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Booksniffer has read 9 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Cover Reveal: CRYOSTORM by Lynn Rush!

They made his body, she'll awaken his soul.

4 Sniffs Review: SEE THROUGH ME by Sera Bright #Giveaway

There's only one person I want to see when I return home. But I know he won't be waiting. It's the reason I feel safe enough to come back. I’m so wrong.

YBO Sniffer Review: THIS WICKED RUSH by Jessie Evans #Giveaway

THIS WICKED RUSH is an edgy, sexy, boundary-pushing read intended for readers over the age of seventeen. The book features graphic love scenes, violence, strong language, and thieves in love. Read at your own risk.

5.5 Sniffs Review: SYNCHRONY by Cindy Ray Hale #Giveaway #Excerpt

Will Destiny and Preston find the synchrony they so desperately need, or will she find a way to forgive Isaac and return to his outstretched arms?

5 Sniffs Review: DESTINY by Cindy Ray Hale #Giveaway

Weaving around Destiny and Isaac's alternating viewpoints, Destiny is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.

CHANGES & MERGER

Hello! I'm currently in the process of merging my 3 sites to make it easier for me to keep everything up.

So all book tours that have a ROMANCE title will be posted to the new site instead of here on Booksniffer Book Reviews. All non-romance titles will still be posted here.

Those posts can be found here: http://loveineverypage.weebly.com/

I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but it'll be better in the long run.

~Christina
Showing posts with label Science Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science Fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Review: MINDWAR by Andrew Klavan #Giveaway




Title: Mindwar
Series:  The Mindwar Trilogy #1
Author: Andrew Klavan
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ASIN: B00I5QX64S
Release Date: July 8, 2014
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon ☆ Barnes and Noble ☆ Kobo ☆ The Book Depository

Rick Dial has the potential to be a hero. He just doesn't know it yet.

Rick's high school football team couldn't be stopped when he was leading them as their quarterback. He was going to Syracuse on a scholarship. But then his dad abandoned them and a terrible accident left him crippled.

Certain his old life is completely lost, Rick spends months hiding away in his room playing video games. He achieves the highest scores on so many games that he's approached by a government agency who claims to be trying to thwart a cyber attack on America that would destroy the technological infrastructure of the entire country. The agents say that the quick-thinking of a quarterback coupled with Nick's gaming experience make him perfect for this assignment. The problem is that there are no extra lives and this isn't just a game . . . but Rick doesn't have many other options at the moment.

Entering "The Realm" gives Rick the one thing he thought he'd never have again: a body that's as fast and as strong as he ever was before the accident. But the more time he spends in The Realm, the more questions he has. What secrets are these agents keeping from him? What really happened to his father? How many others have gone into The Realm already . . . and failed? And perhaps most important, is he the hero they think he is?



MINDWAR is an exciting action-packed story that leaves you guessing to the very end. Rick had the perfect future ahead of him, until a crippling accident took it all away. With his purpose in life gone, he immerses himself in video games, earning the highest scores on most of them. When he's approached by the government with an assignment of great importance, Rick is given a new purpose but he's also left with more questions. Good verses evil in a cyber universe, how cool is that? I can't remember ever reading a book like this one. I'm looking forward to seeing what else happens in this series.



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Friday, June 27, 2014

Review: CARNELIAN by B. Kristin McMichael #Giveaway




Title: Carnelian
Series: The Chalcedony Chronicles #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Lexia Press, LLC
ASIN: B00HS941GK
Release Date: January 9, 2014
Everyone has a past, but for most it isn’t as long ago as Seth Sangre. His past is literally thousands of years ago. Seth’s life led him to the present seeking something that might help him save his country from destruction. He has been in the present for over three years now and just found exactly what he has been looking for.

Mari had dreams that college will be a fresh start, one where she would start over and not fall for the good looking player like high school. Unfortunately for her, that’s exactly what ends up falling into her lap on the first day she moves into the dorms. Now she has to hold to her promise to herself and not fall for the handsome Seth. But he doesn’t plan to make it easy for her. Seth has already marked her as his next conquest. As the semester progresses, Mari learns that Seth might just have a life of his own that’s actually from the past.

Suddenly Mari finds her future along with her past put into question. She’s connected to Seth far more than she ever wanted to be and maybe the player isn’t who she thought he was. If Mari can trust her heart enough to follow him, Seth will lead Mari on an adventure of a lifetime and reveal family secrets she never knew existed.



What do you do when a hot guy literally falls into your lap? Run. In CARNELIAN, that's exactly what happens to Mari. She just wanted to start college fresh and stay away from and not fall for any hot guys like she did in high school. But that plan fails, when on her first day of school, Seth literally falls asleep in her lap. As the story progresses, Mari learns a lot about Seth and his life, as well as her own. Secrets are revealed and Mari is in for the adventure of a lifetime. This is a fun story and you'll be wanting the sequel right way!



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Friday, May 23, 2014

5 Sniffs Review: FROSTBITE by Lynn Rush





Title: Frostbite
Series: Touch of Frost #1
Author: Lynn Rush
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Suspense
Publisher: Lynn Rush, LLC
ASIN: B00F4K1SJS
Release Date: September 11, 2013
Source: Lynn Rush
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon

Amanda gives a whole new meaning to cool...

Amanda Smith is sick of getting chased from town-to-town. So when she lands in tiny Trifle, Arizona, she hopes it's her last move for a long time. Despite hating the smallness of the town, she settles in and finds a best friend, and even a boyfriend. Normality at its finest.

But for a girl who can shoot snow from her hands and lift a two-ton truck over her head like a bag of feathers--normal is not an option.

The scientists who murdered her mother come barreling into Amanda's quiet life. She must decide if she'll run again or stay and fight. The price of either choice might be her life or the lives of those she's come to love...



THE GIST: Amanda Smith and her brother Scott have been on the run since their parents were murdered by Agents of The Center. The Center dabbles in genetic manipulation, and under the guise of allergen testing, used their mother for their experiments. She developed the ability to manipulate ice, and that was passed down to Amanda when she was born. Now The Center wants to study Amanda, so that they can create more like her. Amanda and Scott have settled in Arizona after fleeing Minnesota. They both are finally able to set down roots. Scott has a flourishing smoothie shop and Amanda is soon to graduate high school. She even has a best friend and a guy who's interested in her. But some things are too good to be true and The Center is moving in on Amanda, waiting to make their move.

WHAT I LIKED: FROSTBITE was a really exciting read. There were some totally unexpected twists and turns in the story that made it all the more exciting. I really liked Amanda's relationship with her brother. They are really tight and protective of each other, which is to be expected with the life they've lead, but I just felt that there was something special about their relationship. The mystery behind how their mother got her ice powers, and Amanda after her, was really interesting and I liked how it was revealed gradually.

WHAT I DISLIKED: Oh, boy. I don't really know what I didn't like. Well I definitely didn't like the people of The Center. I didn't like how they thought that they had some kind of ownership of Amanda. I kind of just wanted to punch one of them.



Amanda: "Mandy" to her friends and family. Has a stranger and dangerous power over ice, in all its many forms. Doesn't let herself get close to people, only Scott and her best friend, Georgia. Has feelings for her classmate, Zach.

Scott: Mandy's older brother. Has tried to give her as much of a normal life as he can. He takes care of the Coats Mandy leaves frozen. Owns a smoothie shop in town.

Georgia: Mandy's best friend. Has a connection to Mandy and Scott that goes deeper than any of them realize.

Zach: He has feelings for Mandy and tries to get her to open up and accept him as her boyfriend. He freaks out when he learns the truth about Mandy and pushes her away. When he comes to terms with her abilities, he's loyal and stays by her side through everything.



The Center is a company that works with genetics. Mandy and her mother were products of one of their experiments, disguised as allergen testing. Now they want Mandy, to study and experiment on. They feel that she belongs to them, like property. They are responsible for Mandy's and Scott's parent's deaths. They are relentless and won't stop until they have what they want - Mandy.



When Mandy and Zach first start seeing each other, she fears freezing him to death, so she keeps some distance between them. When she finally lets herself get close to him and knows that she can control her powers, their chemistry is like a slow-burning fire. Even Mandy sometimes wonders if her powers have changed because of the heat she feels when with Zach.

I was really kind of disappointed in Zach when he freaked out after learning the truth about Mandy's powers and pushed her away. She already feels like a freak and like she doesn't belong, so Zach's rejection really hurt her. I can understand to a point, but he didn't even let her explain anything to him. That bothered me.

I did like that once he calmed down and talked to Mandy, that he became even more loyal and devoted to her. He stood by her through attacks by The Center and other life-threatening events. They seem pretty solid by the end of the book, so we'll see how strong their bond really is in the next book, Absolute Zero.



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Thursday, April 24, 2014

4.5 Sniffs Review: PROTOSTAR by Braxton A. Cosby




Title: ProtoStar
Series: The Star-Crossed Saga #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Christian
Publisher: Winter Goose Publishing
ASIN: B00JPVQPKO
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon ☆  Barnes and Noble

What Would You Choose, Love or Duty?

On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name.

William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target.

With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney.

As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.




The people of the Torrian Alliance have an on-going mission to eliminate any and all Star Children born, in order to prevent the spread of an all-powerful evil from taking over the galaxy. William is sent on a mission to Earth to kill the Star Child that was detected there. But when he meets Sydney, gets to know her and falls in love with her, he can't believe that she could bring about such evil. While William struggles with choosing to honor his family and mission or following his heart, there are other forces waiting in the shadows to see if he will fail. And if he does, they have orders to take them both out. Hearts change and power struggles become deadly in this tale of star-crossed lovers.

I really liked this story. PROTOSTAR has Christian elements set in a science fiction background. Faith is tested and proved many times. I liked the mysterious happening going on behind the scenes on William's home world. And I really want to know more about the Star Children. This is stating the obvious, but I'm really looking forward to the next book in the Star-Crossed Saga to see what is revealed next.



William: A prince on his home world. He is tasked with traveling to Earth to eliminate the Star Child living there. Feeling are repressed where he is from, so what he starts feeling for Sydney confuse him at first, but once he realizes what's happening, he does all he can to protect her from others that would harm her. But before all that, he does struggle between choosing to honor his family and following his heart.

Sydney: She lives with her grandmother in a small town in the south. Her parents were killed in a car accident, and she was the only survivor. She feels an instant connection with William, although she's wary of him at first. When it is revealed to her who and what she is, she can't believe it, until it is proven to her to be true. Sydney's grandmother has taught her that she must have faith within every aspect of her life. As she grows into her powers as the Star Child, she knows that she's going to need all the help that she can get.

IMPI: He is the artificial intelligence of William's space craft. As he is connected to William, he is slowly evolving as he learns more about humanity and human feelings. Sydney gave him the nickname "Bill," since he is like a mini-William.



The villain for PROTOSTAR can be seen from two different perspectives. The people of William's home world would say that Sydney, being the Star Child, is the bad guy in this story. And William too, since he basically committed treason by falling in love with her and not killing her. 

Whereas, William and Sydney's point of view, the Torrian Alliance and their agents are the bad guys trying to kill them. 

Depending on what side of the story you want to put yourself on, the villain changes.



The romance between Sydney and William is kind of interesting. Sydney felt an instant connection to William when she first met him, but she also felt like she needed to be careful around him as well. It isn't common for strangers to just appear on your doorstep in her small town. 

William, on the other hand, having repressed his feelings most of his life (as most on his home world do), didn't understand what Sydney was "doing" to him. He thought what he was feeling was some kind of attack from the Star Child. 

But as they started to get to know each other, and Sydney told William about love and what it feels like, he realized that he was falling in love with her. It wasn't until Sydney almost died that William was willing to admit his feelings, though. But once he did, he committed himself completely to her and her protection.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what else happens between Sydney and William in future books.


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Saturday, March 29, 2014

4 Sniffs Review: REWOUND by D.T. Dyllin




Title: Rewound
Author: D.T. Dyllin
Genre: New Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Erotica, Historical
Publisher: Tik Tok Press
ASIN: B00IBP8TQ8
Release Date: February 8, 2014
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon ☆ Facebook Event

Dezdamona Kabinosh is on a mission—a mission of love. And she traveled back in her own timeline to complete it. After being betrayed by her husband she’s seeking a second chance at love, and Dez has come up with the perfect plan.

One problem though… Jaxson Kabinosh, her future husband, has also traveled back in time and he’s determined to keep Dez for himself. Who will win the ultimate battle for Dez’s heart? Jaxson, or her possible rebound guy?




In REWOUND, Dez feels betrayed by her husband, Jaxson, when she finds a compromising photo of him with another woman. So she uses the time-travel technology that her husband's company has to go back into her past and start all over, to a time before she met Jaxson. What she doesn't expect is for him to follow her back and try to win her heart all over again.

I'm going to say this right now, and get it out of the way. REWOUND, in my opinion, does not have a happy ending. You could look at how the book ends as either a happy ending or an unhappy ending depending on your perspective. For me, if I'm left bawling my eyes out, in sadness, that it isn't an happily ever after ending.

I was actually really blindsided by the revelation of what was really happening. There are parts in the story where both Dez and Jaxson are having blackout, that hint that there is a lot more going on than we are lead to believe. I didn't really pay much attention to these points, so when the moment of revelation came, the impact was hard. Even now, thinking back on the story to write this review, I want to start crying again. 

This book really hits your heart by the time you finish it.



The Guy: In the future, Jaxson is a successful CEO, but in his past he was a pierced and tattooed playboy. That is until he met Dez. She changed his entire life and his love for her only grows stronger with time. So when he chases her back into time and she pushes him away at every chance and insists on never being with him ever again, he takes matters into his own hands to win her heart back. He knows about her love for romance novels, and uses that to make some of her fantasies come true. Their attraction and chemistry are explosive and that is one of the things that keeps her coming back to him, but Jaxson knows that if he wants Dez to choose him again, that he needs to prove to her that his love for her hasn't changed.

The Girl: It was the anniversary of their wedding when Dez found that compromising photo of Jaxson with another woman and feeling betrayed she travels back in time to just before Spring Break, when her original choice had been what caused her to meet Jaxson. But she plans on making the opposite choice this time and try to "rekindle" her relationship with Owen. But then Jaxson shows up to ruin her plans. And no matter how hard she tries, she can't stay away from Jaxson. She still loves him more than anything, but she's going to give him one final test to prove his love for her.



For this section, I'm going to do a kind of beginning, middle, and end type run-through.

At the start of REWOUND, Dez is begging a lab technician to send her back in time, so that she can start over after she found that photo of Jaxson with another woman. She is sent back to the moment when her choice not to go to Panama City the first time changed who she would eventually end up with. If she had gone the first time, she may have been with Owen instead of Jaxson, but in her original timeline she chose not to go and that's when she met Jaxson. So she plans on doing the exact opposite this time. But then Jaxson shows up and interferes with her plans.

Then after some misunderstandings are cleared up and a few bumps in the road crossed, Dez and Jaxson are getting ready to start their lives together all over again. They rededicate themselves to each other by getting remarried and having their names tattooed on each other. 

But then Jaxson has a blackout and he begins to remember what's really happening. I won't say what that is, but I will say that he chooses to stay with Dez to the very end.

Dez and Jaxson's love story is very bittersweet, and we don't even realize that until the end. During the rest of the book, their passion is scorching and their love is deeper than the ocean. Then we are slapped with the truth, and all I wanted to do was cry out their pain. I felt it that much. 



GET THIS BOOK WHILE IT'S STILL ON SALE!
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From March 24th-26th the book will be on sale for 99 cents! 
From March 27th-29th the book will be on sale for $1.99 
and back to regular price of $2.99 on March 30th



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Friday, March 07, 2014

5 Sniffs Review: FORGET ME NOT by Stacey Nash #Giveaway




Title: Forget Me Not
Series: The Collective #1
Author: Stacey Nash
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Entranced Publishing
ASIN: B00IK07FOQ
Release Date: February 19, 2014
Source: Entranced Publishing

Since her mother vanished nine years ago, Anamae and her father have shared a quiet life. But when Anamae discovers a brooch identical to her mother's favorite pendant, she unknowingly invites a slew of trouble into their world. When the brooch and the pendant are worn together they're no longer pretty pieces of jewelry -- they're part of a highly developed technology capable of cloaking the human form. Triggering the jewelry's power attracts the attention of a secret society determined to confiscate the device -- and silence everyone who is aware of its existence. Anamae knows too much, and now she's Enemy Number One.

She's forced to leave her father behind when she's taken in by a group determined to keep her safe. Here Anamae searches for answers about this hidden world. With her father kidnapped and her own life on the line, Anamae must decide if saving her dad is worth risking her new friends’ lives. No matter what she does, somebody is going to get hurt.

Fiction is Fact. Know the Truth.




FORGET ME NOT is the story of a young girl who stumbles upon a piece of advanced technology that's not supposed to be in ordinary hands. This leads Anamae and her best friend Will into the protective hands of a resistance group fighting against The Collective, who basically want to rule the world, one piece of tech at a time. But there is more going on than any of them know.

I seriously really loved this book! FORGET ME NOT has become a new favorite of mine, and I'm really excited to see what else will happen in this new book world.

I thought that it was interesting how the necklace that belonged to Anamae's mother was in the shape of a forget me not. It's like a message is being sent to Anamae not to forget her mother or something. And then it turns out that the necklace isn't just an ordinary necklace, but a piece of advanced technology that can make the wearer invisible. 

Then there is the secret society of The Collective. There is a lot of mystery behind them, and I like how not much is given about them. There are tiny little tidbits that slowly reveal them. It keeps readers guessing, and we're even thrown for a loop every once in a while. It's great!



The Guys: Will Avery is Anamae's best friend. He's been there for her when her mother disappeared, and he's very (and I mean VERY) protective of her. It's also hinted that he may have feelings for her. He really doesn't like Jax.

I really liked Will. He's a great friend and a huge source of support for Anamae. But just like Anamae, I found is overprotectiveness a little annoying at times. 

Jax Belfry is one of the resistance fighters, and the one who saved Anamae when she was attacked by a Collective scout. He's got walls higher than the tallest skyscraper, but he sometimes lets his guard down around Anamae. He's got a secret that will surprise you!

Okay, Jax is definitely a new book boyfriend. I mean, for one, he's hot. And second, though his attitude can be off-putting, it also draws you in. Isn't that the case with most to-die-for book boyfriends?

The Girls: Anamae is a girl who basically just wants to go home and have her whole family back again. Her mother went missing when she was little, and then she gets into trouble with The Collective, who do something to her father. Once it becomes apparent that she's going to have to join the fight, she does so with a passion. Then there is Jax. He just has her emotions all over the place. 

At first Anamae is kind of selfish and just looks out for her own interests. But then when she finds out the consequences of her actions, she takes the situation more seriously. I liked when she got into her fighter mentality. I think she's stronger than any of them may know, even herself. And she is one lucky girl to have Jax's attention, especially since it's said that he pays no attention to any other girls.

Lilly is the daughter of the resistance leader. She quickly becomes a good friend to Anamae. She's kind of boy-crazy. She's well versed in medical applications, and is the go-to person when someone is injured.

I loved Lilly! I really want her for my BFF. 



In general, the baddies are The Collective. They influence everything from wars and famines to who rises to political power. Every aspect of life, they've got their fingers in. They control almost all the advanced technology, and anyone who has a piece in their possession (and knows the real use of it) are seen as threats and eliminated. They are ruled by a Council of Patriarchs.

But in FORGET ME NOT, the main baddie is one of the Patriarchs named Manvyke. He's the one who has been behind what's been happening to Anamae. He's using her as a distraction for the Council to set his own plans into motion. He also has some interesting insight into Anamae's mother.



There are some pretty steamy scenes between Anamae and Jax. You may need a fan just to keep cool reading them! 

The thing with Anamae and Jax is that they kind of go back and forth. One moment they're kissing and the next they are fighting. The romance between these two definitely keeps you on your toes.

I also liked that there wasn't an insta-love. The attraction is there right away, and to be honest, I'm not even sure I would say there is a "love." Neither of them say anything about their feelings. It's more like they show each other. In other words, you know that they feel something for each other, but you're kind of left wondering what will happen next between them. And that's something that I really liked about these two.



Now the action is really awesome in FORGET ME NOT. All that advanced technology - from invisibility to disappearing bullet proof shields, and all kinds of other interesting things inbetween. Then there are the fight scenes. So super cool! These fights don't go easy on anyone. The girls get hit just as much as the guys, and vice versa. That was something that I really liked in the fight scenes. And some of the fights are pretty brutal. 



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Monday, March 03, 2014

3.5 Sniffs Review: MEMORIES WITH MAYA by Clyde Dsouza #Giveaway




Title: Memories with Maya
Author: Clyde Dsouza
Genre: Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Clyde Dsouza
ASIN: B00BMAQVRS
Release Date: February 27, 2013
Source: Clyde Dsouza ☆ Booksniffer Review Tours ☆ Tour Schedule
Links: Goodreads ☆ Amazon ☆ Barnes and Noble ☆ The Book Depository ☆ Smashwords

A story of one man's determination to HACK his destiny, even if it meant challenging Divine Providence...

The story looks at how augmentation technology will affect emotions, intimate human relationships, and our very evolution as a species.

"EMOTIONS ARE LIKE A VIRUS, a common cold...disrupting the flow of logic in the mind." Daniel reminds himself.

Dan's work involves creating commercially viable AR solutions. The recession and an explosion of data-cops is drying out his streams of income.

He turns to close friend, Krish, a researcher in Artificial Intelligence, in the hope that they can come up with ideas for the Entertainment market. His girlfriend, Maya, and her family return to their homeland after her father passes away.

Dan and Maya continue their relationship via Dirrogates (Digital Surrogates), experiencing human touch through haptics. Krish gets a job at the prestigious A.I.R.I. Using AIRI's lab, Krish and Dan, create an advanced visor with Augmented Intelligence built in.

They dub it "Wizer."

A Board member at AIRI sees potential in the Wizer other than what Dan and Krish have in mind.

At a test in a nightclub, things go wrong...

Can the Wizer "insure memories" and be a catalyst to accelerate the journey toward eventual Singularity?

The (subtle) underlying philosophy in the story is about preparing the common man for our eventual Technological Singularity. If the goals of Transhumanism are to be embraced, they need to be explained to everyday people, in everyday language and using everyday settings. Only then can a road-map for Transhumanism be built.

Memories with Maya also poses the question: Can we transcend the Human Lifecycle?

The plausible science in the story details how AR & AI will merge to create Digital Surrogates in our own likeness - our DIRROGATES.




Daniel and his best friend Krish are on the fast track to success with their AI technology working for AIRI, when tragedy strikes one night at a night club during a demo. Maya, Daniels' girlfriend and Krish's sister, is gravely injured in the ensuing chaos. What comes from Maya's accident is a digital surrogate - a Dirrrogate - that brings to life the memory of Maya.

I really liked the story in MEMORIES WITH MAYA. I didn't really understand much of the digi-talk, but the story between the scientific lines was beautiful and thought provoking. The Wizer that Daniel and Krish created was very interesting, and I liked how Dsouza showed how it could be used for better or worse. In science fiction, there are a lot of very advanced technologies that are thought up, but that take us years to actually be able to create.

What Daniel created from his grief over Maya - a Dirrogate - brings to life the memory of the one he lost. In MEMORIES WITH MAYA, Daniel's creation of Maya's Dirrogate raises questions about ethics and religion. Is what he created right or wrong? Is he going mad for wanting such a realistic version of Maya around all the time? Or is he just a grieving man trying to keep the memory of the woman he loved alive? The grief process is different for everyone and Maya's Dirrogate is the manifestation of Daniel's.

MEMORIES WITH MAYA merges the lines between Transhumanist beliefs that technology can make humans a newer and better race and those of other religious beliefs. This thought provoking novel will make you contemplate the lengths we go to to move on, but also remember those we are grieving. It's a very fine line, and sometimes that line can be crossed, where how we grieve moves into the potentially unethical.



The Guy: Daniel is a very smart and versatile person. He's all about doing his own thing and doesn't like committing to any one person in a relationship. Not only does Daniel work on AI with his best friend Krish, but he also does his own version of high-tech DJing in night clubs. He had a casual relationship with Maya, until she moved back to India with her brother Krish. While I was reading, I felt that in some ways, Daniel seemed emotionally stunted. He doesn't show emotion very often and I think that is why it took him so long to commit to Maya. This may also be why he went kind of crazy in his grief, although sometimes genius comes out of crazy. In his work on AI, Daniel is more of the visual and ideas side of the equation, whereas Krish works on a lot of the coding and algorithms.

The Girl: Maya is a girl with dreams of working in classical dance. She's a beautiful girl, and she doesn't give up when others say she can't do something. She just works all the harder. Maya loves Daniel, but for fear of driving him away, she doesn't confess to him how she feels, until he comes to India to work on the Wizer project. She showed the ultimate sacrifice for the man she loved by protecting him while he was unable to do so himself. When I think of Maya, I think of her as a vision. It's hard to explain why I think of her this way, but it's like she's, well, a memory, a vision, being brought to life. And I guess technically in the end, she is.



In MEMORIES WITH MAYA, the villains are the ones responsible for the chaotic events that lead to her death. I won't say who they are, but what happened to cause Maya's death was based in the greed to corrupted men, working with a group of terrorists. They were greedy for money and power, and it didn't matter who had to pay the price for it.



There isn't much in the romance department in MEMORIES WITH MAYA, but it's all very heartbreaking in the end.

Maya and Daniel had a casual relationship going, until she moved back to India. They still had a casual long distance relationship, until Daniel went to India to work on the Wizer project. Things heated back up and Daniel finally committed himself to Maya, but it was all cut short that night at the club.

Their relationship is filled with regrets and missed opportunities. And those are some of the most heartbreaking scenes in the book.

I'm always really excited when the title of the book shows up in the story, and the moment when it does was very bittersweet. Using Maya's Dirrogate, Daniel is making new memories with Maya.


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