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Neon Horizon #1
The Blind Spot
Would you betray everyone you cared about to prevent a war?
Marcie Hugo isn’t a typical sixteen-year-old. She’s been cybernetically enhanced to have superhuman strength, speed, and judgement. For what it’s worth.
She’s lived her entire life in the Blind Spot; a garish neon rat run of debauchery. Since her mum’s murder several years ago, her dad’s method for keeping her safe has been to imprison her in her own home. But with her sixteenth birthday looming, she’s going to start making her own life choices. She’ll finally move away to the neighbouring Scala City with the boy she loves.
But when a terrorist attack raises the temperate of the cold war between the Blind Spot and the city, her vision of her planned future begins to fade. If she’s to put her bad memories and the home she hates behind her, she has to act.
With time running out and tensions rising, Marcie finds herself as the only person who can prevent the conflict. But it comes at a cost. Does she betray everyone she cares about and sacrifice her chances with her one true love, or does she let thousands die in a preventable war?
Join Marcie as she tears through dystopian cityscapes and neon flooded alleyways in an attempt to put all the pieces into place to prevent a war that could kill everyone.
The Blind Spot is a cyberpunk novel and the first book in the Neon Horizon series.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2019
286 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Michael Robertson
98 books206 followersMichael Robertson is an author and blogger. He has had several short stories published, including one with HarperCollins. He is the author of Crash - http://michaelrobertson.co.uk/crash--...
You can connect with Michael on Twitter at @MicRobertson, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRober... and you can also contact him through his website at www.michaelrobertson.co.uk
You can connect with Michael on Twitter at @MicRobertson, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRober... and you can also contact him through his website at www.michaelrobertson.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 28, 2019
Wellbeing app:
“Even if not all the people mean what they say, the act of saying them at least gives them some form of emotional elevation.” An app which is like a drug, a need and a must to live in a quasi superficial utopian society. It’s a remarkable concept Michael Robertson has developed. I was captivated from the beginning, an excellent cyberpunk story of a city divided in two, the rich and well-off and the other contrast of the worst kind of society. But, even in this Eden there is a serpent. The totalitarian government, the dominant corporates..I love the world building, the characters, and the background story of the protagonist’s situation.
There’s plenty of mystery, action and adventure .. to keep the story exciting. Page after captivating page of action, intrigue, loyalty, intense drama and betrayal that will keep you hooked until the very last sentence. A fast-paced novel that will keep you reading way past your bedtime. A fascinating storyline that makes me want to know more about this world, and soon I hope!
I received an early version of this book from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
“Even if not all the people mean what they say, the act of saying them at least gives them some form of emotional elevation.” An app which is like a drug, a need and a must to live in a quasi superficial utopian society. It’s a remarkable concept Michael Robertson has developed. I was captivated from the beginning, an excellent cyberpunk story of a city divided in two, the rich and well-off and the other contrast of the worst kind of society. But, even in this Eden there is a serpent. The totalitarian government, the dominant corporates..I love the world building, the characters, and the background story of the protagonist’s situation.
There’s plenty of mystery, action and adventure .. to keep the story exciting. Page after captivating page of action, intrigue, loyalty, intense drama and betrayal that will keep you hooked until the very last sentence. A fast-paced novel that will keep you reading way past your bedtime. A fascinating storyline that makes me want to know more about this world, and soon I hope!
I received an early version of this book from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
January 30, 2022
THE BLIND SPOT by Michael Robertson is a cyberpunk political thriller, which is rare enough among the genre but particularly interesting here because the focus of the book isn't on the action or plot twists but the characterization. While I wouldn't say this is a slice of life drama as there is an important plot our characters are unraveling, I'd go so far to say that it isn't the real strength of the book. Instead, I would say the best part of the book is its ability to bring its unique setting alive and get into the minds of its protagonists.
The premise is there are two parts of a community in the future: Scalia City and the Blind Spot. Scalia City is a corporate-run utopia where everyone knows their place as well as life continuing on much as it has always done. Cybernetics are disdained and almost everyone is addicted to an ap that registers how much people talk about you. The Blind Spot is a much wilder independent part of the city that is full of cyborgs, criminals, outcasts, and transhumanists. Scalia City hates the Blind Spot but uses it for pleasure as well as fears its superior mastery of computers.
The protagonists couldn't be more far apart with Marcie being the daughter of a career criminal raised in the lap of luxury. Marcie wants out of the Blind Spot, though, in part because she's sick of living her father's shadow and also because she hopes to get her crippled friend a new pair of lungs. Nick, by contrast, is an overweight office drone who is trapped in a one-sided relationship with his girlfriend as well as pathetically eager to please.
Both of them become involved in a series of terrorist attacks against Scalia City that seem to point squarely to the anarchist-subculture of the Blind Spot. It is a strange idea that two parts of the same city might go to war but this is a science fiction novel so it is not a terribly weird idea. Scalia City has a military that could easily destroy the Blind Spot but the retaliation would result in the destruction of all their data.
I think Nick is the more enjoyable character because he's such an underrepresented kind of character in fiction. Specifically, he's a whiny pathetic weasel who is full of his own self-importance. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend and, honestly, you don't blame her because he's the kind of guy who is afraid of homeless people. Nick is an odd protagonist for a cyberpunk novel and soon finds himself wrapped up in a conspiracy he wants absolutely no part in solving.
Much of the book is about unraveling the conspiracy about who is responsible for the Blind Spot being framed for terrorist attacks. However, the actual resolution to the mystery is less important than the characters' journey along the way. Indeed, the ending has a revelation about what the characters were doing to each other that wasn't in-text but revealed as a surprise. I felt that was a bit like "cheating" and my one complaint about the book.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and am going to check out the rest of the series. I'm an easy mark for any cyberpunk books. This one is one of the better examples I've found in indie fiction and I'm glad I checked it out. I hope Nick will continue to be part of the main cast but I have my doubts that his story didn't end here.
The premise is there are two parts of a community in the future: Scalia City and the Blind Spot. Scalia City is a corporate-run utopia where everyone knows their place as well as life continuing on much as it has always done. Cybernetics are disdained and almost everyone is addicted to an ap that registers how much people talk about you. The Blind Spot is a much wilder independent part of the city that is full of cyborgs, criminals, outcasts, and transhumanists. Scalia City hates the Blind Spot but uses it for pleasure as well as fears its superior mastery of computers.
The protagonists couldn't be more far apart with Marcie being the daughter of a career criminal raised in the lap of luxury. Marcie wants out of the Blind Spot, though, in part because she's sick of living her father's shadow and also because she hopes to get her crippled friend a new pair of lungs. Nick, by contrast, is an overweight office drone who is trapped in a one-sided relationship with his girlfriend as well as pathetically eager to please.
Both of them become involved in a series of terrorist attacks against Scalia City that seem to point squarely to the anarchist-subculture of the Blind Spot. It is a strange idea that two parts of the same city might go to war but this is a science fiction novel so it is not a terribly weird idea. Scalia City has a military that could easily destroy the Blind Spot but the retaliation would result in the destruction of all their data.
I think Nick is the more enjoyable character because he's such an underrepresented kind of character in fiction. Specifically, he's a whiny pathetic weasel who is full of his own self-importance. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend and, honestly, you don't blame her because he's the kind of guy who is afraid of homeless people. Nick is an odd protagonist for a cyberpunk novel and soon finds himself wrapped up in a conspiracy he wants absolutely no part in solving.
Much of the book is about unraveling the conspiracy about who is responsible for the Blind Spot being framed for terrorist attacks. However, the actual resolution to the mystery is less important than the characters' journey along the way. Indeed, the ending has a revelation about what the characters were doing to each other that wasn't in-text but revealed as a surprise. I felt that was a bit like "cheating" and my one complaint about the book.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and am going to check out the rest of the series. I'm an easy mark for any cyberpunk books. This one is one of the better examples I've found in indie fiction and I'm glad I checked it out. I hope Nick will continue to be part of the main cast but I have my doubts that his story didn't end here.
June 28, 2019
A dystopian cyber punk novel, the first book in the Neon Horizon series is a thrill from start to finish, as we fly through Scala City with our young cybernatically enhanced heroine, Marcie and her companion Sal who live in The Blind Spot. Scala city is a place where people holding down important jobs lived; they had status and looked down on the lower classes called the obsolete as well as on those who lived in the blind spot. Furthermore those in the city thrived on the wellbeing app which kept them lifting each other up through feel good messages they sent to one another, whilst the blind spot was an area which insisted on being free from all surveillance technology, provided visitors with anonymity masks as well as catered to all their depravities, through prostitution, drugs and crime. The people of the city flocked to the blind spot and were treated like tourists but they still hated that the rebels living in the blind spot were living a relatively freer life than they were. The city turned its citizens into people alienated from their reality, turning them into sheeple and if Marcie was anything, a follower she really wasn't! Terrorist attacks where being targeted at Scala's City Centre and the blind spot was being blamed for these attacks however Marcie vowed to stop a war between the two factions no matter what it took, and this is the journey we take with her in this awesome and very thrilling book. She is a real kick ass heroine, courageous, rebellious, fearless and ready to take on a challenge no matter what! The book leaves us wondering what comes next and I for one just need to read on asap!!
June 28, 2019
This new series from Michael Robertson is set in a dystopian world populated with cyborgs, city workers who populate a divided city. Having read several of Michael's books and series, I'm leaning toward this possibly being my favorite because of the way he has created the world and the characters who populate both sides of the city and because it has enough action and intrigue to catch and keep the reader's interest.. I received an ARC and chose to provide this review.
October 17, 2019
Title: The Blind Spot
Author: Michael Robertson
Publisher: Michael Robertson
ISBN: B07SGFYF3W
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Neon Horizon 1
Would you betray everyone you cared about to prevent a war?
Marcie Hugo isn’t a typical sixteen-year-old. She’s been cybernetically enhanced to have superhuman strength, speed, and judgment. For what it’s worth.
She’s lived her entire life in the Blind Spot; a garish neon rat run of debauchery. Since her mum’s murder several years ago, her dad’s method for keeping her safe has been to imprison her in her own home. But with her sixteenth birthday looming, she’s going to start making her own life choices. She’ll finally move away to the neighboring Scala City with the boy she loves.
But when a terrorist attack raises the temperate of the cold war between the Blind Spot and the city, her vision of her planned future begins to fade. If she’s to put her bad memories and the home she hates behind her, she has to act.
With time running out and tensions rising, Marcie finds herself as the only person who can prevent the conflict. But it comes at a cost. Does she betray everyone she cares about and sacrifice her chances with her one true love, or does she let thousands die in a preventable war?
Join Marcie as she tears through dystopian cityscapes and neon flooded alleyways in an attempt to put all the pieces into place to prevent a war that could kill everyone.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Imagine society broken into two separate societies, one, Prime City, of the supposedly beautiful people and the other considered the rejects. Now the was more to it once you looked beneath the surface. Nick had everything from a great job working the creators of the Wellbeing App that brings happiness and joy to everyone. Now on the surface everything is perfect as long as you ignore the lowest workers and the individuals who were punished loosing their identity and very minds.
On the other side, those living in the Blind Spot live in their own society where Marcie’s father runs it with an iron fist. They may be looked a rejects, but this is where the “Good” members of society go to find pleasure in ways that would not be accepted on the outside. Marcie always found ways around her father’s restrictions taking her best friend Sal visually along with her.
Difficulties between the two societies come to a head when someone starts setting off explosives in Prime City with the Bind Spot as the main subjects. Marcie is determined to prevent an all out conflict, but she will need help to obtain her goals.
This was an incredible look into one possibility for what the future could hold. It was sad how the members of Prime City used the Wellbeing App almost like a drug as we saw their life through Nick’s experiences. Marcie has always wanted to move out of the Blind Spot to the greater beauty of Prime City, but all that glitters may not be all she expects. Marcie’s friend Sal lived a very limited life due to his illness, but there could be hope. This is just the beginning of their story and I for one can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Author: Michael Robertson
Publisher: Michael Robertson
ISBN: B07SGFYF3W
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Neon Horizon 1
Would you betray everyone you cared about to prevent a war?
Marcie Hugo isn’t a typical sixteen-year-old. She’s been cybernetically enhanced to have superhuman strength, speed, and judgment. For what it’s worth.
She’s lived her entire life in the Blind Spot; a garish neon rat run of debauchery. Since her mum’s murder several years ago, her dad’s method for keeping her safe has been to imprison her in her own home. But with her sixteenth birthday looming, she’s going to start making her own life choices. She’ll finally move away to the neighboring Scala City with the boy she loves.
But when a terrorist attack raises the temperate of the cold war between the Blind Spot and the city, her vision of her planned future begins to fade. If she’s to put her bad memories and the home she hates behind her, she has to act.
With time running out and tensions rising, Marcie finds herself as the only person who can prevent the conflict. But it comes at a cost. Does she betray everyone she cares about and sacrifice her chances with her one true love, or does she let thousands die in a preventable war?
Join Marcie as she tears through dystopian cityscapes and neon flooded alleyways in an attempt to put all the pieces into place to prevent a war that could kill everyone.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Imagine society broken into two separate societies, one, Prime City, of the supposedly beautiful people and the other considered the rejects. Now the was more to it once you looked beneath the surface. Nick had everything from a great job working the creators of the Wellbeing App that brings happiness and joy to everyone. Now on the surface everything is perfect as long as you ignore the lowest workers and the individuals who were punished loosing their identity and very minds.
On the other side, those living in the Blind Spot live in their own society where Marcie’s father runs it with an iron fist. They may be looked a rejects, but this is where the “Good” members of society go to find pleasure in ways that would not be accepted on the outside. Marcie always found ways around her father’s restrictions taking her best friend Sal visually along with her.
Difficulties between the two societies come to a head when someone starts setting off explosives in Prime City with the Bind Spot as the main subjects. Marcie is determined to prevent an all out conflict, but she will need help to obtain her goals.
This was an incredible look into one possibility for what the future could hold. It was sad how the members of Prime City used the Wellbeing App almost like a drug as we saw their life through Nick’s experiences. Marcie has always wanted to move out of the Blind Spot to the greater beauty of Prime City, but all that glitters may not be all she expects. Marcie’s friend Sal lived a very limited life due to his illness, but there could be hope. This is just the beginning of their story and I for one can’t wait to find out what happens next.
July 12, 2021
A fantastic start to a promising series!
The Blind Spot follows two characters from opposite sides of a divided city as they try to make sense of escalating political tensions.
Nick is over-weight, out of shape, and stuck in a one-sided relationship with a woman who doesn’t appreciate him. He relies heavily on the “lifts” of a prominent social media app to get him through his days. But when his best friend Nick has to reevaluate his use of the app and his place in the city.
Marcie is a typical teenager, resisting the pressure from her father to settle down in the Blind Spot—the only area of the city where surveillance is not allowed. She longs to escape the Blind Spot and live in Scala City, but she’s a cyborg, and her kind are not welcome within the city’s walls. When one of her covert excursions into the city goes sideways, Marcie uncovers secrets about both sides of the political conflict that powerful people want to keep hidden. Can she help prevent a war?
I really loved the alternating POV and feel the author used it to great effect to build tension and advance the story. The pace is strong, I never wanted to put it down! If it weren’t for kids I’d probably have read it through in one sitting 😂
I felt it was well editing and professional, and a great example of the quality of indie publishing that is out there. I will definitely read the next book!
The Blind Spot follows two characters from opposite sides of a divided city as they try to make sense of escalating political tensions.
Nick is over-weight, out of shape, and stuck in a one-sided relationship with a woman who doesn’t appreciate him. He relies heavily on the “lifts” of a prominent social media app to get him through his days. But when his best friend Nick has to reevaluate his use of the app and his place in the city.
Marcie is a typical teenager, resisting the pressure from her father to settle down in the Blind Spot—the only area of the city where surveillance is not allowed. She longs to escape the Blind Spot and live in Scala City, but she’s a cyborg, and her kind are not welcome within the city’s walls. When one of her covert excursions into the city goes sideways, Marcie uncovers secrets about both sides of the political conflict that powerful people want to keep hidden. Can she help prevent a war?
I really loved the alternating POV and feel the author used it to great effect to build tension and advance the story. The pace is strong, I never wanted to put it down! If it weren’t for kids I’d probably have read it through in one sitting 😂
I felt it was well editing and professional, and a great example of the quality of indie publishing that is out there. I will definitely read the next book!
December 24, 2020
“You have eighty-six lifts,” the female voice told him. Nick closed his eyes and listened to them from the start.
A city divided by the power of surveillance!
On one side, mindless people running around with the wellbeing app. A surveillance system that tells you all the nice things said about you.
On the other side a city full of cybernetics and anonymity.
'Whatever the consequences, she’d gotten what she came for.'
Marcie a 16 year old from blindspot wants to stop a war, when she's not welcome in the city can she pull it off.
Then Nick an modern technological zombie who wants nothing more than to hear good things about himself is dragged through the mud, when he is connected to the cause of terrorism.
'You use those wings, wherever they take you. But know there’s always a place for you here.'
I absolutely loved every single second of this, each and every page was unputdownable!
Marcie is a fantastic character! Her team up with the eye was brilliant to read.
Even Nick was a great character who you feel extremely sorry for the whole time.
Fantastic 5*
A city divided by the power of surveillance!
On one side, mindless people running around with the wellbeing app. A surveillance system that tells you all the nice things said about you.
On the other side a city full of cybernetics and anonymity.
'Whatever the consequences, she’d gotten what she came for.'
Marcie a 16 year old from blindspot wants to stop a war, when she's not welcome in the city can she pull it off.
Then Nick an modern technological zombie who wants nothing more than to hear good things about himself is dragged through the mud, when he is connected to the cause of terrorism.
'You use those wings, wherever they take you. But know there’s always a place for you here.'
I absolutely loved every single second of this, each and every page was unputdownable!
Marcie is a fantastic character! Her team up with the eye was brilliant to read.
Even Nick was a great character who you feel extremely sorry for the whole time.
Fantastic 5*
July 26, 2020
Great primise! I couldn't help but think "twits" when reading it.
I read enough Syfy to appreciate the authors work in building a city within a city with a symbiotic relationship. They needed one another to co-exist, and not always peacefully. The female protagonist makes all the rookie mistakes, and not always with the best intentions. I consider this a parady on the Twiiter-verse and it's associated "cancel-culture". It's an easy fun read and well-edited and formatted.
I read enough Syfy to appreciate the authors work in building a city within a city with a symbiotic relationship. They needed one another to co-exist, and not always peacefully. The female protagonist makes all the rookie mistakes, and not always with the best intentions. I consider this a parady on the Twiiter-verse and it's associated "cancel-culture". It's an easy fun read and well-edited and formatted.
June 11, 2020
Loved the characters and the action.
The story about a city filled with people addicted to the false praise of an app similar to Facebook or Instagram seemed very familiar.
I will read the next book in the series.
The story about a city filled with people addicted to the false praise of an app similar to Facebook or Instagram seemed very familiar.
I will read the next book in the series.
August 4, 2020
It reads well! The story follows Nick and Marcie. Marcie's the young daughter of a crime boss who “keeps egos in check and cuts the fingers from hands who reached out too far.” Yet, at the same time, her father’s been over-protective of her until now as she turns sixteen,
“For my tenth birthday,” Marcie continued, “you gave me a metal skeleton that grows with me.”
Marcie’s augmentations let her slide down and wall kick off skyscrapers while also curling up into a ball like Samus in Metroid,
“The tick of grit in the air peppered her glasses, and the wind sent her ponytail out behind her like a streamer as she ran down the mirrored dome at the top of the Apollo Tower… She’d modelled her suit on a flying squirrel—colour and all—the wing flaps filling and turning her into a glider.”
The Blind Spot is an impoverished area of the city with one huge advantage – it has no surveillance. A terrorist attack in chapter one escalates the tension between the haves and the have nots. The city’s described well with lines such as,
“Hovercars zipped around like flies on amphetamines.”
As conflict escalates, the tension grows. A solid read!
“For my tenth birthday,” Marcie continued, “you gave me a metal skeleton that grows with me.”
Marcie’s augmentations let her slide down and wall kick off skyscrapers while also curling up into a ball like Samus in Metroid,
“The tick of grit in the air peppered her glasses, and the wind sent her ponytail out behind her like a streamer as she ran down the mirrored dome at the top of the Apollo Tower… She’d modelled her suit on a flying squirrel—colour and all—the wing flaps filling and turning her into a glider.”
The Blind Spot is an impoverished area of the city with one huge advantage – it has no surveillance. A terrorist attack in chapter one escalates the tension between the haves and the have nots. The city’s described well with lines such as,
“Hovercars zipped around like flies on amphetamines.”
As conflict escalates, the tension grows. A solid read!
July 24, 2019
Michael Robertson’s new series promises to be something special. Marcie, a cybernetically enhanced teenager takes it upon herself to save two cities from warring with each other. The story is fast paced, and even though this the first book in the series, the dystopian world which Michael has created seems like the well-developed world of a third or fourth novel. It is also surprising that this is Michael’s first cyberpunk novel, as the book reads as written by a seasoned author of the genre. As such it is the perfect introduction to the cyberpunk genre. Note: I received a free copy with no obligation to review.
June 30, 2019
Scala City where everyone uses an app to listen to the nice things people say about them. Seems the perfect place to live. Until bombs start going off. Suspicion falls on the Blind Spot where cyborgs live and the normal surveillance that Scala city has it banned. But drugs and other vices are prevalent. Marcie the young daughter of the leader of the Blind Spot must find out who is planting the bombs before war breaks out. A fast paced adventure following Marcie as she roams the city gathering evidence. Definitely recommend
November 2, 2020
I‘ve read several of Michael Robertson’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them. When he offered a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I accepted it, to try a genre I don’t usually read. The story is well-written with vivid descriptions and character development that makes the reader feel part of it. It was hard to put down, even for meals and sleep. In reading other reviews, I found it hard to believe this is his first attempt at cyberpunk. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
July 31, 2019
The Blind Spot is a dystopian cyberpunk tale with a very strong female as primary protagonist. There are many surprises packed into the story and they kept me turning pages late into the night. I love the final decision that Marcie made for herself. Do yourself a huge favor and read the book to find out what that was. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer : I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer : I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
July 7, 2019
This is a Cyber Punk Dystopian novel focusing on the concepts of freedom and faux freedom. It is a chilling prediction of what our society could become.
The book revolves around two main characters from opposite ends of the society. Michael Robertson’s ability to create a compelling storyline never ceases to amaze me. I will definitely read book 2 in this series. I strongly recommend this book.
The book revolves around two main characters from opposite ends of the society. Michael Robertson’s ability to create a compelling storyline never ceases to amaze me. I will definitely read book 2 in this series. I strongly recommend this book.
July 3, 2020
Future city (sort of like Bladerunner without the rain or the androids); the Blind Spot is an autonomous enclave of depravity, where cyborgs are tolerated. The protagonist, the daughter of the Spot's leader, makes secret forays into the city and discovers a plot... We learn more about the city from Nick, an office manager, who unwittingly plays a major part while being betrayed.
Tightly written - first of three but self contained apart from the lead into book 2.
Tightly written - first of three but self contained apart from the lead into book 2.
October 31, 2023
Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/blind-spot-...
A bigger problem, for me, was the sudden reticence on Marcie’s end. Initially, we experience things through her eyes, knowing everything she knows. Then, at a certain point, we get cut out of the loop, from a narrative point of view, as she and her hacker pal begin their plot to track down and expose the real terrorists. We’re left on the outside, not knowing what’s going on – and when we do find out, there naturally being a grand reveal, it’s not very satisfying. It relies too much on the “all-powerful hacker” trope, and the identity of the traitor in their midst is also unconvincing. The story ends up being a swing and a miss, though with the book being free on Amazon, I probably can’t complain. Though it’d have to be at the same price point to get me to go any further into the series.
A bigger problem, for me, was the sudden reticence on Marcie’s end. Initially, we experience things through her eyes, knowing everything she knows. Then, at a certain point, we get cut out of the loop, from a narrative point of view, as she and her hacker pal begin their plot to track down and expose the real terrorists. We’re left on the outside, not knowing what’s going on – and when we do find out, there naturally being a grand reveal, it’s not very satisfying. It relies too much on the “all-powerful hacker” trope, and the identity of the traitor in their midst is also unconvincing. The story ends up being a swing and a miss, though with the book being free on Amazon, I probably can’t complain. Though it’d have to be at the same price point to get me to go any further into the series.
June 9, 2020
This was an addictive read b/c the chapters are all so short which made me want to keep reading and just read "one more chapter", which turned into many more chapters every time. Really enjoyed both main protagonists, especially Marcie. The author did a good job of describing the cyberpunk future world of Scala City and The Blind Spot. Look forward to reading the next one!
August 29, 2020
A Dramatic, enduring tale of fiction in the sci fi fantasy genre. A wonderful read for all. This is the first book by Michael Robertson that I have read and it was so good I want to read it again so I don't miss any of it's intelligence and brilliance I loved it!!!!!!!!!
August 5, 2021
From the beginning of this story I was fascinated with the idea that echoed today's world of fakes and 'likes'. Why do people rely on the opinions of others for validation?
The world was intriguing, divided between the city and the Blind Spot - the first a seemingly zombie sect reliant on corporate greed and hypocrisy, the later, more real yet reliant on robotics. Then there are the obsoletes…more mystery yet a sad scenario.
There are glimpses of other places, too, just how barbaric are they? Again, fascinating.
Well-written with great characters and plot.
Loved it!
Highly recommended.
The world was intriguing, divided between the city and the Blind Spot - the first a seemingly zombie sect reliant on corporate greed and hypocrisy, the later, more real yet reliant on robotics. Then there are the obsoletes…more mystery yet a sad scenario.
There are glimpses of other places, too, just how barbaric are they? Again, fascinating.
Well-written with great characters and plot.
Loved it!
Highly recommended.
April 20, 2025
My Stars:
1 - DNF or, I regret the time it took to read.
2 - I would have preferred cleaning the house.
3 - Good. Nothing really spoke to me, but I enjoyed my time.
4 - Great. This book is staying on my shelves. I'm continuing the series or will get other books the author has.
5 - New favourite. Will be re-read and if you engage me in conversation, I will not shut up about it.
My detailed reviews are on my Youtube channel, however:
This was a good start to a series. It's setting up the world and the characters. I felt it a little too young in tone for my taste but it was a good time.
1 - DNF or, I regret the time it took to read.
2 - I would have preferred cleaning the house.
3 - Good. Nothing really spoke to me, but I enjoyed my time.
4 - Great. This book is staying on my shelves. I'm continuing the series or will get other books the author has.
5 - New favourite. Will be re-read and if you engage me in conversation, I will not shut up about it.
My detailed reviews are on my Youtube channel, however:
This was a good start to a series. It's setting up the world and the characters. I felt it a little too young in tone for my taste but it was a good time.
January 15, 2024
I loved the book and can't wait to read more from this Author. The book took me into secrets, into a city I shouldn't have been in and helped me learn how amazing things can be but... Home calls me.
Author Michael Robertson wrote this Cyberpunk book and every word hit spot on. I couldn't help myself as soon as I finished the book I was on Amazon ordering the second book in the series.
I hope you love this book as much as I did. Amazing amount of thought and work by the Author and I thank him.
Author Michael Robertson wrote this Cyberpunk book and every word hit spot on. I couldn't help myself as soon as I finished the book I was on Amazon ordering the second book in the series.
I hope you love this book as much as I did. Amazing amount of thought and work by the Author and I thank him.
June 1, 2023
Steam Punk Deception
This is quite an interesting read with only a few grammatical errors. I would be interested in howbthey get organics and non-organics to coexist. The story keeps the reader interested by moving along at both a steady pace and seeing how tge plot will work out. The author does fine work.
This is quite an interesting read with only a few grammatical errors. I would be interested in howbthey get organics and non-organics to coexist. The story keeps the reader interested by moving along at both a steady pace and seeing how tge plot will work out. The author does fine work.
September 15, 2022
A long book but well worth the reading in my opinion. Cyberpunk with a generation plot. Two different segments of life both living on a thin wire. A young girl turning 16 and gets her freedom but in certain respects rebels against the establishment. But she has tolearn to grow up fast.
November 23, 2022
A Fine Story
This was an enjoyable book to read. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but then the action and twists of the story made for a fun read. Thoroughly enjoyable.
This was an enjoyable book to read. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but then the action and twists of the story made for a fun read. Thoroughly enjoyable.
September 1, 2023
This was so very hard to start reading, it was just that boring. WOW an explosion was the highlight in the beginning but it still was boring. I realize why I don't read this type of books, they are so far in left field that I find this so boring. Read at your own risk!
February 22, 2025
A thriller with a cyber twist
I enjoyed the characters and scenery of this book. The plot pulled me from one chapter to the next. The story also gives much food for thought about how much we are controlled by our technology.
I enjoyed the characters and scenery of this book. The plot pulled me from one chapter to the next. The story also gives much food for thought about how much we are controlled by our technology.
September 23, 2024
Pretty good. Very unusual plot. Quirky characters. Bit it works.
April 13, 2025
surveillance state via apps & resistance. excellent
May 12, 2025
I read this because this volume and the next two volumes are free. I didn't have much expectations at first, but this is quite enjoyable though the plot is not that deep.
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