Book Review: Hiro-J: Energy by P.S. Bartlett

24/06/202524/06/2025Mystery, noir, Romance, Science-Fiction, Surreal Fiction, Suspense, Thriller1 Comment

Book Details:

Author: P.S. Bartlett
Release Date: June 13, 2025
~~Series~~:
Genre: Science-Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Aliens
Format: E-book
Pages: 295 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
They told her she’d be studying human behavior.
They never said the subject wasn’t human.
Lana Delaney isn’t the kind of girl who chases adventure. A champion swimmer and psychology major, she keeps her world small—school, training, and staying invisible. But when her bold, unpredictable new roommate Willie bursts into her life, Lana starts to believe maybe she doesn’t have to hide forever.
Everything changes when she accepts a summer internship at a classified research facility. Her assignment? To observe an unusual subject known only as Project J.

His name is Hiro.
He isn’t human.
And he’s been waiting for her.
Trapped in a saltwater pool and fading fast, Hiro speaks through thoughts, memories, and something deeper Lana can feel.
With the help of Logan—a conflicted but charming tech specialist—Lana begins to unravel a web of secrets, cover-ups, and buried truths. Now, caught between two powerful connections and a dangerous conspiracy, Lana must decide how far she is willing to go to save the only being who has ever truly seen her.
Perfect for fans of Starman, Arrival, and The Host, Hiro-J: Energy is a romantic sci-fi thriller about memory, trust, and the invisible energy that binds us all.

Review

Hiro-J: Energy by P.S. Bartlett is an absolute delightful read. It is a genre-bending fusion of science fiction, psychological drama, light romance, and quiet suspense that had me fully immersed from the first chapter. At its heart, this is not just an alien contact story — it’s an exploration of connection, trust, and the profound complexities of human (and non-human) empathy. Lana is written with remarkable tenderness: a young woman carrying subtle wounds, whose growing relationship with the alien being Hiro (or J) feels natural, emotional, and at times, surprisingly profound. The depiction of the telepathic bond between them is particularly well-handled — neither rushed nor over-sentimentalized. Instead, it unfolds with an intimacy that makes every moment between them compelling.

What impressed me most was the restraint in the pacing — the story takes its time, allowing us to sit with Lana’s doubts, her growing intrigue, and the psychological weight of being at the center of something far bigger than herself. The ethical layers — about science, exploitation, and autonomy — give the narrative extra depth without overwhelming its core. And Hiro as a character who is non-human yet beautifully relatable, stays with you long after the book ends.

Structurally speaking, the book balances dialogue and introspection quiet well, and despite the heavy themes, it never feels bogged down. The prose is crisp, accessible, yet thoughtful and that’s just the way a novel like this should read.

For readers who enjoy character-driven sci-fi with a touch of mystery and emotional resonance, HiroJ: Energy is a highly rewarding read. It is emotionally intelligent and has enough intrigue and suspense to cater to different kinds of readers.

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Book Review: Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1)

28/04/201608/05/2016Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Speculative-Fiction, Sylvain Neuvel7 Comments

Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Release Date: April 26th, 2016
Series: Themis Files
Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy > Robots | Speculative Fiction | Thriller
Edition: Ebook (mobi)
Pages: 320
Publisher: Del Ray
Source: NetGalley
Buy it here: Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb:

World War Z meets The Martian. This inventive first novel will please devoted fans of sci-fi as well as literary readers hoping a smart thriller will sneak up on them.

17 years ago: A girl in South Dakota falls through the earth, then wakes up dozens of feet below ground on the palm of what seems to be a giant metal hand. Today: She is a top-level physicist leading a team of people to understand exactly what that hand is, where it came from, and what it portends for humanity. A swift and spellbinding tale told almost exclusively through transcriptions of interviews conducted by a mysterious and unnamed character, this is a unique debut that describes a hunt for truth, power, and giant body parts.

Review:

This book is a MASTERPIECE. I mean I don’t even know where to start and what to say about this book…

*Sigh* Let’s begin here… At first I had only a faint idea of what this book would be like, but trust me, it wasn’t even 1% of what it turned out to be (in a good way.) It totally BLEW my mind OFF!!!

First off the format is super intriguing and very, very clever. The transcripts, interviews, personal entries, a few random conversations, newspaper articles etc, were not only intelligently constructed but also mixed deftly in what can only be called a really, really impressive combination. The sequencing was brilliant and made this book an epic read. Hats off to the author for pulling this off with such perfection.

I can’t even begin to express how impressed I am with this book’s format and writing. I mean, as an author myself, I can understand how difficult it would have been and for that alone, kudos to the author.

Coming to the story, I was expecting it to be something different. But saying that I was surprised by the direction the plot took in the second half would be an understatement. I mean it was a whole lot different from what I could have expected. The story itself is an outstanding piece of work in itself.

If it’s not obvious already, then let me state it clearly. I LOVE THIS BOOK! I mean really love it. It’s a really, really intelligent book with a very strong plotline and astounding characterization.

The end of this book completely caught me off guard. So yeah, it was good through and through.

And the nameless interrogator cum adviser cum whatever the hell you wanna call him, was simply wow! I love him… I mean he is indeed a real softy (an inside joke for anyone who reads this book.)

In the end, I’d just like to say one thing: If you want to read only 1 book this year, make sure Sleeping Giants is the ONE.

And I just found out (while writing this review) that this book is the 1st book in series, Themis Files. So, now I’m eagerly waiting for the second part… Hope it comes out soon!

Other Stuff

Opening Line: It was my eleventh birthday.

Memorable Quotes:

If you fall in love with someone, there’s a good chance the person won’t love you back. Hatred, though, is usually mutual. If you despise someone, it’s pretty much a given they’re also not your biggest fan.

There I was, this tiny little thing at the bottom of the hole, lying on my back in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Highlights: Format and characterization.

Lowlights: None.

Final Thoughts: If you want to read only 1 book this year, make sure Sleeping Giants is the ONE.

You can also read this review at Goodreads and Amazon.

Book Review: From A Distant Star

22/01/201610/02/2016Book Reviews (by Genre), Books Reviews (by Author), Karen McQuestion, Romance, Science-Fiction, Young Adult5 Comments

24036086

Author: Karen McQuestion
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Series: None
Genre: Science-Fiction | Young Adult | Romance | Contemporary
Edition: Ebook (mobi)
Pages: 256
Publisher: Skyscape
Source: NetGalley
Buy it here: Amazon

Blurb

When Lucas Walker inexplicably recovers from a terminal illness, everyone is astonished –except for his girlfriend Emma, who never gave up hope. However, as friends and family celebrate the miracle, Emma becomes alarmed: Lucas has changed. He speaks haltingly, can’t recall past events, and even his own dog doesn’t recognize him. Emma begins to suspect something is terribly wrong. What happened to the Lucas she loved? Does his strange behavior have something to do with the shooting light that fell into Lucas’s backyard the night he recovered?

As the two set off on a road trip in search of the truth, the journey takes an unexpected turn. First they’re shot at by unknown enemies and then helped by unlikely allies. Before long, Emma and Lucas are plunged into a desperate life or death race against time.

Packed with intrigue and emotion, FROM A DISTANT STAR is a riveting novel about loyalty and the power of love.

Review

I enjoyed this book from start to end. It was a light read and had some really fun elements. In spite of being a Sci-Fi, it was more on the side of Romance fiction (other than a stranded alien.) I loved the characterization and felt a connection with the lead character, Emma, and even Scout (to some extent.)
I loved the plot line and though it felt a little off at a few places, it managed to pull me inside the story from the beginning till the end. I even loved the other characters. They felt very realistic and that’s where this book scored for me. That and the fact that it was a fast read.

I liked the writing style as well because it flowed nicely and wasn’t complicated like most of the Sci-Fi books. And unlike most of the YAs these days, this book is standalone, which is a big plus for anyone who wants to read a nice little piece of fiction.

It also had a great ending, one that I predicted when I was less than half through the book. But the author still managed to keep me second guessing it right till the end. So, it was a pleasant reading considering everything.