Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author new to me, Robert Appleton. I picked up this read via the BookRoar review site and am so glad I did >>>

About the Book:

My name is Allegra Mondebay, and this is the story of my last days on Earth…

Unlike my sparsely populated home, on Earth everything and everyone is plugged in. As a blacklisted model who needs to reboot my career, I can no longer resist the ultimate in virtual-reality networking: the omnipod. At first, altering the sights, sounds and scents around me seems harmless. Then I hear the voice.

Do not adjust your headset. You are in danger…

He says I must help him warn the public about the perils of the omnipod. I think he’s just a hacker—until innocent people start dying, and the police want to hold me responsible. Now, I’m on the run in a stolen shuttle, trying to figure out why he needs me. And if I don’t do as he says, he’ll kill the woman I love.

My Review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A profound, deep, moving, and amusing read.

I haven’t read this author before, but I’ll be sure to check out more of his books.

‘My strange fall from fame and rise to notoriety began on the day I forgot to take my umbrella to work.’ … from this intriguing opening line, the author takes us on a journey into a futuristic world, which contains all the greed and manipulation of today’s world. Despite the sci-fi elements–on which the writer has done his homework–the world building and plot feel all too real and possible.

The characterisations are done well and made me care about the main character and supporting protagonists. Oh, and I loved the reference to A Thousand and One Nights with the name of the Omnipod shop: Scheherazade’s.

Despite the at times heavy plot events and issues, this is a story told with sympathy and much humour, as well as some wonderful interplay via dialogue between the characters. Much of this had me chuckling away. Here are some lines I loved …

‘Remember your brain is not a plug’n’play.’

And …

‘… the worst over. That was usually when the world cocked its leg up on you.’

And …

‘… telling her had been rather like trying to post a house through a letterbox–one way or the other, the doorway ended up blocked.’

And …

‘Would you ask sound to show itself? Or a thought to reveal its face?’

I loved this read, and Cyber Sparks gets a solid 5 stars from me.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/