Neon and Ruin

NEON & RUIN
Book One of the Hollow Circuits Series

A decaying world-ship. A mechanic who speaks the language of the creators. And a fierce privateer captain who would rather die than let the system win.

For miles in every direction, the inverted steel skies of the Hollow curve overhead, a colossal, rusting world-machine bleeding direct current and dark secrets. On the lower decks, survival means scavenging the grease-slicked depths of the Drift Market and staying one step ahead of the Vanguard the oppressive military faction tearing the sectors apart to tighten their iron grip.

Kael is a broad-shouldered, rugged mechanic who just wants to keep his head down and his wrench turning. But he carries a dangerous secret written under his skin: ancient, electric-cyan geometric tattoos that flare to life when he touches old-world machinery. He isn't just a gear-boy; he is an Administrator interface, holding the biometric code to the entire ship's automated systems.

When he is taken in by Elara, the fierce, athletic captain of the aging scavenger ship Rust-Bucket, the friction between them is instant. Elara hides her deep insecurities behind a razor-sharp pirate mask and a crackling, neon-pink plasma blade. She doesn't trust anyone especially a mysterious mechanic who turns himself into a lightning rod every time he picks up a tool.

But when the Vanguard locks down the sector to hunt Kael down and strip the code directly from his nervous system, running is no longer an option. Trapped in the sweltering, claustrophobic engine hold of a dying ship, Kael and Elara must learn to trust each other before the current drags them both into the Maw.

As the lines between machine code and raw human emotion blur, they will have to risk everything to clear the lines, restart the system, and ignite a spark in the dark.

If you like gritty, industrial space operas, high-stakes heists, and slow-burn cyberpunk romance, you'll love the explosive first installment of Jered Glover's gripping new sci-fi saga.