Published By: Ad Astra
Pages: 416
Released On: 09/10/2025
At 14, Julia Z became infamous as the “orphan hacker,” a teenage prodigy who broke the law and captivated a nation. Now, years later, she’s trying to leave that life behind, hiding in the quiet suburbs of Boston. But her fragile anonymity is shattered when a desperate lawyer bursts into her life, begging for her help to find his wife—a celebrated artist who uses AI to craft dreams for thousands and who has been kidnapped by a criminal syndicate.
Against her better judgment, Julia embarks on a harrowing journey across the country, drawn ever-deeper into the shadows of the American dream. As she tracks the criminals, she confronts not only their perilous schemes but also the ghosts of her own past. Resourceful, relentless, and deeply contemptuous of authority, Julia must dig deep into her unique skillset and fractured psyche to uncover the truth — and to hold onto hope when everything around her descends into darkness.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Ad Astra for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is a futuristic, sci-fi novel that feels far too close to home for comfort. With seemingly everything turning to AI, it doesn’t feel that far off to becoming reality.
I used to work in cybersecurity, and whilst I didn’t understand all of it (I was an editor so didn’t necessarily need to know the ins and outs of it), I did pick up on some terminology which I found in this book .Those who have absolutely no background in it, a lot of the story might go over their head, and I’m not sure they’re get as much out of it. Even with my limited understanding there were still bits I struggled with. Having said that, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of it overall.
I’ve not read any of Ken’s books before so I can’t comment on how he’s transitioned into a new genre, but overall I liked it, but it did have some flaws.
The plot was so layered, such depth, the amount of research is commendable. It’s a frightening plot because it feels so tangible and real. It was fast-pace but never felt too rushed and I just zoomed through it because I was so hooked.
Where it does struggle is with the characters. I always say I prefer characters over plot, but for this book it’s definitely the opposite. Whereas the plot felt so accomplished, the characters felt a bit flat. They didn’t have much heart to them. It was definitely a case of 95% plot and 5% characters. Having said that, they definitely improved as the book went on and so by the end I’d definitely say it had balanced out a bit more.
Considering how involved and complicated the plot was, I was surprised how quickly I read it – in a matter of hours.
This is book one I believe in a series and whilst I didn’t think it would be my thing, I did enjoy it and I will definitely be looking out for the next one.
Overall, a completely new read for me but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s original, so well researched, so layered and impressive. Some sections are complex and are not seamless, and the characters weren’t standout. But I will look out for his previous books – which I believe are fantasy books – just to see a different side of his writing style.
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