Overview

Nobody’s Empire follows a group of characters drawn into the orbit of Neal Kell, a billionaire tech founder who claims to reject power while quietly shaping the world around him. Set largely in Scotland, the novel traces how influence spreads through money, ideas and personal loyalty, often without those involved fully realising what they are enabling.

Writing & Voice

We found Morrison’s writing sharp, controlled and often darkly funny. The prose is clear and direct, with satire used carefully rather than broadly. Shifts between characters are handled with confidence, allowing the book to explore large ideas while staying grounded in individual lives and decisions.

Content & Perspective

The novel moves between activists, artists, entrepreneurs and observers who each believe they are acting freely. As their stories intersect, we see how wealth and ideology bend choices and relationships. Morrison avoids simple villains, instead showing how complicity grows through comfort, ambition and fear.

Themes

Nobody’s Empire examines power that pretends not to be power. It looks at capitalism, tech culture, moral responsibility and the stories people tell themselves to justify their actions. The book asks who really benefits when influence is hidden behind claims of benevolence and progress.

What Worked

• A clear, intelligent satire that trusts the reader.
• Strong thematic focus without losing narrative drive.
• A contemporary Scottish setting used with purpose.

Minor Quibbles

• The ideas can feel dense at times.
• Some readers may want more emotional warmth.

Final Thoughts

Cool, unsettling, and sharply observed, Nobody’s Empire made us reflect on how power hides in good intentions, and how ordinary people become part of it.

Rating: ★★★★½ / 5