Science Fiction

“First of all: thank you for this ARC. And thanks to Inside Story for casually handing me a book that made me side-eye every car, elevator, traffic light, and vaguely intelligent appliance in my house. Love that for my anxiety. From page one, I was in. No warm-up lap. No polite introductions. Eric Keller writes in a way that doesn’t ask for permission—you’re just suddenly there, surviving alongside these people whether you like it or not. Feeling the panic. The chaos. The very real “oh, this is bad bad” energy. Grace and Samuel? Yeah. Those two wrecked me. Equal parts heartbreak and admiration. The kind of characters that make you want to cry and clap at the same time. Together they stand, and I stood with them—even when my emotional stability didn’t. And here’s the truly terrifying part: this doesn’t feel far-fetched. This feels possible. Near-future, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it possible. I kept thinking, what would I do? Answer: probably die early. But still. The thought experiment alone is enough to ruin your commute. While reading, I wasn’t just watching—I was there. Fighting. Supporting. Feeling every bruise, every loss, every ounce of grief and determination. That pressure of time slipping through your fingers. That awful realization that you don’t know what you have until it’s actively being ripped away. It played in my head like a movie—honestly, this would make one hell of a series. That said (and here’s me being annoyingly honest): the ending didn’t quite hit five-star territory for me. Like some movies, you ease into it, bond with your favorites, become part of the chaos… and then it’s just over. A little too abrupt. I also noticed some dialogue repetition—moments where fewer words would’ve hit harder. Still? I loved this story. It’s brutal. It’s intense. Is the “technology turning on us” concept entirely new? No. But this takes it to the extreme. No motives. No villains monologuing. Just machines doing what machines do—without mercy, without reason, and without caring who you are. I won’t say more. You deserve to experience the slow erosion of trust in your car, your smart home, and your sense of control all by yourself. If you like feeling paranoid, morally cornered, and forced to ask how far would I go, and what actually matters?—don’t skip this book. If you don’t like dead bodies piling up… maybe hop into your Tesla, turn the radio up, and pretend this book never happened. You’ve been warned. ”

“ Overall, this was a 3.5-star read for me. The premise itself was fantastic — easily a 4.5-star idea, and one of the strongest elements of the book. However, there were quite a few inconsistencies throughout the story, which pulled me out of the reading experience at times, so that aspect sits closer to 3 stars. Still, a creative concept with a lot of potential and an interesting storyline.”

“This book was gripping. I love seeing authors coming together to bring us spooky-goodness. I highly recommend this book.”

“Sinister, seductive, and impossible to put down! This anthology is perfect for readers who like their chocolates laced with menace.”

“This anthology is absolutely fantastic! There’s something so enjoyable about diving into a collection of short stories crafted by a wide range of talented authors. Each piece brings its own unique voice and perspective, making the entire experience feel fresh and unpredictable. I found myself completely absorbed in every single story—each one was a gripping journey filled with unexpected twists and deliciously dark undertones. From start to finish, the collection kept me hooked, leaving me eager to see what the next tale would reveal. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“This is a great anthology! Many of these writers have been on my tbr for a while, but I have not read anything by them yet. I wanted to read this one because Jed Kent is one of my go-to authors and he never disappoints. Now I will be moving several of these writers up on my tbr! Some wonderfully written stories in this anthology, all joined together by Valentine's Day chocolates. If you are a fan of horror or thrillers, this is a great anthology!”