Hey Bookworm friends! I am running low on old reviews I want to re-share but I couldn’t end this series without highlighting The Cybernetic Tea Shop. I read it in 2023 and I really enjoyed it; it’s short and sweet and needs more attention😊.
Link-ups
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.
1: Grab your current read 2: Open to a random page
3: Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• Share the title & author, too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Teaser Tuesday
She stood a few moments, absorbing the lack of sound, then gathered up their dishes and took them to the back, slid them into the sanitizer. Charged herself some more.
p 34 of The Cybernetic Teashop by Meredith Katz
About The Cybernetic Tea Shop
Author: Meredith Katz
Genre: Cozy Sci-Fi, Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Soft Cryptid
Format Read: Physical
Year Published: 2016
Cover Designer: Aisha Akeju
Synopsis
Clara Gutierrez is a highly-skilled technician specializing in the popular ‘Raise’ AI companions. Her childhood in a migrant worker family has left her uncomfortable with lingering in any one place, so she sticks around just long enough to replenish her funds before she moves on, her only constant companion Joanie, a fierce, energetic Raise hummingbird.
Sal is a fully autonomous robot, the creation of which was declared illegal ages earlier due to ethical concerns. She is older than the law, however, at best out of place in society and at worst hated. Her old master is long dead, but she continues to run the tea shop her master had owned, lost in memories of the past, slowly breaking down, and aiming to fulfill her master’s dream for the shop.
When Clara stops by Sal’s shop for lunch, she doesn’t expect to find a real robot there, let alone one who might need her help. But as they begin to spend time together and learn more about each other, they both start to wrestle with the concept of moving on…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate Crime, Grief, Xenophobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire Injury, Death, Violence
Minor (Mention): Bullying, Suicidal Thoughts, Slavery
Diversity
Asexual MC
Pace: Fast-Paced, Character Driven
Tone: Emotional, Hopeful
Review
A Sweet and Thoughtful Indie Novella About What I Wish Artificial Intelligence Was Actually Like.
Clara is an AI technician who moves from city to city fixing AI companions called ‘Raises’ but when she gets to Portland, she meets someone really surprising. Sal, is an autonomous and sapient Robot who, unlike the Raises, is illegal and faces persecution because of it. Sal is slowly breaking down as she tries to keep both the shop, and the memory of her long-dead owner, alive.
What a delightful indie novella! I thought it was gonna be steampunk but I would argue it leans more towards a cozy cyberpunk. The cog and wheel automatons I was imagining are instead plugged into a screen as Clara pokes into the coding that makes up their personality. I love the conversations this brought up! And indeed this is what the book is about as there is not much of a plot, but I don’t really pick up ‘cozy’ books for a pacey plot anyways.
The world-building isn’t robust but it is very engaging. We learn about Sal’s time, almost 300 years ago, where it was common for people to own fully sapient robots and we explore the ethical ramifications of that through the current society and how they perceive their ancestors. Sal is seen as a danger because she is ‘too human’ yet isn’t considered human legally. As a big ‘Data’ (Star Trek TNG) fan, this novella very much reminded me of the episode ‘The Measure of a Man’ in terms of the topics discussed and I can’t overstate how much I enjoyed that!
Clara and Sal’s relationship was really sweet and I appreciate the way it slowly developed into an asexual romance as both of their needs were clearly discussed and respected. Clara learned to open up to other people and Sal “…Tried to find a way to understand herself that wasn’t defined in contrast to anyone else”. Additionally, If you like animal companions, you’ll like Joanie: Clara’s brassy hummingbird ‘Raise’. Joanie also developed a friendship with Sal & I loved the scenes in which they teamed up to take care of Clara together 🥹
Overall I would recommend The Cybernetic Tea Shop ❤️
If you read this review I invite you to leave a link to an old review of yours and I’ll show it some love!
Let’s chat in the comments!
Have you read any books that remind you of a TV show or movie?
