Review of The Prophecy of the Heron

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 08 Jun 2023, 14:59

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prophecy of the Heron" by Craig W. Stanfill.]

5 out of 5 stars

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Have you ever seen a heron? Do you know what kind of bird it is? Is it fun to watch? To my knowledge, I had never seen one, and I didn’t know anything about them, so I looked them up. They are birds with long legs, long necks, and heavy, pointed beaks, like a crane. They are carnivorous, standing in shallow water and stabbing their prey with their beaks. Now, what can this have to do with the story? Read The Prophecy of the Heron by Craig Stanfill to find out.

This novel is the second in the series about an AI-dominated society. These AIs are theoretically controlled by humans. The Prophecy of the Heron picked up where the first book in the series, Terms of Service, left off. It is not a stand-alone novel. The reader must understand the society that they are entering and its rules, which are very different from today’s social norms. If you have read the first book, however, I would encourage you to read this one as well. I really recommend it to those interested in technology and the ominous turn it may take.

As we begin the story, Kim is ending her bus ride to District 33. This was part of her punishment for being a Genderist (having a sexual preference). In this "outer district", she was expected to fend for herself. The AIs that had helped her with everything from food choices to transportation were no longer involved. They watched her every move, but to hurt, not to assist. Fortunately for her, she was able to find employment that allowed her to fulfill her needs and enjoy a small amount of freedom.

Kim’s new job and her success in fighting in the dining hall meant that she could avoid problems with most of the "Toughs.". She was being monitored by the Order Five AI, Kimberly, that she had created in what seemed like a different life. That was the only way that she could find to explain how her enemies always knew how to find her. Len and Dani were her only friends, and at least they would be around when she needed help. It usually came at a price, however.

There really wasn’t anything that I could point out that I disliked, but throughout the entire novel, I got the impression that everything would work out quickly and relatively easily for Kim. Despite this, I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I only found a few errors in the entire book, so I would say that it has gone through thorough editing. There were a few more curse words in this novel than the last one, but there were still not many. Any sexual activity was kept to a minimum and was not explicit at all. I would say that this is appropriate for all readers, but it may be of no interest to those who are younger. Whoever reads it, though, needs to have read and enjoyed the first book in the series.

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The Prophecy of the Heron
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ViviVivid · Post by **ViviVivid** » 12 Jun 2023, 10:46

Kind of reminds me of the book 1984 with all the watching and controlling. Probably not a good fit for me. However, the review was beautiful and contained all the necessary details I would want to know about the book. Thank you for a job well done!

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 12 Jun 2023, 13:36

ViviVivid wrote: ↑12 Jun 2023, 10:46 Kind of reminds me of the book 1984 with all the watching and controlling. Probably not a good fit for me. However, the review was beautiful and contained all the necessary details I would want to know about the book. Thank you for a job well done!

It WAS a lot like 1984, but it seemed like there were more human in “control”. At least there were more mentioned.

Shem Murundu · Post by **Shem Murundu** » 12 Jun 2023, 14:11

The first book ended on a great cliffhanger, and this sequel picked off perfectly from where the last had stopped. I must say I wasn't much impressed by Terms of Service, but I was really looking forward to its sequel, and I must admit that it exceeded my expectations of it by far! So much that it's my 2nd favorite book to date! First of, it had fewer sex scenes than its predecessor, and second, because of all the changes in Kim's life and her exciting fight for survival. I so much enjoyed all the action in it, plus the idea of meeting the AI inventors and conversing with them long after their demise, that was super fascinating! All in all, I was impressed with the author, how he managed to make a longer and much better sequel than its predecessor was a wonder to me and I hope to read a book as pulsating and exciting as that one!

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 12 Jun 2023, 14:29

Blackstenius wrote: ↑12 Jun 2023, 14:11 The first book ended on a great cliffhanger, and this sequel picked off perfectly from where the last had stopped. I must say I wasn't much impressed by Tetms of Service, but I was really looking forward to its sequel, and I must admit that it exceeded my expectations of it by far! So much that it's my 2nd favorite book to date! First of, it had fewer sex scenes than its predecessor, and second, because of all the changes in Kim's life and her exciting fight for survival. I so much enjoyed all the action in it, plus the idea of meeting the AI inventors and conversing with them long after their demise, that was super fascinating! All in all, I was impressed with the author, how he managed to make a longer and much better sequel than its predecessor was a wonder to me and I hope to read a book as pulsating and exciting as that one!

Thanks for commenting!

Hazel Mae Bagarinao · Post by **Hazel Mae Bagarinao** » 13 Jun 2023, 01:28

I enjoyed the first book, so I think it's easy to follow through this second book. I want to find out how Kimberly upgrade. I want to know how the relationship of Kim and her friends continues. How about the society she lives? There's a lot to discover. Thanks for your excellent review, Amy!

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 13 Jun 2023, 08:49

Hazel Mae Bagarinao wrote: ↑13 Jun 2023, 01:28 I enjoyed the first book, so I think it's easy to follow through this second book. I want to find out how Kimberly upgrade. I want to know how the relationship of Kim and her friends continues. How about the society she lives? There's a lot to discover. Thanks for your excellent review, Amy!

She’s a great girl and things are not always easy for her. Thanks for stopping by.

Kavita Shah · Post by **Kavita Shah** » 13 Jun 2023, 13:30

I do like the heron cover, looking right at me but not there is no me in it's eyes. Thank you for the insightful review Amy! I think I'll read Terms of service before jumping to this one.

Post by **Omneya Shakeep** » 13 Jun 2023, 20:42

I read both books in the series. I have to agree with you; the sequel is very impressive. It surpassed its prequel by miles. So far, it is my favorite science fiction book. You wrote an engaging and thorough review, Amy! I enjoyed it immensely.

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 14 Jun 2023, 08:20

Kavita Shah wrote: ↑13 Jun 2023, 13:30 I do like the heron cover, looking right at me but not there is no me in it's eyes. Thank you for the insightful review Amy! I think I'll read Terms of service before jumping to this one.

Good idea!

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 14 Jun 2023, 08:25

Omneya Shakeep wrote: ↑13 Jun 2023, 20:42 I read both books in the series. I have to agree with you; the sequel is very impressive. It surpassed its prequel by miles. So far, it is my favorite science fiction book. You wrote an engaging and thorough review, Amy! I enjoyed it immensely.

Thank you!