I had a really good time reading this fast paced sci fi thriller. I thought the fertility and baby engineering parts fascinating and wish the novella had dived deeper into those societal aspects

I expected this one to be more science fiction but it ultimately ended up being more of a thriller. I would primarily recommend it to fans of suspense that are looking for a new fun twisty story in the vein of John Marrs

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This surprised me! I almost gave up on this twice, not because it was bad, but I thought I had figured out the plot so early on that the first two twists being so predictable frustrated me. Luckily I reasoned with myself that there had to be more coming. This was lighter than a typical thriller but still fast paced and intriguing. Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC that I got to super late.

3.5/5

I was drawn to this book from the Blake Crouch comparisons, as he’s one of my favorite authors! Yes, the content is very similar to that of Blake Crouch’s Upgrade, but the writing style could not be compared. While I was hoping for Crouch’s fast paced, action driven, mind bending writing, what I got was more John Marrs writing style of short chapters and multiple points of view, which isn’t as much my preference. Content also similar to John Marrs. So yes, I see the comparison to both authors but it wasn’t exactly what I hoped for going in. But that’s okay!

It was still a twisty and entertaining read. While the twists were clever, they weren’t overly shocking. Enjoyable and bingable but won’t be memorable.

Thank you to Kira Peikoff, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this audiobook.
It was an interesting take of a speculative thriller. There are several threads and characters to keep track of, which was confusing for me at times.
There was a part towards the end that was just a long list of stats, and after a few I had to skip past them, I felt like they added nothing to the story.

Baby X is a technological thriller set to introduce a world in which the ability to create life is easily controlled by technology. Set in the future we have a multiple POV story highlighting the pros and cons of selecting your children’s traits through scientific and technological advances. The pacing is fast pace as a thriller should be and there are plenty of red herrings to try to keep you on your toes. That being said, I did find the plot to be predictable pretty early on. Despite that, it was entertaining and I found myself turning pages rapidly hoping for a good resolution, which I received.

I listened to this story and found the narration to be great, the narrator did a wonderful job giving each POV and minor characters their own voice and let their personalities shine.

If you’re looking for a Black Mirror type thriller this book will satisfy that itch.

Thank you to Dreamscapes and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

RB Media ALC
Baby X was propulsive, engaging, and so well plotted. I was hooked in this thriller from beginning to end. Right away, I liked the three narrators for the main characters because it kept it easy to keep the characters and their story arcs straight. The author knew how to perfectly end a chapter to keep me wanting to listen to this story without stopping. I was surprised by plot elements here and liked how it wrapped up in the end. Well done and I’ll definitely read this author again.

Whatever I expected, it wasn't that. It was quite a ride, though the mystery lost its intrigue early on as things were easy to figure out. Nevertheless, the story was crafted in a way that kept me engaged until the end. Despite the main characters being unlikeable, I was hooked from the beginning, eager to uncover what would happen next. Ultimately, the audiobook made for a great companion during my gaming sessions, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in a thriller with a scientific twist!

I really enjoyed this futuristic take on some of the challenges that might face us as technology develops and we think less of what we should do and what we can do with enough money. Even as someone who went through IVF and infertility knows that having the technology is a far cry from making it available and affordable widely. Right now it seems also the freedom to decide is also under attack by people who are less concerned with their own business and more with other peoples!

While I am normally not a reader of sci-fi, I do love a good sci-fi flick, especially Black Mirror, which this book is supposed to be like and after listening to this audiobook, I would definitely watch this episode. This is told from multiple view points and at times you don't know how each story intertwines with one another, but as the story builds and builds, pieces start clicking into place and by the end, you're screaming "No!!!!". I did at least. This is a must read with great twists. The narrators did an amazing jobs telling this story. 4.5 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the free audiobook of Baby X by Kira Peikoff in exchange for my honest review.

"Baby X" by Kira Peikoff is a speculative fiction novel set in 2055. It is fantastic!! It is extremely well written and kept me interested all the way through.

The book is told from the points of view of three women, Quinn, Ember, and Lily. Quinn is a surrogate mother, and she meets Robert at a Thorn concert. Shortly after this, he hires Quinn to be his surrogate. Ember is a biotech expert and she is a DNA guard for celebrities, so their DNA can't be stolen to make babies. She is hired by Thorn to protect his DNA. Then there is Lily, and she is upset because her Mom is about 65 and her parents are going to have a designer baby.

Times have changed many things. People all wear contact lenses that are like cell phones with the abilities to make phone calls, take pictures, connect to the internet, etc.

DNA sequencing has developed to eradicate most diseases. Eggs or sperm can be created from any tiny bit of DNA from anyone. Then the parents can select which embryo they like best. The problem with this is the potential for theft and resale of DNA.

The audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Jill Arraya, Imani Jade Powers, and Abigail Reno, who all did terrific jobs with the voices and drama.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 5/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 40/8 = 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Kira Peikoff for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this! I love futuristic stories and this one includes a search to find oneself and I also enjoy that.

This book is cleverly written to keep the reader guessing about where it’s going. The dual pov is excellent and allows us to get multiple viewpoints on the situation.

Getting DNA from trash is relatively common even now, but to use that DNA for nefarious purposes is definitely something that I could easily see happening. This book was wild. I loved it.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff
Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya; Imani Jade Powers; Abigail Reno


Now this is a good book. I love when authors write smart characters especially women. And both Ember and Quinn were smart and hardcore.

There are three POVs in the book and it was rather evident how two POVs were related but not third. Maybe I have a lot of books from the thriller , mystery and suspense genre as I had figured out who Lily is too early in the book. Even then it didn't make the book boring and kept me interested.

The twist at about halfway through the book was a total twister , I didn't see that one coming. That twist made the book a hot 4 star read for me directly. Later part although well written and quite intriguing, once I read the twist, it was easy to figure out what was gonna happen.

Being a doc, personally I felt few things were far fetched but that did not bother me. And I was totally invested in the story till the end.

Now coming to narration, it was flawless and very well done. It was fun to listen to all the narrators, all women, all did a pretty good job. Overall an enjoyable experience through and through.


Audiobook narration : 4 stars
Book rating : 4 stars

I will definitely recommend this for all thriller lovers.

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the wonderful ALC in exchange of an honest review.

"Baby X" by Kira Peikoff is a captivating blend of speculative fiction, mystery, and dystopian themes. Set in a future where procreation is tightly regulated, the narrative explores a society where embryos are selected based on desired traits such as intelligence, health, and athletic ability. This world reveals the darker side of genetic manipulation, including an underground market for stolen DNA known as "The Vault."

Although the story takes place roughly 50 years into the future, the exact year is never specified, lending an air of timelessness to its setting. Peikoff masterfully balances a sense of familiarity with the strangeness of this future society. Embryos are created and selected in labs before implantation, reminiscent of the movie "Gattaca," but "Baby X" uniquely addresses different societal inequalities. The novel also delves into the consequences of medical and fertility advancements, suggesting a future where surrogacy could become an exclusive career path.

The story follows the interconnected lives of three women: Ember, a bio-guard tasked with protecting her client's DNA; Quinn, a pregnant surrogate; and Lily, a young aspiring journalist who feels inferior due to her natural conception. Initially, it takes some time to connect with each character as they navigate very different experiences. However, their stories become increasingly compelling as the narrative unfolds, and I grew attached to all three.

Baby X is a chilling yet plausible glimpse into what our future could become. As a culture, we are constantly obsessed with celebrity and fame and Baby X takes this one step further - what if you could have a baby with your favourite celeb? Tempted? It’s just a case of stealing their DNA and then you can pick your baby’s sex and their entire personality and live happily ever after …or not.

I am really glad the audiobook production chose a different narrator for each character. It worked beautifully to differentiate between the narratives and bring each character to life. The production is spot on. The plot is tense and clever, with twists and turns throughout to keep you guessing to the end. It’s thought provoking and interesting and bound to stay with you for long after you read the book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so intense and I anticipate Baby X being wildly popular. This story was so immersive, frighteningly believable, and thought provoking. It was only made better by the audiobook narration!

Dear Baby X,
You had me so plugged into your world. I loved that you took the world we know and took it a few steps further. Genetic manipulation is not that far into the future, and you are just a step further. I had never thought about genetic theft and the potential fall out of it, and it was so fascinating to me. I loved each of the three narrators, with Lily being the one that I related to and enjoyed spending time with the most. You were so quick paced and super interesting to me.

Pros: WTAF?! I loved the storyline! There’s just enough plausibility for this to happen that it’s kind of eerily panic inducing! Well written and intriguing throughout!

Cons: I really hope this never happens!

4.5 stars/A-

This was so fun. I loved the three different women’s perspective driving the plot along. I especially liked how they braided together by the end!

It’s a thriller/mystery, sci-fi, and tad romance. It really has a little of everything! I truly loved it.

Not to mention that each woman was played by a different voice actor! Chef’s kiss!

This was a creative, thought-provoking speculative sci-fi dual plot story that comes together at the end in the most satisfying of twists!! I loved the idea of a future world where people can self-select their embryos for predisposed conditions/traits. The moral implications of genetic material theft and bioengineering children were plentiful. This was great on audio and would make for an excellent book club pick! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved this one!!

As much as I enjoyed this book, there's very little I can say without sounding mean. I found the writing to be of a YA caliber, and know that if the writing was more mature, this book would make a real splash. I also hate to say, but the book didn't get seriously interesting to me until about halfway through, which I wish wasn't the case.
The story was solid, but the twist at the end did make me roll my eyes, even though I didn't hate it.