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Metropolis Down
A relationship broken.
A ship in distress.
Jett and Eddie stand between life and death for hundreds of thousands of souls.
But can they save each other?
The QSR Neo-Tokyo was the first ship in the Metropolis-class fleet: an immense spaceship housing an entire city and half a million people in its hold. For forty years, it has traveled from Jupiter to Pluto and back without issue. So, when it leaves Ganymede after routine maintenance, no one aboard could’ve anticipated what would happen.
Eddie Stone, First Officer of the Neo-Tokyo, wants to prove his worth once and for all. Now he has the chance as Captain of a brand-new, luxury spaceship: the QSR Golden Lion. Pushed to pick either his future or his long-term boyfriend, he makes the difficult choice to further his career and break things off with Jett. But he’ll remain on the Neo-Tokyo for four more months until he can join the Golden Lion.
Jett Valla, the Neo-Tokyo’s Head of Security, wants answers about why Eddie left him when their relationship was essentially perfect. But when the truth comes, it’s as he’s spiraling, unable to fight off nightmares from his traumatic past, and his only comfort is now denied to him.
Despite avoiding each other for months, Eddie and Jett are forced back together when the Neo-Tokyo intercepts a distress signal that leads them to a ship filled with unexpected horrors. What Jett finds there raises more questions than it answers, and leaves Eddie haunted by the terrors on board.
When they return to the Neo-Tokyo, something sinister follows them, and soon the crowded city streets run with blood.
Metropolis Down is an adult space horror novel with an achillean second-chance romance starring two neurodivergent men. It is the first book in the Void series.
There are heavy cws for this book, please refer to the authors website for a detailed list.
A ship in distress.
Jett and Eddie stand between life and death for hundreds of thousands of souls.
But can they save each other?
The QSR Neo-Tokyo was the first ship in the Metropolis-class fleet: an immense spaceship housing an entire city and half a million people in its hold. For forty years, it has traveled from Jupiter to Pluto and back without issue. So, when it leaves Ganymede after routine maintenance, no one aboard could’ve anticipated what would happen.
Eddie Stone, First Officer of the Neo-Tokyo, wants to prove his worth once and for all. Now he has the chance as Captain of a brand-new, luxury spaceship: the QSR Golden Lion. Pushed to pick either his future or his long-term boyfriend, he makes the difficult choice to further his career and break things off with Jett. But he’ll remain on the Neo-Tokyo for four more months until he can join the Golden Lion.
Jett Valla, the Neo-Tokyo’s Head of Security, wants answers about why Eddie left him when their relationship was essentially perfect. But when the truth comes, it’s as he’s spiraling, unable to fight off nightmares from his traumatic past, and his only comfort is now denied to him.
Despite avoiding each other for months, Eddie and Jett are forced back together when the Neo-Tokyo intercepts a distress signal that leads them to a ship filled with unexpected horrors. What Jett finds there raises more questions than it answers, and leaves Eddie haunted by the terrors on board.
When they return to the Neo-Tokyo, something sinister follows them, and soon the crowded city streets run with blood.
Metropolis Down is an adult space horror novel with an achillean second-chance romance starring two neurodivergent men. It is the first book in the Void series.
There are heavy cws for this book, please refer to the authors website for a detailed list.
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About the author
Vesper Doom
9 books83 followersVesper Doom (she/they) is a queer, autistic writer from the greater Washington, DC area. She lives with her husband and two cats. When she isn’t writing, Vesper enjoys reading, playing video games, painting, and summoning forgotten gods for coffee.
You can find her online as @vesperdoom, and at vesperdoom.carrd.co.
You can find her online as @vesperdoom, and at vesperdoom.carrd.co.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 12, 2025
Reread 2025 - Sooooo amazing, ever still! I will always enjoy Doom's writing and I love Jett and Eddie with all my heart. Everything from my original review still holds true! 💕
Original review, 2023:
WOOOOO BOY. THIS WAS INTENSE. Even from the very beginning, our boys Jett and Eddie go through SO much. And just when you think things are getting better, it only gets ✨worse✨ but don't let that stop you. Because the cosmic horrors are SO worth it.
The bloody, gorey imagery with everything that happens with dead bodies, the ships, the mystery, ACK, ITS WHAT I LIVE FOR. And throw in a couple who's terribly co-dependent on each other, madly in love and suffering together?? That is the SHIT 🤌🤌 I want Jett and Eddie together forever. I am obsessed with these boys AHHHH 😭😭💕💖💕💖
Original review, 2023:
WOOOOO BOY. THIS WAS INTENSE. Even from the very beginning, our boys Jett and Eddie go through SO much. And just when you think things are getting better, it only gets ✨worse✨ but don't let that stop you. Because the cosmic horrors are SO worth it.
The bloody, gorey imagery with everything that happens with dead bodies, the ships, the mystery, ACK, ITS WHAT I LIVE FOR. And throw in a couple who's terribly co-dependent on each other, madly in love and suffering together?? That is the SHIT 🤌🤌 I want Jett and Eddie together forever. I am obsessed with these boys AHHHH 😭😭💕💖💕💖
October 1, 2023
The way I will act once I’ve got my hand on this book. Sorry not sorry
Edit : I read it.
I finished reading Metro, and I had to read through my tears. Thank you very much Doom.
I was one of the lucky person who got the privilege to beta read Metro, and I’m so glad Dom is publishing it next year so I won’t have another favourite to choose from at the end of the year.
Metropolis down is a space opera, with a second chance romance, fucked up gods and HORROR.
If you know me, you know I don’t read horror because I like to sleep at night thank you very much. But I became SO obsessed with Jett and Eddie, every snippet I read made me go feral, so Dom let me read it as she wrote it. And I was probably the least efficient beta in the history of beta 🫡 sorry bout that doom.
It’s a dual PoV story, you follow Jett and Eddie as they try to navigate their break up but still have to work together. I know people will hate on Eddie, but consider this : I love him and I will kick your ass 🥰.
They’re both miserable and terrible at being adults : finally some representation for me.
And while trying to distract himself Eddie stumble upon something that will change the course of their destiny.
I won’t say more about the plot, it’s best to discover as you read I think.
Jett is a feral a dangerous baby girl. He went through so fucking much and he deserves nothing but to be bubble wrapped and protected from the world. I love him so much.
Eddie is an idiot. But a smart one, and I love him. And he can’t do anything bad ever. (I don’t care about his haters : meet me in a parking lot 🔪).
The writing was super good, and you can see how much the author love to write horror stuff, and she’s good at it. She gave me lots of new nightmares fuel 🫡
AND SHE MADE ME CRY. And she will never get out of the grounded zone.
Anyway. Add metro to your tbr, keep your eyes open for the preorder stuff and cover reveal. And be ready to be flooded by metro by me. Because I won’t shut up about it. Ever. 🥰🔪
Edit : I read it.
I finished reading Metro, and I had to read through my tears. Thank you very much Doom.
I was one of the lucky person who got the privilege to beta read Metro, and I’m so glad Dom is publishing it next year so I won’t have another favourite to choose from at the end of the year.
Metropolis down is a space opera, with a second chance romance, fucked up gods and HORROR.
If you know me, you know I don’t read horror because I like to sleep at night thank you very much. But I became SO obsessed with Jett and Eddie, every snippet I read made me go feral, so Dom let me read it as she wrote it. And I was probably the least efficient beta in the history of beta 🫡 sorry bout that doom.
It’s a dual PoV story, you follow Jett and Eddie as they try to navigate their break up but still have to work together. I know people will hate on Eddie, but consider this : I love him and I will kick your ass 🥰.
They’re both miserable and terrible at being adults : finally some representation for me.
And while trying to distract himself Eddie stumble upon something that will change the course of their destiny.
I won’t say more about the plot, it’s best to discover as you read I think.
Jett is a feral a dangerous baby girl. He went through so fucking much and he deserves nothing but to be bubble wrapped and protected from the world. I love him so much.
Eddie is an idiot. But a smart one, and I love him. And he can’t do anything bad ever. (I don’t care about his haters : meet me in a parking lot 🔪).
The writing was super good, and you can see how much the author love to write horror stuff, and she’s good at it. She gave me lots of new nightmares fuel 🫡
AND SHE MADE ME CRY. And she will never get out of the grounded zone.
Anyway. Add metro to your tbr, keep your eyes open for the preorder stuff and cover reveal. And be ready to be flooded by metro by me. Because I won’t shut up about it. Ever. 🥰🔪
Read
October 26, 2025I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much I read it in only two days. That had me so engrossed I couldn't bear to put it down even for a minute. Hats off to Vesper Doom for this fantastic sci-fi with romance and horrors aplenty.
November 3, 2025
This was such a magnificent read. I truly could not get enough of this story and these characters, I was sucked in from beginning to end, and I can not wait for this series to continue. The way the pain, the trauma, the yearning, the love, the passion, and how it's all described are just so real, I felt this book deeply while reading it. The world building is great. The characters and their development and relationships are so vivid and real. I loved reading this story.
October 9, 2023
Hold on because I can’t see anything through my tears and I’m only halfway through 😭💔😭😭💔😭💔
October 25, 2025
This is not normally a book I would pick up, namely that it is a book full of horrors!
Jett Valla recounts his recent breakup with the love of his life--and not by his choice. We're shown as the duo fights through their collective common (and not so common) sense and trauma--the trauma winning out, of course--and get a glimpse of their codependent but passionate past.
Outside of that hurt, something sinister is growing in the Void of space, far beyond the perceived safety of their city-ship, the Neo-Tokyo. We get to see the strengths of Jett and Eddie, being opposites in many ways, but also how they complement each other.
Doom does a fantastic job in describing the horrors of space, of gods, and of fellow man (and the like). I enjoyed reading the angst of Jett and Eddie's fallout, and the friendships and found family--I do wish we could have seen more of the friends and family. Their past together in the good times sounded like a blast.
What good times are had in Metropolis Down, however, don't last. Much of the latter half of the book is a seemingly neverending horror--not to the detriment of the book, but certainly for the characters themselves. There are many questions still to be answered and I hope these boys can get through it!
Note that there is spice in this book! 🔥🔥🔥 About a chapter and a half of it.
Jett Valla recounts his recent breakup with the love of his life--and not by his choice. We're shown as the duo fights through their collective common (and not so common) sense and trauma--the trauma winning out, of course--and get a glimpse of their codependent but passionate past.
Outside of that hurt, something sinister is growing in the Void of space, far beyond the perceived safety of their city-ship, the Neo-Tokyo. We get to see the strengths of Jett and Eddie, being opposites in many ways, but also how they complement each other.
Doom does a fantastic job in describing the horrors of space, of gods, and of fellow man (and the like). I enjoyed reading the angst of Jett and Eddie's fallout, and the friendships and found family--I do wish we could have seen more of the friends and family. Their past together in the good times sounded like a blast.
What good times are had in Metropolis Down, however, don't last. Much of the latter half of the book is a seemingly neverending horror--not to the detriment of the book, but certainly for the characters themselves. There are many questions still to be answered and I hope these boys can get through it!
Note that there is spice in this book! 🔥🔥🔥 About a chapter and a half of it.
October 30, 2025
I received an ARC of this book. When I got to about 65%, I could no longer stop and put it down and ended up reading until much later in the night than I should have, given that I had to work early the next morning. Jett and Eddie are amazing characters who don't deserve the grief they're given in this book (but that just makes the book better, in my opinion).
Excellent world-building, excellent characterization. I have seen this book referred to as an MM romance; be aware that it is a horror book first and an MM romance second, although the romance gets a great deal of attention. Also be aware, if you've read the author's other book, the Binding of Bloom Mountain, that the levels of horror and gore are significantly greater in this book than the last book. I'd consider Bloom Mountain 'light' horror/within the realm of most fantasy books, whereas Metropolis Down is DEFINITELY horror. There is also a great deal of both on-page and off-of-page trauma, so mind the content warnings.
Some spoilers below.
I did not expect the book to start in the middle of the proverbial third-act breakup, but it was actually the perfect point in the romance to start this story, and it made it feel different from a lot of other spec fic books with MM romances, and definitely different from your average MM romance novel. I really liked it.
So, if you like hardcore horror and gore and/or authors traumatizing cinnamon roll characters who have never done anything wrong in their lives, give this book a try! You won't regret it.
Excellent world-building, excellent characterization. I have seen this book referred to as an MM romance; be aware that it is a horror book first and an MM romance second, although the romance gets a great deal of attention. Also be aware, if you've read the author's other book, the Binding of Bloom Mountain, that the levels of horror and gore are significantly greater in this book than the last book. I'd consider Bloom Mountain 'light' horror/within the realm of most fantasy books, whereas Metropolis Down is DEFINITELY horror. There is also a great deal of both on-page and off-of-page trauma, so mind the content warnings.
Some spoilers below.
I did not expect the book to start in the middle of the proverbial third-act breakup, but it was actually the perfect point in the romance to start this story, and it made it feel different from a lot of other spec fic books with MM romances, and definitely different from your average MM romance novel. I really liked it.
So, if you like hardcore horror and gore and/or authors traumatizing cinnamon roll characters who have never done anything wrong in their lives, give this book a try! You won't regret it.
November 25, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. As with any book, please check the trigger warnings.
I enjoyed this book so much! It's a second chance love story in space with horror and mystery.
The book is very well written and well paced. The characters are well written too. I saw small parts of myself in both Jett and Eddie.
There were times I feel small hints were dropped and I would start to wonder if that would be important later.
The friendship between the characters definitely felt more like chosen family than friendship. Which made parts of the story so sad.
Jett and Eddie's relationship feels so real, the doubt, the fear, the pressure from family and finally choosing to follow your heart. I adore that the Bond was included 💕 Just the thought of feeling your love's emotions and knowing they are near is fascinating to me.
The horror does not disappoint! Definitely hits hard and feels creepy. Even includes reading your thoughts which is scary to me.
I'd definitely recommend picking this book up! It kept my attention the whole time. I will definitely be thinking about Jett and Eddie for a long time.
I enjoyed this book so much! It's a second chance love story in space with horror and mystery.
The book is very well written and well paced. The characters are well written too. I saw small parts of myself in both Jett and Eddie.
There were times I feel small hints were dropped and I would start to wonder if that would be important later.
The friendship between the characters definitely felt more like chosen family than friendship. Which made parts of the story so sad.
Jett and Eddie's relationship feels so real, the doubt, the fear, the pressure from family and finally choosing to follow your heart. I adore that the Bond was included 💕 Just the thought of feeling your love's emotions and knowing they are near is fascinating to me.
The horror does not disappoint! Definitely hits hard and feels creepy. Even includes reading your thoughts which is scary to me.
I'd definitely recommend picking this book up! It kept my attention the whole time. I will definitely be thinking about Jett and Eddie for a long time.
November 26, 2025
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭.
Rating: 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
Spice:🌶️
Trope(s)/Element(s):
• M/M
• Sci-fi horror
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Autistic MC
• PTSD
• Blood & Gore
• Dual POV
"𝘑𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘑𝘦𝘵𝘵."
I feel like this is the first book I’ve read that opens with a breakup and then immediately heightens the tension when the characters receive a distress signal from another ship and team up for a rescue mission. Within the distress signal is a odd song that alters reality, causing them to hear and see things that don’t actually exist.
Honestly, it’s the perfect setup for a story that leans heavily into horror. Eddie and Jett go through so much, and things just keep getting worse. Not only do they have to deal with a bloody cosmic horror (and yes, it gets gory!), but they also have to confront their lingering feelings for each other, because they are absolutely still madly in love.
The world-building and characters were fantastic. I adored both main characters. I mean, how can you not love sexy gay space boys with trauma?
Thank you Vesper Doom for letting me read this arc & I look forward to the next book!
Metropolis Down releases on 3/3/26
Rating: 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
Spice:🌶️
Trope(s)/Element(s):
• M/M
• Sci-fi horror
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Autistic MC
• PTSD
• Blood & Gore
• Dual POV
"𝘑𝘦𝘵𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘑𝘦𝘵𝘵."
I feel like this is the first book I’ve read that opens with a breakup and then immediately heightens the tension when the characters receive a distress signal from another ship and team up for a rescue mission. Within the distress signal is a odd song that alters reality, causing them to hear and see things that don’t actually exist.
Honestly, it’s the perfect setup for a story that leans heavily into horror. Eddie and Jett go through so much, and things just keep getting worse. Not only do they have to deal with a bloody cosmic horror (and yes, it gets gory!), but they also have to confront their lingering feelings for each other, because they are absolutely still madly in love.
The world-building and characters were fantastic. I adored both main characters. I mean, how can you not love sexy gay space boys with trauma?
Thank you Vesper Doom for letting me read this arc & I look forward to the next book!
Metropolis Down releases on 3/3/26
November 11, 2025
Thank you Vesper Doom and team for the ARC!
There were parts of this that I really loved, and parts that I felt needed some work. The setting was fleshed out through very natural descriptions, and the body horror was grotesquely lovely. Deep space is truly terrifying to me, so the parts concerning the Void and all its horrible power were fascinating!
Unfortunately, I didn’t click with the characters as much as I’d hoped, which is important for a romantic plot. The biggest issue for me was the side characters; They were all flat, approached problems the same way, and fell into the category of “Supportive of one or both love interests” without much conflict or anything. In a science fiction horror, to me, the ensemble is as important as the main characters. What’s Alien without the clashing team dynamic? What’s Aniara without the denizens’ conflict? The two leads were the only characters that got real depth, which kept me on the edge of immersion for the duration of the novel.
I’d recommend this to folks that want second chance romance first and syfy-horror second. I’m excited to see what Doom writes next, especially if they lean into the body horror. It gave me chills and made me gag. Excellent.
There were parts of this that I really loved, and parts that I felt needed some work. The setting was fleshed out through very natural descriptions, and the body horror was grotesquely lovely. Deep space is truly terrifying to me, so the parts concerning the Void and all its horrible power were fascinating!
Unfortunately, I didn’t click with the characters as much as I’d hoped, which is important for a romantic plot. The biggest issue for me was the side characters; They were all flat, approached problems the same way, and fell into the category of “Supportive of one or both love interests” without much conflict or anything. In a science fiction horror, to me, the ensemble is as important as the main characters. What’s Alien without the clashing team dynamic? What’s Aniara without the denizens’ conflict? The two leads were the only characters that got real depth, which kept me on the edge of immersion for the duration of the novel.
I’d recommend this to folks that want second chance romance first and syfy-horror second. I’m excited to see what Doom writes next, especially if they lean into the body horror. It gave me chills and made me gag. Excellent.
abandoned
December 17, 2025I feel kinda bad cause this was an ARC but DNF at 52%
This book just wasn't for me. Jett and Eddie's relationship was less yearning and more tedious than I typically enjoy, and the plot doesn't really begin until the 40% mark of the book. Failed to pique my interest when it did start so it's time to bail.
This book just wasn't for me. Jett and Eddie's relationship was less yearning and more tedious than I typically enjoy, and the plot doesn't really begin until the 40% mark of the book. Failed to pique my interest when it did start so it's time to bail.
December 5, 2025
They had loved each other so desperately, so passionately, because the Universe had not loved either of them.
This is exactly the kind of book I have been craving for years. The sort of story I would have gladly and greedily snatched up from the shelves of any bookstore. With a beautiful cover, delicately eviscerating writing, worldbuilding that will chill you to the bone, and a queer romance that will set your heart aflame, Metropolis Down will drag you right into its gravity core.
And there’s no turning back.
I couldn’t put this book down. I’m a notoriously slow reader, but blew through the second half of this story in a single day and couldn’t be bothered with any other responsibilities. The mixture of eerie sci-fi cosmic space horror and tender second-chance Achillean romance had my heart singing. …Or maybe that was the call of the Song, a darkly mysterious and reality-shattering force that changes the trajectory of our leads Eddie and Jett, as well as their home, the Neo-Tokyo, throughout the book.
I loved the fantastic neurodivergent rep in Eddie. I loved Jett, the little badass soldier who absolutely stole my heart. I loved the wicked and tightening pressure of something ancient, horrible, and incomprehensible as it crept into every corner of this book, threatening their HEA. Metro is a fast-paced, high-octane horror romance that will absolutely leave you wanting more. I certainly can’t wait for book two.
This is exactly the kind of book I have been craving for years. The sort of story I would have gladly and greedily snatched up from the shelves of any bookstore. With a beautiful cover, delicately eviscerating writing, worldbuilding that will chill you to the bone, and a queer romance that will set your heart aflame, Metropolis Down will drag you right into its gravity core.
And there’s no turning back.
I couldn’t put this book down. I’m a notoriously slow reader, but blew through the second half of this story in a single day and couldn’t be bothered with any other responsibilities. The mixture of eerie sci-fi cosmic space horror and tender second-chance Achillean romance had my heart singing. …Or maybe that was the call of the Song, a darkly mysterious and reality-shattering force that changes the trajectory of our leads Eddie and Jett, as well as their home, the Neo-Tokyo, throughout the book.
I loved the fantastic neurodivergent rep in Eddie. I loved Jett, the little badass soldier who absolutely stole my heart. I loved the wicked and tightening pressure of something ancient, horrible, and incomprehensible as it crept into every corner of this book, threatening their HEA. Metro is a fast-paced, high-octane horror romance that will absolutely leave you wanting more. I certainly can’t wait for book two.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews