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The Alloy Era #2
Loka
Finding a place to belong becomes a girl’s ambitious quest in a thrilling epic about space, humanity, and self-discovery by S.B. Divya, Hugo and Nebula Award finalist and author of Meru.
Akshaya is the hybrid daughter of a human mother and an alloy, a genetically engineered posthuman—and she’s the future of life on the planet Meru. But not if the determined Akshaya can help it. Before choosing where her future lies, she wants to circumnavigate the most historic orb in the universe—the birthplace of Earth.
Akshaya’s parents reluctantly agree to her anthropological challenge—one with no assistance from alloy devices, transport, or wary alloys themselves who manage humanity and the regions of Earth called Loka. It’s just Akshaya; her equally bold best friend, Somya; and a carefully planned itinerary threading continent by continent across a wondrous terrain of things she’s never blue skies, sunrises, snowcapped mountains, and roiling oceans.
As the adventure unfolds, the travelers discover love and new friendships, but they also learn the risks of a planet that’s not entirely welcoming. On this trek—rapturous, dangerous, and life-changing—Akshaya will discover what human existence really means.
Akshaya is the hybrid daughter of a human mother and an alloy, a genetically engineered posthuman—and she’s the future of life on the planet Meru. But not if the determined Akshaya can help it. Before choosing where her future lies, she wants to circumnavigate the most historic orb in the universe—the birthplace of Earth.
Akshaya’s parents reluctantly agree to her anthropological challenge—one with no assistance from alloy devices, transport, or wary alloys themselves who manage humanity and the regions of Earth called Loka. It’s just Akshaya; her equally bold best friend, Somya; and a carefully planned itinerary threading continent by continent across a wondrous terrain of things she’s never blue skies, sunrises, snowcapped mountains, and roiling oceans.
As the adventure unfolds, the travelers discover love and new friendships, but they also learn the risks of a planet that’s not entirely welcoming. On this trek—rapturous, dangerous, and life-changing—Akshaya will discover what human existence really means.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2024
226 people are currently reading
4234 people want to read
About the author
S.B. Divya
25 books484 followersS.B. Divya (she/any) is a lover of science, math, fiction, and the Oxford comma. She is the Hugo and Nebula nominated author of Meru (2023), Machinehood, Runtime, and Contingency Plans For the Apocalypse and Other Possible Situations. Her short stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, and she was the co-editor of Escape Pod, the weekly science fiction podcast, from 2017-2022. Divya holds degrees in Computational Neuroscience and Signal Processing, and she worked for twenty years as an electrical engineer before becoming an author. Born in Pondicherry, India, Divya now resides in Southern California. She enjoys subverting expectations and breaking stereotypes whenever she can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 5, 2025
Mar 4, 2025, 730pm ~~ It is always tricky to review a sequel without revealing too much of the plot from the first book, but I will try.
SIxteen year old Akshaya and her heartsib Somya have set a goal for themselves: to complete the Anthro Challenge, a circumnavigation of Earth using only Human-era technology.
In the Alloy Era, this will be more difficult than a person might think. Alloys are the dominant species in what is now known as the Constructed Democracy of Sol.
The two friends are stubborn and adventurous, each with very strong reasons for attempting this feat. Akshaya is the main focus of the story, she has much more to prove to herself and her parents; but Somya is calm and steady, with a we-can-do-it approach no matter what crisis turns up.
The trip was exciting; and the chapters were short enough that every so often we read an extra chapter or even two in order not to be stressed about What Would Happen Next.
I still cried a couple of times, couldn't help myself. I'm glad Marco is such a patient audience.
The book ends with a vision of the future which the dreamer in me would love to believe in, but looking around today I see very little chance of that happening.
Chaos and hatred are in charge these days, much to the dismay of those of us who see the world in a different way than so many government officials think we should.
But with the help of books like Meru and Loka, I can still dream.
"Every action creates a cascade of reactions, and every decision ripples outward with a multitude of consequences. The only existence is coexistence."
Mar 1, 445pm ~~ The Zapata Reading Club finished this today. We both enjoyed it very much; it was an excellent way to complete the story begun in Meru. I will do a proper review asap.
SIxteen year old Akshaya and her heartsib Somya have set a goal for themselves: to complete the Anthro Challenge, a circumnavigation of Earth using only Human-era technology.
In the Alloy Era, this will be more difficult than a person might think. Alloys are the dominant species in what is now known as the Constructed Democracy of Sol.
The two friends are stubborn and adventurous, each with very strong reasons for attempting this feat. Akshaya is the main focus of the story, she has much more to prove to herself and her parents; but Somya is calm and steady, with a we-can-do-it approach no matter what crisis turns up.
The trip was exciting; and the chapters were short enough that every so often we read an extra chapter or even two in order not to be stressed about What Would Happen Next.
I still cried a couple of times, couldn't help myself. I'm glad Marco is such a patient audience.
The book ends with a vision of the future which the dreamer in me would love to believe in, but looking around today I see very little chance of that happening.
Chaos and hatred are in charge these days, much to the dismay of those of us who see the world in a different way than so many government officials think we should.
But with the help of books like Meru and Loka, I can still dream.
"Every action creates a cascade of reactions, and every decision ripples outward with a multitude of consequences. The only existence is coexistence."
Mar 1, 445pm ~~ The Zapata Reading Club finished this today. We both enjoyed it very much; it was an excellent way to complete the story begun in Meru. I will do a proper review asap.
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August 12, 2024As with the first book in the series, the world-building is much stronger than the story. The Anthro Challenge was potentially interesting, but the attempts to give this adventure higher stakes felt artificial and simplistic.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.
April 11, 2024
I grabbed a copy at NetGalley at random and I was not disappointed! Very distant future wholesome solarpunk young adult adventure vibes.
After starting to read, I learned that this book is second one in series, but let me assure you this is quite nice stand alone work. Even though there are mentions of first books events it does not impact reading experience. Loved the world building. Some characters seemed a bit flat, but it's always nice to see a book where romantic aspects even though present are not most important. The journey is the important part. Coming in terms with yourself, the world and your place in it (versus what parents want) is the main theme. Very young adult (but in a good way).
After starting to read, I learned that this book is second one in series, but let me assure you this is quite nice stand alone work. Even though there are mentions of first books events it does not impact reading experience. Loved the world building. Some characters seemed a bit flat, but it's always nice to see a book where romantic aspects even though present are not most important. The journey is the important part. Coming in terms with yourself, the world and your place in it (versus what parents want) is the main theme. Very young adult (but in a good way).
March 27, 2025
3.5 stars. It took me FOREVER to read this (like 6 months), but honestly that was okay. In this book, the two main characters take an Earth-circumnavigating journey so it lends itself well to starts and stops in reading. Like the first in this series, Meru, I liked it even while it didn't set me afire with passion.
So, in this second book in the Alloy Era series, years have passed, and Jayanthi's daughter Akshaya has grown into a teenager yearning for independence. And even though Jayanthi genetically designed her to be perfectly adapted to the planet Meru, Aks just wants to explore the Earth, which she's never seen. She and her best pal Somya get permission to do the "Anthro Challenge" - a voyage around the Earth in a set amount of time, using NO advanced technology. You know, the way humans used to do it before they were neutered of most of their ambition by alloys (space-capable AI). Their journey is followed by an alloy documentarian and the tension is: will Aks and Somya 1) survive the challenge, and 2) get to stay on Earth, as was their original goal?
This book is the definition of "it's the journey, not the destination." It's pretty fun to see Aks and Somya move through areas of the Earth, and Divya offers tantalizing details of a just-previous era when humans still trying to make it all work before AI/alloys came in and just did it for them, better.
I won't spoil the end, but I do wish there was a bit more buildup to it, but it's not a fatal flaw. Overall, I think Divya has created an interesting future world and it's a good use of time to dip in and think about some of its ideas sometimes. As for the character and interpersonal story, I found it a bit remote - except one moment later in the book that's absolutely devastating.
I do wonder if there will be a third book. I kinda hope so - I hope Divya takes us even further into the future, because I'm curious to know how this world would evolve.
So, in this second book in the Alloy Era series, years have passed, and Jayanthi's daughter Akshaya has grown into a teenager yearning for independence. And even though Jayanthi genetically designed her to be perfectly adapted to the planet Meru, Aks just wants to explore the Earth, which she's never seen. She and her best pal Somya get permission to do the "Anthro Challenge" - a voyage around the Earth in a set amount of time, using NO advanced technology. You know, the way humans used to do it before they were neutered of most of their ambition by alloys (space-capable AI). Their journey is followed by an alloy documentarian and the tension is: will Aks and Somya 1) survive the challenge, and 2) get to stay on Earth, as was their original goal?
This book is the definition of "it's the journey, not the destination." It's pretty fun to see Aks and Somya move through areas of the Earth, and Divya offers tantalizing details of a just-previous era when humans still trying to make it all work before AI/alloys came in and just did it for them, better.
I won't spoil the end, but I do wish there was a bit more buildup to it, but it's not a fatal flaw. Overall, I think Divya has created an interesting future world and it's a good use of time to dip in and think about some of its ideas sometimes. As for the character and interpersonal story, I found it a bit remote - except one moment later in the book that's absolutely devastating.
I do wonder if there will be a third book. I kinda hope so - I hope Divya takes us even further into the future, because I'm curious to know how this world would evolve.
August 4, 2024
tl;dr: adventure-oriented sci-fi sequel with captivating worldbuilding. while it had its flaws, i still found it to be an enjoyable read.
as with the first book, meru, i loved the worldbuilding! the premise of the two books is a captivating world that’s totally unlike any other. divya’s creativity is endless and i enjoyed being able to return to this world & explore it once more.
the major issue i had with this book, however, was that the whole premise (the anthro challenge) didn’t feel completely essential from the beginning. akshaya and somya were completely risking their lives to complete the challenge, and it didn’t feel like it was worth it. in the beginning, they were trying to complete the challenge just to convince jayanthi to let akshara stay on earth, and to prove a point that humans could live without alloy assistance. while it did made sense for the characters to care about both of these goals, it didn’t feel like the challenge was worth its risks, considering that they knew they would be risking imminent death on many occasions to complete it. particularly at first, it felt like they were just doing it out of stubbornness & pride, to prove to jayanthi & the world that they could. while additional stakes were added later on (namely, the petition for exile reform), it felt like this was added simply for the sake of having extra stakes. because it didn’t make sense that whether or not they finished the challenge was the driving factor for whether exile reform would go through. if those who signed the petition truly cared about exile reform, after all, they would want it to go through regardless of whether akshaya and somya finished the challenge. in the end, the premises and stakes of the challenge felt like plot devices for the characters to undertake the anthro challenge—and it didn’t feel like they justified the immense risks the characters were taking in attempting the challenge. and since the challenge was the main focus of the book, i kept coming back to this flaw, especially since the characters were often trying to decide whether to end the challenge or continue to risk their lives to finish it.
the other major issue i had with this book was the writing style. i felt that it was often “tell, not show” and at times, this made it come across as a bit bland and direct, especially when it came to the characters’ emotions. i feel like being a bit more “show, not tell” in writing style would add so much more nuance to the book & allow the complexities of the characters’ motives and emotions to shine through.
however, this aside, i did enjoy reading about akshaya and somya’s adventures.
aspects i liked about the book!
- realistic depiction of how akshaya’s character has been impacted by the expectations on her shoulders. since jayanthi created akshaya specifically for meru, akshaya has always been made to feel like it was her predated destiny to go to meru in the future. this is an expectation she has felt trapped by for so long, especially because it is her mother’s dream for her, not her own. as a result, she has tried to subvert this destiny in any way she can, causing her to be a stubborn and headstrong character. i felt like this was a very realistic depiction of the effects these sorts of expectations would have on a person!
- the book did have very clear character development as well. most notably, throughout the book, akshaya comes to terms with her own identity. she’s always felt in between—like she’ll never fully be accepted by her fellow humans because of her alloy dna and modifications and ambitious dreams, but also like she’ll never be accepted by alloy society either simply because she’s a human. throughout the book, she comes to terms with the fact that she will always have elements of both, because a major lesson she takes away from the anthro challenge is that everything is interconnected. “if i coexisted with everything and everyone, then part of me was also part of them, and vice versa. to some people, i would never be human enough. to others, i would always be too human. in the end, i had no choice but to be myself.” (last page)
and overall, although this book was not perfect, i really enjoyed reading it! it was an adventurous journey set in an incredibly creative and immersive sci-fi world. looking forward to the last book in the series!
overall rating: 3.5/5
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book! 🫶
as with the first book, meru, i loved the worldbuilding! the premise of the two books is a captivating world that’s totally unlike any other. divya’s creativity is endless and i enjoyed being able to return to this world & explore it once more.
the major issue i had with this book, however, was that the whole premise (the anthro challenge) didn’t feel completely essential from the beginning. akshaya and somya were completely risking their lives to complete the challenge, and it didn’t feel like it was worth it. in the beginning, they were trying to complete the challenge just to convince jayanthi to let akshara stay on earth, and to prove a point that humans could live without alloy assistance. while it did made sense for the characters to care about both of these goals, it didn’t feel like the challenge was worth its risks, considering that they knew they would be risking imminent death on many occasions to complete it. particularly at first, it felt like they were just doing it out of stubbornness & pride, to prove to jayanthi & the world that they could. while additional stakes were added later on (namely, the petition for exile reform), it felt like this was added simply for the sake of having extra stakes. because it didn’t make sense that whether or not they finished the challenge was the driving factor for whether exile reform would go through. if those who signed the petition truly cared about exile reform, after all, they would want it to go through regardless of whether akshaya and somya finished the challenge. in the end, the premises and stakes of the challenge felt like plot devices for the characters to undertake the anthro challenge—and it didn’t feel like they justified the immense risks the characters were taking in attempting the challenge. and since the challenge was the main focus of the book, i kept coming back to this flaw, especially since the characters were often trying to decide whether to end the challenge or continue to risk their lives to finish it.
the other major issue i had with this book was the writing style. i felt that it was often “tell, not show” and at times, this made it come across as a bit bland and direct, especially when it came to the characters’ emotions. i feel like being a bit more “show, not tell” in writing style would add so much more nuance to the book & allow the complexities of the characters’ motives and emotions to shine through.
however, this aside, i did enjoy reading about akshaya and somya’s adventures.
aspects i liked about the book!
- realistic depiction of how akshaya’s character has been impacted by the expectations on her shoulders. since jayanthi created akshaya specifically for meru, akshaya has always been made to feel like it was her predated destiny to go to meru in the future. this is an expectation she has felt trapped by for so long, especially because it is her mother’s dream for her, not her own. as a result, she has tried to subvert this destiny in any way she can, causing her to be a stubborn and headstrong character. i felt like this was a very realistic depiction of the effects these sorts of expectations would have on a person!
- the book did have very clear character development as well. most notably, throughout the book, akshaya comes to terms with her own identity. she’s always felt in between—like she’ll never fully be accepted by her fellow humans because of her alloy dna and modifications and ambitious dreams, but also like she’ll never be accepted by alloy society either simply because she’s a human. throughout the book, she comes to terms with the fact that she will always have elements of both, because a major lesson she takes away from the anthro challenge is that everything is interconnected. “if i coexisted with everything and everyone, then part of me was also part of them, and vice versa. to some people, i would never be human enough. to others, i would always be too human. in the end, i had no choice but to be myself.” (last page)
and overall, although this book was not perfect, i really enjoyed reading it! it was an adventurous journey set in an incredibly creative and immersive sci-fi world. looking forward to the last book in the series!
overall rating: 3.5/5
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book! 🫶
September 2, 2024
I’ve been looking for books with solarpunk vibes as of late, and stumbled on Loka. With the cover and not knowing much else, I was interested, but a bit concerned seeing it was the second book of a series. I decided to take a dive and got a nice coming of age adventure with major themes about nature and humanity, that will appeal to both YA and adult readers alike.
As a disclaimer, I have not read the first book in the series, Meru, but I didn’t feel lost while listening to Loka. Loka, while a sequel, can serve as a standalone adventure, as it follows the daughter of the protagonists of the first book. I’m sure reading Meru would have enhanced my understanding with the world with more background information, but enough was provided in Loka that I understood the story. I do want to go back to read Meru at some point though.
While this is an adult book, this is very suitable for a Young Adult audience, as it deals with coming of age themes with our protagonist being 17 years old, as well as the content being suitable for ages 12 and over. It follows a young genetically engineered posthuman, Akshaya, as she’s on the cusp of visiting Earth for the first time and believe it’s where her future lies. She’s going with her friend, Somya, on a dangerous challenge to travel the world all for the chance for freedom. Though her moves are being watched by Jaya and Vaha for safety.
It did take me a little bit to get into the story itself, but by the time the actual challenge got going, I was fairly engaged in each of the trials the pair have to get through in order to travel across the world in time. It was paced well, and I did like how the stakes escalated as their journey continued. The main characters had some depth to them and it almost felt fun to proceed through the adventure as they faced dangers, both internal and external, throughout their quest to travel the world. They learn and grow as their adventure continues and I do love where the leads wind up by the end of the story and it was so wonderful to see. The supporting cast was mostly one note, but they usually weren’t around for an extended period, and many of them had a memorable part of the journey, so it didn’t feel like a huge problem.
The major themes were split between nature conservation and humanity’s relationship to nature, humanity’s behavior, building a future after a devastating past, and society in general. And it goes rather in depth about how going around the world can be considered dangerous and how ambition is considered bad for humans now, and even with centuries of changing behavior, in some ways, humans haven’t changed much. Also, there’s a non-Western based viewpoint, so that was refreshing. I did enjoy that while there is romance, it’s not the focus of the story and doesn’t take over the main adventure and other important themes.
The world building was fleshed out, and by the time I was done, I had a good grasp of the world, even though there were a few things I was a little confused by, but wasn’t a major issue. The solar bikes were pretty cool, as well as the other types of tools introduced in the storyline.
The prose was easy to follow for the most part. The narrator, Deepa Samuel, took getting used to, as I felt some of the narration was stilted, but was fine enough for the story. I also noticed that tone slightly changed during the handful of non-Akshaya chapters.
This is a great read for those wanting a sci-fi adventure story with some danger, little to no fighting, and with some themes about the environment and being human in many complex ways.
*I received a review copy from Brilliance Audio and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.*
As a disclaimer, I have not read the first book in the series, Meru, but I didn’t feel lost while listening to Loka. Loka, while a sequel, can serve as a standalone adventure, as it follows the daughter of the protagonists of the first book. I’m sure reading Meru would have enhanced my understanding with the world with more background information, but enough was provided in Loka that I understood the story. I do want to go back to read Meru at some point though.
While this is an adult book, this is very suitable for a Young Adult audience, as it deals with coming of age themes with our protagonist being 17 years old, as well as the content being suitable for ages 12 and over. It follows a young genetically engineered posthuman, Akshaya, as she’s on the cusp of visiting Earth for the first time and believe it’s where her future lies. She’s going with her friend, Somya, on a dangerous challenge to travel the world all for the chance for freedom. Though her moves are being watched by Jaya and Vaha for safety.
It did take me a little bit to get into the story itself, but by the time the actual challenge got going, I was fairly engaged in each of the trials the pair have to get through in order to travel across the world in time. It was paced well, and I did like how the stakes escalated as their journey continued. The main characters had some depth to them and it almost felt fun to proceed through the adventure as they faced dangers, both internal and external, throughout their quest to travel the world. They learn and grow as their adventure continues and I do love where the leads wind up by the end of the story and it was so wonderful to see. The supporting cast was mostly one note, but they usually weren’t around for an extended period, and many of them had a memorable part of the journey, so it didn’t feel like a huge problem.
The major themes were split between nature conservation and humanity’s relationship to nature, humanity’s behavior, building a future after a devastating past, and society in general. And it goes rather in depth about how going around the world can be considered dangerous and how ambition is considered bad for humans now, and even with centuries of changing behavior, in some ways, humans haven’t changed much. Also, there’s a non-Western based viewpoint, so that was refreshing. I did enjoy that while there is romance, it’s not the focus of the story and doesn’t take over the main adventure and other important themes.
The world building was fleshed out, and by the time I was done, I had a good grasp of the world, even though there were a few things I was a little confused by, but wasn’t a major issue. The solar bikes were pretty cool, as well as the other types of tools introduced in the storyline.
The prose was easy to follow for the most part. The narrator, Deepa Samuel, took getting used to, as I felt some of the narration was stilted, but was fine enough for the story. I also noticed that tone slightly changed during the handful of non-Akshaya chapters.
This is a great read for those wanting a sci-fi adventure story with some danger, little to no fighting, and with some themes about the environment and being human in many complex ways.
*I received a review copy from Brilliance Audio and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.*
September 16, 2024
Akshaya doesn't want the life her parents have planned for her, and genetically designed her for, on the planet Meru. After a childhood spent in space travel, Aks will be making her first visit to Earth, and though she's never set foot there, she's convinced it's where she wants to spend the rest of her life. (She's sixteen, and full of convictions.) In order to really experience the home of humanity, Aks and her best friend set out on an ambitious journey to circumnavigate Earth, under a specific set of constraints. They're undertaking the Anthro Challenge, a commitment to only using human-era technology and accepting no help from alloys, the genetically advanced descendants of humans. Since most humans are content to let alloys manage everything and are suspicious of any form of ambition, this endeavor will be not just a grueling physical trial but a challenge to win understanding and acceptance.
LOKA continues The Alloy Era series by moving into the next generation, but it's a very different sort of story than MERU, and either book could be read alone. I preferred the first novel, which had a wider scope and took the characters around the galaxy. By contrast, this one that focused on Earth felt more limited, and I didn't find the premise or characters as compelling. I still enjoyed following Aks on her adventure and was caught up in the exciting and emotional journey. I'm eager to see what's next for this series and will check out whatever Divya writes!
LOKA continues The Alloy Era series by moving into the next generation, but it's a very different sort of story than MERU, and either book could be read alone. I preferred the first novel, which had a wider scope and took the characters around the galaxy. By contrast, this one that focused on Earth felt more limited, and I didn't find the premise or characters as compelling. I still enjoyed following Aks on her adventure and was caught up in the exciting and emotional journey. I'm eager to see what's next for this series and will check out whatever Divya writes!
January 22, 2025
I'll echo others in saying the world building is better than the plot. I also found the characters flat and the prose dull. Honestly, I'm not sure why I kept reading, except for continually falling prey to the sunk cost fallacy. I guess I'm a real dumbass sometimes.
December 21, 2024
I was very happy to discover that the novel was not only very good, but improved upon its predecessor. The world building is deeper and the characters richer. Full disclosure: I love a good journey story, especially if there are interesting side quests. My very small quibble is there were times that the complications came across as a little convenient for the writer as opposed to the reader (As a writer myself, I can totally see why they were done that way.) Overall, this was a piece of hard SF that was nonetheless hopeful. We could all use a little hope right now.
Good on you, Divya.
Good on you, Divya.
August 25, 2024
pronoun he’ll
I have a hard enough time with they/them instead of he/his her/hers. Giving the non humans additional made up pronouns just makes it story hard to follow. Gave up on book one about a third of the way through. Giving up on the book at about the same point even though book two included an audiobook free with kindle unlimited. The story has great potential but I cannot get past the story telling.
I have a hard enough time with they/them instead of he/his her/hers. Giving the non humans additional made up pronouns just makes it story hard to follow. Gave up on book one about a third of the way through. Giving up on the book at about the same point even though book two included an audiobook free with kindle unlimited. The story has great potential but I cannot get past the story telling.
Read
October 31, 2024DNF @ about 50%
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series. This one, however, fell flat for me. I just couldn't maintain interest in the trek the teens are taking.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series. This one, however, fell flat for me. I just couldn't maintain interest in the trek the teens are taking.
March 20, 2025
Some quotes that apply to life:
"As a child, she'd been stubborn and sensitive and prone to tantrums, and as a teenager she insisted that she knew best for herself"-sounds like me :)
"The medium-range worries will destroy your willpower, he'd said. Tackle each challenge as it comes. Don't waste your energy solving problems you might never face."
"Humans had chosen to engineer their behavior after the catastrophic years, to reduce violence and greed, to change their biochemistry so that we could live in balance with other forms of consciousness, whether living or not, but in the process we had lost our thirst for exploration as our tolerance for risk."
"As a child, she'd been stubborn and sensitive and prone to tantrums, and as a teenager she insisted that she knew best for herself"-sounds like me :)
"The medium-range worries will destroy your willpower, he'd said. Tackle each challenge as it comes. Don't waste your energy solving problems you might never face."
"Humans had chosen to engineer their behavior after the catastrophic years, to reduce violence and greed, to change their biochemistry so that we could live in balance with other forms of consciousness, whether living or not, but in the process we had lost our thirst for exploration as our tolerance for risk."
January 29, 2025
WHAT/WHERE EXACTLY IS HOME?
Review of Loka by SB Divya
In the light of (poorly disguised?) Nazi salute by an American corporate (future President), the message in Loka is crystal clear. If you dont like the people, the place aint worth living for. Even though stories make a big deal out of home and belonging, SB Divya advocates cutting off roots, shake off the dust on your wings and just take off for a better place. More than this would be a spoiler.
In the world governed by more and more far-right leaders, the writers keep asserting their thoughts and beliefs through stories. And Loka is one of the most pro-immigration, leave-your-home-behind-go-search-a-new-world story. All that talk of going to live on a new planet Meru in the book, I couldnt pull my mind away from the hints it threw at the current political scenario. Although the book was written before the reality of the US elections, it resonates even more so today.
Through Loka, SB Divya, Hugo and Nebula award nominated author, asks us where is home. What is home? Is it a place where you want to be? Or is it somewhere you will live without biases and prejudices. Would you prefer sparkling oceans and discriminating people or a very small knot of people living on a barren land on an alien planet with nothing flor flora/fauna except single-celled cyanobacteria?
Stories set in a dystopian world have long been a staple for the fantasy buffs and writers alike. The ravaged earth, the zombies and mutated creatures running amok in a maddening world is a fodder for singular tales. Loka, the sci-fi/fantasy introduces a fresh perspective to this sub-genre. For Loka is set in a Eutopian world. All the destruction that was meant to happen has happened, not only on earth but on Mars too. The humans, after breaking the earth, wreaked havoc on Mars with their senseless experiments, rendering it uninhabitable. After that, the alloys took charge. Alloys are genetically engineered beings with two set of DNAs. They are smarter, wiser, bigger and very uninterested in humans. The humanity now lives in Loka, a region on earth where almost everything has been restored and everyone is kind. The animals have been weaned of their ferocity and there are no conflicts. Electricity comes from bioluminescence. There are no processed foods. No alcohol and nothing to smoke. Money can be used only in the place called Out of Bounds. Doors have no locks, just a privacy curtain. And the most important thing? There is no God, no religion. Alloys are the masters and the controllers. They can live in space, earth or water and tend to the needs of the planet like a mother would. They are the dominant species of the Constructed Democracy of Sol.
In this earth, Akshaya wants to finish an Anthro challenge, a parikrama of the planet. With her best friend Somya, her heartsib, she wants to circumnavigate the earth, just like Rune did years ago. But if you want to do the Anthro challenge, there are rules to follow. You have to cross the equator at least twice. You have to use human-era technology. You cant take any alloys help, even if you are in grave danger or your health deteriorates. That happens with Akshaya a lot as she has Sickle Cell Anaemia.
Let me explain a little backstory here. In Meru, the first part of this space-saga, Akshayas mother Jayanthi sets out to Meru, a new planet where sometime in future humanity could settle. But the oxygen in the atmosphere is too much. That is a plus for Jayanthi because she has sickle cell anaemia where her blood cells demand more oxygen. She falls in love with an incarn of an alloy Vaha (an alloy can reproduce their consciousness in the form of a human being that exists separately from their human body.) She then designs a child, combining the DNA of both. This child would be ideal to live on Meru. But the whole point for Akshaya to do the Anthro challenge is that she wants to spend her life on Earth with her friend Somya and not on Meru thats very sparsely populated. Akshaya has spent her life on a huge city-like spaceship for her parents were exiled for making her. Now, the more her mother underlines the fact that shes perfect for Meru, the more the Earth pulls her towards itself.
Akshaya sets out on this journey despite her mother Jayanthis reluctance. The obstacles and conflicts are quite commonplace. Divya has treated her protagonists as regular people. So if crossing a raging river is challenging for us, its for them too. There are no big twists or jaw-dropping revelations as such things have no place in real life. What we have are just usual obstacles: storm, damage, disease and so on.
Akshaya is resolute in completing the challenge but she is also receptive of the threats and ready to drop it if harm comes to her heartsib. The description of her catching fever and losing consciousness under a starlit sky are enigmatic. She is our eyes to the new earth and looks at everything with a sense of wonder: The unceasing rush of waves had a musicality that Id never noticed before, and I stood for many minutes just listening to it. The vastness of the water awed me. Id seen immersives of the ocean, but nothing could compare to the reality of its mass. So much water! I tasted the saltiness in the spray, felt the sting of sand in my shins, watched the sunlight shimmer on its surface.
Divya writes with a tenderness that erupts out of the pages. Like the cardinal rules of robotics by Asimov, she too has mentioned the axioms of life and conscious beings before the beginning of the story. Everything, all matter has some consciousness, she writes. All forms of consciousness have equal value in the universe. Thus, her characters send silent apologies to soil as their solar bikes have eroded it.
There is a line that has stayed with me: The paths we walk matter more than the houses we build.
Review of Loka by SB Divya
In the light of (poorly disguised?) Nazi salute by an American corporate (future President), the message in Loka is crystal clear. If you dont like the people, the place aint worth living for. Even though stories make a big deal out of home and belonging, SB Divya advocates cutting off roots, shake off the dust on your wings and just take off for a better place. More than this would be a spoiler.
In the world governed by more and more far-right leaders, the writers keep asserting their thoughts and beliefs through stories. And Loka is one of the most pro-immigration, leave-your-home-behind-go-search-a-new-world story. All that talk of going to live on a new planet Meru in the book, I couldnt pull my mind away from the hints it threw at the current political scenario. Although the book was written before the reality of the US elections, it resonates even more so today.
Through Loka, SB Divya, Hugo and Nebula award nominated author, asks us where is home. What is home? Is it a place where you want to be? Or is it somewhere you will live without biases and prejudices. Would you prefer sparkling oceans and discriminating people or a very small knot of people living on a barren land on an alien planet with nothing flor flora/fauna except single-celled cyanobacteria?
Stories set in a dystopian world have long been a staple for the fantasy buffs and writers alike. The ravaged earth, the zombies and mutated creatures running amok in a maddening world is a fodder for singular tales. Loka, the sci-fi/fantasy introduces a fresh perspective to this sub-genre. For Loka is set in a Eutopian world. All the destruction that was meant to happen has happened, not only on earth but on Mars too. The humans, after breaking the earth, wreaked havoc on Mars with their senseless experiments, rendering it uninhabitable. After that, the alloys took charge. Alloys are genetically engineered beings with two set of DNAs. They are smarter, wiser, bigger and very uninterested in humans. The humanity now lives in Loka, a region on earth where almost everything has been restored and everyone is kind. The animals have been weaned of their ferocity and there are no conflicts. Electricity comes from bioluminescence. There are no processed foods. No alcohol and nothing to smoke. Money can be used only in the place called Out of Bounds. Doors have no locks, just a privacy curtain. And the most important thing? There is no God, no religion. Alloys are the masters and the controllers. They can live in space, earth or water and tend to the needs of the planet like a mother would. They are the dominant species of the Constructed Democracy of Sol.
In this earth, Akshaya wants to finish an Anthro challenge, a parikrama of the planet. With her best friend Somya, her heartsib, she wants to circumnavigate the earth, just like Rune did years ago. But if you want to do the Anthro challenge, there are rules to follow. You have to cross the equator at least twice. You have to use human-era technology. You cant take any alloys help, even if you are in grave danger or your health deteriorates. That happens with Akshaya a lot as she has Sickle Cell Anaemia.
Let me explain a little backstory here. In Meru, the first part of this space-saga, Akshayas mother Jayanthi sets out to Meru, a new planet where sometime in future humanity could settle. But the oxygen in the atmosphere is too much. That is a plus for Jayanthi because she has sickle cell anaemia where her blood cells demand more oxygen. She falls in love with an incarn of an alloy Vaha (an alloy can reproduce their consciousness in the form of a human being that exists separately from their human body.) She then designs a child, combining the DNA of both. This child would be ideal to live on Meru. But the whole point for Akshaya to do the Anthro challenge is that she wants to spend her life on Earth with her friend Somya and not on Meru thats very sparsely populated. Akshaya has spent her life on a huge city-like spaceship for her parents were exiled for making her. Now, the more her mother underlines the fact that shes perfect for Meru, the more the Earth pulls her towards itself.
Akshaya sets out on this journey despite her mother Jayanthis reluctance. The obstacles and conflicts are quite commonplace. Divya has treated her protagonists as regular people. So if crossing a raging river is challenging for us, its for them too. There are no big twists or jaw-dropping revelations as such things have no place in real life. What we have are just usual obstacles: storm, damage, disease and so on.
Akshaya is resolute in completing the challenge but she is also receptive of the threats and ready to drop it if harm comes to her heartsib. The description of her catching fever and losing consciousness under a starlit sky are enigmatic. She is our eyes to the new earth and looks at everything with a sense of wonder: The unceasing rush of waves had a musicality that Id never noticed before, and I stood for many minutes just listening to it. The vastness of the water awed me. Id seen immersives of the ocean, but nothing could compare to the reality of its mass. So much water! I tasted the saltiness in the spray, felt the sting of sand in my shins, watched the sunlight shimmer on its surface.
Divya writes with a tenderness that erupts out of the pages. Like the cardinal rules of robotics by Asimov, she too has mentioned the axioms of life and conscious beings before the beginning of the story. Everything, all matter has some consciousness, she writes. All forms of consciousness have equal value in the universe. Thus, her characters send silent apologies to soil as their solar bikes have eroded it.
There is a line that has stayed with me: The paths we walk matter more than the houses we build.
November 2, 2024
Does not compare to Meru. Disappointing. Good story but got bored reading it.
August 4, 2024
Full disclosure, I was not aware that this was part of a series when I read it. I will say that it worked fine as a standalone, but some of my points in the following review may be a result of not having that background.
"Loka" is a story about a journey, but not an adventure. Caught between coming of age and rebellion, Akshaya is at a difficult part of life for anyone. She's constrained not only by limits to her physical body but more than just legally being bound to her parents she feels caught up as a puzzle piece of their picturesque future. Her desire to seek a grand tour is partially to claim her own space and in part a true love and fascination with the place of her mother's origin. This juxtaposition of parts is the continual element that I realized most of the way through that was bothering me. This story is so many pieces, a bric-a-brac of several great little tidbits. I could sit here and make a huge list of things to praise, and I will provide highlights, but they never really come together in a way that makes me feel the writers' core intention.
I was absolutely fascinated by the rules and evolution of the worlds we've come into now. It was interesting to see how certain changes and type can mold philosophies both in those who have remained in earth, those out of bounds and in Loka, and the alloys who have a encyclopedic and nearly clinical view of the past. It was absolutely charming to see a love of earth through the eyes of someone who is and isn't alien which can ironically almost be comparative to our modern selves as so many of us have lost that connection to nature. I give this series so much praise for focusing on regions of this earth that don't get a lot of love in western literature. There is top notch representation for found family, different cultures, and for the impacts of living with a medical condition. I also applaud the author for capturing that our impulsive sense of purpose when youth is maybe something we really should listen to if not our parents than other people in and take literally existence altering decisions with gravity.
But what exactly is at the heart of this story? Is it self discovery? Is it about the revelation of making your own spaces? Call me stubborn but there seems to be a lack of autonomy in this too as it feels less of a choice and more of a stringency in that you can't change the world so you should just except it and run away if that's the case. Or maybe it's that you don't have to fit a standard. No, no you don't. maybe it's supposed to be that there are spaces just for you. okay, but those shouldn't be the ONLY places. Was it to implant the heart of an adventurer? maybe, but there seemed to be some finite conclusions. Or, at least decisions made that are irreversible.
The biggest hold up for me was the pacing. i have no trouble with a leisurely love letter to the natural world. But the author has set a hard task for themselves. They had to balance the many things that would realistically go wrong and the tension and attention to detail that characters like this would have. i think where I started to really have problems is how quickly and how many times Akshaya became absolutely resigned to give up. Now, in any great feat many people have just as many doubts. But every other chapter it seemed she had to be talked down. if you are going for the 'adventure' perspective, this creates hiccups in pacing. Such crisis should be if not singular than at least limited or split between characters. Now, I do concede that teenagers are moody and change their opinions with the wind at times. But for someone who feels their very existence depends on doing this, it just didn't hit as I think the author intended.
Then there was the political aspects and the filming. Personally? i loved the opportunity this presented and the glimpse it gave you of the larger universe. but much like the journey, it never quite has it's 'big bang' moment. It's also up in the air. You don't feel the tension that builds up to this rebellious vote or campaign to change laws.
There's lots of ground work, but in the end, I feel like you're still left with a framework rather than a structure. It continually seemed caught between wanting to be that reflective, insightful, view of the world both outer and inner and something that had huge stakes for more than just the characters that were admittedly endearing.
"Loka" has a lot of concepts, characters, and ideas to love. i just didn't tie together into a really gripping novel that I thought this was going to be. It felt like the story the author wanted to tell was just out of focus at all times.
"Loka" is a story about a journey, but not an adventure. Caught between coming of age and rebellion, Akshaya is at a difficult part of life for anyone. She's constrained not only by limits to her physical body but more than just legally being bound to her parents she feels caught up as a puzzle piece of their picturesque future. Her desire to seek a grand tour is partially to claim her own space and in part a true love and fascination with the place of her mother's origin. This juxtaposition of parts is the continual element that I realized most of the way through that was bothering me. This story is so many pieces, a bric-a-brac of several great little tidbits. I could sit here and make a huge list of things to praise, and I will provide highlights, but they never really come together in a way that makes me feel the writers' core intention.
I was absolutely fascinated by the rules and evolution of the worlds we've come into now. It was interesting to see how certain changes and type can mold philosophies both in those who have remained in earth, those out of bounds and in Loka, and the alloys who have a encyclopedic and nearly clinical view of the past. It was absolutely charming to see a love of earth through the eyes of someone who is and isn't alien which can ironically almost be comparative to our modern selves as so many of us have lost that connection to nature. I give this series so much praise for focusing on regions of this earth that don't get a lot of love in western literature. There is top notch representation for found family, different cultures, and for the impacts of living with a medical condition. I also applaud the author for capturing that our impulsive sense of purpose when youth is maybe something we really should listen to if not our parents than other people in and take literally existence altering decisions with gravity.
But what exactly is at the heart of this story? Is it self discovery? Is it about the revelation of making your own spaces? Call me stubborn but there seems to be a lack of autonomy in this too as it feels less of a choice and more of a stringency in that you can't change the world so you should just except it and run away if that's the case. Or maybe it's that you don't have to fit a standard. No, no you don't. maybe it's supposed to be that there are spaces just for you. okay, but those shouldn't be the ONLY places. Was it to implant the heart of an adventurer? maybe, but there seemed to be some finite conclusions. Or, at least decisions made that are irreversible.
The biggest hold up for me was the pacing. i have no trouble with a leisurely love letter to the natural world. But the author has set a hard task for themselves. They had to balance the many things that would realistically go wrong and the tension and attention to detail that characters like this would have. i think where I started to really have problems is how quickly and how many times Akshaya became absolutely resigned to give up. Now, in any great feat many people have just as many doubts. But every other chapter it seemed she had to be talked down. if you are going for the 'adventure' perspective, this creates hiccups in pacing. Such crisis should be if not singular than at least limited or split between characters. Now, I do concede that teenagers are moody and change their opinions with the wind at times. But for someone who feels their very existence depends on doing this, it just didn't hit as I think the author intended.
Then there was the political aspects and the filming. Personally? i loved the opportunity this presented and the glimpse it gave you of the larger universe. but much like the journey, it never quite has it's 'big bang' moment. It's also up in the air. You don't feel the tension that builds up to this rebellious vote or campaign to change laws.
There's lots of ground work, but in the end, I feel like you're still left with a framework rather than a structure. It continually seemed caught between wanting to be that reflective, insightful, view of the world both outer and inner and something that had huge stakes for more than just the characters that were admittedly endearing.
"Loka" has a lot of concepts, characters, and ideas to love. i just didn't tie together into a really gripping novel that I thought this was going to be. It felt like the story the author wanted to tell was just out of focus at all times.
August 17, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Author, NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I never feel like I read enough science fiction. I enjoy the technology and the power structures between humans, aliens, AI and corporations. In the first book Meru, the world has evolved past most of the greed and corruption for monetary purposes and what remains is about ego. Humans ruined the Earth and then Mars once they settled there. Alloys are the creation of humans, an AI who may or may not be humanoid in shape. They are now the guardians of the universe from contamination. Humans are restricted to life on Earth and their behavior has been trained for years to not contaminate or waste to cause the destruction of the past.
Meru is the story of Jaya, a human child of alloy parents. Her journey of trying to create genetic structures for human / alloys. She also has to deal with sickle cell anemia. She falls in love with Vaha, an alloy and they set up the planet Meru where the oxygen levels and atmosphere are better for those with sickle cell anemia.
Loka is the journey of Jaya's daughter, Akshaya. They have been exiled for the past 16 years for creating Akshaya. Now Akshaya will see Earth for the first time. She and her friend, Somya want to do the Anthro challenge which is a trip around the world with only human support, no alloy conveniences. In Loka region, the alloys control the weather and keep things comfortable. They may need to travel in the Out of Bounds, where it is more dangerous without those controls, plus the people who live there may have been exiled to there for not following the rules.
Most of the book is Akshaya and Somya doing the challenge, traveling with solar bicycles, camping and then partly on ships as well. They are teens, quite young, but they made an agreement with their parents about the challenge. There was almost no thoughts on the conservation aspects which were a big focus in the previous book. They overcome many obstacles and learn much about Earth, its humans and themselves. I did not like Akshaya very well in the beginning because she wants to only stay on Earth and not go to Meru. She and Somya think they can form a community in the Out of Bounds.
They learn a lot about people and politics during their travels. I enjoyed the areas they saw as the Earth is beautiful and they limited their people interaction. Akshaya deals with her sickle cell flares for the first time; the worst she has ever experienced. Loka is an exciting combination of a survival story and personal growth. I hope there might be more adventures in the Alloy Era series.
Narration:
I enjoyed the narrator and the distinct voices suited the characters well. Most of the characters were female. Almost all the story is from Akshaya's point of view. The performance enhanced my enjoyment in the story and kept me from having to figure out how to pronounce things. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Author, NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I never feel like I read enough science fiction. I enjoy the technology and the power structures between humans, aliens, AI and corporations. In the first book Meru, the world has evolved past most of the greed and corruption for monetary purposes and what remains is about ego. Humans ruined the Earth and then Mars once they settled there. Alloys are the creation of humans, an AI who may or may not be humanoid in shape. They are now the guardians of the universe from contamination. Humans are restricted to life on Earth and their behavior has been trained for years to not contaminate or waste to cause the destruction of the past.
Meru is the story of Jaya, a human child of alloy parents. Her journey of trying to create genetic structures for human / alloys. She also has to deal with sickle cell anemia. She falls in love with Vaha, an alloy and they set up the planet Meru where the oxygen levels and atmosphere are better for those with sickle cell anemia.
Loka is the journey of Jaya's daughter, Akshaya. They have been exiled for the past 16 years for creating Akshaya. Now Akshaya will see Earth for the first time. She and her friend, Somya want to do the Anthro challenge which is a trip around the world with only human support, no alloy conveniences. In Loka region, the alloys control the weather and keep things comfortable. They may need to travel in the Out of Bounds, where it is more dangerous without those controls, plus the people who live there may have been exiled to there for not following the rules.
Most of the book is Akshaya and Somya doing the challenge, traveling with solar bicycles, camping and then partly on ships as well. They are teens, quite young, but they made an agreement with their parents about the challenge. There was almost no thoughts on the conservation aspects which were a big focus in the previous book. They overcome many obstacles and learn much about Earth, its humans and themselves. I did not like Akshaya very well in the beginning because she wants to only stay on Earth and not go to Meru. She and Somya think they can form a community in the Out of Bounds.
They learn a lot about people and politics during their travels. I enjoyed the areas they saw as the Earth is beautiful and they limited their people interaction. Akshaya deals with her sickle cell flares for the first time; the worst she has ever experienced. Loka is an exciting combination of a survival story and personal growth. I hope there might be more adventures in the Alloy Era series.
Narration:
I enjoyed the narrator and the distinct voices suited the characters well. Most of the characters were female. Almost all the story is from Akshaya's point of view. The performance enhanced my enjoyment in the story and kept me from having to figure out how to pronounce things. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
August 17, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Author, NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I never feel like I read enough science fiction. I enjoy the technology and the power structures between humans, aliens, AI and corporations. In the first book Meru, the world has evolved past most of the greed and corruption for monetary purposes and what remains is about ego. Humans ruined the Earth and then Mars once they settled there. Alloys are the creation of humans, an AI who may or may not be humanoid in shape. They are now the guardians of the universe from contamination. Humans are restricted to life on Earth and their behavior has been trained for years to not contaminate or waste to cause the destruction of the past.
Meru is the story of Jaya, a human child of alloy parents. Her journey of trying to create genetic structures for human / alloys. She also has to deal with sickle cell anemia. She falls in love with Vaha, an alloy and they set up the planet Meru where the oxygen levels and atmosphere are better for those with sickle cell anemia.
Loka is the journey of Jaya's daughter, Akshaya. They have been exiled for the past 16 years for creating Akshaya. Now Akshaya will see Earth for the first time. She and her friend, Somya want to do the Anthro challenge which is a trip around the world with only human support, no alloy conveniences. In Loka region, the alloys control the weather and keep things comfortable. They may need to travel in the Out of Bounds, where it is more dangerous without those controls, plus the people who live there may have been exiled to there for not following the rules.
Most of the book is Akshaya and Somya doing the challenge, traveling with solar bicycles, camping and then partly on ships as well. They are teens, quite young, but they made an agreement with their parents about the challenge. There was almost no thoughts on the conservation aspects which were a big focus in the previous book. They overcome many obstacles and learn much about Earth, its humans and themselves. I did not like Akshaya very well in the beginning because she wants to only stay on Earth and not go to Meru. She and Somya think they can form a community in the Out of Bounds.
They learn a lot about people and politics during their travels. I enjoyed the areas they saw as the Earth is beautiful and they limited their people interaction. Akshaya deals with her sickle cell flares for the first time; the worst she has ever experienced. Loka is an exciting combination of a survival story and personal growth. I hope there might be more adventures in the Alloy Era series.
Review copy was received from Author, NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I never feel like I read enough science fiction. I enjoy the technology and the power structures between humans, aliens, AI and corporations. In the first book Meru, the world has evolved past most of the greed and corruption for monetary purposes and what remains is about ego. Humans ruined the Earth and then Mars once they settled there. Alloys are the creation of humans, an AI who may or may not be humanoid in shape. They are now the guardians of the universe from contamination. Humans are restricted to life on Earth and their behavior has been trained for years to not contaminate or waste to cause the destruction of the past.
Meru is the story of Jaya, a human child of alloy parents. Her journey of trying to create genetic structures for human / alloys. She also has to deal with sickle cell anemia. She falls in love with Vaha, an alloy and they set up the planet Meru where the oxygen levels and atmosphere are better for those with sickle cell anemia.
Loka is the journey of Jaya's daughter, Akshaya. They have been exiled for the past 16 years for creating Akshaya. Now Akshaya will see Earth for the first time. She and her friend, Somya want to do the Anthro challenge which is a trip around the world with only human support, no alloy conveniences. In Loka region, the alloys control the weather and keep things comfortable. They may need to travel in the Out of Bounds, where it is more dangerous without those controls, plus the people who live there may have been exiled to there for not following the rules.
Most of the book is Akshaya and Somya doing the challenge, traveling with solar bicycles, camping and then partly on ships as well. They are teens, quite young, but they made an agreement with their parents about the challenge. There was almost no thoughts on the conservation aspects which were a big focus in the previous book. They overcome many obstacles and learn much about Earth, its humans and themselves. I did not like Akshaya very well in the beginning because she wants to only stay on Earth and not go to Meru. She and Somya think they can form a community in the Out of Bounds.
They learn a lot about people and politics during their travels. I enjoyed the areas they saw as the Earth is beautiful and they limited their people interaction. Akshaya deals with her sickle cell flares for the first time; the worst she has ever experienced. Loka is an exciting combination of a survival story and personal growth. I hope there might be more adventures in the Alloy Era series.
December 27, 2024
This is the second book in the Alloy Era series, the first of which, Meru, I read and reviewed here. This story takes a time jump of seventeen years, and focuses on Akshaya, the daughter of the first book's protagonists, the human Jayanthi and the genetically engineered post-human (and 120-meter-long star-traveling space mermaid) Vaha. Akshaya is coming of age and starting to break away from her parents. She has been raised on the construct Chedi, a sort of independent AI generation ship that travels a regular route between outlying star systems and Earth. Akshaya wants to visit Earth, the home of one of her parents and a place she has never seen, before their exile--as told in the first book--ends and they can return to Meru, a habitable planet two hundred light years away. Akshaya has been genetically engineered to live on Meru, but she is not sure she wants to do so. She wishes to visit Earth and complete the Anthro Challenge, a circumnavigation of the planet within a specified time period, utilizing present human technology and not relying on the alloys.
This is kind of a stand-alone story, as enough background information is provided (without being overwhelming) that you can follow it without having read the first book. However, I would recommend doing so, as reading the first book will make your experience of this story that much richer.
In this story, Akshaya uses her time on Earth to figure out who she is and what she wants. The Anthro Challenge is more difficult than she anticipated, as she soon discovers that her health really does not permit her to thrive on Earth, and there are other setbacks, mainly with the weather. The Challenge is also being recorded as a kind of far-future reality show, turning Akshaya and her parents into something of a political cudgel to relax some of the restrictions on alloys in the Compact (the document governing Earth in this future, as there aren't any countries or governments as we know them today, and this is a post-capitalist society). Unfortunately, along the way the fact that Akshaya has some alloy genes leaks out and turns many humans against her. She manages to finish the Challenge, but she realize that the life she wants to live can only be found on Meru.
We don't have a story of high stakes here. Oh, the stakes are important enough, but they aren't of the planet-busting or universe-ending variety. They are deeply personal to Akshaya and her family. That doesn't lessen the suspense one bit. There is also a great deal of philosophy and ethical conundrums built into this story, as there was in Meru. As with the first book, this is a thoughtful, deliberately paced tale that is not to be rushed through. Take your time with it and savor the ideas and nuances. You will be rewarded.
This is kind of a stand-alone story, as enough background information is provided (without being overwhelming) that you can follow it without having read the first book. However, I would recommend doing so, as reading the first book will make your experience of this story that much richer.
In this story, Akshaya uses her time on Earth to figure out who she is and what she wants. The Anthro Challenge is more difficult than she anticipated, as she soon discovers that her health really does not permit her to thrive on Earth, and there are other setbacks, mainly with the weather. The Challenge is also being recorded as a kind of far-future reality show, turning Akshaya and her parents into something of a political cudgel to relax some of the restrictions on alloys in the Compact (the document governing Earth in this future, as there aren't any countries or governments as we know them today, and this is a post-capitalist society). Unfortunately, along the way the fact that Akshaya has some alloy genes leaks out and turns many humans against her. She manages to finish the Challenge, but she realize that the life she wants to live can only be found on Meru.
We don't have a story of high stakes here. Oh, the stakes are important enough, but they aren't of the planet-busting or universe-ending variety. They are deeply personal to Akshaya and her family. That doesn't lessen the suspense one bit. There is also a great deal of philosophy and ethical conundrums built into this story, as there was in Meru. As with the first book, this is a thoughtful, deliberately paced tale that is not to be rushed through. Take your time with it and savor the ideas and nuances. You will be rewarded.
October 7, 2024
An interesting sequel. The generations turn, and Jayanthi and Vaha’s child finds herself rebelling in a new way.
Jayanthi’s major goal in MERU was to prove humans could take control over their destinies again—particularly on the planet she kinda/sorta settled with Vaha. But said child, Akshaya, wants to return to Earth. It’s mostly an act of teenage rebellion, wrapped in wanting to find her place in the universe.
So, Akshaya makes a pact with her two parents: if she completes “the Anthro challenge” on Earth, then she can decide her own destiny, which she’s pretty sure will be to remain on Earth, and help reform humanity on our own soil, rather than amongst the stars.
To backtrack: “the Anthro challenge” refers to the Anthropocene Era, which humanity has now moved past. We created a form of superhumans called alloys, which now more or less controls the humbled species, after our materialism carved too deep a path of destruction. Seemingly, we could either go extinct, or leave all of human endeavors in Alloy hands.
So, it is Alloys who make all the big decisions, roam the stars, and fix the Earth. Humans more or less live as neutered house pets, with ambition being weaned out of most of us. In fact, people can be thrown “out of bounds” for refusing to treat their “Aspiration and Avarice Disorder,” which many people believe the Anthro challenge would fall under.
And it certainly does seem extreme. In an era where Alloys can use future scifi magic to ferry us around, the Anthro Challenge is for humans to circumnavigate the world solely by using human era means of transit. Not including airplanes, I guess, which have probably been retired for being bad for the environment. One wonders why Ackshaya, with her sickle cell disease, couldn’t come to an arrangement to simply try living on Earth in a more modern way. But that probably gets to the heart of the book: that Ackshaya’s ambitions don’t fit in with the bulk of Earth-based humanity anymore.
It's a lesson she’ll have to learn while traveling through Loka and the Out of Bounds territories in this book. Loka, a Sanskrit word for planet, universe, plane, etc, is the settled part of Earth. Out of Bounds is still a bit of a mess due to climate change issues. Ackshaya and her friend, Somya, come across humans (and Alloys, but mostly the Alloys ignore them) who challenge them emotionally as much as their travails do physically. It’s a quick-paced adventurous read, mostly told from Acksaya’s perspective. The parts that move away from the character try and get into broader world politics, but I found them to be too exposition-heavy and not as engaging.
Also at the heart of this is the general push and pull between parents and children, as the latter group grows up and starts to create their own realities. It’s mostly used to good effect here. I’d say Ackshaya’s relationship with her mother is decently developed, her relationship with a friend-turned-lover is underdeveloped, and her relationship with Somya pops the most.
In terms of far-flung “cli-fi” or climate scifi, I found this to be much more accessible than Annalee Newitz’s THE TERRAFORMERS. Not sure if Divya will continue the series; it feels like it could be sealed off at this point. But it was an intriguing ride.
Jayanthi’s major goal in MERU was to prove humans could take control over their destinies again—particularly on the planet she kinda/sorta settled with Vaha. But said child, Akshaya, wants to return to Earth. It’s mostly an act of teenage rebellion, wrapped in wanting to find her place in the universe.
So, Akshaya makes a pact with her two parents: if she completes “the Anthro challenge” on Earth, then she can decide her own destiny, which she’s pretty sure will be to remain on Earth, and help reform humanity on our own soil, rather than amongst the stars.
To backtrack: “the Anthro challenge” refers to the Anthropocene Era, which humanity has now moved past. We created a form of superhumans called alloys, which now more or less controls the humbled species, after our materialism carved too deep a path of destruction. Seemingly, we could either go extinct, or leave all of human endeavors in Alloy hands.
So, it is Alloys who make all the big decisions, roam the stars, and fix the Earth. Humans more or less live as neutered house pets, with ambition being weaned out of most of us. In fact, people can be thrown “out of bounds” for refusing to treat their “Aspiration and Avarice Disorder,” which many people believe the Anthro challenge would fall under.
And it certainly does seem extreme. In an era where Alloys can use future scifi magic to ferry us around, the Anthro Challenge is for humans to circumnavigate the world solely by using human era means of transit. Not including airplanes, I guess, which have probably been retired for being bad for the environment. One wonders why Ackshaya, with her sickle cell disease, couldn’t come to an arrangement to simply try living on Earth in a more modern way. But that probably gets to the heart of the book: that Ackshaya’s ambitions don’t fit in with the bulk of Earth-based humanity anymore.
It's a lesson she’ll have to learn while traveling through Loka and the Out of Bounds territories in this book. Loka, a Sanskrit word for planet, universe, plane, etc, is the settled part of Earth. Out of Bounds is still a bit of a mess due to climate change issues. Ackshaya and her friend, Somya, come across humans (and Alloys, but mostly the Alloys ignore them) who challenge them emotionally as much as their travails do physically. It’s a quick-paced adventurous read, mostly told from Acksaya’s perspective. The parts that move away from the character try and get into broader world politics, but I found them to be too exposition-heavy and not as engaging.
Also at the heart of this is the general push and pull between parents and children, as the latter group grows up and starts to create their own realities. It’s mostly used to good effect here. I’d say Ackshaya’s relationship with her mother is decently developed, her relationship with a friend-turned-lover is underdeveloped, and her relationship with Somya pops the most.
In terms of far-flung “cli-fi” or climate scifi, I found this to be much more accessible than Annalee Newitz’s THE TERRAFORMERS. Not sure if Divya will continue the series; it feels like it could be sealed off at this point. But it was an intriguing ride.
September 8, 2024
I am always grateful, while considering new books from Kindle Unlimited, to find that those which are part of a series are all available in that format. It is frustrating when one book in the “lending” format is offered, as an enticement, but subsequent volumes need purchasing. Fortunately, the two books in the Alloy Era Series by S. B. Divya were both immediately available, and the first, “Meru” (already reviewed) was fascinating enough to encourage me to read this second one.
These stories are set in a far distant future when all consciousness is recognized and valued, but a clear distinction is made between the three “highest levels” of conscious being: Humans, Alloys, and Constructs. The first two, Humans and Alloys, are “living” beings, capable of reproduction via DNA, formed (and also possibly regenerated when severely damaged) in a womb. Constructs are built, and although they can be repaired, even by their own agency, they cannot be self-reproduced. As I discussed in my previous review of “Meru”, the other major premise of these stories is that the underlying principle of the conscious universe is “spiritual” and the eventual destiny is harmony and balance among the higher-level conscious entities which minimizes destructive and harmful tendencies such as avarice and ambition. Humankind in the past was too prone to excess in exploitation of the environment and the alloys have now taken over, taking control of Earth and the immediate Solar System and deep space exploration.
In the author’s acknowledgement section, she shares the fact that she wrote this book with great effort and difficulty while suffering the effects of Long Covid as well as ME/CFS. This brought me to an immediate awareness of a spiritual parallel between her and my favorite spiritual/theological writer, Kittredge Cherry, author of “Jesus in Love” and “At the Cross”. Cherry also did her writing while suffering a severe case of CFS, and I can’t help but compare the depth of insight and innovative thought that Divya seems likewise to demonstrate, although in a very different genre. “Loka” is without question a gripping adventure story of the first order, but it is also a very meaningful morality play as well. Perhaps writing through the pain of a severe illness really does put writers in touch with the deeper wisdom of the cosmos!
These stories are set in a far distant future when all consciousness is recognized and valued, but a clear distinction is made between the three “highest levels” of conscious being: Humans, Alloys, and Constructs. The first two, Humans and Alloys, are “living” beings, capable of reproduction via DNA, formed (and also possibly regenerated when severely damaged) in a womb. Constructs are built, and although they can be repaired, even by their own agency, they cannot be self-reproduced. As I discussed in my previous review of “Meru”, the other major premise of these stories is that the underlying principle of the conscious universe is “spiritual” and the eventual destiny is harmony and balance among the higher-level conscious entities which minimizes destructive and harmful tendencies such as avarice and ambition. Humankind in the past was too prone to excess in exploitation of the environment and the alloys have now taken over, taking control of Earth and the immediate Solar System and deep space exploration.
In the author’s acknowledgement section, she shares the fact that she wrote this book with great effort and difficulty while suffering the effects of Long Covid as well as ME/CFS. This brought me to an immediate awareness of a spiritual parallel between her and my favorite spiritual/theological writer, Kittredge Cherry, author of “Jesus in Love” and “At the Cross”. Cherry also did her writing while suffering a severe case of CFS, and I can’t help but compare the depth of insight and innovative thought that Divya seems likewise to demonstrate, although in a very different genre. “Loka” is without question a gripping adventure story of the first order, but it is also a very meaningful morality play as well. Perhaps writing through the pain of a severe illness really does put writers in touch with the deeper wisdom of the cosmos!
December 31, 2025
I really didn't like Divya's Machinehood because it was full of tired tropes (amid interesting ideas, alas) and this one is much better. Alas, I finished it before noticing that it's #2 of a series. There's no hint of that on the cover, and I must have skipped the first inner page because those pages usually aren't informative.
That said, this one stands alone quite well except for not explaining the alloys much (which would be redundant for most readers). And I've read lots of SF where the author just drops you in it.
So here's a satisfactory lead character, nicely between competent and nervous, with a companion heartsib whose Gamgee-like adhesion to Akshaya is probably explained in #1 and it's fine anyway.
And #1 must also explain why Somya seems very free with her affections while still devoted to Ak in a different way.
The chromatophores are a good way of making Ak different enough to create a story backbone. Even if it means giving her a mom so manipulative it's almost cringe. It also gives us the one way in which everyone she meets is so cloyingly nice (and I admit that Divya believably explains how/why this is).
Jules Verne has already conditioned us to ignore the lost tension from knowing that a round-the-world trip must succeed (or at worst fail and then succeed), and I have to admit that this time a price was paid, in a bit of a shocker.
I almost took away a whole star for the author not revealing to us or the characters that there's a huge bloody great* viaduct network they can bike on. Did the locals not think to mention it? Did the orbiting satellite people not either? It's like Phileas Fogg walking along then realizing he can take a TGV all the way across Europe.
Not sure we ever really addressed the "Eww, you're different" issue, but Divya does a good job of laying out that is IS an issue, and that it can be overcome with effort and good luck - and yes, a friend with media skills.
So - parts of this seem a bit forced yet, but I will watch for Divya's next one; I think she's ready to step up.
* "huge bloody great" is a standard British adjectival sequence usually meaning "bigger than big"
That said, this one stands alone quite well except for not explaining the alloys much (which would be redundant for most readers). And I've read lots of SF where the author just drops you in it.
So here's a satisfactory lead character, nicely between competent and nervous, with a companion heartsib whose Gamgee-like adhesion to Akshaya is probably explained in #1 and it's fine anyway.
And #1 must also explain why Somya seems very free with her affections while still devoted to Ak in a different way.
The chromatophores are a good way of making Ak different enough to create a story backbone. Even if it means giving her a mom so manipulative it's almost cringe. It also gives us the one way in which everyone she meets is so cloyingly nice (and I admit that Divya believably explains how/why this is).
Jules Verne has already conditioned us to ignore the lost tension from knowing that a round-the-world trip must succeed (or at worst fail and then succeed), and I have to admit that this time a price was paid, in a bit of a shocker.
I almost took away a whole star for the author not revealing to us or the characters that there's a huge bloody great* viaduct network they can bike on. Did the locals not think to mention it? Did the orbiting satellite people not either? It's like Phileas Fogg walking along then realizing he can take a TGV all the way across Europe.
Not sure we ever really addressed the "Eww, you're different" issue, but Divya does a good job of laying out that is IS an issue, and that it can be overcome with effort and good luck - and yes, a friend with media skills.
So - parts of this seem a bit forced yet, but I will watch for Divya's next one; I think she's ready to step up.
* "huge bloody great" is a standard British adjectival sequence usually meaning "bigger than big"
July 31, 2024
overall rating: 4 stars
plot: [1/4]
prose: [1/4]
pace: [1/2]
main character: [1/4]
side characters: [1/2]
worldbuilding: [1/2]
concepts: [1/2]
ending: [1/4]
entertainment value: [1/2]
vibes/overall enjoyment: [1/2]
This is an adult sci fi book in genre but in some way it felt like reading a middle grade story (not necessarily in a bad way). Mostly I think it's because the plot was very straightforward with obvious lessons to be learned and many events that happened were transparent plot devices. It lended the story the kind of comfortable overall plot predictability that left a lot of room to simply enjoy the ride. The worldbuilding was just as interesting and thought provoking as the first book and the pace moved along without dwelling too much in one place. It also can confidently be read as a standalone book despite being a sequel. The author provides the perfect amount of context. However I do absolutely recommend reading the first book (in whichever order) because the worldbuilding there is fascinating and goes into a lot more detail.
I adored all the side characters, especially Somya, and overall the cast reminded me of adventure books I had enjoyed so much as a teenager. Akshaya was also great and I appreciated the way her experience with chronic illness was portrayed but so often her decisions were a little contradictory. Which does make sense since she's a teenager and it do be like that at that age and that's usually the reason why I do not enjoy teenage protagonists. But this coming of age story of a willful stubborn teenager was softened once again by this middle grade tone of adventure and wonder even when it dealt with complicated and difficult topics.
It was also very refreshing to have a non-western based sci fi world. Fun fact (credit to my friend for this one): Loka means World in Sanskrit, which I thought was a clever name.
Read For:
-chronic illness rep
-adventure around the world
-coming of age story
Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the ARC.
plot: [1/4]
prose: [1/4]
pace: [1/2]
main character: [1/4]
side characters: [1/2]
worldbuilding: [1/2]
concepts: [1/2]
ending: [1/4]
entertainment value: [1/2]
vibes/overall enjoyment: [1/2]
This is an adult sci fi book in genre but in some way it felt like reading a middle grade story (not necessarily in a bad way). Mostly I think it's because the plot was very straightforward with obvious lessons to be learned and many events that happened were transparent plot devices. It lended the story the kind of comfortable overall plot predictability that left a lot of room to simply enjoy the ride. The worldbuilding was just as interesting and thought provoking as the first book and the pace moved along without dwelling too much in one place. It also can confidently be read as a standalone book despite being a sequel. The author provides the perfect amount of context. However I do absolutely recommend reading the first book (in whichever order) because the worldbuilding there is fascinating and goes into a lot more detail.
I adored all the side characters, especially Somya, and overall the cast reminded me of adventure books I had enjoyed so much as a teenager. Akshaya was also great and I appreciated the way her experience with chronic illness was portrayed but so often her decisions were a little contradictory. Which does make sense since she's a teenager and it do be like that at that age and that's usually the reason why I do not enjoy teenage protagonists. But this coming of age story of a willful stubborn teenager was softened once again by this middle grade tone of adventure and wonder even when it dealt with complicated and difficult topics.
It was also very refreshing to have a non-western based sci fi world. Fun fact (credit to my friend for this one): Loka means World in Sanskrit, which I thought was a clever name.
Read For:
-chronic illness rep
-adventure around the world
-coming of age story
Thank you Netgalley and 47North for the ARC.
August 22, 2024
Thank you, 47North, for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
After growing up on a spacefaring megaconstruct, sixteen-year-old Akshaya and her close friend Somya circumnavigate the Earth to complete the “Anthro Challenge” and prove the former’s fitness for life on humanity’s homeworld. If Meru, which follows Akshaya’s mother on her journey to settle an alien world, examines an abstracted immigrant experience, Loka examines a second generation immigrant’s return to the old country.
Within this richly imagined solarpunk future, S. B. Divya treats readers to gorgeous settings and evokes the magic of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.
As someone living with chronic illness, Akshaya’s struggles with sickle cell anemia resonated deeply. I love to travel! Figuring out how to do so while also identifying and treating flare-ups is a worthwhile challenge, and I enjoyed seeing how Akshaya learns to balance ambition with self-care. I also greatly appreciated how the novel showcases a healthy support network through Somya and other friends made along the way.
Unfortunately, my rating reflects the choice to present Loka as adult scifi. Despite introducing several compelling ideas, such as environmental justice, discrimination, and even a critique of psychiatric labels, the novel doesn’t dig deeply into the nuances surrounding these topics. Likewise, while there are dramatic character arcs, the incremental changes within said arcs are invisible. As a result, the plot beats propelling Akshaya and Somya through their journey can feel contrived, and approaching their story with an adult audience in mind, I struggled.
Once I adjusted my thematic expectations and presupposed a MG audience, I found a charming, fast-paced adventure featuring a coming-of-age, grief, and personal empowerment.
After growing up on a spacefaring megaconstruct, sixteen-year-old Akshaya and her close friend Somya circumnavigate the Earth to complete the “Anthro Challenge” and prove the former’s fitness for life on humanity’s homeworld. If Meru, which follows Akshaya’s mother on her journey to settle an alien world, examines an abstracted immigrant experience, Loka examines a second generation immigrant’s return to the old country.
Within this richly imagined solarpunk future, S. B. Divya treats readers to gorgeous settings and evokes the magic of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.
As someone living with chronic illness, Akshaya’s struggles with sickle cell anemia resonated deeply. I love to travel! Figuring out how to do so while also identifying and treating flare-ups is a worthwhile challenge, and I enjoyed seeing how Akshaya learns to balance ambition with self-care. I also greatly appreciated how the novel showcases a healthy support network through Somya and other friends made along the way.
Unfortunately, my rating reflects the choice to present Loka as adult scifi. Despite introducing several compelling ideas, such as environmental justice, discrimination, and even a critique of psychiatric labels, the novel doesn’t dig deeply into the nuances surrounding these topics. Likewise, while there are dramatic character arcs, the incremental changes within said arcs are invisible. As a result, the plot beats propelling Akshaya and Somya through their journey can feel contrived, and approaching their story with an adult audience in mind, I struggled.
Once I adjusted my thematic expectations and presupposed a MG audience, I found a charming, fast-paced adventure featuring a coming-of-age, grief, and personal empowerment.
October 7, 2024
I just finished reading "Loka" by S.B. Divya, and I'm still reeling from the experience. This book is a wild ride that takes you on a journey of self-discovery, identity, and humanity.
Meet Akshaya, a hybrid girl who's struggling to find her place in the world. She's the daughter of a human mom and a genetically engineered posthuman dad, and she's determined to explore the birthplace of humanity - Earth. Without any help from advanced technology or her people, Akshaya sets out on an epic adventure with her fearless best friend, Somya.
As they travel across continents, they encounter breathtaking landscapes, diverse cultures, and unexpected challenges. But it's not just the external world that Akshaya discovers - she also uncovers hidden depths within herself. She learns to navigate love, friendship, and acceptance in a world that's not always welcoming.
What I love about "Loka" is its ability to make you question everything. What does it mean to be human? Can you find belonging in a world that's constantly changing? Divya's writing is like a warm conversation with a friend - it's relatable, honest, and insightful.
Akshaya's journey is raw, emotional, and authentic. You'll laugh, cry, and cheer her on as she faces her fears and discovers her strengths. The characters are complex and multidimensional, with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
All-in-all, "Loka" is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will stay with them long after the final page. It's a reminder that identity is complex, humanity is messy, and self-discovery is a lifelong journey.
If you're looking for a book that will make you think, feel, and explore the human condition, "Loka" is the perfect choice.
Meet Akshaya, a hybrid girl who's struggling to find her place in the world. She's the daughter of a human mom and a genetically engineered posthuman dad, and she's determined to explore the birthplace of humanity - Earth. Without any help from advanced technology or her people, Akshaya sets out on an epic adventure with her fearless best friend, Somya.
As they travel across continents, they encounter breathtaking landscapes, diverse cultures, and unexpected challenges. But it's not just the external world that Akshaya discovers - she also uncovers hidden depths within herself. She learns to navigate love, friendship, and acceptance in a world that's not always welcoming.
What I love about "Loka" is its ability to make you question everything. What does it mean to be human? Can you find belonging in a world that's constantly changing? Divya's writing is like a warm conversation with a friend - it's relatable, honest, and insightful.
Akshaya's journey is raw, emotional, and authentic. You'll laugh, cry, and cheer her on as she faces her fears and discovers her strengths. The characters are complex and multidimensional, with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
All-in-all, "Loka" is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that will stay with them long after the final page. It's a reminder that identity is complex, humanity is messy, and self-discovery is a lifelong journey.
If you're looking for a book that will make you think, feel, and explore the human condition, "Loka" is the perfect choice.
October 30, 2024
DNF@2%
The more I read, the more I realize most books are not very good. Specially Sci Fi books, they seem to miss the mark more often than others.
First of all, it is never a good sign when a book opens up with a glossary. That lets me know that the author :1) is incapable of conveying backstory naturally within the story 2)the author doubts the readers ability to understand the world without assistance.
Also, in what world is a child condemn for their parents crimes? The main character tells us she wasn't even born yet when her mother was exiled, why would any sane judge include an unborn child within the mother's sentence? why couldn't just be that there's an age limit for space travel?
Second, why does she need to know what "being human" is like? You are human wherever you are. I get it if it's that she is interested on the different cultural aspects of her own species as they developed in different planets, but the "human existence" …I mean, you are human and you exist, what else is there to know?
I was also not a fan of the MC's whinny tone, why is she bemoaning her superiority as an enhanced human exactly? why is she so on the nose comparing herself to great heroes with great destinies and then acting like that's a tragedy? Wouldn't a normal person actually feel proud about it, specially a teenage girl? Is not like anyone is forcing her to leave.
Anyways, 3 pages is enough for me to know that I don't want to spend any time with this character and this world. Sometimes you just know when something is not going to work.
The more I read, the more I realize most books are not very good. Specially Sci Fi books, they seem to miss the mark more often than others.
First of all, it is never a good sign when a book opens up with a glossary. That lets me know that the author :1) is incapable of conveying backstory naturally within the story 2)the author doubts the readers ability to understand the world without assistance.
Also, in what world is a child condemn for their parents crimes? The main character tells us she wasn't even born yet when her mother was exiled, why would any sane judge include an unborn child within the mother's sentence? why couldn't just be that there's an age limit for space travel?
Second, why does she need to know what "being human" is like? You are human wherever you are. I get it if it's that she is interested on the different cultural aspects of her own species as they developed in different planets, but the "human existence" …I mean, you are human and you exist, what else is there to know?
I was also not a fan of the MC's whinny tone, why is she bemoaning her superiority as an enhanced human exactly? why is she so on the nose comparing herself to great heroes with great destinies and then acting like that's a tragedy? Wouldn't a normal person actually feel proud about it, specially a teenage girl? Is not like anyone is forcing her to leave.
Anyways, 3 pages is enough for me to know that I don't want to spend any time with this character and this world. Sometimes you just know when something is not going to work.
September 5, 2024
Loka is the coming-of-age story of Akshaya. Born during her parents’ exile after breaking the laws governing human genetic engineering, Akshaya is something more than human but less than Alloy. She grows up on an autonomous spacecraft alongside other humans and Allows, but longs to live a human life on Earth—in spite of the wishes of her mother, who wants Akshaya to live on Meru as she was genetically designed to do. Desperate for control over her own destiny, Akshaya convinces her parents to allow her to take part in the Anthro Challenge, a circumnavigation of Earth using only the methods available during the “human era.” Along with her best friend, Akshaya has to navigate not only the physical geography of Earth but also the interpersonal relationships that make up a human existence.
Overall, I agree with other reviewers who said that they felt like the stakes in this book were pretty minimal compared to what Divya was trying to do. Every "challenge" that Akshaya and Somya face in the Anthro Challenge is easily overcome within a chapter and there is never a moment where it feels like the two are in real danger—either physically or of failing the challenge. I love Divya's worldbuilding and the characters she creates, but this is an overall mid execution of a really interesting idea.
Overall, I agree with other reviewers who said that they felt like the stakes in this book were pretty minimal compared to what Divya was trying to do. Every "challenge" that Akshaya and Somya face in the Anthro Challenge is easily overcome within a chapter and there is never a moment where it feels like the two are in real danger—either physically or of failing the challenge. I love Divya's worldbuilding and the characters she creates, but this is an overall mid execution of a really interesting idea.
August 29, 2024
I all but inhaled Meru, Book 1, and had pre-ordered Loka before finishing Meru. Give you an idea how much I liked it. I also forgot about it, so I was very surprised when I received a notice that Loka had been delivered. And it wasn’t even my birthday!
Divya is one of the best world builders I’ve ever read. And I absolutely love well done worlds. In Meru, we followed Akshaya’s parents. In Loka we follow Akshaya, who was genetically engineered by her mother to live and thrive on Meru. Of course, Akshaya had no say in it, and after living on the Spaceship Loka for all of her young life, she and her mother go to Earth for a while.
Akshaya and her heart sibling make the trip together, and have a great adventure. Akshaya wants to be genetically changed so she can live and thrive on Earth. Earth is what she read about, dreamed about, but as she comes of age, she gives much serious thought to her life, where does she really belong? In the end, she makes the adult decision, even though it is very painful, having to chose between Meru and Earth. But, this is fiction, and I am fairly certain Ms. Divya is a bit of a romantic.
One of the best coming of age books I’ve read in a long time.
Divya is one of the best world builders I’ve ever read. And I absolutely love well done worlds. In Meru, we followed Akshaya’s parents. In Loka we follow Akshaya, who was genetically engineered by her mother to live and thrive on Meru. Of course, Akshaya had no say in it, and after living on the Spaceship Loka for all of her young life, she and her mother go to Earth for a while.
Akshaya and her heart sibling make the trip together, and have a great adventure. Akshaya wants to be genetically changed so she can live and thrive on Earth. Earth is what she read about, dreamed about, but as she comes of age, she gives much serious thought to her life, where does she really belong? In the end, she makes the adult decision, even though it is very painful, having to chose between Meru and Earth. But, this is fiction, and I am fairly certain Ms. Divya is a bit of a romantic.
One of the best coming of age books I’ve read in a long time.
November 6, 2024
I’ve been looking forward to Loka by S.B. Divya ever since I finished Meru last year, and much like its predecessor, it did not disappoint. For those who are hesitant about sci-fi because of the language or science-y aspect, never fear: Loka is very readable and the world-building is sprinkled throughout so you don’t feel overwhelmed. This novel has nice pacing and stakes and almost feels a bit like The Amazing Race lol. I appreciate how Akshaya’s journey with her chronic illness and disability is portrayed; there is no toxic “smile and keep going” narrative that is usually stuffed down the throats of those of us with a chronic illness, and I appreciated how she has to learn how to live day-by-day and how to manage the pain. Even though I do not have sickle-cell disease, I could relate to Akshaya’s journey with coming to grips with being chronically ill and navigating life being different than how you once thought it would be in relation to your body. Also, those around her are empathetic and make room for her illness, especially her bestie Somya. Speaking of Somya, the friendship between Akshaya and Sonya is beautiful; it’s full of respect, love, trust, and communication, and I was rooting for this pair to succeed in their endeavor the entire time.
April 15, 2025
I saw this at the library and didn't noticed it was part two of a duology. I'll go back and read the first.
The premise is that Akshaya is mostly human but has chromosphores which usually only alloys (non humans) have. I would have liked to see that explored more as it was a cool idea, but it is sprinkled in nicely. She is designed to go to a high oxygen planet but pines for Earth where she can't exert herself much because she has sickle cell anemia.
She and her best friend spend a lot of the book doing the "Anthro Challenge" which involves going around the globe using only human era technology and not help from the alloys. Yet they are allowed to get a ton of help with hiking/biking/sailing/food/etc. And are watched the whole time by the alloys who can pull her out if needed.
I had trouble following the pronouns for the alloys (zie/zir). I think because i needed to infer what they refered two with three possibilities - the alloy, the alloy's full physical self and the incarn smaller physical split off state.
The ending was nice. I want to see more about the planet Meru which sounds like it happened in part one so I'll get to.
The premise is that Akshaya is mostly human but has chromosphores which usually only alloys (non humans) have. I would have liked to see that explored more as it was a cool idea, but it is sprinkled in nicely. She is designed to go to a high oxygen planet but pines for Earth where she can't exert herself much because she has sickle cell anemia.
She and her best friend spend a lot of the book doing the "Anthro Challenge" which involves going around the globe using only human era technology and not help from the alloys. Yet they are allowed to get a ton of help with hiking/biking/sailing/food/etc. And are watched the whole time by the alloys who can pull her out if needed.
I had trouble following the pronouns for the alloys (zie/zir). I think because i needed to infer what they refered two with three possibilities - the alloy, the alloy's full physical self and the incarn smaller physical split off state.
The ending was nice. I want to see more about the planet Meru which sounds like it happened in part one so I'll get to.
July 27, 2025
This is the story of a character who circumnavigates a future Earth while also finding her own path in a life where a clear path has been set for her by her mother - who engineered her genetic make-up - but she doesn't want to follow that path. This is fantasy written for adults, but it feels like a YA story in terms of both the age/life stage of the progagonist and the nature of the themes it explores. The journey begins with specific obstacles and a ticking clock, but for me, the tension doesn't escalate until close to the end of the story. Until then, it's one obstacle after another, but not in a way where things feel like they are building. I read on becuase I wanted to see where the self-discovery journey ended and what decisions the protagonist would make, but for me, this would have worked better as a much shorter story. I will note, however, that I appreciated the disability rep in this story, with the protagonist's sickle-cell anemia, and the idea that she has it on purpose so she can live on a different world, but also how it has consequences for her on Earth. I also appreciate her creative problem solving and the various ways she navigates as a disabled person.
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