What do you think?
Rate this book
Between Worlds: Malcontent
Original fiction set in the cyber-world of Aetherium from Anvil 8 Games
Mal Turner is used to being in control. She is a top Agent for Axiom, the most powerful Collective in both the Meatspace, or the "real world," and the Aetherium, a digital landscape serving as humanity's escape, playground, and battlefield. Her latest mission, though, to go deep undercover to infiltrate a group of operatives working for Nanomei, a rival Collective, threatens everything she has worked for. To make matters ever worse, to complete her mission, she must return to the city of her childhood and face the memories buried there. As a trans woman, this includes the painful and complicated time in her life when she was male, before she transitioned into her female self. As Mal confronts her past, and faces the truth of her present, it becomes clear to her that this assignment is much more than it seems. In the Aetherium, Mal can bend reality to her will, but this mission is plunging her headlong into a conflict where more and more variables are slipping through her fingers, and the stability of both worlds, and everything in between, is at stake.
Mal Turner is used to being in control. She is a top Agent for Axiom, the most powerful Collective in both the Meatspace, or the "real world," and the Aetherium, a digital landscape serving as humanity's escape, playground, and battlefield. Her latest mission, though, to go deep undercover to infiltrate a group of operatives working for Nanomei, a rival Collective, threatens everything she has worked for. To make matters ever worse, to complete her mission, she must return to the city of her childhood and face the memories buried there. As a trans woman, this includes the painful and complicated time in her life when she was male, before she transitioned into her female self. As Mal confronts her past, and faces the truth of her present, it becomes clear to her that this assignment is much more than it seems. In the Aetherium, Mal can bend reality to her will, but this mission is plunging her headlong into a conflict where more and more variables are slipping through her fingers, and the stability of both worlds, and everything in between, is at stake.
325 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 15, 2021
Between Worlds: Malcontent portrays two richly detailed worlds: that of the Meatspace, a sad existence everyone wishes to escape, and the Aetherium, a glorious world everyone wants to escape to. The novel focuses on Mal, a brilliant Axiom agent with unparalleled coding and hacking skills. I loved this character--she is effortlessly cool, hyper-skilled, and supremely badass. Mal is about to embark on a deep undercover mission, one that will question her core values and test her loyalties. Along the way, there is a good score of supporting characters, some so charismatic and intriguing that you can’t help but be drawn to them, others who are gentle, lovable souls that offer us unexpected reflections on what it is that makes us human.
I have never played the Aetherium game, so I can attest that this novel is a true pleasure even if you are not familiar with the game. The authors recreate the world for you, and then take you on a wild ride full of suspense, action, and conspiracy. They had me guessing until the end. Mad props to the authors for creating this fascinating read!
I have never played the Aetherium game, so I can attest that this novel is a true pleasure even if you are not familiar with the game. The authors recreate the world for you, and then take you on a wild ride full of suspense, action, and conspiracy. They had me guessing until the end. Mad props to the authors for creating this fascinating read!
October 2, 2022
Me? Finally getting around to this one? Incovievable. Anyways, I was really impressed!! The details and writing of the world and characters were expertly constructed and put together in a way that made a lot of sense, I always felt really immersed in the world and connected to Mal as she connected with the people around her, especially Tok and Kass. Speaking of Kass, move over Mal, I'm in love with her. It doesn't help that I've been in love with since the early drafts, I desparately need to know what she's up to. This one also had a lot of tropes I really liked, spies, academic enemies-best friends- maybe lesbians (?), it had big Matrix, Star Wars, and She Ra vibes so highly recommend for fans of those. Side note, you don't need to be familiar with the Aetherium ttrpg to enjoy it, I'm not and was still able to follow the story and have a full grasp on the concepts.
November 3, 2021
An excellent debut novel!
Between Worlds: Malcontent is a gritty, visually-stunning, cyberpunk-feeling sci-fi tale. The main character, Mal, is intriguing and tough—a true Axiom Agent. Ever loyal. Living two lives, one in the Meatspace and the other in the Aetherium, she embarks on a mission that will take her into deep into the darkest recesses of both worlds, where she realizes all is not what it seems—especially in the virtually created world in which she can truly be herself.
The worlds feel lived-in and real, and each has its own very distinct personality. The Meatspace is desolate, dirty, and devoid of anything other than the bare essentials—and even then, it’s hopelessly depressing. You can practically smell, taste, and feel the destruction and despair as you read. The Aetherium, on the other hand, is vibrant and full of life, just how you’d expect a virtual world in which you can do practically anything you want—if you’re skilled enough. Both worlds came alive on the page, and as a reader, its very important to me to feel like I’ve been effortlessly dropped into the environment. The authors definitely delivered on that feeling.
The cast of supporting characters is a great mixture of humorous, devious, loyal, scholarly, brave, powerful—the list goes on! Will they hinder or help Mal? Read and find out! I’m hopeful Mal’s story will continue!
Even though this world is based on a TTRPG game, the reader definitely didn’t need to play first to get the most out of the story. I haven’t played the game, and I was still completely immersed in the world, characters, and story.
Kudos to the authors for creating an incredible sci-fi world, fantastic characters, and an overall great read.
Between Worlds: Malcontent is a gritty, visually-stunning, cyberpunk-feeling sci-fi tale. The main character, Mal, is intriguing and tough—a true Axiom Agent. Ever loyal. Living two lives, one in the Meatspace and the other in the Aetherium, she embarks on a mission that will take her into deep into the darkest recesses of both worlds, where she realizes all is not what it seems—especially in the virtually created world in which she can truly be herself.
The worlds feel lived-in and real, and each has its own very distinct personality. The Meatspace is desolate, dirty, and devoid of anything other than the bare essentials—and even then, it’s hopelessly depressing. You can practically smell, taste, and feel the destruction and despair as you read. The Aetherium, on the other hand, is vibrant and full of life, just how you’d expect a virtual world in which you can do practically anything you want—if you’re skilled enough. Both worlds came alive on the page, and as a reader, its very important to me to feel like I’ve been effortlessly dropped into the environment. The authors definitely delivered on that feeling.
The cast of supporting characters is a great mixture of humorous, devious, loyal, scholarly, brave, powerful—the list goes on! Will they hinder or help Mal? Read and find out! I’m hopeful Mal’s story will continue!
Even though this world is based on a TTRPG game, the reader definitely didn’t need to play first to get the most out of the story. I haven’t played the game, and I was still completely immersed in the world, characters, and story.
Kudos to the authors for creating an incredible sci-fi world, fantastic characters, and an overall great read.
October 28, 2021
4.5 Stars
This book takes place in a divided world: the Meatspace, a world of cruel corporate oppression, and a virtual world—Aetherium—where people are free to be whoever, and whatever, they desire. Access to the virtual is the currency of the Meatspace. Mal is an Agent of Axiom, one of the corporations that rules the Aetherium.
As Mal works to infiltrate a network of revolutionaries (Nanomei) seeking to bring Axiom down, we are shown that the Aetherium can reveal deep inner truths and conceal hidden motives; in the Aetherium, everything can change in an instant. This book has intense action and fight sequences, explosive confrontations, and a fascinating cast of characters caught up in fight for self-determination.
The reader gets to explore, through Mal’s memory and experience, both the cognitive dissonance of dysphoria and the sheer joy of Mal’s bodily liberation in the Aetherium. We get surprising moments of tenderness and levity, and moments of clarity in which we see just how ruthlessly Axiom has used Mal’s dysphoria to control her. As Mal struggles to carry out her mission, she must ultimately decide who she really is, and whose side she is on.
I find it doubtful that the cover, which seems generic, represents what the authors wanted. I would love to see art depicting Mal as she appears in the Aetherium: a confident badass woman who can handle anything Axoim, or Nanomei, throws at her.
Between Worlds: Malcontent offers intense action, shocking twists, and unexpected moments of tenderness in a cyberpunk world that is richly imagined and complex.
This book takes place in a divided world: the Meatspace, a world of cruel corporate oppression, and a virtual world—Aetherium—where people are free to be whoever, and whatever, they desire. Access to the virtual is the currency of the Meatspace. Mal is an Agent of Axiom, one of the corporations that rules the Aetherium.
As Mal works to infiltrate a network of revolutionaries (Nanomei) seeking to bring Axiom down, we are shown that the Aetherium can reveal deep inner truths and conceal hidden motives; in the Aetherium, everything can change in an instant. This book has intense action and fight sequences, explosive confrontations, and a fascinating cast of characters caught up in fight for self-determination.
The reader gets to explore, through Mal’s memory and experience, both the cognitive dissonance of dysphoria and the sheer joy of Mal’s bodily liberation in the Aetherium. We get surprising moments of tenderness and levity, and moments of clarity in which we see just how ruthlessly Axiom has used Mal’s dysphoria to control her. As Mal struggles to carry out her mission, she must ultimately decide who she really is, and whose side she is on.
I find it doubtful that the cover, which seems generic, represents what the authors wanted. I would love to see art depicting Mal as she appears in the Aetherium: a confident badass woman who can handle anything Axoim, or Nanomei, throws at her.
Between Worlds: Malcontent offers intense action, shocking twists, and unexpected moments of tenderness in a cyberpunk world that is richly imagined and complex.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews