Death - a thing that has plagued humans since they first became aware of their mortality. Over the centuries, medicine and technology have progressed to prolong our lives. But at what point do we say enough is enough? Is keeping our minds alive long after our bodies have died truly life? Aaru tackles these very real issues, from the perspectives of two sisters, separated by death, and reunited by the grace of technology. An absolute must read! ( )

That was...completely disturbing on SO many levels.

First of all, the general concept...essentially man playing God.
I likened it to saying that in THIS world, Aaru is the mother computer, and we're all simply walking, talking, wireless devices, able to be uploaded, downloaded, or deleted at a moments notice. I know our brains are complex and there is electrical activity and processes followed similar to a computer, but the very idea of "capturing" someone, so to speak, for all time is troublesome to me. I mean, computers have coding that's WRITTEN, so how does one allow it to continue to thrive, change, and grow without user input? Like I said...heady idea...

Secondly, the sadistic twist in the story.
I get it. Aaru presents us with a virtual "heaven" where the good people of the world can live on for all time, and interact with their families through "windows" as the years pass...but no system is perfect. There is no such thing as an absolutely secure system, so whether an unacceptable "Resident" arrives, or some beastly animal in the "Before" (our world, live and in living color) tries to twist things for their own nefarious plans, though unwanted and protected against, they can still happen. Speaking of beasts, that part of the story with "Magic Man" was both unexpected and again, disturbing. I did NOT see that weirdo coming and the dark corner that the story turned when following this character's story line, was not something I signed up for.

So...I finished, but I can't say I'll be seeking out the next installment...oh yes, there will be more thanks to that ending. Recommended for tech minded readers that like questioning the hereafter and the existence of the powers that be, but be warned....adults only due to that darker content I mentioned. The scenes aren't many, but the feelings/emotions taint the surroundings. Star rating influenced by experience, unexpected content, and writing.


**copy received for review ( )

I feel sort of lousy about this, but I've learned my lesson and will no longer accept book via Twitter requests. Aaru was send to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review, so... here goes. I read 30 pages and I couldn't do it anymore. I just couldn't. The concept sounds really interesting, but I could not get into the writing style and the formatting. There were inconsistencies in the grammar that drove me bonkers. The characters flashed between moods very quickly and I found the descriptions really dense and blocky. A lot of useless dialogue, and a lot of immediate opinions pushed by the characters. My husband went through cancer treatment several years ago (cancer-free now!!!) and a lot of the opinions stated by characters in just the first few pages feel so familiar and so ENRAGING to me... All these things made it impossible for me to focus on the book, which is the reason I don't often pick up self-published books and when I do, I DNF a lot of them. For all I know, this may be a really incredible story. But I got hung up on the writing style and formatting and I couldn't get into it. A lot of these things are ME problems, and not story problems, so if you aren't very sensitive to these sorts of things, please don't let this review discourage you from picking up the book.

What a thought-provoking story. I can see this book becoming the center of a lively book club discussion.

Science and technology are advancing abilities in our world. “Snail mail” has become email. Telegrams became “party lines” which advanced to rotary phones and then smart phones. Sticks & stone tablets became inkwell & parchment. The list goes on and on and continues as we strive to improve information exchanges.

The world of medicine has improved by leaps and bounds, as well. No longer are we plagued by infections due to unsterilized operating conditions. The miracle of birth is not regarded as a common bringer of death. Open heart surgery is almost becoming an outpatient procedure.

However, death is still inevitable in our humble world. Aaru, and the scientists and engineers of Elysian Industries, have discovered a way to make death a thing of the past. Advancements in neuroscience have enabled brains to be scanned, saved and uploaded into a virtual heaven on earth. Mourners can now rejoice. The dying can now regain their youthful exuberance.

Is this ethical? Is cloning ethical? Is there a point where science goes too far? Where is the line separating scientists and God? Then there is the question of cyber-security. If the government can get hacked, who’s to say the essence of a loved one cannot suffer the same invasion?

This all brought to mind the drug ads interrupting our favorite tv shows. The radio waves being assaulted by drug companies attempting to get rich by medicating the world. Listed side effects can be numerous and overwhelming. The only question you can ask is, do the benefits outweigh the risks?

I hope you can tell how much I enjoyed this story. It was emotionally charged. I had to put the book down a few times so I could calm down after my outrage. The underlying theme was love. What would you do for the ones you love? How far would you go for those you call family?

I am eternally thankful to David for allowing me to read this challenging book.
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Death - a thing that has plagued humans since they first became aware of their mortality. Over the centuries, medicine and technology have progressed to prolong our lives. But at what point do we say enough is enough? Is keeping our minds alive long after our bodies have died truly life? Aaru tackles these very real issues, from the perspectives of two sisters, separated by death, and reunited by the grace of technology. An absolute must read! ( )