Scion

by James Islington

John Wick meets Blade Runner in this fast-paced cyberpunk thriller by the #1 NYT bestselling author of The Will of the Many.

My job, when you think about it, isn’t so different from a lot of people’s. I have to deal with a ton of boring planning. Inconvenient hours. Some pretty awkward face-to-face interactions. And like most of us, I’m really only clocking in to try and crawl out from beneath my debts.

The more old-fashioned crowd do still get hung up on the ‘killing people’ part, I guess, but that’s a them problem: it’s been perfectly legal to take out lifers for ages. Besides, once ultrawealthy morons realised they had a way to live forever—limited resources be damned—there was only ever going to be one genuinely practical deterrent. So someone’s got to do it.

And luckily, my genetic compatibilities make me really, really good at it.

Still. This next job… I don’t know. It’s something I haven’t had to deal with in years. Kind of the opposite of my regular duties. Strange, that it got thrown my way.

I’m sure it’ll all go totally fine though.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction Fantasy, Dystopia

240 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

James Islington was born and raised in southern Victoria, Australia. His influences growing up were the stories of Raymond E. Feist and Robert Jordan, but it wasn't until later, when he read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series - followed soon after by Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind - that he was finally inspired to sit down and write something of his own. He now lives with his wife and two children on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Reviews

[Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube)]

Will this be a third series I love by the author 👀

[Youssra (semi ia- shelving books don't mind me)]

Mr. Islington sir we need news on Hierarchy book 3, but I am so sat for this release.

[kylie’s been jinxed ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧 ˎˊ˗

ᯓ scion will be published on september 01, 2026!
⤿ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4.75 sᴛᴀʀs!! ★★★★★
⤿ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ: ᴄʏʙᴇʀᴘᴜɴᴋ, ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ!!

ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ premise:
⤿ Azure is incredibly talented at killing people. It is not like he is particularly fond of the job - but it pays his debts. In this world, Lifers are those that have enough money to practically live forever, just like in our world - people are not happy, and that is where Azure comes in. However, when a strange new mission comes in - Azure gets thrown into a new environment where his rules no longer apply and everyone is hiding something from him.

ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ all my thoughts:
⤷ This book is incredibly bingable, filled with action and dark (murderous?) humor. I found myself completely engrossed in this cyberpunk world where all the rules differ from our own.

Despite being an assassin, our narrator, Azure, is surprisingly cheerful. In the beginning of the book, he comes across as a guy who was unlucky enough to be stuck in the position of murder. Azure carries with him a pretty dark sense of humor (I suppose it comes with the job), sometimes I found myself laughing, at other times I stared at my screen in shock.

Speaking of the dark humor, this book gets a little bit gory. Well I say a little bit, but proportional to the length of the book - it is a lot. I think that the consequence of a book written about an assassin is some violence, and people should already know that prior to picking the book up.

The setting is also super fun. I am always up for a cool cyberpunk-dystopia setting, this one was filled with just the right amount of chaos for me.

The length of this book is really nice. There is action on almost every single page and it is super difficult to put down. I was hooked by chapter 2 and I could not let go until the end of the book. (Luckily, it is not that long)

This story is told in first-person, which I do know annoys some people. I really enjoyed it - I was able to see into the mind of Azure: his revelations, thoughts, and understandings. It made for a very immersive experience while reading.

Altogether, this is an incredibly enjoyable read. I am definitely intrigued by other books from James Islington - the Will of the Many has my complete interest right now. I hope that this book turns into a series, because I would devour more of these.

ᯓ {🧪} ⩨ overall thoughts:

Scion was such a fun book to read. It is perfect for those who love cyberpunk, dystopia and murder. The cover is also gorgeous and would look really good with the rest of my science fiction books…

ᯓ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ:
⤿ 4.75 stars

ᯓ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ:
⤿ Scythe (Neal Shusterman)
⤿ Red Rising (Pierce Brown)

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Saga Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✮ || ᴘʀᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ:
₊⊹⁀➴ im so happy i received the arc! i know that this doesn’t come out until august - but I’ve been itching for a good science fiction for a while!!

[Rachel Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Azure is a cybernetically enhanced assassin used to taking out “Lifers” in a world where the rich can medically extend their life expectancy, while the poor live in increasingly crowded and bleak conditions with limited resources. But when Azure is convinced to take on a job protecting an ultra-wealthy asset, he quickly finds himself swept up in a dark plot in a world where everyone seems to be out for themselves. It becomes a race to figure out why the woman he’s protecting is being hunted, especially as the answer might also hold the key to uncovering the cause of the mysterious explosion that killed his friend four years earlier…

I loved The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few, so I was really excited to read Scion. I generally read less sci-fi than fantasy, but James Islington’s writing here still has everything that makes the Hierarchy series stand out.

It’s super fast-paced - there aren’t any chapters, no real breaks, you’re just thrown straight in and carried along on a sci-fi thriller ride! I found this pacing great in that the plot moves quickly and keeps you engaged, although also found the worldbuilding doesn’t always have as much space to develop or fully settle.

I really liked the familiar social commentary you get in Islington’s books. There aren’t really clear good guys or bad guys - just people shaped by their circumstances, all operating in different shades of moral grey-ness.

I really enjoyed the ending, and it sets things up well for future instalments!

With thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the Arc.

[aria ✧]

Thank you Mr. Islington for keeping us fed until
Hierarchy 3🙏🏾

[tiana ♡]

pre-read notes:
Thank you so much Saga Press for the ARC of this book! I've been loving sci-fi and this sounds absolutely incredible. Especially seeing that little cyberpunk tag, I can't wait! 🤭
🗓️ Expected publication: September 1, 2026

[clicktojointhemafia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 : ̗̀➛ Unexpectedly funny and such a sick take on Sci-Fi????

Scion follows Azure, an assassin who's (annoyingly) tasked with protecting a mystery client for two weeks. An assassin protecting someone? I know, sounds funny. Azure is prepared for a two week vacation until he actually begins his assignment and realises his client is deep in shit.

"They say money can't buy happiness. They've never seen Jasa de Alwes' accounts."

Now the only book I've read so far by James Islington is TWoTM which is a super serious and intense book that took some damn time to get into but this reading experience was SO incredibly different. For starters, I was pretty much hooked straight away within the first two chapters, and secondly the tone was so light hearted, unserious and humourous. Like can we applaud Mr Islington for the range????? Also the cover is so pretttyyyyy shut your mouth genuinely. The ilustration inside too, oooh yeah baby.

I reaaaaaallly enjoyed the concept. What I found super cool was Islington's Sci-Fi take on supernatural abilities because he gave Azure some wicked genetic modifications that grants him super speed, strength, precognition to some extent and so on! These were called Revs (short for revisions). Then there were also 'Monsters' called Bio's for short, which were kind of robotic creatures that also were quite animalistic in a physical/biological sense? It's hard to explain but I loved the concept.

Azure's relationship with his client was GOLDEN. I swear some of the shit he would say out loud and in his internal monologue had me cackling. He was such a chill-going guy with an ego and a half!! I won't reveal too much but I am excited for how it will develop.

Islington's story telling was great as always. I do believe he could have explained stuff alot more because my dumb ass has never heard of some of these scientific words before and would like some help pls. Especially since the book was only 234 pages, he could have totally squeezed some more words in to explain a little bit more. But honestly, in the end I feel like I was fine without it? Back to the page number- 234 pages?! It didn't even feel that short! It was such a fun ride I didnt even realise I was flying through the book, having fun as conflict, after conflict arose.

There was a variety of characters but hmmm. Maybe there could have been more of a connection between Azure and the others. It quite lacked in that sense, but then again I have no idea if that was intentional because of something we discover near the end... but honestly we needed him to have some more friends ✋ I know romance isn't Islington's forte but I just know a itty bitty subplot would have done wonders especially 'cause of how unserious Azure was so I'm hoping we either get a cute friendship or something cuter in the nextbook.

However the plot twists made up for that because omg?! omg? Genuinely if I was Azure I wouldn't know what to even do anymore. I'd be so lost. He kinda handled it well but we were left hanging on something!!! So I need to know now!!

AI and computer technology has a strong presence in this book. Our MC as their own AI called Atti, who has an personality btw and it really reminded me of Ken Liu's most recent book- All That We See or Seem. (great book btw, the character death that happens 60% in actually hurt me so fucking bad) but only in that sense. The characters are not alike LOL.

this was an spontaneous fun read- 3.5🌟

thank you to gollancz & netgalley for the early e-copy in exchange for an honest review xo

[giulia ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

james nails once again with his humor and fast pace story lines, absolutely different in tone compared to the hierarchy series so don't go into this expecting that writing because you won't find it, but this isn't a bad thing. we love versatility.
while i predicted the plot twists easily they're still fun to discover and space operaey enough to make them hilarious.
i think my only gripes are in the connections to other characters, they felt barely scratched and maybe it makes much sense being a series and all we have time to discover more about that but i feel like it's something he could've explored a bit more.
overall truly a fun start of this series and definitely will continue, he's now a must read author

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m starting to get weary of fantasy authors trying their hand at science fiction🫠

The narrative carries a lighthearted, funny tone, which vastly contrasts with the morally grey choices of the main character. The central plot is engaging, and while the twists aren’t entirely unexpected, they’re still somewhat satisfying. That said, I found myself wanting more closure by the end, which left disappointed (although I believe this will be a series)

I also struggled with the worldbuilding. It felt somewhat underdeveloped, making the setting difficult to fully visualize or navigate. I understand the constraints of a 240pg book, but even within that, there were moments where the pacing lagged. ALSO I never quite formed a strong connection to the characters. Their relationships and arcs could have used more depth, as the overall tone leaned a bit too light for the stakes at hand. Because of that, there wasn’t much tension and the story ultimately felt lower-stakes than it could have been. Womp

[Sarah Medeiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was delightful. If you’re looking for a quick, futuristic, cyberpunk sci-fi thriller, this is going to hit.

It’s being marketed as John Wick meets Blade Runner, but I also got some Murderbot vibes as well.

In this world, certain people have revs or genetic revisions that make them more enhanced individuals. And one of the most enhanced is our MC, Azure. He’s basically a mercenary for hire and he’s on a path to kill “lifers” who are basically people who have enough money to ensure they never die.

But then he gets assigned a protection case and that’s where things go off the rails. The sassy old lady that Azure is meant to protect from assassins seems to be keeping secrets and it’s a race to find out the who, what and why.

I had a great time getting lost in this world and I think if you’re missing the world of The Hierarchy and James’ writing then this is going to fill the void in a good way!

Thank you to Saga Press for the early copy!

[CadmanReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scion is a fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi novel from James Islington, best known for his previous fantasy work. I picked this up purely because of how much I’ve enjoyed his earlier books, and while I expected a similar writing style, this felt surprisingly different. Not in a bad way, just different enough that at times it almost felt like reading a new author. The shift into sci-fi naturally changes the tone, but what really caught me off guard was the humour.

There’s a distinct dark, almost sarcastic humour running throughout that reminded me a lot of The Murderbot Diaries, though with more gore. The story follows Azure, a genetically enhanced assassin navigating a morally complex, futuristic world shaped by immortality and corporate power. It has strong Blade Runner vibes, blended with that Murderbot style tone.

At around 240 pages, it’s a short, punchy read. The brief chapters and constant momentum make it incredibly easy to get through, and it’s the kind of book that’s hard to put down. Despite tackling heavier themes like identity, humanity, and dystopian systems, it keeps things fun with its lighter tone and humour.

That said, I finished the book feeling like we’d only scratched the surface of this world. This feeling is probably due to the shorter length, but it definitely left me wanting more, and I’m excited to see how the series develops from here.

[Aly]

20% in and I'm even more of a bigger James Islington stan

RTC!

[Camryn Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.25 Stars** Dang, this book made me chuckle a lot more than I expected. Islington infused the perfect amount of dry wit, sarcasm, and absurdity into this cyberpunk sci-fi world of assassins. Azure was a great main character to follow, with a good balance of smarts and adaptability for the increasingly ridiculous and deadly scenarios he found himself in. For such a short book, I also felt like the side characters were all very well fleshed out, and felt believable in the story, and how they fit with Azure. My main critiques would be the lack of explanation for some of the world-specific terminology, which may just be more of a staple in sci-fi that I’m not as used to. There was also generally a minimal amount of world-building outside of the immediate surroundings of the story. But I think for the scope of this book and the story that was being told, I got just enough to make it all work while still leaving me curious to know more. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, surprisingly amusing sci-fi read.

[Grace (alatteofliterature)]

New James Islington book while we wait for Hierarchy #3 alert!!! Releasing Sept 1, 2026.

[MM Bowerman]

So excited - preordered already and cleared my schedule for when it comes out, lol

[Will Blackmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised

[caitemersonbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun (albeit brutal)! It’s giving Murderbot Diaries meets John Wick.

[Will Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun cyberpunk assassin story! Short, action-filled, and some solid relationships built. I enjoyed my time, but had it been much longer, it would’ve probably been too much. Enjoyed the mystery and should’ve seen the answer coming.

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

Scion is a fast-paced and action-packed cyberpunk novel about freedom, justice, and identity.

It doesn’t matter what the genre is; if James Islington is writing it, I’m reading it. That’s the simple formula. I was excited by the prospect of Scion since I learned about it last year. If you have read The Licanius Trilogy or The Hierarchy series, then you should know science fiction elements undeniably exist in all of Islington’s books. Because of that and how much I love all five books from him I have read to date, I have always been curious to see Islington’s take on a huge-scope science fiction or space opera novel/series. Now, Scion isn’t that epic science fiction I wanted. But this is not a bad thing. It is more rooted in cyberpunk and thriller. And for the page-turning, fast-paced reading experience it seeks to achieve, I’ll conclude the narrative—eventually—did its job wonderfully.

Initially, when I was reading the first quarter of Scion, I felt a bit apprehensive about the quality of the storytelling. To give a bit of context… Last year, All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu, one of my favorite authors of all time, was published. Although the book isn’t a negative experience, I maintain my point that I wouldn’t be able to tell the book is written by Ken Liu if I didn’t know his name is attached to it. The writing style felt so different compared to The Dandelion Dynasty or his collection of short stories. Scion, for a while, felt that way. For such a short novel, it took its time to find its strong footing. But once we hit the 35% mark, I managed to read the rest of the novel in one sitting.

“I feel everything and it aches in my chest, and it is wonderful. Ten minutes, is all it lasts for. Ten minutes of humanity. Ten minutes of genuinely feeling like I know I’m supposed to feel, like what everyone else says they feel. Ten minutes of shame and anger and sorrow and confusion and real connection with the rest of the world. And then it wears off. Fades, an almost physical sensation. The lack of caring returns. I am, once again, completely fine. And I wipe a few tears from my eyes, and take a breath, and tap the q-com back on.”

I assume most readers will approach and read this after loving the hell out of The Hierarchy series. This is good. However, it is absolutely crucial to remind yourself that this is vastly different in tone and execution from The Hierarchy series. The only similarity the book has is that it is written in a first-person present-tense narration as well. That’s it. Plus, as I said, Scion is a short novel. At roughly 200 pages and 60,000 words long, Scion is not designed to have a huge sprawling and intricate world-building. The main story is centered on Azure and his mission. It is much more straightforward and meant to be a quick read. Islington wrote Scion during his downtime from writing the insane complexity and ambitious narrative in The Hierarchy series. It will benefit readers to open the pages of Scion with the correct expectations. Although not exactly similar, judging from the voice, tone, and themes available in Scion, the later books in The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells—in my opinion—are the closest comparison.

“Kind of seems like the question here is whether you want to try and live in peace, or be at peace. One of them’s probably going to be a hell of a lot harder than the other, though.”

To wrap-up this review, rather than recommending Scion to fans of The Licanius trilogy or The Hierarchy series, I believe it is more proper to recommend this short novel to fans of cyberpunk, thriller, or The Murderbot Diaries. Scion is the first installment in a series. It has heart. The action scenes were fun. I had a great time reading it, and I look forward to reading the sequel when it is ready. Similar to how Islington wrote the book during his downtime, Scion works incredibly well as a palate cleanser and lighter read amidst my usual heavy fantasy doorstopper reading. Here’s hoping Azure’s story will pleasantly surprise you.

You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Andrew. S, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Ben, Benjamin, Cade, Chris, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Feanor, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, James, Jason, Jeff, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Leigh, Lourdes, Melinda, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, RCT, Sally, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scion is a snappy, fast-paced, and witty sci-fi standalone novella. The book follows Azure, a genetically modified assassin who specializes in killing ‘lifers’—the ultra-rich who have the money and connections to indefinitely extend their lifespans (interestingly, in this world, the killing of lifers is not only legal but crowdfunded). The book works well as a fun romp full of quips and gory humor, featuring surprisingly complex worldbuilding for the length of the novel. However, as much as I enjoyed the overall experience of reading the book, I wasn’t satisfied with all elements of the book, and in particular was thrown off by the way an obese character was described.

The biggest strength of this book is its pacing: there’s a lot packed into a mere ~240 pages, both in story and in world development. There’s a lot to cover in a short time, yet I rarely felt like the book was rushed. It’s a weird compliment, but I’m a big fan in how Islington as an author chooses what to put on the page: just because an event is happening to the character does not mean it’s the focus on the scene, and the author has a great handle on really speeding through the unimportant so it can slow down and take its time with the weightier details. With the exception of the last ~10 pages or so, I felt that the pacing of this book was perfect. Azure, as a first-person narrator, talks with a lot of wit in a way that makes it a pretty fun read—though, it is a very particular style of humor, and I’m sure that there will be some readers who find it grating. Personally, I felt it was an asset to the book, and really helped to contribute to the fast, gritty sci-fi feel of the book. It also contributed to Azure’s characterization. It’s fun to see what events shock him and which ones don’t. Paired with the narration, it leads to the feeling of a pretty interesting character.

The main thing I struggled with was the book’s ending. I’m going to be very vague here because I don’t want to spoil anything for the reader, but I did feel that it was a bit rushed, and I wasn’t personally satisfied with the way the book ended. In part, some of the reveals near the end of the book feel like they should be big—and, maybe they are to Azure, but it’s difficult to tell because the ending is so rushed and Azure tends to under-react to things. I had hoped for more of an emotional reaction from Azure or for the reader but felt that the ending sequence was a bit flat and, ultimately, not particularly satisfying.

A short note on one other issue: the book describes an obese character in a weird and unsettling way. I’m willing to give the book some benefit of the doubt: it seems to be very easy to change your appearance in this sci-fi world, so a side character choosing to be obese and not conventionally attractive might be a factor worth pointing out; however, that’s mere conjecture. What’s on the page is a description of an overweight character going out of its way to describe him as hobbling because of his weight, gasping for breath because of his weight, struggling to get around because of his weight, you get the picture. Moreover, the physical descriptions make it very clear that this is meant to be seen as grotesque rather than a neutral descriptor. Obviously, overweight/fat/obese characters should be portrayed in media; they should be commonplace, and not merely the bad guy or the guy in the chair. I just found the descriptions really uncomfortable to read; they were objectifying, unsettling, and worst of all, completely unnecessary—as readers, we could have gotten a fine understanding of this guy without emphasizing that fat = gross.

I’m not entirely sure what to rate this book. I may lower my current rating once I have some distance from the novella. Right now, I’d rate it at a 3.5. Plot and writing alone, I’d put it at a 4; with the weird handling of obesity, I’m lowering it to a 3.5. As of now, I’m rounding up to a 4-star rating as I did generally enjoy the book, but I’m just as tempted to round down.

Thank you to Saga Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Brok3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopian future snuff fiction

I chose to read James Islington's Scion because I read and enjoyed his Hierarchy novels. Scion is very different from Hierarchy. Hierarchy seems determined to make broad points about the ethics of responsibility and complicity. Scion, in contrast, feels as if it was written to be an exciting action story and little more.

Scion takes place in a dystopian future. Islington doesn't explain in any detail how things got so bad, or even exactly how bad things are, except for a few details. It seems to be mostly an "if this goes on..." kind of dystopia. That is, it imagines that the bad things happening to the environment today, in 2026, continue and get worse, to the point where Earth is almost unlivable, except in the shelter of a few megacities which are, for most of their inhabitants, awful places.

In addition, medicine has conquered mortality. It is possible to keep a person alive indefinitely. It is hinted that practical immortality has contributed to environmental destruction. Only about 7000 people are able to afford immortality -- these people are called lifers. They are deeply resented by most of Earth. And it is legal to kill them.

It is legal, but expensive. Indeed, people pay to have lifers killed. This is done on a kind of subscription basis. The company Keres offers a contract to kill a lifer, and ordinary folks pledge to it. When there's enough pledged to make it worthwhile, Keres sends one of its killers to do the job.

Our hero, Azure, is one of Keres's hired killers, perhaps the best of them. He certainly thinks so. The story begins when he is hired to do the opposite -- to protect someone. As you of course expect, a lot of would-be killers come at them, and a whole lot of people die, often in very gory and unsanitary ways. Eventually we find out more about Azure and his charge.

I enjoyed this. It helps that it's a short novel. I think I would have lost interest if it had gone on much longer, but as about a six-hour read, it sustained my interest.

Thanks to Edelweiss and S&S/Saga Press for and advance reader copy of Scion. Release date 1-Sep-2026.

Blog review.

[jace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for an eARC of "Scion" by James Islington in exchange for my honest review.

A sardonic assassin and an unruffled old woman. This unlikely duo is not the beginning of a bad joke, instead the beginning of a gripping cyberpunk novel.

In typical Islington fashion, each word and scene is intentional in order to craft a story with different parts that will pack a punch when they come together. Readers are immediately plunged into the thick of Azure’s work as an assassin. We can’t help but be invested in what it entails, finding out more about his latest contract, and learning just who he is.

Quite a few of the questions we might have about world-building and characters are answered through conversation and clever banter (which had me chuckling multiple times) between Azure and his newest employer. Though, compared to Islington’s other works, it is not as extensive in the world-building category. So, for those who are already fans of "The Licanius Trilogy" and "Hierarchy", it may be a bit jarring to try and piece some things together in only so many pages. I would not let that deter anyone because his character work still holds the same mastery as his other books. Both Azure and his new employer have fraught trust as well as secrets. Yet, at the same time, they know they not only owe something to the other but could also save them in a sense. The dynamic was very well done.

The plot was fast-paced and, in my opinion, worked well with the length of this book (and I can be quite the critic when it comes to shorter books and their plots). The twists hit the way they were intended, revealing future plot points. I was constantly engaged and found that there is enough of a cliff-hanger at the end to keep readers anticipating more without it being rushed to reach that point.

While we often think of the cyberpunk genre as describing some far off future, Islington was able to make Azure’s world feel like one that could find us sooner than we think. He makes good use of commentary. The detachment of the ultra-rich and their inability to see how their fortune has been built upon the disadvantage of others. How in a world where resources and freedoms are taken away without a care, there are resorts that many will not be afraid to go to. That no one will ever have the same idea of morality, so just where are the lines supposed to be drawn? Despite that, the novel isn’t heavy or overly dark and nothing about such topics is explicitly spelled out. They can’t be missed, though, if we wish to dig deeper.

Overall, this was a thrilling and surprisingly funny cyberpunk novel, a genre I don’t typically read, and I’m glad Islington’s "Scion" was my introduction to it.

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scion is a fast-paced, energetic and fun new book from James Islington. We follow Azure, a cybernetically engineered and enhanced assassin employed to end the lives of those who seek immortality (called ‘lifers’). He doesn’t particularly enjoy his job but he’s very good at it and it keeps a roof over his head. But, his new assignment is something different. A security detail on a mysterious client pursued by unknown enemies. But all is not as it seems and Azure is thrust into a layered conspiracy stretching back generations. Who can he trust? And why does his client seem to have uncanny knowledge about his past? It’s short but packs a punch with lots of intense action and a decent sprinkling of humour. Think Murderbot meets Blade Runner.
I did enjoy reading Scion a lot and it was short and fast paced enough that I ended up inhaling it in just two reading sessions. The action sequences are brilliantly written, really fun and dynamic but also gritty and real. I really liked the fact that Azure, while above normal human capabilities, wasn’t indestructible and the injuries he received did actually affect him. I also loved how twisty the plot was. It constantly kept me guessing and anticipating new revelations. The writing style was really snappy, simple on the surface but with a lot of character and really fun to read.
Azure was a solid protagonist. He was fun to follow, though some aspects of his character didn’t quite make sense. I liked his arc around emotions and becoming more independent but I didn’t quite buy his constant snarkiness and quipping. It felt like the author wanted two things at once- a character suffering from being used as a tool and struggling with his distance from humanity and then also a lot of humour and it didn’t quite gel together for me. The humour is all very glib and, while fun, it didn’t always land for me. I also think the book was lacking a bit in terms of depth. The plot structure and the pacing are all very film-like, and I can definitely see this being a great film, but the action and plot twists meant that some depth in terms of worldbuilding, emotional resonance and side characters was sacrificed. The world was super interesting but we didn’t get to see a whole lot of it. I hope this will be remedied in the sequel. I also would have liked more time with Azure coming to terms with his past before moving on to the next thing.
Scion was pretty short and I actually don’t have much else to say about it. Overall, this was a solid and fun read and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for any sequels. Fans of Murderbot will find a lot to love, though I don’t think it was as emotionally resonant. Even if it was lacking in a little depth, it was very enjoyable and I can’t wait to see what James Islington does next.

[i · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to James Islington, Orion Publishing Group | Gollancz, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Scion is a short, 240-page, cyberpunk dystopian sci-fi thriller. It follows Azure, a cybernetically and genetically modified assassin who is usually tasked with killing ‘lifers’ - the ultra-rich who have medically extended their life expectancy with ‘ichor’. His jobs are often crowdfunded by the poor, who live in overcrowded megacities with limited resources.

His new job is unusual in that he is tasked with defending a ‘lifer’, Jasa, who is mysterious and unusually wrinkly. Jasa offers something Azure can’t resist: information about the explosion that killed his friend years ago in exchange for keeping her alive for two weeks.

This was a fast-paced and easy one-sitting read with loads of dynamic action scenes. It did however feel far more like an extended novella than a book, which is a shame as novellas are always more difficult to execute as the stories never feel fully fleshed out. I could definitely see this becoming a long series of interconnected shorter stories, similar to Murderbot.

Whilst this was my first Islington novel, I had high expectations before reading in terms of world-building due to his two famous fantasy series. I was not disappointed! I loved the bioengineered animals, dystopian settings, and the major plot twist at the end concerning Azure and Jasa. In terms of characterisation, Azure was a solid protagonist but lacked depth, which was exemplified by the length of the book.

I also really enjoyed the nods towards the Romans with the bioengineered monsters and ‘lifers’ taking ‘ichor’ in order to have the immortality of gods.

Overall, I could see this being an excellent movie adaptation with the fast-paced action scenes and intriguing tech but the length curbed the execution somewhat.

[LongSunMalrubius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the e-ARC!

5/5 stars.

I have a general principle of giving 5 stars to any book that I finish within one day. Now this is a very short book- roughly 60,000 words. In fact it’s so short that I didn’t even realize it had ended, I flipped to the page after the last chapter expecting the story to continue. After reading a bunch of massive sci fi/fantasy tomes recently, this was a breath of fresh air.

Islington keeps the plot moving, the action exciting, and the twists coming. Unlike his other books, this one ends on less of a massive reveal that recontextualizes everything and more of an ambiguous cliffhanger that left me wanting more. You can feel the smaller scope as well- there just 2-3 main characters and a handful of side characters.

Licanius and Hierarchy both have a lot of sci fi elements, so it should be no surprise that Scion has some fantasy elements, specifically in some of the biological tech. Islington also continues to have very strong prose, in fact I would say that Islington’s prose is significantly underrated post-Licanius. Azure, our main character, is unlike both Davian and Vis. He’s definitely the most flawed of all the main characters Islington has written, though those hoping that Islington would drop the hyper-competency aspect from his main characters will be disappointed.


On Islington’s website, this book is listed as “Scion Book 1.” I really think that these smaller projects are good for authors working on massive series, and hope we get more in this world specifically. Islington is a modern master of his craft, and I strongly recommend Scion.

[The Belladonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Welcome, you're about to have a lot of fun.”
-Joe Monti, VP Saga Press

John Wick meets Blade Runner in this fast-paced, action-packed cyberpunk thriller.

Scion is due for release on September 1, 2026.

Azure is the best badass in the game, a cybernetically enhanced contract killer operating out of the Keres Corporation. But his latest mission is anything but routine: he is tasked with protecting Jasa, a wealthy elderly client whose secrets run deeper than her pockets. Who is trying to kill her and why? Jasa is no ordinary woman, and soon Azure finds himself tangled in mysteries that threaten to unravel everything he thought he knew. How does she know so much about him? What truths and information are hidden in the files she dangles before him? Who exactly is Jasa de Alwes, and why has she singled out Azure for this dangerous alliance?

“You have potential, Azure. Depth. I always felt like there was real humanity hiding in there somewhere."

Scion throws you headfirst into a pulse-pounding cybernetic dystopia, filled with non-stop action and a multitude of twists that keep you guessing. Buckle up and hold tight, because this story launches at full throttle and never lets up.

"See you, space cowboy." -Saga Press

A big Thank You to James Islington, NetGalley, and Saga Press for gifting me this advance copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.

[Brandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Saga Press for an advanced copy to read and review before publishing.

Just like with Islington's Hierarchy series, I didn't fully know what I was getting myself into with Scion. And honestly, I liked it better that way. By not having any expectations, I was able to enjoy the world and characters that James has created as a way of exploring technology and situations that once felt like Science Fiction, but now feel not to far from reality. I was a long for the high-octane, fast-paced ride, and I had a damn good time. Especially as Scion has an element of sarcasm and humor that I found very refreshing.

James did an absolutely remarkable job fleshing out his characters and developing the plot in the mere 240 pages that is Scion. Each character had a unique personality with distinct motivations and characteristics. And although I can't say I fully grasped all the details of this new world, the plot was straightforward and easy to follow.

I will say that even though I have seen this book marketed as a standalone, according to Islington's website, it seems to be more of an "interconnected standalone" that begins a new series. So, if you are not a fan of cliffhanger endings, especially when we have no news on the second book, then you may want to hold off on reading Scion. As for me, I thought it was the perfect ending for where Islington might go next.

4.5 stars

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bite-size sci fi book that proves James Islington can bring the twists he’s known for in his fantasy to more genres.

As the Argos tries once again to separate my head from my shoulders, I can’t help but consider the possibility—not for the first time—that I may not have always made the best life choices.

That’s how the book starts and it pretty much sets the tone for the rest.

It’s fast-paced, packed with action, and centres a mildly apathetic guy called Azure who is a gene-boosted, Keres-trained assassin with an attitude.

It, like many sci fi these days (I wonder why) takes on big corporations and unethical secrets. Add in a friendly AI, an old lady, and some sarcastic quips.

“Pain’s important.”
She looks confused. “Are you being deep, right now?” “Sure. But also, it helps you know if you’ve been stabbed or shot.”

I would have liked more depth and description to immerse myself in this futuristic world. Similarly, the characters are fairly one-dimensional.

There are also a few grammatical errors, but this was a very early copy so I’m sure they’ll be corrected by the editing team.

A 3.5 star⭐️ rating rounded up as it was impressive for its length.

Arc gifted by Orion Publishing.

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[Sazerina Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scion is a high-octane, adrenaline-fuelled ride that wastes no time pulling you into its razor-sharp, futuristic world. From the very first page, the story hits the ground running and never lets up, maintaining a relentless pace that keeps you fully locked in from start to finish.

With strong cyberpunk undertones and a chillingly plausible vision of the future, the novel immediately immerses you in Azure’s dangerous line of work and the moral complexities that come with it. The stakes feel constantly sky-high, and the tension is expertly sustained as the story unfolds into something bigger, darker, and far more intricate than it first appears.

What truly stands out is how vivid and believable the worldbuilding is. The environments, technology, and characters are all brought to life with such clarity that it’s effortless to picture every scene, making it incredibly easy to slip into the narrative. Azure’s journey, in particular, feels immediate and gripping, drawing you deeper into the conflict with every twist.

And then there’s the ending, sharp, bold, and guaranteed to leave you reeling. The cliffhanger lands perfectly, sparking that mix of excitement and frustration that only the best stories can deliver. Scion is a thrilling, immersive read that lingers long after the final page, and it will absolutely leave you eager (and impatient) for what comes next.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.75 rounded up

Set in a future where death has become optional for the ultra-wealthy but this has left society deeply divided. The concept is fascinating, legalized, corporate-controlled assassinations targeting the immortal elite is immediately gripping. The lifer vs. non-lifer divide gives the story constant tension and leaves room for moral complexity.

This story starts out running and does not let up. Islington gives us constant pursuit, frequent combat and constantly escalating stakes which does not allow for much downtime. But the scenes are one of the standout elements in my opinion, giving a nice blend of sci-fi novel and a high action read.

Where the story falls a bit short for me is worldbuilding. Islington seems to favor momentum over detail in this novel. I really wanted the mechanics of immortality and society to go deeper. I guess I was expecting the dense more layered worldbuilding I am used to with an Islington novel. The book feels compressed. Like a larger, more layered story has been compressed into something leaner and faster.

Overall, what Scion sets out to do, it does very well. It’s sharp, intriguing and unapologetically driven. A sci-fi thriller that prioritizes momentum without completely losing sight of its ideas so if you’re looking for something fast, tense, and conceptually strong, it absolutely delivers.