Review of The Prophecy of the Heron

[Carmen Contreras]

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

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Prophecy of the Heron is a SciFi dystopia novel by Craig W. Stanfill, based in a world where AI has taken over a lot of human processes, watching over people all day long, and violently controlling almost the entirety of society.

This story begins with Kim arriving in District 33, where she should establish her new home in exile, after being caught with Shan in prohibited acts. At District 33, she will come to know what she previously thought impossible: a cold and decaying house without any robotic assistance, a kitchen where she will have to cook for herself, cockroaches, rats, violence, and injustice. But she will also meet friends who will help her survive among the strongest.

In this novel, the author builds a complex world that is both tech-savvy but also has its traditions. A world where friendship is a shield against violence, even though you may not be entirely sure of who your friends are. This world is both familiar and strange, as it has changed from where we are now, but allowing us to recognize ourselves in the future problems of this land.

This is a very fast novel where something is always about to happen, and Kim will always be facing something dangerous and new in every corner. We are faced with a different use of English pronouns making us part of this complex world where gender is no longer necessary, even though violence is still being perpetrated in many other ways.

The Prophecy of the Heron is a novel for those wondering if AIs are capable of taking over the world as we know it, for those interested in social injustice, and for the ones willing to find hope in the gaps of the crevices of violence. This book is full of compelling characters that will take us through the difficulties of building a shield around us while we try to make room for love and compassion.

Rating: For me, this book is 3 out of 5 stars, as it has really interesting characters and issues knitted between social injustice and AI dystopia, and it builds a complex world with traditions that are not lost in the use of everyday technology. However, some scenes may feel too graphic at times, and it can feel overwhelming at some point as there is a lot happening all the time. However, I think this would be a very interesting book for teenagers who are interested in technology and AI dystopias.

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The Prophecy of the Heron
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