Devil in the Device

Gr 9 Up–Andra and Zhade have gone their separate ways. After Andra’s discovery of her dual AI/human nature, and Zhade’s recovery of the Crown that allows him to become the Guv of Eerensed, misunderstanding and mistrust come between the pair in this sequel to Goddess in the Machine. They struggle to do the right thing, which in this case means saving not just themselves and Eerensed, but the whole of humanity. The fact that Zhade’s Crown is imprinted with the evil impulses of all those who wore it before, paired with Andra’s growing understanding that her internal nanobots are increasingly insistent that she DESTROY, makes everything just that much more complicated. It takes a savvy reader to keep up with all the twists and turns in this second installment, and although it’s billed as a duology, the conclusion isn’t tied neatly. Shifting points of view, plot twist upon plot twist, and an Eerensedian dialect that could really use a glossary, make this a challenging but very rewarding read for sci-fi fans. While the first book set up the premise and detailed Andra’s struggle to understand her place in a future world, this volume deals out one surprise after another before delivering a bang-up ending. Explicit language and on-page sex make this better for older readers.