Review of advance copy received from Author

This novel is a classic example of Rebels-in-Dystopia Sci-Fi. It has multi-layered conflict, tightly related to the themes and to the emotions of sympathetic characters.

It starts out with an attractive opening: evocative setting description teasing us with an interesting character puzzle that keeps us reading through those tricky opening pages.

Then we are presented with a second character and a more puzzling enigma. This mystery becomes the conflict of the story, and while it isn’t enough to keep our attention riveted for the time the main character takes to ponder the question, we are already hooked on the premise, so on we go.

The inner conflict is between two extremes. One is the stilted social emotional and linguistic behaviour of the characters with varying degrees of cybernetic enhancement. This clashes with the inner human emotions struggling to emerge. The gradual development of the emotional abilities of the two main characters and the progress of their relationship draws us in and connects us to the rest of the story.

One major theme is the struggle between advanced research and the losing of our humanity. At the highest level of government, the arguments on both sides are logical and persuasive, but in the end only prove that if you want to, you can justify any philosophy.

It all boils down to the question whether humanity should ever reach a point where “Principles were a luxury they could no longer afford.”

This story falls under my frequent complaint that there is just too much magic. The main characters are created with so much hi-tech enhancement that they are almost indestructible. This becomes a hindrance to the writing, because their ability to heal injuries rapidly leads the author to stretch out the battles to the point where they lose their emotional effect on us. The fights are powerful and described in minute detail, but after a while it is difficult to remember who has how many cracked ribs but is soldiering on in spite of the pain.

In general, the writing style is fluid and well edited. The precise nature of the science vocabulary is excellent; what sounds like complicated technobabble is actually understandable to the average reader.

The story ends by tidying up the personal conflicts but leaves philosophic clashes to be explored in the sequel.

A model example of its genre. A long read, but worth it.

Review of advance copy received from Author

Caenogenesis is the debut novel by Tasha He, a dystopian sci-fi epic set in Ignis, a city-state after a nuclear war. Book 1 of The Gemini Files, the title may seem a slightly confusing choice at first, but it apparently refers to developmental changes that deviate from ancestral evolution, essentially, abnormal development. I’ll be honest, I had to look that one up (and I thought I had a good vocab). It’s the kind of title that makes more sense the deeper you get into the story. And this is a story that will have no problem holding your attention, throwing the reader right into the action.

This is a smart, character-focused sci-fi novel and an epic adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Yin’s journey from weapon to whatever she’s becoming is beautifully explored, and the world and adventure of the book is immersive to get lost in. If you liked Blade Runner, Never Let Me Go, or The Hunger Games, you’ll probably enjoy this. Just be ready to immediately want book two of The Gemini Files, because this one ends right when things are about to get really interesting.

Caenogenesis completely drew me in from the start! The world feels alive and immersive, with so many layers of detail that make it easy to imagine. The characters are well-developed and distinct, each with their own motivations and personality, which made me care about what happens to them. I loved how the story balances intense, high-stakes action with quieter, emotional moments—it really keeps you invested in both the battles and the characters’ personal journeys. The pacing flows well, and the stakes stay high, making it hard to put the book down. The acknowledgements were beautiful and heartfelt, showing the care the author put into the story and the world. Overall, this first book sets up a fantastic trilogy, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the next installment takes these characters and the world they live in.

Review of advance copy received from Author

Caenogenesis follows the story of Yin, a synthetic person, who doesn’t remember her past. The initial story starts with Yin being told to run away. After which Yin stumbles into Kraken, or rather, the other way around. After a rough initial first encounter, the two of them develop a friendship. They have an awkward second encounter at a laundromat where Yin is washing her outfit, her only outfit. Kraken arrives at the laundromat, finding the owner trying to explain to Yin that she needs to be clothed to use the laundromat. Kraken steps in to help, lending Yin his shirt. Kraken also offers to have Yin stay with him.

The story takes a bit of a shift, as Kraken reveals he works with a revolutionary group, the Outsiders. The world they live in has a class system with different privileges associated with each. The system is rather oppressive, and hence it is the goal of the Outsiders to topple the existing government.

For me, the major source of profluence is the relationship between Yin and Kraken. I think the blend of high-paced thriller scenes interposed with the interpersonal development of the two characters is masterfully done. The resulting story is riveting and compelling.

The story also has excellent, intricate details painting the interaction between the characters well. The book is also witty at times, to quote a line, "Cheeseburgers in Paradise was the kind of place your cardiologist would warn you about.” This tickled me.

The book changes the perspective character from chapter to chapter. The perspective character is identified with a picture of them at the start of the chapter. I think this is also fun, as when a new perspective character is introduced, we don’t actually know much of anything about them. (Whereas we might know their name if that were instead provided.)

I think the multi-threaded narrative works well. We are able to see both into the minds of Yin and Kraken, just at different times. I found the pacing also to be enjoyable, which I think is related to how the narrative changes perspectives.

Overall, if you like dystopian novels or perhaps enjoyed the movie Ex Machina, this would be a perfect book for you. In a sense, the book explores the idea of what it means to be human.

I loved this book! It's a perfect blend of dystopian rebellion, politics, and emotion-led characters. The worldbuilding was really fascinating, with the post-apocalyptic city of Ignis divided by a wall into the haves and have-nots, regular radiation storms, interesting political machinations, and some really cool tech ideas. I enjoyed learning more about the world as I read, and it felt rich and real throughout.

But the stars of this book are definitely the characters and the focus on platonic friendship. The two main characters, Yin and Kraken, are so perfectly matched for each other: Yin is a synthetic whose emotions have been suppressed, and Kraken is a recombinant whose modifications have led him to feel too much. It was clear from their first meeting that they would both drive each other crazy and be really good for each other as friends. I enjoyed seeing them interact and watching their friendship evolve over the course of the book.

There's also a lot more in this book to love! Great side characters (I want to see more of them in book two, please!), funny moments, heartwarming moments, philosophical debates, a believable villain who believes they're doing the right thing, plot twists, and more. In particular, I loved the laundromat, The Godfather, and the pigeonpocalypse (you know you want to know more