Hanley's writing isn't just descriptive, it's alive. Each sentence is humming with curiosity and heart. Sometimes I had to stop and breathe after certain passages because they carried a quiet power. The story takes big swings with its science, talking about quantum coherence, photosynthetic energy, and living planets. Yet, what hit me hardest wasn't the technology but the emotion beneath it. Ode's guilt, his love for his family, and his desperation to undo what's been done all feel painfully relatable. I liked that Hanley doesn't hold your hand. He lets mystery sit in the room with you. A few sections got a bit heavy with scientific jargon, and I found myself rereading paragraphs just to keep up. But even then, the sense of wonder kept me going.
By the time I reached the final chapters, I was both wrecked and strangely uplifted. The story turns from destruction to renewal, and that shift, from man breaking the world to man helping it heal, felt beautifully earned. Hanley writes with a sincerity that's rare. You can tell he loves both science and storytelling. There's awe here, and anger too, and a sense that we're all responsible for what we build. I closed the book thinking about how fragile and miraculous our world really is.
-- Literary Titan
Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
5 Star Review
Quantum Genesis, the first book in MD Hanley's enthralling series, is set on a planet on the brink of ecological collapse. Against the backdrop of the Cygnus galaxy, the narrative follows Ode Tillmook, a brilliant scientist whose groundbreaking experiment inadvertently transforms the planet Ghia into a sentient being. This awakening comes with a heavy price: a chilling prophecy of an asteroid barreling toward the planet in just ten months. Armed with quantum-infused stones that grant him extraordinary powers, Ode must unite a fractured population to find shelter underground before disaster strikes. As they confront the fear and division, the fate of Ghia and its inhabitants hangs in the balance. Can they evade the catastrophe, and what becomes of them afterward?
MD Hanley's storytelling is a mix of scientific intrigue and terrific descriptions, bringing to life a planet that feels like a character in the narrative. The idea that a planet can heal its healer and interact with the characters thoughtfully is ingenious, and the author explores this idea cleverly. Quantum Genesis includes themes of environmentalism, unity, and the strength of technology, creating a richly imagined universe held together by fragile threads. Ode is a compelling hero - well-drawn and utterly flawed. He is driven by genuine compassion for Ghia and its inhabitants, and his struggles resonate with readers who care about our planet. The character development is noteworthy; as Ode evolves, so does Ghia. The novel is fast-paced, and the tension mounts as the countdown to a disaster looms closer. The author infuses the narrative with compelling elements of science fiction: a deft exploration of quantum physics, a planet threatened by disaster, and futuristic technology that is as powerful as it is threatening. I enjoyed the descriptive prose, the vivid world-building, and the superb characterization, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series."
You can learn more about MD Hanley and "Quantum Genesis" at
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