Engines of Oblivion

The Memory War #2

by Karen Osborne

Karen Osborne continues her science fiction action and adventure series the Memory War with Engines of Oblivion, the sequel to Architects of Memory—the corporations running the galaxy are about to learn not everyone can be bought.

Natalie Chan gained her corporate citizenship, but barely survived the battle for Tribulation.

Now corporate has big plans for Natalie. Horrible plans.

Locked away in Natalie's missing memory is salvation for the last of an alien civilization and the humans they tried to exterminate. The corporation wants total control of both—or their deletion.


At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Space, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 9, 2021

About the author

Karen Osborne is the author of Architects of Memory and Engines of Oblivion, as well as a violinist, videographer and thereminist. Her short fiction appears in Uncanny, Fireside, Escape Pod, Robot Dinosaurs and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. She once won a major event filmmaking award for taping a Klingon wedding.

Karen lives in upstate New York with her family, too many instruments, and a bonkers orange cat.

Reviews

[Rakhya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did *not* want to read a book about Natalie Chan.
And yet, it turns out I really wanted to read *this* book about Natalie Chan.

The same warnings apply here as in Architects of Memory: this is a layered, fast paced book that is even more brutal than its predecessor. And I loved it.

After the dramatic events that concluded Architects, we continue our journey of discovery through the unlikeable mess that is Natalie Chan. As Osborne deftly pulls all of her narrative threads and subtle clues together, we learn that reality is rather different than what we thought we knew and watch humanity (or a part of it) fight for survival.

Engines kept me on my toes until the very last page, and was an excellent conclusion to the duology.
A recommended read for fans of space opera who enjoy a side of social critique and reflection on humanity's future along with their exploration and pew pew.

[Alexander Tas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this review and other Science Fiction/Fantasy book reviews at The Quill to Live

Last year I had the pleasure of reading Karen Osborne’s debut, Architects of Memory. Over time I feel I may have been a little tougher on it than necessary, especially since it was smack dab in the middle of other wonderful books on my TBR. I also buried the lead on Osborne’s rich world of corporate warfare and espionage, completely glossing over how ingrained within the characters the system was. However, the book still left me excited for more of Osborne’s work and well, luckily for me and other fans, the second book is around the corner. Engines of Oblivion is a more brutal examination of Osborne’s world, with tighter character work and pacing to boot.

Engines is the story of Natalie Chan as she cobbles together a life after the events of Tribulation in the first book. After a routine scouting test of her remote controlled mech goes awry, and Natalie is removed from her position as head of her lab. The test went perfectly in the minds of the Board members, but Natalie’s unwillingness to see their point of view has put her in dire straits. To salvage her reputation she has to capture Ash Jackson and their former captain, Kate Keller. The board doesn’t believe Ash and Kater are dead, and has a distinct feeling that Natalie helped them escape their grasp. Paired up with the infamous Dr. Reva Sharma, Natalie sets off to find Ash and Kate, to hopefully help Aurora corporation unlock the remaining secrets of the alien Vai and take the fight to them.

Like I said in the intro, I totally flubbed on pointing out Osborne’s screed against corporatocracy in the first book. It’s a major foundation of the world and the characters’ journeys, and Osborne fleshes it out beautifully. Every aspect of life revolves around ones relationship to a corporation. Osborne delivers it in handfuls as well, allowing it to come out in speech and action instead of a direct to reader monologue. It’s a living breathing corporate owned humanity where everything is a commodity, where the lowest are treated as expendable slaves, and the highest used as replaceable machine parts. If I had read the book at a different time, this would have been the center of the review, but alas, I had been mired in several such stories, and it took a truly awful book to make me realize how important it was to Architects. That being said however, Osboune ratchets it up several notches in her second outing, and I was hooked on it. The different ways contracts, hierarchy, personal choice, and internal storytelling dance in their violent waltz is constantly on display in Engines.

The best choice Osborne made for the book was centering Natalie as the point of view for Engines. It honestly felt like a stroke of genius. Don’t get me wrong. Ash Jackson is great in Architects, but Natalie was someone I had trouble sympathizing with on a personal level. She was xenophobic and dedicated her life to fighting the alien menace. Even when Ash tried to explain their thinking, how their understanding of life was so incredibly different from our own, Natalie was stubborn about wanting to exterminate them at all costs. This continues into Engines and while it’s not exactly baklava, it’s less cartoonish and is rounded out. It comes from a place of misguided protection, but her xenophobia is still highlighted. Natalie as a person still frustrating, but it felt so right for her character.

It was fascinating to see Osborne’s world through Natalie’s eyes. She was truly someone who believed in the power and mission of Aurora, and she felt they could make the best use of her skill. However, this feeling is slowly eroded through the story as she learns more about the goals of Aurora and the board members she so diligently serves. Every step Natalie takes to her vision of freedom, she learns of two or three more barriers. Following her, and watching her try to buck the system she has been fighting for was truly a treat. Natalie spends a lot of time following orders, mildly questioning orders and trying to bury her own complicity in the red tape of bureaucracy. Osborne writes with patience, watering the seed of Natalie’s guilt and dissent with care, never allowing a single moment to define “this is where she changes.” She begins to question her relationships, her skills, and her place within Aurora as it uses her to suit its needs. Osborne makes it work with hard-hitting reveals, and slow acceptance on Natalie’s part. It becomes a journey of taking responsibility for one’s own complicity and by god, is it a journey.

Engines of Oblivion is the perfect sequel. Osborne amplified every aspect of the first book and made it all tighter. The story is always moving, but Osborne deftly controls the speed, ramping it up for tension, and slowing it for introspection and revelation. Her choice to step outside her original protagonists and gaze at her corporate world through Natalie’s eyes was bold and insightful. There are layers to Natalie, and her transformation through the book is hard fought. She never feels quite safe, whether it be from conflict in front of her, or from her own internal turmoil. Every piece of the narrative fits into the wider puzzle, and when you get to see the whole picture, it’s beautiful. If you liked Architects of Memory at all, you need to pick up Engines of Oblivion. And if you haven’t read the first one, it’s absolutely worth it to read Engines.

Rating: Engines of Oblivion – 9.0/10

-Alex

[Traveling Cloak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engines of Oblivion is the second and final installment in The Memory War duology by Karen Osborne, and I was even more impressed with this one than I was the first. It just as dark and mysterious as Architects of Memory (the first installment in the series, check out that review here), but with even more twists and a deeper look into the alien technology the series is based on. Answers, I tell you. We get answers.

The first thing I think it is important to point out is that this book changes main character points of view from the first. In Architects, Ash is the main and the reader experiences everything from her point of view; whereas, in Engines Natalie is the main protagonist. I find this switch to be absolutely fascinating, due to the difficulty level. This series in and of itself is complex, and then to make this kind of change is crazy to me. Crazy like a fox (I think I used that saying wrong, but you get the picture). Because Osborne absolutely pulls it off. Ash is still a player in book 2; in fact, she continues to play a really important role. It is just that the reader does not follow her around. There is a reason for that, and in my opinion it absolutely makes sense. It is just something that I, as a writer, would never have considered. The fact that this is a boon to the story as opposed to a detriment is a nod to Osborne’s writing. Only an incredibly skilled author could do this successfully, and Karen Osborne has officially climbed that mountain.

Not that the author necessarily needed to do that to show off her writing aptitude, because the narrative of The Memory War series is intricate enough to make that claim. The tracks of this story are far from parallel, twisting into each other often enough that I had to stop and recalibrate every once in a while. I love a story that makes me do this because it keeps me interested as my brain constantly has to churn. In my review of Architects I mentioned how I felt like every page was an opportunity for a new discovery in this book, but Osborne took it to the next level in Engines. My favorite aspect of the book is just how mysterious it all is. From the opening scene in Architects all the way through to the last page of Engines, a dark shroud surrounds the plot, keeping its secrets. The deeper the reader goes, the heavier it gets and the more reality has to be suspended. The aliens and their technology in question are different from humanoids or even other aliens we have read about in so many ways. A little advice: come in to Engines eyes wide open and ready for anything, because the way Architects leaves off there is so much story left to tell, and the author is determined to answer all the questions while also creating more questions along the way and answering those, as well.

I found the subtext of the narrative to be very thought-provoking. The humans and aliens end up in a few chicken-and-egg situations that make the reader think about our respective places in the world. What does it all mean? And how might it mean something different to another sentient species? Themes of capitalism (and anti-capitalism), slavery, agency, and corporate greed abound. These topics are heavily broached in the series overall, but come to a head in Engines. Sometimes they are in the background, but often are brought to the foreground and can be very obtuse. In my opinion, these themes add to depth of the book because they are a factor in every action taken by every character in the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Engines of Oblivion. It is a fabulous ending to a unique and compelling series. Fans of The Expanse will enjoy its dark, spacey tone.

[Joseph Nassise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't as engaged with it as I was with the first one, but enjoyable nonetheless!

[Fred Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great conclusion to this two parter. The corporations are going at it tooth and nail and the Vai aliens are constantly hassling at the supposed border in space.

And at the heart of the epic battle in real space and mind space is Natalie Chan.

Epic battles and alliances made and broken make this a GREAT read.

Highly recommended two book series

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engines of Oblivion (The Memory War, #2)
by Karen Osborne
I absolutely loved book one but thought this was ok. It was confusing at times and most of the time I could catch up but other times I remained in the dark. The author should make it a bit clearer for the reader. I have been reading science fiction for over 40 years so it's not like I am new to the subjects. It was just confusing the way it was presented. The concept was interesting.
I really didn't feel any attachments to the characters like I did to Ash in book one. The world building was a bit lacking too! I think this could have been a wonderful story.
I gave it 2 1/2 stars rounding up to 3 stars.
Good narration.

[John Deardurff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The follow-up to Karen Osborne’s debut novel, Architects of Memory. This time told from the viewpoint of Natalie Chan, a newly appointed citizen after her heroic triumph at the Battle of Tribulation. Like the first book, it took me about five chapters to get hooked into the book. Unfortunately, I never connected with Natalie like I did with Ashlyn from the first novel. And I think that was the point as Natalie is more xenophobic warrior than Ashlyn. So the ending of this book has a higher reward. It just takes a longer time to get there.

[James Balasalle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars is pushing it...

Hugely disappointing. I liked the previous book and thought the world had lots of promise, but this went way off the rails. The cool weapons and neato aliens of the previous book took a back seat in this one, which devolved into a mind-control, zombie debacle. Just kinda came out of nowhere. I found it ridiculous.

[Indre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first book last year, and the concept of this new alien race and the war intrigued me. It had a good concept, and I was really looking forward to finishing out this duology to see how these memories are the big part of the war.

Well, I didn't love the follow up in the series. For the most part I was confused, and to tell the truth bored. First of all, the book would not be able to stand on its own. You're thrown into the action without a clue of who the characters are and why they are where they are. It bothered me, as I had to rethink of what I could remember from the first book, where we ended, and the change of POV. Most of it is finally explained and I was reminded of the first story around 50%. That's a long time to be lost. Without a re-read and going in with the story line in the forefront, it is hard to follow of what is happening,

The cool part obviously is the aliens, and the whole concept of memory war - it is finally revealed. It is a cool concept, with so much to think about. Not just about aliens, but how humans exploit people and what they could do if they came up with such technology.

Natalie as the main protagonist worked. I loved her strong personality. For obvious reasons we couldn't continue with the original POV, and that's ok. Natalie added a new perspective on everything.

The whole story is very mind bending. There are alien voices, and other things happening that at times are confusing, but still very cool. There were scenes though that were confusing as all be, and I couldn't follow the changes, jumps, the concepts. I'm still confused on what parts were real and what parts were imagined. It was unclear in some parts. Or i might have skimmed and missed something?

Some things worked, some didn't. I was engrossed during certain parts, and some I was completely bored with and was skimming. In the end it wasn't a favorite, and I liked the first one better.

[Alex M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spent the majority of this book being pretty confused about what was going on, why, and how. Maybe some of this is intentional due to the memory situation that's at play, but if it was then it wasn't executed well. At some point I was reading just to finish the book and not necessarily because I was invested in any particular way. Due to the confusing plot and unlikeable characters, I really didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one in the series. There's also no strong relationships between any characters in the book - everyone either dislikes each other or engages with each other and situations in a rather emotionless (and sometimes confusing) way. And in the last 10% or so of the story it just got pretty unbelievable, even in the universe of the book, with what was happening. Unfortunately, this whole book just didn't know how to execute what it wanted to do.

[Elizabeth Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book because the author did not seem to have a clear idea of what the human race was going to evolve into once she got the alien nanotechnology into them. She spends too much time going back and forth over the war and leaves us in the dark about what exactly the aliens are. It was repetitive and the plot was unclear. Finally, the ending was disappointing. So, yeah, not a fan of this one. Try a different book by this author. She does write good books.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the duology. Parts of this book were a bit on the confusing side for a while, but I eventually figured things out. I liked Natalie as a character and I'm not sure about how things ended for her. Its not what I would consider great but all things considered its not as awful an end for her as it could have been. It has some interesting ideas and might be something that the author could expand upon in other books with new characters.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I see what the author was trying to do here, but all the spurting blood, outbursts of rhapsodic poetry, and intense feels left me a bit nauseous. Along with taking enough physical damage to kill any ten elephants the protagonist is as unlikeable as any character I’ve ever encountered too. That may appeal to some readers, but not this one.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trilogies and beyond are certainly the norm for genre fiction. Many stand-alones exist. But, seem to be pretty rare. If writing two distinct chapters, how easy it much be to stretch things for more. If they aren’t so distinct, couldn’t they simply fit together into just one longer volume? Karen Osborne does something unique and remarkable with her “The Memory War” duology. Engines of Oblivion, the second book of the series feels even more successful than the first.

The two novels are flip-sides of the same coin, or the same vinyl record, bearing different surface characteristics but forged from the same core elemental materials. Both of them enrich one another: the first is necessary to grasp the sequel, but the sequel makes the reader appreciate its predecessor more deeply. The duology actually becomes a whole. Though Engines of Oblivion may feel better, it’s mostly because the reader can now fully connect with what came before, realizing this is a story of two distinct protagonists faced with the same economical and political exploitation/control.

The first novel of “The Memory War”, Architects of Memory, follows corporately indentured salvage pilot Ash Jackson, who (with the crew she works with) discovers a weapon of mass destruction that might be useful in a war between humanity and the alien Vai. I wrote more on that novel in an earlier review, and I also had the opportunity to interview author Karen Osborne on the series at Reading1000Lives.com.

Engines of Oblivion continues following the events that close Architects of Memory, but now following protagonist Natalie Chan, a war veteran who served with Ash on the crew of the Twenty-Five. Chan has barely survived the battle of Tribulation at the climax of the first book, but has gained her corporate citizenship as a result. However, it still comes with additional price. The Board of the Aurora Corporation doesn’t believe Ash and her partner Kate (the former captain of the Twenty-Five) are dead, and they suspect Chan may have even had a hand in letting them escape with the secrets of the alien technology that could be used to defeat the Vai. Chan is sent along with other former crew member Dr. Reva Sharma to find Ash and Kate. There is a significant complication, however. Natalie Chan has lost pockets of her memory, and she is beginning to doubt many things she took for granted.

Like its predecessor, Engines of Oblivion has rapid pacing, but familiarity with the characters makes it far easier to jump into. The first book showed how a tight-knit group of people who professionally relied on each other for their lives turned to mistrust, betrayal, and some signs of hopeful empathy/solidarity. The sequel explores these character connections more deeply, in satisfying ways that enrich the characterization from the first novel.

Some readers may find it jarring for the story to turn towards the point-of-view of Natalie Chan. Readers become very accustomed to Ash in the first novel, and invested in rooting for her success. We see Chan in that novel only through Ash’s interpretative mind, and not as a particularly relatable person to empathize with. However, Osborne does fabulously well from the start putting readers into Chan’s confused mind to get another perspective on things and generate reader sympathy for someone who may have been more disliked prior.

Chan has bought into the power structure and narratives of the Corporatocracy that runs things in “The Memory War”. But she slowly begins to see things that Ash had long known and appreciated. Through Natalie Chan’s initial complicity, and gradual awakening, Engines of Oblivion is able to dramatically expand the themes of corporate power and personal freedom that the first novel touched upon.

As with the first novel, Engines of Oblivion provides some twists and surprising turns to end up in a satisfying conclusion that draws both the heart of this novel, and the overall series plot, into effective close. I would have enjoyed more background detail and exploration of the Vai over other elemental foci of the novel, but that is the biologist in me, I understand that not everything can fit.

If you are a fan of space opera and still haven’t checked this pair of books out, go get Architects of Memory now, it ranks among the best in the current sub-genre and would give any of the ‘classics’ a run for their money.

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[Bonnie McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Memory War duology, expanding on last year's Architects of Memory. The first thing you notice is that this is a fatter book than the first; the second thing is that the protagonist has shifted, with a secondary character, Natalie Chan, taking the lead this time around. The reason for this is soon made clear. Natalie is tasked by the corporation she was recently granted citizenship to, Aurora, to find and bring in Ashlan Jackson, the protagonist of the first book who has a tie with the alien hivemind species the Vai.

I'm usually not fond of cyberpunk/consciousness upload stories, because current science says such a thing is impossible. Consciousness, as I understand it, is generated by the 100 billion neurons in the gray jelly inside our heads, and can't be separated from the actual physical brain. Having said that, the fact that this form of consciousness transfer is based on an alien species' technology makes the premise a little more palatable. Also, Karen Osborne has improved as a writer since the first book. The characterization, in particular, is much better in this volume, and the theme of deconstructing capitalism (in the form of the all-encompassing Corporate Alliance which has apparently swallowed up all this future's world governments) is even more prominent.

The plot is denser and better constructed, and this is just a weightier book, both in terms of page count, theme and tone. It's nice to see a new author begin to hit her stride. This augurs well for the next book, but in the meantime, this one is worth your time.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Osborne's second offering in her series, The Memory War, took some time to draw me in, but ultimately succeeded in telling a complicated story about the ongoing saga of first contact that turns to interstellar war, and the women who change the course of history. Engines of Oblivion picks up with Natalie Chan, a supporting character form the first installment of the series, Architects of Memory, who frankly, took a while to emerge back into my brain even after having read the previous novel only a year or so ago. That's part of the problem with Osborne's novels. Her plots are so dense, and convoluted, that I often don't really know what's going on. Ultimately, the characters are real enough, and the story engaging enough that it almost doesn't matter that I'm missing the larger story she is trying to tell, but part of me is frustrated by that as well.

The main characters from Architects do return, and their presence is felt throughout, but this is really Natalie's story, and her evolving relationship with the Master Node of the mysterious Vai. It is fascinating how Osborne plays with memory, and focuses on its importance... but also how despite it being made essential, is very fragile i the arch of this novel. I"m not 100% I would continue onto a third book, but we'll have to wait and see.

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[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to the audiobook for this one was the way to go. The inevitability of a narrator reading for you, the inability to get hung up on one question or another and instead be forced to barrel on to the next reveal... Though it takes place a year after the first book, it's best to read the two as close together as possible. Even though Natalie gives us a totally new perspective, you need to remember clearly the events of the previous book, where Natalie played the role of friend, ally, and enemy by turns.

Natalie was such a fascinating character. She's prickly, confused (which is a consequence of the story), and has divided loyalties - and both sides have jagged edges that are sharp enough to cut.

Though I think the climax was a little... Not contrived necessarily but over the top. And I'm a little confused about how one could manipulate collective memory for the denoument. But it also fit. It fit with the narrative of corporate greed, with the hierarchy of human worth, with the soul-sucking pull of capitalism that undercut the story across both books.

And I think the reason this story was so effective was thanks to Natalie herself.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

UGgggggh. I got so drawn into this world and it was so hard to watch it resolve in a way that was fundamentally foreign and impossible to imagine (by design!) but still it's own kind of resolution! Sometimes books aren't about what you want them to be about or don't end the way you want them to but that doesn't mean they're not good! These books do a really good job of interrogating of what capitalism does to memory and trauma and war and what makes a person a person and what makes together together, of situating those conflicts within a person. I think, in particular, the use of physical and mental frailty were what really roped me in emotionally - totally harrowing. That said I definitely ripped through it too fast and will have to go back and try to parse some of the twists and turns because I was both in my feels and confused by the end.

[Mark Cofta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absorbing and challenging read, a second plunge into the universe of Osborne's Architect of Memory. The human future is controlled by corporations that award citizenship rights and privileges to a select few (primarily families of corporate leaders) and control all others as serfs. Our heroine Natalie, a supporting character in the first novel, struggles to understand her company's experiments with alien technology and human memory. I felt a little overwhelmed by Osborne's jargon at times but warmed to Natalie and was pleasantly surprised by the story's many twists. Like Emma Newman's Atlas novels, Osborne features strong, independent women characters in a harsh future controlled by a rich elite (sort of where we're headed, right?), but gives us reasons to hope.

[Vervada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie was one of my favourite secondary characters from "Architects of Memory", so, when I saw that the book was written from her pov, I was quite excited. And her character's development did not disappoint. From refusing to accept any responsibility for the atrocities committed with her help to finally acknowledging her role in them and trying her hardest to change things for the better. It was a tough journey, but it was totally worth it. I just with that we got more scenes with Natalie and her mother. It was also great to see what happened with Ash and Kate and to see that they got a happy ending (even if it was a bit strange). I'm curious about what Karen Osborne will write next.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to Architects of Memory is even faster, twistier, weirder, and more delightfully mind-bending than its predecessor. I loved Natalie already, and I was so happy to watch her get to kick some ass here (while actively dealing with her own trauma and the political fallout from book 1). I expected to learn more about the Vai, and was not disappointed there, and the absolutely unique alien culture is in perfect counterpoint to the grasping, relentless corporate greed on the other side. Highly recommended!

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Architects of Memory," the first half of this duo, impressed me with its tale of dystopian corporate government in space involved in a "forever war" with an incomprehensible alien civilization. This novel shifts the focus, as we follow Natalie Chan, true believer in the corporate order, from loyal soldier to vindictive rebel. The opening and close are great, the process of getting there I didn't always find convincing, but I'd still argue that these books are worth your time, and I look forward to what Ms. Osborne comes up with next.

[Elizabeth K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is criminally under-reviewed here on Goodreads. And to be fair, I almost didn't read this book. I enjoyed the first book quite a bit, but like some others have said, I was wary of reading a sequel about Natalie Chan. But she turned out to be even more amazing than Ash as a protagonist, and the themes and arcs in this book are even more mind-blowing and relevant than the first book. This is science fiction at its best.

(Also, I never write reviews, so...you know this one meant a lot to me.)

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number two in the series certainly didn't outdo the first, partly because of less novelty. The change in the protagonist was well done with good continuity from the prior protagonists. The good combination of psychological exploration and hard sci-fi continues. However the consciousness switching bodies /machines / entities became confused without tags or clues of who's who in what object.
I'll probably read the third one mainly to see if my prodiction of the ending is close.

[LostAlias · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I just read? I was confused for a lot of this book and it took me a long time to get through it. And a couple times I wondered what and why am I still reading? It’s like I had to get to the end to piece it all together, kinda like the main character. It’s weird but if you’re in it, stick it out. I like the ending. This book is about a lot of things including memory holes, so maybe the confusion is intentional. it’s interesting and I’m still mulling it over.

[Stuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this one to be confusing. I had enjoyed the previous book in the series, but i just could not get into this one. I didn't really understand what was happening with the Vai inside Natalie's head, or Kate's body or what. I don't know; maybe if i re-read the first one.... but for now, it's a no from me.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one just blew my mind in a good way and also made me cry and read faster in desperate hope and was relieved to find that hope rewarded. Because in this year of all years we need some hope and this delivered.

[Jeremy Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion to the duology. Like the first, it is action packed, start to finish. Also like the first it is a terrifying look at amoral capitalism's endgame if left unchecked. Entertaining and well written, a pair of books well worth the read.