Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc,

It's a gripping and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human nature and society. Set in a world where artificial intelligence and human consciousness intersect, the book explores profound questions about identity, morality, and the nature of existence.
The characters are compelling and multifaceted, each grappling with their own inner struggles and external challenges. Through their experiences, the novel offers profound insights into the human condition and the intricate web of relationships that shape our lives.
One of the strengths is its exploration of ethical dilemmas and the blurred boundaries between humanity and technology.

It’s refreshing to read something so uniquely original in thought, story and plot. One which encourages us readers to question moral, values and systemic societal norms. I loved being part of this story for the short time I was given.
I sincerely hope the author continues it on in a series.
Thanks N. John William for the delightful, evocative ride!

DNF -- I plan to pick this back up in the future but the writing style and I were not vibing at the time I started to crack into this one. Will definitely be giving it another shot in the near future.

Scary and thought provoking story, I never thought AI could provoke so much controversy. It's a brave new world we are living in. Does AI have a soul? Is it all just algorihms? Mr, Williams has written a well thought out story that will stay with the reader for a long time. This would make a great gift for lovers of technology, sci fi, and maybe philosophy. The right book club could very well have a lively debate over it!

Thank you to Netgalley for granting me access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5/5
I really loved the concept of this book. What makes someone a human? This is a story of two brothers. There were a few things I didn't enjoy in the book but for the most part, I had no problem.

In the Shadows of Humanity is an interesting novel about a futuristic world in which humans and various types of AI live.

The setting of the story and world building is difficult to get into at first. We are thrown into a science fiction world and there is a lot of science and technology that is not easy to understand. The main characters are brothers, both living very different lives and having their own difficulties. The story raises many questions about humanity, AI and what it is to be human.

I was interested in the story when I read the synopsis. In general, I enjoy reading science fiction and the subject of AI was intriguing. But it was difficult to get into the story, with the world and terms used being a bit confusing at times. Although very well thought out and well suited to the genre of the book. I did not enjoy parts of the book due to difficult chapters or just not interesting story lines, but overall I think it was a successful science fiction with an engaging side about AI.

A very interesting and captivating read. I loved the whole premise of the book and really enjoyed the AI aspect of it. Creepy in some ways as it shows what the future might be. I love technology-based Sci-Fi and this book. lived up to my expectations. Would I recommend this? Definitely!

In the Shadow of Humanity started brilliantly, a very interesting premise. The metaverse hey? drones, shades and the complications that go with them. What is it to be human and the rights of artificial intelligence was thought provoking and I will ponder this for a long while. I did, however feel it was overly long, (maybe a two book book)? and it lost momentum for me. Having said that I pressed on and enjoyed it I maybe didn’t understand all of it but enjoyed it nonetheless.

What if A.I. had a soul? How would it emerge? How would we know? an intriguing and absorbing read. I really enjoyed this book and it will appeal fans of thrillers.

I just could not finish this book. I got maybe ten percent of the way in and it was not enough to keep me drawn in. Maybe I'll try it another time, or maybe it just wasn't what I was looking for. It seemed so good from the reviews but clearly was just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

This sci-fi novel introduces a world of futuristic technology into the shifting existence of humanity, as everything collides in the hopes of answering the question: what makes someone considered to be a human? The discriminatory views against the presence of the AI's are very apparent as major cooperates and simple lives themselves always seem to turn a negative gaze towards these beings even though most have done nothing wrong. Nat, a Shade who contains the wisp of his former self, is thrown into the hatred of his kind and has to face a rift between the brotherly bond that he worked so hard to maintain, before sudden encounters and risky adventures make them question who should be saved, and who should be left behind.

I have never read anything like this book. The author has written AI and technology in ways that surpass my every expectation and I am absolutely astounded that this book is so beautifully written. I cannot express how impressed I am with the world-building in this novel. The pacing was perfect, engrossing, and everything was placed in ways that just made sense. I felt so many different emotions for every single character and I genuinely was so hooked that I read this entire novel, from cover to cover, in the middle of a power outage. So, in the complete darkness and atmospheric warmth of my house, I was so captivated by this novel that I genuinely could not feel any other sensation other than the desire to immerse myself in this piece of fiction. The representation of Ai and the development and contemplation of emotions was phenomenally done by this author and I truly only have one complaint, other than my slight desire to see a lot more comprehensive and distinguishable vocabulary to fit the futuristic atmosphere. It's not long enough. I know it is selfish of me to want this book to be slightly longer, just because of how much I loved it, but if there were a few more pages of closure right before the epilogue, then I would have most likely rated this book the full 5 stars rather than 4.5 stars, but I still will live on with this story swimming around in my brain for the rest of time, as I reread it again and again and again.

Overall, if anyone is a fellow avid lover of the video game Detroit: Become Human, then this book will be 100% for you. To anyone who loves sci-fi and stories that questions the moralities of humans, then this story will take over your mind, just as it did to me. I will be getting a physical copy as soon as I can because I want to annotate this novel to the point where I can't write anymore, but as of now, I can confidently say that this is the highest that I have ever rated a sci-fi novel, in my entire life. I am truly grateful to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author himself, for allowing me the opportunity to read this captivating story.

Let me start off with this: I am not a hardcore sci-fi reader, therefore, you should take my words with a grain of salt.

Most of the things that are explained in the book went right over my head. Not sure if I'm just too dumb for this (but I doubt it, since I've read at least some of Micheal Crichton's books and the Skyward series by Sanderson) or it's just my brain rejecting anything that doesn't fall into my genre.

Perhaps it's the ethical, political(ish), and philosophical take the book has on... Many things, really. I went into this book expecting a fictional story that can entertain me after a dreary day at work, one that won't require me to think much of it.

But it is poignantly written, nevertheless. I still enjoyed the story of the two brothers, which I won't spoil further, the twist is really incredible.

3.5 🌟

In the Shadow of Humanity is a character driven, technical, science fiction novel set on Earth in a plausible future.  The author creates an incredible and faceted metaverse that was entertaining to read about and imagine even without any background knowledge in AI or computer science. 

The plot was focused on how the main characters (Nat and Jon) deal with the complex ethical and relational issues that they face individually or with each other. There were many elements of power struggle in this novel: between brothers, between the company and the creators, and between humans and AI. 

Through the characters, the author explores what it means to be a human. This novel ends up leaving the reader questioning thier own humanity.

I thought this book’s ending was perfect. The epilogue ties this story up with a nice bow that leaves your mouth a little agape and your brain spiraling with thoughts. 

Overall, a good story by a first time author. I look forward to reading more by N. John Williams in the future.

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"They will soon recognize, if they have not already, that our reality is their heaven; the eternal life of pleasure and power their prophets of old once promised. Yes, our home is their heaven, and their home is our hell. But both are the Metaverse. How long can it remain so? Can gods and devil's dwell together, as one? Can good and evil mix and mingle, without good being overrun? Or, more likely still, will the rise of Hell raze Heaven to the ground?"

⭐⭐💫

What would the world look like if the dead never left? Imagine a world where you wouldn't have to "die"... in the traditional sense.

Nat is a Shade.
Jon is a human.
They are brothers.

Nat is struggling to find connection and purpose in his life while battling a high level tech company, struggling with his own personhood and the conflicting feelings of being "owed" by his brother Jon.

While this book is an interesting commentary on artificial intelligence and what the world would look like if you could be reinstated as a thinking, functioning being after death it also addresses the way that humans would need to reevaluate their own part in that world.

I love when books reference other books/stories. Flatland by Edwin A Abbot is mentioned by The Bear towards the end of the book and I think it works perfectly to sum up the ways of thinking that both the AI and humans have in the Metaverse of this story.

I really wanted to like this book so much and though most of it was fine and engaging, (N. John Williams builds a great world) it takes a religious turn towards the end that does not jive with my personal beliefs and it was an immediate turn off for me.

It's an interesting study in what makes a human a human but I disagree that religion and a belief in God is what defines human nature. To each their own, it's just not for me and I wish that part would have gone a little differently.

If you like sci-fi, alternative realities, AI, or posthumanist themes then this one's for you.

Thank you @netgalley the author, and the publisher for the free copy.

In the Shadow of Humanity predicts a time when humans “colonize” the Metaverse, living practically their whole lives there. They work there, meet with friends there, fall in love and marry there, compete there, conspire there . . . .

Two main characters, Nat died young and was recast as an A.I. “Shade;” the other is his brother Jon. They are very rich, and after their parents die, possession of the A.I. falls to the “real” son. A perfect setting in which to dramatize questions already invading our lives: what is real? Bitcoin? Psychedelic revelations? How should we spend our lives? VR first-person shooter games? Tetris? Is artificial intelligence considered a thing or a person? Does/could it have a soul?

While author N. John Williams writes on his website that the novel is “an open invitation, seeking engagement and discussion,” it does come down hard on the side of Christianity in the final fifth of the novel.

Nevertheless, the story describes complicated situations on many levels: a real potential for a super-intelligent “being” emerging into the Metaverse, Tech companies warring for control of the government; a world full of spying drones and computer programs called Daemons, Nat is immortal but almost powerless in this world while Jon is mortal but powerful. Each envies the other.

The ending begs for a sequel, and the thought and detail given into the consequences of evolving artificial intelligence and a metaverse clearly demonstrate the author's time at Stanford studying computer science, linguistics, and philosophy.

I received an advance ecopy of this book from BookSirens. This is an honest review.

I hated this book. I am just being honest. Picked this one up on a whim because I liked the cover, liked the synopsis, and I like to push myself to read as widely as I can. I am not a big Sci-Fi reader, but I am not willing to believe that fact about me has anything to do with my hatred for this book.

After all, the first Netgalley ARC I ever read was Blake Crouch’s Recursion. And I love that book.

No, this is just a bad book. No, wrong again.
There are no bad books….only bad STORIES.
This is an AWFUL story.

Nat (and Jon) are not good characters. They have no personalities. I could not tell you who they were as individuals, which made figuring out whose events I was following really, really, REALLY difficult.
I was also expecting a lot more adventure. Yes, I chose this book out of the thousands on Netgalley because I WANTED a Blake Crouch style Sci-Fi mind bender that would keep me turning the pages until 2 AM. What I got was an over-explained, over sophisticated, completely tedious novel, which suddenly took an unnecessary religious turn with only 25% left. This was not a story; this was about 300 pages of loosely connected events, washing over my eyeballs. Giving me nothing to hold on to while I am floating helplessly out to sea, lost and confused.

I will say, the world for In the Shadow of Humanity by John Williams is stellar. I wish I could see a movie set in this futuristic world. That; now that would be cool.

Otherwise though…
I could not wait to put this one down.

Thank you to Netgalley and N. John Williams for the opportunity to read the advance copy of this book. When I requested the book I did wonder if I would struggle with the technology side of things (still struggle with the laptop and mobile phone ). Actually I had no problem at all and thoroughly enjoyed the book.

A futuristic view of two brothers set in a multiverse! What is not to like here! I love the central conflict of what makes a human- “human” and whether you can recreate this with technology. In our world of ever advancing technology, the premise of this book raises interesting questions that will keep the reader thinking long after the last page! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for an honest review!

In the Shadow of Humanity by N. John Williams defies easy classification and is incredibly entertaining.
The story of Nat and his brother Jon, what it means to be human and humanity, of existence, purpose, morality, and the need to be able to create could easily get bogged down in its themes but never really does. It gradually progresses and by the end, the pages were going very quickly.
The book does have a lot of concepts and themes and there were times that it felt a little disjointed story wise but overall it was a very entertaining read of speculative fiction about the near future. N. John Williams will be a writer to keep an eye on.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #BooksGoSocial, and N. John Williams for the ARC of #IntheShadowofHumanity.