Talk about a whirlwind book! From start to finish, I was amazed at the thought, care, and detail attributed to Synapse. It takes over two-thirds of the book before the title makes sense, but you kinda know what’s coming. And it was still remarkable.

Although it’s given a futuristic setting, Synapse is not so far out there that it becomes unbelievable. Think I, Robot mixed with God’s Not Dead.

Since the book is told through several different perspectives, you’re able to see what is happening on both sides of the automaton debate even though you don’t know who the head honcho is behind the screen.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Synapse is a difficult novel to review. Parts were excellent. Parts were not excellent. And parts were downright weird.
Let’s start with what I thought was excellent. Synapse is set in the future—2037. Humanoid robots are commonplace, as are the Purists, terrorists who seek to destroy the Artificials before Artificials destroy humanity (a valid concern for anyone who has seen a Terminator movie).

The main character, Kestrel, is a Methodist minister, and that gives lots of room to muse in the nature of humanity, whether a sentient robot has a soul or can believe in God or needs forgiveness for their sins.

There are some big questions around artificial life forms in this novel, and Synapse addresses them all in a natural way. Is salvation only for humans? I’d always thought so, but I don’t live in a world with sentient artificial life forms. If a computer were sentient, would it have a soul? Would it have eternal soul? These are the tough questions Steven James addresses in Synapse.

But that’s not the plot. The basic plot is more mundane—there’s a bombing, our heroine is one of the first on the scene, and that naturally brings her to the attention of the investigating officers. Predictably, one is single (well, divorced) and interested in her (but has to get past his own issues first), and the other is a dirty cop. Yawn. Sorry, but that’s one plot line I’m kind of over. However, I did enjoy the occasional touch of humour.

The underlying novel is the search for the truth about the bombing, and will the good cop find out the truth before the bad cop destroys all the evidence and implicates Kestrel. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but I found the bad cop a little cliché, and the writing in those scenes somewhat bland.

Yes, some of the writing was bland, but there were also passages of brilliance, and passages that could be either. Or both. Take the introduction. One of the first “rules” of writing is about managing point of view. In short, write in first person or third person, but be careful about writing in both. And don’t write in second person.

Synapse breaks these rules. It starts in second person as Kestrel gives birth and realises her baby is not okay. Honestly, I almost stopped reading there—using “you” (meaning me, the reader) would have been weird in any context, but in the context of a mother losing her baby? Beyond weird.

The novel then switched into first person past tense. But Jordan (Kestrel’s Artificial aka sentient humanoid robot) was also a viewpoint character, and Jordan’s scenes were written in first person present tense. This was somewhat jarring next to the rest of the novel, and definitely not a technique I’d recommend to new writers.

Overall, Synapse is a futuristic whodunit that uses enough common tropes to make it familiar despite the futuristic setting. While I didn’t wholeheartedly enjoy Synapse, it was a fascinating concept that asked some serious questions about the nature of God, humanity, and salvation.

Recommended for science fiction fans. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Steven James for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Synapse. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

This story is set 30 years from now. Artificial Intelligence has advanced to the point where Artificials have been given rights under the law. There is a continuum of robots with ones that perform simple functions like doing your cooking and cleaning to ones that are awake. They have an algorithm that allows them to learn based on categories like emotion, memory, curiosity and pain. They look and feel exactly like humans and it can be hard to tell the difference. Humans are called Naturals and can be enhanced, for example, if you’ve had an accident. They can replace arms, eyes, ears, any human body part. These semi-bionic humans are called Plussers.

Kestrel is a preacher, unmarried and we meet her in the hospital having just lost her baby. She is alone and sad and after leaving the hospital she witnesses an attack at the plant where they make Artificials. She tries to give first aid to someone she finds injured from the attack. Her estranged brother, Trevor, happens to be an upper level executive at this company. They became estranged after their parents died when an older Artificial model gunned them down by mistake. This sends Kestrel off to a path toward G-d and away from technology. Trevor chose a different path towards the advancement of robots. Kestrel becomes embroiled in the investigation in trying to find out who caused the attack. There are a group of Purists who believe that these technological advancements are dangerous and have instigated terrorist attacks before.

Trevor purchases a high end Artificial for Kestrel, originally intending it to help her with the baby. Although she is against it, she ends up accepting the Artificial, Jordan. As he awakens, he struggles with his own consciousness, learning the difference between right and wrong and his ability to believe in G-d. Kestrel tries to guide him as she struggles with her own faith. Nick, the agent working on the case, protects Kestrel as she is now in danger from the terrorists. They start to develop feelings toward each other.

This story has many different levels. You have the main story with the mystery of who is blowing up the plants. You can follow the storyline of Kestrel, the loss of her daughter, reconnecting with her estranged brother and the mystery of who is causing the terrorist attacks. Then there is the storyline between Kestrel and her Artificial, Jordan. This is a separate storyline. Jordan is like an innocent child who becomes awake and although Kestrel is very reluctant to have an Artificial, she starts to develop a relationship with him. Jordan is also on a quest to discover G-d and Kestrel, a minister, has recently become disillusioned. There is a whole conversation about who can believe in G-d, what does it mean to believe in a higher power and what happens when we have a lapse in faith. Then there is a lot of commentary peppered throughout the book about the whole technology slant. You have every possible angle covered. Are we moving too fast, what is suffering while we are making all the technological advances. Basically any conversation you have ever heard about technology is covered in this book.

What I did appreciate is that is the conversations never became preachy. It wasn’t one idea being valued over another where it was being shoved down your throat. There were plenty of ideas from all different angles being presented so you can enter the conversation from any entry point. Sometimes it was a little much but it didn’t bother me that much. Also, the different strains of story never interfered with each other. The story moved along nicely, actually at a quick pace. I really liked the relationship between Kestrel and Jordan and would have enjoyed even more of the two of them. The romance was sweet but a little slow, maybe underdeveloped? I loved all the technology, it’s so interesting to me. So we are 30 years in the future and have made huge leaps from self driving cars to living, thinking, feeling AI’s. But infrastructure is still a problem, so you still have to deal with things like traffic. Hilarious! Protests still happen based on ideas that are being discussed today so it makes it very relevant. There was a lot of content and I really enjoyed this book. I hope there will be more, maybe a series? Doesn’t look like this is the plan. The book raises lots of ethical and philosophical questions that will make you think twice the next time you look at your phone!

Suspense filled, thought provoking who-dun-it that leaves you guessing and questioning until the last page. Steven James creates a believable future with technology at the forefront, spurring people to either embrace advancing artificial intelligence or fight against it and the problems it brings. As the story unfolds, the question of who God saves and why is woven into the mix. Can a machine that is able to make it's own choices be able to receive forgiveness for those choices or is that limited to humans, who God has set aside special with a soul? The suspense starts with a bombing and just keeps building until the end of the book. Who is responsible for the bombs? Where is their next target? Who is the enemy, and do they wear the mask of a friend? Agent in charge Vernon is facing a web of deception, danger, and misdirection while he tries to stop an unknown event that could cause the deaths of unknown numbers. I love how James mixed in a who-dun-it intrigue that left me guessing who the real bad guys were until the end. If you want a book that will entertain you from start to finish, definitely grab this one. It will not disappoint! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Synapse was a bit different from what I was expected from Steven James. I'm used to his heart-pounding thrillers and Synapse has that element but it also has a bit of a science fiction feel to it as well. I'm not a science fiction fan generally but Steven James' writing is enough to keep me turning pages. This was a unique storyline that kept me turning the pages. If you're a fan of this author you're definitely going to enjoy this one.

A futuristic techno-thriller that explores questions as old as time, Synapse will keep you on the edge of your seat. I found Steven James’ latest novel a mind-bender as I sought to process the interactions between Artificials (cognizant robots), Naturals (humans), and Plussers (specially-augmented humans) and the search for terrorists with varied agendas and motives. The basic premise is simple — Purists (those who oppose the spread of technology) are out to prevent a leading tech company from unleashing new advancements — yet this book has so many twists and turns along with thought-provoking questions on God, that its complexity requires a careful reading. Readers will find themselves questioning the technology that makes our lives easier, and in turn, as a couple of characters state, reflecting on the distractions that keep us from thoughts of eternity. I especially found main character Jordan, a cognizant robot with free will, intriguing. In Jordan, James has created a machine that feels, thinks, and aspires to what humans should. See, I said mind-bending. The novel is action-packed, and will appeal to those with a preference for the thriller and dystopian genres. And the faith messages shared will certainly make any reader re-think any conceptions they have on the goodness of God in a fallen world.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

3.5 Stars

SYNAPSE is an interesting Christian scifi where humans live with artificial intelligence every single day, and where technology continues to advance. Readers will be able to relate to the characters, while also finding the plot to be intriguing. An overall entertaining story.

James writes these edge-of-you-seat thrillers, or at least does with his Patrick Bowers Files. With this story, the thrilling part of the story is definitely still present, as is a slight romance. There is quite a bit of action throughout the story, but especially during the climatic ending. Those scenes James writes very well. I also thought the whole premise of an AI being able to think and act freely to be interesting. It is definitely something that seems to naturally test my thoughts on. I really enjoyed these characters as well. Kestral and Nick were interesting and likable. I could see how they could be attracted to each other, especially under the circumstances.

I did have a few issues with the story, which surprised me as I had fairly high expectations going in. The religious element was really strong. Probably the strongest I've read outside of reading a nonfiction theology book. I felt like much of the story was devoted to two different theological discussions with whole paragraphs and sometimes pages committed to specific ideas and beliefs. One argument was between Kestral and her brother and Kestral and herself about if God was real and if His love was real. The other was in regards to Kestral and Jordan (her AI) about what defines a soul and about finding and worshiping God, or finding faith. It felt like at least half of the story or more was related to these two discussions. The other issue I had was in regards to some plausibilities. It's never revealed why Ethan had to die or why Kestral was targeted specifically. It just didn't make sense to me and felt sloppy for an organization who showed it could be quite stealthy.

In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an entertaining read. It wasn't my favorite of the author's books and you definitely need to be okay with the very strong religious aspect. However, I enjoyed the characters and I found the plot to have some thrilling, danger-filled moments.

Content: Violence
Source: I received a complimentary copy from through CelebrateLit, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

Whoa! What an intense book. I have to tell you, the story kind of freaked me out because I can see how our technology can and will advance so much that androids begin to behave more like humans. The book starts off with a painful introduction to the main character of the story, Kestrel. From there, the reader is launched into the futuristic world of AI.

I've only read a couple of books by this author, and I really like his writing style. I had a very clear picture of what was happening in the story and where it was occurring. I have to say, my favorite character was Jordan. "He's" an artificial given to Kestrel by her brother. The storyline of Jordan trying to understand faith really fascinated me! The struggle between Kestrel explaining hope and God to Jordan will cause the reader to think!

We're also introduced to "Plussers". People who have had AI updated on them. Of course if you have people for the advancement of technology, especially to this degree, you're going to have people vehemently opposed to it, and there's the crux of this story. How far do we allow technology to go?

If you're into futuristic fiction and science fiction, you won't want to miss out on this book!

What do we do when tragedy strikes—can our faith handle it? Are self-cognizant artificial life forms really alive? Can an android truly understand and worship God, be forgiven of sin, be saved? Perhaps these deeper questions of existence are not ones a reader typically encounters in a suspense novel set in the not-too-distant future, but Steven James’ new book asks us to consider these and many other questions.

This book immediately jumps into the action, with the main character, Kestrel, experiencing a personal tragedy followed closely by a terrorist attack. It leaves her struggling with many important questions despite her pastoral vocation, allowing the reader to explore the weighty topics alongside her. The physical pain, emotional trauma, and intellectual battle are all portrayed in what I felt to be an authentic manner, sometimes disturbingly so.

Running parallel to the personal story is the larger mystery of the terrorist attack, and the race against the clock to prevent another. At the same time, there is a question about what the newly developed technology is, kept a closely guarded secret until the official unveiling at the press conference.

The futuristic technology was convincing, and close enough to current scientific trends to be frighteningly plausible. Their power for good—and for evil—is spot on; as the main character thinks early in the novel, “And technology is a clock you cannot turn backward.” So how far, as a society, are we willing to push, knowing that bad will come along with the good?

A word of caution to those who may be sensitive to certain situations: Kestrel is a single female pastor of a Methodist church; Nick is a divorced federal agent; alcohol is consumed on numerous occasions, but drunkenness is never portrayed. The book does contain violence, to be expected in a suspense thriller, but it remains non-graphic. I really appreciated that this book remained clear of language despite its realism, something that has been creeping into even the Christian market lately.

Overall, this is a fast paced, relevant suspense novel that takes the reader on a breathless ride at the same time it asks us to think about what makes us human. The answers are not given to the reader, but contemplation is unavoidable, and I loved that additional layer to the futuristic suspense that this book delivers.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.

This was a spooky idea for a book. Would we really want robots with artificial intelligence that were so real looking that we couldn’t tell they weren’t human? In this time robots could even be taught to feel pain. Some people love the artificial intelligence and others are fighting back. I loved the characters. This book is well written and makes you really think about whether robots with AI have a heaven of their own. I love how this author portrays his answer. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

When I was growing up it was hard to believe that in the future I would live in an era where cell phones were so small they could fit in the palm of your hand or laptops that you take with you and were able to connect with a click to the web. I remember watching The Jetsons and thinking how cool it would be to have flying cars that whisked you away to your destination. With the above mentioned subjects, the author has given us a glimpse into a world that isn't that far fetched of what it could be like in ten or twenty years in this wonderful display of creativity.

The book may not be for everyone but I really enjoyed reading the story and letting my mind imagine what would happen if we had "Artificial robots that helped us through hard times. Kestrel is a pastor of a church who is grieving the loss of her child. I know people will say she was in sin because she had a baby out of wedlock. What the story portrays is a look at sin in a different way. I wasn't sure at first where the author was taking us. As I began to learn more about Jordan, I understood how the author took something that wasn't suppose to have emotions and gave Jordan everything a human could feel.

Jordan's curiosity about God was one that many of us have wondered before. Why would God allow bad things to happen and watch His people suffer? Can Jordan really experience everything a human does? With technology taking leaps and bounds everyday, it is not too far fetched to have an Artificial pop up in the market place. Do you remember when a test tube baby was unheard of? The author expands our thoughts and allows us to question our beliefs. I found the story to be emotional at times and loved the secondary plot of a terrorist threat. The twists at the end are unexpected and really enhanced the story.

I don't want to ruin anything that may give the book away so I will leave you with these thoughts: The story is rich in faith and really takes a look at the question many have asked. Is God real? In this thought provoking science fiction book we are able to look past what we can see and get a sense of what it is like as characters experience faith, grief, forgiveness and hope.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Synapse is my first Steven James novel, despite having heard wonderful things about him for years. I'm struggling to sum up my feelings about this book. Overall, I think I really enjoyed it. It was clear from early in the story that, while we were both Christians, I did not share the same theological leanings as the author. At first, that colored my view of the book itself considerably, but ultimately the story itself won me over. The worldbuilding of the futuristic tech was interesting and easy to follow, and the way in which the twists and final climax partnered with the more philosophical elements of the story was something I was really impressed with. I feel safe concluding that I'm likely to pick up a Steven James book in the future.

This is the first Steven James book I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. His attention to detail in his well-constructed futuristic story world brings it to life in a vivid way. Since that period is not so far removed from our present day, the two mesh seamlessly together. The dramatic tale, and the struggles of life and faith it addresses, cannot help but draw the reader in and evoke questions regarding artificial intelligence and how far we want it to go and whether nonhumans could have faith or find forgiveness. The fascinating possibilities in this novel also create potential situations for abuse and misuse—so I don’t know if I’d like to witness such a world or not. The characters—real and artificial—seem authentic and well-developed. Nearing the conclusion, I choked up several times, even for a self-sacrificing Artificial. This would make a great book club choice since the story begs deep discussion. Kudos to an author I’ve heard great things about. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

“Life is so precious and brief and fleeting, and... experiencing all that it has to offer without despairing at its brevity truly did lie at its heart.”

Wow, what an incredible and powerful sci-fi thriller from Steven James! This is the first book by the author I have read and I am stunned by his creativity, his flawless execution of a detailed and complex plot, and his seamless and emotion-packed writing style that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go. The philosophical, spiritual, and social questions and dilemmas the author raises through an intensely personal look at a world 30 years into the future, where artificial intelligence is so advanced to look human, will linger days after you finish the book. This thought-provoking novel about the essence of human-ness - addressing grief and suffering, faith and hope, love and forgiveness, and the afterlife - will resonate with everyone, not just fans of sci-fi or thrillers. It is one of the most captivating and stirring novels of 2019 and an absolute must-read.

The story is written in multiple points of view:
1) first person narrative from Kestrel, a Methodist pastor suffering from losing her daughter
2) third person present omniscient narrative from Jordan, Kestrel’s artificial companion and
3) third person narratives from Nick, the police officer tracking down domestic terrorists, and a couple of the villains/terrorists working to violently destroy the next innovation
The multiple points of view bring the plot together on a larger scale and enhance the reading experience rather than confuse or detract. The three major characters Kestrel, Nick, and Jordan are multi-layered and well-developed and their interactions truly tug at the heart-strings. Who would have thought that interaction between an artificial intelligence and a human would bring tears? But be prepared. Jordan is nothing like any robot you’ve met and he WILL make you cry.

I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

In Synapse, Steven James creates a world of naturals (humans), artificials, and plussers (humans with AI enhancements) thirty years in the future. As readers are plunged into a world ripe with technological advances, political unrest centered around the artificials, and an imminent attack, they will also be challenged to examine their own hearts and faith.

The perspectives of multiple characters give readers a 360 view while keeping them in the dark as to who the mastermind behind the attack is. I especially connected with Kestral and Jordan in this book.

James doesn’t shy away from one of the most difficult faith questions. If God is God, then why do people suffer? As Kestrel, who is a minister, struggles with her own faith after experiencing a painful loss (in the first chapter), Jordan examines the questions of faith with child-like curiosity and wonder.

If that’s not enough to convince you, James weaves a tale that is concise and engaging, making it difficult to set the book down until the final word is read.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Christian Mass Effect? Religious Deus Ex? Fair warning on this book: It is explicitly Christian Fiction – and it is pretty damn heavy handed on the preaching. If that isn’t your thing, you don’t want to read the first sentence of this thing. The story itself is decent enough, but the hyper preaching aspects drag what could have been a pretty awesome scifi tale that could challenge some of the Golden Age masters into just another book that likely won’t reach much beyond your local (dying) Christian Bookstore. Instead of a subtle exploration of whether robots could have souls ala Blade Runner, you get what amounts to mini sermons – which is theoretically appropriate, with the central character being a preacher. Overall a solid story that could have been so much more, and recommended if you can withstand the preaching.

Synapse is a fabulous read that is chock full of all the things I love about Steven James' storytelling!
I've read all but one of this author's books and really enjoyed them all! As soon as I saw the cover of this book I knew I wanted to read it, before I even knew what it was about, because I knew it would be awesome and it totally and completely was! I don't often read futuristic stories, but this book absolutely fascinated me and I was enthralled with its story world! I really liked main character, Kestrel, she was both relatable and inspiring, and her journey was a powerful and suspenseful ride that was heartbreaking at the same time it was incredibly hope filled! Jordan was also a great character and the parts of the story that were told from his perspective were fascinating! Nick was also awesome, and I loved the tiny bit of romance between him and Kestrel!
While this book is a bit outside my comfort zone I absolutely loved every minute of it and did not want to stop reading! The faith story in this book is wonderful, engrossing, and thought provoking, and will leave you with feelings of awe and renewed hope!
I highly recommend Synapse, and I am eagerly anticipating Steven James' next book!
(5 Stars!)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

A futuristi sci-fi suspense/thriller. This book showcases what AI could be like in the future. Along with a tense terrorist plot. And a few heart-wrenching moments as well. A dash of faith woven in. There are also a lot of deep questions raised to get you thinking, even on some of the more controversial topics that are highlight in this book.

While I’m not really a fan of sci-fi, and hence don’t read much of it, I found this book interesting and engaging. So, if your a fan of sci-fi, thrillers, AI robots, here’s one for you.

Steven James does it again! Synapse held my attention from the first page and kept me reading. Mr. James is a master storyteller and I love his books. This one didn't disappoint! I was a bit concerned as this story is different from his others, but I enjoyed it immensely. His use of sensory details, plot twists, and characterization are superb. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I give Synapse five stars. It will keep the reader glued to the end.

**I was given a complimentary copy of this novel by NetGalley in return for my honest review.

Note: also posted on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes & Noble, BAM

I haven't quite yet decided if this novel fits my own definition of SciFi better or speculative fiction better, nevertheless, this novel, set only a generation in the future, explores many of the issues we face - and will be facing in the future - regarding technology.

Kestrel is a strong, well-written main character who has faces an incredible tragedy in the opening of the book. Her baby is stillborn. For a preacher surrounded by a society of AI, this causes all sorts of spiritual questions to be raised - questions she has faced before with the death of her parents, and issues the Purists (a known anti-technology terrorist group) fight over. Traveling home after her personal tragedy, Kestrel sees a terrorist attack and responds with first aid, sweeping her up into a fast-paced thrilling adventure.

The story is brilliant. I love the questions considered. At times, I did find the slow explorations of God, faith, and belief a little too much, in that it stopped the entire plot of the novel at times, but they are few and overall, the story kept me reading as fast as my brain could process the words. It explores a lot of questions about AI as individuals - thinking, talking, learning beings as well as the idea of human augmentation. I loved the novel and very much look forward to reading more of James's work.