RUNNERS by Justin Hale was not for me, personally. I am still thankful that I got to read this! Thank you so much :)

This book was hard to get into but the world was very fascinating. Like the way the aurthor describes it with the vivid colors! The beginning was so slow 😭 and the end had an ok twist but idk if it was just me or what but the tech in this world was so confusing. It took me so long to finish this book because I just wasn’t vibing and things were so slow. I just don’t think this book was for me

2.5⭐ but it was so annoying that I'm rounding it down

thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

oh well... I really wish I had liked this book. the neon-coloured, dynamic cyberpunk world Justin Hale created seemed really promising, but unfortunately the plot and the details of the worldbuilding didn't live up to my expectations. I'll start with the good things tho, because there actually were quite a few of them!

first of all, the ✨vibe✨ of the world - as I mentioned before - was really amazing. it felt like a crazy video game or a super fun rpg session. it was colourful, lively and striking, bombarding the reader with stimuli. the mystery surrounding the Shadows was intriguing and the characters unique. so, what went wrong?

remember the aforementioned uniqueness of the characters? well, it was a necessity, because they were all introduced at once and it still took a considerable amount of time and effort to remember who's who. the way they acted often wasn't very logical, too - come on, one does not simply invite a cop to an illegal weapon dealer/top secret special force assassin gang.

and the worldbuilding? the general idea was good (if a bit generic), but the further you got into the details, the less logical and consistent it became. I'm talking about things like the very fundamental concept of nanos (on which all the technology in the book is based) being left totally vague and unexplained. it was also very... basic and cliché at times (oh well, maybe the "human mind being a literal galaxy" thing was a reference to hermeticism, but... that's still cliché), with all the racial and class segregation, the evil big corporations and the wild wastelands where all the outlaws go. the book also plainly copied some things (e.g. the government "changing the past" by manipulating the media) from the classic dystopians.

finally, as I was getting nearer to the end, hoping for at least a good climax and resolution to save the day, this turned out to be the first installment of a series (and the type of a part one that doesn't work as a standalone). I admit that the final twist was nice, but it's not enough to make me want to read part two.

all in all, this was such a wasted potential and thus the most annoying and frustrating book I've read in a while. such a shame!

slow start but continued to read..and glad that I did.... This was great!!!
Great navigation once I got into the novel...
Compelling, exciting, something different!!

Suspenseful, Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Great novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galleyfor ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Set in the distant future on an Earth-like planet where shady corporations compete to control EVERY facet of life, Runners begins as separate threads that quickly weave together to follow the crew of a ship whose main goal is to disrupt the status quo and remove some power from the corps. There is quite a big cast to a relatively short book and a few of the characters back stories weren't even mentioned so it would be nice to have a bit of an expansion on that in the follow up. The book finishes on a cliffhanger which I am keen to read the resolution to. If you like cyberpunk, high action, violent fight scenes you'll probably enjoy this book - I want to know what happens to the crew and hoping the previously assumed dead enemy hasn't managed to put too big a seed of doubt in the capured crew members head.

Not usually a fan of sci-fi material but I was intrigued by the bits and pieces of this world. I thought it was quite interesting how technological advancement for this society didn't come without a price. I love the concept of monopolizing communication in a completely digitalized world, (Like how putting anything in handwriting is a crime and certain types of inks that prevent words from being scanned is illegal, 💀💀ADBLOCKS💀💀 That's so wild) , and the privacy and security issues it brings up.

Again, not being familiar with the genre, I found it a relief that I could follow the action sequences quite well, even picture them clearly in my head as it happened (which were cool, as it was), and overall it was a fun read. Although it was a little slow at the beginning the pacing was okay for me still.

That being said, the "male protagonist's deceased female love interest" trope needs to be stopped, for my sake. Been getting too much of that lately. Oh well

Easy 3.5 stars, rounded to 4. I'm glad that the sequel is announced to be on the way so I will be checking that out. Thankful to Netgalley for the ARC and can't wait to see where this leads

This has a slow start but it's definitely worth it to stick with it. I found myself hooked on this story and didn't want to put it down until I finished.

Similar to other steampunk books I've read, the writing style is clunky and often uses cliche phrases. With the addition of the made up scientific and technological jargon, it can be confusing to read at times. It's not a large issue though, as the made-up words lend itself to a crazy, creative world that is fun to imagine. A digirette? Amazing!

However, I was unable to finish this book, as I realized that the antagonistic force is a horror element that I cannot read (dark forces that consume a person and take their form) - it is very unfortunate, as I was enjoying the story.

If a plot driven, action packed book with fun tech ideas and crass humour sounds good to you - go for it! I would definitely pick up other books by this author.

If you’re looking for a lazy, relaxed read, you’ve come to the wrong place! This novel starts with an intense action set-piece and then just piles them one on top of the other, just barely interspersed with some quiet character-building moments. It is paced perfectly to make sure you don’t want to put it down.

On top of clever and well-designed action set-pieces, the novel’s greatest strengths—the world-building and characters—are also where I think it has room to grow. The world is a fascinating indictment of capitalism, where technological breakthroughs have allowed for a world that could be utopian, if those with money and power wanted it, but instead it is even more controlling and demanding than our own. The world isn’t too far from other common cyberpunk worlds, especially with the way the cities build vertically leaving the lower classes in the sunless, ad-filled lower levels and the elites in the clouds. Think Takeshi Kovacs meets The Matrix. But it takes that template and adds a super interesting nanobot-infused spin to it, and it relies on this heavily to move the action and characters forward. I was never confused about what was happening, but the limits of this world’s technology felt a little nebulous, and it would have been nice just to have some of the hard rules that guided the world building explained to the readers. We get some things, here and there, and I don’t mind the trickle of details instead of an info-dump, but I would have liked a little better grasp on the boundaries of what was happening, even just how nanobots and digifood and other items were created and passed around would have been grounding. It is similar with the characters. If you think of any genre work that revolves around a large group you can see the archetypes each character slots into – the jaded captain, the tech-nerd, the chiseled veteran, the parent/healer, the dude-bro brawler, the smart-aleck with a chip on their shoulder, the over-powered pixie/riot grrl, etc. The novel doesn’t rely on those cardboard archetypes though, and in the few quiet moments where we catch our breath we do get to see more backstory for most (though not all) of the characters. Hale gives us enough that we can find some connection to this group, but not so much that we get lost in the intricate inner lives of a dozen different people. I would have liked more, here, I think there was space for it, and this is where I would love to see the series go as it moves forward. The characters do have depth, enough that they felt like more than placeholders, even though they did all fit into the different roles needed for an interesting group dynamic. I would like to see that character depth plumbed a little more willfully, that’s all.

But as I said, even though I wanted more, the characters and the world are really strong. There was a lot going on, but I thought everything felt well-directed., which is to say I didn’t ever feel lost in the story or confused by the complicated rules of the world or the diversity of characters. The pacing was intense, but as I said there were enough breathers between the action to give me a chance to catch my breath while I was still glued to the page. There is a lot of diversity and representation in this book, though it is a little clumsy. The main characters are a rainbow of ethnicities, but this is mostly not commented on, which suggests a kind of race-blind egalitarianism. At the same time there is a throw-away comment in the first chapter about how police deal with people with dark skin, which suggests there exists in this world some racial marginalization, and there is a bit of a discrepancy between a wildly diverse cast and little-to-no mention of how their race or ethnicity impacts their place in the world. Similarly, there are a few nods to LGBTQIAP+ diversity, but always in passing, and sometimes it is referenced as normalized and not uncommon but in at least one instance it is a source of trauma. So, again, a little clumsy. The instinct to include such representation is great, but either society has evolved to a point where race and sexual/gender identities don’t matter, or they do matter as there still exist racial hierarchies and marginalization, and the story seems to want to have it both ways. So, a little more work can be done here, which would be a natural result of deeper character exploration.

That may seem like a whole paragraph of criticism, but look, the short version is, I had a blast with this novel. From start to finish I enjoyed it. I thought it was clever and expansive while never losing the plot. It kept me riveted to the action while also caring about the characters who were experiencing it. As a debut novel it is incredible. It used common tropes and ideas and character/group dynamics as a starting point to build a deeply engaging world and a set of characters that I am invested in, while also forcing us to look inside ourselves and our societies and see how far away this black mirror version might be. There are definitely places where things could be improved, but not so much that I didn’t have a great time with this story, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

(As a small addendum to this review, while writing it I visited the author’s website where there are small character designs as well as a trailer for the novel, and the voice-over in the trailer gives the kind of world-building info dump that was missing in the actual novel, and while the trailer just sets the scene without actually touching on the plot of the novel, it is definitely worth checking out if you’re on the fence about whether or not to read the novel).

I want to thank the author, the publisher Indie Roots Media, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2.5/5

Justin creates a wonderfully diverse world in Runners. The book feels like you’re stepping into a video game and there were multiple times I found myself wishing I could see the action play out on the big screen.

My main problem with the book, was I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story and it was so action packed, I had a hard time keeping up. There was a diverse cast of interesting characters, but there were so many coming in and out of the story, I had a hard time keeping everyone straight at times. While enjoyable, I felt like I grabbed the second book in a series and was not up to speed on who was who and what was going on.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for allowing this.

I am a huge fan of cyberpunk so when I heard about this book it was a must read for me.

There are some very cool cyberpunk elements to this book and the author had some very cool and innovative ideas! The ideas around ad blockers being illegal and people being forced to watch adverts was really interesting. I would have happily seen more around this. Some of the cyberpunk aesthetic was really well done. I thought the author had some great ideas in this space. I really liked the shadows too, some fascinating ideas here and some of the best scenes in the book were about this.

While I enjoyed the aesthetic, I was frustrated by the plot of the book. There were several POVs introduced in early chapters and it was hard to understand who to focus on. It did emerge that there was a main character as the story progressed and this did help. I didn’t feel there was enough character development in this. I really needed to understand more detail around the characters, who they were and what motivated them. There was a brilliant reveal around the main character but it happened quite late in the book and I would have loved to explore this character more early on.

The ending was the most frustrating part. It felt like the book just ended mid scene without any resolution. It was quite a short book so this was unsatisfying. I understand and appreciating wanting to set up the next book but this just felt unfinished.

The science fiction thriller "RUNNERS" by Justin Hale is a heart-pounding novel that transports readers to a bleak future. Hale provides an exciting and engrossing book with its adrenaline-fueled action, future technology, and unrelenting pursuit.
The plot takes place on the planet Nera, where advanced technology has taken over and a strong company rules society. Zan is a proficient runner and a part of a clandestine organisation that smuggles crucial information and secrets away from the authorities' prying eyes. He and his crew are on the run from the company and brutal enforcers when a routine assignment goes wrong. Hale keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they work to uncover a conspiracy and safeguard the secrets they bear.
A dystopian future where technology both empowers and enslaves people, neon-lit streets and towering skyscrapers hold secrets and peril are all part of the author's vivid and fascinating futuristic universe. Readers may thoroughly immerse themselves in the grim and gloomy environment thanks to the meticulous world-building, which gives the narrative depth and realism.
"RUNNERS" features characters who are tough, tenacious, and in continual danger. The protagonist, [insert name of protagonist], is an engaging and relatable figure who is motivated by their inner desires and a need to learn the truth. Readers are continuously forced to examine allegiances and motivations due to the complexity and moral ambiguity added to the plot by the supporting cast, which includes rivals, allies, and fellow runners.
Fast-paced and action-packed, with gripping chase scenes, dramatic confrontations, and heart-pounding suspenseful moments, the story develops with unrelenting velocity, keeping readers interested from the first page on. Readers are kept interested and concerned in the protagonist's quest by the author's skill at building suspense and maintaining a sense of urgency throughout the novel.
"RUNNERS" also examines issues relating to resistance, surveillance, and the influence of information. Hale explores what happens when a large organisation dominates society and sacrifices individual freedoms in the name of control. The story poses important concerns about how to strike a balance between privacy and security as well as the value of resisting repressive systems.
Although "RUNNERS" is an exciting science fiction thriller, some aspects of the world-building or character development could have been more thoroughly explored or developed. Any minor flaws are made up for by the compelling story, the suspenseful action, and the examination of societal concerns. Fans of the genre will enjoy "RUNNERS," an exciting and scary science fiction thriller. This novel is an exciting ride thanks to the brilliant narrative, vivid world-building, and unrelenting action of Hale. The dystopian future-themed fast-paced adventure "RUNNERS" will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

Runners is a fast-paced, action-packed cyberpunk sci-fi set in a dystopian nano-digitized world.

The world-building is fascinating and designed in a great detail, the highlight of the book is the dozens of tiny actions that feel so foreig in this world. The characters are interesting and the mystery is catchy - albeit the villains ended up a bit more nerfed than I originally thought,

The book needs its time to pick up, the first 20-30% is a bit slower and with less character depth, but overall it's a pleasant read even for readers for who cyperpunk sci-fi isn't their usual genre!

Thank you NetGalley and Indie Roots Media for the ARC!

It will not fit the scope of our small shop's collection, however it was an enjoyable read and should our collection space grow I will likely recommend.

Not really my style, it was not what I expected and have to say I gave up (maybe too easily) reading. To me it felt like a testosteron filled book with a blown up action hero type character. But others
did like it so you should probably read those reviews and decide if you want to take a chance on this one.

A fascinating, compulsively readable, complex novel.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

this was fun, but i struggled a little with the plot sometimes. i think some of the key points should be explained in a little more detail; the characters also felt a little shallow at time. it was still an amusing read, though.

3.75/5 stars! This cover was a perfect fit for a cyberpunk book and the premise was interesting. I love books featuring assassins and Zan's crew was right up my alley. The characters were 3-dimensional and I was rooting for them throughout the story. I do wish there was some deeper world-building, but overall a good book.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Strong world building with very interesting characters. Good pacing to the story which made it easier to read. This dystopian science fiction novel would be a great starter for anyone that hasn’t read that type of book yet or for anyone that does like that kind of story.