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The Chimera Code
Neuromancer for a non-binary age: an action-packed techno-thriller with a side of magical realism.
Everything’s for hire – even magic.
If you need something done, they’re the best: a tough, resourceful mage, a lab-created genderless hacker and a cyborg with a big gun.
But when they’re hired by a virtual construct to destroy the other copies of himself, and the down payment is a new magical skill, Cloke knows this job is going to be a league harder than anything they’ve ever done.
Everything’s for hire – even magic.
If you need something done, they’re the best: a tough, resourceful mage, a lab-created genderless hacker and a cyborg with a big gun.
But when they’re hired by a virtual construct to destroy the other copies of himself, and the down payment is a new magical skill, Cloke knows this job is going to be a league harder than anything they’ve ever done.
389 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2020
22 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Santos
5 books39 followersWayne Santos has been an ad copywriter, a TV scriptwriter, a magazine contributor, an editor, and a freelance writer for too many things on the Internet to count. He grew up in Alberta, lived in Singapore, and settled down in Ontario with his wife and an ongoing rotation of two household cats. He is a multi-disciplinary geek with a double major in science-fiction and fantasy, specializations in novels, comics, anime, TV and film, and a minor in video games. Under no circumstances should he be approached to discuss 80s pop culture unless you are fully aware of the toll this will expend on your remaining lifespan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
August 3, 2020
The Chimera Code is good but not too good. The novel was action-packed but its flaw is that it became too technical. Complex words interfered with the storyline and this created difficulty in my comprehension.
October 28, 2020
eARC provided by NetGalley , thank you to Solaris/Rebellion. All opinions are my own.
Recommends it for: Science Fiction enthusiasts. Them people that wanted Ready Player One to be more Adulty
ACTION, MAYHEM, SCIENCE FICTION: THE TEAM FOR ANY JOB HAS FINALLY MET THEIR MATCH.
Wow. From the start this book was out of control – in a good way. I am loving the representation in this novel.
Cloke is a tough-as-nails mage, she is also the unofficial leader of a resourceful and dangerous team that has a gender-less hacker and a menacing cyborg. Offered a job were the reward is a new magical skill, Cloke knows that this is going to be harder than anything they have ever done.
I really enjoyed everything about this novel, the writing was smooth. The story line was packed full of action and I kept thinking “this is novel is made for the movies”.
The only con for me was that I had a rough time forming a connection to the characters. I think overall there was something missing, depth and heart. I really need a good balance between action and characters. Every time I felt I was making a connection another action scene happened, but nonetheless all of the characters were really interesting and the novel was enjoyable. Wayne has a freaking brilliant talent for writing action scenes! Maybe it needed to slow down more, there was so many interesting things about this world - either way, definitely give this book a try.
Rating: 3.8
The Chimera Code by Wayne Santos
Standalone
Publish Date: This title will be on sale as eBook 23 July 2020 and in paperback 10 November 2020 US, 12 November 2020 UK.
Cover Rating: 4/10
Adult – Science Fiction – Urban Fantasy
Recommends it for: Science Fiction enthusiasts. Them people that wanted Ready Player One to be more Adulty
ACTION, MAYHEM, SCIENCE FICTION: THE TEAM FOR ANY JOB HAS FINALLY MET THEIR MATCH.
Wow. From the start this book was out of control – in a good way. I am loving the representation in this novel.
Cloke is a tough-as-nails mage, she is also the unofficial leader of a resourceful and dangerous team that has a gender-less hacker and a menacing cyborg. Offered a job were the reward is a new magical skill, Cloke knows that this is going to be harder than anything they have ever done.
I really enjoyed everything about this novel, the writing was smooth. The story line was packed full of action and I kept thinking “this is novel is made for the movies”.
The only con for me was that I had a rough time forming a connection to the characters. I think overall there was something missing, depth and heart. I really need a good balance between action and characters. Every time I felt I was making a connection another action scene happened, but nonetheless all of the characters were really interesting and the novel was enjoyable. Wayne has a freaking brilliant talent for writing action scenes! Maybe it needed to slow down more, there was so many interesting things about this world - either way, definitely give this book a try.
Rating: 3.8
The Chimera Code by Wayne Santos
Standalone
Publish Date: This title will be on sale as eBook 23 July 2020 and in paperback 10 November 2020 US, 12 November 2020 UK.
Cover Rating: 4/10
Adult – Science Fiction – Urban Fantasy
November 2, 2019
Utterly engrossing, immersive (and non-binary) sci-fantasy -- action-packed and a little magic (in all the best ways); fun, swaggerifically imperfect, likeable characters.
(Thank you for the ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this!)
(Thank you for the ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this!)
January 8, 2022
The blurbs say "Neuromancer for a non-binary age: an action-packed techno-thriller with a side of magical realism." And it definitely delivered on that parts. Quite a fun story to listen to although not a story that will stay with me or made any significant impressions. Good story overall 3.5 stars
December 4, 2020
☕️🤎 Find me elsewhere: 🤎☕️
blog || instagram || twitter
Trigger/Content warnings: Violence, Murder, Implied sexual assault
Well, wow. This novel is just breathtaking. I honestly want to go inside Wayne Santos' brain and just admire how it works. I want more and more from this world!
Imagine mixing MAGIC and ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. Thats Chimera Code for you. It might sound overwhelming especially for those who aren't huge readers of Science Fiction genre but I assure you, The Chimera Code is written so well you'll breeze through the novel. I just want to commend firstly the very simple and readable writing of Wayne Santos. It just proves how a book can be magical and engaging without the writing being so complicated. I must admit that I felt like there was a lot of info-dumping at the first few chapters of this book but when one of my favorite characters was introduced, I started inhaling the information like crack and enjoyed the book even more.
So, characters. God, I love them!! Cloke and Zee will probably be included on my favorite characters ever list. Cloke is pretty much what I like when it comes to badass protagonist. She's spunky, can be aggressive but also can be vulnerable but most importantly, she is full of flaws. Flaw that the author wrote really well. Santos' also penned a very interesting non-binary character that I really wanted to get to know more. I can say that Zee is a well written character but there is something that kind of really irked me. I believe sexual assault was implied, but it really made me question the book, was that necessary? I understand that the author is using this for the characters development, however, isn't there a different plot device that they could've used? Other than that though, I am huge fan of the main and even the secondary characters.
I have no words for the setting/worldbuilding of this book. Its truly is phenomenal. The creativity and the uniqueness of Wayne Santos' penned world truly brings something new to the table. From start to the end, it kept me entertained and then left me wanting for more. It was action packed as a lot of other reviewers have said as well.
I'd really recommend The Chimera Code for readers that are looking for something fresh and something that will keep them invested from the prologue to the end. The Chimera Code blended magic and technology in a very interesting and compelling way, adding the well written characters, this is really a book that deserves to be on your shelves!
blog || instagram || twitter
Trigger/Content warnings: Violence, Murder, Implied sexual assault
Well, wow. This novel is just breathtaking. I honestly want to go inside Wayne Santos' brain and just admire how it works. I want more and more from this world!
Imagine mixing MAGIC and ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. Thats Chimera Code for you. It might sound overwhelming especially for those who aren't huge readers of Science Fiction genre but I assure you, The Chimera Code is written so well you'll breeze through the novel. I just want to commend firstly the very simple and readable writing of Wayne Santos. It just proves how a book can be magical and engaging without the writing being so complicated. I must admit that I felt like there was a lot of info-dumping at the first few chapters of this book but when one of my favorite characters was introduced, I started inhaling the information like crack and enjoyed the book even more.
So, characters. God, I love them!! Cloke and Zee will probably be included on my favorite characters ever list. Cloke is pretty much what I like when it comes to badass protagonist. She's spunky, can be aggressive but also can be vulnerable but most importantly, she is full of flaws. Flaw that the author wrote really well. Santos' also penned a very interesting non-binary character that I really wanted to get to know more. I can say that Zee is a well written character but there is something that kind of really irked me. I believe sexual assault was implied, but it really made me question the book, was that necessary? I understand that the author is using this for the characters development, however, isn't there a different plot device that they could've used? Other than that though, I am huge fan of the main and even the secondary characters.
I have no words for the setting/worldbuilding of this book. Its truly is phenomenal. The creativity and the uniqueness of Wayne Santos' penned world truly brings something new to the table. From start to the end, it kept me entertained and then left me wanting for more. It was action packed as a lot of other reviewers have said as well.
I'd really recommend The Chimera Code for readers that are looking for something fresh and something that will keep them invested from the prologue to the end. The Chimera Code blended magic and technology in a very interesting and compelling way, adding the well written characters, this is really a book that deserves to be on your shelves!
November 7, 2020
3.5 Stars
Blending together fantasy and science fiction, this was a rather unique SFF novel. Personally, sci fantasy is not my favourite subgenre because I am a bit of a science fiction purist. Yet, I will acknowledge that this story did a good job of blending the genres into a fun adventure story.
This novel contains an eclectic cast of characters, which made for some great interactions between the various personalities. The author himself has a diverse background and so uses his novel to uplift unrepresented voices.
In terms of story, I thought it was a fun plot, but fairly surface level and predictable. The cyberpunk aspects were really cool, but felt mostly aesthetic. I really wanted to love this one, but I honestly struggled to become fully immersed in the story. Still, I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a fun sci fantasy adventure.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Rebellion Publishing.
Blending together fantasy and science fiction, this was a rather unique SFF novel. Personally, sci fantasy is not my favourite subgenre because I am a bit of a science fiction purist. Yet, I will acknowledge that this story did a good job of blending the genres into a fun adventure story.
This novel contains an eclectic cast of characters, which made for some great interactions between the various personalities. The author himself has a diverse background and so uses his novel to uplift unrepresented voices.
In terms of story, I thought it was a fun plot, but fairly surface level and predictable. The cyberpunk aspects were really cool, but felt mostly aesthetic. I really wanted to love this one, but I honestly struggled to become fully immersed in the story. Still, I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a fun sci fantasy adventure.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Rebellion Publishing.
October 11, 2021
This is one of those books where the author was having so much fun that it was infectious. Things kept happening that made my mouth drop open and I'd think 'oh my god, that's so fucking cool!' In a near future where magic exists and the internet has become a virtual reality anyone can plug into, a ragtag team of mercenaries come together to assassinate a literal ghost in the machine. There's the badass leader of the group, a mage who can fling fireballs and lightning from her hands, a 7 foot tall cyborg, a non-binary hacker who was birthed in a lab by a mad scientist, and a dead man who's been brought back as a computer programme. There's a lot of snark and camaraderie, and I loved all the dynamics as much as I loved the worldbuilding and the action scenes. I really enjoyed every minute of it!
July 9, 2021
A very original and interesting science fiction story world with fantasy elements, multi-layered characters and well done, fast paced battle scenes.
The Audiobook narration was very well done too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Audiobook narration was very well done too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2020
A punchy, compelling cyber-thriller that deftly weaves magic and technology together.
The Chimera Code starts off at full-speed, and Santos has a definite gift for writing action scenes, but the book's actually at its most compelling when it slows down - the world-building here is meticulous and convincing, and the character development of Zee, one of the two protagonists, is sympathetic and well-drawn.
A detailed, exciting read.
The Chimera Code starts off at full-speed, and Santos has a definite gift for writing action scenes, but the book's actually at its most compelling when it slows down - the world-building here is meticulous and convincing, and the character development of Zee, one of the two protagonists, is sympathetic and well-drawn.
A detailed, exciting read.
August 28, 2021
While I don’t read a lot of science fiction for a bunch of reasons, once in a while I take a chance. In this case, The Chimera Code paid off. Recently, I’ve been burned by several books that were just too weird due to the bad writing, the ending, or because nothing happened. In this case, not only was the writing outstanding, but the story held up as well.
The story was about computers and technology and hacking, all taking place in the somewhat distant future. Basically, it was a techno triller with futuristic trappings, done from the perspective of a computer geek.
There was enough explanation in it to hold my interest, and a lot of that had to do with the solid third-person limited and past-tense writing. The pace was mostly fast, however, the chapters and scenes tended to be a bit too long for my taste. I often ended up having to stop in the middle of a page and lost my spot. Then I’d have to try and recall where I was and repeat stuff before it kicked in again. While this was a bit annoying, I was still able to enjoy myself. In effect, the writing still did not get in the way of the story.
There was plenty of mayhem and a cast of likable characters. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, and the ending sold it for me.
I had a great time and was able to close the book with a smile on my face. Highly recommended.
The story was about computers and technology and hacking, all taking place in the somewhat distant future. Basically, it was a techno triller with futuristic trappings, done from the perspective of a computer geek.
There was enough explanation in it to hold my interest, and a lot of that had to do with the solid third-person limited and past-tense writing. The pace was mostly fast, however, the chapters and scenes tended to be a bit too long for my taste. I often ended up having to stop in the middle of a page and lost my spot. Then I’d have to try and recall where I was and repeat stuff before it kicked in again. While this was a bit annoying, I was still able to enjoy myself. In effect, the writing still did not get in the way of the story.
There was plenty of mayhem and a cast of likable characters. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, and the ending sold it for me.
I had a great time and was able to close the book with a smile on my face. Highly recommended.
August 3, 2020
Plenty of action, average world-building, interesting characters but they lack depth.
3.5/5
ARC through NetGalley
3.5/5
ARC through NetGalley
July 17, 2020
I really enjoyed this novel. Santos sometimes bills himself as a straight-up action guy whose books are full of explosions, but that's doing himself a disservice. Although Chimera Code is certainly an action-oriented novel with plenty of explosions, there really is quite a lot of depth to some the issues being presented and tackled throughout the storyline.
Everything about how a futuristic or fantasy world (depending on your genre) is constructed says a lot about the ideologies an author carries with them, and taps into their own sense of ethics. When authors say they "don't put politics in their books" that is, in my experience, code for "I want the current status quo but with flashy trappings."
Chimera Code is progressive and subversive in lots of subtle ways, from how thoughtfully the nonbinary character is handled, to how the world economy has shifted away from being North American centric (culturally and otherwise).
So if you want your gripping cross-genre action thriller with a healthy, well-made dose of not-perfect-but-genuinely-progressive-society, and you really like cyberpunk settings, this book will be great for you :) It'll go well along with new Cyberpunk video game coming out in autumn (unrelated to this book) and the prequel graphic novel featuring Chimera Code's main character, Cloke (definitely related to this book.) Mmmm, a cyberpunk summer!
The only thing that took my review down to 4 stars was also, paradoxically, one of the things I liked best about the novel. Zee, the nonbinary supporting character, was the real star of the show for me: I liked zir character, zir arc, the emotional impact of zir decisions, and the way a certain final showdown was handled.
But Zee is sadly not the main character :( That role goes to Cloke, who is a good character too, just less interesting to me personally for various reasons--perhaps because she has to be quite coy about what she knows for various plot/tension reasons and so sometimes is aloof, whereas Zee is very "open" to the reader. This aspect of the review is wholly subjective, though, so much salt as ever.
Everything about how a futuristic or fantasy world (depending on your genre) is constructed says a lot about the ideologies an author carries with them, and taps into their own sense of ethics. When authors say they "don't put politics in their books" that is, in my experience, code for "I want the current status quo but with flashy trappings."
Chimera Code is progressive and subversive in lots of subtle ways, from how thoughtfully the nonbinary character is handled, to how the world economy has shifted away from being North American centric (culturally and otherwise).
So if you want your gripping cross-genre action thriller with a healthy, well-made dose of not-perfect-but-genuinely-progressive-society, and you really like cyberpunk settings, this book will be great for you :) It'll go well along with new Cyberpunk video game coming out in autumn (unrelated to this book) and the prequel graphic novel featuring Chimera Code's main character, Cloke (definitely related to this book.) Mmmm, a cyberpunk summer!
The only thing that took my review down to 4 stars was also, paradoxically, one of the things I liked best about the novel. Zee, the nonbinary supporting character, was the real star of the show for me: I liked zir character, zir arc, the emotional impact of zir decisions, and the way a certain final showdown was handled.
But Zee is sadly not the main character :( That role goes to Cloke, who is a good character too, just less interesting to me personally for various reasons--perhaps because she has to be quite coy about what she knows for various plot/tension reasons and so sometimes is aloof, whereas Zee is very "open" to the reader. This aspect of the review is wholly subjective, though, so much salt as ever.
February 7, 2021
If you'd have told me a Cyberpunk book was going to have magic missiles, a sentient sword, and cyborgs, I would've said "two of those don't belong." Santos not only imagines a world where the other two could belong, he delivers one where they feel necessary.
The Chimera Code delivers on a promise of action, hacking, fascinating magic, and a surprising amount of emotional depth. I can honestly say that a cyberpunk hacking story has never made me tear up before this one. I can't wait for the next one.
The Chimera Code delivers on a promise of action, hacking, fascinating magic, and a surprising amount of emotional depth. I can honestly say that a cyberpunk hacking story has never made me tear up before this one. I can't wait for the next one.
December 26, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. So often I find that books do either SciFi or Fantasy and this does both, with style. The world building unfolds very naturally and vividly. The characters are interesting and I found myself invested in them right away. Also, this was the first time I read a book with a non-binary person and am glad to have learned the proper pronouns. I strongly recommend this novel!
November 18, 2020
This felt a welcome 21st century fusion of fantasy and science fiction with hackers and mages in a non-US centric world trying to do the right or wrong thing. Diverse, smart and often funny
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
May 18, 2020
In the interests of full disclosure, I have to say that I met Wayne when we were both young geeks in University. I've been reading bits and pieces of his writing ever since then, and I was so excited to hear that he was finally going to be published. He kindly sent me an ARC of The Chimera Code. I had a vague fear about what I would say if I didn't like it, but I should have known that wouldn't be a problem. This book takes huge portions of my formative years, squashes them into a whole and presents them in a single, exciting story. It's William Gibson, anime, urban fantasy, and MuchMusic all merged into one.
The concept that every story has already been written holds true here. When you strip away the meat, the bones of this story are very familiar, but oh - the meat is so very tasty. As I was reading, my partner said, "This must be a good one, you keep giggling." I'm addicted to witty repartee and this book is chock full of it; the sarcasm runs thick and fast. The characters are familiar but well developed and appealing. There are mages, hackers, cyborgs, power-players, media darlings and I want to be able to hang out with all of them, except I'm probably not cool enough.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I feel like trying to describe the book *is* giving away good stuff. Suffice it to say that the action is gripping, fast-paced, and filled with a lot of "oh, no way!" and "so cool!" moments. I want a sequel, but even more than that I want a prequel. That may be the part that turns some readers off. The story takes place in a near-ish future after some pretty dramatic changes have shaken up the world as we know it. There is some discussion about what happened, but no details and the bits and pieces come scattered throughout the story, not in a nice exposition at the beginning, so you just have to run with it. I think it's absolutely worth it though - I will be recommending this book to all and sundry when it is released.
The concept that every story has already been written holds true here. When you strip away the meat, the bones of this story are very familiar, but oh - the meat is so very tasty. As I was reading, my partner said, "This must be a good one, you keep giggling." I'm addicted to witty repartee and this book is chock full of it; the sarcasm runs thick and fast. The characters are familiar but well developed and appealing. There are mages, hackers, cyborgs, power-players, media darlings and I want to be able to hang out with all of them, except I'm probably not cool enough.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I feel like trying to describe the book *is* giving away good stuff. Suffice it to say that the action is gripping, fast-paced, and filled with a lot of "oh, no way!" and "so cool!" moments. I want a sequel, but even more than that I want a prequel. That may be the part that turns some readers off. The story takes place in a near-ish future after some pretty dramatic changes have shaken up the world as we know it. There is some discussion about what happened, but no details and the bits and pieces come scattered throughout the story, not in a nice exposition at the beginning, so you just have to run with it. I think it's absolutely worth it though - I will be recommending this book to all and sundry when it is released.
May 13, 2021
Ahhh new favorite alert! The Chimera Code by Wayne Santos is one I hadn’t heard almost anything about beyond the tantalizing premise: near future cyberpunk with magic. This book was everything I wanted it to be, the action was high-stakes and nonstop, the worldbuilding was thoughtful and exciting, and the characters quickly stole my heart. My only complaint is that this is apparently book one of the “WitchWare Series” but I can’t find any information on when I can get my hands on future books?!?! (Friends who tire of starting a book only to realize it’s all set up for a trilogy or something, take heart, this book is very nicely self-contained and only leaves you wanting more from the characters and world, not an unfinished plot arc.)
The Chimera Code is set in a high-tech 2138, where the world has been transformed by the singularity and the unexplained emergence of people with magical talents, like Cloke, a world class combat mage who heads an elite Chimera unit, which blends traditional and magical combat talents with skilled hackers for specialized projects. After the death of her team’s coder, she juggles prep for the team’s latest unusual job with onboarding our second protagonist, a talented but volatile young agender person named Zee. Both Zee and Cloke come from seriously rough backgrounds, and I loved the way Cloke recalls her younger self in Zee’s lack of trust and instinct for self-preservation. On top of the characters’ great dynamics and the intrigue of the heist, Santos’s vision of the future was deeply thought out and thrilling in each detail. With all the great tech-y worldbuilding, this book definitely felt more SF than F, the magic creating some epic fight scenes but otherwise feeling very backburner to the awesome virtual reality fueled cyberpunk escapades. Still, I’d highly recommend this book to fans of low fantasy and/or sci-fi looking for an action-packed adventure with a lot of heart.
Cw for violence/torture, suicide, rape, misgendering
The Chimera Code is set in a high-tech 2138, where the world has been transformed by the singularity and the unexplained emergence of people with magical talents, like Cloke, a world class combat mage who heads an elite Chimera unit, which blends traditional and magical combat talents with skilled hackers for specialized projects. After the death of her team’s coder, she juggles prep for the team’s latest unusual job with onboarding our second protagonist, a talented but volatile young agender person named Zee. Both Zee and Cloke come from seriously rough backgrounds, and I loved the way Cloke recalls her younger self in Zee’s lack of trust and instinct for self-preservation. On top of the characters’ great dynamics and the intrigue of the heist, Santos’s vision of the future was deeply thought out and thrilling in each detail. With all the great tech-y worldbuilding, this book definitely felt more SF than F, the magic creating some epic fight scenes but otherwise feeling very backburner to the awesome virtual reality fueled cyberpunk escapades. Still, I’d highly recommend this book to fans of low fantasy and/or sci-fi looking for an action-packed adventure with a lot of heart.
Cw for violence/torture, suicide, rape, misgendering
June 9, 2020
*Advanced Reader Copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley - thank you!*
There's a lot to commend about this book, but it's also lacking in quite a few ways, for me.
It's billed as a new Neuromancer, and that's very apt - in fact, it actually reads like a fanfiction of Neuromancer. As a reader, it seems that you're expected to have already read Neuromancer, because there is zero explaining of the world. I hate an info-dump at the beginning as much as anyone, but 'The Chimera Code' really goes to town with leaving the reader in the dark. This also extended to characters - Cloke is pretty boring. Not coloured in at all. Zee is far more interesting, although I did find them problematic in that the only non-binary character in the book was genetically manufactured that way. It's a little progress, but could have gone further (and I'm always uncomfortable with rape being used as a backstory).
There's a ton of imagination in this book - magic and technology!!! But it took so long to find out anything about how those two things mesh together. I was able to keep reading to the end, and the climax battle features a super-cool magic storm/weather system (and space station - this being a tribute to Neuromancer after all), but I wanted more. Stronger characterisation. Better world-building (what happened to climate change?) and better world-explaining. Add those in, and this could be a really great story.
There's a lot to commend about this book, but it's also lacking in quite a few ways, for me.
It's billed as a new Neuromancer, and that's very apt - in fact, it actually reads like a fanfiction of Neuromancer. As a reader, it seems that you're expected to have already read Neuromancer, because there is zero explaining of the world. I hate an info-dump at the beginning as much as anyone, but 'The Chimera Code' really goes to town with leaving the reader in the dark. This also extended to characters - Cloke is pretty boring. Not coloured in at all. Zee is far more interesting, although I did find them problematic in that the only non-binary character in the book was genetically manufactured that way. It's a little progress, but could have gone further (and I'm always uncomfortable with rape being used as a backstory).
There's a ton of imagination in this book - magic and technology!!! But it took so long to find out anything about how those two things mesh together. I was able to keep reading to the end, and the climax battle features a super-cool magic storm/weather system (and space station - this being a tribute to Neuromancer after all), but I wanted more. Stronger characterisation. Better world-building (what happened to climate change?) and better world-explaining. Add those in, and this could be a really great story.
July 13, 2020
I’ve read a short story by Wayne before so I already knew I loved his writing, but The Chimera Code blew me away.
Cloke is a mercenary in a world of magic and technology. I don’t want to get into her story too much, as it’s smart and I’d hate to give anything away too early but it’s fun to spend time with her and her companions.
It’s my favourite kind of worldbuilding, dropping you into a living world that gives you information as and when you need it but still develops into a compelling universe. It’s also action-packed with some superb scenes that kept me page-turning, but there are plenty of quieter moments that allow the characters to breathe.
I love the idea of magic and mages and hackers and cyborgs all existing in the same world and it’s so deftly woven together here. It’s more sci-fi than fantasy but you absolutely feel how both elements work together.
Witty banter abounds, the characters are cool, the plot is relevant to today, and has a nice, satisfying ending. I had a blast!
Cloke is a mercenary in a world of magic and technology. I don’t want to get into her story too much, as it’s smart and I’d hate to give anything away too early but it’s fun to spend time with her and her companions.
It’s my favourite kind of worldbuilding, dropping you into a living world that gives you information as and when you need it but still develops into a compelling universe. It’s also action-packed with some superb scenes that kept me page-turning, but there are plenty of quieter moments that allow the characters to breathe.
I love the idea of magic and mages and hackers and cyborgs all existing in the same world and it’s so deftly woven together here. It’s more sci-fi than fantasy but you absolutely feel how both elements work together.
Witty banter abounds, the characters are cool, the plot is relevant to today, and has a nice, satisfying ending. I had a blast!
November 12, 2020
Picked up the book impressed by the blurb. This was a genre I had been waiting to explore and I must put out a disclaimer that I don't have much to compare the experience with.
The narrative is fast paced and keeps the reader hooked to the book. The book opens up to a fast action scene and it only gets better with each page. At times, it did feel straight out of futuristic movies. When you think it's all science, the author throws in a little bit of magic and makes the plot more interesting. A satirical undertone to the narrative helps overcome the technical jargons sprinkled all over. The gender spectrum employed is also commendable.
Having said that, there were a few offsides to the plot and the writing that bothered me. The lack-lustre characters and the merger of technology & magic put me off board at times, but the dramatically decribed action sequences made up for it. The technical descriptions did make my head spin at times too! I had to do my own research about the genre and some references, but it only made reading it all the more curious and fun!
The author has mixed a bit of anime, magical realism and a lot of action and sci-fi into one book. This is definitely a book sci-fi lovers would enjoy.
The narrative is fast paced and keeps the reader hooked to the book. The book opens up to a fast action scene and it only gets better with each page. At times, it did feel straight out of futuristic movies. When you think it's all science, the author throws in a little bit of magic and makes the plot more interesting. A satirical undertone to the narrative helps overcome the technical jargons sprinkled all over. The gender spectrum employed is also commendable.
Having said that, there were a few offsides to the plot and the writing that bothered me. The lack-lustre characters and the merger of technology & magic put me off board at times, but the dramatically decribed action sequences made up for it. The technical descriptions did make my head spin at times too! I had to do my own research about the genre and some references, but it only made reading it all the more curious and fun!
The author has mixed a bit of anime, magical realism and a lot of action and sci-fi into one book. This is definitely a book sci-fi lovers would enjoy.
November 13, 2020
Rating: 4.5 stars
Trigger Warnings for the book: violence, murder. implied sexual assault, misgendering of nonbinary character
Representation: Filipino-Irish MC, nonbinary MC
Really enjoyed this action-packed, infused with magical realism, techno-thriller. Hungrily looking forward to the next book.
Find the full review on my blog.
Find me elsewhere: Blog | BookTube | Instagram | Twitter | The Story Graph
Trigger Warnings for the book: violence, murder. implied sexual assault, misgendering of nonbinary character
Representation: Filipino-Irish MC, nonbinary MC
Really enjoyed this action-packed, infused with magical realism, techno-thriller. Hungrily looking forward to the next book.
Find the full review on my blog.
Find me elsewhere: Blog | BookTube | Instagram | Twitter | The Story Graph
November 15, 2020
This book was a really fun read and such an intriguing concept. In this future, magic and computers will be used side by side in the world. This book follows a Chimera team that has three members: a witch, the muscle and a hacker. Each member working together for whatever the highest bidder has hired them to do.
The world-building was organic and it avoided a bunch of info-dumping which I always appreciate. The history of this world was very believable, which was amazing and also terrifying. There are even subtle mentions of COVID having taken a part in things. And that was just part of the amazing world-building in this one. Everything seemed like a natural flow from the current state of our world to the world in this book. Also, Santos gives the first compelling explanation of how keyboards that are projected into the air would actually work, that I’ve ever read. It’s a small detail but I appreciate it, and I think that gives you a clear idea of what an intricate world this one has. If have any negative about this one, it's that there's just so much detail. To a ridiculous level. Sometimes it felt like it slowed the story at moments.
I thought the characters were very well done. They felt like real characters who had been through real trauma which is not always easy to do. There were details to their lives that I thought really brought them to life and further added to the intricate world of this book. Some other really amazing details that I thought were fantastic: references to AI having a "Turing designation", witches reversing climate change, and descriptions of how powerful people with computers are.
This was a really amazing cyberpunk fantasy and I definitely recommend checking it out!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher Solaris, Caffeine Book Tours, and the author as part of my participation in their tour.
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Representation: non-binary, Filipino-American
Content Warnings: violence, murder, rape (mentioned), guns, non-consensual medical experimentation, abuse
The world-building was organic and it avoided a bunch of info-dumping which I always appreciate. The history of this world was very believable, which was amazing and also terrifying. There are even subtle mentions of COVID having taken a part in things. And that was just part of the amazing world-building in this one. Everything seemed like a natural flow from the current state of our world to the world in this book. Also, Santos gives the first compelling explanation of how keyboards that are projected into the air would actually work, that I’ve ever read. It’s a small detail but I appreciate it, and I think that gives you a clear idea of what an intricate world this one has. If have any negative about this one, it's that there's just so much detail. To a ridiculous level. Sometimes it felt like it slowed the story at moments.
I thought the characters were very well done. They felt like real characters who had been through real trauma which is not always easy to do. There were details to their lives that I thought really brought them to life and further added to the intricate world of this book. Some other really amazing details that I thought were fantastic: references to AI having a "Turing designation", witches reversing climate change, and descriptions of how powerful people with computers are.
This was a really amazing cyberpunk fantasy and I definitely recommend checking it out!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher Solaris, Caffeine Book Tours, and the author as part of my participation in their tour.
_______________________________________
Representation: non-binary, Filipino-American
Content Warnings: violence, murder, rape (mentioned), guns, non-consensual medical experimentation, abuse
November 10, 2020
The Chimera Code by Wayne Santos is a great take on SF/Cyberpunk, with plenty of worldbuilding, tech deep dives and action to keep any reader entertained. Santos does a great job at allowing the reader to slowly learn about the world he's created; no heavy-handed exposition ruins the flow of his story. His character development is solid, with each character's motivations and ambitions discovered through their actions and words with shifts and growth over time feeling organic rather than plotted. Santos has an eye for action, as both combat and hacking feel tense and impactful. Best of all, this book sets up perfectly for a sequel (or series), which should allow the reader to peel back more and more of the intertwined nature of magic, technology and history Santos has woven together.
August 13, 2022
ALMOST a 4. Too damn many fight scenes though
October 4, 2020
Explosions Galore and so much more!
The Chimera Code is first and foremost a slick, breakneck-paced cyber action thriller. Even if you aren’t into tech, Santos has a knack of elegantly making you feel like you’re right there in the jump seat at the console with his characters. The blend of magic and technology felt fresh and the world-building was woven into the story effortlessly in a way that didn’t bog me down in details. But where Santos really shines is with his characters. Beneath the swagger and wit, they were compelling, flawed and well-rounded characters that I cared about, and that’s what kept me turning the pages on a read that’s outside of my regular go-to genres.
The Chimera Code is first and foremost a slick, breakneck-paced cyber action thriller. Even if you aren’t into tech, Santos has a knack of elegantly making you feel like you’re right there in the jump seat at the console with his characters. The blend of magic and technology felt fresh and the world-building was woven into the story effortlessly in a way that didn’t bog me down in details. But where Santos really shines is with his characters. Beneath the swagger and wit, they were compelling, flawed and well-rounded characters that I cared about, and that’s what kept me turning the pages on a read that’s outside of my regular go-to genres.
January 23, 2021
The tagline is Magic. Hacking. Action--and boy does it provide! Unique cyberpunk + magic futuristic world. This has a heist feel with a team of specialists each contributing to the "job". I loved the crazy, over-the-top finale. Cloke was my favourite character, but Zee has the stronger character arc and I hope future books in the series dive more deeply into hir background.
September 7, 2021
Just Read and Enjoy!
Seriously, this is a book that should be getting much more attention and press. Digital "emulations" of deceased people? A married cyborg with wife and kids? More than one emulation of a deceased person, digital copies? Sao Paulo is the New York? Has your interest been peaked yet? Read and enjoy the fun of science, magic, and the digital world married together. Oh, heads up, thus book takes place in the 22nd Century so the petty, ignorant prejudices and fears from the 20th Century no longer apply, unless you live in the Southern Christian States that is.....
Seriously, this is a book that should be getting much more attention and press. Digital "emulations" of deceased people? A married cyborg with wife and kids? More than one emulation of a deceased person, digital copies? Sao Paulo is the New York? Has your interest been peaked yet? Read and enjoy the fun of science, magic, and the digital world married together. Oh, heads up, thus book takes place in the 22nd Century so the petty, ignorant prejudices and fears from the 20th Century no longer apply, unless you live in the Southern Christian States that is.....
April 25, 2022
What can I say … this was a fast and fun, cyberpunk/mission impossible style story. World building was pretty much stock, but the author didn’t make any grievous mistakes throwing all of the tech jargon around (major props for that). Editing was also clean, so I never had any “WTF?” moments that sometimes interrupt the flow of the story with grammar or word choice mistakes. Characters were solid and interesting (although development was limited)… with a sub-genre combination you don’t always see: mage (check), cyborg (check), hacker/ai (check), … and it was this cross genre style that I really really enjoyed. So what drives this story? The over the top action of course (and character camaraderie and some interesting mission build-up). The only serious critique I might raise here would be the predictability of the plot … but I had so much fun watching it unfold, that was really a plus for me (sometimes I like low stress stories with happy endings … sue me). In short, this is pure escapism … perfect for a relaxing day poolside or at the beach.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheChimeraCode #NetGalley
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheChimeraCode #NetGalley
July 23, 2020
There’s a lot of punk around these days. Between cyberpunk, steampunk, ecopunk, dieselpunk and myriad others, it sometimes seems that fans won’t be satisfied until every novel has its own specific genre. I’m being flippant of course, and it must be said that I quite like knowing what genre a book has been placed into (even if it’s so I can disagree with the decision). And all these punk genres do mean it’s fairly easy from a cursory glance to know where The Chimera Code sits. Cyberpunk, right? Or is it… something else? Could we have another punk sub-genre on our hands here? If we do, I’m calling dibs on naming it. Magepunk? Spellpunk? Witchpunk? You see the direction I’m going in here. The Chimera Code has everything you might know and love about cyberpunk - faceless corporations, virtual reality, artificial intelligences knocking about the place, plucky misfit hackers - and mixes it with a healthy dose of magic to produce something highly entertaining.
The magical side of things here is really serving the purpose of facilitating massive action sequences, doing away with the fallibility of humdrum reality. The laws of physics and the like are not allowed to get in the way of the fun, resulting in some enormous, summer blockbuster style set pieces. They’re the sort of scenes that would perhaps feature in VR in other, similar works, but thanks to the suspension of the natural order that magic allows can take place in the physical world. Much of the riotous and well-choreographed action is centred around spell slinging, sword swinging combat mage Cloke. She’s half Irish, half Filipino, all badass, recruited at a young age to serve in a Chimera unit (so named because they combine conventional arms, digital warfare and combat magic). Along with Marcus, a combat cyborg, and Darma, a prodigious hacker - or “console jockey” - Cloke has toppled governments, rubbed shoulders with royals and more besides. The relationships between Cloke and her handler Victor, and between Cloke and her trusty allies are nuanced and believable, with dialogue feeling as slick and cool as the team themselves. The squad really comes across as tight knit, with in jokes and quips aplenty, many of which go right over newcomer Zee’s head and serve to remind us of hir newbie status frequently.
Zee hirself is a particularly interesting character. Their mysterious origin story of being grown in a lab and designed to be genderless is intriguing in itself, but the effect this has on hir psychology and general outlook on life informs hir every action. The trauma of Zee’s past is ever present, with any mention of the man who designed hir and the other “specimens” opening up old wounds. The discussion around what Zee’s preferred pronouns are also comes up more than once in the opening few chapters, and whilst this might feel slightly repetitive, it serves the purpose of showing how open-minded and accepting the rest of the team is, making it an understandably necessary discussion. There was the odd occasion where I stumbled slightly over some of the sentences, as I was reading Zee’s preferred pronoun of xie as a homonym of their name, so it felt a little like the characters were saying the same word - Zee and xie - lots of times within a few sentences. That could just be my own mistake though - the intention might be for it to be pronounced differently to the way I read it.
Now, onto the hacking, where we’re in Zee and Darma’s domain. When you’ve got a character like Cloke who can hurl fireballs and lightning, it might seem like these sequences will struggle to stack up in the excitement stakes. Happily, this isn’t a problem. Early on, a variation of the “if you die in the matrix, you die in real life” card is played, making everything Zee and mentor Darma do feel dangerous as well as significant, whilst the hacking on display carries with it a level of cool akin to that seen in Neuromancer. I’ll admit, some of the terms flew over my head a little bit (I’m somewhat ironically - and unfairly, I would argue - seen as something of a technophobe by friends, despite my sci-fi junkiedom) but the same could be said for some of Gibson’s revered cyberpunk originator. Much of the hacking action takes place in the virtual world, making for an interesting mix of settings; we even get a hellscape (and I do love a good hellscape).
Some readers might demand more answers than Santos gives here, such as what caused magic to come into the world, why Cloke is so incredibly skilled at manipulating it and so on. These questions did occur to me during my time with the novel, but they didn’t really bother me enough that they impacted on my enjoyment. If you’re the sort of person who likes everything to be explained, this might be more of a sticking point, but personally I was happy to just enjoy the ride. Whether or not these questions will be answered in subsequent books remains to be seen, but there are plenty of threads for Santos to pick up at a later date, which is encouraging. There’s also a lot of depth here anyway, much more than you might perhaps expect - a rather literal “ghost in the machine” moment early on is surprisingly affecting, bringing up existential questions on what it means to be human, whilst Zee struggles to come to terms with hir past and open up to others.
The Chimera Code has memorable, exciting action sequences that build to an absolutely massive climax, explorations of humanity and personal identity, and likeable characters. It successfully melds spell slinging, cyber warfare and run-and-gun fun, with just enough breathing room in between them to get to know those perpetrating all three. It’s fun, slick and cool - what more could you want?
The magical side of things here is really serving the purpose of facilitating massive action sequences, doing away with the fallibility of humdrum reality. The laws of physics and the like are not allowed to get in the way of the fun, resulting in some enormous, summer blockbuster style set pieces. They’re the sort of scenes that would perhaps feature in VR in other, similar works, but thanks to the suspension of the natural order that magic allows can take place in the physical world. Much of the riotous and well-choreographed action is centred around spell slinging, sword swinging combat mage Cloke. She’s half Irish, half Filipino, all badass, recruited at a young age to serve in a Chimera unit (so named because they combine conventional arms, digital warfare and combat magic). Along with Marcus, a combat cyborg, and Darma, a prodigious hacker - or “console jockey” - Cloke has toppled governments, rubbed shoulders with royals and more besides. The relationships between Cloke and her handler Victor, and between Cloke and her trusty allies are nuanced and believable, with dialogue feeling as slick and cool as the team themselves. The squad really comes across as tight knit, with in jokes and quips aplenty, many of which go right over newcomer Zee’s head and serve to remind us of hir newbie status frequently.
Zee hirself is a particularly interesting character. Their mysterious origin story of being grown in a lab and designed to be genderless is intriguing in itself, but the effect this has on hir psychology and general outlook on life informs hir every action. The trauma of Zee’s past is ever present, with any mention of the man who designed hir and the other “specimens” opening up old wounds. The discussion around what Zee’s preferred pronouns are also comes up more than once in the opening few chapters, and whilst this might feel slightly repetitive, it serves the purpose of showing how open-minded and accepting the rest of the team is, making it an understandably necessary discussion. There was the odd occasion where I stumbled slightly over some of the sentences, as I was reading Zee’s preferred pronoun of xie as a homonym of their name, so it felt a little like the characters were saying the same word - Zee and xie - lots of times within a few sentences. That could just be my own mistake though - the intention might be for it to be pronounced differently to the way I read it.
Now, onto the hacking, where we’re in Zee and Darma’s domain. When you’ve got a character like Cloke who can hurl fireballs and lightning, it might seem like these sequences will struggle to stack up in the excitement stakes. Happily, this isn’t a problem. Early on, a variation of the “if you die in the matrix, you die in real life” card is played, making everything Zee and mentor Darma do feel dangerous as well as significant, whilst the hacking on display carries with it a level of cool akin to that seen in Neuromancer. I’ll admit, some of the terms flew over my head a little bit (I’m somewhat ironically - and unfairly, I would argue - seen as something of a technophobe by friends, despite my sci-fi junkiedom) but the same could be said for some of Gibson’s revered cyberpunk originator. Much of the hacking action takes place in the virtual world, making for an interesting mix of settings; we even get a hellscape (and I do love a good hellscape).
Some readers might demand more answers than Santos gives here, such as what caused magic to come into the world, why Cloke is so incredibly skilled at manipulating it and so on. These questions did occur to me during my time with the novel, but they didn’t really bother me enough that they impacted on my enjoyment. If you’re the sort of person who likes everything to be explained, this might be more of a sticking point, but personally I was happy to just enjoy the ride. Whether or not these questions will be answered in subsequent books remains to be seen, but there are plenty of threads for Santos to pick up at a later date, which is encouraging. There’s also a lot of depth here anyway, much more than you might perhaps expect - a rather literal “ghost in the machine” moment early on is surprisingly affecting, bringing up existential questions on what it means to be human, whilst Zee struggles to come to terms with hir past and open up to others.
The Chimera Code has memorable, exciting action sequences that build to an absolutely massive climax, explorations of humanity and personal identity, and likeable characters. It successfully melds spell slinging, cyber warfare and run-and-gun fun, with just enough breathing room in between them to get to know those perpetrating all three. It’s fun, slick and cool - what more could you want?
July 24, 2020
“It was like something from a movie poster.”
A character describes one of the many kinetic action scenes in The Chimera Code this way. Though it might be the most inadequate way to explain this outstanding debut novel by Wayne Santos, it’s a good frame of reference for a novel that is highly visual, teeming with action, and loaded with detail and subtleties you can only find by pouring over the text with a magnifying glass.
It’s difficult to imagine the future right now, but the future in The Chimera Code reawakens your imagination. There is as much Miyazaki as there is William Gibson in this novel, which follows Cloke, a cyborg who also happens to be a mage. They’re also non-binary, and the book does a great job reflecting a diversity of perspectives and realities even as it clashes two very opposing concepts: technology and magic.
The story crackles. The characters sparkle. The world building hums with a resonance that suggests something deep and there is a lot more under the surface (and the series has endless places it can go with cryptic allusions to the world beyond). Cloke runs and flies and shoots through the plot, alongside Zee, an outstanding character who serves as an audience surrogate of sorts.
Personal struggles factor large even as the stakes escalate quickly beyond the streets of a genuinely unique and captivating cyberpunk landscape. This is a story at its heart about who these people are, and the kind of world they’re going to live in. Like every great cyberpunk story, it examines humanity through the lens of the technology that is slowly rewriting what it means to be human.
The Chimera Code is a brilliant, fun, exciting read.
A character describes one of the many kinetic action scenes in The Chimera Code this way. Though it might be the most inadequate way to explain this outstanding debut novel by Wayne Santos, it’s a good frame of reference for a novel that is highly visual, teeming with action, and loaded with detail and subtleties you can only find by pouring over the text with a magnifying glass.
It’s difficult to imagine the future right now, but the future in The Chimera Code reawakens your imagination. There is as much Miyazaki as there is William Gibson in this novel, which follows Cloke, a cyborg who also happens to be a mage. They’re also non-binary, and the book does a great job reflecting a diversity of perspectives and realities even as it clashes two very opposing concepts: technology and magic.
The story crackles. The characters sparkle. The world building hums with a resonance that suggests something deep and there is a lot more under the surface (and the series has endless places it can go with cryptic allusions to the world beyond). Cloke runs and flies and shoots through the plot, alongside Zee, an outstanding character who serves as an audience surrogate of sorts.
Personal struggles factor large even as the stakes escalate quickly beyond the streets of a genuinely unique and captivating cyberpunk landscape. This is a story at its heart about who these people are, and the kind of world they’re going to live in. Like every great cyberpunk story, it examines humanity through the lens of the technology that is slowly rewriting what it means to be human.
The Chimera Code is a brilliant, fun, exciting read.
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