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Crew of Exiles
A bitter transcendent being. A naïve gamer with no extra lives. A discarded human shell. The last people left on Earth.
In 2500 A.D. an immortal has ended its own life. Beryl, a misanthropic transcendent being, is accused of assisting in the suicide. Banished to a human body by his peers, Beryl is sentenced to a 1,000-year exile on the depopulated Earth.
If misery is his fate, Beryl would rather suffer it alone. Instead he’s adopted by Fife, a plucky virtual reality gamer who is eager to go adventuring in the real world.
Fife drags Beryl along to a crashed starship where they meet Nesh, the lone survivor of the crash and an orphan of Beryl’s crime. Beryl’s past hounds his every step and puts his newfound friends in mortal danger. How can they survive the wrath of vengeful transcendent beings?
The solution lies in Nesh’s deep-buried memories—but only if Beryl can face his past and rekindle his humanity.
In 2500 A.D. an immortal has ended its own life. Beryl, a misanthropic transcendent being, is accused of assisting in the suicide. Banished to a human body by his peers, Beryl is sentenced to a 1,000-year exile on the depopulated Earth.
If misery is his fate, Beryl would rather suffer it alone. Instead he’s adopted by Fife, a plucky virtual reality gamer who is eager to go adventuring in the real world.
Fife drags Beryl along to a crashed starship where they meet Nesh, the lone survivor of the crash and an orphan of Beryl’s crime. Beryl’s past hounds his every step and puts his newfound friends in mortal danger. How can they survive the wrath of vengeful transcendent beings?
The solution lies in Nesh’s deep-buried memories—but only if Beryl can face his past and rekindle his humanity.
Published October 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 27, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows a sci-fi universe that is set very far ahead into the future, where humanity has ceased to exist as we know it. The main character, Beryl, has been confined to a mortal body and banished to Earth, as an act of punishment for his past actions. He journeys to the land of a severely underpopulated Earth, where he meets Fife, a bubbly lover of all things virtual, and Nesh, a quiet person with intertwined connections to Beryl's past. Together, they embark on journeys that test their bond, as well as their sanity when the truth starts to come forward and becomes prevalent between them.
This book surprised me in many unexpectedly pleasant and emotional ways. I am not partial when it comes to sci-fi or dystopian novels, but something about this novel drew me in, and I couldn't resist its temptation. The plot is well thought out and I have never been so satisfied with the pacing of a sci-fi novel, in an extremely long time. I grew so attached to these characters and their individual personalities, and when I finished the book, my emotional investment refused to allow me to acknowledge the fact that it was over. I am in awe that this is a debut novel, and I feel so attached to it, that I can't believe how much I enjoyed myself. The ending left me emotionally distraught, and I would have appreciated a few more pages of closure, thus why I didn't give it a higher rating.
Overall, this book may be long, (700+ pages) but I highly recommend that does not deter any fellow space and science lovers, from picking up a physical copy as soon as it is made available, since I will be doing the same. I applaud the author and his well-written novel, as it has weaved its way into my heart, as one of the best sci-fi novels that I have been able to read and finish. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with such an arc of such a wonderful story.
This book follows a sci-fi universe that is set very far ahead into the future, where humanity has ceased to exist as we know it. The main character, Beryl, has been confined to a mortal body and banished to Earth, as an act of punishment for his past actions. He journeys to the land of a severely underpopulated Earth, where he meets Fife, a bubbly lover of all things virtual, and Nesh, a quiet person with intertwined connections to Beryl's past. Together, they embark on journeys that test their bond, as well as their sanity when the truth starts to come forward and becomes prevalent between them.
This book surprised me in many unexpectedly pleasant and emotional ways. I am not partial when it comes to sci-fi or dystopian novels, but something about this novel drew me in, and I couldn't resist its temptation. The plot is well thought out and I have never been so satisfied with the pacing of a sci-fi novel, in an extremely long time. I grew so attached to these characters and their individual personalities, and when I finished the book, my emotional investment refused to allow me to acknowledge the fact that it was over. I am in awe that this is a debut novel, and I feel so attached to it, that I can't believe how much I enjoyed myself. The ending left me emotionally distraught, and I would have appreciated a few more pages of closure, thus why I didn't give it a higher rating.
Overall, this book may be long, (700+ pages) but I highly recommend that does not deter any fellow space and science lovers, from picking up a physical copy as soon as it is made available, since I will be doing the same. I applaud the author and his well-written novel, as it has weaved its way into my heart, as one of the best sci-fi novels that I have been able to read and finish. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with such an arc of such a wonderful story.
August 28, 2022
This is a fascinating, and at times challenging, sci-fi book. It tells the story of Beryl, a post-human entity–effectively, a god, or at least a titan–sentenced to be trapped on Earth in a sickly human body as punishment for his crimes against the post-human order. The nature of these crimes is not apparent until later in the book, but it’s clear they strike against everything that culture values.
Wandering the nearly-desolated planet, Beryl eventually comes into contact with a woman named Fife, who has been happily living in a virtual reality pod for what amounts to innumerable “in-game” lifespans, honing her skills in all manner of simulations. When they finally meet “IRL” Fife is everything Beryl is not: plucky, optimistic, and competent. Beryl regards her as an “airhead gamer,” but reluctantly joins her “party,” seeing it as his best bet for escaping a planet he loathes.
Gathering two more lost individuals and one spaceship, they manage to depart the Earth, but doing so quickly draws the attention of the psst-humans who exiled Beryl in the first place. Unable to escape their godlike powers, he is forced to confront his past and try to find a way to atone for many mistakes.
If you like trippy, challenging sci-fi that encourages you to think about the nature of humanity, this is a good book to read. And especially if you are a gamer, as many of Fife’s observations from the world of simulations will feel familiar to veteran players of RPGs.
[Note: I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.]
Wandering the nearly-desolated planet, Beryl eventually comes into contact with a woman named Fife, who has been happily living in a virtual reality pod for what amounts to innumerable “in-game” lifespans, honing her skills in all manner of simulations. When they finally meet “IRL” Fife is everything Beryl is not: plucky, optimistic, and competent. Beryl regards her as an “airhead gamer,” but reluctantly joins her “party,” seeing it as his best bet for escaping a planet he loathes.
Gathering two more lost individuals and one spaceship, they manage to depart the Earth, but doing so quickly draws the attention of the psst-humans who exiled Beryl in the first place. Unable to escape their godlike powers, he is forced to confront his past and try to find a way to atone for many mistakes.
If you like trippy, challenging sci-fi that encourages you to think about the nature of humanity, this is a good book to read. And especially if you are a gamer, as many of Fife’s observations from the world of simulations will feel familiar to veteran players of RPGs.
[Note: I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.]
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February 21, 2025Crew of Exiles is an introspective scifi novel, somehow at once action packed thriller and soft, philosophical deconstruction of what it means to be human.
The writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. The multiple points of view were easily distinguished, with their own unique voice and tone that made the characters feel distinctly alive and interactive. Fife was an instant favourite, with her truly good moral code and ideals, though Nesh was a close second.
Overall, an interesting read, for those who like introspective and/or apocalypse scifi with multiple pov.
Thank you to Net Galley and Haste Publishing for access to an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. The multiple points of view were easily distinguished, with their own unique voice and tone that made the characters feel distinctly alive and interactive. Fife was an instant favourite, with her truly good moral code and ideals, though Nesh was a close second.
Overall, an interesting read, for those who like introspective and/or apocalypse scifi with multiple pov.
Thank you to Net Galley and Haste Publishing for access to an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2022
As far as I'm concerned, Neal Holtschulte is THE debut sci-fi author to watch for in 2022.
CREW OF EXILES is a humorous, deep, touching, and exciting novel about a band of misfits brought together for diverse reasons.
I'm one of those people who reads primarily for characters, and this novel kept me satisfied. The interplay between them, as they struggle to understand each other and develop empathy and care, is so very compelling and enjoyable. The character arc of one of them, in particular, is my favorite I've read in a long time.
But this book's only strength isn't its characters. The sci-fi worldbuilding is compelling and fully-realized. Despite Earth being mostly empty, it feels both alive and ghostly, all at once. The way Holtschulte walks us through the environment supports the characters as they traverse once-busy, now-ruined landscapes in search of a shared humanity and each of their personal goals.
I'm eagerly awaiting future stories by Holtshulte. Put this author on your to-watch list.
I was provided an ARC of this book by the author, so I could write an honest review.
CREW OF EXILES is a humorous, deep, touching, and exciting novel about a band of misfits brought together for diverse reasons.
I'm one of those people who reads primarily for characters, and this novel kept me satisfied. The interplay between them, as they struggle to understand each other and develop empathy and care, is so very compelling and enjoyable. The character arc of one of them, in particular, is my favorite I've read in a long time.
But this book's only strength isn't its characters. The sci-fi worldbuilding is compelling and fully-realized. Despite Earth being mostly empty, it feels both alive and ghostly, all at once. The way Holtschulte walks us through the environment supports the characters as they traverse once-busy, now-ruined landscapes in search of a shared humanity and each of their personal goals.
I'm eagerly awaiting future stories by Holtshulte. Put this author on your to-watch list.
I was provided an ARC of this book by the author, so I could write an honest review.
October 2, 2022
4,5 out of 5
crew of exiles is not your typical far future utopias / dystopia tale. it is quite long but the narrative and plot is dished out is small bite sized chapters and unfolds at a brisk pace. the story has 4 POV characters, each bringing their own unique histories and perspectives, with Holtschulte writing each uniquely. there are many large and small mysteries involving the world and the characters that are resolved very well and by the end I was very satisfied with where everyone ended up.
This book can be a challenge at times, especially the first couple chapters and at times numerous chapters telling the same events from different POVs, If you know what you are getting into before - that this book requies your full attention, empathy, and imagination, it is so very worth it.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
crew of exiles is not your typical far future utopias / dystopia tale. it is quite long but the narrative and plot is dished out is small bite sized chapters and unfolds at a brisk pace. the story has 4 POV characters, each bringing their own unique histories and perspectives, with Holtschulte writing each uniquely. there are many large and small mysteries involving the world and the characters that are resolved very well and by the end I was very satisfied with where everyone ended up.
This book can be a challenge at times, especially the first couple chapters and at times numerous chapters telling the same events from different POVs, If you know what you are getting into before - that this book requies your full attention, empathy, and imagination, it is so very worth it.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
October 17, 2022
Disclaimer: I'm the author, but I wrote a book that I wanted to read and I love reading this book. It's vibrant and fast-paced. The characters are delightfully mismatched, flawed and abrasive to each other, but ultimately they grow and overcome their personal flaws. The novel mixes far out post-human societies with typical science fiction stuff; spaceships, virtual reality, and a bit of a classic semi-philosophical adventure feel.
August 5, 2022
Thank you, Haste Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for honest review!
I’m not a big sci-fi person, mainly to the technical language and complexity of worldbuilding, but the description really pulled me in, so I knew I had to give this one a chance. And to be honest, through the first 3 or 5 chapters, it was the description that kept me going with the book. Personally, I don’t think they were all completely necessary to the plot, especially since they didn’t answer many questions about the world either. It was only around chapter 6 or 7 when the book starts to get attractive, and I didn’t have to look at the last page to keep my interest going. I’m not sure if it was pacing or style of writing, but some questions weren’t answered until the second half or very end, but it didn’t feel like they should be answered so late. Characters were strong and clearly, they were the main focus of the book, which makes you want to keep going just to see what happens with them, which I really liked.
My main problem was Nesh’ character, the only non-binary one (unless I missed something else, but Ohnsy is very much female). As much as I love representation and use of they/them pronouns, I really dislike the trope of making aliens/robots the only non-binary representation, especially in the case when they basically just learn who they are as a person.
Rating: 3.5/5
I’m not a big sci-fi person, mainly to the technical language and complexity of worldbuilding, but the description really pulled me in, so I knew I had to give this one a chance. And to be honest, through the first 3 or 5 chapters, it was the description that kept me going with the book. Personally, I don’t think they were all completely necessary to the plot, especially since they didn’t answer many questions about the world either. It was only around chapter 6 or 7 when the book starts to get attractive, and I didn’t have to look at the last page to keep my interest going. I’m not sure if it was pacing or style of writing, but some questions weren’t answered until the second half or very end, but it didn’t feel like they should be answered so late. Characters were strong and clearly, they were the main focus of the book, which makes you want to keep going just to see what happens with them, which I really liked.
My main problem was Nesh’ character, the only non-binary one (unless I missed something else, but Ohnsy is very much female). As much as I love representation and use of they/them pronouns, I really dislike the trope of making aliens/robots the only non-binary representation, especially in the case when they basically just learn who they are as a person.
Rating: 3.5/5
July 17, 2022
An intelligent thought provoking sci fi romp .I very much enjoyed the backbone of this novel which looks deeply into what it means to be human .In a world where it is possible to become immortal by having your brain function replicated and placed into a body of your choice as many times as you need are the resultant beings truly human .Do they have more validity than an artificial intelligence
I wandered initially why the main character with pronounce he was called Beryl it seemed an odd choice Until the duality of his personality is explained.It took some time for the clues to his status were revealed the author does this cleverly by drip feeding the information as you read .At any one time you understand just enough to follow the story .The ultimate dawning was highly satisfying to the reader
I loved the way the humanness was explored by introducing us to other more human characters and one who’s character is in the developing stage and who early on eco it’s some nicely described autistic traits
I particularly enjoyed this sentence from the novel “The real world certainly had niche appeal from a gamers point of view “ lovely that made me chuckle
I would recommend this book to those who like a sci fi novel with intelligence and great characters
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published by Haste publishing on 21st August 2022
I wandered initially why the main character with pronounce he was called Beryl it seemed an odd choice Until the duality of his personality is explained.It took some time for the clues to his status were revealed the author does this cleverly by drip feeding the information as you read .At any one time you understand just enough to follow the story .The ultimate dawning was highly satisfying to the reader
I loved the way the humanness was explored by introducing us to other more human characters and one who’s character is in the developing stage and who early on eco it’s some nicely described autistic traits
I particularly enjoyed this sentence from the novel “The real world certainly had niche appeal from a gamers point of view “ lovely that made me chuckle
I would recommend this book to those who like a sci fi novel with intelligence and great characters
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published by Haste publishing on 21st August 2022
August 18, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is a 3.5 star review rounded up to 4 stars.
Crew of Exiles follows a group of damaged characters as they react to a mystery, a catastrophe, and a philosophical dilemma. Set in a future where some of humanity has left Earth to experience a post-human existence and some of humanity has inexplicably disappeared, the novel deals with themes and ideas that look at how we interact and how our existence can be defined by our emotions.
I was about halfway through when I realized that Crew of Exiles was reminding me of old school science fiction; working on a couple of ideas with characters who served the plot with a bit of depth. I like that about the book. I also like that it's not the first of a series. The story very much ends.
Crew of Exiles is a good read. It doesn't break new ground, but it examines its ideas well.
This is a 3.5 star review rounded up to 4 stars.
Crew of Exiles follows a group of damaged characters as they react to a mystery, a catastrophe, and a philosophical dilemma. Set in a future where some of humanity has left Earth to experience a post-human existence and some of humanity has inexplicably disappeared, the novel deals with themes and ideas that look at how we interact and how our existence can be defined by our emotions.
I was about halfway through when I realized that Crew of Exiles was reminding me of old school science fiction; working on a couple of ideas with characters who served the plot with a bit of depth. I like that about the book. I also like that it's not the first of a series. The story very much ends.
Crew of Exiles is a good read. It doesn't break new ground, but it examines its ideas well.
January 31, 2025
DNF@66%
So when I read the book's description here on GoodReads, I was hoping this would be an enjoyable, funny and action-filled story about some misfits stranded on an empty Earth.
Boy was I wrong.
Instead, the story, if you can call it that, is mostly about how 4 people, each flawed and miserable, find out how they want to live. This is done primarily by long, long, looooong internal monologues. That are also repetitive.... The same arguments and discovery of feelings over and over again.
Yeah, big pass for me, it's just too boring.
So when I read the book's description here on GoodReads, I was hoping this would be an enjoyable, funny and action-filled story about some misfits stranded on an empty Earth.
Boy was I wrong.
Instead, the story, if you can call it that, is mostly about how 4 people, each flawed and miserable, find out how they want to live. This is done primarily by long, long, looooong internal monologues. That are also repetitive.... The same arguments and discovery of feelings over and over again.
Yeah, big pass for me, it's just too boring.
June 7, 2022
Who doesn't like a good book full of exiles and rejects? Exactly. The writing is smooth and while full of lots of techno-babble, it still makes an easy and fun packed read. Each chapter is written in the perspective of a different character, and each does indeed have their own voice. You may not like some of them throughout the book, but that's fine, as you don't need to to empathise with them on their individual journeys.
A fun little read, with more than a few feels kicked in there.
A fun little read, with more than a few feels kicked in there.
June 21, 2022
The world is left with a gamer as only human left alive. Everyone else has disappeared. Then she discovers, Beryl, a post human sentenced to 1000 years in human form. After a period of time they discover two more people. They leave Earth in a spaceship and battle the humans hidden on the moon and post humans....
June 26, 2022
An interesting story with an unusual cast of characters. This one will probably stick with me for a while. This study in relationships was surprisingly emotional at times. Recommended.
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!
April 21, 2025
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/44x3p14.
Beryl was a transcendent being and had long since moved beyond the insignificance of Earth. After committing the ultimate crime, assisted suicide of another transcendent being, he is being punished to live the next 1,000 years as a mortal. No leaving Earth and in a body. Countless memories were dumped to fit his consciousness into the fleshy prison his own brother made for him, but his anger remained. When he arrives on Earth it is devoid of all human life until he happens across another in VR. Together they form a party, Beryl quite unwillingly, to save themselves.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It is a Sci-Fi with VR points that follows a pompous ass, a peppy gamer girl, a ship worker, and another transcendent being's sentient creation. We discover more and more about Beryl as the book goes along, but he is definitely one of those characters you love to hate.
At the beginning he is all pomp, attitude, and ego. However, as we learn more about him he becomes more relatable and you no longer dislike his instances. Given, we don't know everything he lost by becoming mortal, but he ends up doing a decent job of it by the end even with the pieces of himself he has left.
Fife is easily my favorite. Yes, she is the peppy gamer. She has spent her entire life (however long that may be as humans can now be bred to be essentially immortal) in VR knowing that she will eventually be the heir to some kind of major corporation. She has played and beat hundreds if not thousands of games and is a great leader. Now, she has to take these skills into the real world where there is no respawn if she messes up with someone who doesn't want to be there.
I feel this book wrapped up nicely and while I don't know if it is part of a series or not it has the potential to lead to more adventures down the road with how it closed. I definitely wouldn't be against more from them.
Beryl was a transcendent being and had long since moved beyond the insignificance of Earth. After committing the ultimate crime, assisted suicide of another transcendent being, he is being punished to live the next 1,000 years as a mortal. No leaving Earth and in a body. Countless memories were dumped to fit his consciousness into the fleshy prison his own brother made for him, but his anger remained. When he arrives on Earth it is devoid of all human life until he happens across another in VR. Together they form a party, Beryl quite unwillingly, to save themselves.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It is a Sci-Fi with VR points that follows a pompous ass, a peppy gamer girl, a ship worker, and another transcendent being's sentient creation. We discover more and more about Beryl as the book goes along, but he is definitely one of those characters you love to hate.
At the beginning he is all pomp, attitude, and ego. However, as we learn more about him he becomes more relatable and you no longer dislike his instances. Given, we don't know everything he lost by becoming mortal, but he ends up doing a decent job of it by the end even with the pieces of himself he has left.
Fife is easily my favorite. Yes, she is the peppy gamer. She has spent her entire life (however long that may be as humans can now be bred to be essentially immortal) in VR knowing that she will eventually be the heir to some kind of major corporation. She has played and beat hundreds if not thousands of games and is a great leader. Now, she has to take these skills into the real world where there is no respawn if she messes up with someone who doesn't want to be there.
I feel this book wrapped up nicely and while I don't know if it is part of a series or not it has the potential to lead to more adventures down the road with how it closed. I definitely wouldn't be against more from them.
November 29, 2022
This book was a lot of fun. I’ve always loved sci-fi, so I was excited to read it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi. I enjoyed how well-developed each of the main characters was. I felt like I could understand their motivations and what caused their growth. I also constantly wanted to know what would happen next, and had some big surprises in the end. It was a fun journey!
The book also has great worldbuilding. There were enough new concepts to make it unique, yet it was close enough to reality and well-explained (via the characters’ eyes and thoughts) to the point that it seemed natural to understand those world-building elements.
Sometimes when reading books with multiple narrators, I find myself wishing we could spend more time on someone's perspective or getting bored of the current narrator's view, but this never happened in Crew of Exiles. The various narrators were perfectly balanced to keep me entertained and engaged while the story (and characters) progressed.
The book also has great worldbuilding. There were enough new concepts to make it unique, yet it was close enough to reality and well-explained (via the characters’ eyes and thoughts) to the point that it seemed natural to understand those world-building elements.
Sometimes when reading books with multiple narrators, I find myself wishing we could spend more time on someone's perspective or getting bored of the current narrator's view, but this never happened in Crew of Exiles. The various narrators were perfectly balanced to keep me entertained and engaged while the story (and characters) progressed.
October 25, 2022
Full disclosure: I read this the first time in a workshop setting and got to be on the awesome journey of seeing this novel really come to form.
One of the biggest strengths -- if not *the* biggest strength -- of Neal's writing is the characters. Wholly believable and thoroughly charming. Beryl is my favorite. The characters' motivations are always clear and concise even when we get into the complexities of identity, existence, and post-humanism.
The writing is streamlined and as sleek as the Quicksilver itself. While reading this book I was constantly thinking that this could be a Netflix series. It's very cinematic and everything is easy, and exciting, to visualize. While it tackles heady questions the writing is never opaque or condescending. There's a pulp quality here but some sort of new variant on pulp that I don't have an excellent descriptor for.
What can I say... If you're looking for a fun and emotional sci-fi ride you should pick this up and check it out.
One of the biggest strengths -- if not *the* biggest strength -- of Neal's writing is the characters. Wholly believable and thoroughly charming. Beryl is my favorite. The characters' motivations are always clear and concise even when we get into the complexities of identity, existence, and post-humanism.
The writing is streamlined and as sleek as the Quicksilver itself. While reading this book I was constantly thinking that this could be a Netflix series. It's very cinematic and everything is easy, and exciting, to visualize. While it tackles heady questions the writing is never opaque or condescending. There's a pulp quality here but some sort of new variant on pulp that I don't have an excellent descriptor for.
What can I say... If you're looking for a fun and emotional sci-fi ride you should pick this up and check it out.
November 11, 2022
I loved this book! It follows a wacky cast of characters, each with their own goals and ambitions, through a series of scifi adventures. It reminded me of a much more sophisticated, science-fictiony Wizard of Oz—everybody trying to get their one true desire. I especially liked how the author described the future world where some humans have transcended their physical forms while others are exiled to roam Earth in the traditional physical form. It's very creative. Definitely one of the best self-published books I've ever read. It probably should have been picked up by a traditional publisher. Maybe a movie deal? Netflix?
May 26, 2023
I liked the world building and the concept, felt more like I was playing a rpg game. This book was filled with humor and emotions and makes you think about a lot of things, especially humanity. Now Starting this book I had high hopes for it but it was of to quite a slow start which made me almost five up on it. And the names in this book were a bit hard to remember and confusing. Plus the way the chapters ended was a bit confusing as well and it kind of felt a bit clustered and rushed but overall a decent read.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2023
This science fiction novel is an introspective journey to the heart of humanity. An intriguing look at whether/why humans have more value than robots or AI?
The plot developments give us good insight into the MC and the secondary ones, and this clever, character-driven story will keep readers engaged until the very end.
The plot developments give us good insight into the MC and the secondary ones, and this clever, character-driven story will keep readers engaged until the very end.
November 19, 2025
I'm disappointed. What's there to say?
This isn't really scifi, it's space magic.
There's no character development; Beryl ends just as whiny and bitter as he starts, even getting what he says he wants.
There's no cause for character change, so you get whiplash between their random emotions.
There's no difference between the post-humans and humans, but it pretends there is in narration.
And majority of this book is repeating internal monologues that come out of nowhere and amount to nothing, because they are unprompted, out of character, and don't reflect anything in the action.
Oh, it also constantly says how dangerous something is before a character gives the dangerous one the middle finger "and they do nothing." In short, it's a story on a track where nothing really matters.
This isn't really scifi, it's space magic.
There's no character development; Beryl ends just as whiny and bitter as he starts, even getting what he says he wants.
There's no cause for character change, so you get whiplash between their random emotions.
There's no difference between the post-humans and humans, but it pretends there is in narration.
And majority of this book is repeating internal monologues that come out of nowhere and amount to nothing, because they are unprompted, out of character, and don't reflect anything in the action.
Oh, it also constantly says how dangerous something is before a character gives the dangerous one the middle finger "and they do nothing." In short, it's a story on a track where nothing really matters.
October 15, 2022
This book is fresh, tightly written, excellent characters. It was engaging from the start and unpredictable until the end.
December 14, 2023
Unique book with fun characters. Really enjoyed this author’s take on the sci-fi genre and look forward to what he comes out with next!
July 7, 2023
great
This was a little slow to start but once into the book I found it hard to put down. Characters were interesting and full of twists and turns. I would recommend this even to people who don’t typically read sci-if.
This was a little slow to start but once into the book I found it hard to put down. Characters were interesting and full of twists and turns. I would recommend this even to people who don’t typically read sci-if.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews