Honestly, I couldn’t get through this one. Based on the description, I had been expecting a sort of science fiction energy in terms of writing style. Instead, my best description would be somewhere along the lines of surrealist automatism. I felt the same way while reading this as the first time I read Artaud’s Jet de Sang, that is, confused.

King cares very little for hand holding in this novel which is fair enough, but when I was unable to tell if something was real or hallucinated, it got much trickier to get a scope for the intrinsic and physical laws that govern the world of this book. When I realized that I was over halfway through the book and couldn’t tell you with any degree of certainty what specifically a certificate of authenticity was, or what the actual difference between “androids” and “psychopaths” were, I decided the book probably wasn’t for me. Of course, that very well could have been the point, but as I wasn’t able to ever fully get my bearings, I’m at a loss to say.

I may look into King’s other novel some time in the future to see if I can get a better idea of the way he presents information, but that remains to be determined.

i had a hard time finishing this one. not bad by any means but just a little difficult to get through.... couldn't really pull my interest.

This is a deep, interesting story - it has philosophical implications and deep world-building. Readers will need to pay deep attention and will be awarded for paying attention.

I started this right after reading American Psycho so I definitely connected the comparisons. This book was a little easier on my mind, not as traumatic. I enjoyed the world building, the different POVs got confusing to me at some points but I solid story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book is a really interesting concept, with a hierarchical dystopia built on the backs of the lower class, and a structure dependent on the worship and admiration of those who have managed to insert themselves into the ruling class. I can see what this book has in its sights as a target, and it's really good concept.

There then seems to be a change in tone as we move from this dystopic novel into an almost spy thriller, with insurrection and woven-in revolution but also failure, and I unfortunately found myself more than a little lost. The ending felt rushed and a little odd, and almost like a different book to the start of the novel (which is a particular shame, because I was really enjoying that novel!).

I had hoped for a hard science fiction piece with a gritty world, which I can definitely see flashes of, but the book just didn't fully deliver for me. This is a solid two stars on the basis that the first half of the novel is riveting and really well done, but I did wish that it managed to hold that thread all the way through.

This was so beyond confusing that I don't even know where to start this review. All of the metaphor was so deeply engrained in the story that I think it forgot to explain any of it. I think there is an audience out there for this, but I unfortunately was not part of it. Absolutely love the cover, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Visceral Books for this free eARC.

I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so indifferent to a book before. I didn’t hate, but I don’t think I really liked it that much either. The world building isn’t very fleshed out, and it’s confusing at times. That may be the whole point. I guess I liked it enough where I would read another book if the story were to continue. Maybe that’s what this needs to make it better?

It wasn’t a bad book by any means. I can totally see where some people could absolutely love this! It just may not be for me, as the story stands right now.

For fans of A Clockwork Orange - this one deserves a readers time & attention.

Think -1984’s Big Brother but with androids and psychopathic deviancy and brutal violence being the goal to escape annihilation. This is total mindbender!

Thank you NetGalley, Visceral Books, and Raymond King for sending me this ARC. This review is voluntary and contains my own opinion.

I was initially drawn to Alien Nation for its science fiction premise, and the synopsis immediately hooked me. The story follows two main points of view in a society that aspires to be psychopaths and where sadism is the norm. One perspective is Jason, a service android who has never been able to conform and is at risk of being replaced. The other is Prince Marcus, a member of the ruling class of “monarchs.” Through a series of events, their roles in this world are quickly upended.

The book had a lot of potential. There’s a sense of dread woven into the narrative, lots of the interactions are unnerving which I think was intentional. Since this is a shorter story, I expected the pacing to be quicker, but the characters felt hollow. The dialogue was somewhat clunky, which made it difficult to immerse myself in the story.

The most compelling aspect of the book was its worldbuilding and lore. However, I often found myself confused. The world introduces many different people and concepts, but much of it is left unexplained. Normally, I enjoy a book that tosses me in head first, but this was a lot with little pay off.

This was a fun read.
Following the life of two men who come from very different backgrounds, we are shown the struggles they face and all the contrasting aspects of their lives. I enjoyed reading the social commentary throughout the story given the positions the main characters grew up in. It’s also filled with cliches and the women in the story sound like they have such little personality to them but –in my opinion– that goes to all secondary characters.
Lastly, the narration made me feel like i was witnessing a theatre play (in a good way) and at times it felt like i wasn’t grasping every detail about the world but it was overall good. Would like to read more.


*Thanks to NetGalley and Raymond King for the ARC.

I'm glad this was marketed as New Adult, but sadly I didn't catch it before reading it. The sentence structure is so short and staccato and just not my cup of tea.

Sadly, I had no idea what was going on the entire time. It was so metaphorical that it never clearly explained what a "deviant" or "seraph" or "angel" or "monarch" even was. And "vanguards" and the "Syndicate"? Are they human? Robots? I’m so confused. For a story that hinges entirely on the politics of these races, there should have been even just a 3 sentence prologue making these things clear. I think younger readers may like this if these things are made clear in the beginning. (For reference, I'm 33 years old).

I really wanted to like this one! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

this was a very strange book! It was interesting and entertaining for sure, but it was unlike anything I have ever read before. I think it was a good twist on a utopian society and what could happen under certain circumstances. Overall pretty good!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you Net Galley and Visceral Publishing Group LLC for the ARC, this review is of my own opinion. Raymond King weaves a curious tale of monarchs vs deviants

You have a society where deviants aspire to be psychopaths and those in power who hate deviants, discard and replace them like they are nothing, then the world is flipped. It begs the question of who is the lesser or two evils and what power does to someone. You have a group who were on receiving end of hatred and then the world flips, will they do better or just become the same as their oppressors. I am curious to see where the story goes and the path the characters take.

I had high hopes for this book and was disappointed; the writing felt a little convoluted at times, and it wasn't easy to get through. If you like Stanley Kubrick, you might like this book, but it felt like a chore to read.

Much like A Clockwork Orange, I felt this was outdated and not of this time. I won't go into more about it but if you do like Kubrick, this is for you. If you can see the problematic sides of Kubrick, steer clear.

As someone who's a HUGE fan of android media like Detroit: Become Human and Ex Machina, I was excited to read this novel based on the synopsis! Unfortunately, I think the plot/narrative was a touch too convoluted for me. I know worldbuilding can be difficult to explain subtly to readers, and I appreciated that I never felt babied while reading, but being thrust into the depths of this very interesting world right off the bat had my mind racing to keep up.

I had a very clunky entry into this. I think there are incredibly interesting ideas here, and I never want to feel like I'm having my hand held, but I felt a certain lack of linguistic clarity that left me more distanced than curious. I'm sure there are people who click in right away, I just wasn't one of them!

Alien Nation by Raymond King

From the onset, the two main characters are on a different trajectory. One is of lowly beginnings, Jason, our trusted service android, whose sole ambition is to pass the trials and escape replacement. Jason is more than just a robotic puppet; he feels compassion, an inherently human trait. Readers then turn their attention to Marcus, the Prince of Anthem, a generally likeable man with all the amenities afforded by the wealthy. Raymond King, our author, writes a novel based upon a power struggle between the monarchs and deviants. With a flip of a switch, an event swings the pendulum, and those who were controlled are now in charge. I beg the question: does it matter who is in charge if they decide to use their position for their own personal gain?

The forest trees swayed, mocking me. Closing in, I felt claustrophobic. Where was the path to the trail? I was lonely, cold, and lost. Similarly, to my experience reading this tale. By the end, I had a basic understanding, but there was plenty to unpack. The book dodged and weaved in my mind, fighting me. Just stand still, for heaven’s sake. The hand-holding was at a minimum, and at various times I felt strangely untethered. What was I missing? Deviants, psychopathic behavior, the All-Father, the All-Mother, and various forms of secret police. Religious anarchy, multiple spy arcs, backstabbing, romance, deaths, and wings? Yes, I said wings, as in angels or bats. A lot of things were happening. Though somewhat mind-boggling, I would not be deterred. As the end approached, I had this underlying takeaway. The majority of society does what it must to survive, including losing its integrity and sanity, while those who wish to rule cowardly watch and lie to support their positions.

Ambitious in scope, Raymond King wrote creatively. So in the end, I was split down the middle; I loved the overall message, but perhaps I needed a bit more guidance. The author should be commended for taking chances, and for that I am appreciative. I am giving this 3 out of 5 stars and can recommend this for individuals who like the unconventional.

A disturbing science fiction novel about androids. I struggled with the narrative and the characters but hardened enthusiasts of the genre will enjoy it.

This was a strong start to the Alien Nation series, it had that plot element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this world. The characters were everything that I was hoping for in the scifi element. I thought it was great that this was about an android and was invested in what was happening. Raymond King wrote this well and left me wanting to read more in this series.