Member Review
Review by
Librarian 1193863
I would like to thank NetGalley and AE Titles / Simon & Schuster Audio for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
MAYA: Seed Takes Root, the first novel in the expansive MAYA universe, and it fuses Sci-Fi/Fantasy and philosophy into an epic, thrilling adventure. I had been hearing about this book off-and-on for awhile, and had it on my TBR, so I was so excited to see the audiobook opportunity pop up.
MAYA: Seed Takes Root takes place on planet Neh, in the living forest of Maya (the planet's neural network). Every citizen tethers in to Maya and share the work/play/learning, while the data is harvested by the Divyas. The data is used to predict the future and bend reality. Everyone tethers in; except Yachay; he doesn't want to be tracked or controlled like everyone else. But the Divya trials are coming up, which will ascend the winner to godhood. Yachay does not want to participate, but when he loses his grandfather, a dark family secret is uncovered that may change his mind; and his future.
The plot was fantastic! Not so much a straight line, but a spiraling exploration that rewards attention to detail. It is driven by intellect more rather than action, but it's existential and gripping. The pacing is meditative, with bursts of revelation that reframe your thoughts. The world-building is huge and immersive, and the characters are well-developed. They are emotionally vulnerable, but also act as a lens through which the story integrates reality. They feel human even when the narrative is operating on a cosmic scale. The narrator does a great job of telling the story and making you feel part of it. The story unfolds like a puzzle box; layered, deliberate, and deeply introspective.
Fans of cerebral, atmospheric, sci-fi thrillers will love this book. It will make you question your thoughts about consciousness, identity, and reality. It is boundary-pushing storytelling at its best! It is a phenomenal, well-written reading experience that will linger long after you finish. I will definitely be recommending it to my sci-fi friends.
MAYA: Seed Takes Root, the first novel in the expansive MAYA universe, and it fuses Sci-Fi/Fantasy and philosophy into an epic, thrilling adventure. I had been hearing about this book off-and-on for awhile, and had it on my TBR, so I was so excited to see the audiobook opportunity pop up.
MAYA: Seed Takes Root takes place on planet Neh, in the living forest of Maya (the planet's neural network). Every citizen tethers in to Maya and share the work/play/learning, while the data is harvested by the Divyas. The data is used to predict the future and bend reality. Everyone tethers in; except Yachay; he doesn't want to be tracked or controlled like everyone else. But the Divya trials are coming up, which will ascend the winner to godhood. Yachay does not want to participate, but when he loses his grandfather, a dark family secret is uncovered that may change his mind; and his future.
The plot was fantastic! Not so much a straight line, but a spiraling exploration that rewards attention to detail. It is driven by intellect more rather than action, but it's existential and gripping. The pacing is meditative, with bursts of revelation that reframe your thoughts. The world-building is huge and immersive, and the characters are well-developed. They are emotionally vulnerable, but also act as a lens through which the story integrates reality. They feel human even when the narrative is operating on a cosmic scale. The narrator does a great job of telling the story and making you feel part of it. The story unfolds like a puzzle box; layered, deliberate, and deeply introspective.
Fans of cerebral, atmospheric, sci-fi thrillers will love this book. It will make you question your thoughts about consciousness, identity, and reality. It is boundary-pushing storytelling at its best! It is a phenomenal, well-written reading experience that will linger long after you finish. I will definitely be recommending it to my sci-fi friends.
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