Pitched as ‘if Animorphs were spliced with Orphan Black and The Hunger Games’, ALPHA by K.D. Marchesi is a brutal survival sci-fi thriller with dangerously sharp teeth but a surprisingly warm, human heart. I mean, it’s got lots of genetic fuckery and scary shape-shifting horrors, but then it also offers some of the most heartwarming found family vibes and profound emotional journeys, and I absolutely love it for that.

ALPHA is one of those books that just sinks its teeth into you from the very first page and refuses to let go. We are thrown into the life of Caleb Murilo, a slightly spoiled but good-hearted young guy who wakes up on an isolated island in a body that feels increasingly monstrous to him and then has to learn how to survive amidst a group of unlikely allies who are all victims of his dad’s sick and dangerously ambitious experiment. And if that isn’t a strong hook, then I don’t know what is.

There are many, many things I love about ALPHA, but the thing I appreciate most about it is the fact that it’s so much more than just the thrilling survival adventure that it appears to be at first glance. Even without having read the raw, vulnerable author’s note in which Marchesi shares so bravely about how his personal transition journey is woven into the DNA of this book, you can tell that this story just comes straight from the heart. It’s queer down to its very bones without ever being overt in its themes and messages, and I think that only makes this story all the more powerful.

Like, you can totally come to ALPHA for the thrilling action, the gripping mysteries or the brutal body horrors, but I personally think those aspects only feel so gripping because the character work is so strong. Despite the fast pacing, Marchesi manages to get you deeply invested in these characters’ harrowing journeys by masterfully interweaving the internal and external conflicts, and I just had the best time seeing Caleb being an utter chaotic mess while trying to deal with all his inner turmoil as he attempts to figure out the mysteries of the island, its untrustworthy inhabitants, and his wildly changing body.

He is one of those main characters with a very strong voice and an even stronger will, which gets his impulsive, stubborn ass into some difficult yet undeniably amusing situations. And sure, at times he might come off a bit immature for his early 20s or the dialogue might feel a bit simple, but I think it fits with the new adult thriller vibe of the story. Also, I just can’t deny that I found Caleb to be effortlessly endearing, and it’s no surprise to me that he won the hearts of so many people on the island, even if they were reluctant to admit it at first.

The unexpected found family vibes are just so strong, with my favourite relationships being the precious lone (but not really lone) wolf/cub dynamic with Ethan, the touching mom-feels with my sapphic queens Ava & Aiel, the head-butting with Delia, and the simmering tension and teasing banter between Caleb and my snarky babe Argo (like, am I the only one who wants them to just kiss already?!?!). Especially when we start to peel back the layers of Caleb’s tragic family situation, childhood trauma, and daddy issues (who easily wins worst dad of the year award, no competition), it only becomes more touching to see him finding his own pack to support and comfort him in ways he never knew he needed.

ALPHA might be a brutal and heavy story, but it never feels emotionally draining because of the heart, (dark) humour, and hope that lie at its core. It does everything a good start to a new series should do, and I can’t wait to see what Marchesi has in store in the rest of The Alpha Cycle. It’s a wildly unique tale of self-discovery, of transition, of queerness, of community, of found family, of exploitation, and of rebellion, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who likes the sound of a fast-paced survival sci-fi that is as monstrous as it is human.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ALPHA is scheduled for release on November 20th, 2025. 

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