This novella has an interesting premise but the execution didn’t quite work for me. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story with a lot of things happening that didn’t make sense. Too many characters, settings, tech devices and backstory elements are not explained in enough detail to allow the me to figure out what’s going on. I was very confused at the outset and bored by the middle because I couldn’t follow the narrative. The writer is talented but I just couldn’t get into this story. It might have worked better for me if it had been a full length novel with more attention given to fleshing out the world building a bit.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy for review.

This novella was very well written but I found myself getting lost. While I love short and compact books, I agree with other reviewers who said that this book was too short to allow for proper world building. The author can write, though, and it was cool to have this story take place in a region not typically covered in science fiction books.

As far as novellas go, sci-fi and fantasy don’t seem to be my favorites. Being thrown into this world was confusing and I felt like I was reading the second book in a series. If you like that then I’d highly recommend this book, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

My cover lust was strong with this one! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

These Prisoning Hills deals with the aftermath of war. A powerful AI once overtook the United States, transforming flora and fauna into soldiers in her war against humanity. This tale deals with the affects of the war and weapons long thought lost. What will become of the remaining population, and is the threat posed by the AI truly over?

Let me begin by saying, I did not realize this was a follow up to another short story. Some of the aspects were a but confusing at the beginning and it didn't give much of a frame work. I found myself wondering why world building wasn't established, but finding out that Athena's war was detailed in another short story makes perfect sense. That being said, even not having read the story of the original war, thus story was OUTRAGEOUS! I loved every page, past and present; and will be seeking out the former story. The writing was GORGEOUS and pulled you in immediately. The characters were written in such a way that you really believed that those who lived in the time of the war were truly changed by it, while those born post war have just never known any different. It's alot like I imagine those of us who remember 9/11 happening and how the world changed vs. those who were born after haven't experienced the impact it all made, it was just common place to them.

I recommend this story for anyone who loves good science fiction, even those who have not read the original short story. Just be prepared if you haven't to feel a little lost in the beginning, but that feeling will pass very quickly. I look forward to reading the prequel and to see what comes next for this world of the author should bless us with more.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction. First time reading a book by Christopher Rowe and I really enjoyed it. Very interesting/new take on artificial intelligence. As a result of reading this book, I will be adding Rowe's other books to my rather long "books to read" list. I will recommend that my library purchase a copy after this book is published.

Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing an early copy for me to review.

Interesting novella. I kept feeling that I was missing out on backstory. There was a lack of description, particularly for things like bombardment bears, ratboys, rock monkeys, coal moles. It's not clear if they actually look like those animals, or mimic the behavior. I have no idea, beacuse they weren't described. The names are a little childish too, given the setting.

Some of the sentences were clunkers. For example:

“The milk, like the walrus mustache that was immediately dripping white, was, like the magazines, like the notion that he held any real authority over Marcia, his supposed second, an affectation.”

I mean, I understand it, but it's sounds awkward to me.

It alternates between the present and flashbacks, and it isn't obvious if the flashbacks are in chronological order. You gets little hints of the larger world, but I wish there were more. It makes it frustratingly surreal at times.

Enjoyed this book from Christopher Rowe. If was kind of two stories, different times, that all came together in the end. I like these kind of stories. Will need to look for more from Christopher Rowe. #ThesePrisoningHills #NetGalley

Brilliant, I devoured this in one sitting. Great world building, interesting story. I am now reading the author's first collection set in the same milieu.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. I will update Netgalley once I read & review a physical copy.

My review will be based on the physical ARCs I read.