Author: J.T. Nicholas
Publisher: Rebel Base Books
Publication Date: March 20, 2018
Pages: 304
Format: Galley/NetGalley
The Post-Modern Prometheus
Synths were manufactured to look human and perform physical labor, but they were still only machines. That’s what the people who used—and abused—them believed, until the truth was revealed: Synths are independent, sentient beings. Now, the governments of the world must either recognize their human nature and grant them their rightful freedom, or brace for a revolution.
Former New Lyons Detective Jason Campbell has committed himself to the Synths’ cause, willing to fight every army the human race marches against them. But they have an even greater enemy in Walton Biogenics, the syndicate behind the creation and distribution of the “artificial” humans. The company will stop at nothing to protect their secrets—and the near-mythological figure known to Synths as “The First,” whose very existence threatens the balance of power across the world . . .
Review: I definitely enjoyed how this story picked up the pace compared to SINthetic! There was a lot more action and continuation to the story compared to the stop and explain everything of the first book. It was very pleasant and I really liked seeing the story move further along in this! And the best part of it, is that this book takes place only over the span of a about a month. From New Years at the end of SINthetic when Campbell sides with the synthetics, through almost the 1st of February when they gave the world the deadline for giving synths full rights. We got a lot of action and information going on with the resistance in a short period of time. It was great!
Things started out with trying to find out who left a dead body on the resistances door step to a full on break in of Walton Biogenics to find some well hidden information with hard scientific proof that could change everyone's view of synthetics whether they want to or not. You can't fight science (despite some people thinking their opinions are better than hard facts). A man named Dr. Kaphiri, who is considered the father of synthetics as he created the first one (mentioned above as "The First"), hid information away from Walton that could later be used just for the resistances very purpose. He also never wanted synths to be treated as they are, the idea of making them just a product was solely Walton Biogenics idea. After finding out Dr. Kaphiri's story regarding synths and how Walton came to get a hold of that information to make them, you really feel bad. Huge corporations are just awful most of the time.
I was very pleasantly surprised to see Ms. Morita, the medical examiners assistant from the last book pretty much join Campbell and the synths. It's never said if she does, but from the fact she stays after helping them and starts to really feel for their plight, it's pretty much implied. It was definitely nice seeing someone genuinely change their mind regarding the synths and see they are much more than what the world thinks they are. I also was surprised by the epilogue when the seeds of doubt were placed into Dr. Larkin's mind about the synths from what Campbell had told her when he was there getting Dr. Kaphiri's information.
The only things that bugged me in this book were the ending and one particular drawn out chapter. The one chapter where Campbell is trying to get out of Walton and ends up fighting a bunch of security and police felt really long. So long I glossed over parts. It was way to over detailed and drawn out. I don't mind hearing a bit about how the fight scene went down, but it was definitely too long of a scene. And the ending. While I understand why it had to end like that, I really don't like it. But I'm hoping in book three we'll find out it was for the good of the synths and not for nothing.
