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popthebutterfly 's review for:

Parting Shadows by Kate Sheeran Swed
4.0

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Parting Shadows

Author: Kate Sheeran Swed

Book Series: Toccata System Book 1

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI

Publication Date: July 9, 2019

Genre: Sci-Fi

Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)

Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press

Pages: 139

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.

After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.

When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.

Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.

Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.

Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.

Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.

Verdict: I loved this book!