Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was reminded of Gulliver's Travels and Slaughterhouse Five a lot when reading this novel. The whole traveller among an unfamiliar people narrative meets the "unstuck in time" narrative was reminiscent of those classics at every turn. Unfortunately, as it is when comparing modern works to classics, the classics usually win out in my book. The material did not feel new enough or intriguing enough to keep me invested.

I did like Iris as a character and found her way of telling her tale interesting, and I enjoyed the description of the virtual reality games she participated in later in the novel. I think the novel had good things to say about the dangers of AI and complacency. Nevertheless, this is not one I think I would read again.

This was quite an original read! It was right on the border of being implausible, but yet the plot and details were realistic and kept me in trying to see what was next! This is a take on the dystopian, futuristic books, with a unique twist.

This is my first book by Joshua A.H. Harris, but won't be my last!

This was a fast, intriguing read. I enjoyed the glimpse into AI and a possible future where people may get everything they want, but to what cost. This book provokes thought into collective human consciousness and connectedness. Is reality actually as we perceive it, or is everyone's reality their own.

*Eyes of Iris* is a mind-bending, thought-provoking novel that blurs the line between reality and illusion. Iris’s vivid account of time-traveling to the future is both mesmerizing and unsettling, forcing Dr. Kairos—and readers alike—to question the nature of truth and perception. A gripping exploration of technology, humanity, and destiny, this novel challenges us to rethink our relationship with the future and the stories we tell ourselves.

It’s hard to conceptualize the influences of the artificial on our collective future - but Iris’ eyes can. I was hooked from the beginning, and this book takes turns that help me forget who where i am at any given plot point. I’d recommend Eyes of Iris to anyone looking for something different in the conversation about human/non-human intelligence (Plus anyone looking for very specific south bay area references).

I love books which make you unsure as to which characters are credible and which simply can’t be trusted. Iris is a fascinating character and her story is beyond belief - or is it? The premise for this book brought to mind MK Ultra and raises questions about what reality and truth actually are, depending on perspectives. It’s well written and the character development is strong, making it easy to buy into the different strands of the story.

Eyes of Iris presents a compelling premise: a young woman's Ayahuasca-induced vision of the future that blurs the line between hallucination and reality. Harris clearly draws inspiration from H.G. Wells, and the novel offers some intriguing glimpses into a potential future Earth circa 2300, populated with bizarre inhabitants and facing harrowing circumstances. Iris's detailed account, as relayed through her conversation with Dr. Kairos, is certainly imaginative and sparks curiosity about the possibilities – and dangers – that lie ahead.

However, the execution occasionally falters. While the initial setup is strong, the pacing can feel uneven, and the development of some characters beyond Iris and Dr. Kairos feels somewhat thin. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about technology and humanity's future, but at times, these explorations feel more like exposition than organic parts of the narrative.

Ultimately, Eyes of Iris is a decent read for those who enjoy speculative fiction and stories that play with the nature of perception. It offers some genuinely captivating moments and a unique central mystery, but it doesn't quite reach its full potential in terms of character depth and narrative flow. It's a promising concept that could have been even more impactful with tighter pacing and more fleshed-out supporting elements.

I was surprised at all of the twists and turns in this book - especially the ending! I finished this book in one sitting due to the fast paced way this book read. This felt very different from anything I’ve read before - what a wild ride!

I read this book in one sitting and was captivated the entire time. As someone incredibly dubious of AI, I was relieved by the positioning of AI in this story.