I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that dystopian young adult element that I was wanting and enjoyed from the description. The overall feel worked with what was needed to be told, the characters were so well written and had that coming-of-age element that I was hoping for. I enjoyed that it also had a love story and that worked in this universe. Anders Edwards writes a strong story and I hope to read more.

I was excited to receive this dystopian novel through Netgalley as an arc. A big thanks to Echo Press Publishing and author Anders Edwards for trusting me with an early copy.

The cover spoke to me as well as the blurb.
Seph is an orphan living with his aunt in a city where it is common to have a chip implanted: connected there are big benefits like early detection of desease and prevention of crime. But when politics start to controle the people, June leaves the city. Seph starts a job at the tech company working on the programs for the chips. He wants to take them down from the inside. That's where he meets Emma.

I had a hard time with this novel as I absolutely love dystopian books! But it took me 200 pages to get invested because the characters are quite flat and the plot drags on (there are little to no surprises on the horizon), with too little angst or tension.
I did like how the book tries to challenge you on a more philosophical level: how much would you give up for safety? Where lies the red line between technology as a helpful tool and a means to control.
I don't think I will recommend this one: there are dystopian novels that will creep up to you more.
Sad to give this review 'cause I see the potential (i finished it because I was expecting a different ending and was disappointed), feeling the urge to rewrite rather than to dnf.

Thank you to Netgalley and Echo publishing for this free novel. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5⭐️
The foreword about dystopian fiction and the commentary on choice and control were well-written in my opinion. The concept of the microchip is pretty interesting and I enjoyed seeing the POVs of multiple characters (including Seph, Emma, and James).

Emma and Seph are great characters and their relationship was cool to explore due to the influence of algorithms in it. This whole book feels very relevant in an era where individuals are increasingly putting their trust in AI and beginning to rely on it for every little thing.

I feel as if there were a few too many typos. I understand that ARCs are, generally, uncorrected proofs but it just seems like a lot (ex: sentences with synonyms of words next to each other as if one of them was meant to be replaced not duplicated. Also, there was some weird punctuation (comma placement). Other than that though, this was well-written. Erased is an intriguing take on a dystopian novel due to parts of the premise as well as the primary setting.

Thank you to Echo Press Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was impossible to put down! I wanted more details, more depth, more EVERYTHING from Seph and his journey. I wanted to hear more about what James is doing from his perspective once they exit the city. I want to know how far this dystopian world goes? Is it just this city? Is it only a country? Is it global? There was so much more that I wanted to know about that this novel didn't cover. It was an amazing and awesome journey and I would love to see a follow-up or a parallel to see what happens next!!

DNF @ 25%

I really wanted to love this book, because the concept is everything I love about dystopian fiction, and it's very relevant to the world today and the development of AI technologies and generative AI. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me.

There was a lack of nuance in the book that made it too simple for me. I usually prefer more secrecy in dystopian novels, but in this book, it felt like the main characters all knew from the beginning the issue with the nano chips, or at the very least that the tech was sketchy.

The characters felt underdeveloped to me, and I would have liked to learn more about them and their lives before immediately getting into the plot. I felt very detached from them. I also wish the book had felt more immersive, with more details about the nano chips at the start. Like the way they integrated with the transpo, which is genuinely so cool.

This may be a case that I'm just too old for this kind of writing style (I'm in my late 20s), but I do still re-read some of my favourite YA dystopian books like Legend and Warcross by Marie Lu. Maybe this is just better for a "lower YA" reader. I try to avoid DNFing books, but I can tell this book just isn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley, Echo Press Publishing, and Anders Edwards for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

(Review posted to goodreads and storygraph without a rating)

You just have to look at recent headlines to see that we seem to be living in a setting from a dystopian novel. Books like 1984, The Circle and The Handmaiden’s Tale may have seemed outrageous in their time, but it seems parts of them have slowly become reality in our modern world. I was excited to read Erased, which speaks a cautionary tale about technology and how much data about ourselves we chose to share.

When Seph lands his dream job at NexTech, working on nano-technology that many of the population (including him) already have imbedded in their arms, he is excited to learn more. However, what he discovers is shining the light on the darker side of governmental intentions – can he stop the world from sleepwalking into disaster?

I loved the premise of Erased – the idea that a government are trying to control people with implants in their arm and the slow way that this is introduced felt sadly realistic. Starting as a wellness tracker and moving on to something which can help reduce crime, to then using this to make people feel unsafe felt like a convincing narrative that a government in today’s society could feasibly use.

The story is told from three different perspectives – Seph, Emma and James, but all of these points of view are told in quite similar and detached ways – it’s more chapters in the same narrative voice just describing what they are seeing and doing, rather than feeling like you are in that person’s head. This made it quite difficult to engage with each of the characters and would have been less obvious if it was just in Seph’s perspective throughout.

Erased is billed very much as a young adult novel and I will say upfront that I’m nowhere near that demographic anymore! That said, I do love a good dystopian thriller and enjoy books such as The Hunger Games and Divergent, so I have read a fair number of YA reads as an adult. There’s usually a little more focus on first love romance, and the writing can be a touch simpler, but as a young adult, I still very much appreciated good writing, even if some of the themes I chose to read about were different than today. What struck me with Erased is that it very much feels like it’s aimed at young adults, and not really in a good way. The dialogue is clunky, the characters don’t feel developed – they act in ways that are completely black and white with no shade, and situations seem to go from 1 – 100 without feeling realistic in the created world. Although it is a very easy read, I would have liked more depth and some of the more unnecessary or repeated scenes to have been replaced by chapters which made the characters feel rounded out which would have helped build the stakes and increased tension.

I should also point out that this is not a standalone book, but very much part of a series with the plot not coming to any kind of satisfying conclusion.

Overall Erased was not for me – it felt too simplistic, in a way that would have annoyed me even as a young adult reader. If we choose to write about such important and relevant topics to a young adult audience, then we must not patronise them with the way we choose to write for them. Thank you to NetGalley & Echo Press Publishing for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a gripping, anxiety-inducing ride from start to finish—and I mean that as high praise. The tension isn’t accidental; it’s the natural result of a chillingly plausible dystopia where a single corporation controls society through implanted chips. The technology, at first seemingly innocuous, gradually reveals its true, insidious nature: a device that hungers for total control over its host.

The author masterfully builds unease, not just through the plot but through subtle psychological cues that urge the reader to question their own reality. It’s a story that doesn’t preach, but rather unfolds horrors with quiet confidence, leaving you to draw your own disturbing conclusions.

What struck me most was how well the book portrays the fragility of what makes us human (autonomy, emotion, choice) and how easily it can be erased when power and technology align too closely. This isn’t just science fiction; it’s a warning.

A great read with potent subject matter. If you like your dystopias smart, sharp, and terrifyingly relevant, this is one you shouldn’t miss.

Thanks to NetGalley and Echo Press Publishing for the advanced copy!

This is a frighteningly realistic dystopian novel about Seph and his quest to fight against the nanochip his government has been using to control the population's emotions. Scifi, romance, suspense all in one.

My twelve year old self would have loved this book! I also really enjoyed this book as an older adult. Even though the writing was simple and would appeal to a younger audience, the topic is relevant to us all. This is one of those books that make you stop and think long after you’ve finished the book. No, we don’t all have nano chips, but we all carry a smart phone. How hard would it be for us to give that up? What would we and do we trade for that luxury? We already know it can track us and we willingly give up our data. This book really made me question how much we would be willing to give up for all of the conveniences of modern life that we have become so accustomed to. Very thought provoking.

Erased by Anders Edwards presents an intriguing concept set in a near-future dystopia, but for me, it ultimately falls a bit short in execution. The premise of a society governed by nano chips, promising efficiency and safety, is certainly captivating, and the character of Seph grapples with complex themes of choice and free will. However, the story can feel predictable at times, following familiar tropes in the young adult genre. The story felt very young adultish as well due to the dialogue and interactions between the two main characters, Seph and Emma.

While the relationship between Seph and Emma adds a sweet touch, it sometimes feels overshadowed by the larger plot. The pacing also varies; certain sections drag on while others rush through important developments. The exploration of the dark side of technology and corporate control is timely and relevant.

Overall, Erased is an entertaining read that may resonate with fans of the genre, but for me, it didn't quite hit the dystopian storytelling as much as I thought it would. I would give this a 3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#Erased #NetGalley

Fast-paced and thoughtful, Erased blends classic dystopian themes with a relatable coming-of-age arc and just enough romance to keep things grounded. It’s not reinventing the genre, but it hits the right emotional notes and delivers a satisfying ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

I want to start by saying that the 12-13 year old me would have absolutely ate this book up! Even the adult version of me had a good time reading it, considering the moral qualms of the main characters, and being intrigued by the world that has been created. At its core, it attacks the way that technology is shaping the world, with an eye of where things may go. It really is intelligent in its portrayal of the ways people would react to certain technological advancements--and how we have already. The premise is really the main part that shone through!

Like I said above though, the 12-13 year old version of myself would have loved it, and I mean that. The writing style was very younger young adult, just based off the language and the style itself. It was simple, held my hand in a few instances with a bit of exposition (telling rather than showing) and a lot of the dialogue was very to the point. Nothing really seemed like a challenge, things happened, the plot moved along, I wasn't exactly surprised by anything that happened. None of this really diminished my own thoughts on it though. I had fun! It was absolutely a lighter read with likeable characters, but in the way some YA books are very adult, this one sits perfectly within what we traditionally think of as young adult.