Cyber Mage sees the return of some familiar characters but in a wholly new setting and in a compelling post-climate change story replete with vivid characters and his by-now trademark mix of dark humour, social satire, breezy style, and galloping pace ... Hossain deftly weaves together multiple plotlines—involving free-willed, intuitive-thinking AIs, djinns working code, shenanigans aboard the International Space Station (which was sold by NASA to Amazon, by the way), throneless kings, otherworldly intrigue, dragons, whisky-loving djinn, and a depressed cowardly airport—stitching them into a singularly fine fabric of a novel, with an action-packed climax worthy of a Hollywood summer blockbuster (and that’s a compliment!). Cyber Mage hits the sweet spot of being engaging and making you laugh and think in equal measure. If genre-bending novels are your cup of tea, then take a sip from this book. You will not stop till the cup is empty, leaving you wanting more.
Hossain's novel can certainly be read as a cautionary tale about climate change, but the energy that powers this story will remind many readers of a twisted version of Ernest Cline's Ready Player One: society has descended into dystopia after ecological catastrophe; the protagonist's quest is driven by privilege and self-interest; and the virtual world runs on greed ... Highly recommended for readers of cli-fi and those looking for a story that explores the virtual world.
... [a] giddy new novel, another inventive blend of mythology and cyberpunk gizmology ... Hossain puts a clever spin on both high fantasy and hard science tropes as ancient djinns wield futuristic technology to go head-to-head with humans empowered with their own technowizardry. Fans of both genres will find this an enjoyable romp.
Hossain’s latest novel borrows freely from both folklore and cyberpunk archetypes, making for an occasionally dizzying trip through a futuristic world ... The tonal whiplash between the novel’s irreverent teen protagonist and the dense plotting can sometimes be disconcerting, but the layered narrative feels assembled with care. An unpredictable exploration of an expansive future world.
