Book Review: Falling Into Oblivion by Aaron M. Payne

Title: Falling Into Oblivion

Author: Aaron M. Payne

Series: Tendrils of Chrome #1

Page Count: 310

Publish Date: October 4, 2024

Publisher: Ampersand Books LLC

Buy Falling Into Oblivion at Amazon

Synopsis:

MODIFICATIONS COME AT A PRICE.

Detective Sol Harkones is tangled in the wires of a deadly conspiracy involving defective body modifications causing permanent brain damage. A suspect is known, but something more dangerous may be lurking in the shadows.

A city plagued by waste.

Violence fills the streets.

Oblivion is within reach.

Falling Into Oblivion is the electrifying first book in the Tendrils of Chrome cyberpunk sci-fi series. If you’re a fan of William Gibson’s Neuromancer, HBO’s True Detective, or Philip K. Dick’s Blade Runner, you will love Aaron M. Payne’s rapid-fire saga.

Falling Into Oblivion

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My Review:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book sucked me in right from the first page. The setting, dreary weather, the chase, and the use of the word cacophony had me craving more.

The combination of strong world-building mixed with action made me gobble up the first chapter and left me hungry for me. Through this initial experience, we get to learn more about Sol, our heroic main character who has his work cut out for him.

From this point on, we are immersed in the world that is Nox City. From its toxic air, to its inhabitants – many of whom can be classified as cyborgs due to the many modifications that have been added to their bodies, and of course the divide between the wealthy and the rest, the city is a character itself. This is where Sol Harkones, lives, raises his family, and works.

As we follow Harkones as he navigates the streets of Nox City hunting down a man who may be responsible for the vegetative state of a young man, we learn plenty about him. I appreciate that he is against added technology to the human body, preferring to stay as organic as he comes. There are drawbacks to this, as he is often pitted against those who have legal and illegal modifications. Those who choose not to mod are often looked down upon.

His thinking about tech can be reflected in our own world, where so many are tethered to their devices constantly.

As disadvantaged as he is having a normal human body, Sol is an exceptionally skilled and interesting character. He isn’t perfect, and his flaws make him feel truly real. Knowing that he is working so hard, and in such dangerous conditions, to try to provide a better life for his daughter makes you appreciate the sacrifices he is making.

Things continue to become stacked against him as his search takes him into various areas of the city, where unexpected encounters seem to await him at every turn. The introduction of Pandemon had me curious about exactly what role they would play going forward – and how badly this would work out for Sol.

From this point, we get introduced to several characters that will have a heavy effect on Sol’s ability to see his mission through to the end. His encounter with Bronk and Sabine, who are part of Pandemon, shows how lucky Sol is given his normal status.

This paves the way for Coleson to make an appearance. He’s a fellow NCPD officer, who is a techie guy and a critical addition to the story. It’s clear that these two don’t quite get along, but are willing to work together to solve the case as it continues to escalate.

The introduction of Oblivion, of which Sol (and us readers) knows nothing about, adds even more chaos to his life. Despite this, and how his continued pursuit of answers leads him further away from a quiet night with his family, Sol cannot help but continue to look for answers.

His resolve to see this through, despite the dangers, late hours, and the many unknowns, propels the story forward in a gripping way. More characters are introduced and there are some shocking revelations along the way as they risk life and limb to find answers to the Oblivion question.

The twists near the end added a new element to the story that I absolutely loved and watching Sol navigate these last few hurdles was a real treat. I do wonder how things will play out from here but that is something we will find out in the next books.

All in all, this was a fantastic read, and bonus points must be given for the book having a cover that depicts a scene found in the story.

The quick pacing of this book makes it an addictive read, and the rich world helps to blend everything together into a fantastic story. Add in a unique cast of characters and action throughout and this book has everything a reader could want.

This book was one hell of a ride and I cannot wait for book 2 to be released so I can add it to my TBR and see what happens next for Sol, Oblivion, and the people of Nox City.

I hope you enjoyed my review of Falling Into Oblivion. Have you read this book?

Buy Falling Into Oblivion at Amazon