Alien AI

I read The Feeder first which is more of a classic thriller. Then Alien AI completely changed direction and took me by surprise. The alien conspiracy elements are very creative — not the usual UFO story. The shadow government angle, the infiltration of Martin Enterprises from inside, John Martin imprisoned and left for dead. It builds and builds. The writing becomes very fast and direct during the action which I really enjoyed. Some of the brand references and luxury descriptions feel very specific to the author's style — you either love it or you don't. I loved it. Four stars only because The Feeder is still my favourite of the two.

So tired of thrillers where the women just stand around looking worried. Marion Martin is the opposite. She goes from discovering her boyfriend is an alien machine to becoming the most powerful being on the planet. And Lela Martin running covert ops as a Navy SEAL trained operative? Yes please. The book doesn't hold back on anything — the violence, the sex, the weirdness — and I'm here for all of it. The Greek lighthouse portal scene was so cool I read it twice. Paperback arrived in New Zealand in just under two weeks. Impressive.

Look, this book is absolutely mad. Shapeshifting alien AIs, Casanova's lost journals, the Vatican, cloning labs under the desert — it throws everything at you. Sometimes that's brilliant and sometimes it's a bit too much. I think if you go in knowing it's meant to be over the top you'll enjoy it more. The action scenes are quality though, proper fast and punchy. Leif Martin was my favourite character — the analytical mind trying to make sense of chaos. Four stars because it's fun but I prefer something a bit more grounded. Still glad I read it.

What surprised me most about Alien AI was the emotional depth. Yes there are aliens and cloning labs and government cover-ups, but at its core it's about a family under siege. John Martin getting drugged and left on a frozen island near Antarctica — that whole sequence was brutal. And Marion discovering what she's becoming is genuinely moving in places. The Kennedy assassination tie-in was a nice touch. Lost half a star because some of the middle section could be tighter but the ending more than makes up for it. Didn't see that twist coming at all.

Went in expecting a standard sci-fi thriller and got something completely different. Marion stabbing her boyfriend and finding out he's a machine — that first chapter is one of the best openings I've read. From there it just escalates. Area 51, underground alien bases, a portal inside a Greek lighthouse. Sounds mental written down but it works because the characters feel real. Marion's transformation from archaeology student to this ultra-powerful hybrid is awesome. The family betrayal subplot hit hard too. Already ordered Goldblood.