patchworkbunny reviewed False Hearts by NA
Review of 'False Hearts' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
If you love cyberpunk but find it often lacks an emotional side, get yourself a copy of False Hearts. Whilst writing the book, Laura referred to it as her “bonkers book” but whilst there’s a lot going on, it isn’t particularly weird or illogical. Like all good titles, the false hearts are both literal, when the twins are separated they are given mechanical hearts, and also symbolic. In short, I loved it!
The narrative is shared between the twins, Taema getting the present and Tila describes their past in the cult of Mana’s Hearth. Both were captivating stories in their own right, but of course they intertwine with each other. The link between the two, with the exception of the twins, was quite clear to me early on but not the full extent. It definitely didn’t hamper the page turning quality of the story.
The cult rejects post-1969 technology. It’s …
If you love cyberpunk but find it often lacks an emotional side, get yourself a copy of False Hearts. Whilst writing the book, Laura referred to it as her “bonkers book” but whilst there’s a lot going on, it isn’t particularly weird or illogical. Like all good titles, the false hearts are both literal, when the twins are separated they are given mechanical hearts, and also symbolic. In short, I loved it!
The narrative is shared between the twins, Taema getting the present and Tila describes their past in the cult of Mana’s Hearth. Both were captivating stories in their own right, but of course they intertwine with each other. The link between the two, with the exception of the twins, was quite clear to me early on but not the full extent. It definitely didn’t hamper the page turning quality of the story.
The cult rejects post-1969 technology. It’s a huge contrast to the world they find themselves in after they have been separated. It’s an interesting area to explore in fiction, are we better off with or without technology, has it gone too far. I would have loved to have read more about the cult and their reasoning for living a more simple life but I readily admit it wouldn’t have fit with the narrative and would have slowed the whole thing down.
As Taema starts to live Tila’s life, the cyberpunk side comes out more. It’s common practice to use drugs to enhance dreams, interacting with their implants, plugging in to live out fantasies and purge negative urges. This is the reason the murder rate is so low, after using the drug violent desires are dampened. They carry out the violence in their dreams, in a situation that feels real, then they wake up and get on with their lives. Some people get addicted to this, but Tila and Taema’s upbringing means the drug has little effect on them. But there’s a new drug in town, one that might not be so good for society.