This was a very good book for the start of the series! The characters are all well developed and complex. Grove did an excellent job of immersing us into her world with all of the different view points and complexities of technology!

This was a very creative sci-fi take on the near future involving high profile (read rich and privileged) teenagers who've had a brain implant which grants them special mental abilities. At first I couldn't stand Sarah and her petty teenage crap, however once that's explained away and she drops the facade, I really like her character. The book loses a star because though it's fiction, there are several things that aren't explained at all or just glossed over which don't add up. I really like Nick and I'm rooting for him and Sarah to meet again in the next book.

*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

False Idols by Alexis Grove is a novel that originated on Wattpad before being published. I’m usually a bit weary of reading Wattpad novels, as many of them are written by young teens who have yet to perfect their writing skills, but sometimes their are hidden gems just waiting to be plucked up by a publisher. False Idols is one such novel.

I found myself flipping pages all night (digitally, of course, as I read it on my Kindle) desperate to find out what event would next befall our heros. There’s plenty of action, both physical and digital, as the characters deal with the two worlds they must traverse. In addition to the action and scifi elements, there’s also a bit of romance, religion, economics, and politics thrown into the blend, which helps to create a more realistic story. Every action has consequences, and Grove managed to explore the different facets of the topics without getting too preachy or condescending. The characters are easy to fall in love with, even the villains, some of whom are more anti-heroes in my eyes. I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next!

Fans of the science fiction genre will love this, as well as people who’d love a bit of drama-tinged action in a novel. You’ll find yourself flipping pages until the end, and then you’ll be longing for the sequel, which is available on amazon HERE. I know that I’ll be reading it soon, and I highly encourage you to read False Idols, and then the second book.

False Idols is the first book in the Aeon Trilogy. It was a fantastic read and I was very impressed with this dystopian universe by Alexis Grove. The characters were extremely interesting, strong and well developed. I found myself rooting for the protagonist Sarah all the time. In False Idols you can find romance, religion and even politics. The author has set in stone characters we will meet again in the future books of this trilogy. I cannot wait for book 2.

False Idols is great fun and keeps moving along in a few strong directions. I read a lot of SF and enjoy books which include extrapolated economics and environmental issues. Here we've got those aplenty plus action, intrigue and a variety of characters facing recognisable problems both personal and political.

In a Neuromancer-like scenario, neural net interfaces have been achieved, best applied to young growing brains. They are still new tech so only the rich can afford them, and these people have been genetically engineering their children for superior looks and talents. So combine these and throw in a slightly psychotic girl as the first talent to emerge in the netscape, and you've got a new category of people called the Aeons. Or a new evolving race as they like to think of themselves, in a post failure society where food is scarce and uninteresting.

Nick is a quiet guy without friends, whose parents made their wealth from a better food production system; he's strong enough to wonder whether it's right for him to dine so well by contrast with the majority, and whether it's right to achieve market leader status by smothering competition. I liked Nick for this, as it would be hard to identify with him if he was as selfish as Laura the leader of the Aeons, who decides to do some computer hacking and market manipulation to make herself endlessly wealthy. They meet in a Second Life-like zone where the smart, net-fitted kids hang out. Nicely they are well mixed as regards backgrounds.

The government decides to retaliate to hacking intrusions by establishing a cadre of young people to enter the mindscape and fight the Aeons. I am not sure why they didn't order the arrests of people like Laura if they could identify them, before Laura could move country, say. But Sarah, an orphan, and other youngsters are trained in a desert camp. Now, this is the only part I didn't completely follow. All the physical and endurance training like army cadets seemed overdone, given you want high IQ, flexible thinking and fast reflexes, along with computer structure and coding training to defeat hackers.

The hacking is shown to us mainly as a metaphorical fighting game sequence; Laura's avatar detects sentry robots and battles them while Laura is actually releasing viruses and Trojans into a computer connection. The imagery is vivid and colourful, but Nick suffers from a real battle with rioters which is appropriately far more scary and a wake-up call for him. Because what the Aeons are doing is hurting people, in his own country and elsewhere, and they are earning hate.

Read this for a fast and fun SF story, for geopolitics and a look at a scary future in which crops have to be grown in Central Park and the end of oil has come. There are strong adult characters, including a woman who gets to be a symbol of strength among the populace, but the focus, after the first few chapters, is on young adults.

This debut novel was a wonderful read. The characters were strong and well put together as well as the world building. It was an informative book that helped you understand the computer science without drawing away from the story. There is a dash of everything found in the story, romance, intrigue, religion and politics. I am anxiously awaiting more from this author and the second book in the series.

False Idols is the first book in the Aeon trilogy.

False Idols is told in the form of three different character perspectives: Sarah, an orphan; Nick, a rich kid and; Cruz, a former lawyer. These three individuals have very different perspectives on what is happening in the world during the events of this book.

False Idols is action packed right from the get go. It almost perfectly combined everything that I look for in a great book. Nothing was over or under explained, and False Idols had a nice flow throughout it. The only thing that I did not enjoy as much was the ending, in my opinion it could have been done slightly differently to get the cliffhanger that would have made me pace my room waiting for the next installment in the trilogy.

False Idols also explores what happens when humanity takes technology too far, and what the consequences are for this. I have never read a book around this concept before, but now I definitely want to read this more! Somehow, Grove perfectly blended the computer realm with the real one, almost making these realms a character of their own.

The ending was almost perfect for me, it just seemed to finish too cleanly. False Idols answered too many of the questions it made me ask, as I personally like to have to speculate what will happen next.

I would recommend False Idols to sci-fi fans, as well as anyone who is interested in how technology may affect the world on the future.

In the future, the rich and privileged can afford genetic engineering and computer enhancements that make them superhuman which widens the gap between classes. This throws the balance of power off kilter. Orphan, Sarah Fenton is recruited and trained to combat the enhanced superhuman “Aeons” as they attempt to control the population and become gods.

Unfortunately the Prologue had almost prevented me from reading the novel. It was too disorienting and technical, throwing me into the story too quickly. Thankfully, I pushed through and met Sarah Fenton a likeable and interesting character. Being able to connect with her pulled me into the story. I also liked Nick’s character and am extremely curious about Laura. Having relatable characters made it easier to engage with the novel’s complex ideas.

This novel is more thought provoking than most YA dystopian novels tying in politics, economics and religion. While many dystopian novels drop you in a bleak future False Idols helps readers visualize how society could actually break down.

False Idols is a novel Sci-Fi readers will enjoy, I would suggest this novel to an upper level YA audience.

False Idols is a futuristic, near apocalyptic novel set in an alternate reality Earth. Sarah Fenton was taken from an orphanage and drafted into a super secret military organization, one whose purpose is totally unknown to any of the new recruits.

Nick Lal has just received his Mind Wave implant, granting him near-super powers, an enhancement only given to a select few who are wealthy enough to afford it. He falls in with the small group of others who have gotten Mind Waves, a group headed by Laura Mayer.

Nick begins to train with Laura to learn how to use his Mind Wave at the same time Sarah is learning to use hers. While Nick's was a gift from his parents, Laura's was implanted by her trainers.

As Laura teaches Nick about the Aeons and the gifts the implants grant, he starts to wonder just what Laura's intentions really are. Is she trying to help the Nats, what the Aeons have taken to calling natural humans, or is she trying to implement the downfall of society?

Sarah learns, or is told by her handlers, that Laura truly is trying to destabilize the government. And it is up to her and her team to stop Laura before the US collapses from the desperation of the citizens.

False Idols is the first book in a new series by Alexis Grove, and is a pretty enjoyable read. The pacing is ok, there's a hint of a love interest between Sarah and Nick, and there's just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to continue reading. There were certainly some bits that were a slog to get through, but I think it was worth it. The characters weren't super well developed, especially Laura, but I think the mystery surrounding Laura and her true interests is a critical plot point that will eventually be revealed.

I'd recommend the book for High School and above. It could be rather difficult for younger readers to get involved with, as there are several plots running at the same time. It wasn't difficult enough to need a map to keep track of the players by a long shot though. The subterfuge could also be uninteresting for younger readers as well.

Certainly worth reading, and I'm looking forward to see where the series goes. A fairly firm 3 1/2 stars. I was also provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sci-fi dystopian novels are my absolute favorite! Reminded me of the Paper Dolls series. I enjoyed the writing, the world building, and look forward to the next book

Ok, this was seriously impressive. The world-building was incredible and the whole thing is just really creative. This is one of the few YA books I've read in the past few years where the characters aren't incredibly immature, obnoxious, or unrealistic. The whole book just flew by and I finished it in a single sitting -- definitely looking forward to the sequel!

Great for fans of Heather Anastasiu's "Glitch", Scott Westerfield's "Uglies", or Lois Lowry's "The Giver".

Love the strong female protagonist, a strong female antagonist, and a meek, easily pushed around and persuaded male love interest caught between them! A fascinating dynamic to see play out!