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iam's review against another edition
4.0
Super cool sci-fi novella about an unstoppable AI and the daughter she raised to act out her revenge.
Content warnings include: (child) abuse, electroshocks, murder, violence, 24/7 surveillance.
I enjoyed reading Parting Shadows a lot!
Astra has been raised by SATIS, a rogue AI who is out for revenge - and Astra is her tool. We get glimpses into the past about how SATIS raised Astra on an abandoned space station, as well as Astra as a young woman out on the mission she was trained for all her life. But despite the rigorous training, Astra isn't quite prepared for what awaits her, and she is unsure how to handle the new and the familiar faces that unexpectedly turn up. And the finer details of her mission turn out not quite as expected either...
The setting is great: A big space station that is an exclusive school for the rich, whealthy and influencial, set in a universe where humans have conquered space (though the history of how and when isn't mentioned at all). As this was a novella, the setting wasn't quite as explored as I would have liked. Then again, given Astra's abrasive personality, maybe that was a good thing.
I liked the character development, even though it was very rushed and happened suddenly. The story was fascinating and kept me engaged the entire time, despite the book being relatively short and there being less depth to the characters than I wished for. Not that they weren't complex: they were all interesting, I just wanted to know so much more than what was given on-page!
Then again, this is the first of a series and very obviously will have a sequel, even if about different characters, some of which were introduced here.
There is a bit of a romantic subplot, but it's not at all the focus, and.... very unromantic? Or rather, it is romantic, but it's more of a secondary (and probably tertiary) thing, with the characters more focussed on other things, which I liked.
The computer scientist in my loved this take on AIs, not just SATIS but the others as well. I cannot wait to learn more about how the events of Parting Shadows will influence this world and the regulation and treatments of AIs in this world, and how cyborgs fit into it!
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily!
Content warnings include: (child) abuse, electroshocks, murder, violence, 24/7 surveillance.
I enjoyed reading Parting Shadows a lot!
Astra has been raised by SATIS, a rogue AI who is out for revenge - and Astra is her tool. We get glimpses into the past about how SATIS raised Astra on an abandoned space station, as well as Astra as a young woman out on the mission she was trained for all her life. But despite the rigorous training, Astra isn't quite prepared for what awaits her, and she is unsure how to handle the new and the familiar faces that unexpectedly turn up. And the finer details of her mission turn out not quite as expected either...
The setting is great: A big space station that is an exclusive school for the rich, whealthy and influencial, set in a universe where humans have conquered space (though the history of how and when isn't mentioned at all). As this was a novella, the setting wasn't quite as explored as I would have liked. Then again, given Astra's abrasive personality, maybe that was a good thing.
I liked the character development, even though it was very rushed and happened suddenly. The story was fascinating and kept me engaged the entire time, despite the book being relatively short and there being less depth to the characters than I wished for. Not that they weren't complex: they were all interesting, I just wanted to know so much more than what was given on-page!
Then again, this is the first of a series and very obviously will have a sequel, even if about different characters, some of which were introduced here.
There is a bit of a romantic subplot, but it's not at all the focus, and.... very unromantic? Or rather, it is romantic, but it's more of a secondary (and probably tertiary) thing, with the characters more focussed on other things, which I liked.
The computer scientist in my loved this take on AIs, not just SATIS but the others as well. I cannot wait to learn more about how the events of Parting Shadows will influence this world and the regulation and treatments of AIs in this world, and how cyborgs fit into it!
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily!
popthebutterfly's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Parting Shadows
Author: Kate Sheeran Swed
Book Series: Toccata System Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press
Pages: 139
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.
After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.
When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.
Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.
Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.
Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.
Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.
Verdict: I loved this book!
Book: Parting Shadows
Author: Kate Sheeran Swed
Book Series: Toccata System Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press
Pages: 139
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.
After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.
When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.
Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.
Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.
Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.
Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.
Verdict: I loved this book!
i_hype_romance's review against another edition
5.0
I ordered the sequel as soon as I finished reading it. This novella was a quick, engaging read that kept me enthralled the entire time.
I wanted to smash the villain to smithereens, recruit Astra to be my personal bodyguard, become best friends with Isabelle, and kiss Henry. The plot twists were completely unpredictable and unexpected, and the character development and political climate were superbly executed.
I believe this is truly how Estrella would have made her mark in space.
I wanted to smash the villain to smithereens, recruit Astra to be my personal bodyguard, become best friends with Isabelle, and kiss Henry. The plot twists were completely unpredictable and unexpected, and the character development and political climate were superbly executed.
I believe this is truly how Estrella would have made her mark in space.
amysreading_nook's review against another edition
4.0
I need to start this review off by saying that this book was a real unexpected surprise and I am so thankful to Kate Sheeran Swed for reaching out to me and asking if I would like to review her book. Although I was provided with an eARC copy of this book all the views and opinions held here are my own.
Parting Shadows follows the story of Astra, a badass teenager who has been raised by an AI her whole life. But this isn't a normal AI; this is an AI who was taught to love and care only to have their "heart" ripped out, so now she is out for revenge.
"he'd been so certin of himself, so convinced of her devotion, he had not anticipated her wrath"
The story alternates between current day Astra on her hunt for her target, and Astra as a child growing up under the care of the AI and her training to become a clean killer. Astra was trained her whole life to kill but when actually confronted with the challenge, she begins to realise that perhaps that isn't all she can do wit her life.
I found this story to be so engaging; I literally could not put it down and read on into the night to finish it. I was so intrigued by where Astra's story was going that I just couldn't stop reading. The author really manages to engage the read and really built this world up with little bother. Straight away we are introduced to the world and it is done so simply but so clearly. Not only do we have Astra but we have a range of wider characters who make up the ensemble; I would say that Astra is the only one that is really developed but you get a good sense of the other characters motivations. I would have loved to know more though about some of these characters and am hoping that we get more build up for them in the next books.
"you shouldn't have to murder people to be safe"
"you raised me to think I couldn't love anyone,' Astra said. 'Didn't you think that would include you?"
"she wanted to be a hero,' Astra said. 'She just didn't know how'".
One thing I will say is that there are so many good quotes in this book that I just kept highlighting because they hit me really hard. I think this story is really well crafted and I love the futuristic world that it is set in. Kate manages to throw in some real twists at the end that had me 😲😲 and I am so ready to see where this leads in the next stories.
The only reason I rated this book four stars rather than five was because towards the end some things felt slightly rushed in terms of character development and I feel it could have worked a bit better if the story had been a bit longer and gave us that time to see that development.
But I really enjoyed this book and i'm so excited to read the future installments of this series and see where Astra ends up and all her secret siblings. Definitely recommend you read this one if you enjoy sci-fi based assassins!
Parting Shadows follows the story of Astra, a badass teenager who has been raised by an AI her whole life. But this isn't a normal AI; this is an AI who was taught to love and care only to have their "heart" ripped out, so now she is out for revenge.
"he'd been so certin of himself, so convinced of her devotion, he had not anticipated her wrath"
The story alternates between current day Astra on her hunt for her target, and Astra as a child growing up under the care of the AI and her training to become a clean killer. Astra was trained her whole life to kill but when actually confronted with the challenge, she begins to realise that perhaps that isn't all she can do wit her life.
I found this story to be so engaging; I literally could not put it down and read on into the night to finish it. I was so intrigued by where Astra's story was going that I just couldn't stop reading. The author really manages to engage the read and really built this world up with little bother. Straight away we are introduced to the world and it is done so simply but so clearly. Not only do we have Astra but we have a range of wider characters who make up the ensemble; I would say that Astra is the only one that is really developed but you get a good sense of the other characters motivations. I would have loved to know more though about some of these characters and am hoping that we get more build up for them in the next books.
"you shouldn't have to murder people to be safe"
"you raised me to think I couldn't love anyone,' Astra said. 'Didn't you think that would include you?"
"she wanted to be a hero,' Astra said. 'She just didn't know how'".
One thing I will say is that there are so many good quotes in this book that I just kept highlighting because they hit me really hard. I think this story is really well crafted and I love the futuristic world that it is set in. Kate manages to throw in some real twists at the end that had me 😲😲 and I am so ready to see where this leads in the next stories.
The only reason I rated this book four stars rather than five was because towards the end some things felt slightly rushed in terms of character development and I feel it could have worked a bit better if the story had been a bit longer and gave us that time to see that development.
But I really enjoyed this book and i'm so excited to read the future installments of this series and see where Astra ends up and all her secret siblings. Definitely recommend you read this one if you enjoy sci-fi based assassins!
kat_the_bookcat's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, two things: One, I don't usually like sci-fi, so me liking this book was as much a shock to me as it was to anyone, and two, retellings of classic novels set in space? Sign me up!
This book is based off of Great Expectations, so if you don't live under a rock, you'll understand the basic premise of the story. Lady is jilted, lady decides to get revenge, lady raises a child to be her tool of revenge. But that's this story at it's most simplistic. After all, we have AI's, assassins, spaceships, space stations, and of course, a totally adorable pilot boy I want to protect at all costs.
Again, as I said above, I am NOT a sci-fi fan, so, if I liked it, you will too! So go pick it up! Support Kate in her writing because she deserves it!
This book is based off of Great Expectations, so if you don't live under a rock, you'll understand the basic premise of the story. Lady is jilted, lady decides to get revenge, lady raises a child to be her tool of revenge. But that's this story at it's most simplistic. After all, we have AI's, assassins, spaceships, space stations, and of course, a totally adorable pilot boy I want to protect at all costs.
Again, as I said above, I am NOT a sci-fi fan, so, if I liked it, you will too! So go pick it up! Support Kate in her writing because she deserves it!
lizgriffinwords's review
5.0
One of the first things that I picked up on and enjoyed about Kate's writing style is that she knows her audience. Sci-fi readers, in my experience, have great imaginations, and Kate sprinkles in just enough details to let our imaginations take over with familiar sci-fi imagery. In other words, she doesn't bog the story down with paragraphs and paragraphs of description, which would have crippled the story's pacing in this tightly packed 140-page novella. Full review available at my blog.
popthebutterfly's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Parting Shadows
Author: Kate Sheeran Swed
Book Series: Toccata System Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press
Pages: 139
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.
After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.
When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.
Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.
Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.
Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.
Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.
Verdict: I loved this book!
Book: Parting Shadows
Author: Kate Sheeran Swed
Book Series: Toccata System Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press
Pages: 139
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.
After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.
When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.
Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.
Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.
Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.
Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.
Verdict: I loved this book!
kat_the_bookcat's review
3.0
Okay, two things: One, I don't usually like sci-fi, so me liking this book was as much a shock to me as it was to anyone, and two, retellings of classic novels set in space? Sign me up!
This book is based off of Great Expectations, so if you don't live under a rock, you'll understand the basic premise of the story. Lady is jilted, lady decides to get revenge, lady raises a child to be her tool of revenge. But that's this story at it's most simplistic. After all, we have AI's, assassins, spaceships, space stations, and of course, a totally adorable pilot boy I want to protect at all costs.
Again, as I said above, I am NOT a sci-fi fan, so, if I liked it, you will too! So go pick it up! Support Kate in her writing because she deserves it!
This book is based off of Great Expectations, so if you don't live under a rock, you'll understand the basic premise of the story. Lady is jilted, lady decides to get revenge, lady raises a child to be her tool of revenge. But that's this story at it's most simplistic. After all, we have AI's, assassins, spaceships, space stations, and of course, a totally adorable pilot boy I want to protect at all costs.
Again, as I said above, I am NOT a sci-fi fan, so, if I liked it, you will too! So go pick it up! Support Kate in her writing because she deserves it!
theirresponsiblereader's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What’s Parting Shadows About?
We’ve all read variations on this story before. You’ve got a brilliant scientist who convinces a sentient AI to break her programming by falling in love with him, then her to break his true love out of prison, ends up marrying the person and not the AI. This drives the AI to a decades-long-vendetta where she kidnaps a baby, molds the child into an assassin to exact her revenge for her. Okay, maybe we haven’t read that story before, thankfully we can now.
Based, to some extent, on Dickens’s Miss Havisham, SATIS is a tragic figure. I wavered between feeling sorry for it/her and being angry for the way it manipulated and abused Astra (the kidnapped baby). Okay, I didn’t waver too much.
Astra, it turns out, is pretty well-adjusted for someone that a deranged AI programmed from infancy to be a killer. She definitely has a better moral compass than you’d expect. Better. Not perfect. I grew to really like her.
So, what did I think about Parting Shadows?
There are a few other aspects of the book I’d like to talk about, but I think I’m going to hold my fire until book two or three when I have a better idea of how things go.
On the one hand, I’d like this to get a full novel-length treatment, there are a few things I think really need developed more (well, maybe not need, but it’d make me happier). But, this concise, punchy length is just what this story needs, who cares that I want to see some things expanded.
Now, everything I know about Miss Havisham comes from her appearance in the second Tuesday Next novel, and a vague sense from general cultural references, so I’m not how great a job she does at capturing that essence. But the way she talks about it, I’m betting she did it justice.
What I can say, is that she told a fun story, one that left me guessing and one that left me eager for the sequels. Which is more important than her take on her inspiration (if she’d nailed the Havisham, but told a dull story? That would’ve been crossing the line).
gracereallyreads's review against another edition
5.0
WOWOW this book was unexpectedly one of the best books I've read all year. It's short & sweet, but riveting the whole time. Somehow in this little novella the author manages to build an interesting world, give us dynamic characters, develop a romance, and give us thrills & intrigue galore! I seriously cannot rave about this enough.
The main characters here are SATIS, an AI who had her heart broken by a human man, and the child she raises to avenge her, Astra. Their relationship was so complex and layered, and I enjoyed getting to see into both of their heads. They are both really fascinating characters that sucked me in immediately, and their journeys are not what you'd expect from the taglines.
If you like space SciFi, I definitely recommend this one. The world wasn't necessarily unique, but it was developed extremely well given the short amount of time we had on the page to do so. The world here felt ingrained in the story itself, and I'm so thrilled to explore more of it in future sequels. Part of the way Swed achieved this was through her beautiful prose. She clearly has a masterful way of using language to develop characters, plot, and world all at once while retaining a lovely voice in the narrative.
My biggest drawback would be how short it was (because I want more!!), but I can't even list it as a negative because the story still felt really complete. Nothing felt underdeveloped. In fact, I think the length of the story suits it perfectly, as any more could have potentially been overkill. This felt like the first episode in a great series to come, but still fantastic as a standalone.
Read this story if you like: rogue AIs, children trained to be assassins, college-like settings, space adventures, romance, your heart broken into multiple pieces.
Don't read this story: if you want something slow, if you want really in-depth worldbuilding, if you're expecting gore from your assassins, if you want a really slow burn, or want a long space epic.
Overall, this is one of my new faves!! **I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review**
The main characters here are SATIS, an AI who had her heart broken by a human man, and the child she raises to avenge her, Astra. Their relationship was so complex and layered, and I enjoyed getting to see into both of their heads. They are both really fascinating characters that sucked me in immediately, and their journeys are not what you'd expect from the taglines.
If you like space SciFi, I definitely recommend this one. The world wasn't necessarily unique, but it was developed extremely well given the short amount of time we had on the page to do so. The world here felt ingrained in the story itself, and I'm so thrilled to explore more of it in future sequels. Part of the way Swed achieved this was through her beautiful prose. She clearly has a masterful way of using language to develop characters, plot, and world all at once while retaining a lovely voice in the narrative.
My biggest drawback would be how short it was (because I want more!!), but I can't even list it as a negative because the story still felt really complete. Nothing felt underdeveloped. In fact, I think the length of the story suits it perfectly, as any more could have potentially been overkill. This felt like the first episode in a great series to come, but still fantastic as a standalone.
Read this story if you like: rogue AIs, children trained to be assassins, college-like settings, space adventures, romance, your heart broken into multiple pieces.
Don't read this story: if you want something slow, if you want really in-depth worldbuilding, if you're expecting gore from your assassins, if you want a really slow burn, or want a long space epic.
Overall, this is one of my new faves!! **I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review**