Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Infinity Particle is a graphic novel which follows burgeoning inventor Clementine as she starts a new job on Mars working for her idol.

This was such a sweet story, and it had so much to say about identity and personhood, as well as parenting and breaking the cycle of abuse. I loved getting to know Clementine and Kye, and I adored SENA's quippy interjections. The art was also lovely, and did so much to further draw out these characters and their complex inner lives.

Wendy Xu is great at writing a hit, and The Infinity Particle seems to be no exception. It is a quick, sweet, and rich story that I will definitely be picking up again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

I adored Mooncakes, so I was really excited to dive into this new graphic novel by the same creator, and I have to say, I might love this one even more? The art is still beautifully done and sooo cute (SENA and all the other little AIs, especially the Library Owls, have my heart forever). Also, I will never not be a sucker for sci fi stories about discovering what it really means to be "human"- some people may say it's overdone, but they are incorrect.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ear of this one.

This was super cute! I loved the storyline and the world building. The tiny robots are adorable!

(I wish it had been gayer though.)

I absolutely LOVED this!! The art style was so beautiful and it made me enjoy the story even more. The concept of a human falling in love with an ai was super interesting and I loved the way it was brought to life! I felt I was able to connect with the characters and quickly grow to care for them. Overall this was a sweet sci-fi graphic novel and I enjoyed every page. I definitely hope to add this to my physical collection one day so I can reread it! Thank you so much for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Infinity Particle was a beautifully written story about choosing yourself and the relationships we have with the world around us. The story is definitely fitting with how the world of AI is expanding into society. I felt very emotionally attached to the characters and their journey to free themselves from their pain. I would recommend this graphic novel to those who would enjoy a heartwarming story about friendship and healing from the things that make us different.

➽ <b>Clem lands her dream job on Mars … but not everything is like it seems.</b> I immediately liked her and her robot companion SENA! Clem modified her on her own and is excited to be working for Dr. Lin, an AI pioneer whom she admires. After a troubled past, <b>Mars is her second chance to become someone and build a life for herself</b>. Clem’s nervous but she’s hoping to learn a lot from Lin … only that she’s more abrasive than she imagined, bringing up a lot of memories. I really felt for Clem and admired her caring nature, especially with everything she’s been through! The art style was gorgeous and really immersed us in the setting and Clem’s day to day life.

➽ <b>As Clem befriends AI Kye, she questions what it means to be human</b>. Kye is Dr. Lin’s AI and one of the most lifelike robots. He comes across like a real person, only that his free will is severely limited by Dr. Lin’s requests and rules. However, Clem doesn’t see him as a tool and slowly befriends Kye, showing him all humanity has to offer in the meantime. She grows ever closer to him and develops feelings that Lin cannot know about. <b>I liked that the story strayed away from the “robot becomes human through love” trope and instead showed that it’s a genuine connection and new impressions that prompt Kye to change his programming</b>. For the first time, he’s treated like a person and given the opportunity to learn, much to the annoyance of his creator. What follows is the fight to retain his own agency and to be recognized as an individual. I loved how the book showed the divide between people who want to use AI/robots as tools as if they own them and others who see them as equals!

<b>IN CONCLUSION.</b> ➽ <i>The Infinity Particle</i> was a <b>great sci-fi graphic novel about artificial intelligence and what it means to be human</b>. The art style was gorgeous and the story really engaging as we see Clem questioning her idol and connecting with her AI Kye!

I think my favorite sci-fi books are the ones that include sentient robots and say "but we're friends!" and not "but they're scary and want to kill humans!".

Though this book is more about Clem and Kye's relationship, I really enjoyed Clem and SENA's relationship. The love and care that Clem has for SENA was so heartwarming and genuine, that Clem put SENA together as a child and adapted her so they could grow together was one of my favorite things. Kind of like how people hold on to plushies from their childhood, I can see how people would eagerly do this for AI friends.

Simplified, I think this book is about growing up and also letting go. Growing up and finding out who you really are and not what your parents or anyone else says you should be.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

You absolutely don’t want to miss this one. Wendy Xu comes back with another sweet and thoughtfully crafted graphic novel with an intricate storyline that will tug at your heartstrings. The Infinity Particle centers around Clem, who has recently moved to Mars for the dream opportunity of working with her idol, a pioneer in AI robotics. But when Clem meets Kye, Dr. Lin's AI assistant. His humanoid form and intelligence are cutting-edge, but his growing bond with Clem begins to cause glitches, and Dr. Lin becomes agitated the closer they get.

There are so many things I loved about this book, I wish I knew where to start. The amount of women in STEM made me so happy, and the owls? Owls in the library?? I had to put my phone down and scream into my pillow about it. Partially because of how much I loved them, and partially because they're not real yet! Why! I want library owls this instant!

That aside, I really enjoyed how the sweet romance weaved into conversations of consent, emotional abuse, and grief. The plot was far more intricate than I expected, which I found delightfully surprising. Clem and Kye both have my whole heart, and though I think the progression of their feelings felt abruptly resolved at the end, I didn't truly mind it. I just loved this book to bits, and it's one I highly recommend!

This graphic novel was hilarious and well-drawn, definitely worth the money and the hype, and I hope will be successful!

A heartwarming tale of AI and the idea of consciousness. The art was lovely and the story was warm and fun. A very good addition to the “cozy robot” type of books

4/5 stars.

This lil book was the escape I needed. I enjoyed following Clem as she navigated friendships, difficult emotions, and the relationship between AI and humans during her internship on Mars. The illustrations were cute, the characters loveable, and the book as a whole warm and cozy, though not without its emotional stakes. I also really enjoyed seeing Wendy Xu’s imagination, in regards to technology, on the page. Enjoyed thoroughly <3

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

I love the use of color in this graphic novel. It's fairly stark, but that speaks to life on another planet. I also think the thought of what is AI, what is human, what is morally right is an interesting topic for right now. I will definitely be ordering copies of this for my library.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley/Edelweiss. Content warning for child abuse.)

--4.5 stars --

Clementine Chang is thrilled to be on Mars - and working for her idol, Dr. Marcella Lin, at her shop, the University City Robotics Repair. After a rather traumatic upbringing on Earth, Clem is ready for a fresh start. With her AI SENA (Sentient Empathic Neurobonded Animatronic) by her side (or riding on her head or shoulder, to be more precise), Clem hopes to learn all she can from Dr. Lin. But you know the old adage about never meeting your idols.

Dr. Lin has her own custom build, a humanoid AI named Kye, who she uses (read: exploits) as a personal assistant. Though they were a popular avenue for experimentation fifty years ago, humanoid AIs have since fallen out of favor - not so much because of the uncanny valley factor, but rather people prefer their besties/servants to be cute, cuddly, and totally nonthreatening. While AIs are much more common on Mars than Earth, Kye remains an anomaly. An anomaly who starts glitching almost as soon as he meets Clem.

As Clem surreptitiously tries to help Kye behind Dr. Lin's back, the two begin to fall in love. But can a being who was created as a tool find - and claim - his own voice?

There are so many things I love about THE INFINITY PARTICLE (and just one thing I kinda hated). Set about five hundred years in the future, Clem's world is both recognizable, and yet so different from our own. Modeled after Earth, Mars feels comfortably familiar - and yet there are the little differences that remind us that we aren't in Kansas anymore (the preponderance of AIs chief among them). Xu's artwork is absolutely enchanting, especially in the variety of AI companions (I love that the archives has an owl!). Clem, SETA, and Kye are all charming, as is the case of supporting characters: Nadiya, Mykael, and Dr. Ada Han - in her own, social hermit kind of way.

As a supporter of nonhuman rights (both animal and sentient AI - I'm Team Cylon all the way!), I really enjoyed how Xu engaged with the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI. While there are people, like Dr. Lin, who see AI (even sentient ones) as resources to be exploited, thankfully this doesn't seem to be the dominant POV in the 2500s. Clem, Nadiya, Dr. Han - all of the "good guys" in this story treat AIs with respect, honoring their humanity and autonomy. (Dr. Han's story especially tugged at my heartstrings.) "Conscious" AI are not legally obligated to stay with their creators, and can even file legal paperwork to become their own guardians (which makes Dr. Lin's actions both morally and legally abhorrent).

The only cringe moment came when, enjoying a meal with eggs, Clem exclaims, "I'm so glad they figured out ethical space chicken husbandry." This is the same ongoing issue I have with SPACE BOY - five hundred+ years in the future, we're living on Mars, creating sentient AIs, but we can't figure out how to make plant-based, lab-grown, or 3D printed animal products? UGH. Dare we imagine a world without animal agriculture please?

I'm deducting half a star for this, but THE INFINITY PARTICLE is still going down as a favorite.

This is a delightfully gentle graphic novel that gets at what it means to be alive and sharing moments with those you care for. I adored the soft pastel coloring in what is often depicted with very harsh, dark colors. The worldbuilding is lovely as is the care between protagonists. I especially loved SENA with their reminders to eat, take breaks, and try not to fall asleep on the floor. While the romance felt a bit quick and unexplained, it was a delight to watch as Clem and Kye began to lift each other out of their pasts with narcissistic abusers. I also appreciated that at least one perpetrator of said abuse was treated with dignity and found support to recover.

Wendy Xu is quickly becoming a favorite author and illustrator of mine and The Infinity Particle further cements her as an amazing graphic novel creator. Her stories are beautifully crafted and her spreads are mesmerizing, and I was so excited to see what she would do in moving from fantasy into a science fiction realm. Set in a future where humans have terraformed and colonized Mars and have developed AI bots that have become an invaluable asset for humanity, this story gives us an unlikely love story between a human and a humanoid bot that may have more in common than it originally seems. In both The Infinity Particle and her previous graphic novel, Tidesong, Xu has shown an aptitude for writing about healing from generational trauma and overcoming the feeling of being unable to live up to the expectations of one's family. This story is a bit more "grown up" than Tidesong, and it does grapple with some darker themes and more complicated questions related to identity and sentience, but it still maintains the same coziness as the author's other works. With the discussions over the evolving definition of cozy SFF, Xu delivers a masterclass in writing coziness into stories that center on healing and growing into oneself, centering community and relationships in ways that are intentional and inclusive. I adore this graphic novel with my whole heart and cannot wait to hold a finished copy in my hands and shout from the rooftops how much I love this book and its author!

Wendy Xu does it again!! Another out of this world graphic novel that you won't be able to put down.
The Infinity Particle is set on Mars and gives the reader an in-depth look at AI and the potential it can have on our future society. But that just sounds so scientific and in general boring. This book is so much more than that!

We are introduced to Clem a young lady who has recently moved to Mars to work on a very AI special project. I immediately felt a sense of connection to her. While there are other central characters to this story, all eyes are on Kye an artificial intelligence with a more emotional intelligence than many humans.

And as you know if you have read any of Wendy Xu's other books there is a romance that will capture your heart and take you on a journey you will not forget.

The illustrations are detailed, and scientific helping build the story even more clearly in your mind. I just can't say enough good things about this new graphic novel. I loved it!!
Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books.
(I need a 6th star for this graphic novel!!)

This was fine. The story had a lot of potential, but I felt like the characters were overly simplified. The good characters were good and the bad characters were bad.

This story took me back to when I used to read manga but with a completely different look into a future that could be real one day. Such a tasteful love story, too, and what a wonderful dimension the author has created in a few colors only. Will highly recommend.

Content Warning: Emotional Abuse
The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu is a new sci-fi graphic novel about a girl named Clementine, who has moved to a new planet from Earth after years of abuse from her mother. She starts working for her hero, Dr. Lin, and meets Dr. Lin's AI, Kye. As Clementine and Kye become closer, they begin to notice glitches in his programming and set off on a mission together to fix them.

I loved the artwork in this graphic novel. It uses a small color palette of blues, pinks, and greys, and each drawing clearly depicted what was going on. I thought the illustrator did a stunning job.

The story held my interest and I was able to read it in one sitting. Something that I wondered throughout the story was how old Clementine and Kye were supposed to be. Clementine looked to be a teenager, like 15/16 years old, while Kye was drawn to look like he was in his 30's or older. Yikes! I'm sure this is not what the author intended, but it kinda gave me a weird vibe. Especially when they hinted at the maybe wanting to have sex one day (that panel could have been completely cut in my opinion. There was absolutely no reason for it, and honestly the vibe was so wholesome up until that moment.)
The other issue I had with this story is that it was instalove. The characters seem to only have known each other for a few days, but they were in love so fast. I know this is a trope a lot of people like, but for me, it seemed a tad too fast on the timeline.

I would totally recommend this graphic novel to anyone who is into sci-fi, cute, wholesome stories and look forward to reading more from this author/illustrator in the future!


3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

This science fiction story looks into the world of artificial intelligence in caring, human way, tackling ideas of ownership, how we treat those who are different, and humanity. The illustrations are warm and light, blending perfectly with the tone of the text in an excellent partnership without ever feeling disconnected. While the romance elements will definitely be appealing to certain readers, they were not heavy enough to turn away those who came for the ethics of AI plot points. Overall, a strong choice for graphic novel readers, especially the sci-fi fans in our libraries.