son of fabulously wealthy parents, is easily manipulated. He is self conscious, slow on the uptake and indecisive, especially when it comes to issues of morality. On the other hand, Laura Mayer, who leads the Aeons, is a classic Type A personality with a clear - if somewhat twisted - vision and the strength of mind to see it come to fruition. Sarah Fenton, one of the agents trying to defeat the Aeons, is also an Alpha female although she does come with some insecurities. Both young women are smart, tough and resourceful while Nick Lal is handsome and not much else.
Because this is the first book in a trilogy, that could change, however.
As all good novels do, this work of fiction also speaks to some fundamental truths, raises interesting questions about morality and ethical behavior, and draws some real parallels with current events. In the world Grove has created humanity is suffering from soaring energy prices, a worldwide depression, a lack of clean drinking water and food shortages.
Though set in the near future, it is not all that different from today's world in that respect and, for me, that makes 'False Idols' an excellent start to what should be a very interesting trilogy.
It's a novel that I highly recommend.
April 2, 2015
This is one of the most impressive debut novels by an author I’ve read in a long, long time. Yes, I’m a die-hard soft and hard sci-fi fan, but that takes nothing away from the quality of the writing on display here. I found the near future world depicted to be terrifyingly realistic when extrapolating from current trends. The author definitely did his homework to back up the science. But his sophistication with handling political intrigue, military logistics, and aberrant psychologies, was just as undeniable.
Some great debates take place within the book that should darn well be taking place in the public forum were it not for the fact that some of these issues are just a little too real and too disturbing for people to contemplate. We almost need the filter of the fictional format to help us process these higher truths in parable form. And that’s what this book felt like to me, a chance to think through current technological trends and their future implications for how they will affect me and the masses of humanity. This is one of those books where the fiction exposes the truth better than any nonfiction title could. Because fiction can recruit more than just our rational mind to process this challenging near-future reality, it doesn’t have to cut past our fears to get us to pick up the book; it can work with our fears.
I won’t recap the plot as the blurb outlines it brilliantly. But I will continue to highlight some of the novel’s standout features for me. The ménage a trois of a strong female protagonist, a strong female antagonist, and a meek, easily pushed around and persuaded male love interest caught between them was a fascinating dynamic to see play out. To earn the love of the female protagonist, and to come to perceive the masked motivations of the female antagonist for what they are, our male lead will have to travel far along his character arc. That coming of age story is interlaced with the larger drama, providing a powerful B-story, driving not just this first installment but the two sequels. Because of the Aeons’ capacity to enter virtual reality is completely nexgen relative to our own limited abilities to engage this realm, the book should be a favorite with gamers. The vivid visualizations, the fast-paced action scenes, the great character building all combine for a robust read.
All in all, highly recommended. Best of all, the book is part of a trilogy, so there’s even more fun to look forward to.
Note: I stumbled upon an early draft on Wattpad and have been delighted to see how much the book has matured over time.
Some great debates take place within the book that should darn well be taking place in the public forum were it not for the fact that some of these issues are just a little too real and too disturbing for people to contemplate. We almost need the filter of the fictional format to help us process these higher truths in parable form. And that’s what this book felt like to me, a chance to think through current technological trends and their future implications for how they will affect me and the masses of humanity. This is one of those books where the fiction exposes the truth better than any nonfiction title could. Because fiction can recruit more than just our rational mind to process this challenging near-future reality, it doesn’t have to cut past our fears to get us to pick up the book; it can work with our fears.
I won’t recap the plot as the blurb outlines it brilliantly. But I will continue to highlight some of the novel’s standout features for me. The ménage a trois of a strong female protagonist, a strong female antagonist, and a meek, easily pushed around and persuaded male love interest caught between them was a fascinating dynamic to see play out. To earn the love of the female protagonist, and to come to perceive the masked motivations of the female antagonist for what they are, our male lead will have to travel far along his character arc. That coming of age story is interlaced with the larger drama, providing a powerful B-story, driving not just this first installment but the two sequels. Because of the Aeons’ capacity to enter virtual reality is completely nexgen relative to our own limited abilities to engage this realm, the book should be a favorite with gamers. The vivid visualizations, the fast-paced action scenes, the great character building all combine for a robust read.
All in all, highly recommended. Best of all, the book is part of a trilogy, so there’s even more fun to look forward to.
Note: I stumbled upon an early draft on Wattpad and have been delighted to see how much the book has matured over time.
December 29, 2015
Read this review and more on my blog.
I received a free copy of False Idols for my honest opinion.
False Idols is the first book in the Aeon trilogy.
False Idols is told in the form of three different character perspectives: Sarah, an orphan; Nick, a rich kid and; Cruz, a former lawyer. These three individuals have very different perspectives on what is happening in the world during the events of this book.
False Idols is action packed right from the get go. It almost perfectly combined everything that I look for in a great book. Nothing was over or under explained, and False Idols had a nice flow throughout it. The only thing that I did not enjoy as much was the ending, in my opinion it could have been done slightly differently to get the cliffhanger that would have made me pace my room waiting for the next installment in the trilogy.
False Idols also explores what happens when humanity takes technology too far, and what the consequences are for this. I have never read a book around this concept before, but now I definitely want to read this more! Somehow, Grove perfectly blended the computer realm with the real one, almost making these realms a character of their own.
The ending was almost perfect for me, it just seemed to finish too cleanly. False Idols answered too many of the questions it made me ask, as I personally like to have to speculate what will happen next.
I would recommend False Idols to sci-fi fans, as well as anyone who is interested in how technology may affect the world on the future.
I received a free copy of False Idols for my honest opinion.
False Idols is the first book in the Aeon trilogy.
False Idols is told in the form of three different character perspectives: Sarah, an orphan; Nick, a rich kid and; Cruz, a former lawyer. These three individuals have very different perspectives on what is happening in the world during the events of this book.
False Idols is action packed right from the get go. It almost perfectly combined everything that I look for in a great book. Nothing was over or under explained, and False Idols had a nice flow throughout it. The only thing that I did not enjoy as much was the ending, in my opinion it could have been done slightly differently to get the cliffhanger that would have made me pace my room waiting for the next installment in the trilogy.
False Idols also explores what happens when humanity takes technology too far, and what the consequences are for this. I have never read a book around this concept before, but now I definitely want to read this more! Somehow, Grove perfectly blended the computer realm with the real one, almost making these realms a character of their own.
The ending was almost perfect for me, it just seemed to finish too cleanly. False Idols answered too many of the questions it made me ask, as I personally like to have to speculate what will happen next.
I would recommend False Idols to sci-fi fans, as well as anyone who is interested in how technology may affect the world on the future.
May 23, 2015
Set in the near future, in an increasingly dystopian world that could so easily come to pass, False Idols is a book that impressed me on every level. The writing is excellent (grittily realistic in the actual world, spectacularly visual and fantastic in the virtual one), the story engaging and the characters credible, fully developed and psychologically believable.
One element I particularly liked were the character dynamics, for while Nick, a troubled, socially uncomfortable and somewhat passive individual, is essentially the main protagonist, the two main female characters are anything but. Sarah, the unfortunate orphan, has incredible inner strength and resource and in many ways provides the moral compass in the story. Laura meanwhile is one of the best villains I’ve read in a long time. Elegant, charming, intelligent, maternalistic towards her fellow Aeons she is also an accomplished dissembler, manipulator and first rate psychopath. Placing Nick in the middle the author skilfully juxtaposes Sarah and Laura, inviting the reader throughout to make poignant comparisons. One thing I’m certain of is that the future novels will focus heavily on Nick’s maturation and personal development and I’m eager to see how the dynamics between this trio play out.
Grove’s novel is the best kind of science fiction, a visionary work with a conscience, showing just how society might unravel as the hard pressed, exploited and squeezed populace revolt against the small, cosseted elite controlling them. I really can’t recommend this one highly enough.
One element I particularly liked were the character dynamics, for while Nick, a troubled, socially uncomfortable and somewhat passive individual, is essentially the main protagonist, the two main female characters are anything but. Sarah, the unfortunate orphan, has incredible inner strength and resource and in many ways provides the moral compass in the story. Laura meanwhile is one of the best villains I’ve read in a long time. Elegant, charming, intelligent, maternalistic towards her fellow Aeons she is also an accomplished dissembler, manipulator and first rate psychopath. Placing Nick in the middle the author skilfully juxtaposes Sarah and Laura, inviting the reader throughout to make poignant comparisons. One thing I’m certain of is that the future novels will focus heavily on Nick’s maturation and personal development and I’m eager to see how the dynamics between this trio play out.
Grove’s novel is the best kind of science fiction, a visionary work with a conscience, showing just how society might unravel as the hard pressed, exploited and squeezed populace revolt against the small, cosseted elite controlling them. I really can’t recommend this one highly enough.
March 8, 2016
A really engaging , well written sci-fi novel. It draws you in from the start and more than delivers on its premise. It was a real pleasure to read with its well-developed, relatable characters, intriguing plot and fast pace. There is a little bit of everytihing, action, intrigue, romance and science fiction elements making it suitable for a wider audience of readers.
The prologue was a bit too techie for me but others might love this.
Overall, a surprisngly great read with a relatable strong heroine, set in world in the not so distant future, with scientific elements that will thrill and make you question certain things. I would definitely recommend it..
The prologue was a bit too techie for me but others might love this.
Overall, a surprisngly great read with a relatable strong heroine, set in world in the not so distant future, with scientific elements that will thrill and make you question certain things. I would definitely recommend it..
February 13, 2016
OMG I just got transported in to a whole new world.
What an unbelievably good book, unlike anything I have read before. It had all the elements I love in a book, action, intrigue, suspense, love, intensity, futuristic aspects. A very enjoyable read.
I was a little confused in the prologue but it all became clear while reading the book. Can't wait to book number two.
Highly recommend for the science fiction lover.
I was given this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What an unbelievably good book, unlike anything I have read before. It had all the elements I love in a book, action, intrigue, suspense, love, intensity, futuristic aspects. A very enjoyable read.
I was a little confused in the prologue but it all became clear while reading the book. Can't wait to book number two.
Highly recommend for the science fiction lover.
I was given this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
3,5*
I didn't expect it to be this good. However, usually I love the characters and the settings, I need an interesting world and a sufficient background. Now, this books lacks a lot of these, but I loved the idea. It seems so real.
Another thing I disliked was the characters. Somehow I think that Willy is the only one who I actually liked (and he is far from being one of the main characters). Sarah was a bit annoying, her love seemed cheap and I found kinda one-sided. The same goes for Nick. I understand that he was the one character that developed during the story, but, come on, how many proofs do you need to stay away from those, who're doing something wrong? And everybody knows that not telling the true always ends up badly (I'm trying not to spoil too much here, so just hope you get the point).
However, I still liked the book and I might even read the second one.
I didn't expect it to be this good. However, usually I love the characters and the settings, I need an interesting world and a sufficient background. Now, this books lacks a lot of these, but I loved the idea. It seems so real.
Another thing I disliked was the characters. Somehow I think that Willy is the only one who I actually liked (and he is far from being one of the main characters). Sarah was a bit annoying, her love seemed cheap and I found kinda one-sided. The same goes for Nick. I understand that he was the one character that developed during the story, but, come on, how many proofs do you need to stay away from those, who're doing something wrong? And everybody knows that not telling the true always ends up badly (I'm trying not to spoil too much here, so just hope you get the point).
However, I still liked the book and I might even read the second one.
November 29, 2015
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
False Idols by Alexis Grove is a novel that originated on Wattpad before being published. I’m usually a bit weary of reading Wattpad novels, as many of them are written by young teens who have yet to perfect their writing skills, but sometimes their are hidden gems just waiting to be plucked up by a publisher. False Idols is one such novel.
I found myself flipping pages all night (digitally, of course, as I read it on my Kindle) desperate to find out what event would next befall our heros. There’s plenty of action, both physical and digital, as the characters deal with the two worlds they must traverse. In addition to the action and scifi elements, there’s also a bit of romance, religion, economics, and politics thrown into the blend, which helps to create a more realistic story. Every action has consequences, and Grove managed to explore the different facets of the topics without getting too preachy or condescending. The characters are easy to fall in love with, even the villains, some of whom are more anti-heroes in my eyes. I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next!
Fans of the science fiction genre will love this, as well as people who’d love a bit of drama-tinged action in a novel. You’ll find yourself flipping pages until the end, and then you’ll be longing for the sequel, which is available on amazon. I know that I’ll be reading it soon, and I highly encourage you to read False Idols, and then the second book.
False Idols by Alexis Grove is a novel that originated on Wattpad before being published. I’m usually a bit weary of reading Wattpad novels, as many of them are written by young teens who have yet to perfect their writing skills, but sometimes their are hidden gems just waiting to be plucked up by a publisher. False Idols is one such novel.
I found myself flipping pages all night (digitally, of course, as I read it on my Kindle) desperate to find out what event would next befall our heros. There’s plenty of action, both physical and digital, as the characters deal with the two worlds they must traverse. In addition to the action and scifi elements, there’s also a bit of romance, religion, economics, and politics thrown into the blend, which helps to create a more realistic story. Every action has consequences, and Grove managed to explore the different facets of the topics without getting too preachy or condescending. The characters are easy to fall in love with, even the villains, some of whom are more anti-heroes in my eyes. I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next!
Fans of the science fiction genre will love this, as well as people who’d love a bit of drama-tinged action in a novel. You’ll find yourself flipping pages until the end, and then you’ll be longing for the sequel, which is available on amazon. I know that I’ll be reading it soon, and I highly encourage you to read False Idols, and then the second book.
January 18, 2016
In the future, the rich and privileged can afford genetic engineering and computer enhancements that make them superhuman which widens the gap between classes. This throws the balance of power off kilter. Orphan, Sarah Fenton is recruited and trained to combat the enhanced superhuman “Aeons” as they attempt to control the population and become gods.
Unfortunately the Prologue had almost prevented me from reading the novel. It was too disorienting and technical, throwing me into the story too quickly. Thankfully, I pushed through and met Sarah Fenton a likeable and interesting character. Being able to connect with her pulled me into the story. I also liked Nick’s character and am extremely curious about Laura. Having relatable characters made it easier to engage with the novel’s complex ideas.
This novel is more thought provoking than most YA dystopian novels tying in politics, economics and religion. While many dystopian novels drop you in a bleak future False Idols helps readers visualize how society could actually break down.
False Idols is a novel Sci-Fi readers will enjoy, I would suggest this novel to an upper level YA audience.
(Source: eARC from NetGalley)
Unfortunately the Prologue had almost prevented me from reading the novel. It was too disorienting and technical, throwing me into the story too quickly. Thankfully, I pushed through and met Sarah Fenton a likeable and interesting character. Being able to connect with her pulled me into the story. I also liked Nick’s character and am extremely curious about Laura. Having relatable characters made it easier to engage with the novel’s complex ideas.
This novel is more thought provoking than most YA dystopian novels tying in politics, economics and religion. While many dystopian novels drop you in a bleak future False Idols helps readers visualize how society could actually break down.
False Idols is a novel Sci-Fi readers will enjoy, I would suggest this novel to an upper level YA audience.
(Source: eARC from NetGalley)
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August 26, 2017I should have known better than to get swayed by a pretty cover and a unique sounding blurb. I had high hopes for False Idols and even thought that this might be one of my best reads of the year. I guess it's my own fault for having such high expectations.
I stopped reading before I even reach the halfway mark. Which sucked because I really wanted to love the book. But from the first few pages I already lost count of how many times I raised my eyebrows in the absurdity of the main character and the whole thing in general. I actually loved the Prologue which felt so intense and exciting but the book just went downhill from there.
False Idols had a unique concept that had a potential to be great. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea. So give it a chance if you're thinking of reading it? You might love it. Because that cover and blurb do look/sound pretty badass.
DNF at 43%.
I received an e-arc to read and review.
I stopped reading before I even reach the halfway mark. Which sucked because I really wanted to love the book. But from the first few pages I already lost count of how many times I raised my eyebrows in the absurdity of the main character and the whole thing in general. I actually loved the Prologue which felt so intense and exciting but the book just went downhill from there.
False Idols had a unique concept that had a potential to be great. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea. So give it a chance if you're thinking of reading it? You might love it. Because that cover and blurb do look/sound pretty badass.
DNF at 43%.
I received an e-arc to read and review.
November 13, 2015
This was a very creative sci-fi take on the near future involving high profile (read rich and privileged) teenagers who've had a brain implant which grants them special mental abilities. At first I couldn't stand Sarah and her petty teenage crap, however once that's explained away and she drops the facade, I really like her character. The book loses a star because though it's fiction, there are several things that aren't explained at all or just glossed over which don't add up. I really like Nick and I'm rooting for him and Sarah to meet again in the next book.
March 3, 2016
I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review (Netgalley). This book especially intrigued me due to the title and the cover. The story is a scifi, futuric story about enhanced people. Normally I'm less convinced by scifi story, but I was very intrigued by this one. I loved reading this book and I really had difficulties putting it down. I'm convinced by this book and I love to see what the rest of the series will bring.
November 26, 2016
Selected for a special program that she doesn't fully understand, Sarah must pretend to be somebody she's not in order to get close to Nick Lal and his powerful friends.
While the rich and famous get implants to enhance their abilities, we're left to question if they've gone too far in this cyberworld thriller.
While the rich and famous get implants to enhance their abilities, we're left to question if they've gone too far in this cyberworld thriller.
June 8, 2017
I was given the opportunity to read an electronic copy of False Idols. This is my honest opinion of the book.
When a nuclear power plant that was threatened by an anonymous woman, is breached by a group identifying itself only as the Aeon, will Colonel Jaeger be able to put together a team with the skills to defeat them before more damage is done and the United States is plunged into chaos? Sarah and Michael are the only hope that they have, but can the teenagers handle the intense pressure and pain?
False Idols, in a lot of ways, reminded me of a video game. The players are hooking into a network where they can do what they desire with seemingly no repercussions. Those who wish to stop them are so desperate and determined not to fail that they will do whatever it takes. With moves that are like the cast of The Matrix, Sarah and Michael end up becoming the perfect pawns. The biggest problems that I had with False Idols were the awkward phrasing and forced dialogue between the characters. I never felt engaged or connected to the story or its players, which is why I would hesitate to recommend False Idols to other readers. Although the book does end in a cliffhanger, I am uncertain as to whether I will stick around for book 2.
When a nuclear power plant that was threatened by an anonymous woman, is breached by a group identifying itself only as the Aeon, will Colonel Jaeger be able to put together a team with the skills to defeat them before more damage is done and the United States is plunged into chaos? Sarah and Michael are the only hope that they have, but can the teenagers handle the intense pressure and pain?
False Idols, in a lot of ways, reminded me of a video game. The players are hooking into a network where they can do what they desire with seemingly no repercussions. Those who wish to stop them are so desperate and determined not to fail that they will do whatever it takes. With moves that are like the cast of The Matrix, Sarah and Michael end up becoming the perfect pawns. The biggest problems that I had with False Idols were the awkward phrasing and forced dialogue between the characters. I never felt engaged or connected to the story or its players, which is why I would hesitate to recommend False Idols to other readers. Although the book does end in a cliffhanger, I am uncertain as to whether I will stick around for book 2.
June 30, 2015
False Idols by Alexis Grove has several intertwined twists in this book that make for compelling reading. Science fiction in this book could become reality as an elite few who, thanks to pre-existing vast wealth, can afford the inordinately expensive Mindwave technology that makes them superior to their fellow humans. However, once they become Aeons, they proudly proclaim themselves as False Idols, truly believing that they are the new modern version of the gods.
To me, Nick is the most fascinating character in the book. Due to the global forces that threaten to tear at him as he decides which path to follow, he comes across as a tormented fellow who arouses our interest and commands our concern. The opposites that pull him are many: due to the circumstances of his birth, and his elite standing in society, he is a wavering prize to those who want the influence and knowledge he can bring. He was born to parents who control the world’s largest food supply chain; however while the parents have become immeasurably wealthy feeding the planet, they are also conscientious capitalists who ensure that the vital food supply is affordable to millions of their fellow humans. Their compassionate capitalism is not lost on Nick, who subconsciously carries their ideals as he struggles to deal with the identity of a newly formed Aeon. Ironically enough, it was the parents who pressed Nick to have the Mindwave implant that changes him into an Aeon, believing it would make him smarter, faster, and happier. The old adage of be careful of what you wish for carries on in this sad tale.
Laura is deliciously diabolical as the evil character in this book. Rather than complicate her with human feelings, the author wisely showcases her as a vain god, who feels nothing and suffers nothing. She had lost her humanity a long time ago.
I also enjoyed the side story of the powerful female reverend who is able to mobilize large segments of the globe to rise up against the arrogance and the massive power shifts of the Aeons. I, too, could see this happening in real life if and when Aeons ever arrive in our society. The spirituality is compelling as people are afraid and feeling inferior to the global chess game of the Aeons, and need a leader who can make them feel proud of who they are. It was also a nice touch away from the many electronic battles of this book, back to a more simple and grounded reality.
This book is one in a series. As such, it does not have a conclusion that ties up the matters of immediate concern in this book, but it is definitely well worth reading the entire series.
The only two suggestions I would make are; maybe fewer encounters between the powerful cybertech camps (Sarah, Michael, Willy for the good guys and Laura, Kobus and Abril for the bad guys) allowing us to rouse ourselves for the upcoming final battle, and secondly, set up the federal agency as one that is able to convince recruits to come, to train, and to stay rather than act as a prison, as I found it a bit incompatible with the notion of freedom and democracy that they were fighting for.
Nick is perfection. Loved the character. He was the glue that held together the book and I loved how his parents built up such a rich and rewarding life that inspired him within his genes so that it provided an irresistible anchor against Laura’s manipulation. Also loved how he fell in love with Sarah, but is also able to know when to leave.
To me, Nick is the most fascinating character in the book. Due to the global forces that threaten to tear at him as he decides which path to follow, he comes across as a tormented fellow who arouses our interest and commands our concern. The opposites that pull him are many: due to the circumstances of his birth, and his elite standing in society, he is a wavering prize to those who want the influence and knowledge he can bring. He was born to parents who control the world’s largest food supply chain; however while the parents have become immeasurably wealthy feeding the planet, they are also conscientious capitalists who ensure that the vital food supply is affordable to millions of their fellow humans. Their compassionate capitalism is not lost on Nick, who subconsciously carries their ideals as he struggles to deal with the identity of a newly formed Aeon. Ironically enough, it was the parents who pressed Nick to have the Mindwave implant that changes him into an Aeon, believing it would make him smarter, faster, and happier. The old adage of be careful of what you wish for carries on in this sad tale.
Laura is deliciously diabolical as the evil character in this book. Rather than complicate her with human feelings, the author wisely showcases her as a vain god, who feels nothing and suffers nothing. She had lost her humanity a long time ago.
I also enjoyed the side story of the powerful female reverend who is able to mobilize large segments of the globe to rise up against the arrogance and the massive power shifts of the Aeons. I, too, could see this happening in real life if and when Aeons ever arrive in our society. The spirituality is compelling as people are afraid and feeling inferior to the global chess game of the Aeons, and need a leader who can make them feel proud of who they are. It was also a nice touch away from the many electronic battles of this book, back to a more simple and grounded reality.
This book is one in a series. As such, it does not have a conclusion that ties up the matters of immediate concern in this book, but it is definitely well worth reading the entire series.
The only two suggestions I would make are; maybe fewer encounters between the powerful cybertech camps (Sarah, Michael, Willy for the good guys and Laura, Kobus and Abril for the bad guys) allowing us to rouse ourselves for the upcoming final battle, and secondly, set up the federal agency as one that is able to convince recruits to come, to train, and to stay rather than act as a prison, as I found it a bit incompatible with the notion of freedom and democracy that they were fighting for.
Nick is perfection. Loved the character. He was the glue that held together the book and I loved how his parents built up such a rich and rewarding life that inspired him within his genes so that it provided an irresistible anchor against Laura’s manipulation. Also loved how he fell in love with Sarah, but is also able to know when to leave.
January 24, 2016
False Idols is great fun and keeps moving along in a few strong directions. I read a lot of SF and enjoy books which include extrapolated economics and environmental issues. Here we've got those aplenty plus action, intrigue and a variety of characters facing recognisable problems both personal and political.
In a Neuromancer-like scenario, neural net interfaces have been achieved, best applied to young growing brains. They are still new tech so only the rich can afford them, and these people have been genetically engineering their children for superior looks and talents. So combine these and throw in a slightly psychotic girl as the first talent to emerge in the netscape, and you've got a new category of people called the Aeons. Or a new evolving race as they like to think of themselves, in a post failure society where food is scarce and uninteresting.
Nick is a quiet guy without friends, whose parents made their wealth from a better food production system; he's strong enough to wonder whether it's right for him to dine so well by contrast with the majority, and whether it's right to achieve market leader status by smothering competition. I liked Nick for this, as it would be hard to identify with him if he was as selfish as Laura the leader of the Aeons, who decides to do some computer hacking and market manipulation to make herself endlessly wealthy. They meet in a Second Life-like zone where the smart, net-fitted kids hang out. Nicely they are well mixed as regards backgrounds.
The government decides to retaliate to hacking intrusions by establishing a cadre of young people to enter the mindscape and fight the Aeons. I am not sure why they didn't order the arrests of people like Laura if they could identify them, before Laura could move country, say. But Sarah, an orphan, and other youngsters are trained in a desert camp. Now, this is the only part I didn't completely follow. All the physical and endurance training like army cadets seemed overdone, given you want high IQ, flexible thinking and fast reflexes, along with computer structure and coding training to defeat hackers.
The hacking is shown to us mainly as a metaphorical fighting game sequence; Laura's avatar detects sentry robots and battles them while Laura is actually releasing viruses and Trojans into a computer connection. The imagery is vivid and colourful, but Nick suffers from a real battle with rioters which is appropriately far more scary and a wake-up call for him. Because what the Aeons are doing is hurting people, in his own country and elsewhere, and they are earning hate.
Read this for a fast and fun SF story, for geopolitics and a look at a scary future in which crops have to be grown in Central Park and the end of oil has come. There are strong adult characters, including a woman who gets to be a symbol of strength among the populace, but the focus, after the first few chapters, is on young adults.
In a Neuromancer-like scenario, neural net interfaces have been achieved, best applied to young growing brains. They are still new tech so only the rich can afford them, and these people have been genetically engineering their children for superior looks and talents. So combine these and throw in a slightly psychotic girl as the first talent to emerge in the netscape, and you've got a new category of people called the Aeons. Or a new evolving race as they like to think of themselves, in a post failure society where food is scarce and uninteresting.
Nick is a quiet guy without friends, whose parents made their wealth from a better food production system; he's strong enough to wonder whether it's right for him to dine so well by contrast with the majority, and whether it's right to achieve market leader status by smothering competition. I liked Nick for this, as it would be hard to identify with him if he was as selfish as Laura the leader of the Aeons, who decides to do some computer hacking and market manipulation to make herself endlessly wealthy. They meet in a Second Life-like zone where the smart, net-fitted kids hang out. Nicely they are well mixed as regards backgrounds.
The government decides to retaliate to hacking intrusions by establishing a cadre of young people to enter the mindscape and fight the Aeons. I am not sure why they didn't order the arrests of people like Laura if they could identify them, before Laura could move country, say. But Sarah, an orphan, and other youngsters are trained in a desert camp. Now, this is the only part I didn't completely follow. All the physical and endurance training like army cadets seemed overdone, given you want high IQ, flexible thinking and fast reflexes, along with computer structure and coding training to defeat hackers.
The hacking is shown to us mainly as a metaphorical fighting game sequence; Laura's avatar detects sentry robots and battles them while Laura is actually releasing viruses and Trojans into a computer connection. The imagery is vivid and colourful, but Nick suffers from a real battle with rioters which is appropriately far more scary and a wake-up call for him. Because what the Aeons are doing is hurting people, in his own country and elsewhere, and they are earning hate.
Read this for a fast and fun SF story, for geopolitics and a look at a scary future in which crops have to be grown in Central Park and the end of oil has come. There are strong adult characters, including a woman who gets to be a symbol of strength among the populace, but the focus, after the first few chapters, is on young adults.
July 17, 2015
False Idols is a great start to what promises to be an excellent, thought-provoking trilogy.
The book is set a few decades into the future, a time where the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” has widened. It’s a bleak, dystopian world where natural resources are scarce, yet technology is still developing, evolving, progressing and growing at a dizzying pace.
The perfect examples are False Idols’ main characters: orphan girl Sarah and Nick Lal, son of a couple of an uber-rich and highly successful couple of scientists from India and Brazil respectively.
Both Sarah and Nick receive implants known as a MindWave, a sort of gadget or device that allows people to connect to the internet directly through their brains, and to create thorough, highly detailed virtual realities in what Grove calls the “ether”.
Sarah and Nick receive their implants—which in Sarah’s case is known as a TacWave, not a MindWave, due to her implant’s properties as more of a tactical device—at a time when a shady, enigmatic female character known as an Aeon begins to conduct a series of cyber-attacks that lay in the heart of the story.
Nick’s implant is more of an “upgrade”, whereas Sarah’s is for military purposes, first and foremost. Yet in both cases our protagonists must learn how to make the best use of their newfound skills throughout their interaction with secondary characters, mentors of sorts who teach our young leads the ropes in this wonderful adventure of high stakes.
Grove’s characters are likable, engaging and credible. It’s not easy delving into the mind of teenagers, yet Grove manages to capture the essence of a “spoiled brat” in Nick Lal in the beginning, and the ever-unpredictable and capricious nature of a young girl in female protagonist, Sarah.
Secondary characters, such as Sarah’s friend and initial love interest Michael, her mentor Willy, the enigmatic Laura (responsible for introducing Nick to the proper use of his MindWave), and the ever-mysterious Aeon are also quite interesting and engaging.
The story itself is terrific. Grove manages to introduce us into his futuristic dystopia in a way that feels natural, organic and entertaining, all at the same time. There’s no tech jargon here to make False Idols a cumbersome, complicated read.
“Show don’t tell” definitely comes to mind in Alexis Grove’s case, the most important trait in any master story-teller’s makeup, and one that is hard to find in a young author; the book is a crisp, tight read that is hard to put down.
My biggest issue with False Idols is having to wait for the next volume in Grove’s Aeon series. Especially when you realize that Alexis Grove will only keep growing and developing as a writer. That’s a scary thought…in a good way, of course.
The book is set a few decades into the future, a time where the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” has widened. It’s a bleak, dystopian world where natural resources are scarce, yet technology is still developing, evolving, progressing and growing at a dizzying pace.
The perfect examples are False Idols’ main characters: orphan girl Sarah and Nick Lal, son of a couple of an uber-rich and highly successful couple of scientists from India and Brazil respectively.
Both Sarah and Nick receive implants known as a MindWave, a sort of gadget or device that allows people to connect to the internet directly through their brains, and to create thorough, highly detailed virtual realities in what Grove calls the “ether”.
Sarah and Nick receive their implants—which in Sarah’s case is known as a TacWave, not a MindWave, due to her implant’s properties as more of a tactical device—at a time when a shady, enigmatic female character known as an Aeon begins to conduct a series of cyber-attacks that lay in the heart of the story.
Nick’s implant is more of an “upgrade”, whereas Sarah’s is for military purposes, first and foremost. Yet in both cases our protagonists must learn how to make the best use of their newfound skills throughout their interaction with secondary characters, mentors of sorts who teach our young leads the ropes in this wonderful adventure of high stakes.
Grove’s characters are likable, engaging and credible. It’s not easy delving into the mind of teenagers, yet Grove manages to capture the essence of a “spoiled brat” in Nick Lal in the beginning, and the ever-unpredictable and capricious nature of a young girl in female protagonist, Sarah.
Secondary characters, such as Sarah’s friend and initial love interest Michael, her mentor Willy, the enigmatic Laura (responsible for introducing Nick to the proper use of his MindWave), and the ever-mysterious Aeon are also quite interesting and engaging.
The story itself is terrific. Grove manages to introduce us into his futuristic dystopia in a way that feels natural, organic and entertaining, all at the same time. There’s no tech jargon here to make False Idols a cumbersome, complicated read.
“Show don’t tell” definitely comes to mind in Alexis Grove’s case, the most important trait in any master story-teller’s makeup, and one that is hard to find in a young author; the book is a crisp, tight read that is hard to put down.
My biggest issue with False Idols is having to wait for the next volume in Grove’s Aeon series. Especially when you realize that Alexis Grove will only keep growing and developing as a writer. That’s a scary thought…in a good way, of course.
December 10, 2015
False Idols False Idols is a futuristic, near apocalyptic novel set in an alternate reality Earth. Sarah Fenton was taken from an orphanage and drafted into a super secret military organization, one whose purpose is totally unknown to any of the new recruits.
Nick Lal has just received his Mind Wave implant, granting him near-super powers, an enhancement only given to a select few who are wealthy enough to afford it. He falls in with the small group of others who have gotten Mind Waves, a group headed by Laura Mayer.
Nick begins to train with Laura to learn how to use his Mind Wave at the same time Sarah is learning to use hers. While Nick's was a gift from his parents, Laura's was implanted by her trainers.
As Laura teaches Nick about the Aeons and the gifts the implants grant, he starts to wonder just what Laura's intentions really are. Is she trying to help the Nats, what the Aeons have taken to calling natural humans, or is she trying to implement the downfall of society?
Sarah learns, or is told by her handlers, that Laura truly is trying to destabilize the government. And it is up to her and her team to stop Laura before the US collapses from the desperation of the citizens.
False Idols is the first book in a new series by Alexis Grove, and is a pretty enjoyable read. The pacing is ok, there's a hint of a love interest between Sarah and Nick, and there's just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to continue reading. There were certainly some bits that were a slog to get through, but I think it was worth it. The characters weren't super well developed, especially Laura, but I think the mystery surrounding Laura and her true interests is a critical plot point that will eventually be revealed.
I'd recommend the book for High School and above. It could be rather difficult for younger readers to get involved with, as there are several plots running at the same time. It wasn't difficult enough to need a map to keep track of the players by a long shot though. The subterfuge could also be uninteresting for younger readers as well.
Certainly worth reading, and I'm looking forward to see where the series goes. A fairly firm 3 1/2 stars. I was also provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nick Lal has just received his Mind Wave implant, granting him near-super powers, an enhancement only given to a select few who are wealthy enough to afford it. He falls in with the small group of others who have gotten Mind Waves, a group headed by Laura Mayer.
Nick begins to train with Laura to learn how to use his Mind Wave at the same time Sarah is learning to use hers. While Nick's was a gift from his parents, Laura's was implanted by her trainers.
As Laura teaches Nick about the Aeons and the gifts the implants grant, he starts to wonder just what Laura's intentions really are. Is she trying to help the Nats, what the Aeons have taken to calling natural humans, or is she trying to implement the downfall of society?
Sarah learns, or is told by her handlers, that Laura truly is trying to destabilize the government. And it is up to her and her team to stop Laura before the US collapses from the desperation of the citizens.
False Idols is the first book in a new series by Alexis Grove, and is a pretty enjoyable read. The pacing is ok, there's a hint of a love interest between Sarah and Nick, and there's just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to continue reading. There were certainly some bits that were a slog to get through, but I think it was worth it. The characters weren't super well developed, especially Laura, but I think the mystery surrounding Laura and her true interests is a critical plot point that will eventually be revealed.
I'd recommend the book for High School and above. It could be rather difficult for younger readers to get involved with, as there are several plots running at the same time. It wasn't difficult enough to need a map to keep track of the players by a long shot though. The subterfuge could also be uninteresting for younger readers as well.
Certainly worth reading, and I'm looking forward to see where the series goes. A fairly firm 3 1/2 stars. I was also provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2015
False Idols is just the kind of science fiction that I enjoy: an ensemble cast of likeable heroes, near-future technology (fused into great action sequences), and enough personal and political intrigue to sink a battleship. It's also a nice counterpoint to the post-apocalyptic fare I've been reading lately, as this story seems to fall somewhere in the pre-apocalypse (or potential apocalypse?) genre.
In a world frighteningly similar to ours, a handful of young adults (the wealthiest of the 1%) get 'MindWaves,' or brain implants that give them nearly unlimited access to information and incredible processing speed. We learn about the process with Nick, a teenager whose parents pressure him into the MindWave surgery, as he learns to grapple with the incredible tool that's been implanted in his mind and the social ramifications of becoming one of the hated 'Aeons.' I particularly liked the way he learns to process complicated data visually - it made the complexities of hacking, IP packets, firewalls, etc. into gripping action. And considering how far the fields of data-mining and analytics have come in the last ten years, this kind of data power is not that far-fetched!
I also enjoyed the multiple perspectives of the book. It felt almost like a screenplay (in a good way), letting the reader see how several disparate threads were coming together for the climax. I hate when it seems like the author is keeping information from the reader just for the heck of it (or to make the 'big reveal' better), but this book doesn't feel that way at all. On the contrary, you DO know what's going on and that makes it impossible to look away as the characters careen toward major collisions.
My only gripe is that the ending felt a bit too abrupt, but then, I tend to feel that way about a lot of books. (I guess I'm a big falling action kind of girl.)
Overall, highly recommended.
In a world frighteningly similar to ours, a handful of young adults (the wealthiest of the 1%) get 'MindWaves,' or brain implants that give them nearly unlimited access to information and incredible processing speed. We learn about the process with Nick, a teenager whose parents pressure him into the MindWave surgery, as he learns to grapple with the incredible tool that's been implanted in his mind and the social ramifications of becoming one of the hated 'Aeons.' I particularly liked the way he learns to process complicated data visually - it made the complexities of hacking, IP packets, firewalls, etc. into gripping action. And considering how far the fields of data-mining and analytics have come in the last ten years, this kind of data power is not that far-fetched!
I also enjoyed the multiple perspectives of the book. It felt almost like a screenplay (in a good way), letting the reader see how several disparate threads were coming together for the climax. I hate when it seems like the author is keeping information from the reader just for the heck of it (or to make the 'big reveal' better), but this book doesn't feel that way at all. On the contrary, you DO know what's going on and that makes it impossible to look away as the characters careen toward major collisions.
My only gripe is that the ending felt a bit too abrupt, but then, I tend to feel that way about a lot of books. (I guess I'm a big falling action kind of girl.)
Overall, highly recommended.
February 27, 2016
*The publisher provided this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.*
It's the year of 2047 and neural implants are giving humans superhuman habilities, at least the ones who qualify and can pay for the implant. They call themselves Aeons and no one knows what their true intentions are: are they trying to save us or to condemn us?
Sarah Fenton is recruited out of her orphanage into a very mysterious government program and surveiling the Aeons becomes her life's work, in order to defend the human reace from the dangers they can cause in their meta-universe.
Apparently Nick Lal, son of the wealthiest people alive and a recent Aeon, seems to be they key to unlock allof the mysteries and dangers this new "race" is causing. She must surveil him, even if she's falling in love with him she must keep appearances and do not let him know who she is, or all humanity could be doomed.
Famines and religious strife are pushing the world and their country to it's bounderies, almost getting to a three-way civil war so Sarah has to strike. Will she be capable to contain the imminent threat or her feelings will cloud her vision and keep her from saving the world.
I have to start by stating that I didn't like this book very much, even though the investigation was very well done and the scientific vocabulary well used ( to my knowledge) it didn't really captivate me.
Right on the begginning I was really confused with the story and didn't understand what was going on at all, and that frustrated me deeply.
I'm not saying that the characthers and the actual plot are bad, I'm just sayng that they lack in execution of the idea and the language could be more engaging in certain parts.
All of that said, I think you could give it a try if you're really into sci-fi.
It's the year of 2047 and neural implants are giving humans superhuman habilities, at least the ones who qualify and can pay for the implant. They call themselves Aeons and no one knows what their true intentions are: are they trying to save us or to condemn us?
Sarah Fenton is recruited out of her orphanage into a very mysterious government program and surveiling the Aeons becomes her life's work, in order to defend the human reace from the dangers they can cause in their meta-universe.
Apparently Nick Lal, son of the wealthiest people alive and a recent Aeon, seems to be they key to unlock allof the mysteries and dangers this new "race" is causing. She must surveil him, even if she's falling in love with him she must keep appearances and do not let him know who she is, or all humanity could be doomed.
Famines and religious strife are pushing the world and their country to it's bounderies, almost getting to a three-way civil war so Sarah has to strike. Will she be capable to contain the imminent threat or her feelings will cloud her vision and keep her from saving the world.
I have to start by stating that I didn't like this book very much, even though the investigation was very well done and the scientific vocabulary well used ( to my knowledge) it didn't really captivate me.
Right on the begginning I was really confused with the story and didn't understand what was going on at all, and that frustrated me deeply.
I'm not saying that the characthers and the actual plot are bad, I'm just sayng that they lack in execution of the idea and the language could be more engaging in certain parts.
All of that said, I think you could give it a try if you're really into sci-fi.
May 31, 2016
I received this copy from the publisher (ThirdPlanet) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Nick is a perfect, rich kid living in a dying world. Food and energy resources are sparse and riots are in abundance. But, for the rich, new opportunities appear everyday, including the MindWave. The MindWave is basically a computer surgically implanted in your mind. Nick gets the MindWave and is ostracized from society. He spends his time in the Ether, a virtual reality, where he meets Laura and the Aeons. At first, they seem like the perfect distraction from the harsh reality, but soon, he notices that the Aeons aren't all that they seem.
Sarah is an orphan chosen by a secret government group to shut down the Aeons. Her assignment is to get close to Nick and learn about his energy buisness, but she soon becomes too invested in her assignment.
This book was really good, but I only really liked half of it. It was multiple POV, which I usually love, but this time it didn't really work for me. Tracy Cruz's life was super boring and not really needed to understand the story. Nick was too ....I don't know....stupid, pathetic? He always just kinda blew up over every little thing. He was to melodramatic! Sarah was too fickle also. She was always obsessed with one boy or another and I never truly understood her reasoning. Some other confusingness (?) in this book was everything that happened in the Ether. Every fight scene made no sense to me with everything changing so quickly. Overall, it was a good story that kept me interested, but there were definitely parts that I really could've gone without. Also, there were multiple grammar/ spelling errors.
More at: http://mybookscrapbook.weebly.com/boo...
Nick is a perfect, rich kid living in a dying world. Food and energy resources are sparse and riots are in abundance. But, for the rich, new opportunities appear everyday, including the MindWave. The MindWave is basically a computer surgically implanted in your mind. Nick gets the MindWave and is ostracized from society. He spends his time in the Ether, a virtual reality, where he meets Laura and the Aeons. At first, they seem like the perfect distraction from the harsh reality, but soon, he notices that the Aeons aren't all that they seem.
Sarah is an orphan chosen by a secret government group to shut down the Aeons. Her assignment is to get close to Nick and learn about his energy buisness, but she soon becomes too invested in her assignment.
This book was really good, but I only really liked half of it. It was multiple POV, which I usually love, but this time it didn't really work for me. Tracy Cruz's life was super boring and not really needed to understand the story. Nick was too ....I don't know....stupid, pathetic? He always just kinda blew up over every little thing. He was to melodramatic! Sarah was too fickle also. She was always obsessed with one boy or another and I never truly understood her reasoning. Some other confusingness (?) in this book was everything that happened in the Ether. Every fight scene made no sense to me with everything changing so quickly. Overall, it was a good story that kept me interested, but there were definitely parts that I really could've gone without. Also, there were multiple grammar/ spelling errors.
More at: http://mybookscrapbook.weebly.com/boo...
March 2, 2016
False Idols is a gripping new young adult book detailing the beginning of the end.
Sort of.
This book's main drawing point is it's science-y gadgets and the spy angle. Which would work, if this book wasn't three years too late.
False Idols follows the story of Sarah and Nick as one receives the technology to make him a god and the other receives the knock-off version, to spy on the other and gain their secrets.
This novel was fast paced and edge-of-your-seat at times, and exhaustingly dreary at others. The pacing could have used work, and the old trope of falling for the enemy almost made me yawn. Okay, it totally did.
In different hands, this book could have been so much better. Oh wait, it totally did.
This book was basically a mash up of my two favorite books in this genre, Insignia by S.J. Kincaid and Bzrk by Michael Grant. These two books were so close and yet so much better than what I just read.
I may be a bit to harsh, so let me balance out what I did like about the book.
Character development. I enjoyed watching how both Sarah and Nick mature and grow as the novel progresses. How they respond to outside stimuli changes drastically from the beginning to the end.
And the writing. I do believe that Alexis Grove simply gave herself the wrong hand to play cards with. Her writing is good, but she picked an older concept that had been executed flawlessly before, and in comparison to that, hers simply didn't measure up. I'd like to see what she does in the future with a fresh concept!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sort of.
This book's main drawing point is it's science-y gadgets and the spy angle. Which would work, if this book wasn't three years too late.
False Idols follows the story of Sarah and Nick as one receives the technology to make him a god and the other receives the knock-off version, to spy on the other and gain their secrets.
This novel was fast paced and edge-of-your-seat at times, and exhaustingly dreary at others. The pacing could have used work, and the old trope of falling for the enemy almost made me yawn. Okay, it totally did.
In different hands, this book could have been so much better. Oh wait, it totally did.
This book was basically a mash up of my two favorite books in this genre, Insignia by S.J. Kincaid and Bzrk by Michael Grant. These two books were so close and yet so much better than what I just read.
I may be a bit to harsh, so let me balance out what I did like about the book.
Character development. I enjoyed watching how both Sarah and Nick mature and grow as the novel progresses. How they respond to outside stimuli changes drastically from the beginning to the end.
And the writing. I do believe that Alexis Grove simply gave herself the wrong hand to play cards with. Her writing is good, but she picked an older concept that had been executed flawlessly before, and in comparison to that, hers simply didn't measure up. I'd like to see what she does in the future with a fresh concept!
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2016
*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Ugh this was such a chore to get through and honestly I mostly skim read the last quarter or so. The whole thing read like a script for a movie than anything else. We the reader are overwhelmed with information initially and even just the prologue felt like a marathon. This is such a visual action and futuristic dystopian based book that honestly a movie (though with the story line it would have been poor anyway) would have been more appropriate than a print version. The characters are all awful, I didn't care about any of them. The story line was long and felt like it was never ending. Also one of the characters was a south african polar bear and the amount of italicized slang per sentence was just out of this world it just didn't need to be included honestly, as it distracted from the meager story line. Or maybe that was the point.
Either way, I could see what the author was trying to do here but it just wasn't effective and overall this just completely wasn't for me.
Ugh this was such a chore to get through and honestly I mostly skim read the last quarter or so. The whole thing read like a script for a movie than anything else. We the reader are overwhelmed with information initially and even just the prologue felt like a marathon. This is such a visual action and futuristic dystopian based book that honestly a movie (though with the story line it would have been poor anyway) would have been more appropriate than a print version. The characters are all awful, I didn't care about any of them. The story line was long and felt like it was never ending. Also one of the characters was a south african polar bear and the amount of italicized slang per sentence was just out of this world it just didn't need to be included honestly, as it distracted from the meager story line. Or maybe that was the point.
Either way, I could see what the author was trying to do here but it just wasn't effective and overall this just completely wasn't for me.
April 11, 2016
An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
This book is a YA Dystopian plotted story. Although there are gripping scenes, this book didn't refrain to give me a headache from the beginning until the end. It was so techy I actually don't know what was happening. Or what are the things being described in this book. What I can only grasp is that maybe it was like Matrix? Remember the movie? I dunno. That is the only way I can continue reading this without loosing my mind. It was actually fast paced, and maybe that is one of the Pros of this book, there are a lot of things going on I just can't keep up. Not to mention the constant shift of the POV from the characters. I was actually barely hanging I just wanted the book to be over with. Its just not my cup of tea.
More review: http://thepretentiousreader.blogspot....
This book is a YA Dystopian plotted story. Although there are gripping scenes, this book didn't refrain to give me a headache from the beginning until the end. It was so techy I actually don't know what was happening. Or what are the things being described in this book. What I can only grasp is that maybe it was like Matrix? Remember the movie? I dunno. That is the only way I can continue reading this without loosing my mind. It was actually fast paced, and maybe that is one of the Pros of this book, there are a lot of things going on I just can't keep up. Not to mention the constant shift of the POV from the characters. I was actually barely hanging I just wanted the book to be over with. Its just not my cup of tea.
More review: http://thepretentiousreader.blogspot....
June 13, 2016
What initially caught my attention about this book was the Afrikaans. I am South African and I have to admit that the Afrikaans is very well written.
This futuristic novel shows us that even the most unlikely people have something special about them that can make the world a better place. The author speaks about many of the problems that we face today which makes this book relatable and in a way raises awareness as to what the future may hold.
What is interesting is that we get every character's side of the story in detail giving the reader a completely unbiased view, allowing them to choose the heroes and villains for ourselves.
The story grabs your attention and takes you on an adventure from the beginning right through to the end.
In all honesty, I think Alexis Grove is a genius and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book. I rate it five stars.
*eARC received for a honest review*
This futuristic novel shows us that even the most unlikely people have something special about them that can make the world a better place. The author speaks about many of the problems that we face today which makes this book relatable and in a way raises awareness as to what the future may hold.
What is interesting is that we get every character's side of the story in detail giving the reader a completely unbiased view, allowing them to choose the heroes and villains for ourselves.
The story grabs your attention and takes you on an adventure from the beginning right through to the end.
In all honesty, I think Alexis Grove is a genius and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book. I rate it five stars.
*eARC received for a honest review*
October 4, 2016
What I 'Should Have' Learned from Sci Fi (Audiobook)
False Idols is a good book set in the not too distant future It deals with several uncomfortable themes: a possible downside of our quickly developing technology, the human desire for the ultimate improvements to the human race in mind & body, the ease in which a small group of people can have a great influence over the world, and potentially cause a police state to be put into effect due to the actions of that small group of people.
Sadly while the narrator, Adam Zens, does grow on you, his narration is too fast and the serious lack of punctuation made the story hard to follow at times, though some of this could be a result of the editors. I started & stopped this book a few times before biting the bullet letting it play all the way through. In addition to slowing the pace and more use of punctuation, I would like to see him be a little more consistent with the distinct voices of the lead characters.
False Idols is a good book set in the not too distant future It deals with several uncomfortable themes: a possible downside of our quickly developing technology, the human desire for the ultimate improvements to the human race in mind & body, the ease in which a small group of people can have a great influence over the world, and potentially cause a police state to be put into effect due to the actions of that small group of people.
Sadly while the narrator, Adam Zens, does grow on you, his narration is too fast and the serious lack of punctuation made the story hard to follow at times, though some of this could be a result of the editors. I started & stopped this book a few times before biting the bullet letting it play all the way through. In addition to slowing the pace and more use of punctuation, I would like to see him be a little more consistent with the distinct voices of the lead characters.
April 22, 2016
Full review at: http://noemptyshelveshere.blogspot.co...
When I started reading this book I wasn’t sure about it at all. I found it a slow starter and I didn’t really understand the concept of it. But I am glad I kept on going as this is actually a very intelligent book and I think any age group from young adult up would enjoy its very current content.
This futuristic novel concentrates on high level technology that enhances an already high human intelligence. The idea of genetically modified humans isn’t new, but it is certainly taken to the next level here with the powerful brain implants called MindWave (only for the riches) that allow the person to access all area of their brain and basically live in the world of data and internet – or Ether as they called it here.
When I started reading this book I wasn’t sure about it at all. I found it a slow starter and I didn’t really understand the concept of it. But I am glad I kept on going as this is actually a very intelligent book and I think any age group from young adult up would enjoy its very current content.
This futuristic novel concentrates on high level technology that enhances an already high human intelligence. The idea of genetically modified humans isn’t new, but it is certainly taken to the next level here with the powerful brain implants called MindWave (only for the riches) that allow the person to access all area of their brain and basically live in the world of data and internet – or Ether as they called it here.
December 2, 2015
False Idols is the first book in the Aeon Trilogy. It was a fantastic read and I was very impressed with this dystopian universe by Alexis Grove. The characters were extremely interesting, strong and well developed. I found myself rooting for the protagonist Sarah all the time. In False Idols you can find romance, religion and even politics. The author has set in stone characters we will meet again in the future books of this trilogy. I cannot wait for book 2.
ARC kindly gifted by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly gifted by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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