Published by Gollancz in September 2026
Review by B. Mullens
In the near future, crowdfunded assassination of the ageless super-rich has been legalised, and the book’s protagonist, Azure, makes a living as a hired killer. He doesn’t especially enjoy the work, but he is very good at it as he’s lucky enough to have a genome that can support multiple revisions, or ‘revs’, which give him stronger muscles, faster reflexes and enhanced cognition. Azure’s employers assign him to act as a bodyguard to a wealthy client, and Azure is reluctant since a previous protection job led to the death of one of his friends. His fears appear justified as the mysterious client insists on separating him from any high-tech backup.
The story unfolds as a frenetic chase through a dangerous future cityscape where both assassins and the plutocrats they hunt employ genetically engineered creatures as ‘biosecurity’. This produces some enjoyable fight scenes as Azure has to combat mythical beasts like the giant sewer octopus or the many-eyed Argus of Greek legend. None of these, however, as deadly as the one his client has created; a monster of an entirely different class.
The prose is sparse and easily consumed. As a result, the book never drags, but since there isn’t much in the way of description, the reader must effectively be their own art director and visualise the world of the novel for themselves. The characters are just about humane enough to be likeable. Both Azure and his client are ruthless, but they are also fighting for survival, and there is enjoyable hard-boiled humour in their dialogue.
The structure of the story is simple, with a single viewpoint, first-person narrative and a three-act scaffolding, but, like Azure’s targets, it’s extremely well executed. Scion is almost insanely pacey. The story starts in the most media of res during a fight scene, and the action is unrelenting. Before the reader can process one event, something else is happening, and each short chapter ends with a cliffhanger. The writer’s choice to pace the novel this way can make the writing feel a bit one-note, but it can’t be faulted for excitement.
Those of us who read science fiction are always hoping to find new ideas or a different way of looking at things. Scion is not that novel. It’s definitely a fun ride, though. If you enjoy things like Bullet Train or high-energy manga battles, this could be the book for you.
B. Mullens is a part-time writer, full-time reader.