The PRISM Conspiracy by Mary Schlegel: A Book Review

 

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Age Appropriate For: 10 and up for thematic elements

Best for Ages: 15 - 30

Description:  An incredible job. An exasperating android. An all-too-human secret.

Fresh out of art school, Abigail Huntley gets the chance of a lifetime working for Sphinx Architecture. Her remarkable talent has also landed her a remarkable work partner: a cutting-edge android named Rory, who appears so completely human that Abigail struggles to remember he’s just a machine. If only his stiff interactions and coldly logical approach to everything didn’t stifle her creativity.

As time goes by, however, Rory shows subtle changes in behavior, making Abigail wonder if he has achieved self-awareness. Despite her reservations, she finds herself warming to him, even attracted to him. Then an accident crashes Rory’s programming—and leaves him bleeding, with human memories of a medical experiment inflicted by the mysterious organization, PRISM.

Abigail races to recover Rory’s identity and find justice. But without his neurological programming, Rory suffers from a dangerous health condition that slows them down and threatens them both. Only a jaded doctor and his enigmatic assistant stand between Rory and the organization that stole his humanity—the organization that will do anything to keep him silent.

 

Wow! This novel kept me up late and I didn’t want to do anything else the next day until I finished it. It’s fast-paced, took some major turns, and left me feeling giddy with pleasure that only a stratifying story can. The writing? Steller! Some of the best I’ve read.

Before I get to deep into this review, I want to let many of those who read my reviews know that this is not an overtly Christian book. While clean, and a couple of mentions of someone praying, it’s more geared for the general market than strictly Christian. Also, some of my readers will want to know that the use of the words gosh and crap are sprinkled throughout and one mildly bad name for someone was used twice. Because this is not under a strictly Christian umbrella, It didn’t affect my rating. I will say that morality was very good.

The characters in this book were gold. Abigail is a sweet and spunky artist. Unlike most artists I’ve read about lately, she isn’t broody or using her art to escape from her painful past. She’s a person who was mostly happy and full of life who loves art. I loved that about her. Rory is…well the opposite. He’s exactly like one would expect from an android – emotionless, not much personality, and analytical. In many ways, he reminded me of Data from Star Trek: Next Generation (which made me happy) yet he came into his own and ended up being very, very different.

The setting, in the not too distant future I feel, was well done. It felt like there were enough futuristic advances to make the plot work, yet not so far in the future that I didn’t have a feel for the world. It was fun, inventive, yet also familiar.

The story kept me on the edge of my seat from page one. At first, it was because the characters so captured my heart, but then the excitement and intrigue swept me away. I wanted to read it in one sitting, but I had to sleep (sadly) but I finished it the next day. It was a great ride.

There is a romance in the book and I have to say it was really sweet. I loved every moment of it. It was sweet, clean, and realistic. There is one kiss in the story and I thought it was done well.

I highly recommend this book to those that like stories set in the future, great writing that makes you want to keep reading, and books that also make you think.