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Rusted Synapse #1
Rusted Synapse
Maybe she had been human once, but that was a long time and several sets of legs ago.
Viviana Rodriguez is dying�
Looking back on the choices she's made to survive the slums of old Phoenix, it comes as no real surprise.
A violent death was an inevitability. So was the crushing debt. A debt she'd been unable to pay off, no matter how much product she stole from the Herrera Cartel. Not after they caught her anyway�
Another faceless casualty of society in 2140. No one will mourn her loss.
But as Vivi waits for the last breaths her mangled prosthetic body can muster, an organization approaches with a job offer she can't refuse - abduct a valuable prisoner from the closed state of China in exchange for her greatest desire: enough money to become human again.
Safe from the morgue for now, Vivi is thrust into a high stakes mission along with a team of unlikely operatives, including an infuriatingly polite Al, and inconveniently, the rival who left her for dead in the first place.
Faced with impossible odds and looming consequences of success, Vivi may need to decide what's more valuable: her life or her humanity.
Dive into a thrilling cyberpunk adventure that’s set in the distant yet eerily familiar world of 2140. Rusted Synapse is a memorable read that artfully subverts the rain-slick streets and neo-noir nights of Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell to offer readers a grounded and emotional journey about one woman fighting for her humanity against the world that took it away.
Viviana Rodriguez is dying�
Looking back on the choices she's made to survive the slums of old Phoenix, it comes as no real surprise.
A violent death was an inevitability. So was the crushing debt. A debt she'd been unable to pay off, no matter how much product she stole from the Herrera Cartel. Not after they caught her anyway�
Another faceless casualty of society in 2140. No one will mourn her loss.
But as Vivi waits for the last breaths her mangled prosthetic body can muster, an organization approaches with a job offer she can't refuse - abduct a valuable prisoner from the closed state of China in exchange for her greatest desire: enough money to become human again.
Safe from the morgue for now, Vivi is thrust into a high stakes mission along with a team of unlikely operatives, including an infuriatingly polite Al, and inconveniently, the rival who left her for dead in the first place.
Faced with impossible odds and looming consequences of success, Vivi may need to decide what's more valuable: her life or her humanity.
Dive into a thrilling cyberpunk adventure that’s set in the distant yet eerily familiar world of 2140. Rusted Synapse is a memorable read that artfully subverts the rain-slick streets and neo-noir nights of Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell to offer readers a grounded and emotional journey about one woman fighting for her humanity against the world that took it away.
- GenresScience Fiction
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2022
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Elwood Stevens
2books5followersElwood Stevens is a software engineer by day and would-be author by night. He also somehow fits in being a dad to two small princesses somewhere in between all the coding and book making.
Since being exiled from the city of his birth by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Elwood was world traveled until a little thing called the COVID pandemic locked down his passport for the better part of two years.
During that time, he harnessed his newfound free time and open social calendar to craft stories that marry existential explorations of what it means to be human to his love of plot twists and kinetic action scenes.
Since being exiled from the city of his birth by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Elwood was world traveled until a little thing called the COVID pandemic locked down his passport for the better part of two years.
During that time, he harnessed his newfound free time and open social calendar to craft stories that marry existential explorations of what it means to be human to his love of plot twists and kinetic action scenes.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 1, 2023
Blade Runner meets Mission Impossible with the occasional Hudson Hawk & Fifth Element vibes in a cyberpunk thriller that's pretty damn hard to set down.
Set on the backdrop of a futuristic Earth from 2140, where cybernetic body parts are at the order of the day, alongside full out cyborgs and AI, Rusted Synapse gives us the story of a fully prosthetic former soldier, Vivi. And it begins with a job offer she can't quite figure out.
Why anyone would even want to hire a mangled ex merc like her is beyond Vivi. And one of her partners is not exactly the kind she would even consider being fully armed in a room with, let alone turning her back on. But the pay is way too tempting to refuse, and anything beats just sitting in a scrap heap waiting for death, so Vivi jumps straight on board.
I'm not gonna tell you anything more about the plot because the blub is more than enough for that and I don't wanna spoil. But I'm gonna be a tease and let you know what to expect. :D
An edge of the seat plot full of twists you won't see coming, complete with cinema style high octane action scenes and nicely complemented by first class 'Oh, shit!' moments of the best kind.
A solid wordbuilding that manages to convey a vivid neo-noir atmosphere and very well written, nicely fleshed out characters, main and side cast included.
Vivi in particular is downright memorable. 'The not dead yet fun kind' of merc with sass and snark who will have you in her corner from the very first page. You know the way Bruce Willis makes you wanna cheer for him in just about every damn movie he plays in?! Well... Vivi makes Bruce Willis eat her dust! She's that cool. But that is not what makes her really special. It's the inner struggle and desire of a fully prosthetic merc to become human again that makes Vivi stand out. Because it sets into perspective the differences between being human and humanity as a trait. And that is masterfully done in her case. Vivi's layered personality and her mix of strength and vulnerability is one of the highlights of this tale. And the epilogue pushes it to the next level, straight into memorable, making me want to get my hands on the sequel ASAP>
If you decide to give Rusted Synapse a try, expect the unexpected. Impossible odds and plans going to shit before they're even started, high stakes and delicious gore nicely balanced with chuckle-worthy sass and charm.
Happy reading Bookdragons
and remember
'Be yourself and not what anyone else thinks you should be.
Make your own destiny.'
Set on the backdrop of a futuristic Earth from 2140, where cybernetic body parts are at the order of the day, alongside full out cyborgs and AI, Rusted Synapse gives us the story of a fully prosthetic former soldier, Vivi. And it begins with a job offer she can't quite figure out.
Why anyone would even want to hire a mangled ex merc like her is beyond Vivi. And one of her partners is not exactly the kind she would even consider being fully armed in a room with, let alone turning her back on. But the pay is way too tempting to refuse, and anything beats just sitting in a scrap heap waiting for death, so Vivi jumps straight on board.
I'm not gonna tell you anything more about the plot because the blub is more than enough for that and I don't wanna spoil. But I'm gonna be a tease and let you know what to expect. :D
An edge of the seat plot full of twists you won't see coming, complete with cinema style high octane action scenes and nicely complemented by first class 'Oh, shit!' moments of the best kind.
A solid wordbuilding that manages to convey a vivid neo-noir atmosphere and very well written, nicely fleshed out characters, main and side cast included.
Vivi in particular is downright memorable. 'The not dead yet fun kind' of merc with sass and snark who will have you in her corner from the very first page. You know the way Bruce Willis makes you wanna cheer for him in just about every damn movie he plays in?! Well... Vivi makes Bruce Willis eat her dust! She's that cool. But that is not what makes her really special. It's the inner struggle and desire of a fully prosthetic merc to become human again that makes Vivi stand out. Because it sets into perspective the differences between being human and humanity as a trait. And that is masterfully done in her case. Vivi's layered personality and her mix of strength and vulnerability is one of the highlights of this tale. And the epilogue pushes it to the next level, straight into memorable, making me want to get my hands on the sequel ASAP>
If you decide to give Rusted Synapse a try, expect the unexpected. Impossible odds and plans going to shit before they're even started, high stakes and delicious gore nicely balanced with chuckle-worthy sass and charm.
Happy reading Bookdragons
and remember
'Be yourself and not what anyone else thinks you should be.
Make your own destiny.'
January 8, 2023
The year is 2140, and body parts are mostly replaced by cybernetic ones.
Viviana Rodriguez was on a mission that left her close to death and a debt she couldn't pay. With one arm and both of her feet missing, she’s got nothing to do but sit and wait for her inevitable death. But one day a man in a black suit comes to offer her a job with pay high enough to make her human again. All she needs to do is abduct a valuable prisoner from China. Vivi has to team up with two guys, and one turns out to be a member of the Herrera Cartel, responsible for her mangled prosthetic body.
With a mission that seems impossible to pull off and things going sideways, Vivi will be faced with tough choices that will cost her more than she signed up for.
Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, Cyberpunk and Alita: Battle Angel vibes mixed up in one book. This book is a technothriller in which people with cybernetic body parts can be neutrally connected to the internet, and change ID cards. Filled with action, betrayal, and twists you’ll never see coming. This book has an emotional story along with the action.
There are a few typos, but nothing major. The dialogues have a few sentences in different languages, like Spanish and Chinese. And for someone who doesn’t know the language, it can be frustrating, but you get the meaning when you keep reading.
Elwood Stevens did an amazing job creating the characters and the world in this book. It felt realistic with all the flaws in its system that made the plot more believable. Also, creating characters with depth that forces you to care about them isn’t a simple task, and pulling that off from the very first chapters is even more challenging. But I got sucked into it and I began to care about them, even though I wasn’t sure if it was safe to do so and if I should trust them.
Vivi is a strong FMC who won’t sugarcoat anything. She’s a kickass protagonist who knows what she wants and how to make it happen. Her backstory is heartbreaking, and it helps you understand her better. Shows the reason behind her actions and why she’s willing to sacrifice a lot to be human again. One of the things I loved about Rusted Synapse is how it slowly reveals to Vivi that just being in a body doesn’t make you human. You need humanity for that. Even if you’re still in a body mostly made of cybernetic parts.
Rusted Synapse hooked me from the very first sentence, making me crave more of Vivi’s quick thinking and resourcefulness. I enjoyed reading how she and the team’s relationship slowly changed. I hope they all show up in the next book because I feel like I haven’t had enough yet. It left me with a lot of questions, and that ending? It added a few more. I know for sure that when the next book comes out, I’ll want my hands on it. I’M DYING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
At the end of this book, I sat there staring at the glossary for quite a while, speechless. I wanted to sum up this review in one word. WOW! Yeah, I was tempted to give it five stars and just say wow, because I felt there were no words to describe my feelings after reading this book. It’s a masterpiece and I can’t wait to read the next adventure this kickass FMC will get herself into.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 16, 2023
Wow! Packed to the brim with exciting mecha-laden adventure, Near-Future Science Fiction, globetrotting (Future Phoenix, to a tech enclave community in Mexico, to Shanghai, to rural abandoned Japan, and back to Phoenix), this Cyberpunk Thriller is heart-in-throat engrossing! We have "full on borgs," AI, "Sentient Daemons," (basically, the Super-Advanced Supreme AI "everybody" seems to fear, sort of like HAL), partially cybernetic individuals, groups of humans who full-on embrace Cybernetics and prostheses [remember the latter 20th century craze for teeth filed into vampire fangs and drinking blood?]. I learned a lot about Quantum Computers, AI, combat synchronization, and geography and culture. But also I think I have seldom been as heart-touched as I was by Vivi, and her lifelong struggle to be deemed worthy by those who mattered most to her: my heart � broke. What a sad existence in her perception, and yet she is so accomplished. It's amazing how deeply author Elwood Stevens delved into Vivi's character to reach "the heart of the matter," and also engrossing are the arcs and evolution of the other characters (and certain tricky, sneaky, characters I won't spoil by naming, who have a heap of nasty tricks up their sleeve). I could reread again and again. (And since AI and Quantum subjects are a fascination, I probably will. )
December 15, 2022
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. It’s a little out of my normal wheelhouse, but honestly, it was well worth my time. Each character is fully fleshed out, the dialogue and snark is spot on, and the story was interesting without being hung up on typical tropes. I found myself very invested in the goals of the main character - and the very large plot twist I didn’t see coming made my whole day. I can’t wait for the next book!
April 2, 2025
This review was originally posted on .
Lately, I have been playing a lot of Cyberpunk 2077 and fortunately for my reading, there is only one gaming PC in my house. Because of this, it made me interested in picking up more books in the Cyberpunk subgenre, especially on the days I couldn’t play. As I was scrolling on Kindle Unlimited, the cover of this book caught my eye. I wanted to know more about this woman with the mangled cybernetic legs and the missing arm. What happened and why is she hooked up to a car battery? I had no expectations for this novel, so it blew me away with how Stevens explores the human condition all while disguising it through an action-packed heist. This was truly an unexpected fun ride filled with snark, twists, and memorable characters.
When we first meet our main character, Vivi, it's 2140 and she is sitting in a shabby Veteran Affairs hospital with nothing but the tiles to keep her company. She is in bad shape and the only thing keeping her alive is a plug and wall outlet. One day, as she awaits her incredibly dull inevitable death, a mysterious stranger appears and offers her a lucrative and life-changing opportunity. It's important to note Vivi is a cyborg and the one thing she desires is to be human again. If she agrees to participate in the heist, then she will have enough funds to live as a human through a clone. Until she fulfills the requirements on her end, a mechanic will fix up her body so she can participate. I won’t say any more about the plot since it takes you on an unexpected journey through several countries.
Even with an action-packed plot, this is a character-driven story. I instantly sympathized with Vivi. I could tell she was lonely and didn’t have anyone. Learning more about her as you progress in this book is like peeling back an onion. Be warned that you may also get teary-eyed as you learn more! Anyway, Vivi is a fun character to follow from her snarky attitude to her fierce combat abilities. You will want to root for her and hope she gets a happy ending.
The other members of the heist were a great addition to this story. There is a little bit of a found family where things start rocky at first but trust is slowly built. The banter they had with each other had me smiling and laughing. As they develop their trust for one another you see how the relationships Vivi builds with them change her as a person. By the time we reach the end, we see how her tactics and worldview have made her a completely different woman than when we first meet her. Also, each side character has a unique voice. I won’t give away my favorite side character, since it would be a major spoiler but I audibly gasped at her interactions since I found her incredibly adorable.
After finishing this, I immediately re-read the beginning. I was impressed with the foreshadowing Stevens used to show there was something off with this heist. Reading it the first time, I instantly felt like Vivi’s employer was strange, and so did she. On a second read-through, it was fun to go back and see the warning signs now that I had a full picture of the plot. Because of this, I would consider a full re-read of this.
I would highly recommend this to others looking for a Cyberpunk action-thriller. This would be perfect for fans of Ocean 11 and Ghost in a Shell. Even if you are unfamiliar with those things, you will come for the action but stay because of the characters. It's easy to care for them. The characters are realistically flawed yet still likable. I am also a sucker for enemies to allies. All the characters distrust one another yet the forced proximity leads to trust being built. Speaking with the author, this book is part of a duology. Book 2, Rusted Synapse: Apocalypse Engine is available now. After the way Book 1 has ended, I know I will be reading the sequel soon.
Lately, I have been playing a lot of Cyberpunk 2077 and fortunately for my reading, there is only one gaming PC in my house. Because of this, it made me interested in picking up more books in the Cyberpunk subgenre, especially on the days I couldn’t play. As I was scrolling on Kindle Unlimited, the cover of this book caught my eye. I wanted to know more about this woman with the mangled cybernetic legs and the missing arm. What happened and why is she hooked up to a car battery? I had no expectations for this novel, so it blew me away with how Stevens explores the human condition all while disguising it through an action-packed heist. This was truly an unexpected fun ride filled with snark, twists, and memorable characters.
When we first meet our main character, Vivi, it's 2140 and she is sitting in a shabby Veteran Affairs hospital with nothing but the tiles to keep her company. She is in bad shape and the only thing keeping her alive is a plug and wall outlet. One day, as she awaits her incredibly dull inevitable death, a mysterious stranger appears and offers her a lucrative and life-changing opportunity. It's important to note Vivi is a cyborg and the one thing she desires is to be human again. If she agrees to participate in the heist, then she will have enough funds to live as a human through a clone. Until she fulfills the requirements on her end, a mechanic will fix up her body so she can participate. I won’t say any more about the plot since it takes you on an unexpected journey through several countries.
Even with an action-packed plot, this is a character-driven story. I instantly sympathized with Vivi. I could tell she was lonely and didn’t have anyone. Learning more about her as you progress in this book is like peeling back an onion. Be warned that you may also get teary-eyed as you learn more! Anyway, Vivi is a fun character to follow from her snarky attitude to her fierce combat abilities. You will want to root for her and hope she gets a happy ending.
The other members of the heist were a great addition to this story. There is a little bit of a found family where things start rocky at first but trust is slowly built. The banter they had with each other had me smiling and laughing. As they develop their trust for one another you see how the relationships Vivi builds with them change her as a person. By the time we reach the end, we see how her tactics and worldview have made her a completely different woman than when we first meet her. Also, each side character has a unique voice. I won’t give away my favorite side character, since it would be a major spoiler but I audibly gasped at her interactions since I found her incredibly adorable.
After finishing this, I immediately re-read the beginning. I was impressed with the foreshadowing Stevens used to show there was something off with this heist. Reading it the first time, I instantly felt like Vivi’s employer was strange, and so did she. On a second read-through, it was fun to go back and see the warning signs now that I had a full picture of the plot. Because of this, I would consider a full re-read of this.
I would highly recommend this to others looking for a Cyberpunk action-thriller. This would be perfect for fans of Ocean 11 and Ghost in a Shell. Even if you are unfamiliar with those things, you will come for the action but stay because of the characters. It's easy to care for them. The characters are realistically flawed yet still likable. I am also a sucker for enemies to allies. All the characters distrust one another yet the forced proximity leads to trust being built. Speaking with the author, this book is part of a duology. Book 2, Rusted Synapse: Apocalypse Engine is available now. After the way Book 1 has ended, I know I will be reading the sequel soon.
September 22, 2023
This was a solid cyberpunk story staring a jaded cyborg waiting on her inevitable blue screen who is recruited by Mr Faustus (Yes, even the MC noted the significance of the name) to a daring, off book, snatch and grab. Added to this team is another soldier/paladin on overwatch, a cartel smuggler for logistics and a tech wiz wonder-kid for counter-e. The team dynamics get off to a rough start, as the cartel’s man was responsible for the MC’s original dilapidated condition (aka ripping off arms and legs before smashing the batteries). The character growth primarily comes from within the team as they learn to depend on each other when things go south � and a few poignant personal issues that point to deeper philosophical questions that make you go hmmm (or can ignore if that is not your thing). In short � I thought ALL of the cast of characters were very well done and I connected with each in some way that made the story a lot more fun that I expected.
The world building was also top shelf � especially the tech (speaking as a professional techie). It all felt plausible and real � so much so that I found myself reading straight through to the other side of midnight (making it tough to get up for work the next day). I really enjoyed some of the concepts that were developed � such as AI vs Sentient Daemons, Full body prosthetics vs body cloning � and my personal favorite � combat synchronization! Then stir in a pandemic (a flesh rotting disease euphemistically known as “Rust�) to get the appropriate dystopian feel expected in punk and the result is simply fantastic. Just in case some of the jargon loses you, there is a glossary in the back to bring you up to speed. The story itself is pretty standard and told well, despite the expected tropes, and with a surprise ending that left me wanting more.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#RustedSynapse #BookSirens
The world building was also top shelf � especially the tech (speaking as a professional techie). It all felt plausible and real � so much so that I found myself reading straight through to the other side of midnight (making it tough to get up for work the next day). I really enjoyed some of the concepts that were developed � such as AI vs Sentient Daemons, Full body prosthetics vs body cloning � and my personal favorite � combat synchronization! Then stir in a pandemic (a flesh rotting disease euphemistically known as “Rust�) to get the appropriate dystopian feel expected in punk and the result is simply fantastic. Just in case some of the jargon loses you, there is a glossary in the back to bring you up to speed. The story itself is pretty standard and told well, despite the expected tropes, and with a surprise ending that left me wanting more.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#RustedSynapse #BookSirens
October 25, 2023
Rusted Synapse is a gripping cyberpunk thriller that follows Viviana Rodriguez, a disillusioned cyborg veteran taking on sketchy jobs in 2140 to prolong her life. After a series of systemic failures, Vivi's cybernetic implants are rapidly deteriorating, leaving her with two choices - undergo expensive surgery she can't afford or face imminent death. When a lucrative but dangerous opportunity falls into her lap, Vivi is forced to weigh her survival against moral compromises that may be too much for her humanity to bear.
Author Elwood Stevens crafts a character-driven narrative layered with twists, building tension through backstory reveals and high-stakes drama. The vividly rendered settings pose thought-provoking questions about the line between human and machine. Fans of complex characters in cyberpunk worlds will appreciate Stevens' fresh take on the genre with a flawed but sympathetic protagonist who keeps you engaged until the very end. For an entertaining read that stays with you long after the final page, look no further than Rusted Synapse.
A final note, one of the greatest things I appreciated, is that Elwood Stevens addressed the weight issue of cyborgs and those with prosthesis!
Author Elwood Stevens crafts a character-driven narrative layered with twists, building tension through backstory reveals and high-stakes drama. The vividly rendered settings pose thought-provoking questions about the line between human and machine. Fans of complex characters in cyberpunk worlds will appreciate Stevens' fresh take on the genre with a flawed but sympathetic protagonist who keeps you engaged until the very end. For an entertaining read that stays with you long after the final page, look no further than Rusted Synapse.
A final note, one of the greatest things I appreciated, is that Elwood Stevens addressed the weight issue of cyborgs and those with prosthesis!
January 25, 2023
For BookSirens. 4.5 Stars
First of all, I'm gonna star off with the stuff I had trouble with which wasn't too much but I personally think this book could have had shorter chapters and also reading it on kindle and kindle app the chapters would be different every so often and it was kinda hard to keep up with the changing constantly. Other than that I have no complaints whatsoever about this book. It was action packed through it's entierty and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. All the characters are pretty fleshed out and I loved Vivi’s backstory and she’s such a badass! Her snarkiness is on point and I absolutely loved the cyberpunk vibes! This is the first novel I ever read that was SciFi/Cyber. 5/5 would recommend!
First of all, I'm gonna star off with the stuff I had trouble with which wasn't too much but I personally think this book could have had shorter chapters and also reading it on kindle and kindle app the chapters would be different every so often and it was kinda hard to keep up with the changing constantly. Other than that I have no complaints whatsoever about this book. It was action packed through it's entierty and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. All the characters are pretty fleshed out and I loved Vivi’s backstory and she’s such a badass! Her snarkiness is on point and I absolutely loved the cyberpunk vibes! This is the first novel I ever read that was SciFi/Cyber. 5/5 would recommend!
December 30, 2024
Discusses the human side of a part cybernetic ex-soldier and is an enjoyable exploration. Good story and well-written.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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