What if the world's last hope was hidden inside a livestream?
Rip Calder is nobody special-a late-night streamer, a survivor in a neon-lit city where technology and memory are currency. But when masked soldiers shatter his life and abduct Lora, the woman he loves, Rip is thrust into a war he never wanted. The city of Virelia is on the brink: haunted by digital ghosts, ruled by the mysterious NeonDyne corporation, and threatened by the awakening of the Core-a machine-god capable of rewriting consciousness itself.
As Rip races through collapsing districts, hunted by corporate enforcers and digital cults, he discovers a secret: he carries the Sound Key, one of seven legendary artifacts that can shape reality. To save Lora, Rip must master powers he barely understands, ally with rebels and outcasts, and face the Core's most dangerous guardian-a being who was once human, now transformed into an angel of war.
But the Core is not just a machine. It is alive, hungry, and it wants Rip-and Lora-for itself.
The Core of Keys is a cinematic, emotionally charged science fiction thriller about identity, memory, and the power of choice. Perfect for fans of Neuromancer, Control, and Arcane, this debut novel blends heart-pounding action, immersive worldbuilding, and unforgettable characters in a story about love, sacrifice, and what it means to be human.
Will Rip save the woman he loves, or will he lose himself to the Core?
