Book Review:: All That We See or Seem | Ken Liu

Fan of tech thrillers? Ken Liu’s newest novel, All That We See or Seem is a must read! In the world of developing AI and the surveillance we already have, this break-neck paced ultra-tech world really isn’t that far out of reach.

All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu Book Cover

Julia knows things because she knows how to find them, but she doesn’t do that anymore. Hacking was a way of life once, and the skills (and her personal AI) are incredibly useful in her day job, but she’s reformed. Her past comes back to bite her when a lawyer in trouble comes to visit her, drawing unwanted attention to her door. When it becomes clear she’ll have to bug out, she decides instead of leaving him high and dry, she’ll help him figure out what it is these thugs want to get them both out of this mess.

This book was a wild ride, and I loved it! Ken Liu’s Dandelion Dynasty series has been on my TBR forever, so when I saw an opportunity to read his new work, I jumped on it. It’s suddenly quite clear why he’s an award-winning writer. He’s got incredibly skill at weaving this kind of horrific world where you can tell how many people are in a room by the thermostat and where you are in the world without tracking a call, but by triangulating the background noise using data from tons of other sources. This is the world on AI, and it’s a cautionary tale.

If you enjoy something fast paced and twisty with interesting sci-fi worldbuilding and a mystery at its core, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: All That We See or Seem (Julia Z #1)
Author:: Ken Liu
Genre:: Sci-fi Thriller
Publisher:: S&S/Saga Press
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 58m
Audiobook Narrator:: Kat Cleave
Published:: October 14th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars