Intelligence with a heartbeat. This sci-fi thriller is a rollercoaster of murder mystery, a little romance, and a lot of action.
Title: Doppelganger
Author: Chip Walter
Genre(s): Science Fiction
Word Count: 100,000
Publisher: The Human Light & Power Co., Inc
Publication Date: 3/20/2024
Summary:
They slaughtered his people. They sealed his magic. Vilas, imprisoned in Queen Irma’s dungeon, is haunted by the massacre of his people and the sealing of his magic. With dreams of fiery retribution, his chance for freedom arrives when the Queen offers him a deal: his freedom, his magic, and a night in her bed in exchange for hunting a rebel cult threatening her kingdom. Author Ashley Capes crafts a compelling tale of vengeance, loss, and the struggle for identity.
Known as the Beast of Khiya, Vilas embodies an inextinguishable fury, fueled by the destruction of his homeland. As his investigation into the rebel threat draws him to the decay and ruin he once called home, the reader gains a sense of rage and grief as he fights to hold himself together. It is impressive the way that Author Ashley Capes captures the internal battle between Vilas’s righteous fury toward his jailor while coping with his raw, inconsolable grief for a kingdom that can never be again. As he unravels the mystery behind the cultist rebel group, the reader peels back the layers of the beast of Khiya.
The worldbuilding in this novel is another standout element. When Vilas and his traveling companions reach his hometown, the setting is steeped in a haunting atmosphere. The innovative bridge over a toxic lake sparks curiosity about the dangers lurking in this desolate landscape. The eerie creatures that populate the story add a thrilling edge, enhancing the tension as Vilas seeks to uncover the truth behind the rebels.
Overall, Knee-Deep in Cinders is a captivating read, offering a fresh fantasy experience that stands apart from longer series. It’s a powerful exploration of vengeance and the quest for justice, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Highly recommended for those seeking a rich, immersive story filled with emotional depth and thrilling intrigue.
My Review:
Morgan Adams is a scientific prodigy. Orphaned at birth, he quickly finds his passion in the form of all things technology which takes him from poverty to become the co-founder of the world’s wealthiest company. Tomorrow Morgan is scheduled to unveil a secret project that will allow him to download a human mind into an identical cyborg body and alter the course of humankind. But when he awakens, Morgan is shocked to find himself looking down at his own tortured and broken body. Disoriented and disbelieving, Morgan’s brain has been downloaded into the beta version of his unfinished creation, Doppelganger. To make matters worse, the source code to his Doppelganger has been stolen, his consciousness is degrading, and he has 72 hours to solve his own murder, recover the source code, and unravel a conspiracy that has jeopardized the future of humanity.
The character development of this story is seamless. Each character – human and artificial – stands out. Morgan’s character is brilliance personified and an exploration of what it means to be human. Some stories like to tell the reader that “Morgan is smart,” but Doppelganger shows the reader the inner workings of Morgan’s brain. Morgan Adams battles robots bent on murdering him and others while he simultaneously decodes impossible puzzles. Even as a doppelganger, Morgan is tethered to his humanity – with every memory of his humble beginnings and every time he quotes Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky.” Intelligence with a heartbeat personified. The most standout character is Io. She is a brilliant psychologist who specializes in the emotional state of Artificial Intelligence. Io is down to earth and a certified Baddie – Brains, Beauty, Brauns, and doesn’t mind speaking her mind. Io isn’t the kind of character who just accepts that she’s brought into her situation and will allow herself to be pushed around. She pushes back and challenges even the elite while remaining elite herself. Author Chip Walter never let a character fade into obscurity, not even the A.I. This creates a satisfying reading experience.
Author Chip Walter excelled in worldbuilding. Doppelganger is layered in such clarity that as the reader follows Morgan to the “GRID,” to the “ATOZ,” and even unto the dangerous highway, it’s impossible to not be immersed in the details. There is one scene that integrated animals and technology that is written so well that I knew then that this book would be one of my “go-to/comfort” reads. I won’t spoil the scene, but when you read it, let’s talk about it!
Highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy movies like “I, Robot,” “Eagle Eye,” “Terminator,” and “Total Recall.”
ARC recieved from Reedsy.com