Domain – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Teen testing dangerous brain technology.
YA book title: Domain.
YA author: Rohan Gavin.
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopia
Published by: Ink Road.
ISBN: 9781785307980.
Recommended for children aged: 12-18 year-olds.
First published: Paperback July 2024.
This YA book is ideal for: teenagers and young adults who enjoy fast-paced tech thrillers, particularly fans of Anthony Horowitz and Eoin Colfer.
To see the latest price or order, click on the book cover image. As an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Our review:
Porter Simms is an orphaned teenager who becomes the test subject for revolutionary brain technology created by his deceased parents. This experimental system transforms his mind into a “Domain” – a government-owned neural interface that can instantly download any skill imaginable, from combat expertise to musical mastery.
However, the technology comes with a devastating price: Porter loses his freedom, becoming a permanently connected government asset. Each skill he downloads chips away at his mental well-being, slowly eroding his sense of self and his precious memories of the past.
When mysterious enemies begin hunting him, determined to destroy him permanently, Porter realises he’s caught in a deadly game. He must navigate this high-tech nightmare while racing to prevent a catastrophic event that could have widespread consequences.
As the threats escalate, Porter faces the ultimate challenge: saving the world while desperately trying to hold onto his humanity in a digital age where the boundaries between man and machine have disappeared. The story serves as both an adrenaline-fueled thriller and a warning about the dangers of our increasingly connected world.
Rohan Gavin’s Domain delivers an easy-to-read sci-fi thriller that will hook tech-loving teens without confusing them with complicated jargon. Gavin creates a futuristic world where you’re never sure which characters to trust, keeping readers guessing about everyone’s real intentions.
The story’s strength is in how it slowly reveals the truth; danger builds gradually as both Porter and the reader realise just how serious his situation really is. What begins as an exciting chance slowly turns into a complete nightmare.
Best of all, Gavin gives us interesting insights into where technology might lead us and what could go wrong, but never sounds like he’s giving a lecture.
Our verdict:
Domain is a gripping page-turner and engaging sci-fi adventure that balances cutting-edge concepts with readable storytelling, making complex ideas accessible to young adult readers.
Many thanks to Ink Road for the review copy.
To order a class set of this book, please click below to order via uk.bookshop.org, an organisation that supports local bookshops, or Amazon.co.uk.
Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above: we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Browse our Year 8 reading list.
