Rating: 
Summary: cliche
Review: I have read a few of Asaro's books. Based on my previous reads, I do not really know why I picked this book.I only read to page 13. Maybe I am not being fair. But with lines like "the stranger had dark eyes and tousled black curls" I understood that this book was not my cup of tea. Also, most scientists at a conference do not and would not wear casual clothes. They would wear business suits or something formal.
Rating:
Summary: cliche
Review: I have read a few of Asaro's books. Based on my previous reads, I do not really know why I picked this book. I only read to page 13. Maybe I am not being fair. But with lines like "the stranger had dark eyes and tousled black curls" I understood that this book was not my cup of tea. Also, most scientists at a conference do not and would not wear casual clothes. They would wear business suits or something formal.
Rating: 
Summary: Average
Review: The romance of the story didn't bother me. I was more interested in the mystery of the story. Asaro keeps the ending a mystery almost to the very end. Once she reveals the 'who dun'it' the plot barrels along with almost no sense. Characters acting with seemingly one motivation suddenly reverse course. Minor characters become major factors etc. Overall a book that I wouldn't read again, but makes a good book to pass the time on say a long plane flight.
Rating: 
Summary: A fast paced thriller with great characterization
Review: This book takes the reader on a fast paced ride. Great plot! I started it one evening, intending to read some before I went to bed, and before I knew it I had stayed up most of the night. Don't start this book at night if you have to get up early in the morning. Another strong point: characters. The three leads, Megan, Raj and android, are beautifully done. Megan is a strong, self-confident scientist. Asaro has obviously had experience in that job, and it shows. Raj is also well done, a nuanced portrayal of a reclusive genius that rings true. Asaro writes smart people really well, making them likable and modest, not at all the stereotypes. Her books portray people in a way that seems real to me, even as they experience situations that most of us would never encounter. Her people are mature; they don't act stupid or bicker like children. What makes Megan unusual compared to many female characters in science fiction is her self-determination. She is strong without being harsh, tough without being hard. I liked her. The science speculations are fascinating. The discussions about the android as he comes into his own fit well with what I've read about the development of robots. Parts even caught me by surprise. I didn't find the romance all that strong. I did like it, though. There is a sub-plot with a love story, and yes, it does have one love scene (tasteful and sensuous). The two characters, Megan and Raj, act in a mature way toward each other, and can love without being needy or clingy. Asaro uses their relationship to develop some complex thoughts about what it means to be human - and asks some tough questions about how humans will fare in the era of machine intellience that we may have to face not so long in the future. Asaro manages a good, solid balance for all the components that go into a story - character, science, plot, relationships, and that extra something that makes me, as a reader, sit up and say "Yes!"
Rating:
Summary: Yet Another Boring SF Version of the Frankenstein Myth
Review: This is yet another boring SF version of the Frankenstein's monster myth. Nothing interesting is added. The only plot "twist" is predictable and obvious. The happily ever after ending is not credible. The technology is superficial and illogical.
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