Hope was the oldest cure. It was also the oldest addiction. Truth was, he was hooked on the ache of it all.
Summary
A sequel to Artificial Wisdom, this book picks up 5 years after Solomon’s election campaign to be earth’s “protector,” he has abolished nations and will implant a chip in all 9 million people on earth. His creator, Martha Chandra, is still dead but her consciousness exists to talk to her sister Livia, who chats with her and bounces ideas off of her as they drink artificial coffee. We also get the main POV of Marcus Tully, journalist, and October, who continues to work on a way to get into Solomon’s program and blow the whole thing up. Privacy is a right that is long behind us.
Could you love without grief?
My Thoughts
This tech sci fi thriller is best devoured late into the night. The author is working with big themes and, while ambitious, is extremely readable. The characters are unique and varied, some, like Lottie, representing a distrust and a skepticism that the reader holds. Like any good sequel, the stakes are higher and so is the deathcount. If the possibility of losing your national identity and personal identity doesn’t scare you, not having “real” coffee anymore might. No bees, no coffee. Whereas in the first book we were forced to look at a choice between a power hungry establishment human president and logical AI, this book is much deeper in its transparency, its heart and purpose. Readers will definitely identify with October, Tully and Livia. I was also really impressed with the pacing, the first/second/third acts taking me on a journey that any well structured thriller will. While I think the book gives enough background to work as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first book before diving into this one.
Logic only works when there is a right and wrong answer.
Themes/Warnings
-Artificial Intelligence
-Climate Change
-Oligarchy
-Loss of Independence
-Triumph and trust of humanity
-Power over autonomy
Thank you to NetGalley and DelRay for the e-ARC. Book to be published November 20, 2026
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