Robo Recall II: Rogue Matriarch

Robo Recall II: Rogue Matriarch involves the continuation of Dr. Amelia Westford and Eiji's relationship. Eiji is the advanced companion robot she had  created in the first book, which also culminated in Amelia now leading Shinsekai Robotics while secretly working to repair Eiji’s damaged mind. The book begins with Eiji waking up in a futuristic Osaka where public tensions surrounding automation and robotics are mounting. There are anti-automation protests that are gaining momentum across the city while political pressure are up against Shinsekai Robotics. Even during brief moments of personal connection between Amelia and Eiji, the hostility toward human-robot relationships becomes impossible to ignore. This inevitably shapes some tensions in their relationship as well, with Eiji growing increasingly independent of Amelia. 

Amelia is drawn farther into a convoluted web of corporate rivalry, political scheming, and technology ethics as the situation worsens. She is under constant observation and increased security due to threats from strong institutions and extremist groups, even though an unexpected ally shows up to support her efforts. Simultaneously, Eiji experiences transformations that imply he might be transcending his initial programming. Dangerous missions, betrayals, and a deliberate attempt to frame her for misconduct force Amelia into more dire situations as she tries to save both her study and Eiji. Amelia must form uncomfortable connections and make difficult choices in order to survive.

Reading this book is a wonderful, immersive experience in a hypothetical world so believable that makes it nearly impossible to put down. The author demonstrates impressive attention to detail when portraying the internal crises the characters endure, adding depth and emotional resonance to the story.