Will humans survive the android uprising? Paislee Hobson is born into a world struggling after a war that killed most of the world’s population. Rebuilding has been accomplished through androids developed by and under the control of The Institute. The human population has been divided into strata. Paislee, a legal clerk, is a member of the upper stratum. Her recent boyfriend dumped her. To avoid … boyfriend dumped her. To avoid another heartache, she purchases a human-looking android companion, Pellegrin. No one suspects Pellegrin is not human. He arouses and satisfies all her desires and is a polished companion and conversationalist in public.
When strange things begin to happen around the courthouse, people start acting mysteriously. Some disappear and others are murdered. Pellegrin’s true identity surfaces as he slowly and methodically takes over all aspects of Paislee’s life. She is in turmoil trying to find a way out. The love of her youth appears and she longs for a life that is denied to her.
Can Paislee regain her freedom or is she doomed to a life under Pellegrin’s control?
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No Freedom is a compelling dystopian thriller set in a futuristic civilization, where the human population has dwindled in the aftermath of war, and androids are used to restore the world. Here, intimacy is simulated—no, faked—as an easy way to compensate for the heartache of human relations.
Paislee belongs to the upper stratum of humans, and her love to a boy in the lower one is forbidden. So she tries for a relationship that is approved by her family, thinking, “I actually believed he could fill a void left in my heart by the boy who would always be out of my reach”—only to be dumped.
Needing to bring some control into her life, she purchases an android companion, Pellegrin. “He had a very masculine bearing and looked exactly like his picture, immaculately groomed with every strand of hair in place.”
First, he fulfills all her desires to perfection, both in public and in public. “The intimate things he did to me. I had never read about.” Only later does she realize the danger he poses to her, as he takes over all aspects of her life, His around-the-clock surveillance of Paislee turns her into a prisoner, helplessly trapped into helping his cause.
Will she find a way back to an existence that allows her to be free to make her own choices? Will Tate, the boy she loves, be able to protect her in this cold, regimented world? “As long as the rebels fought, there was a chance to save the human race.”
Five stars.
In the beginning, Paislee Hobson considered her new android totally awesome software – he’s so human in every way. He’s a culinary chef in the kitchen, and an expert lover who caters to her every whim without being told what she likes – almost as if he’s known her forever. He’s an upgraded edition and drives a hovercraft only the very privileged are permitted to own
She’s enjoying this futurized version of friends with benefits, until things don’t add up –
Secrets, mysterious devices, and betrayal are the new order of life – after a world-wide computer hack, life is downright difficult for humans, where androids and bots rule – and humans are implanted with microchips so the new government AKA The Institute, can keep tabs on its population.
The Institute rules the United Sates, not to mention their expansion into Europe, and use enhancements as punishments to dehumanize people.
What about that blue dot Paislee suddenly has on her skin, pointed out by Tate, her former lover, as she now wonders if the gift of Pellegrin Murr from her parents is a friend or a foe?
The Institute is warring with the resistance. Is Tate the leader of the resistance? Why weren’t they allowed to be together in the first place?
Mystery, science fiction, murder, and a touch of romance will have you breathless during the entire story. I can definitely envision a sequel to this fine novel in the future – pun intended– for this thrilling novel – how about it, Ms. Goss?
Five golden stars awarded for this electrifying, futuristic adventure, and penned by a most talented author.
***** A great mix of romance, mystery, dystopia, and suspense
I have a confession. Artificial Intelligence, sci-fi, and dystopian books/movies usually go in one ear and out the other. Not so in the hands of this talented author! Right off the bat, she introduces us to a dystopian world, and shows us, step-by-step, why and how it happened. Gently guiding us, she lets us know about The Institute, an organization that has convinced a naive population that there’s been a worldwide social media hacker disruption. A disaster that has apparently created a need for new, Facist-like laws––and secretly, ruthless assassinations and mind control.
Throughout the book, well done explanations come about the difference between Androids and Cyborgs, fast hover cars, and how the mass production of androids is formed to replace the labor force. Caste systems have been put into gear, micro-chips are inserted into humans to keep track of their every movement, and people are forever being changed by an operation called “enhancement”.
Then there are the two main characters. Paislee is young, beautiful, vulnerable, and secretly still yearning for her childhood true love, Tate, who, because of the new caste system, is not allowed to be with her.
Her mother suggests she contact The Institute and hire an Android to serve her — in more ways than one. Enter Pellegrin. Handsome and Chef Extraordinaire. In fact he’s adept at so many things––including a definite prowess in bed––he’s almost too good to be true.
Perhaps he isn’t. The book continues on and Paislee begins to wonder if he is truly an Android or is he at least part human? As more and more things don’t seem to add up, the book becomes an intriguing thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed this great mix of romance, mystery, dystopia, and suspense. Kudos to the author, for reminding me that no matter the genre, if a book has believable and appealing characters and the plot gets your attention, that’s all that matters. HIGHLY recommended!
An ABSORBING, Thought Provoking Thriller!!
A fascinating dystopian thriller, No Freedom takes place in a future where human population is significantly diminished due to the consequences of war. Highly skilled androids have been created and trained so they can take the place of humans, and now the androids outnumber the humans.
Paislee was once in love with a man from a lower stratum, but because she’s from the upper, that love is forbidden. After turning to someone from her own class to replace the man she once loved, she unexpectedly gets dumped after he meets another woman.
So Paislee purchases an android companion to try and fill the void that’s been left in her life, hoping to avoid unnecessary heartache. Strangely, Pellegrin isn’t an android that just anyone could purchase. There’s something different about him that worries her. Supposedly programmed to be her lover and companion, he slowly works to exert complete control over Paislee so that she will be forced into supporting his cause, and anyone who gets in his way ends up suffering deadly consequences.
But her first love unexpectedly returns into her life. Tate is one of the rebels attempting to stop the androids’ nefarious plans for the human race.
Will Tate and his comrades be able to stop the androids? Will Paislee regain control of her life?
Fans of Sci-Fi and Dystopian fiction will definitely love this compelling and thought-provoking story. This talented author does a masterful job of portraying a futuristic world with well-developed characters, whose limited reticence, with just the right amount of emotion, gives a realistic feel to a dystopian world devastated by war.
A FANTASTIC STORY!!
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