This book was a finalist in the inaugural 2021 Self-Published Science Fiction Competition, and I read it as a judge.
Simply put, this book is one of the best I’ve read in the entire competition. The premise is unique – an unsure, innocent CleanerBot charged with taking care of a human baby. The circumstances of how Block, our CleanerBot hero, finds himself in this position are as entertaining as the journey he takes afterwards.
The story is an excellent study in human language and behavior, and how the two may often conflict in any given situation. Though his CPU is in the right place, Block often makes bad decisions based on bad or incomplete information, presenting an accurate reflection of humanity.
An engaging story, the pacing is quick but not strained, and there is plenty of conflict to keep both the hero and reader fully occupied. With clean prose and unparalleled cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, this novel is a joy to read and nearly impossible to put down. And with one key element unresolved in the final climax, Coral artfully integrates the setup for Book Two in the series.
5 Stars
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