This book had some interesting ideas on AI and consciousness, however, the characters were almost caricatures and completely flat and the plot suffered from significant pacing issues. Overall it was interesting, and quick to read, but not nearly as powerful or effective as it could have been. It felt as though the author had been inspired by Blake Crouch's novels, however, struggled to make the book work.

Eli Lee's A Strange and Brilliant Light is well written, smart and humane science fiction which asks some big questions and discusses them in the context of a gripping story with interesting and sympathetic characters. I am somewhat confused with her exact definitions of AI, auts, technologically engineered and genetically engineered creatures, as I feel as if the boundary blurs in ways I don't fully understand. This does not undercut how much I enjoyed this book though - it was hard to put down and left me thinking about the questions the characters were posing when I was forced to.. I would have no hesitation in recommending this to fellow readers - those who enjoy sci-fi and those who don't.