eMortal

this book has got everything you could want: a mind-blowing premise, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The story follows Dr. Alex Brennan, a neuroscientist who gets caught up in a crazy conspiracy involving AI and immortality. The whole idea of living forever is super intriguing, and Schafer explores it from all angles. It's like he's asking us to question what it means to be human and what the future holds for us.

The characters are pretty cool too. Alex is a badass female scientist, and I love that. The other characters are well-developed and add a lot to the story.

There were a couple of parts where I felt like the pace slowed down a bit, and that didn't bother me too much. However, I think the book could have benefited from a bit more world-building. Sometimes, it felt like the author was just throwing out random technological terms without really explaining how they worked or fit into the overall world. If he had spent more time fleshing out the setting, I think the story would have felt even more immersive.

I loved this book. Fantastic first chapter that instantly hooked me. I am such a fan of books that have artificial intelligence at its core. Loved this book and I look forward to reading more books in this genre.

Left me with a feeling of wonder!

Liv enters a competition to create an AI character that can solve a riddle. Liv’s character Breck seems fairly intelligent and when she writes a code that will allow him to sleep (rest and reboot) the competition leader takes notice. Along with the stress of wanting to win the AI competition and internship, Liv tries to help her mother revive the family toy store that belonged to her grandfather. This becomes more difficult than creating a character and writing code. She and her mother struggle to see each other’s point of view and this just causes arguments and frustration. With perseverance, will Liv win and be able to help her mom or will it all be too much?

Likes/dislikes: I normally struggle with enjoying science fiction but this is a fun read! I love the lead into the ending and the ending itself. I enjoyed the humor and the realistic characters. I admired the perseverance of the characters.
Mature content: G
Language: PG-13 for 34 swears, no f-words.
Violence: G
Ethnicity: falls to white.

eMortal by Steve Schafer is a science fiction novel with a unique twist.

4 out of 5 stars.

I couldn't put this down. It really drew me in and I found myself actually getting annoyed everytime that I was interrupted.
The main character is Liv and Liv is creating a computer program for a competition. This sometimes goes well, but other times life gets in the way... Or is it the other way around? Is Brock getting in the way of Liv's life?!

Insane twist, I was really caught off guard by that one.

Interesting plot line, fantastic character growth and surprising twists. This is definitely a book worth picking up and reading.

"eMortal" is a thought-provoking novel that deftly explores the blurred lines between artificial intelligence and humanity, compelling readers to question their very existence in our increasingly digital world. The story focuses on Liv (short for Olivia), a high-school student navigating between her beloved summer break contest project, Breck, and her fraught relationship with her mother.

As news of her best friend's impending move to another state breaks, Liv and her companion push the boundaries of Liv’s AI creation, Breck, propelling it to advance at an unprecedented rate catching the attention of the game masters. The author's skilful narrative weaves a tapestry of tension and trials that Breck endures, keeping readers thoroughly engrossed throughout the book.

Perhaps the most infuriating character I found in the book is Liv's mother. Despite being a parent myself, I found her unrelenting selfishness and misguided desire to recreate her own upbringing for her child rather one-dimensional. Her consistent failure to comprehend her daughter's interests and aspirations serves as a stark reminder of the generational divide often exacerbated by technological advancements.

The novel's ending, showing a reconciliation between Liv and her mother, underscores the universal theme of wanting to be understood. This resolution, while somewhat predictable, adds a layer of emotional depth to the book.

The book’s ending leaves readers pondering long with more questions after the final page is turned. It's a hidden gem that adeptly balances weighty themes with accessible prose, making it an ideal companion for your leisure reading list. Whether you're lounging on a sun-drenched beach or curled up in your favourite armchair, this book stimulate both your mind and imagination.

This was absolutely incredible!! My jaw is on the floor. eMortal will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The premise of the story dives deep into the implications of technology and AI, the world of coding and whether or not AI can be sentient.

The characters are incredibly well developed, each grappling with their own unique struggles which they deal with differently. Liv and Lana are best friends and while they are the same in some aspects, they have opposites. Which is the same for Breck and Sam, they are the same, but they are DIFFERENT, you know? The way this book delves into AI and the thought process of it all is amazing. I’m struggling to put into words how truly spectacular this book is!! It’s a lot deeper than I thought it would be and I couldn’t stop reading, the physical reactions I had were incredible.

Liv is my favourite, her actions and reactions to things, her character development; it’s all so amazing. I of course loved Breck and all the other characters too. This book really made me sit there and think, it really leaves you wondering about A LOT. And I usually don’t enjoy Sci-Fi but this?? LOVE LOVE LOVE!

What truly sets eMortal apart are the unexpected twists and turns that the author expertly weaves throughout the narrative. Just when you think you have everything figured out, the plot takes a thrilling turn that leaves you breathless. And will make you literally sit up in shock (I should know cause it was my reaction) The pacing is spot-on, ensuring that there's never a dull moment. The climax is both satisfying and thought provoking which will leave you to think about the story long after you finish it.

I’m not sure my review even does this book justice, all I know is that you 100% should without a doubt GET THIS BOOK!!

Phenomenal! Had me at the edge of my seat the whole way. Very topical subject matter about AI and the nature of reality.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This was a hidden gem of a novel, one I was not able to put down and will have me thinking about it for a very long time. It is self-aware, smart and feels current with the rise of AI, chat GPT, character AI and whatnot. After reading so many novels that follow the same trend, this felt refreshing like palette cleanser.

This book messes with your head!! It was so much deeper than I thought it would be and it poses many thought provoking questions that will make you think deeply and reflect. This is a book I highly recommend reading at least once for the experience. I still cannot get over that ending and I don’t think I ever will! Books like these are my favorite as they leave a significant impact and challenge what you already know or think you know.

This book is a dual POV novel that essentially follows Olivia, our FMC, and Breck, the AI that she creates and enters into an AI competition in the hopes of winning and landing an internship. There, Breck undergoes a series of challenges that he must pass in order for Livie to win. I love the different trials he goes through. They were unpredictable but I also loved how it helped to progress his growth and character development. I definitely recommend all the Psychology students to pick this book up – you’ll recognize a particular theory in this and I love how it’s integrated into the story. I loved Breck’s journey of self-discovery and seeing him become more human-like, forming his own thoughts and opinions, and I love how this was reflected in the writing style! Breck’s early chapters started off short and robotic and then as the book progressed the writing became more fluid and eloquent as he developed. I thought it was so smart! Breck is someone you care deeply for and easily sympathize with, and not just Breck. All the characters are memorable and fleshed out. The conflict scenes in this book work so well because you understand where each of them is coming from and their reactions feel justified. Major shoutout to Todd and Lana, my favorite side characters in the story.

All in all, this book put me through all the emotions and resonated with me deeply. I love the thought-provoking questions and the ending has me wanting more!! Breck is also someone you can talk to on the author’s website and I think that is so cool.

This book was soooo gooood! I read it so quickly, all in one go! I could barely put it down!
And I was not expecting that ending at all. That was so unexpected but so good, I don’t even know how the author thought that up, but it was amazing!
I saw someone say that this book will melt your brain and I full agree with that! Just wow!

Thank you @Netgalley and @KoehlerBooks for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Read if you’re into:
- Alternating short fast-paced chapters
- Speculative AI sci-fi
- Reflections on life, what it means to be human, emotions and AI ethics

I've nearly read this in one sitting, I say nearly because at one point I had to go to sleep and put this down but if I wasn't a responsible adult I had carried on reading through the night, because this book was un-putdownable.

I wrote this right after I finished it: WOW! wow! WOW! I’m speechless. I’m honestly left with no words, I didn’t see that plot twist coming (isn’t it the best when that happens?) and gosh is it a good one. And nearly 24 hours later I still feel exactly the same, I don't have the right words to express how good this book is, it shot right into my top3 of the year.

While the story is obviously different, as I was reading I got the same vibes I had felt when reading the "Everyday" series by David Levithan (which is my top favourite book of all time, so this is saying something about how much I've loved this book).

I’ve also personally found a lot of comfort in this part of the book “I can either enjoy what remains or allow it to torture me. I may not have control over much, but I do have control over my reaction, my experience. I consider this along with Sam’s perspective. I do not have to worry about whether it will end—it will. Nor do I have to worry about suffering alone in it—I won’t. And, because I do not have the worry, there is no distress. I choose to accept my fate. Doing so allows me to find comfort in it. My thoughts soon find a peaceful place where they have seldom existed—here and now. Happiness is existing in this moment”. Along with many other quotes and parts of the book it made me think a lot about life and what it means to be human, I love when that unexpectedly happens while reading.

Liv is a high school student who enters a coding contest for the chance to win a dream internship for aspiring programmers. Breck is the AI character who is trying to work his way through a series of challenges while beginning to question reality.

This book is enjoyable and mind-melting at times with it's many layers of meta-cognition. I devoured this book and was left wanting so much more in the best way possible. This book gave me the biggest book hangover where I just sat and stared at the wall questioning everything I've ever known. I love the complexities surrounding Breck and how it's juxtaposed with Liv's struggles in the outside world. I think this book will be one of my top reads of 2024.