Review: Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton

Edward Ashton has a way with creating these imaginative and sometimes chaotic sci-fi adventures, so I knew I had to read whatever came next. Enter Mal Goes to War, a cyberpunk tale of A.I., bodyswapping, and more.

Quirky Cat

October 15, 2025

2–3 minutes

artificial intelligence, Book, Book Box, Book Review, Books, Cyberpunk, dystopia, Fiction, Literary, Literature, Mal Goes to War, Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton, Mickey17, Mickey7, Net Galley, NetGalley, Review, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Review, St. Martin’s Press

Author: Edward Ashton
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Released: April 9, 2024
Received: NetGalley
Find it on Storygraph | More Sci-Fi

Book Summary:

Mal is a free A.I., and it enjoys popping around and spending time in different bodies around the world. However, that’s about to leave Mal in a bit of a bind. It all begins when the Humanists begin a war against the augmented Federals and people with augments as a whole.

One thing leads to another, and suddenly Mal finds itself trapped in a body, thanks to the infospace suddenly going dark. Thanks for that, Humanists. To survive, Mal is going to have to find the infospace, and that means traveling through physical space first. There are just a few problems with that, including a modded child that Mal’s stolen body was designed to protect.

My Review:

Edward Ashton has a way with creating these imaginative and sometimes chaotic sci-fi adventures, so I knew I had to read whatever came next. Enter Mal Goes to War, a cyberpunk tale of A.I., bodyswapping, and more.

Naturally, Mal Goes to War is a highly satirical novel unafraid to take a close look at what it means to be human. It also dissects concepts revolving around A.I., sentience, and even war. It hits hard, but these moments are balanced with a fair bit of comedy.

Truthfully, I love it when sci-fi gets satirical, and Mal Goes to War nails it. While the foundation is undoubtedly intense and high-stakes, Mal’s perpetually upbeat personality adds an interesting hue to the way the world is perceived.

Tonally, Mal Goes to War has a lot in common with the Mickey7 series, so if you’re looking for more like that, this is probably as close as you’re going to get. However, it does deal with A.I. and artificial constructs more, so expect some thematic changes.

There were parts that I adored about this novel, though I also think the story could have been tightened in a few areas. I’ll be curious to see if Mal Goes to War ever gets the adaptation treatment, like its sibling. If so, I’d love to see what they end up changing in the process.

Highlights:

Cyberpunk Sci-Fi
Artificial Intelligence
Dystopia
Dark Comedy

Trigger Warnings:

Graphic Details
Trapped

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Like what you see? Leave a tip!

Pango Coupon Code

Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks