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Scion #1
Vástago
Mi curro, si lo piensas bien, no es tan distinto del de otras personas.
A los más chapados a la antigua suele chocarles la parte de “matar a gente”, supongo, pero que les den: es legal cargarte a los perpetuos desde hace un huevo. Además, desde que los putos multimillonarios se dieron cuenta de que había una forma de vivir para siempre (a tomar por culo lo de los recursos limitados), había que dejarles claro que tampoco podían hacer lo que les saliera de los cojones.
Y, claro, además hay que planear las cosas, que a veces se hace pesado. El horario es una mierda. Y las interacciones cara a cara suelen ser bastante incómodas. Pero me toca aguantar todo eso porque estoy de deudas hasta el cuello. Y alguien tiene que comerse este marronazo.
Por suerte, mis compatibilidades genéticas me hacen muy pero que muy bueno en lo mío.
Aun así…, mi próximo encargo…, no sé. No he tenido que lidiar con algo parecido desde hace años. Es justo lo contrario de lo que suele tocarme. De hecho, me extraña que me lo hayan endilgado a mí.
Pero, en fin, seguro que todo va a ir de perlas.
A los más chapados a la antigua suele chocarles la parte de “matar a gente”, supongo, pero que les den: es legal cargarte a los perpetuos desde hace un huevo. Además, desde que los putos multimillonarios se dieron cuenta de que había una forma de vivir para siempre (a tomar por culo lo de los recursos limitados), había que dejarles claro que tampoco podían hacer lo que les saliera de los cojones.
Y, claro, además hay que planear las cosas, que a veces se hace pesado. El horario es una mierda. Y las interacciones cara a cara suelen ser bastante incómodas. Pero me toca aguantar todo eso porque estoy de deudas hasta el cuello. Y alguien tiene que comerse este marronazo.
Por suerte, mis compatibilidades genéticas me hacen muy pero que muy bueno en lo mío.
Aun así…, mi próximo encargo…, no sé. No he tenido que lidiar con algo parecido desde hace años. Es justo lo contrario de lo que suele tocarme. De hecho, me extraña que me lo hayan endilgado a mí.
Pero, en fin, seguro que todo va a ir de perlas.
Hardcover
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
James Islington
13 books21.4k followersJames Islington was born and raised in southern Victoria, Australia. His influences growing up were the stories of Raymond E. Feist and Robert Jordan, but it wasn't until later, when he read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series - followed soon after by Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind - that he was finally inspired to sit down and write something of his own. He now lives with his wife and two children on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,736 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.
Scion is a fast-paced and action-packed cyberpunk novel about freedom, justice, and identity.
It doesn’t matter what the genre is; if James Islington is writing it, I’m reading it. That’s the simple formula. I was excited by the prospect of Scion since I learned about it last year. If you have read The Licanius Trilogy or The Hierarchy series, then you should know science fiction elements undeniably exist in all of Islington’s books. Because of that and how much I love all five books from him I have read to date, I have always been curious to see Islington’s take on a huge-scope science fiction or space opera novel/series. Now, Scion isn’t that epic science fiction I wanted. But this is not a bad thing. It is more rooted in cyberpunk and thriller. And for the page-turning, fast-paced reading experience it seeks to achieve, I’ll conclude the narrative—eventually—did its job wonderfully.
Initially, when I was reading the first quarter of Scion, I felt a bit apprehensive about the quality of the storytelling. To give a bit of context… Last year, All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu, one of my favorite authors of all time, was published. Although the book isn’t a negative experience, I maintain my point that I wouldn’t be able to tell the book is written by Ken Liu if I didn’t know his name is attached to it. The writing style felt so different compared to The Dandelion Dynasty or his collection of short stories. Scion, for a while, felt that way. For such a short novel, it took its time to find its strong footing. But once we hit the 35% mark, I managed to read the rest of the novel in one sitting.
I assume most readers will approach and read this after loving the hell out of The Hierarchy series. This is good. However, it is absolutely crucial to remind yourself that this is vastly different in tone and execution from The Hierarchy series. The only similarity the book has is that it is written in a first-person present-tense narration as well. That’s it. Plus, as I said, Scion is a short novel. At roughly 200 pages and 60,000 words long, Scion is not designed to have a huge sprawling and intricate world-building. The main story is centered on Azure and his mission. It is much more straightforward and meant to be a quick read. Islington wrote Scion during his downtime from writing the insane complexity and ambitious narrative in The Hierarchy series. It will benefit readers to open the pages of Scion with the correct expectations. Although not exactly similar, judging from the voice, tone, and themes available in Scion, the later books in The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells—in my opinion—are the closest comparison.
To wrap-up this review, rather than recommending Scion to fans of The Licanius trilogy or The Hierarchy series, I believe it is more proper to recommend this short novel to fans of cyberpunk, thriller, or The Murderbot Diaries. Scion is the first installment in a series. It has heart. The action scenes were fun. I had a great time reading it, and I look forward to reading the sequel when it is ready. Similar to how Islington wrote the book during his downtime, Scion works incredibly well as a palate cleanser and lighter read amidst my usual heavy fantasy doorstopper reading. Here’s hoping Azure’s story will pleasantly surprise you.
You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Andrew. S, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Ben, Benjamin, Cade, Chris, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, James, Jason, Jeff, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Leigh, Lourdes, Melinda, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, RCT, Sally, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.
Scion is a fast-paced and action-packed cyberpunk novel about freedom, justice, and identity.
It doesn’t matter what the genre is; if James Islington is writing it, I’m reading it. That’s the simple formula. I was excited by the prospect of Scion since I learned about it last year. If you have read The Licanius Trilogy or The Hierarchy series, then you should know science fiction elements undeniably exist in all of Islington’s books. Because of that and how much I love all five books from him I have read to date, I have always been curious to see Islington’s take on a huge-scope science fiction or space opera novel/series. Now, Scion isn’t that epic science fiction I wanted. But this is not a bad thing. It is more rooted in cyberpunk and thriller. And for the page-turning, fast-paced reading experience it seeks to achieve, I’ll conclude the narrative—eventually—did its job wonderfully.
Initially, when I was reading the first quarter of Scion, I felt a bit apprehensive about the quality of the storytelling. To give a bit of context… Last year, All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu, one of my favorite authors of all time, was published. Although the book isn’t a negative experience, I maintain my point that I wouldn’t be able to tell the book is written by Ken Liu if I didn’t know his name is attached to it. The writing style felt so different compared to The Dandelion Dynasty or his collection of short stories. Scion, for a while, felt that way. For such a short novel, it took its time to find its strong footing. But once we hit the 35% mark, I managed to read the rest of the novel in one sitting.
“I feel everything and it aches in my chest, and it is wonderful. Ten minutes, is all it lasts for. Ten minutes of humanity. Ten minutes of genuinely feeling like I know I’m supposed to feel, like what everyone else says they feel. Ten minutes of shame and anger and sorrow and confusion and real connection with the rest of the world. And then it wears off. Fades, an almost physical sensation. The lack of caring returns. I am, once again, completely fine. And I wipe a few tears from my eyes, and take a breath, and tap the q-com back on.”
I assume most readers will approach and read this after loving the hell out of The Hierarchy series. This is good. However, it is absolutely crucial to remind yourself that this is vastly different in tone and execution from The Hierarchy series. The only similarity the book has is that it is written in a first-person present-tense narration as well. That’s it. Plus, as I said, Scion is a short novel. At roughly 200 pages and 60,000 words long, Scion is not designed to have a huge sprawling and intricate world-building. The main story is centered on Azure and his mission. It is much more straightforward and meant to be a quick read. Islington wrote Scion during his downtime from writing the insane complexity and ambitious narrative in The Hierarchy series. It will benefit readers to open the pages of Scion with the correct expectations. Although not exactly similar, judging from the voice, tone, and themes available in Scion, the later books in The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells—in my opinion—are the closest comparison.
“Kind of seems like the question here is whether you want to try and live in peace, or be at peace. One of them’s probably going to be a hell of a lot harder than the other, though.”
To wrap-up this review, rather than recommending Scion to fans of The Licanius trilogy or The Hierarchy series, I believe it is more proper to recommend this short novel to fans of cyberpunk, thriller, or The Murderbot Diaries. Scion is the first installment in a series. It has heart. The action scenes were fun. I had a great time reading it, and I look forward to reading the sequel when it is ready. Similar to how Islington wrote the book during his downtime, Scion works incredibly well as a palate cleanser and lighter read amidst my usual heavy fantasy doorstopper reading. Here’s hoping Azure’s story will pleasantly surprise you.
You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Andrew. S, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Ben, Benjamin, Cade, Chris, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, James, Jason, Jeff, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Leigh, Lourdes, Melinda, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, RCT, Sally, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.
September 6, 2026
3.25
This was sadly just ok for me... but maybe it's because I just had SUPER high expectations since I LOVE James Islington so much!
First things first, this plot was definitely super fun & SO fast-paced. There was not a dull moment, we're always moving and doing all the things, so no complaints there.
However, it felt like we just didn't dive deeper into... anything? We're dealing with such advanced technology in the story to the point where humans can get "upgraded" and "updated" so much, we start questioning what is the difference between an enhanced human vs just a machine? We get confusion about self-identity and all that good stuff expected in a sci-fi. But it did feel like this book just asked all the questions, and didn't do anything to try and answer them.
Same thing goes for the world building. We had a world with all of this tech, politics, power struggle etc. that was such an interesting starting point. But we never got into why things were the way they were. What are the actual motives of this government, these corporations, and even these individual characters? How did we get to this point in society? How were these systems created? By the end, I was thinking... what is the point of all of this? What does anyone actually want to accomplish? We had maybe some of those questions answered, but not many.
So yeah... fun. Good plot, wonderful humour in our character interactions and banter. There is an unlikely friendship in this book that I enjoyed reading about. But I just wanted more substance behind it all, especially because the Hierarchy series is SO FULL of substance!
Also, a little pet peeve of mine is when books are listed as standalones but end up feeling very open ended and very open to becoming a continuous series.... so there's that :(
This was sadly just ok for me... but maybe it's because I just had SUPER high expectations since I LOVE James Islington so much!
First things first, this plot was definitely super fun & SO fast-paced. There was not a dull moment, we're always moving and doing all the things, so no complaints there.
However, it felt like we just didn't dive deeper into... anything? We're dealing with such advanced technology in the story to the point where humans can get "upgraded" and "updated" so much, we start questioning what is the difference between an enhanced human vs just a machine? We get confusion about self-identity and all that good stuff expected in a sci-fi. But it did feel like this book just asked all the questions, and didn't do anything to try and answer them.
Same thing goes for the world building. We had a world with all of this tech, politics, power struggle etc. that was such an interesting starting point. But we never got into why things were the way they were. What are the actual motives of this government, these corporations, and even these individual characters? How did we get to this point in society? How were these systems created? By the end, I was thinking... what is the point of all of this? What does anyone actually want to accomplish? We had maybe some of those questions answered, but not many.
So yeah... fun. Good plot, wonderful humour in our character interactions and banter. There is an unlikely friendship in this book that I enjoyed reading about. But I just wanted more substance behind it all, especially because the Hierarchy series is SO FULL of substance!
Also, a little pet peeve of mine is when books are listed as standalones but end up feeling very open ended and very open to becoming a continuous series.... so there's that :(
Read
March 5, 2026Will this be a third series I love by the author 👀
February 25, 2026
2.5 stars
This was just... very mid. It was short and quick, the plot was nothing super special or unique.. it was sort of run of the mill sci-fi almost? The worldbuilding was lacking and the ending came out of nowhere??
I did like the characters though; the mmc Azure was snarky and I liked his interactions with everyone else.
I didn't hate this and I didn't love it either. I just expect more from James😭
pre-read:
Seen lot's of mixed reviews💔 Don't disappoint me James
This was just... very mid. It was short and quick, the plot was nothing super special or unique.. it was sort of run of the mill sci-fi almost? The worldbuilding was lacking and the ending came out of nowhere??
I did like the characters though; the mmc Azure was snarky and I liked his interactions with everyone else.
I didn't hate this and I didn't love it either. I just expect more from James😭
pre-read:
Seen lot's of mixed reviews💔 Don't disappoint me James
September 6, 2026
“My name’s Azure, and I kill rich idiots for a living.”
Scion has one of those premises that made me go, excuse me, WHAT? The ultra-rich have figured out how to live forever, resources are limited, and somebody occasionally has to… make room. Enter Azure: genetically enhanced, very good at his job, and professionally employed to kill wealthy people. Legally.
I loved how completely different this felt from the fantasy I associate with James Islington. This is futuristic, twisty, darkly funny sci-fi with some genuinely fascinating ideas underneath all the action, immortality, obscene wealth, inequality, who gets access to technology and, ultimately, what happens when humans become rich enough to decide that death is for other people.
Which is exactly the sort of morally questionable rabbit hole I enjoy disappearing down.
Azure was easily my favourite. He has that dry, slightly fed up with everything voice that immediately worked for me. Give me a protagonist doing deeply questionable things while making sarcastic observations about it and apparently I am yours!
And then, of course, he gets a job that isn’t quite like the others. Instead of killing someone, he has to keep them alive. What could possibly go wrong?
There’s a lot happening here, technology, genetic enhancements, conspiracies, action and enough twists to keep me suspicious of basically everybody. But underneath the shiny sci-fi stuff is what interested me most: if we actually found a way to cheat death, would humanity become better… or would the richest people simply buy eternity? I think we all know the answer.
There were moments where the worldbuilding made my little brain work harder than it wanted to, and I occasionally had to mentally yell WAIT, WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?!, but once I settled into the world I had a bloody good time.
Dark, clever, morally messy and just weird enough for me.
Also, I would like it formally noted that if billionaires ever do discover immortality, I have read Scion and therefore consider myself adequately prepared.
My Highest Recommendation!
Thank you Text Publishing and James Islington for my early readers copy.
Available Now!
4.5
Scion has one of those premises that made me go, excuse me, WHAT? The ultra-rich have figured out how to live forever, resources are limited, and somebody occasionally has to… make room. Enter Azure: genetically enhanced, very good at his job, and professionally employed to kill wealthy people. Legally.
I loved how completely different this felt from the fantasy I associate with James Islington. This is futuristic, twisty, darkly funny sci-fi with some genuinely fascinating ideas underneath all the action, immortality, obscene wealth, inequality, who gets access to technology and, ultimately, what happens when humans become rich enough to decide that death is for other people.
Which is exactly the sort of morally questionable rabbit hole I enjoy disappearing down.
Azure was easily my favourite. He has that dry, slightly fed up with everything voice that immediately worked for me. Give me a protagonist doing deeply questionable things while making sarcastic observations about it and apparently I am yours!
And then, of course, he gets a job that isn’t quite like the others. Instead of killing someone, he has to keep them alive. What could possibly go wrong?
There’s a lot happening here, technology, genetic enhancements, conspiracies, action and enough twists to keep me suspicious of basically everybody. But underneath the shiny sci-fi stuff is what interested me most: if we actually found a way to cheat death, would humanity become better… or would the richest people simply buy eternity? I think we all know the answer.
There were moments where the worldbuilding made my little brain work harder than it wanted to, and I occasionally had to mentally yell WAIT, WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?!, but once I settled into the world I had a bloody good time.
Dark, clever, morally messy and just weird enough for me.
Also, I would like it formally noted that if billionaires ever do discover immortality, I have read Scion and therefore consider myself adequately prepared.
My Highest Recommendation!
Thank you Text Publishing and James Islington for my early readers copy.
Available Now!
4.5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Interesting and high-concept premise, but sorely lacking in world-building, depth of the main character, and the existence of other recurring characters.
First of all, the summary is misleading. I went into Scion expecting a futuristic world where a genetically enhanced assassin MC hunts down ultra-wealthy "lifers" trying to live forever. Yes, the MC's an assassin, but the majority of this book is them guarding one person. While we get a brief glimpse at the beginning of their assassin side; the rest focuses on Azure (the MC) as a bodyguard. Protection duties aren't boring per se as his skills are required, but it's definitely not the book I thought I was getting!
There are three characters of note in this entire book:
Azure: The MC. A genetically modified assassin hired to protect a mystery client. Even with the first-person POV, I do not feel as though we get to know this character. They read as really flat—snarky, but with no real depth.
Jasa: The client. The most apt description for this character is "a woman who likes to play God." Unlike Azure, we actually get to know about this mysterious old woman whose every single descriptor circles around her being wrinkly, secretive, and a hard fall from death's door.
Atti: A hyperintelligent AI software assistant to Azure. Brief appearance in the beginning of the book. Reappears for the last quarter.
There were 2-3 other named characters, but they'd appear in a scene, serve their purpose, and fade away from existence. This world feel massive. This isn't a closed-door mystery. There should be more characters that impact the plot rather than simply being plot devices.
To clarify, this is a short book. It's a 240-page story, and its short page count definitely hindered overall enjoyment, as this world wasn't able to be fleshed out properly. Scion is meant to be a futuristic cyberpunk dystopian world setting, yet there was no clear picture of what was going on and why the world had fallen to such straits. For instance, if you're poor, "at least in the cities, you don't have to worry about air getting turned off if you don't do as you're told." This quote is an example of a random yet explosive line that wasn't given any further context. It reads as though we're only scratching the surface of what this world entails.
I will say that the ending got exciting and has obviously left things open for future books! Several revelations were made that upped the ante and changed the trajectory of the book; however, Scion as a whole is still sorely lacking in its world-building and developing Azure, the MC.
Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Interesting and high-concept premise, but sorely lacking in world-building, depth of the main character, and the existence of other recurring characters.
First of all, the summary is misleading. I went into Scion expecting a futuristic world where a genetically enhanced assassin MC hunts down ultra-wealthy "lifers" trying to live forever. Yes, the MC's an assassin, but the majority of this book is them guarding one person. While we get a brief glimpse at the beginning of their assassin side; the rest focuses on Azure (the MC) as a bodyguard. Protection duties aren't boring per se as his skills are required, but it's definitely not the book I thought I was getting!
There are three characters of note in this entire book:
Azure: The MC. A genetically modified assassin hired to protect a mystery client. Even with the first-person POV, I do not feel as though we get to know this character. They read as really flat—snarky, but with no real depth.
Jasa: The client. The most apt description for this character is "a woman who likes to play God." Unlike Azure, we actually get to know about this mysterious old woman whose every single descriptor circles around her being wrinkly, secretive, and a hard fall from death's door.
Atti: A hyperintelligent AI software assistant to Azure. Brief appearance in the beginning of the book. Reappears for the last quarter.
There were 2-3 other named characters, but they'd appear in a scene, serve their purpose, and fade away from existence. This world feel massive. This isn't a closed-door mystery. There should be more characters that impact the plot rather than simply being plot devices.
To clarify, this is a short book. It's a 240-page story, and its short page count definitely hindered overall enjoyment, as this world wasn't able to be fleshed out properly. Scion is meant to be a futuristic cyberpunk dystopian world setting, yet there was no clear picture of what was going on and why the world had fallen to such straits. For instance, if you're poor, "at least in the cities, you don't have to worry about air getting turned off if you don't do as you're told." This quote is an example of a random yet explosive line that wasn't given any further context. It reads as though we're only scratching the surface of what this world entails.
I will say that the ending got exciting and has obviously left things open for future books! Several revelations were made that upped the ante and changed the trajectory of the book; however, Scion as a whole is still sorely lacking in its world-building and developing Azure, the MC.
Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is probably the best Sci-Fi story I've read recently, I had a fantastic time!
It's quick, sharp, funny and action packed. The story seems straight forward at the start, but in its progression the world building and the characters gain a lot of depth.
James Islington's are usually hit or miss for me, but this one is a huge hit. I can't recommend it enough.
It's quick, sharp, funny and action packed. The story seems straight forward at the start, but in its progression the world building and the characters gain a lot of depth.
James Islington's are usually hit or miss for me, but this one is a huge hit. I can't recommend it enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”Kind of seems like the question here is whether you want to try and live in peace, or be at peace. One of them’s probably going to be a hell of a lot harder than the other, though.”
i’m a huge James Islington fan, so i’m beyond disappointed that i didn’t love his initial approach to a sci-fi story. the biggest issue is really the lack of world building, it was extremely distracting. the mc Azure didn’t stand out to me either, so there was nothing connecting me to the novella as a whole.
idk if it’s cause I’ve read my fair share of sci-fi, but i could tell what direction the story was going in almost immediately. so in return, nothing surprised me.. even when i tend to enjoy the trope that was used at the end. maybe if this one was longer I’d have a different opinion, but i still wouldn’t be against continuing the series since it definitely was an action-packed, fast read.
⟴ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Saga Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i’m a huge James Islington fan, so i’m beyond disappointed that i didn’t love his initial approach to a sci-fi story. the biggest issue is really the lack of world building, it was extremely distracting. the mc Azure didn’t stand out to me either, so there was nothing connecting me to the novella as a whole.
idk if it’s cause I’ve read my fair share of sci-fi, but i could tell what direction the story was going in almost immediately. so in return, nothing surprised me.. even when i tend to enjoy the trope that was used at the end. maybe if this one was longer I’d have a different opinion, but i still wouldn’t be against continuing the series since it definitely was an action-packed, fast read.
⟴ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Saga Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
April 1, 2026
˗ˏˋ 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧 ˎˊ˗
ᯓ scion will be published on september 01, 2026!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.75 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★★★
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ᴄʏʙᴇʀᴘᴜɴᴋ, ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ!!
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ premise:
⤿ Azure is incredibly talented at killing people. It is not like he is particularly fond of the job - but it pays his debts. In this world, Lifers are those that have enough money to practically live forever, and people are not happy. However, when a strange new mission comes in - Azure gets thrown into a new environment where his rules no longer apply and everyone is hiding something from him.
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ all my thoughts:
⤷ This book is incredibly bingable, filled with action and dark (murderous?) humor. I found myself completely engrossed in this cyberpunk world where all the rules differ from our own.
Despite being an assassin, our narrator, Azure, is surprisingly cheerful. In the beginning of the book, he comes across as a guy who was unlucky enough to be stuck in the position of murder. Azure carries with him a pretty dark sense of humor (I suppose it comes with the job), sometimes I found myself laughing, at other times I stared at my screen in shock.
Speaking of the dark humor, this book gets a little bit gory. Well I say a little bit, but proportional to the length of the book - it is a lot. I think that the consequence of a book written about an assassin is some violence, and people should already know that prior to picking the book up.
The setting is also super fun. I am always up for a cool cyberpunk-dystopia setting, this one was filled with just the right amount of chaos for me.
The length of this book is really nice. There is action on almost every single page and it is super difficult to put down. I was hooked by chapter 2 and I could not let go until the end of the book. (Luckily, it isn’t that long)
This story is told in first-person, which I do know annoys some people. I really enjoyed it - I was able to see into the mind of Azure: his revelations, thoughts, and understandings. It made for a very immersive experience while reading.
Altogether, this is an incredibly enjoyable read. I am definitely intrigued by other books from James Islington - the Will of the Many has my complete interest right now. I hope that this book turns into a series, because I would absolutely devour more of these.
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ overall thoughts:
Scion was such a fun book to read. It is perfect for those who love cyberpunk, dystopia and murder. The cover is also gorgeous and would look really good with the rest of my science fiction books…
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ rating:
⤿ 4.75 stars
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ read if you enjoyed :
⤿ Scythe (Neal Shusterman)
⤿ Red Rising (Pierce Brown)
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Saga Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰
{🧪} || ᴘʀᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ:
₊⊹⁀➴ im so happy i received the arc! i know that this doesn’t come out until august - but I’ve been itching for a good science fiction for a while!!
ᯓ scion will be published on september 01, 2026!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.75 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★★★
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ᴄʏʙᴇʀᴘᴜɴᴋ, ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ!!
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ premise:
⤿ Azure is incredibly talented at killing people. It is not like he is particularly fond of the job - but it pays his debts. In this world, Lifers are those that have enough money to practically live forever, and people are not happy. However, when a strange new mission comes in - Azure gets thrown into a new environment where his rules no longer apply and everyone is hiding something from him.
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ all my thoughts:
⤷ This book is incredibly bingable, filled with action and dark (murderous?) humor. I found myself completely engrossed in this cyberpunk world where all the rules differ from our own.
Despite being an assassin, our narrator, Azure, is surprisingly cheerful. In the beginning of the book, he comes across as a guy who was unlucky enough to be stuck in the position of murder. Azure carries with him a pretty dark sense of humor (I suppose it comes with the job), sometimes I found myself laughing, at other times I stared at my screen in shock.
Speaking of the dark humor, this book gets a little bit gory. Well I say a little bit, but proportional to the length of the book - it is a lot. I think that the consequence of a book written about an assassin is some violence, and people should already know that prior to picking the book up.
The setting is also super fun. I am always up for a cool cyberpunk-dystopia setting, this one was filled with just the right amount of chaos for me.
The length of this book is really nice. There is action on almost every single page and it is super difficult to put down. I was hooked by chapter 2 and I could not let go until the end of the book. (Luckily, it isn’t that long)
This story is told in first-person, which I do know annoys some people. I really enjoyed it - I was able to see into the mind of Azure: his revelations, thoughts, and understandings. It made for a very immersive experience while reading.
Altogether, this is an incredibly enjoyable read. I am definitely intrigued by other books from James Islington - the Will of the Many has my complete interest right now. I hope that this book turns into a series, because I would absolutely devour more of these.
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ overall thoughts:
Scion was such a fun book to read. It is perfect for those who love cyberpunk, dystopia and murder. The cover is also gorgeous and would look really good with the rest of my science fiction books…
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ rating:
⤿ 4.75 stars
ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ read if you enjoyed :
⤿ Scythe (Neal Shusterman)
⤿ Red Rising (Pierce Brown)
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Saga Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰
{🧪} || ᴘʀᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ:
₊⊹⁀➴ im so happy i received the arc! i know that this doesn’t come out until august - but I’ve been itching for a good science fiction for a while!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
you know what the experience was? words on paper. nothing more, nothing less.
i was so so so excited for this book, because the strength of the few was an absolute six star fantasy book for me (and i liked will of the many, of course), and i loved james islington’s writing and worldbuilding and character development and storytelling and .. well, you get the idea. so enter this sci-fi thriller – a bit out of my comfort zone, but written by him – and i was beyond intrigued!!!
however, it was ... meh. i don’t need to be super emotionally attached or connected to characters in a plot-heavy book, but i do want them to be characters that i can be invested in following along. and they felt pretty one dimensional in here, neither of our two main ones stuck out to me in any way at all. and worse, the worldbuilding was NONEXISTENT. all these terms and tech and politics that aren’t explained at any point. some of them are easy and you can figure it out with context clues and by reading the story, whatever. but i didn’t understand the setup of the world and the different places and the government and the ages and the different tiers of society. and that made me, well, i was going to say check out, but honestly i wasn’t ever really checked in, so.
what i learned from this book is that i really need to stop anticipating new releases because they just keep letting me down i fear. but at least this was bingeable and had its fun moments if nothing else.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc! all opinions are my own.
i was so so so excited for this book, because the strength of the few was an absolute six star fantasy book for me (and i liked will of the many, of course), and i loved james islington’s writing and worldbuilding and character development and storytelling and .. well, you get the idea. so enter this sci-fi thriller – a bit out of my comfort zone, but written by him – and i was beyond intrigued!!!
however, it was ... meh. i don’t need to be super emotionally attached or connected to characters in a plot-heavy book, but i do want them to be characters that i can be invested in following along. and they felt pretty one dimensional in here, neither of our two main ones stuck out to me in any way at all. and worse, the worldbuilding was NONEXISTENT. all these terms and tech and politics that aren’t explained at any point. some of them are easy and you can figure it out with context clues and by reading the story, whatever. but i didn’t understand the setup of the world and the different places and the government and the ages and the different tiers of society. and that made me, well, i was going to say check out, but honestly i wasn’t ever really checked in, so.
what i learned from this book is that i really need to stop anticipating new releases because they just keep letting me down i fear. but at least this was bingeable and had its fun moments if nothing else.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc! all opinions are my own.
September 9, 2026
Great story, interesting characters, fast-paced, action-packed plot. A bit of a mean, open-ended finish.
What I find lacking is atmosphere.
As the author notes in the afterword, this story was written for his own enjoyment and wasn’t intended for publication, which explains the book’s shorter length and why it probably isn’t quite fully developed.
But it’s wonderfully written.
Maybe it’s a bit like cyberpunk for beginners? I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s just that after reading some of the darker cyberpunk stories, this one comes across as rather gentle. It’s gory and brutal, but as I said, it lacks atmosphere, and there’s not much world-building overall—but that’s just nitpicking.
I had fun reading it—that’s all that matters.
They understand “really advanced human.” But damn if they don’t get uncomfortable when you start throwing around concepts like being able to sense movement in a memorised location, no matter how far away you are. Or precognition, or retrocognition, or any of the other less … traditional instincts my cogs sometimes impart. 😳
“If you couldn’t arrange for your own survival, you wouldn’t have been much fun to work with.“ 😂
What I find lacking is atmosphere.
As the author notes in the afterword, this story was written for his own enjoyment and wasn’t intended for publication, which explains the book’s shorter length and why it probably isn’t quite fully developed.
But it’s wonderfully written.
Maybe it’s a bit like cyberpunk for beginners? I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s just that after reading some of the darker cyberpunk stories, this one comes across as rather gentle. It’s gory and brutal, but as I said, it lacks atmosphere, and there’s not much world-building overall—but that’s just nitpicking.
I had fun reading it—that’s all that matters.
They understand “really advanced human.” But damn if they don’t get uncomfortable when you start throwing around concepts like being able to sense movement in a memorised location, no matter how far away you are. Or precognition, or retrocognition, or any of the other less … traditional instincts my cogs sometimes impart. 😳
“If you couldn’t arrange for your own survival, you wouldn’t have been much fun to work with.“ 😂
September 18, 2026
This was a fun, action-packed read. Scion drops you right into the middle of the world and doesn’t explain much at all, which I think works great for most of this and keeps things feeling exciting. But there were other times in the book where I felt like I was under reacting to some of the bigger moments/reveals because I had no idea what they meant in the context of the world until later. Had a good time with this overall though, and if there’s going to be a book 2, I’ll definitely read it.
April 14, 2026
Azure is a cybernetically enhanced assassin used to taking out “Lifers” in a world where the rich can medically extend their life expectancy, while the poor live in increasingly crowded and bleak conditions with limited resources. But when Azure is convinced to take on a job protecting an ultra-wealthy asset, he quickly finds himself swept up in a dark plot in a world where everyone seems to be out for themselves. It becomes a race to figure out why the woman he’s protecting is being hunted, especially as the answer might also hold the key to uncovering the cause of the mysterious explosion that killed his friend four years earlier…
I loved The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few, so I was really excited to read Scion. I generally read less sci-fi than fantasy, but James Islington’s writing here still has everything that makes the Hierarchy series stand out.
It’s super fast-paced - there aren’t any chapters, no real breaks, you’re just thrown straight in and carried along on a sci-fi thriller ride! I found this pacing great in that the plot moves quickly and keeps you engaged, although also found the worldbuilding doesn’t always have as much space to develop or fully settle.
I really liked the familiar social commentary you get in Islington’s books. There aren’t really clear good guys or bad guys - just people shaped by their circumstances, all operating in different shades of moral grey-ness.
I really enjoyed the ending, and it sets things up well for future instalments!
With thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the Arc.
I loved The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few, so I was really excited to read Scion. I generally read less sci-fi than fantasy, but James Islington’s writing here still has everything that makes the Hierarchy series stand out.
It’s super fast-paced - there aren’t any chapters, no real breaks, you’re just thrown straight in and carried along on a sci-fi thriller ride! I found this pacing great in that the plot moves quickly and keeps you engaged, although also found the worldbuilding doesn’t always have as much space to develop or fully settle.
I really liked the familiar social commentary you get in Islington’s books. There aren’t really clear good guys or bad guys - just people shaped by their circumstances, all operating in different shades of moral grey-ness.
I really enjoyed the ending, and it sets things up well for future instalments!
With thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the Arc.
September 12, 2026
2.75 stars // I think I’ve figured out why this book is getting mixed reviews.
You’re thrust into the middle of this story with no context, no background or world building. It felt like a small section of a much larger book. It’s solely about a “super advanced human” character arriving at this fancy most scifi house you can think of to make sure this old woman doesn’t die from unknown assassins. That’s it. It’s super straight and simple.
Though there is a flaw with this, there are moments where something is revealed to the main character who reacts completely bewildered, shocked and ‘how is this possible??’ but to the reader, it’s nothing. Because we have no idea why we’re supposed to be shocked with no context and lore. We can’t react the same as the main character.
I’m a bit disappointed but the later half does get better.
You’re thrust into the middle of this story with no context, no background or world building. It felt like a small section of a much larger book. It’s solely about a “super advanced human” character arriving at this fancy most scifi house you can think of to make sure this old woman doesn’t die from unknown assassins. That’s it. It’s super straight and simple.
Though there is a flaw with this, there are moments where something is revealed to the main character who reacts completely bewildered, shocked and ‘how is this possible??’ but to the reader, it’s nothing. Because we have no idea why we’re supposed to be shocked with no context and lore. We can’t react the same as the main character.
I’m a bit disappointed but the later half does get better.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
FULL REVIEW
4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads
My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Genre 📚 Scifi
- Language 🤐 mild/moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 none
- Content 🤔 on page graphic killing/violence
This was a super fun reading experience.
Fast paced, short chapters, single point of view. I read most of it in one sitting and am so excited this is going to be a series 👏🏼 it felt like a very approachable scifi! I didn’t have any issues with the world building or lack thereof. After reading Mistborn, it didn’t feel too far off the mark from the minimal world building clues you get from The Final Empire. The plot hooked me immediately,
So glad I preordered the physical copy, excited to add another James Islington to my shelves.
4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads
My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Genre 📚 Scifi
- Language 🤐 mild/moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 none
- Content 🤔 on page graphic killing/violence
This was a super fun reading experience.
Fast paced, short chapters, single point of view. I read most of it in one sitting and am so excited this is going to be a series 👏🏼 it felt like a very approachable scifi! I didn’t have any issues with the world building or lack thereof. After reading Mistborn, it didn’t feel too far off the mark from the minimal world building clues you get from The Final Empire. The plot hooked me immediately,
So glad I preordered the physical copy, excited to add another James Islington to my shelves.
May 2, 2026
A fun, fast paced, thriller book from James Islington. Islington is a top author for me so I was very excited to get to this but I had my expectations lowered. It was action packed following a trained assassin hired to do a job. It was a very simple book which I think was one of my problems because I know he can do so much more with his writing. We needed more depth with our characters, and I would’ve liked a more complex plot. It was definitely worth the read though!
3.75⭐️
Thank you Saga Press for the early copy.
3.75⭐️
Thank you Saga Press for the early copy.
Want to Read
February 24, 2026Thank you Mr. Islington for keeping us fed until
Hierarchy 3🙏🏾
Hierarchy 3🙏🏾
September 8, 2026
A fast paced page turner coming in at a tight 225 pages, Scion is a quick and exciting read perfect for a vacation carry-on. The tech-based populist dystopian setting feels all to plausible in today's world, as assassin Azure takes crowd-funded contracts to kill the uber-wealthy for living beyond their allotted span of years.
September 10, 2026
A fun, quick read that feels like a precursor to something much bigger. It almost reads like a prologue, and when you think of it that way, it’s easier to forgive the rushed pacing and stunted world building. More than anything, it does exactly what it needs to do: gets you excited for whatever comes next.
September 3, 2026
Very good! Super fast-paced, literally finished this within a day. This was my first Islington book and I was not disappointed.
Azure has a normal job. Or at least, a legal one in a world where the rich can live forever. He is an assassin, hired to kill the rich who fall out of the public's good graces (killings are crowdfunded?). Because however awesome it sounds to live forever, if everyone did that, we'd have quite the resource problem. But then he's hired to protect someone. Not his typical job and the last time he did, well... let's just say it didn't go well.
I loved how the tone of voice made me immediately think of Carl, from Dungeon Crawler Carl. I'm sure if they met, they'd be instant friends (or kill each other, you never quite know). Islington throws you into the story, in a Sanderson-esque "I'm not telling you about the world, you figure it out" kind of way. And I don't mind it - it made me want to keep reading and I basically devoured the book that way.
My only gripe is the ending. Really, James? Was that absolutely necessary? You better write a sequel now because I have questions.
Azure has a normal job. Or at least, a legal one in a world where the rich can live forever. He is an assassin, hired to kill the rich who fall out of the public's good graces (killings are crowdfunded?). Because however awesome it sounds to live forever, if everyone did that, we'd have quite the resource problem. But then he's hired to protect someone. Not his typical job and the last time he did, well... let's just say it didn't go well.
I loved how the tone of voice made me immediately think of Carl, from Dungeon Crawler Carl. I'm sure if they met, they'd be instant friends (or kill each other, you never quite know). Islington throws you into the story, in a Sanderson-esque "I'm not telling you about the world, you figure it out" kind of way. And I don't mind it - it made me want to keep reading and I basically devoured the book that way.
My only gripe is the ending. Really, James? Was that absolutely necessary? You better write a sequel now because I have questions.
September 6, 2026
I've generally had a some really good experience with fantasy authors trying their hands at SF, so this book was pretty much a no-brainer for me.
As it is, I won't say it's a ground-breaking story, but it IS very fast-paced and it has some twisty-twisty paths to keep us on our toes. Lots of tropes, easy to follow, easy to enjoy.
Like assassins? Clones? Shady shit? Old, irascible women and snarky OP dipshits? I'm sure you'll get along well with this novel.
If it's going to be a series, I don't see myself ignoring it. If it's a standalone, I might wind up feeling a bit disappointed. But as it is now? I would consider it a GOOD START. I'd love to have a good long story based on this.
As it is, I won't say it's a ground-breaking story, but it IS very fast-paced and it has some twisty-twisty paths to keep us on our toes. Lots of tropes, easy to follow, easy to enjoy.
Like assassins? Clones? Shady shit? Old, irascible women and snarky OP dipshits? I'm sure you'll get along well with this novel.
If it's going to be a series, I don't see myself ignoring it. If it's a standalone, I might wind up feeling a bit disappointed. But as it is now? I would consider it a GOOD START. I'd love to have a good long story based on this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
huge thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
🌱🔷🔸
happy release day!
so here's the thing, i probably had way too high of expectations for this book and then they got completely skewed halfway through. because at the start, i think i was having a good time. azure and his employee x boss old lady dynamic was genuinely fantastic and his humor was great for the vibes. and then everything went downhill. like the plot was there and i felt as if the ending was like we slightly forgot the rest of the book. i wish i could chalk it up to this not being my genre but i've been more into cyberpunk thrillers lately and i fear it was just this book. i do think james islington's writing in this was good but the will of the many's writing was better. it is a very fast read though! just a fast read with a dubious ending.
: pre review
no because getting this arc makes me feel super cool and like 🤙🤙
🌱🔷🔸
happy release day!
so here's the thing, i probably had way too high of expectations for this book and then they got completely skewed halfway through. because at the start, i think i was having a good time. azure and his employee x boss old lady dynamic was genuinely fantastic and his humor was great for the vibes. and then everything went downhill. like the plot was there and i felt as if the ending was like we slightly forgot the rest of the book. i wish i could chalk it up to this not being my genre but i've been more into cyberpunk thrillers lately and i fear it was just this book. i do think james islington's writing in this was good but the will of the many's writing was better. it is a very fast read though! just a fast read with a dubious ending.
: pre review
no because getting this arc makes me feel super cool and like 🤙🤙
August 24, 2026
3.5*
fun & fast paced but i wanted way more depth 🥲
fun & fast paced but i wanted way more depth 🥲
Want to Read
April 9, 2026pre-read notes:
Thank you so much Saga Press for the ARC of this book! I've been loving sci-fi and this sounds absolutely incredible. Especially seeing that little cyberpunk tag, I can't wait! 🤭
🗓️ Expected publication: September 1, 2026
Thank you so much Saga Press for the ARC of this book! I've been loving sci-fi and this sounds absolutely incredible. Especially seeing that little cyberpunk tag, I can't wait! 🤭
🗓️ Expected publication: September 1, 2026
September 28, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟4/5 stars!!
Such a fun short read! Loved the first person snarky and irreverent POV of the main character, Azure, a genetically and cybernetically enhanced human. I am not sure the world in the book is future earth. It certainly appears that it could be. And if it is Earth, it is very dystopian and very far into the future. Killing people who have chosen to live forever is legal. People crowdfund assassination of such “lifers” through military contracting private corporations that have become megarich taking such contracts and using the enhanced human to carry out those killings. I loved the interaction between the main character and his secretive client that he is hired to protect. I also found the interactions between Azure and his AI entertaining. Read it in a day. I am not sure if Islington is planning to write more books in this universe but this felt self contained and sufficient as a stand-alone. I immersive read it and the audible narration was perfect and on point.
Such a fun short read! Loved the first person snarky and irreverent POV of the main character, Azure, a genetically and cybernetically enhanced human. I am not sure the world in the book is future earth. It certainly appears that it could be. And if it is Earth, it is very dystopian and very far into the future. Killing people who have chosen to live forever is legal. People crowdfund assassination of such “lifers” through military contracting private corporations that have become megarich taking such contracts and using the enhanced human to carry out those killings. I loved the interaction between the main character and his secretive client that he is hired to protect. I also found the interactions between Azure and his AI entertaining. Read it in a day. I am not sure if Islington is planning to write more books in this universe but this felt self contained and sufficient as a stand-alone. I immersive read it and the audible narration was perfect and on point.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Scion follows Azure, an assassin who specializes in killing “lifers” AKA extremely wealthy people who can afford to pretty much live forever. Usually, Azure's job is to assassinate these people, but this time he's tasked with a protection job for an older woman who may have the answers to a tragedy that happened to him years ago.
This is a short, fast-paced dystopian novel, and the comp “Cyberpunk meets Blade Runner” is very fitting. There was quite a bit of interesting worldbuilding, but the story does not hold your hand at all. Instead of infodumping, you just have to figure out what all the terminology, people, and factions involved are all about on your own. It's not hard per se, especially since you get a lot of context clues through the dialogue, but it can be kind of disorienting at first since you’re just kind of thrown into the plot right away. If you don’t like books where you've got to figure out the world on your own, this might not be the book for you.
The pacing worked well for me, but I ultimately didn’t connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. This may be because the book isn’t really that long, it's around 240 pages, and most of it felt more plot-focused than character-focused. Although the plot twists were interesting, because I didn’t connect that much with the characters, they didn’t pack the same punch they might have had I felt more attached to them. I especially wish I had felt a little more connected to Azure, because the reveals around him definitely had the potential to hit harder.
I'd recommend this for fans of The Last Contract of Isako who maybe want something grittier, as well as anyone who enjoys the aesthetic of Cyberpunk, John Wick, and Blade Runner. I’m still a much bigger fan of Islington's Hierarchy series, but fans of his other books may find a lot to like here too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Scion follows Azure, an assassin who specializes in killing “lifers” AKA extremely wealthy people who can afford to pretty much live forever. Usually, Azure's job is to assassinate these people, but this time he's tasked with a protection job for an older woman who may have the answers to a tragedy that happened to him years ago.
This is a short, fast-paced dystopian novel, and the comp “Cyberpunk meets Blade Runner” is very fitting. There was quite a bit of interesting worldbuilding, but the story does not hold your hand at all. Instead of infodumping, you just have to figure out what all the terminology, people, and factions involved are all about on your own. It's not hard per se, especially since you get a lot of context clues through the dialogue, but it can be kind of disorienting at first since you’re just kind of thrown into the plot right away. If you don’t like books where you've got to figure out the world on your own, this might not be the book for you.
The pacing worked well for me, but I ultimately didn’t connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. This may be because the book isn’t really that long, it's around 240 pages, and most of it felt more plot-focused than character-focused. Although the plot twists were interesting, because I didn’t connect that much with the characters, they didn’t pack the same punch they might have had I felt more attached to them. I especially wish I had felt a little more connected to Azure, because the reveals around him definitely had the potential to hit harder.
I'd recommend this for fans of The Last Contract of Isako who maybe want something grittier, as well as anyone who enjoys the aesthetic of Cyberpunk, John Wick, and Blade Runner. I’m still a much bigger fan of Islington's Hierarchy series, but fans of his other books may find a lot to like here too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2026
OMG YES! This is the sci-fi I have been missing in my life. My gods, this might have been on the shorter side but it packed so many punches that I am REELING. Damn you James Islington, leave some talent around for the rest of us, would you? It’s rude to hog it all.
Azure is a contract assassin. It’s not the perfect job, but it pays well. Until a job doesn’t go the way it should and well, everything blows up in his face. Literally. From there, it’s a race against forces unknown to find out why a) his assignment is being hunted and b) why this assignment knows far more about him than she should.
My heart is still pounding after reading this. It doesn’t slow down for a single second. We get to meet all sorts of fun things, including an Argos… which we still don’t have a solid explanation as to what the plural of that thing is (Argoses? Argosi? Argos? What is it!!?). Just that it has 8 arms similar to a primate and way too many eyes for me to be entirely comfortable thinking about it for more than two seconds. Ew.
And that ending? Sir. I would like to talk to you for a second. Just a second please. Why, why did you do that??
Look, if you’re craving the kind of sci-fi that’s set so far into the future that it makes Bladerunner and Fifth Element look old, then baby, this is for YOU. Scion hits shelves on September first, and you’d best be in line to grab yours. Mr. Islington does not miss.
6 microchips for this one
A world-sized thank you to Simon & Schuster/Saga Press and Edelweiss for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Azure is a contract assassin. It’s not the perfect job, but it pays well. Until a job doesn’t go the way it should and well, everything blows up in his face. Literally. From there, it’s a race against forces unknown to find out why a) his assignment is being hunted and b) why this assignment knows far more about him than she should.
My heart is still pounding after reading this. It doesn’t slow down for a single second. We get to meet all sorts of fun things, including an Argos… which we still don’t have a solid explanation as to what the plural of that thing is (Argoses? Argosi? Argos? What is it!!?). Just that it has 8 arms similar to a primate and way too many eyes for me to be entirely comfortable thinking about it for more than two seconds. Ew.
And that ending? Sir. I would like to talk to you for a second. Just a second please. Why, why did you do that??
Look, if you’re craving the kind of sci-fi that’s set so far into the future that it makes Bladerunner and Fifth Element look old, then baby, this is for YOU. Scion hits shelves on September first, and you’d best be in line to grab yours. Mr. Islington does not miss.
6 microchips for this one
A world-sized thank you to Simon & Schuster/Saga Press and Edelweiss for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A quick & snappy Cyberpunk thriller focusing on assassin Azure, who is tasked with an unusual body guard job. Even with his superior genetic capabilities, paired with his reliable AI Addie, his snark & skill can’t predict these twists.
Islington creates an entertaining premise with quirky characters & thrilling action.
I had a blast & would love more of this world!
I recommend if you like... Fast - paced, plot driven short stories with unpredictable twists & turns. Action mixed with futuristic tech & unique AI’s. Snarky humor!
From start to finish this was an addictive read. The nonchalant yet snarky personality of Azure was almost endearing. His AI Addie was a great addition & the “lifer” he’s tasked to protect as well as their interactions was just a riot. Though I loved these characters I can’t help but want more of them all. I’m fairly new to cyberpunk & this is probably a great intro for those interested.
I really loved this book!
Islington creates an entertaining premise with quirky characters & thrilling action.
I had a blast & would love more of this world!
I recommend if you like... Fast - paced, plot driven short stories with unpredictable twists & turns. Action mixed with futuristic tech & unique AI’s. Snarky humor!
From start to finish this was an addictive read. The nonchalant yet snarky personality of Azure was almost endearing. His AI Addie was a great addition & the “lifer” he’s tasked to protect as well as their interactions was just a riot. Though I loved these characters I can’t help but want more of them all. I’m fairly new to cyberpunk & this is probably a great intro for those interested.
I really loved this book!
September 4, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm a fan of James Islington. Scion is a new standalone novel featuring an assassin who has reluctantly been assigned to guard what he considers the oldest person alive. She isn't, but in this world where the people with money can become lifers and live forever at a young looking age, Jasa is out of the ordinary.
What follows is an action packed, on the run adventure trying to keep Jasa alive and protect her from whoever wants her dead. Azure prefers killing people. It is so much less complicated than keeping anyone alive. Usually he has his AI sidekick for help but even that has been taken away from him since she is so paranoid. If it wasn't for a file that may answer some questions about an event that put him in a coma for eight months as his employer put a ton of money into recinstructing him he might have called it quits.
This was a wild ride in a strange world where go fund me type crowdfunding eventually put together enough money to take out hits on "lifers". Azure, our character PoV works for one of these companies that take contacts once they are lucrative enough. We get to see some great tech from the modification that are in his body making him one of the best assassins for hire. Also the kind of security tech lifers need to help keep them alive. It was crazy interesting seeing how biology could be modified in this world.
Scion is different than Islington's other works and leans much more on SciFi aspects. I enjoyed the story but I'm a little torn on the ending. It will leave me pondering for awhile and I wouldn't rule out a second book in this world.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm a fan of James Islington. Scion is a new standalone novel featuring an assassin who has reluctantly been assigned to guard what he considers the oldest person alive. She isn't, but in this world where the people with money can become lifers and live forever at a young looking age, Jasa is out of the ordinary.
What follows is an action packed, on the run adventure trying to keep Jasa alive and protect her from whoever wants her dead. Azure prefers killing people. It is so much less complicated than keeping anyone alive. Usually he has his AI sidekick for help but even that has been taken away from him since she is so paranoid. If it wasn't for a file that may answer some questions about an event that put him in a coma for eight months as his employer put a ton of money into recinstructing him he might have called it quits.
This was a wild ride in a strange world where go fund me type crowdfunding eventually put together enough money to take out hits on "lifers". Azure, our character PoV works for one of these companies that take contacts once they are lucrative enough. We get to see some great tech from the modification that are in his body making him one of the best assassins for hire. Also the kind of security tech lifers need to help keep them alive. It was crazy interesting seeing how biology could be modified in this world.
Scion is different than Islington's other works and leans much more on SciFi aspects. I enjoyed the story but I'm a little torn on the ending. It will leave me pondering for awhile and I wouldn't rule out a second book in this world.
I sigh. “Atti? I think where possible, it would be best not to kill people we shouldn’t really kill.”
“Legally, this could be argued as self-defence.”
“Legally I’m meant to be in an incinerator, so maybe let’s not use that as our guiding light.”
August 28, 2026
It’s no well kept secret that James Islington is an author that I love, but have no issues critiquing (looking at you, Strength of the Few).
When I heard that he was taking a crack at a fast-paced dystopian cyberpunk assassin novel, I was excited! Then, I got severely disappointed by another book that promised the same things and definitely didn’t deliver, and I got worried that Islington would make the same type of mistakes (AKA poor marketing).
Y’all, this is everything i wanted in a “Cyberpunk John Wick” story. It was fast. The characters, though not many, were compelling, unique, and actually impacted by their cyberpunk settting. In a short book, the work was done to make the tech and world believable and lived in. The main plot was driven by action, intrigue, mystery, and well timed twists and reveals.
I shouldn’t be surprised that Scion landed the plane as well, knowing Islington. The ending left me satisfied but wanting more in this world and from these characters. If this is a stand-alone, I’m content. If it’s the first in a series, I’m reading book two on day one!
Bravo, James! 4.5⭐️
When I heard that he was taking a crack at a fast-paced dystopian cyberpunk assassin novel, I was excited! Then, I got severely disappointed by another book that promised the same things and definitely didn’t deliver, and I got worried that Islington would make the same type of mistakes (AKA poor marketing).
Y’all, this is everything i wanted in a “Cyberpunk John Wick” story. It was fast. The characters, though not many, were compelling, unique, and actually impacted by their cyberpunk settting. In a short book, the work was done to make the tech and world believable and lived in. The main plot was driven by action, intrigue, mystery, and well timed twists and reveals.
I shouldn’t be surprised that Scion landed the plane as well, knowing Islington. The ending left me satisfied but wanting more in this world and from these characters. If this is a stand-alone, I’m content. If it’s the first in a series, I’m reading book two on day one!
Bravo, James! 4.5⭐️
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