Matty Roberts

"There were only a few moments Fenlee had ever wished she could capture and hold on to, and this was one. It wasn’t the life she’d ever expected, but it was hers. And she wasn’t afraid to live it."
This book captured my attention from the first page and kept it until the very end! If it weren't for work being as crazy and exhausting as it is, I would have read this in a single sitting.
There was something familiar about this book, and yet it was beautifully unique. The world building show more was incredible. I enjoyed reading about this very class driven cyberpunk world in which you can't easily get the materials needed to be a stereotypical cyberpunk character. I loved reading about Fenlee's explorations of the Undercity (even if things can get rather grotesque down there). Unfortunately, this world is all to believable. All the sadness and destruction and corruption is already a reality, even if it hasn't quite escalated to this level yet. I liked that although technology to fix things exists, Fenlee's struggles as am amputee are still explored. I loved that this was simply a part of her and not treated as a big thing - exactly how representation should work!
I loved the characters! I enjoyed seeing Fenlee's growth and her learning to see the reality of things she once overlooked. I wonder what will happen in the next books in this series: What will the consequences of Fenlee's somewhat terroistic actions be? How does etherclaw actually work and how will it help her? Who will stand by her in the chaos that she started? I can't wait to find out!
My only complaint about this book is that it seemed a bit too easy for Fenlee and Elliot to sneak around a city with constant surveillance. Even when she was wanted, she was still able to go to work and survive in the presence of surveillance drones and biosignature scanners.
I can definitely recommend this book to livers of scifi and cyberpunk. I could definitely see this action filled plot drawing in any reader that loves these genres. You'll be drawn into this crazy yet far too real world quickly and be sad when it spits you out again. I could definitely see this plot making a memorable movie too.
I'd like to thank this author for the amazing book and for all their (yay! A fellow enby) help in me being able to access it. I look forward to reading more of their works in the future. show less

Strong world building meets high-tension and layer after layer of secrets in this excitingly gritty, scifi read.

Fenlee loves her mechatronic studies and will do anything to make her creations stay above everyone else's. That includes hunting for parts in the off-limits, underground city. With her younger brother, she crawls through dangerous areas and is always careful not to be spotted by the security drones. When one of their runs lands her in trouble, she discovers a woman who bears a show more very cryptic message about the necklace around her neck. Told that the stone has given her access to certain powers, Fenlee soon learns that she's been left in the dark about many things, and those secrets are about to endanger her and everyone she loves. But even that doesn't prepare her for the biggest secret of all.

From the very first page, the reader dives into a vivid world. The author has done a good job at letting the scenes and surroundings come to life in a way that makes the reader almost feel as if they were there. And that without falling into description word dumps. It was science fiction fun and carried a grimy dark hint, which made it a treat to see what would come next.

The plot is well laid with tiny hints and clues sprinkled throughout. There were more than a few action-packed moments and other times, where emotions came through. It was a good balance on this end, and even had a last turn, which was extremely hard to see coming. There were a few moments, when the information or scenes came too quickly and easily, but these by no means ruined the tale. So, there are quite a few things about this read, which make it more than a little entertaining.

I do recommend this one for science fiction fans, who enjoy rescue action, a hint of the unknown, and a setting, which has all the darkness of a grabbing, dystopian world. show less

This book was just ok. That said, I've read a lot of novels that also fall into the realm of dystopia, scifi and magical powers, so my standards are pretty high. Also, this is (I think) aimed at a younger audience. So I know I'm grading a little harder than others might..
The author has built an interesting world that I think would be great to see on screen. I like the concept of the undercity and I'm interested in the origin story.
I had a really hard time getting into this book, however. show more There were a lot of info dumps that were a little confusing at times. It picked up a little by the middle, but it took me a really long time to read this book. The last few chapters came together well. I did see the ending coming, though.
I think part of my struggle was that I didn't identify with any of the characters. I found myself only caring about Nico and the cat by the end.
The author obviously put a lot of effort into the world-building and the concept was really good. As this book was the beginning of a series, I think the best is yet to come as their characters continue on in this unique world. show less

From the very first page of this book the reader is taken on a Science Fiction ride where the action is non-stop. The author has created a very realistic world where society lives on the fringes. Only those in New Cascadia who work for the major company, controlled by a "religion" live a good life. Fenlee and her brother Elliott live on the bottom tier of New Cascadia. Fenlee is pretty much raising her brother as their father is away for work. I mean away as in somewhere in space. The lives show more of Fenlee and hear two best friends are put in danger the day Eliott is kidnapped.

Fenlee learns just how corrupt the government is, and it is so much worse than she ever imagined. I was hooked from page one. The world building is so realistic I was drawn in and felt the fear, anger and range of emotions that Fenleed and the other characters felt. The book ended in a way that was nice and tidy. However, I am hoping that there will be a sequel as there were a couple of things that were not tied up a neatly as I would have like. This is definitely a book I want to put in the hands of my students. show less