Author: Neil Sharpson
Publisher: Tor Books
Released: June 29, 2021
Received: NetGalley

Looking for a new dystopian science fiction novel to dive into? Check out Neil Sharpson’s When the Sparrow Falls.

Agent Nikolai South has learned two important rules during his time in the Caspian Republic. Rule number one: trust no one. Rule number two: work just hard enough to avoid making enemies, but not too hard.

South’s life is about to get thrown into a pit of turmoil, as he’s set to guard the first machine ever allowed into the country. Only… there’s something personal about this case, as the widow looks far too much like his late wife for comfort.

“Power is a poison.”

When the Sparrow Falls is a fascinating specimen to come from the world of science fiction. Throw in the dystopian undercurrent, and you’ve got something really compelling and borderline haunting about the whole thing.

In other words: I really enjoyed When the Sparrow Falls. The world is a particular blend that I love – tech and dystopian themes that are hard to find done right. Yet the balance here is perfect, and it didn’t distract from South’s story in the least.

If anything, it enhanced it, as his story goes from being that of a typical agent to something so much more personal. I was expecting that twist (thanks to the book’s description), and yet I was still blown away by what followed.

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.