Beta Bots

love this book just as much as i loved the first one such a Grate sequel I read it all in one sitting

Did I say that I'd probably not read the next book in the series? Yes, I did and here I am, proven wrong. Well, let's be honest Laci Powers's narration did its fair share in realising that I should give the next book a go as well.
So, here we go - Beta Bots!
If I had my doubts with Alpha Bots at first, it's save to say that Beta Bots is absolutely awesome! Almost perfect. Matter of fact, the only reason I am not giving this book five stars is because almost all of the chapters ended with "And that's how.."/"And that's when..." - I get why Ava Lock chose to finish her chapters that way but I think it happened a bit too often. It got repetitive and dimmed my excitement for the next chapter a bit.
Other than that - there are new friends, old enemies and familiar faces becoming a regular member of the cast.
Big shout-out to the colourful and awesome queer representation during the book!
A trans man, a non-binary character, an asexual character - and, of course, the Triple-A (agender, aromantic and asexual); not to mention the most PEACHy drag queen ever.
I LOVED Beta Bots. From beginning to end, I was mezmerized with the characters - especially with the return of a certain someone, the Tyler Durden of the female fight club. I literally SCREAMED when they came back.
I am so excited for book three! Also, I LOVE how Ava Lock presents Cookie's bisexuality. I recently read another book where the bi-rep fell extremely flat, so I was delighted to have it much better handled in Beta Bots. (Actually, Alpha Bots already did a very good job at that, but Beta Bots tops it).
Long story short - I am extremely grateful to have been granted this ARC by the publisher, Ava Lock and Netgalley. I can't wait for the audiobook and I don't know how I am supposed to maintain patient until Gamma Bots will be released.

I am definitely recommending Beta Bots. There is so much queer rep in this book, especially of groups who usually are "forgotten" or aren't fully considered LGBTQIAP+ by some people. One asexual character is rare in a book - but two? And one of them is aroace? Consider me sold!
A trans male character and a drag queen?
Shut up and take my money.
I am looking forward to book 3, even though I am sad, because it means that this rollercoaster of emotions will come to an end.

I received a free ARC by Netgalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This is the second book in the 'Womanoid Diaries' trilogy. I'd advise interested readers to begin with book one.

The first novel in the trilogy, Alpha Bots, takes place in New Stepford, a town where all the women are AI androids, purchased by men to fulfill their needs. Cookie Rifkin is unhappy in her role as a submissive wife, and becomes part of a militant group of AIs who want to be independent.

As Beta Bots opens, Cookie has gained her freedom and sets out on a mission with two AI companions: her boyfriend Wayne .and her non-binary metallic shapeshifting friend ANA (pronounced A-N-A). The threesome plan to rob the Central Bank of Russia of thousands of tons of gold as well as a stash of palladium coins - which the AIs eat for energy. The heist doesn't go smoothly and Wayne is captured by a Stepford Corporation bounty hunter, who's paid to retrieve escaped androids.

Cookie and ANA get away, and set out to free Wayne, who's been spirited onto a private plane headed for England. Cookie knows what's happening to Wayne because AIs have Wi-Fi, which permits them to communicate with each other and share data. AIs can also upload any information they need from the internet, like martial arts moves, weapons specs, dance routines, recipes, location coordinates, and so on.

As Cookie is trying to work out how to help Wayne, she hears the clicking of Giuseppe Zanotti platform pumps - which retail for almost $1500 - and meets gorgeous AI Tabitha Kirsh. Sparks fly between the bisexual gals, Cookie explains her plight, and Tabby offers her luxury yacht - named Wonder Woman - for a rescue mission. Tabby also introduces Cookie to a number of AI friends who'll help with the rescue: Richie (a handsome trans man); Richie's girlfriend Peaches (a gorgeous drag queen); and Uno (a non-binary white Bengal tiger).

There's time to spare before the fivesome need to head for England, because Tabby can teleport the Wonder Woman anywhere she wants. So the friends take a pause to party in Richie's gay nightclub, called Dorothy's, where there's dancing, drinking, drugs, and sex. As it happens there's also danger, because the Stepford Corporation advertises a HUGE bounty for Cookie's capture, and almost everyone is now after Cookie. Moreover, an old nemesis of Cookie's shows up.....and the war is on.

With cops showing up, and AIs fighting each other, there's plenty of action in the book. This includes fights with knives, guns, rifles, rocket launchers, high-pitched sounds, karate, etc. Battles involving AIs are especially tricky because AIs contain internal recyclones (sort of like Star Trek replicators) that they can use to heal themselves, rebuild lost body parts, and basically make anything they want....weapons, clothes, whatever.

AIs can eat and drink like humans, and they're especially good at preparing desserts. To celebrate a victory. Cookie and her friends prepare a buffet that features crème brûlée; Moskva cake; black-and-white cookies; rainbow fudge; devil food's cake; and banana pudding (all of which sound good to me).

After an exciting climax, the book's finale leads into book three, called Gamma Bots - which is another exciting LGBTQ+, sci-fi adventure story.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ava Lock, and Semiscope IBPA for a copy of the book.

Loved this book. I think it's even better than the 1st book. I am a bit disappointed to find out that it's only planned as a trilogy. I can't imagine how it can end with 1 more book. But no spoilers here go read book 1 and 2 now ready for book 3.

Beta Bots 2 has the same insane energy, funny lines, and Grindhouse-style over-the-top violence.

This time the book focuses on Cookie, the AI who fought for freedom in the first book.
No longer an unwilling member of New Stepford, Cookie is free to do what she wants, and what she wants is to find who she actually is.
Cookie does some serious self-discovery about the things that have been driving her passions, fears, and desires. There is more LGBTQIA presence in the second novel and not just a “throw-away” moment of lesbian titillation.

A series still worth checking out.

Thanks to @NetGalley, Semiscope, and Ava Lock for the chance to read this ebook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

this was a great sequel to Alpha Bots, it had what I enjoyed from the first book and improved on this. The characters were great and I really enjoyed going through this book.