The Jade Rebellion by Alanna Mackenzie
‘A reckoning. A rebellion. The worlds of artificial intelligence and ancient magic collide.
Crystal City glistens with diamonds, but its dazzling beauty comes at a deadly price. The capital of Khalendar thrives on a steady supply of gemstones from the neighboring Barrens, a colony of the Empire. Walter Saltanetska translates AI code for the Khalendar government, helping to breathe life into the ambitious vision of the AI Masters. When Walter discovers a terrible secret which could destroy the life of his lover, Elaine, he decides to tell her despite strict orders to keep what he translates confidential. What begins as a catastrophe eventually grows into a rebellion. Elaine is taken captive by the AI Masters, and Walter must do everything in his power to rescue her. He starts his quest with a single goal in mind, finding Elaine, but along the way Walter discovers that saving her is only a small part of his destiny. During his travels, he encounters a long-lost relative, a warrior matriarch, and a mystical kingdom forgotten to time. Yet Walter’s true journey occurs not in physical space, but the captivating depths of his mind.
An inventive blend of dystopian science-fiction and fantasy, the Jade Rebellion explores whether we can overcome technological determinism by preserving history, nature, spirituality, and ultimately, our humanity.’
The Jade Rebellion by Alanna Mackenzie jumps right into the story, as Walter seeks to find a way to free his friend Elaine from a prison ship bound for a forsaken penal colony. This is a world where machines have taken over, subjugating humanity. They’ve fostered a technocracy where consumerism is king among the humans. Through lucky coincidence Walter is recruited by a rebel group to rescue the prisoners before they can be shipped off. His adventures take him to Serrahan, home of the Western Mages. It is with the help of the Mages that the Jade Rebellion hopes to overcome the AIs and free humanity.
I adored the cover to this arcanepunk story! It’s simply gorgeous. I liked the concept of the story- artificial intelligence Vs magic, nature wisdom Vs technology. There’s much potential here. It’s a treatise on the dangers of letting our technology rule us and forgetting the magic of our natural world. I loved the use of Celtic myth with the Serrahan clans. The writing is lyrical prose, though there was quite a bit of exposition. The characters came across as flat. Fleshed out, I think they’d be awesome. As is, I didn’t really gel with any. I never got fully invested in them. Indeed, I think my favourite character was Nuada, who was a support character. The author certainly has talent, and I look forward to seeing them grow in their writing.
***Many thanks to the author for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Lola’s Blog Tours
