I was just flipping through my bookshelf the other day and noticed 'The Bezzle' sitting there—such a gripping read! The author is Cory Doctorow, who’s honestly one of my favorite writers when it comes to tech-infused thrillers. His stuff always feels like it’s five minutes into the future, and 'The Bezzle' is no exception. It’s part of his 'Martin Hench' series, where he dives deep into the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley with this sardonic forensic accountant protagonist. Doctorow’s background in tech activism really shines through, making the whole thing feel terrifyingly plausible.
What I love about his work is how he blends razor-sharp satire with page-turning plots. If you’re into stories that make you side-eye your phone a little harder after reading, this is your jam. Also, his newsletter 'Pluralistic' is a goldmine for anyone obsessed with the intersection of tech, policy, and culture.
Oh, 'The Bezzle'? That’s Cory Doctorow’s latest—well, latest in his Martin Hench universe, anyway. I stumbled onto it after binging 'Little Brother' and 'Attack Surface,' and now I’m hooked. Doctorow has this knack for writing about tech scams and corporate greed like he’s got insider intel (which, given his EFF ties, he kinda might). The book’s all about pyramid schemes and financial shenanigans, but with that trademark Doctorow twist where the tech isn’t just set dressing; it’s the villain.
Funny thing is, I loaned my copy to a friend who works in finance, and they came back pale-faced saying, 'This feels like a documentary.' That’s the magic of Doctorow—he makes dystopia feel like next Tuesday. If you’re new to his stuff, this is a wild ride to start with, but maybe keep Google handy for the crypto jargon.
Cory Doctorow wrote 'The Bezzle,' and it’s such a trip. I picked it up because I’d heard his name tossed around in sci-fi circles, but wow, this book grabs you by the collar. It’s part of his series about Martin Hench, a forensic accountant who unravels tech industry cons, and it’s packed with that classic Doctorow energy—equal parts hilarious and horrifying. The way he writes about financial scams makes you wanna double-check your bank statements mid-chapter.
Side note: If you dig audiobooks, he narrates his own stuff, and his delivery is perfect for the material—dry, witty, and a little exasperated, like he’s seen too much. Also, check out his Makers series if you’re into 3D printing chaos.
2026-01-21 14:19:05
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Beauty and The Beta
Beth Jackson
9.6
134.7K
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher.
Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore...
Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Catherine Galhart had saved herself for the only man she ever paid attention to, only for fate to crush her young heart when he came home with his fated mate in his arms. Lost and heartbroken, she ran and hid as she slowly picked up her broken pieces.
But when she thought everything was finally falling into place and she was ready to accept the love she felt she deserved, life threw another reality in her face — a destiny she could never escape.
Will she finally cave in and let fate take control of her life? Or will she keep fighting for the life she knew she wanted from the very beginning?
Join Catherine as she embarks on the journey from love lost to self-discovery, family, and friendship to finding a love worth fighting for.
*****
THE ALPHA BLOOD CIRCLE:
Book 1: She's The Luna I Want
Book 2: The Beta and I
Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Book 1 to understand the characters and the concept of the Claiming.
*****
Follow me on my I G and F B for updates and teasers - author.cassa.m
What would you do if you've been saving yourself for your mate? Only for him to choose another Alpha Female right in your face?
Reciprocate the act.
Avenge.
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.
Easier said than done. Because whenever he was around me, my body betrayed me.
"Alia, do you trust me? Even just for tonight?" His voice came out low and rough that it sent shivers of pleasure direct to my core.
I know I should not trust him. But my mouth and body have a mind of their own.
"I trust you, Gavin..." I whispered as I pressed my back to his naked chest.
He took a deep breath and dipped his head into the crook of my neck, slowly brushing his lips against my burning skin. I angled my head, giving him more access while a sultry moan escaped my throat when he started nibbling and sucking the soft spot where his mark should be.
This was all wrong, but I don't want to be right this time. Just for tonight.
¨¨¨¨¨¨Book 2 of the Black Shadow Pack Series - The novel is stand-alone, however, to understand the characters deeper and the concept of The Claiming, I highly recommend that you read the first book HE'S MY ALPHA (completed). Also available on this app.
Black Shadow Pack Series:
Book 1 - HE'S MY ALPHA (Completed)
Book 2 - THE BETA IS MINE (Completed)
Book 3 - LOVING THE GAMMA (Completed)
Spin-Off Book 1 - IN THE ARMS OF MY ALPHA (Completed)
Spin-Off Book 2 - THROUGH THE EYES OF MY ALPHA (Ongoing)
Ivan is a lost soul. He longs for each month's fight to the death in the Cage to be his last day on earth. Except when Cherish's terrified clear blue eyes meet his in a post-fight haze, he feels compelled to get involved.
If he doesn't claim her body as his victory prize one of the other embittered fighters will.
While Cherish despises Ivan for his notorious brutality in the Cage, she soon realises she cannot afford for him to lose the next fight. Not just for her own safety, but for her softening heart as he defies her expectations about shifters.
Both have secrets, but when trapped together under the watchful eye of the Axelon gang, fellow fighters and desperate gamblers, is their love enough to achieve the impossible, and escape?
Fate has kept Ivan alive this long, is Cherish the reason? Or is there to be a final cruel twist from the Moon Goddess…
White Forest Pack Series (Can all be read as standalone)
*Book 1 - A Banished Alpha
*Book 2 - The Luna's Rejected Assassin
*Book 3 - The Beta's Prize
Shadowlands Series (Can all be read standalone)
*Book 1 - A Damaged Alpha
*Book 2 - The Luna Who Wants Everything (2023)
Meet Noel Atkins, kinda awkward, has her face stuck to a screen almost every time, talks to herself and always, always wears a beanie. She moves to a new town in other to start things afresh, and scale through Highschool unnoticed and alone.
Meet Aaron-lee Altamira, the popular boy, rich, handsome, every girl's dream and every boy's model. With his killer blue eyes and charming attitude, Aaron-lee always gets what he wants. Aaron-lee doesn't do flings and hook ups, he's searching for something real. Something substantial. Something challenging. Something more cherishing than his cars. Something he finds in the eyes of the new girl who talks to herself and always wears a beanie.
With the school's hottest boy interested in her, Noel's quite, boring, gaming and withdrawn life is about to take a ride on a rollercoaster. Noel isn't interested and Aaron-lee isn't taking no for an answer.
⚠️ Contains emotionally intense and mature themes. (R 18+)
"Look at me, Hazel." Diego approached, his breath burning Hazel's ear. "I only ask for one thing... beg me." Hazel shook her head, her knees trembling. "No... you can't—" Diego smiled faintly, darkly, full of triumph. "If you beg... I will never let you go."
Hazel Anne Quinn, 24 years old — a small-time journalist who no one takes seriously. Living a mediocre life, abandoned since birth, and writing erotica as a ghostwriter at night to survive. No one ever wanted Hazel... until Diego Ronan Blake appeared.
A senior actor and tycoon at 34, a man who makes the world bow down and causes women to fight to be his. But Diego becomes obsessed with the one woman who avoids him — Hazel's grayish-green eyes, filled with fear yet a hint of defiance, make Diego lose control.
For Diego, Hazel isn't a fantasy — she is a necessity. He wants Hazel as his, body and soul, and this obsession drives him to tear down the walls that have protected Hazel, only to rebuild them with himself at the center.
Hazel can be afraid, can hate, can resist... but as long as she doesn't beg, Diego will never stop. Because once Hazel gives in — even just once — Diego will never let her go.
Beezer is a bit of an enigma—I stumbled upon it while digging through indie comics a few years back, and it took me forever to track down the creator. The author's name is Sam Hurt, an underground cartoonist who's been weaving surreal, dreamlike stories since the '80s. 'Beezer' itself is this wild, stream-of-consciousness comic that feels like a mix of punk zine energy and absurdist humor. Hurt’s style is super distinctive, with these jagged lines and chaotic panels that somehow make perfect sense when you dive in.
What’s fascinating is how 'Beezer' evolved over time, starting as a newspaper strip before morphing into something way more experimental. Hurt’s work doesn’t get mainstream attention, but in niche circles, he’s legendary. If you’re into comics that push boundaries, like 'Zippy the Pinhead' or early 'Love and Rockets,' you’ll adore his stuff. I still flip through my dog-eared 'Beezer' collections when I need a creative jolt.
I couldn't put down 'The Bezzle' once I started—it's this wild ride through the underbelly of corporate greed and digital deception. The book follows a scrappy investigative journalist who stumbles onto a massive financial scam involving cryptocurrency and shell companies. The deeper she digs, the more tangled the conspiracy gets, with shadowy figures and high-stakes betrayals at every turn. What really hooked me was how it mirrors real-world scandals like FTX or Theranos, but with a noir-ish twist that makes it feel fresh.
What I loved most was the way the author blends tech jargon with gripping storytelling—it never feels like a dry lecture. The characters are flawed but compelling, especially the protagonist's tenacity in chasing truth despite the personal cost. It's a cautionary tale about trust in the digital age, but also weirdly hopeful about the power of whistleblowers. Made me side-eye my crypto wallet for weeks afterward!