In a near-future world divided between an authoritarian Federation ruled by an immortal president and Western Europe governed by malfunctioning AI Prime Ministers, a group of rebels—including a fugitive scientist, a dissident writer, and a conflicted doctor—struggle to ignite revolution and challenge the suffocating grip of technological and political control. The novel explores the complexities of resistance, the persistence of authoritarianism, and the limitations of both human and artificial systems in shaping society’s fate.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a near-future world divided between an authoritarian Federation and Western Europe governed by AI Prime Ministers, the novel explores the collapse of political systems and the struggle for change. The Federation is ruled by a President who maintains power by transferring his consciousness into new bodies, while the West has embraced rationalized, AI-driven governance. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Lilia, a scientist whose invention may be key to toppling the President; Zoya, a revolutionary whose writings inspire resistance; Palmer, Lilia’s partner in London; Nikolai, the President’s physician; Nurlan, a parliamentary staffer; and Krotov, the Federation’s security chief. The narrative weaves together themes of surveillance, resistance, technological control, and the futility and hope of revolution, with plotlines involving assassination attempts, malfunctioning AI, and the personal costs of dissent. The book is structured with interlinked points of view and excerpts from a fictional banned text, and draws on the author’s background in global diplomacy and experience in Russia and Central Asia.

Readers praised the book’s intricate structure, with its multiple intersecting perspectives and shifting narrative focus, as well as its detailed depiction of political systems and the mechanics of authoritarianism. The writing style was frequently described as vivid, contemplative, and reminiscent of classic dystopian authors such as Orwell, Zamyatin, and Lem. Many found the exploration of themes like social credit systems, surveillance, AI governance, and the persistence of autocracy to be timely and thought-provoking. The book’s handling of complex geopolitical issues, its philosophical questions about power and resistance, and its ability to evoke a sense of helplessness and hope resonated with readers. The prose, pacing, and the author’s ability to balance high-concept ideas with character-driven drama were also highlighted, as was the audiobook narration.

Some readers found the novel’s large cast of characters and multiple points of view difficult to track, especially given the book’s relatively short length. There were criticisms that the character development was limited, with some characters feeling interchangeable or lacking depth, and that the narrative could be dense or chilly, focusing more on systems than on individual intimacy. The technological elements, such as consciousness transfer and AI malfunction, were sometimes described as underexplained or overly simplistic. A few reviewers felt the plot was thin or the world-building unoriginal, and some were dissatisfied with the ending, finding it either abrupt, less impactful than expected, or at odds with the bleakness of the setup. A minority of readers did not connect with the book at all, citing a lack of engagement with the characters or story.

The book has received a generally positive reception, with an average rating of 4.09 out of 5 from 464 ratings and 152 full reviews. It is positioned as a work of adult science fiction, dystopia, and political thriller, and is often compared to both classic and contemporary speculative fiction. The author’s previous works, including 'The Mountain in the Sea' and 'Tusks of Extinction,' are frequently referenced by readers, who note a shift in focus from animal consciousness to the analysis of political and technological systems. The novel’s use of Russian language and folklore is noted, with some suggesting a glossary for non-Russian readers. The book is scheduled for publication on April 1, 2025, and has been recommended for its relevance to current global political trends and its potential for award recognition.