Hard Traffic - JS Holloway's part 2 of this incredible cyberpunk tale

After Hard Carry turned out to be my first cyberpunk novel, I was genuinely curious to see where J.S. Holloway would take the story next. I went into that book with no experience in cyberpunk fiction and came out wanting more so I jumped straight into Hard Traffic without hesitation. This time around I already knew what kind of ride I was getting into. We pick up with Felix doing what he does best. Getting himself into trouble. What begins as a courier job quickly spirals into something bigger when Felix arrives to pick up what he believes is data only to find out his package is Lumen. Before he can even process what’s happening, the hotel comes under attack. Suddenly Felix is racing to get Lumen to safety while everyone else seems to want her for their own reasons. The first book was mostly about Felix surviving one night. This time there’s much more going on beneath the surface. We start to learn more about Lumen, Project New Dawn, Dr Hahn, Dr Kim. And why Lumen matters much. I also found the relationship between Felix and Lumen to be well done. At the beginning Felix is trying to push her. He keeps telling himself this isn’t his fight that none of it should be his concern. As the story unfolds, that changes. He starts to protect her even though he still doesn’t understand how he got mixed up in all of this in the place. Lumen herself is probably the best character in the book. There’s way more to her than meets the eye. As pieces of her past come out, they deepen the mystery and add another layer to everything that’s happening. Then there’s Volker. He shows up strongly this time and feels like a real threat. He won’t hesitate to hurt anyone who stands in his way. You get the sense that nothing will stop him from getting what he wants. The action level has increased tenfold since the first book. There are car chases, shootouts, and moments where you’re left wondering just how Felix is ever going to survive The book still keeps its great sense of humour the first book gave us. Felix is still Felix. Even when things are falling apart around him, he still manages to throw in a sarcastic remark. Dom and Andreas also bring a lot of personality to the story, which helps keep things from feeling like a chase from start to finish. That balance is one of the series’ strengths. It handles the side of the world without losing its lighter tone. The two sides don’t feel forced or out of place. They fit together naturally. The world of Neu Berlin continues to be fascinating. After Hard Carry I was already eager to learn more about the setting. Hard Traffic gives us a look at the city, the people living in it and the forces shaping their lives. After reading Hard Carry I said it made me want to explore more cyberpunk novels. After Hard Traffic I think it's safe to say I’ve gotten pulled into the genre. It’s fast-paced. It’s packed with action. It’s full of humour. There’s a bigger story starting to form around Felix and Lumen. Importantly it doesn’t just repeat what the first book did. It builds on the characters and the world. Moves them forward, and it gives us a picture of where the Neu Berlin story might go. Hard Carry introduced me to cyberpunk. Hard Traffic convinced me I should probably stick around. Ive read both of these books over a few days and Hard Traffic is waiting to be released, I am just devastated I cant jump straight into Hard Exit. Hard Traffic is released 11th September 2026