Livesuit by James S.A. Corey

You know that feeling when you finish a book and you’re like… whoa? That’s “Livesuit” in a nutshell. James S A Corey, the duo behind “The Expanse,” are back with, Livesuit, a punch to the gut that’ll leave you reeling.

The Skinny

So picture this: Humanity’s locked in this endless galactic war, right? And our best shot at winning is these Livesuit soldiers. They’re like… I dunno, cyborgs on steroids? Anyway, they fuse with this crazy tech and become something beyond human. Sounds cool, huh? Yeah, not so much.

Our main guy, Kirin, signs up thinking he’s gonna be this big hero. Save humanity, get the girl, ride off into the sunset. Classic stuff. But man, does reality hit him like a ton of bricks.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

What Works

1. The tech is wild. Like, seriously mind-bending.
2. Pacing’s on point. No snooze-fest here.
3. It gets DARK. And I mean pitch black, existential crisis dark.

What Doesn’t

1. It’s short. Like, novella short. Left me wanting more, you know?
2. Some characters feel a bit… flat. But maybe that’s the point?

The Nitty-Gritty

Alright, let’s dig in. Corey’s writing style? It’s like a punch to the face, but in a good way. Short, sharp sentences that hit you where it hurts. They don’t mess around.

The world-building is top-notch. You can practically smell the metal and taste the fear. It’s visceral, man.

But here’s the kicker—it’s not just about cool tech and space battles. This thing’s got layers. It’s asking the big questions. Like, what does it mean to be human? At what point do you stop being you and start being… something else?

The Characters

Kirin, our protagonist, is a decent guy. Starts off all gung-ho about saving humanity. But as the story progresses, you see him change. It’s like watching someone slowly lose their soul. Brutal, but compelling as hell.

The supporting cast? They’re… interesting. Some feel fully fleshed out, others not so much. But maybe that’s intentional? In a world where everyone’s basically a walking weapon, do personalities even matter anymore?

The Tech

Oh boy, the tech. It’s freaky, it’s fascinating, it’s frightening. The Livesuits aren’t just armor – they’re like… parasites. They keep you alive, make you stronger, faster. But at what cost? It’s body horror meets military sci-fi, and it works.

The Big Picture

“Livesuit” is part of James S A Corey’s new series, “The Captive’s War.” It’s a spin-off from “The Mercy of Gods,” which I read and enjoyed a lot. But don’t worry – you can jump right into this one without feeling lost.

That said, I bet reading “The Mercy of Gods” would add some extra depth. Might have to go back and check it out now.

The Verdict

Look, I’m not gonna lie—this book messed me up. In a good way, mostly. It’s not an easy read, but it’s a damn important one.

If you’re into military sci-fi with a hefty dose of existential dread, this is your jam. It’s like “Starship Troopers” meets “Black Mirror,” with a dash of “The Thing” thrown in for good measure.

Just… maybe don’t read it right before bed. Unless you’re into nightmare fuel. No judgment here.

Final Thoughts

“Livesuit” by James S A Corey isn’t just a story—it’s a warning. It asks us to think about the price of survival. How far is too far? At what point do we lose our humanity in the name of preserving it?

Corey doesn’t give us any easy answers. But they sure as hell make us think about the questions.

So yeah, give it a read. Just be prepared to stare at the ceiling for a while after you’re done, questioning everything you thought you knew about what it means to be human.

And maybe give your loved ones a hug. You know, while you still can.