I was really excited to read Neon Empire and it did not disappoint. I'm very into books that deal with technology and the future. This reminded me of Orwell and similar authors in that the visionary world Minh created is quite imaginative and unique. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of Minh's work. Since I'm a teacher, this might be something I'd recommend for our library to have as well. I'm not always the biggest fan of SciFi, but I did enjoy this book.

At first i thought this was a work of inspired imagination but it opened my eyes to what is already happening:
Bobby Misner's YouTube post, "Rich Kid's Rule Book to Wealth" , Pewdiepie, Ed Sherin, the Beckhams, a whole new world for the consumers of the not too distant future. Exciting, glamorous and at the same time highly dystopian. Wrap this up well with good writing and a good plot line and you have an extremely enjoyable story.

Neon Empire showcases masterful worldbuilding, giving us a setting that’s impossible to look away from. The story itself follows multiple characters as they interact with the city, all following their own story lines as they search for answers or fame or the next big break. It’s the city of Eutopia that stands out on every page, always inserting itself in some humorous or larger than life way. I love when setting takes a front seat along with storytelling, and this novel fits that bill expertly.

This is a city designed entirely for pleasure at every turn. We actually get to see snippets of the early days, watching as groups of marketers and developers figure out how to create the most addictive version of an adult theme park they can possibly come up with. Thus, Eutopia is born and becomes the destination for anyone looking to forget their old life at the city limits. Every street corner is a mix of European streets and monuments, mixed with enormous billboards and advertisements for sex-on-demand services, gambling, social media, and a special drug that keeps the party going for days on end. I was continuously amazed at the author’s inventiveness as the characters walk through the various parts of the city. Even when the city takes a backseat to the story, it’s so loud and proud of itself that it always pushes its way into the limelight, filling your mind with its many distractions.

Overall, Neon Empire is an excellent book with an interesting story and one of the most detailed settings I’ve seen. It’s a fascinating read through and through.

I am sorry to say I did not enjoy this book at all. The first lines were very strong, and they made me think I finally encountered a real sci-fi book written in our era, like real bad-ass Asimov stuff. But I think the rest of the book did not keep up with the expectations.

I found this book, in a word, naive. I don't want to be overly critical, but it's not enough to make people talk about the Kardashians and Facebook in a sci-fi environment to make a good critique of our society.

I guess my main problem with this book is that its parody is destined to be short-lived: in ten years probably no one will care about half of the references that the author makes, and this is a mistake Huxley would never make. I am very sorry to say this, because I was very excited for this one. I was especially attracted to it by the cyberpunk atmosphere, but in the end, it didn't deliver.

I want to state that this is strictly my opinion, i respect his author and his hard work and, to quote Disney,:

"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."

Thank you for granting me access to this book and for caring for my review!

The plausibility of Neon Empire is a bit scary. This Eutopia could happen, not immediately, but eventually. This story is a mirror of what society values, and the truth is just sad. Who are we becoming? It's well written and an interesting fast read. Thought provoking for sure! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Having just finished another book with an interesting but underdeveloped social media element, I liked the sound of Neon Empire and hoped Drew Minh would have more thought provoking things to say than my previous read. Definitely more thought provoking, I liked Neon Empire a lot. It is a fairly short, engaging novel, very well paced and executed.

The setting – a Las Vegas/theme park-style city, Eutopia, conceived and developed by a media network to make maximum profit from social media is very well done, vivid and pulsating with (often seedy) energy. Inside Eutopia are mini capital cities of Europe - augmented, more experiential and interactive, since Europe itself has, due to populist uprisings, become unsafe for tourism. Wannabe influencers, tourists, wealthy Europeans (meta-style) and 'Transcational' youth (post millennial generation) visit Eutopia seeking thrills and hoping to become social media stars themselves. Neat concept. Only now, in its fourth year of existence, Eutopia is slightly past its prime as rival cities crop up across Asia and the exhaustive need for globally trending hashtags, media coverage and revenue becomes harder to achieve and maintain.

Minh has interesting things to say about fame, thrill-seeking and our obsession with danger and violence in particular and how all of these can be monetised for profit. There are no ethical considerations, Eutopia itself is not subject to certain laws, its police department is privately run for example, questionable drugs are freely available to buy and widely advertised. Social media ethics is very much a current topic (in real life I mean) and the novel made me think about how far would individuals and companies go for popularity/ profit, what is a ‘real’ experience when related to social media and so on.

I really liked what Minh did with the concept – there are many current references and the technology itself is pretty much available now (or will be very soon) and while a city like Eutopia doesn’t exist (yet), it is not particularly unrealistic or far fetched. The plot and the characters come somewhat secondary to the concept but that’s not really a criticism, I think it actually works better that way. A timely novel.

E-arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book was beautifully written! I'm not a big fan of sci-fi novels but this one was really enjoyable. The world build did not disappoint me at all since It seemed like I was in there until the book ended.
After I read it I felt like I came back from an amazingly long journey. Loved it and I advise people to read it!

Neon Empire is a fine dystopian science fiction novel in line with Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. It’s inviting and vividly described.

What I like most about this book is the way the author envisions a world that takes social media to an even more overt level. It’s intriguing to think about and a welcome addition to a genre I love.

Neon Empire plays the right notes of character and plot, and the result is enjoyable.