We forged the gods—now they’re fighting back. Will one young man's skill and ingenuity be enough to turn the tides of war?
When teen hacker Jaffrey Pewitt discovers a dangerous secret in the Deep Net, he has three days to choose what he'll do about the artificial intelligence threat. Hiding his discovery would make him a traitor, but revealing it would earn him a life sentence. Doing nothing isn't an option.
Whatever his choice, the AI battle is coming to Jaffrey's doorstep to test just who and how much he’ll betray for a chance at saving his post-pandemic world.
The tech-magic of Tron and military suspense of Ender’s Game meet the exciting new frontiers of How to Train Your Dragon in this explosive, hopeful, and action-packed YA cyberpunk standalone.
Science fiction that asks the age-old question, "What does it mean to be human?" on every riveting page.
Scott’s richly developed world pops off the page, giving a convincing sense of its dysfunctional society run on fear and intimidation. The stakes are high, and the characters are willing to challenge social constraints for the greater good. When a power surge threatens to destroy everything, Jaffrey weighs whether to improve his status by becoming a Watcher and preparing for an assault against the city or to the lives of people very different from himself. While Jaffrey’s older brother Ben joins the Watchers in the attack, his nine-year-old sister Astrid is more open-minded and has actually made contact with the leader of the AIEs, the master Builder Tandren.
Scott presents a sympathetic and imaginative variation on the familiar plot of sentient computer programs and artificial intelligence with a world of unique clothes, jobs, and vocabulary. She folds themes of environmental degradation and genetic manipulation into a fast-paced caper and delivers a satisfying ending to this cautionary but entertaining story. The message of diverse characters working together to solve a common problem will resonate with readers of all ages.
Takeaway: Cyberpunk fans will thrill to video-game action and sympathetic characters fighting high-stakes battles.
Great for fans of: Stephanie Flint’s Huntress, Julian North’s Age of Order.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
