Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida Blog Tour

 A genre I feel I don't give enough attention to is science fiction but when I saw the tag line for Alexandra Almeida's latest novel Unanimity, I suddenly felt rather eager to be a part of the blog tour for the first in a new exciting series . . 

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Number one in the Spiral Worlds book set, prepare to be taken on a journey through many worlds.

Shadow is a reluctant god with a broken mind and a death wish. He used to be Thomas Astley-Byron, an affluent young screenwriter whose creativity and idealism saved a world from the brink of collapse. Together with Henry Nowak, an AI expert, Tom created heaven on earth by inventing a Jungian simulated reality that helps humans confront their dark sides. The benevolent manipulation platform turned the two unelected leaders into beloved gods, but now everything is failing. The worlds suffer as a sentimental Tom descends into his own personal hell, becoming the embodiment of everything he despises and a shadow of his former self.

His journey from an optimistic, joyful Tom to a gloomy Shadow is paved with heartache and sinister interference from emerging technology. Humans and bots fight for his heart, but their aims differ: some want to own it, some to dissect it, and others to end its foolish beat. Still, the biggest threat comes from within—none of the sticky stories that steer Tom’s life end well.

Who’s pulling on Shadow’s heartstrings? Are their intentions malign or benign? It’s all a matter of perspective, and Shadow has none left.

What a series opener.

With an array of characters including Gods, I'm saying with certainty that this is only going to get better with each coming book.

Now I will say to those reading, use that key at the beginning to get know each of the characters and their varying names because there are quite a few and it can get confusing when they use there alternate titles (either the digital or the human).

Having said that I really applaud the author for the depth of each cast member. Unique, with their own original voices. Each of them wonderfully flawed. I loved that I didn't particularly favour any of them which in itself was refreshing.

Mix that in with such vivid world-building, what you get is a book that is highly original and extremely fascinating.

The story itself is food for the mind.

We get both back story as well as the main focus which is centred around the character of Storm but with each chapter there is more emotion, more elements of past and present that have accumulated in this technological uproar.

Almeida has a distinctive narrative style and what's most intriguing is that there doesn't seem to be one over-riding trope. Yes there are certain components but none take president. Each problem equally important within the tale as a whole. 

At 418 pages, it isn't the shortest read but it is well worth the time spent on it. Providing a brilliant perspective on humans as a whole.

I'm looking forward to seeing what layers are added to this futuristic society when book two arrives.