A really engaging and fast-paced look at the world of cyber security. Set only twenty or so years from today, the author does a fantastic job of using real cyber security concepts to inform the plot. I work with computer systems in development and deal with cyber security issues on a daily basis, and Baucherel (the author) is either an actual expert in the field or an amazing researcher. Every detail rings true and all of it leads to a compelling and satisfying conclusion.
Baucherel’s grounded approach to the near-future is quite daring. She published this book in 2017, so she took a lot of risks making any predictions on such a short timeline. But science fiction is never about making accurate predictions, it’s about telling believable stories the use science and technology in innovative ways. Her predictions of future social engineering and climate-based regulations are very interesting (despite the fact that climate change is ‘paused’ again). The creeping control of the state over our lives is subtle in the book, but the heroes have to bypass those regulations in a style while saving the very society that is hampering them.
I bought the audio version and the author is quite a capable narrator as well. Can’t beat the bundle price – you can get the whole first trilogy for less than the cost of most audiobooks.
Arthur P. Dutton 