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Shadow Status
A talented young hacker. A desperate artificial intelligence. The fate of two worlds.
Sixteen-year-old Jaffrey Pewitt holds a life-threatening secret. A genetic outcast, the brilliant teen’s academy scores have earned him a position patrolling the mainframe and eliminating rogue program code ― a job prohibited to those with his DNA. And when he encounters an illegal AI, she threatens to expose his true identity if he doesn’t help her community survive.
Torn between loyalty to his people and protecting himself, Jaffrey walks a knife's edge in a play for more time. But when his superiors upload a massive virtual war machine that causes a lethal power surge, the cost in digital and human lives convinces him that the future of both species may be doomed.
Can Jaffrey choose the right side before it’s too late?
Shadow Status is an explosive standalone YA cyberpunk novel. If you like clever heroes, intricate puzzles, and deep moral quandaries, then you’ll love River K. Scott’s electrifying thrill-ride. Science fiction that asks the age-old question, "What does it mean to be human?" on every page.
Sixteen-year-old Jaffrey Pewitt holds a life-threatening secret. A genetic outcast, the brilliant teen’s academy scores have earned him a position patrolling the mainframe and eliminating rogue program code ― a job prohibited to those with his DNA. And when he encounters an illegal AI, she threatens to expose his true identity if he doesn’t help her community survive.
Torn between loyalty to his people and protecting himself, Jaffrey walks a knife's edge in a play for more time. But when his superiors upload a massive virtual war machine that causes a lethal power surge, the cost in digital and human lives convinces him that the future of both species may be doomed.
Can Jaffrey choose the right side before it’s too late?
Shadow Status is an explosive standalone YA cyberpunk novel. If you like clever heroes, intricate puzzles, and deep moral quandaries, then you’ll love River K. Scott’s electrifying thrill-ride. Science fiction that asks the age-old question, "What does it mean to be human?" on every page.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2020
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
River K. Scott
8 books21 followersRiver K. Scott writes heroic fantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction that inspires hope and renewed determination in womxn and men to truly believe they can choose their own lives and make a difference in their community.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/riverkscott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverkscott...
A binge-worthy long-arc storyteller, River K. Scott takes readers across the megacosms of sci-fi and the imagined lands of YA urban fantasy, usually with a blush of romance. She is the author of the YA urban fantasy series Rangers of the Rift. Her favorite stories are sweeping epics featuring try-hard heroes. When not writing, she's rock climbing. Other favs include curling up with a scotch and thrilling new series or venturing out on a trail under a dusky sky. Originally from Central Florida, she now lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/riverkscott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverkscott...
A binge-worthy long-arc storyteller, River K. Scott takes readers across the megacosms of sci-fi and the imagined lands of YA urban fantasy, usually with a blush of romance. She is the author of the YA urban fantasy series Rangers of the Rift. Her favorite stories are sweeping epics featuring try-hard heroes. When not writing, she's rock climbing. Other favs include curling up with a scotch and thrilling new series or venturing out on a trail under a dusky sky. Originally from Central Florida, she now lives in Tucson, Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 30, 2021
SHADOW STATUS is a high-octane Science Fiction thriller set in an elitist, classist, Dystopian society (whose rules are infuriating and eugenicist) and the young man who by genetics would be an outcast if discovered, and who walks a narrow tightrope as he strives to improve his lot while escaping detection, then tangling with a rogue AI and uncovering horrifying secrets about the elitist ruling society.
September 20, 2020
I wanted Jaffrey to win so badly. He kept going from danger to danger.Brilliant story telling, character development, plot lines. This is an edge of your seat kind of book. Jaffrey and co need to come back and give me more.
October 14, 2020
River is back heading off in a new direction but with all of her amazing literary skill and emotive flowing prose intact.
This is a new departure for the author compared to her previous series, but reads in her signature style.
A talented hacker, illegal AI's, society ravaged by the effects of a vicious pandemic it could almost be set in 2020 however the action takes place in the far future, in a totally new cyberpunk world that is radically different from our own.
A worthy addition for any fan's of the authors previous work and an impressive segway for those that aren't.
This is a new departure for the author compared to her previous series, but reads in her signature style.
A talented hacker, illegal AI's, society ravaged by the effects of a vicious pandemic it could almost be set in 2020 however the action takes place in the far future, in a totally new cyberpunk world that is radically different from our own.
A worthy addition for any fan's of the authors previous work and an impressive segway for those that aren't.
March 4, 2022
3.5 Stars
** Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Nevertheless, all opinions presented here are my own. **
A sci-fi novel set in a dystopian world that also includes AI characters? Of course I wasn’t going to turn this one down! Honestly, I have never really outgrown my dystopian phase, and give me a book featuring artificial intelligence and I’m pretty much guaranteed to be obsessed with the corresponding character 🤗 There’s a reason why I love Illuminae, Skyward, Scythe, and The Unseen World so much – as long as I’m not the one who has to do the coding, sentient machines are the coolest thing ever! I’m just a huge nerd, okay?
And, for the most part, Shadow Status did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the world-building and the horrific futuristic scenario we are thrown into – basically, when trying to genetically alter human DNA to make it disease-resistant, scientists ended up completely frying everybody’s immune systems, forcing all that was left of humanity to crowd into protective domes – and the fast pace of the novel also made it next to impossible to put down.
That being said, though, the pace was also sometimes too fast for my liking. If you’re the kind of reader who loves plot-driven books with a ton of action and a big showdown at the end, Shadow Status is right up your alley. Personally, however, I prefer my plots to be a bit slower, so that there is more time to focus on the characters’ feelings and relationships. We did get a bit of that here – I really enjoyed how much focus was put on the protagonist Jaffrey’s sibling relationships, for instance 🥰 – but I just wanted more!!
Plus, I also thought that things were resolved rather easily at the end. Mind you, the resolution did take plenty of effort and there were very high stakes, but considering the complexity and the amount of problems Jaffrey had to face, I felt that everything fell into place a bit too quickly…
Overall, though, I still thought that Shadow Status was a lot of fun and would recommend it if you’re on the lookout for more action-packed YA science fiction!
But for those of you who are interested, let's get into some of my more in-depth thoughts!
Like I already mentioned above, what I thought was by far the coolest thing about Shadow Status was the world! A big reason why am such a dystopian fanatic is that I can’t get enough of scenarios that make me question our own society, and this novel most definitely delivered. Apart from the “genetic engineering gone wrong” premise being fascinating in and of itself, we also get to see the consequences this could have on societal structure – and I was hooked.
In Jaffrey’s world, people’s worth is based almost exclusively on their DNA. Even though everybody is affected by the genetic modification that was introduced by scientists centuries ago, the degree to which they are impacted differs. For some people, the modification simply means that they will never be able to go outside, where the air is rife with pathogens that could kill them. But for Prosets like Jaffrey, the modification means certain death. Their DNA is so scrambled that no Proset has ever reached full adulthood, and because of that, they are expendable. If they are going to die anyway, why not make the Prosets do all of the horrible jobs no one else wants to? Why give them access to privileges that would mean others would have to settle for less?
I thought this split within society was riveting, particularly since it came with a bunch of corruption and hypocrisy that mirrored what we continuously see in the real world. For example, Jaffrey’s parents, who are of high social standing, have no qualms about bribing and blackmailing people into keeping their son’s status a secret, but they simultaneously treat other Prosets just as shittily as everyone else does. Neither they nor their children have ever seen the need to lift so much as a finger to help the Prosets, or even to interact with them. In general, efforts to find a cure for the modification seemed to pale in comparison to Resets’ – i.e. the less afflicted part of the population’s – attempts to stay in power.
Apart from the “real” world, though, we also got a pretty cool virtual one! In efforts to develop a cure and keep their protective areas up and running, Jaffrey’s people have made huge developments in information technology and computer science. People are now able to connect their minds to computer and “graft” into a virtual world, where code that is supposed to find a way to eradicate the “Original Modification” is stored. To make sure this program stays up and running, so-called Watchers are tasked with protecting it from malware, which they have to hunt down from within. However, when Jaffrey’s life-long dream of becoming a Watcher finally seems about to come true, he starts to realize there might be a lot more to the malware story that was kept hidden from him…
Quite a bit of the book takes place within this computer world and, similar to other virtual reality books like Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One or Ursula Poznanski’s Erebos, these parts had a distinct video game feel to them. There’s a ton of action, a ton of shooting, lots of twists, lots of drama, and a huge finale that wraps everything up at the end.
As cool as all of this was, however, I felt it distracted from the characters. While I definitely related a lot to Jaffrey and his plight, I really wished we had gotten to see his relationships a bit more. Because they were all so promising! His little sister Astrid, who loves coding and stands by her brother’s side no matter what, was beyond awesome. His older brother Ben, who is fiercely protective of Jaffrey but treats other Prosets with utmost loathing, was one of the most complex characters in the book. His hot-headed albino bestie Parker was a ton of fun to be around. The AIs Jaffrey meets while grafting had extremely intriguing backstories, as did the mysterious Proset girl Jaffrey spots with Parker at the theater.
Still, in my opinion, the exploration of these relationships mostly remained very surface-level in spite of the interesting characters. Jaffrey seemed drawn to help the AI characters rather quickly, without ever really getting to know them. His friendship with Parker went through several ups and downs, but none of this ever seemed to have a huge impact on Jaffrey emotionally. There was a romantic subplot with so little chemistry and development that I started to wonder why it was even there in the first place…
And I felt similarly about Shadow Status‘ ending. It was cool, it was epic, and very fast-paced. But I just didn’t think it had as much depth as it could have had! Considering how extraordinarily shitty Jaffrey’s situation was, I simply found it hard to believe that he and his friends would be able to resolve things to the point that they did. Sure, they could make a start on changing things for the better, but would they really be able to change that much that fast? With every new era come a bunch of uncertainties, and I just felt like this otherwise super conservative society accepted them rather quickly…
My final gripe, though, concerns the writing 😅 I know this is probably going to sound super petty, but while it was usually very fast-paced and engaging, the writing was sometimes interspersed with these noun phrases that were so stuffed with additional modifiers that they struck me as extremely clunky. Plus, the dialogue was so riddled with futuristic slang that, even though it gave an additional sci-fi touch, it was sometimes hard for me to completely immerse myself in the story. To give you a better idea of what I’m talking about, here are some random examples:
Gasps went up from the crowd gathered on the overdeck surrounding the bridge to watch the last game of the season. (p. 11)
Altogether, eighteen heads bobbled in the vid conference queue box on the tablet screen in Jaffrey’s bedroom. (p. 163)
“Munchie, lyze me, okay? I’m not going anywhere.” (p. 59)
“Shh. This hub’s a secret. Most grubs are as bad as blurts…” He frowned, but not at Jaffrey. “You can keep a secret, right?” (p. 140)
“How’d you do it?” Rihanna’s long black bangs were sweat-flattened against her dark copper skin. “I thought for glassdamn sure, Ohhhhh, that dregger’s gonna get ‘im any nan, and then poof! – You’re invisible. You have got to show me.” (p. 155)
I’m not saying that the book sounded like this all the time, but it did often enough that I started to get annoyed!
Overall, though, I still had a great time reading Shadow Status! Even though it didn’t always go into as much depth as I might have liked, it was certainly engaging and also made me think a lot. So if you’re more of a plot-based reader who can’t resist an exciting futuristic scenario and lots of action, I think this one might be right up your alley!
** Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Nevertheless, all opinions presented here are my own. **
A sci-fi novel set in a dystopian world that also includes AI characters? Of course I wasn’t going to turn this one down! Honestly, I have never really outgrown my dystopian phase, and give me a book featuring artificial intelligence and I’m pretty much guaranteed to be obsessed with the corresponding character 🤗 There’s a reason why I love Illuminae, Skyward, Scythe, and The Unseen World so much – as long as I’m not the one who has to do the coding, sentient machines are the coolest thing ever! I’m just a huge nerd, okay?
And, for the most part, Shadow Status did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the world-building and the horrific futuristic scenario we are thrown into – basically, when trying to genetically alter human DNA to make it disease-resistant, scientists ended up completely frying everybody’s immune systems, forcing all that was left of humanity to crowd into protective domes – and the fast pace of the novel also made it next to impossible to put down.
That being said, though, the pace was also sometimes too fast for my liking. If you’re the kind of reader who loves plot-driven books with a ton of action and a big showdown at the end, Shadow Status is right up your alley. Personally, however, I prefer my plots to be a bit slower, so that there is more time to focus on the characters’ feelings and relationships. We did get a bit of that here – I really enjoyed how much focus was put on the protagonist Jaffrey’s sibling relationships, for instance 🥰 – but I just wanted more!!
Plus, I also thought that things were resolved rather easily at the end. Mind you, the resolution did take plenty of effort and there were very high stakes, but considering the complexity and the amount of problems Jaffrey had to face, I felt that everything fell into place a bit too quickly…
Overall, though, I still thought that Shadow Status was a lot of fun and would recommend it if you’re on the lookout for more action-packed YA science fiction!
But for those of you who are interested, let's get into some of my more in-depth thoughts!
Like I already mentioned above, what I thought was by far the coolest thing about Shadow Status was the world! A big reason why am such a dystopian fanatic is that I can’t get enough of scenarios that make me question our own society, and this novel most definitely delivered. Apart from the “genetic engineering gone wrong” premise being fascinating in and of itself, we also get to see the consequences this could have on societal structure – and I was hooked.
In Jaffrey’s world, people’s worth is based almost exclusively on their DNA. Even though everybody is affected by the genetic modification that was introduced by scientists centuries ago, the degree to which they are impacted differs. For some people, the modification simply means that they will never be able to go outside, where the air is rife with pathogens that could kill them. But for Prosets like Jaffrey, the modification means certain death. Their DNA is so scrambled that no Proset has ever reached full adulthood, and because of that, they are expendable. If they are going to die anyway, why not make the Prosets do all of the horrible jobs no one else wants to? Why give them access to privileges that would mean others would have to settle for less?
I thought this split within society was riveting, particularly since it came with a bunch of corruption and hypocrisy that mirrored what we continuously see in the real world. For example, Jaffrey’s parents, who are of high social standing, have no qualms about bribing and blackmailing people into keeping their son’s status a secret, but they simultaneously treat other Prosets just as shittily as everyone else does. Neither they nor their children have ever seen the need to lift so much as a finger to help the Prosets, or even to interact with them. In general, efforts to find a cure for the modification seemed to pale in comparison to Resets’ – i.e. the less afflicted part of the population’s – attempts to stay in power.
Apart from the “real” world, though, we also got a pretty cool virtual one! In efforts to develop a cure and keep their protective areas up and running, Jaffrey’s people have made huge developments in information technology and computer science. People are now able to connect their minds to computer and “graft” into a virtual world, where code that is supposed to find a way to eradicate the “Original Modification” is stored. To make sure this program stays up and running, so-called Watchers are tasked with protecting it from malware, which they have to hunt down from within. However, when Jaffrey’s life-long dream of becoming a Watcher finally seems about to come true, he starts to realize there might be a lot more to the malware story that was kept hidden from him…
Quite a bit of the book takes place within this computer world and, similar to other virtual reality books like Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One or Ursula Poznanski’s Erebos, these parts had a distinct video game feel to them. There’s a ton of action, a ton of shooting, lots of twists, lots of drama, and a huge finale that wraps everything up at the end.
As cool as all of this was, however, I felt it distracted from the characters. While I definitely related a lot to Jaffrey and his plight, I really wished we had gotten to see his relationships a bit more. Because they were all so promising! His little sister Astrid, who loves coding and stands by her brother’s side no matter what, was beyond awesome. His older brother Ben, who is fiercely protective of Jaffrey but treats other Prosets with utmost loathing, was one of the most complex characters in the book. His hot-headed albino bestie Parker was a ton of fun to be around. The AIs Jaffrey meets while grafting had extremely intriguing backstories, as did the mysterious Proset girl Jaffrey spots with Parker at the theater.
Still, in my opinion, the exploration of these relationships mostly remained very surface-level in spite of the interesting characters. Jaffrey seemed drawn to help the AI characters rather quickly, without ever really getting to know them. His friendship with Parker went through several ups and downs, but none of this ever seemed to have a huge impact on Jaffrey emotionally. There was a romantic subplot with so little chemistry and development that I started to wonder why it was even there in the first place…
And I felt similarly about Shadow Status‘ ending. It was cool, it was epic, and very fast-paced. But I just didn’t think it had as much depth as it could have had! Considering how extraordinarily shitty Jaffrey’s situation was, I simply found it hard to believe that he and his friends would be able to resolve things to the point that they did. Sure, they could make a start on changing things for the better, but would they really be able to change that much that fast? With every new era come a bunch of uncertainties, and I just felt like this otherwise super conservative society accepted them rather quickly…
My final gripe, though, concerns the writing 😅 I know this is probably going to sound super petty, but while it was usually very fast-paced and engaging, the writing was sometimes interspersed with these noun phrases that were so stuffed with additional modifiers that they struck me as extremely clunky. Plus, the dialogue was so riddled with futuristic slang that, even though it gave an additional sci-fi touch, it was sometimes hard for me to completely immerse myself in the story. To give you a better idea of what I’m talking about, here are some random examples:
Gasps went up from the crowd gathered on the overdeck surrounding the bridge to watch the last game of the season. (p. 11)
Altogether, eighteen heads bobbled in the vid conference queue box on the tablet screen in Jaffrey’s bedroom. (p. 163)
“Munchie, lyze me, okay? I’m not going anywhere.” (p. 59)
“Shh. This hub’s a secret. Most grubs are as bad as blurts…” He frowned, but not at Jaffrey. “You can keep a secret, right?” (p. 140)
“How’d you do it?” Rihanna’s long black bangs were sweat-flattened against her dark copper skin. “I thought for glassdamn sure, Ohhhhh, that dregger’s gonna get ‘im any nan, and then poof! – You’re invisible. You have got to show me.” (p. 155)
I’m not saying that the book sounded like this all the time, but it did often enough that I started to get annoyed!
Overall, though, I still had a great time reading Shadow Status! Even though it didn’t always go into as much depth as I might have liked, it was certainly engaging and also made me think a lot. So if you’re more of a plot-based reader who can’t resist an exciting futuristic scenario and lots of action, I think this one might be right up your alley!
February 28, 2021
** Edited 28/02/21 - I have just listened to the audiobook version of this book, and it was fantastic. River is a great storyteller, and the different voices she used for each character really made this interesting and fun to listen to.
Jaffrey has a big secret. He was born a 'Proset', meaning his life could end at any time, through no fault of his own. Anyone born with this condition is given a dangerous job in a camp, as their lives are not considered as valuable as 'Resets', the upper class citizens.
His family have spent his life keeping his secret, allowing him to try to achieve his goal of being a Watcher - a role given only to Resets - as someone who identifies malware and deletes the rogue codes in the system. However, one day he discovers AI life beyond the main system, and realises he could never do the job he is supposed to do - delete their existence. A war is brewing, and betraying the Watchers could have catastrophic results.
This was unlike anything I have read before, but I really enjoyed it. I was completely drawn into this world, with its virtual reality, where I really just wanted Jaffrey to side with the AI group and help save them.
I also adored his sister, who was so intelligent for such a young person. I love what she brought to the story.
Though I thought the ending was tied up perfectly, I would certainly like to read more from these characters in the future. A captivating read, that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jaffrey has a big secret. He was born a 'Proset', meaning his life could end at any time, through no fault of his own. Anyone born with this condition is given a dangerous job in a camp, as their lives are not considered as valuable as 'Resets', the upper class citizens.
His family have spent his life keeping his secret, allowing him to try to achieve his goal of being a Watcher - a role given only to Resets - as someone who identifies malware and deletes the rogue codes in the system. However, one day he discovers AI life beyond the main system, and realises he could never do the job he is supposed to do - delete their existence. A war is brewing, and betraying the Watchers could have catastrophic results.
This was unlike anything I have read before, but I really enjoyed it. I was completely drawn into this world, with its virtual reality, where I really just wanted Jaffrey to side with the AI group and help save them.
I also adored his sister, who was so intelligent for such a young person. I love what she brought to the story.
Though I thought the ending was tied up perfectly, I would certainly like to read more from these characters in the future. A captivating read, that I thoroughly enjoyed.
October 24, 2020
Review originally published here, at Reedsy Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/sha...
An adventurous YA cyberpunk novel about a teenager dealing with sentient AI in a post-pandemic world.
Imagine, if you will, a world where energy collapse, climate change, and a deadly virus have ravaged the Earth. Sound familiar? It's actually the setting for River K. Scott's gripping, thought-provoking, and upbeat YA science fiction novel Shadow Status. The book follows main character Jaffrey Pewitt--a teenager who's harboring both a jeopardizing secret about his identity and a risky discovery regarding artificial intelligence.
In Jaffrey's world, a majority of humanity was killed by a pandemic, and the remaining survivors live in fourteen sterile areas. Class status is literally stratified by biology--the disease's genetic impact on the body. "Resets" are humans who have a latent version of the virus; they can do what they want and generally live normal lives, as long as they avoid pathogens. In "Prosets," the disease is active: eventually, the virus will be triggered, meaning they won't survive into adulthood. These humans are relegated to dangerous grunt work in labor camps, with more restricted food rations and a lack of adequate medical care.
Jaffrey is in training to be a Watcher, someone who protects the World Net from malware. In this cyberpunk novel, malware are sentient AI, and Watchers fight them by grafting, or uploading their human neural activity as computer code. In other words, virtual reality. Humanity gets energy from the Net, and the world is relying on non-conscious AI to help find a cure for the virus, so a Watcher's job is incredibly important. When Jaffrey uncovers life-changing information about AI on the Net, he'll have to decide what to do. Has he been taught lies about AI, or is it true that they're bugs who can't be trusted?
Shadow Status is an exciting and wonderfully written dystopian tale with plenty of well-rounded and memorable characters, like Astrid (Jaffrey's precocious younger sister) and Parker (Jaffrey's snarky albino best friend). The characters are constantly confronting essential moral and ethical questions: should sentient AI have rights, or be considered alive? Should people who will have a shorter quantity of life be forced to have an awful quality of life? How much can authority be trusted--especially a corrupt and repressive one? Sometimes I felt like the complicated exposition in this book happened a little too quickly, and a few of the story's many narrative threads were dropped a bit early, but overall author Scott does an excellent job keeping the plot constantly moving forward at a pace that's both entertaining and informative. Plus, this book is overflowing with something vital that we all desperately need right now: hope.
An adventurous YA cyberpunk novel about a teenager dealing with sentient AI in a post-pandemic world.
Imagine, if you will, a world where energy collapse, climate change, and a deadly virus have ravaged the Earth. Sound familiar? It's actually the setting for River K. Scott's gripping, thought-provoking, and upbeat YA science fiction novel Shadow Status. The book follows main character Jaffrey Pewitt--a teenager who's harboring both a jeopardizing secret about his identity and a risky discovery regarding artificial intelligence.
In Jaffrey's world, a majority of humanity was killed by a pandemic, and the remaining survivors live in fourteen sterile areas. Class status is literally stratified by biology--the disease's genetic impact on the body. "Resets" are humans who have a latent version of the virus; they can do what they want and generally live normal lives, as long as they avoid pathogens. In "Prosets," the disease is active: eventually, the virus will be triggered, meaning they won't survive into adulthood. These humans are relegated to dangerous grunt work in labor camps, with more restricted food rations and a lack of adequate medical care.
Jaffrey is in training to be a Watcher, someone who protects the World Net from malware. In this cyberpunk novel, malware are sentient AI, and Watchers fight them by grafting, or uploading their human neural activity as computer code. In other words, virtual reality. Humanity gets energy from the Net, and the world is relying on non-conscious AI to help find a cure for the virus, so a Watcher's job is incredibly important. When Jaffrey uncovers life-changing information about AI on the Net, he'll have to decide what to do. Has he been taught lies about AI, or is it true that they're bugs who can't be trusted?
Shadow Status is an exciting and wonderfully written dystopian tale with plenty of well-rounded and memorable characters, like Astrid (Jaffrey's precocious younger sister) and Parker (Jaffrey's snarky albino best friend). The characters are constantly confronting essential moral and ethical questions: should sentient AI have rights, or be considered alive? Should people who will have a shorter quantity of life be forced to have an awful quality of life? How much can authority be trusted--especially a corrupt and repressive one? Sometimes I felt like the complicated exposition in this book happened a little too quickly, and a few of the story's many narrative threads were dropped a bit early, but overall author Scott does an excellent job keeping the plot constantly moving forward at a pace that's both entertaining and informative. Plus, this book is overflowing with something vital that we all desperately need right now: hope.
September 20, 2022
Far into the future, humanity is living in a fragmented world shared with highly advanced artificial intelligence. Humans have been subdivided by class due to the unfortunate result of a science experiment gone wrong: not everyone will live to adulthood, and if one is not lucky enough to have the genes to be a Reset, they must live out their lives in relative poverty and discomfort until the unknown day when their time runs out. Sixteen-year-old Jaffrey is not like the others in his family—instead of being a Reset, he is a secret Proset thanks to an unlucky roll of the genetic dice. Despite this, Jaffrey leads his class in grades and skills in the hope of becoming a Watcher someday. But will Jaffrey have time to do what he must before he triggers for good?
This science fiction young adult adventure blends some features of other stories that came before, including The Matrix, The Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game. Placed on a dystopian Earth over one thousand years in the future, this story incorporates new and varied slang and vernacular as one of its most striking features. Thanks to this, readers are immediately transported into Jaffrey’s world before they even know what Jaffrey’s real challenge will be. Based primarily around action and problem-solving, this book takes readers on a twisting ride that makes them question their perceived difference between right and wrong and where both humans and artificial intelligence fall on that line.
Overall, the writing in this story is good and the story itself is quite interesting, especially as Jaffrey begins piecing together the mystery he has unexpectedly fallen into. Disappointingly, though, the character development and initial lead-in are not as strong as they could be and this can cause readers to disconnect from the story. As the plot advances, however, these shortcomings become less obvious, since the action sequences are taking precedence. This is a good book to share with young adult readers with an interest in science fiction adventure, especially those who have contemplated the role artificial intelligence can ultimately play in human lives.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
This science fiction young adult adventure blends some features of other stories that came before, including The Matrix, The Hunger Games, and Ender’s Game. Placed on a dystopian Earth over one thousand years in the future, this story incorporates new and varied slang and vernacular as one of its most striking features. Thanks to this, readers are immediately transported into Jaffrey’s world before they even know what Jaffrey’s real challenge will be. Based primarily around action and problem-solving, this book takes readers on a twisting ride that makes them question their perceived difference between right and wrong and where both humans and artificial intelligence fall on that line.
Overall, the writing in this story is good and the story itself is quite interesting, especially as Jaffrey begins piecing together the mystery he has unexpectedly fallen into. Disappointingly, though, the character development and initial lead-in are not as strong as they could be and this can cause readers to disconnect from the story. As the plot advances, however, these shortcomings become less obvious, since the action sequences are taking precedence. This is a good book to share with young adult readers with an interest in science fiction adventure, especially those who have contemplated the role artificial intelligence can ultimately play in human lives.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
October 26, 2020
You know, I guess one person can make a difference. 'Nuff said...
― Stan Lee
Holy Proset, River K Scott!
Rarely does a book grab me by the collar and pull me into a new world and story like this one did. Our main hero, Jaffery is a “Proset” in a racially-infested newly invented world where his life has no value unlike the entitled “Resets.” As an overly educated and heart-filled protagonist, Jaffery is forced to stand in his power with a no-win dilemma and fight for what’s right against all odds.
As a reader, I couldn’t believe how this story emulates the opening-gate-gun-shot of a major horse race. I was riveted immediately and cheering for Jaffery, as if he was my only beloved, albeit not biblically, from chapter one. The world develops effortlessly even though it is a new world, never described before. The energy and pace is nail-bitingly fast and I promise you, you will be rooting and worrying for Jaffery and his quantum-thinker sister, Astrid. This binge-worthy book reads like a hybrid marvel comic and action film.
Here’s why I’m giving it 5 stars. 1. The writing is flat-out riveting, perfect and paced for an all-nighter-binge (reader be warned). 2. The protagonist is relatable and lovable and the entry point to the overall story is seamless from chapter one. 3. The writing is cut to the bone with no extra fat, fluff or waste. River K. Scott does not waste her words. 4. The author presents a no-win dilemma that I couldn’t put down nor guess what would come next. 5. This writer’s world-building talent is flat-out prodigious.
I highly recommend curling up on the couch with Shadow Status. I read it in one day. I couldn't put it down!
― Stan Lee
Holy Proset, River K Scott!
Rarely does a book grab me by the collar and pull me into a new world and story like this one did. Our main hero, Jaffery is a “Proset” in a racially-infested newly invented world where his life has no value unlike the entitled “Resets.” As an overly educated and heart-filled protagonist, Jaffery is forced to stand in his power with a no-win dilemma and fight for what’s right against all odds.
As a reader, I couldn’t believe how this story emulates the opening-gate-gun-shot of a major horse race. I was riveted immediately and cheering for Jaffery, as if he was my only beloved, albeit not biblically, from chapter one. The world develops effortlessly even though it is a new world, never described before. The energy and pace is nail-bitingly fast and I promise you, you will be rooting and worrying for Jaffery and his quantum-thinker sister, Astrid. This binge-worthy book reads like a hybrid marvel comic and action film.
Here’s why I’m giving it 5 stars. 1. The writing is flat-out riveting, perfect and paced for an all-nighter-binge (reader be warned). 2. The protagonist is relatable and lovable and the entry point to the overall story is seamless from chapter one. 3. The writing is cut to the bone with no extra fat, fluff or waste. River K. Scott does not waste her words. 4. The author presents a no-win dilemma that I couldn’t put down nor guess what would come next. 5. This writer’s world-building talent is flat-out prodigious.
I highly recommend curling up on the couch with Shadow Status. I read it in one day. I couldn't put it down!
October 28, 2020
Shadow Status is a science fiction novel about the young man Jaffrey Pewitt who was a Proset born in a world of rejection. In a world where Resets are the greatest, being a Proset practically means death. However, his parents have been covering the status of Jaffrey for his whole life until he can meet the Watcher assignment. As a Watcher, Jaffrey is definitely not being asked because the status of Watcher is a prestige. He is going to be his world's guardian. That's until he's face to face with a mystery that will forever change the world.
🌸His family have invested their lives quietly, seeking to accomplish his goal of being a watch-maker-a position that only resets can fulfil-as a malware identifier and deleting the rogue codes in the device. However, one day he encounters
🌸AI life beyond the key structure and learns that he will never do the work he is intended to do – eradicate it. A war brings on, and the Watchers' betrayal may be disastrous.
🌸From the very beginning there were layers on layers. Every little term that the characters might say, I felt absorbed and easily committed to every aspect.
🌸 I feel like I could witness all the little stuff because the technology was surreal.
🌸Although I felt that the ending was perfectly related, in future I would surely like to learn more about these characters. I had an impressive reading.
🌸His family have invested their lives quietly, seeking to accomplish his goal of being a watch-maker-a position that only resets can fulfil-as a malware identifier and deleting the rogue codes in the device. However, one day he encounters
🌸AI life beyond the key structure and learns that he will never do the work he is intended to do – eradicate it. A war brings on, and the Watchers' betrayal may be disastrous.
🌸From the very beginning there were layers on layers. Every little term that the characters might say, I felt absorbed and easily committed to every aspect.
🌸 I feel like I could witness all the little stuff because the technology was surreal.
🌸Although I felt that the ending was perfectly related, in future I would surely like to learn more about these characters. I had an impressive reading.
October 29, 2021
Just finished this and it was loads of fun. I loved the Jaffrey, Astrid and their family and friends; I gloried in their victories, hurt in their sorrows and rooted for them through it all. I enjoyed the realness of their world, the timeliness of its problems and how they navigate the challenges they face in their stabilized-post-apocalyptic world under the dome.
The narration was good and I especially felt an enhanced connection to the characters and their relationships through the narrator.
I highly recommend this book/audiobook to anyone interested in sci-fi, video game novels, and the like.
Mild Spoilers:
A bold bioengineering experiment turned accident creates a pandemic that leaves humanity hanging on by a thread and splintered across the globe, connected through a dangerous and magical virtual world that is inextricably tied to the life support domes that are slowly being pushed beyond their limits. Jaffrey, following his unrealistic dream to become a watcher, discovers hidden talents, the casual horrors of a limited dome and a beautiful and magical expanse that exists beyond the boundaries of the virtual world of the developers.
The narration was good and I especially felt an enhanced connection to the characters and their relationships through the narrator.
I highly recommend this book/audiobook to anyone interested in sci-fi, video game novels, and the like.
Mild Spoilers:
A bold bioengineering experiment turned accident creates a pandemic that leaves humanity hanging on by a thread and splintered across the globe, connected through a dangerous and magical virtual world that is inextricably tied to the life support domes that are slowly being pushed beyond their limits. Jaffrey, following his unrealistic dream to become a watcher, discovers hidden talents, the casual horrors of a limited dome and a beautiful and magical expanse that exists beyond the boundaries of the virtual world of the developers.
October 30, 2020
It's been such a huge storey. You're in the action by reading it. I can't wait for the show, so creative! It's about nobody who loves sci-fi not just young adults.
✨His family lived a life in silence attempting to fulfil his goal of becoming a watchman — a position resets only — as anyone who detects malware and deletes rogue code inside the framework. One day, though, he learns AI 's life beyond the main structure.
✨He knows that he can never do his job-erase their presence. A conflict is brewing and the watchers' betrayal will bring disastrous consequences.
✨It was different from what I read before, but I enjoyed it. I was drawn absolutely to this universe, its virtual reality, where I just wanted to enter and save Jaffrey with the AI community.
✨The plot twists began to come to me in ways I did not foresee and each second I cherished. It is really worth it. If you are super science sci-fi with surprises and powerful characters. I really recommend that you read it!
✨His family lived a life in silence attempting to fulfil his goal of becoming a watchman — a position resets only — as anyone who detects malware and deletes rogue code inside the framework. One day, though, he learns AI 's life beyond the main structure.
✨He knows that he can never do his job-erase their presence. A conflict is brewing and the watchers' betrayal will bring disastrous consequences.
✨It was different from what I read before, but I enjoyed it. I was drawn absolutely to this universe, its virtual reality, where I just wanted to enter and save Jaffrey with the AI community.
✨The plot twists began to come to me in ways I did not foresee and each second I cherished. It is really worth it. If you are super science sci-fi with surprises and powerful characters. I really recommend that you read it!
September 26, 2020
I recently watched “Ready Player One,” so when an opportunity to receive a complimentary dARC of “Shadow Status” appeared, I felt that it was a great option to read something with a little bite—but not too heavy during this miserable year of COVID-19 and Social upheaval. I can only take so much…
“Shadow Status” has a little edge, yet it's hopeful and engaging thanks to a strong and compelling MC who moved the storyline along very well. “Ready Player One” featured a kid determined to escape hopelessness and poverty through his prowess and cunning in the virtual program. RP1 has a slew of 80’s throwbacks which works for me, a “Gen-Xer” but not so much for my daughter when she read the novel this summer. “Shadow Status’s” Jaffrey Pewitt, destined to die young because of his genetic disorder, is desperate to make his life count by proving his worth to his family and society through prowess and bravery in the virtual program. I believe that this is universal for all readers. I recommend this read—especially for those who enjoy cyberpunk.
“Shadow Status” has a little edge, yet it's hopeful and engaging thanks to a strong and compelling MC who moved the storyline along very well. “Ready Player One” featured a kid determined to escape hopelessness and poverty through his prowess and cunning in the virtual program. RP1 has a slew of 80’s throwbacks which works for me, a “Gen-Xer” but not so much for my daughter when she read the novel this summer. “Shadow Status’s” Jaffrey Pewitt, destined to die young because of his genetic disorder, is desperate to make his life count by proving his worth to his family and society through prowess and bravery in the virtual program. I believe that this is universal for all readers. I recommend this read—especially for those who enjoy cyberpunk.
October 1, 2020
The book is an amazing and intriguing concept brought to life. With the sci-fi stakes ramped up to incredible heights and a MC with a rich relationships (what can I say? I love compelling family ties and friendship goals XD). The new ideas that S.S brings to the table is interesting to say the least. Basically, if you loved Ender’s Game with the hype of Hunger Games. I would check it out.
Of course, I had a few gripes with it. Personally, while I liked the MC’s tenacity I enjoyed the side characters a lot more. As well at times the action scenes left little to be desired. But all in all. I did really enjoy this book and it does throw you into a chaotic world of technology.
Of course, I had a few gripes with it. Personally, while I liked the MC’s tenacity I enjoyed the side characters a lot more. As well at times the action scenes left little to be desired. But all in all. I did really enjoy this book and it does throw you into a chaotic world of technology.
September 22, 2020
Engaging and thoughtful. This book is an exciting read and asks the the always timely questions, what is important to you, and what would you sacrifice to to protect it? Science Fiction meets thriller, meets cyberpunk, this book is well worth your time.
October 15, 2020
This was such a great story. Reading it puts you in the action. So imaginative, I can’t wait for the movie! It’s not just for young adults, it’s for anyone who enjoys sci-fi.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2020
I loved this book. It's the story of Jaffrey, the classic outsider who stands to lose everything if his secret is discovered. I don't want to give anything away about what happens, so I'll just say this book was a breath of fresh air, action-packed, full of heart, and super timely.
December 4, 2021
This book is a good read. It has sentient AI's, war machines, haves and have nots, a disease that keeps them imprisioned and a bit of romance. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. There was a lot of action in this book and it was entertaining. I would recommend it.
October 15, 2020
Jaffrey is an intriguing character ... love his struggles with life-altering decisions ... great read
December 19, 2020
Jaffrey's story is full of twists and turns, secrets, relationships, questions of "humanity" and difficult choices. It's a thrilling sci-fi adventure that tackles some big questions but keeps you turning the page. A great book by a talented author that excels in developing characters that you just want to root for.
March 2, 2021
Great Book! It took me out of my reality and into another! I could put it down.
Read
November 18, 2020River K. Scott has once again, not disappointed. To be honest, I went into Shadow Status blind. I didn't even read the synopsis. I knew if this author had written it, I was going to read it. I have been a big fan since the very first Rangers of the Rift book was released. So I couldn't wait to dive head first into a brand new story with brand new characters.
Shadow Status is a sci-fi novel about Jaffrey Pewitt, a teen living in a world where he was born a Proset - a reject of life. In a world where Resets are the best of the best, being a Proset means death - literally. Yet, his parents have spent his entire life hiding Jaffrey's status until he can rise to the assignment of Watcher. As a Watcher, it's likely Jaffrey won't be questioned because Watcher status is a prestige. He will be a protector of his world. That is until he finds himself face to face with a secret that could change the world forever. But, with his own personal secrets to hide, can Jaffrey afford to let this discovery out?
The world building of this story was like nothing I've ever seen before. And I've read/watched a TON of sci-fi. There were layers upon layers from the very beginning. I felt immersed from the get go and found myself quickly devouring every little detail, every little word the characters would use. The technology was surreal and I felt like I was able to experience every little bit of it.
On top of the world building, the characters were AMAZING. I know I say this about all of River K. Scott's books, but I just can't help it. She always seems to nail her characters. They feel real even in such an unreal world. I feel like I could be friends with them. Or at the very least, understand what they're going through and sympathize. They keep you on your toes and you find yourself winding through the pages with them, side-by-side. You are there, joining them on their journey. I connected with Jaffrey and his sister from the get go. I could feel the tenseness of their secret, like something hanging over their heads. I couldn't wait to keep reading each time I had to put this book down.
Last but not least, this book is classically suspenseful. The plot twists kept coming at me in ways I didn't expect and I loved every second of it. All in all, I'm giving this book a solid 5 stars. It truly deserves it. If super techy sci-fi with twists and strong characters and AIs are your thing, this book is 100% for you. I highly suggest giving it a read!
Thanks so much to the author for letting me ARC read and review this beautiful book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shadow Status is a sci-fi novel about Jaffrey Pewitt, a teen living in a world where he was born a Proset - a reject of life. In a world where Resets are the best of the best, being a Proset means death - literally. Yet, his parents have spent his entire life hiding Jaffrey's status until he can rise to the assignment of Watcher. As a Watcher, it's likely Jaffrey won't be questioned because Watcher status is a prestige. He will be a protector of his world. That is until he finds himself face to face with a secret that could change the world forever. But, with his own personal secrets to hide, can Jaffrey afford to let this discovery out?
The world building of this story was like nothing I've ever seen before. And I've read/watched a TON of sci-fi. There were layers upon layers from the very beginning. I felt immersed from the get go and found myself quickly devouring every little detail, every little word the characters would use. The technology was surreal and I felt like I was able to experience every little bit of it.
On top of the world building, the characters were AMAZING. I know I say this about all of River K. Scott's books, but I just can't help it. She always seems to nail her characters. They feel real even in such an unreal world. I feel like I could be friends with them. Or at the very least, understand what they're going through and sympathize. They keep you on your toes and you find yourself winding through the pages with them, side-by-side. You are there, joining them on their journey. I connected with Jaffrey and his sister from the get go. I could feel the tenseness of their secret, like something hanging over their heads. I couldn't wait to keep reading each time I had to put this book down.
Last but not least, this book is classically suspenseful. The plot twists kept coming at me in ways I didn't expect and I loved every second of it. All in all, I'm giving this book a solid 5 stars. It truly deserves it. If super techy sci-fi with twists and strong characters and AIs are your thing, this book is 100% for you. I highly suggest giving it a read!
Thanks so much to the author for letting me ARC read and review this beautiful book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 23, 2020
The beginning was a little much to take in, give it a chance to get to know the language and characters. This was not my usual reading material; couple of chapters and I was hooked though. Currently about half way through the book and can't wait to see what surprises lie in wait.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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