Sable Dark

Hep Cats of Boise #2

by Al Hess

Mazarin has everything an AI could want: a hep holographic body, a joyfriend she’s dizzy for, and asylum from Wave, the shady AI megacorporation that once held her captive. In their clutches, she’d been confined to the anxious brain of her host, Reed, serving as his navigator. Now separate, they enjoy a friendship and the knowledge that Wave’s lead engineer, Phil Rice, who terrorized them for months, is locked away in a court-ordered hospital stay.

But when Rice escapes, Reed’s stress skyrockets. Though Mazarin is no longer in Reed’s brain, their connection lingers, and she can’t resist the desire to stick close and protect them both from Wave. If Rice abducts Reed, it means certain death, and there’s no telling what the megacorp would do to Mazarin if she’s captured.

Reed’s sudden nosebleeds, paranoia, and skewed sense of perception lead Maz to believe more is at play than his galactic anxiety. With Rice on the loose, she can’t be too careful. Desperate for a solution to Reed’s deteriorating health, Mazarin risks her safety venturing into the company of untrustworthy AI, decoist gangsters, and even Wave themselves, to find help for her beloved pilot before it’s too late.

Genres: Queer, Science Fiction, Romance, Cyberpunk, M M Romance, Autistic Spectrum Disorder

223 pages, ebook

First published January 7, 2021

About the author

Author of World Running Down, Key Lime Sky, Yours Celestially, and the award-winning Hep Cats of Boise series.

Reviews

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Review:
This one had all the same great things as the first book (cool future world, Art Deco subculture, developed characters, sweet relationships, great lgbtqia+ and neurodivergent rep---just go read that review if you want to know what all the great things were), but it really upped the angst and tension!

This was one of those books where I knew something was wrong, I just didn't know exactly what. I felt awful for Reed, not knowing what was happening to him and what was real, so scared and upset. I felt awful for Jax, so worried about Reed. I felt awful for Mazarin, struggling with feeling like an outsider for being an AI among organic humans and feeling like all she did was hurt the people she loved.

This is also the most complex exploration of sentient AI that I've read about. I love how it's not even really, "Should AI have rights?" but rather more an exploration of Mazarin's feelings about fitting in, about his differences from humans, about his connection to Reed, about what it means to be friends.

I also love the complex relationships the AI aspect has brought out. I'm not even sure how to describe them. What these characters have is its own unique thing with unique emotions and dynamics. But it suits these characters, and they make things work, and they're all happy with it, and that's all that matters. And the romantic relationships are super cute.

Overall, just another really great story with great characters, sweet and complex relationships, all sorts of diversity, an interesting take on sentient AI, a fun Art Deco subculture, and lots of suspense and tension, and I'm looking forward to more!

*Rating: 4.5 stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: eBook*

Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Al Hess's Hep Cats of Boise Series. Anyone who likes AI with emotion, future settings, the Art Deco Era, LGBTQIA+ characters, disabled and neurodivergent characters, complex characters who are imperfect but good people, sweet romance side plots, and unpredictable stories.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Al]

Hey hep cat! Be sure to check the CWs below if you think you might need them.

Rep: gay, bi/pansexual, gray ace, and non-binary characters; M/M and NBi/NBi romance
Autistic main character with anxiety/panic disorder

CWs: blood, hospitalization, profanity, M/M and NBi/NBi open door sex and sexual elements, anxiety/panic disorder, alcohol use, mentions of past domestic abuse, hallucinations, abduction, several brief violent scenes including a fight

[Doemonica Fedoruk · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is going on with Reed?! I'm not gonna tell you, you open this book and find out! I love how Maz is such a pure soul. It's funny to say as that opens up a whole new can of worms for our delightful heroes!
I really am enjoying these hep cats, I'll keep reading!
P. S. Whenever Maz says 'Joyfriend' she instantly becomes Sandra Bullock from 'Demolition Man' in my head. You are Welcome for that image!

[Catherine Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great followup to Mazarin Blues. Reed and Maz go through a lot in this book, and the uncertainty of what's real and what isn't along with a twisty plot keep you turning pages. The contrast between Sable and Maz as AIs with different personalities was particularly well done. The characters, both good and bad, are nuanced and interesting, and the ending was both sweet and satisfying.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good follow-up to Mazarin Blues. Mazarin, an AI, now has a holographic but mostly solid body (which can be male or female, with various clothing, etc.). She (pronouns vary) lives mainly with Em, but can go all kinds of places on her own. She's on good terms with Reed, in whom she used to be embedded as his "navigator." Reed's life should be going well too. He's happy with his new partner, Jax, and feels less of a need to hide his "hep cat" deco interests, even though disapproval of, and violence against, deco-ists is rising.

But something's wrong. Is Reed seeing things, or is someone tracking him with evil intent? Bad guy Phil Rice from the evil corporation has escaped from jail, where he ended up, blind and disfigured, after targeting Reed and Mazarin for destruction. Is it him?

The answer is a bit of a surprise. Not a bad surprise, but I didn't find it convincing. A bit more explanation could have fixed that. Still, I very much enjoyed reading the book, which I did from beginning to end on one airplane flight.

[VVivacious · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing. I feel like this entire story helps bring stability to the whole dynamic we had established in the previous book and that felt so wholesome and good. I just had a lovely time reading this book.

We follow Reed as he faces mounting paranoia and anxiety as Phil Rice escapes from his court-ordered stay at a mental health facility. His already fragile mental state seems to be fracturing and puts a strain on his relationship with Jax. On the other hand, Mazarin finds herself in contact with another AI and it seems to be changing her opinion on how she views and perceives herself.

I feel like this story really settled matters between Reed and Mazarin and brought their story to a nice conclusion. The first book shies away from their relationship in the latter half because it has to establish both of them as independent characters but in this book, we finally take to exploring the unfinished something between these two.

I have been fascinated by Reed and Maz's relationship and seeing it explored in so much detail was just so satisfying. This story takes so many twists and turns but I find myself very happy with where the story leaves us.

[J E]

Nothing Artificial here. This is the real deal.

I've devoured the two volumes of the Hep Cats series in about a week and I still want more. I love these characters and the gritty techno-future they inhabit.
Al Hess does a great job worldbuilding and the Boise of their story is probably recognizable to people who know it today but with so many futuristic twists and turns.
I love the Decoists with their ginchy gear and groovy bars and their absolute mistrust of modern technology. This is a world not far in time from our own and the differences are subtle but pleasingly rendered.
The character of AI Mazarin is delicious. I wanted all good things for him/her and for a little while I held my breath as Maz is such a selfless being when their loved ones are under threat. The resolution, when it came was unexpected and very cleverly executed.
I still have questions, and hope that there may be a third book in this excellent series.

[Dave Florida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil Rice, formerly (?) of Wave, breaks out of prison. Reed thinks he sees Rice in several different places. Can he keep a cool head or will his anxiety overwhelm him? Or, is Reed hallucinating? When Mazarin steps in to calm Reed, Sable Dark is there to push Maz toward a showdown with Phil. The resolution requires both the AI and Reed to examine of how anyone can know they are good enough to enjoy the friends and lovers they have.

[Ken Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Second in the Boise series, but not quite as well written as Mazerin, the first. The AI - human interactions were mpre forced, and the flash point in the plot too contrived. I still appreciate the future world building, with the retro to the 1930's. Characters were good, not quite as warm, and i felt the relationships needed more attention and detail.

This was an author provided ARC ebook, and my review is freely offered.

[Mark Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reed, Jax, Em, and Mazarin are all having problems. Not only are their romances rocky, but Phil Rice has busted out of the insane asylum. Hess works hard to make us care for these way-too-sensitive beings, and when bad things happen to them, it hurts. I'd like to see more entries in the series, but Hess has wrapped up so many loose ends that if this is the last one, no one will feel cheated.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a little hard to follow who is who.

I may have had to read some parts over. This is a whole different landscaper and time zone, it makes you understand more about androids and how humans have been taught to think about them.

Read and enjoy!

[taegen ☾⭒ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far out, this series is crazy cool. It got a little repetitive in places but I was engaged in the storyline, the tension was constant and I loved the characters.

Sidenote: I'm perpetually amused that my favourite character is always the AI 😶

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Mazarin from Hep Cats of Boise is graysexual!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sable Dark” is the latest novel by author, Al Hess. It is the second book in the “Hep Cats of Boise” series. It tells the story of Mazarin, a genderfluid AI who now has freedom of movement apart from their previous navigator, Reed. The story picks up right where the previous novel left off.
Wave, the company that created the Nav programs, has been taken down. Their shady and corrupt policies have become public knowledge. But Reed believes he is still being stalked by one of their former employees, Phil Rice. The man at the center of the scandal in the previous book. Though he was arrested, he has somehow managed to escape prison and Reed believes that Rice wants revenge. Mazarin is the only person who shares Reed’s concern.
This story took a slightly darker turn from the previous one, in my opinion. The aesthetic of the bland world and the decoist world is still there, but we get a deeper look at the society. Mazarin’s attempt to figure out who he/she is quite interesting. Maz switches between her female and his male form throughout the story, depending on who they are with and what their mood is that day.
While Reed learns things about himself that he had not been aware of before. He discovers that there is more to his seemingly odd behavior and that the link between him and his former Nav may not be completely broken.
This story introduces us to a new character, Sable. Sable is another A.I. that has been discovered and has been helping Maz with upgrades. But unlike Maz, who enjoys the company of humans and tries to assimilate into society, Sable thinks humans are a waste. She belittles Maz for not becoming more than a poor human copy.
Throughout the book, the reader finds themselves questioning what is real and what is not as Reed seems to fall down a rabbit hole of hallucinations and near insanity. Maz holds the key to saving not only Reed but society from something potentially worse than Wave itself.
If you enjoyed the previous book, you will definitely enjoy this one. It was deep and well written, I found myself having to force myself to stop reading and take a break as it was so easy to fall into the story. As a reader, you will begin to find yourself questioning what is happening, and I highly recommend giving it a try. If you have not read Mazarin Blue, I would suggest reading up on that also, so you are ready for what comes with Sable Dark.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.

Sable Dark is the sequel to Mazarin Blues, picking up where the characters left off in that book. The story has a great balance of developing the recurring characters more, while also introducing new ones and new stakes.

Mazarin is still an absolute delight as a character, even now that they’re separated physically from Reed, who they were bonded with in the prior book. However, their presence is still there to help Reed in a new capacity. Also, the term “joyfriend” is just delightful to read every single time, and I just love Maz and Em together in general, as I already noted in my short story review.

Sable is introduced as a new AI, and it was fun to see their interactions with Maz, as well as how there is a contrast between them, which definitely sets them apart from what I think of when the concept of AI comes up, with there being maybe one that you grow attached to in the entire story typically, and the others seeming impersonal.

I also loved seeing more nuance to Reed’s character, building on his already established anxiety. It’s hinted there’s more going on with that, and delving into that aspect was fun, yet treated with care.

Getting more insight into Wave through them working to thwart engineer Phil Rice provides an additional layer of tension and danger that wasn’t in the first book, I liked seeing Maz and Sable work together to fight back and bring him down. While people who preferred the more relaxed atmosphere of book one may be a bit dismayed at the slightly darker tone of this one, I personally liked the compromise of there being more to do, while also not feeling like it goes too far into that dark, intense territory.

If you enjoyed the first one, I would not hesitate to recommend also picking up this one.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mazarin Blues was one of the most delightful surprises of last year and so I had high hopes for Sable Dark, and it did not disappoint. Lovely exploration of being, self, and love in a crazy, dystopian setting with looming deadly threats. I really liked that this book followed developing relationships. It is not something you see often with most books focusing on the blush of new love. Reed is SO adorable in his lovable, awkward way. And Maz - coming of age in a way as she finds herself as an independent person. Sable was a very well done foil. There were parts I loved, and parts where I was VERY upset with Hess, but it all worked out ok - props for a book that got me so emotionally invested.

This is the second book in the Hap Cats of Boise with at least 1 more to come. Although both have self-contained plots and end in a satisfying place, I recommend reading them in order as there is so much character growth and development that you will really appreciate this book more with the depth from the first book. Plus that was just such a beautiful book, I had no idea how Hess would build on it, but this is a worth continuation of the story. Cozy dystopian might seem like an oxymoron but it really does describe this well.

[AMHH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series, and I think I love this one even more. Reed, Jax, Em, and Mazarin are all back, and Mazarin, the genderfluid AI, is even more complex, caring, and delightful than before. This book follows up on the story from the first one, so no spoilers, but it’s safe to say that the tensions between bland mundane society and the decoist subculture still exist, as does paranoia and intrigue around the concept of AIs. For all the perils and tribulations, however, this is ultimately a novel in which things do work out, which I absolutely 100% needed, because I love the characters too much for any other outcome.

* I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Mazarin Blues I was waiting for this book with a lot of expectations. I'm happy to say that those expectations were not only fulfilled but surpassed.

This delightful story is a queer cyber-punk wonder. I love the characters and the way in which you can see them grow and flourish, I love the emotional rollercoaster this read provokes and the nuances of all the characters, good and bad.

This is an amazing read, and I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

[frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to read what happens in this second installment. It was a wonderful read. I was happy for the out come. You just rooted for some and felt sad for others. It took some imagination to write this story. I loved it. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this and the first one.

[Paul Cobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the Hep Cats of Boise series starts a new episode in the lives of our friends down at the Gator Club. While it probably helps to read Mazarin Blues before reading this book, the stories in the two book contain many of the same characters, but have a definite beginning and end, and you don't HAVE to read one to read the other.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant second book in this great series by Al Hess! A really good story line, great characters & world building! A very enjoyable read! I do strongly recommend this writer to everyone that likes this genre!