I received an ARC for Behind Blue Eyes and, holy hell, it did not disappoint.
Behind Blue Eyes follows Nephilim in a society believed to be perfect; any and all things miserable, or even simply inconvenient have been taken out of the picture. Anyone who disagrees with this way of life is hunted down and slaughtered by cyborgs like Nephilim. Since creation it’s all she’s known, and all she believes to be right, until she suffers a system glitch. Being off the grid and having a taste of freedom leads her to wonder what is truly right, and who she should really be fighting for.
Anna Mocikat had me obsessed with Shadow City, but this? This was a science fiction masterpiece. This was everything you could want in a futuristic dystopia run by battle-purposed cyborgs, mistrusting humans, and the dangerous potential of artificial intelligence developing flaws in the system. Gruesome battle scenes, forbidden love, and near-impossible odds all made this book extremely difficult to put down.
If you are a fan of George Orwell, this is the read for you. Behind Blue Eyes was like a futuristic sequel to 1984, and felt like a huge salute to it. From references to direct quotes, and constant surveillance to an advanced form of the thought police, it screams Orwell. It is a dystopia disguised as a utopia to its very core.
This story is fast paced, suspenseful, and keeps you on your toes. Plot twists catch you off guard, relationships pull at your heartstrings and every big reveal is like a giant epiphany that has you falling out of your chair. Or sofa. Or bed. Whatever it is you’re usually on when you read, you get my point.
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book. I have nothing to critique. It was perfectly done, and I can’t wait to read more. As I’ve said before, and will continue to say, I will most definitely be reading more from Anna Mocikat.