Meet Breya Morrow in the Western States of Separated America, 2039. Internet access is implanted in the brain. Social media likes are a form of currency. Artificial intelligence has evolved into artificial enlightenment. Pregnant, haunted, and hunted by the mistakes of her past, Breya is taken captive when innumerable fantastic, terrifying creatures fall from the skies. With friends and foes both old and new, Breya finds herself an unlikely companion to an otherworldly collective and their struggle to escape Earth.
This debut sci-fi novel feels epic. Set in the near future in the year 2039 where a second American Civil War has resulted in the Separated States of America, a nightmare scenario that feels all too real extrapolating from the current political system.
In the Western States we meet our heroine Breya Morrow. She's made some bad life choices including the fact that she may be pregnant, but she's struck out on her own after escaping from the cultish collective run by Anders, a tech genius not only developing AI but also AE, artificial enlightenment.
Breya is suddenly caught up in an alien invasion. Adrick, a human brought up off-world, crash lands on Earth and takes Breya hostage but they're both infected by Spurs, leech like creatures that are gradually killing them and seem impossible to remove.
Breya and Adrick are forced into a cross country adventure looking for a way to remove the parasitic Spurs and gathering a collection of off worlders in a bid to escape Earth.
Favourite supporting characters include Black Eye, a giant humanoid who is immensely strong with an insane thirst for battle and Zeph, a vending drone that starts following Breya everywhere and has a penchant for dispensing socks.
Warring States, dangerous and terrifying alien creatures, bizarre weaponry and an increasingly dangerous Anders linked to his AE transforming him into something other all add up to a crazy adventure in this futuristic America. Breya's character growth from victim to gun-totin' badass is fantastic.
Sci-fi fans will enjoy this novel and will join me in wanting more adventures with Breya (and Zeph!).