Why we’re excited
Eirale Ward is back at NileCorp with her treason charges wiped, but she now spies for the Coalition from inside the company. Nik Grant, meanwhile, has Project Wit in hand and a corporation hunting the people he loves.
Gong first broke out with These Violent Delights, her Shanghai retelling of Romeo and Juliet, and the StrangeLoom books swap the 1920s for a corporate future and virtual reality. This is book two of three, so read the first volume before this one; the plot leans heavily on what happened there.
On our most-anticipated list since 22 October 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about Deadlock
Deadlock is Book 2 in the The StrangeLoom Trilogy series. Start with Book 1, Coldwire.
We have reviewed 2 of Chloe Gong’s books, with an average score of 3.8 out of 5. Our highest-rated so far is Vilest Things (4★).
At 480 pages it is one of the longer science fiction books out in November 2026; the typical one runs about 384 pages.
From the publisher
One wrong move will end the world…
The nation can't stop talking about Eirale Ward. After a perilous mission with the enemy, she has been rescued and returned to NileCorp. Her gracious employer cleared her charges of treason and restored her status as an elite soldier.
Once, that would have been enough—but she is not that same Eirale anymore. She is a spy for the Coalition, tasked to take down NileCorp from the inside.
Meanwhile, everyone in Atahua is watching Nik Grant. Though he succeeded in his mission to retrieve Project Wit, he has put a target on his loved ones, and NileCorp will stop at nothing to bring him in. Working for the Coalition was supposed to help him destroy NileCorp, but the Coalition is pushing restraint while he wants action. He’s running out of time.
When Atahua's charismatic vice president joins the scene at NileCorp, the company grows untouchable. Kieren is unwavering in his belief in Lia and her ability to rupture the power in virtual reality—but NileCorp sees all, and it has long set its trap. Before total and absolute control can land in NileCorp’s hands, Lia must embrace what she was built to do…
Either change the world or burn it all down.
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read Deadlock yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
