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Saturnalia
Paradise is a nightmare.
Holly Bloom works as an analyst for Flynn Industries. When she intercepts a confidential email stating that the luxury space station housing the wealthiest members of humanity has gone dark, she immediately volunteers to accompany the rescue team sent to fix the comm issue… but Saturnalia is nothing like the reclusive paradise she’d come to expect.
Killers prowl its suites and the dead line its corridors. The only sane survivor is Fritz, an engineer who lives down in the bowels of the station. Together, they plan an escape. But the further through Saturnalia they sneak, the more the odds of their survival shrink… and the weirder the source of the violence becomes.
Holly risked everything to reach Saturnalia. Now she needs to find a way off the space station before she meets the same fate as its residents.
If you like page-turning sci-fi dystopias with a splash of horror and mystery, then you’ll love this new novel from the author of the bestselling Final Dawn series.
Holly Bloom works as an analyst for Flynn Industries. When she intercepts a confidential email stating that the luxury space station housing the wealthiest members of humanity has gone dark, she immediately volunteers to accompany the rescue team sent to fix the comm issue… but Saturnalia is nothing like the reclusive paradise she’d come to expect.
Killers prowl its suites and the dead line its corridors. The only sane survivor is Fritz, an engineer who lives down in the bowels of the station. Together, they plan an escape. But the further through Saturnalia they sneak, the more the odds of their survival shrink… and the weirder the source of the violence becomes.
Holly risked everything to reach Saturnalia. Now she needs to find a way off the space station before she meets the same fate as its residents.
If you like page-turning sci-fi dystopias with a splash of horror and mystery, then you’ll love this new novel from the author of the bestselling Final Dawn series.
272 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2023
10 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 31, 2023
This is a book I have been hearing about for months. So I was really excited to read it.
I must say, it was worth the wait. A book that straddles multiple genres, including dystopia, space opera with a dash of horror integrated for good measure.
I read this in two sittings, and I am now going to find this author's other work.
Thanks to The Book Club and the author for my copy of this book to write this review.
I must say, it was worth the wait. A book that straddles multiple genres, including dystopia, space opera with a dash of horror integrated for good measure.
I read this in two sittings, and I am now going to find this author's other work.
Thanks to The Book Club and the author for my copy of this book to write this review.
August 12, 2025
Brilliant horror edition to the dark Star Panorama! This is definitely a book for fans of Dead Space.
June 26, 2023
Absolutely brilliant. It is far from my normal reads, I don’t read space books usually but am so glad I read this.
I have a great fear of being underwater and not breathing and a great fear of being in a spacesuit, floating and not being able to breathe. It took a bit of courage to read a book where you are trapped on a spaceship that is collapsing and no immediate means of escape. Then, if you did escape, who would rescue you?
This tale had me reading even when I should be asleep, it is that good!
Now onto the author’s space opera books!
I have a great fear of being underwater and not breathing and a great fear of being in a spacesuit, floating and not being able to breathe. It took a bit of courage to read a book where you are trapped on a spaceship that is collapsing and no immediate means of escape. Then, if you did escape, who would rescue you?
This tale had me reading even when I should be asleep, it is that good!
Now onto the author’s space opera books!
July 24, 2025
The best way I think I can describe Saturnalia is BioShock in Space.
Coming from the Final Dawn and War for New Terra series I'm already used to Ashford's writing style and humour. If you're coming from either of those series you'll get more of the same here.
Like a few of his other works I basically read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down.
The story itself is great and stands almost completely alone from his other series with the only connecting factor being where we find ourselves in the story. You could very easily read this as a starting point for Ashford's work and not feel lost. Additionally there's enough of a connection for existing fans, although I'm sure we'd all wish there was more; but not every entry to the Dark Star Panorama has to add to the wider lore.
I wish the ending was longer and delved further into the resolution provided but I'm hoping that's picked up in a future novel - The benefit of having your stories in a shared universe! That said, I almost feel as though that was intended.
Ultimately if you like space and/or tension horror I'd recommend trying Saturnalia.
Coming from the Final Dawn and War for New Terra series I'm already used to Ashford's writing style and humour. If you're coming from either of those series you'll get more of the same here.
Like a few of his other works I basically read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down.
The story itself is great and stands almost completely alone from his other series with the only connecting factor being where we find ourselves in the story. You could very easily read this as a starting point for Ashford's work and not feel lost. Additionally there's enough of a connection for existing fans, although I'm sure we'd all wish there was more; but not every entry to the Dark Star Panorama has to add to the wider lore.
I wish the ending was longer and delved further into the resolution provided but I'm hoping that's picked up in a future novel - The benefit of having your stories in a shared universe! That said, I almost feel as though that was intended.
Ultimately if you like space and/or tension horror I'd recommend trying Saturnalia.
August 5, 2023
Saturnalia by TWM Ashford.
Holly Bloom works as an analyst for Flynn Industries. When she intercepts a confidential email stating that the luxury space station housing the wealthiest members of humanity has gone dark, she immediately volunteers to accompany the rescue team sent to fix the comm issue… but Saturnalia is nothing like the reclusive paradise she’d come to expect.
Brilliant read. I read this in one go. Gripping. Didn't see that coming. 5*.
Holly Bloom works as an analyst for Flynn Industries. When she intercepts a confidential email stating that the luxury space station housing the wealthiest members of humanity has gone dark, she immediately volunteers to accompany the rescue team sent to fix the comm issue… but Saturnalia is nothing like the reclusive paradise she’d come to expect.
Brilliant read. I read this in one go. Gripping. Didn't see that coming. 5*.
July 11, 2023
I would have given this 3.5 if I could. The writing is good, I just felt like Holly could have been more compelling, emotionally. Also, the story follows her travel to Saturnalia and search for Rosie without enough detail about what happened and why there are so few sane people. I adore the final Dawn series, this isn't quite there. Still worth a read and plenty of action.
January 19, 2025
Wow! Creepy and claustrophobic, Holly and Fritz face a race against time to find a way off a space station before the locals find them. Every book by this author brings you effortlessly into the story, and new characters quickly become old friends. Tense, haunting, with a little gore, this is a great addition to the Final Dawn universe. Highly recommend.
July 12, 2023
Excellent. Just the right amount of violence. Terrifying enough that I thought I might have nightmares. Very familiar format which meant you could enjoy the story unfolding. Highly cinematic.
May 15, 2025
DNF 58%
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews