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All is Quiet in the Cosmos
In a world of silence ...
An abandoned prince with a dark past and an even darker ability learns that his curse may unlock the secrets to ending an age old war.
But at what cost?
And in a world of violence ...
A disillusioned soldier finds that all isn't as it seems. Is the war he's fighting even worth it? Who is the true enemy?
In Emerson's debut novel, "All is Quiet in the Cosmos," two young men are caught in the middle of a struggle entirely too big for them. They hold the keys to stopping the bloodshed, and finally bringing peace to a war-torn universe. But will they succeed?
An abandoned prince with a dark past and an even darker ability learns that his curse may unlock the secrets to ending an age old war.
But at what cost?
And in a world of violence ...
A disillusioned soldier finds that all isn't as it seems. Is the war he's fighting even worth it? Who is the true enemy?
In Emerson's debut novel, "All is Quiet in the Cosmos," two young men are caught in the middle of a struggle entirely too big for them. They hold the keys to stopping the bloodshed, and finally bringing peace to a war-torn universe. But will they succeed?
- GenresM M Romance
281 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2023
5 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 29, 2023
Drew me in from the first page! Excellent story telling! Characters are relatable and interesting and make you laugh, cry and care about them! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book! Highly recommend!
June 20, 2023
A Sci-romance for the ages, this book draws you in from the first page and makes you want more by the end. A must read this summer!
October 9, 2023
All is Quiet in the Cosmos | 4.5 rounded to 5 stars
Characters | 9: All is Quiet in the Cosmos centers on four main characters, with Zen and Altair being the two we focus on the most. Interestingly, I really came to enjoy both of these two for different reasons, which I will get to more later. The other two POVs are from Varys and Lil, introduced early on as Zen and Altair's companions, respectively. Both were unique and had their interesting quirks and backstory. My only complaint is I wish we had more of their backstory! But, I believe that will be explored in a later book.
Atmosphere | 7: This is one of the only places where All is Quiet in the Cosmos fell just a hair flat for me. Emerson describes this rich, detailed sci-fi world filled with politics, wars, alien species, and foreign planets. However, we don't get to see much of it. There was just a little too much telling, not showing, in this aspect for me. I believe, in total, our characters visit 3 planets - one of which is Earth. On the other two planets, our characters are either only on them very briefly or, spend most of the time indoors. Now, the three planets we do see, I enjoyed learning about. It was almost like a double edged sword. The planets we are told about were so well written, it left me wanting to see all they had to offer, rather than hear or read about it!
Writing | 8: I really enjoyed the writing in this book. From the first chapter, Emerson was able to draw me in with intrigue and a wanting to learn more. One of the best things about this book, in my opinion, is the way we switch between the two main plotlines. You will be reading one plotline, through the POV of one of the two characters it revolves around, and will suddenly end the chapter on a cliff-hanger, or a big reveal that leaves you wanting to see what comes next. But, you flip the page and realize you'll have to wait a bit longer, as we've switched back to the other plotline. While this could have easily been over or poorly done, and detracted from the writing, I found it did the opposite. After the writing switched to the other plotline, I hastily read through the next chapter(s), anxious to know what came next. But, the writing would then suck me into the current plotline, repeating the process in a way I found very enjoyable.
Plot | 7: This is the only other aspect where All is Quiet in the Cosmos fell short for me. In many ways, the plot was one of my favorite elements of the story. But, in others, it did leave me wanting more. There are several chapters where we as the reader suddenly realize that weeks have gone by, without much context or explanation as to what occurred during that time. Even if nothing major plot-wise happened during that time, I still would have loved to see some more character development during that time. This leads to another nitpick I had, which is that I felt the third act came together a little too fast. It felt that, rather abruptly, weeks had gone by, and one of our two storylines was suddenly crashlanding into the other (not literally, but I couldn't escape the pun). The whole third act, for me, felt like every detail was suddenly shifted into focus, rather than the pieces slowly coming together in a satisfying way. But, maybe that was just because I read through the second half of this book so fast! Finally, my only other wish was that the romances were a little more flushed out. One of them, in particular, went from being "enemies", to kissing, to proclaiming each other as the loves of their lives within a couple of days. The actual romance and spicy scenes were well-written, and I loved the characters together. I just would have liked it to be a bit more drawn out and developed so it felt a bit more believable. To end this section on a more positive note, I think Emerson did a great job setting up the next book. Enough storylines were closed, or at least, further explained to leave me feeling satisfied, yet there were enough extra strings left open that I'm very excited to see how they come together in the future.
Intrigue | 9: I don't have too much to add here, as I mentioned most of it in the writing section. The switching of the different POVs and storylines had me hooked and left me yearning to learn what was going to happen next. What I can expand on, is that I was left intrigued by our two main characters, Zen and Altair, but for completely different reasons. For Altair, I kept desperately wanting to know more about his past. Who he is, what he did to end up in his situation, what his alien species' abilities are and how they work, etc. And Emerson does an amazing job of sprinkling detail after detail throughout Altair's story. Zen, on the other hand, I kept wondering what was going to happen to him and what the future held next for him. I can't explain too much more without spoilers.
Logic | 8: Again, not too much to add to this section. Everything made relative sense to me. The political and military systems of this universe were well thought out and explained, characters made choices that I felt were fitting of their character, and I never felt myself getting lost.
Enjoyment | 9: So far, this is one of my favorite books of the year. The characters were great, the story left me turning pages faster than any other book in recent memory, and I can't wait to see what comes next. A great debut novel for Emerson.
Nitpick: This is so small, but something I thought I would mention because it stopped me in my tracks when I read it. One of our pair of characters has a discussion with each other about what human tears are, and why humans cry. The alien of the two finds tears to be very strange and claims their species does not cry. However, in the next set of chapters with this pair, the same alien explains how their species came into existence from the tears of their divine god (or something along those lines, I don't remember the exact quote). Again, it's such a minor thing, but something that threw me off, as the initial conversation about human tears was so good, and one of the early highlights of my read.
April 5, 2023
Emerson has a fan for life. I love this story. Aliens, war, romance, bounty hunter, gay, straight, deaf main character are some of the perks of this book. Do yourself a favor and read this!!!!! I am ready for more. For me, it’s the perfect sci-fi romance.
May 16, 2023
This is an amazing story of space, war, capitalism and heart break. If you want to feel all emotions read this! Highly recommend this!
November 18, 2023
Four characters.
Two plots.
One amazing book!
Altair is a prince who has been abandoned on a deserted and desolate planet because of a curse he cannot control. He has lived alone for twenty years with nothing but the torment of his memories to keep him company. That is until Lilith, a strong human bounty hunter who is immune to his curse, arrives to deliver him to a wealthy buyer.
Zen is a reluctant soldier serving his mandatory five years enlistment in the military on first Earth. When an enemy alien space craft crashes, he is the unwitting recipient of a very important message. His mishandling of the situation leads to his punishment: he has to work in the military prison where their Vesunian enemies are being held. He is put in charge of getting one in particular to eat. During his time with this alien, called Varys, he realizes that their sworn enemies aren't so different than humans.
Both plots are similar in that they involve prisoner and captor bonding in a universe where their civilizations are at war with each other. They learn from each other, they form bonds, those bonds get painfully broken, and they ultimately save each other. These plots do merge at the end, putting the two sets of characters at odds with each other. The last few chapters are so anxiety inducing in the best kind of way! The ending ends with an intense cliffhanger, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
Two plots.
One amazing book!
Altair is a prince who has been abandoned on a deserted and desolate planet because of a curse he cannot control. He has lived alone for twenty years with nothing but the torment of his memories to keep him company. That is until Lilith, a strong human bounty hunter who is immune to his curse, arrives to deliver him to a wealthy buyer.
Zen is a reluctant soldier serving his mandatory five years enlistment in the military on first Earth. When an enemy alien space craft crashes, he is the unwitting recipient of a very important message. His mishandling of the situation leads to his punishment: he has to work in the military prison where their Vesunian enemies are being held. He is put in charge of getting one in particular to eat. During his time with this alien, called Varys, he realizes that their sworn enemies aren't so different than humans.
Both plots are similar in that they involve prisoner and captor bonding in a universe where their civilizations are at war with each other. They learn from each other, they form bonds, those bonds get painfully broken, and they ultimately save each other. These plots do merge at the end, putting the two sets of characters at odds with each other. The last few chapters are so anxiety inducing in the best kind of way! The ending ends with an intense cliffhanger, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
May 2, 2023
This book honestly surprised me. I was hooked from the first page! It had amazing representation with a deaf main character and multiple characters that are LGBTQ+. The trigger warnings at the beginning of the book are also greatly appreciated!! The dual plot was a really nice touch, both plots were interesting and the character were easy to relate to. The world building was done really well and fun to read, although some of it felt unnecessary. The only reason I rated this 4 instead 5 stars was that some parts of the book felt a little repetitive at times, and I felt that were some inconsistencies within some of the characters. Either way, the book was amazing and deserves all the praise it is receiving. I think that almost any reader could pick this book up and enjoy it. :)
July 23, 2023
Wow! I am not a Sci-Fi genre reader, especially a Sci-Fi Romance type book, but this one hooked me and I could not stop reading it!! I love the space adventure and superb creative writing Emerson uses. Very descriptive and detailed! I could imagine in my mind all the scenes, the characters and I have to say my favorite character has to be Varys! What an ending! I was like what!!! Come on! So Emerson please release the second book soon, I hope it is soon! Look out, this could be the next Sci-Fi movie!!
May 11, 2023
This book did take me a little longer to get through only because I wanted to make sure I was really absorbing all that was going on. This is not my typical read.
The book was a good book and had great world building. It was based on second earth aka Mars. There was a part in there that did make me sad but a few pages later life had been restored (only spoiler I’m giving). The ending did leave me on a cliffhanger. I am so delighted to have had the opportunity to read this as an arc read!
The book was a good book and had great world building. It was based on second earth aka Mars. There was a part in there that did make me sad but a few pages later life had been restored (only spoiler I’m giving). The ending did leave me on a cliffhanger. I am so delighted to have had the opportunity to read this as an arc read!
August 29, 2023
All is Quiet is exactly the sort of romantic adventure novel I love to read. It’s full of slow burn and forbidden enemies to allies to lovers, and Emerson does a fantastic job world building while encapsulating two different stories that begin to bleed together. I can’t wait for the sequel and will be recommending this book to anyone seeking a diverse sci-fi read.
July 23, 2023
This is one of the most accessible, but my no means unsophisticated, sci-fi/romance book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Filled with representation and unique, complicated characters, Emerson has demonstrated and aptitude for the genre that promises only more to come from this debut author.
July 17, 2023
Amazing book had me hooked
May 5, 2023
This book was well written, I loved the story and really liked the story line for Zen and Varys. I am not usually into 3rd person books but this one was amazing.
June 7, 2023
Not my typical read but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story pulls you in quickly, it’s easy to read, and the characters are well developed. Varys was definitely my fav! I’m excited for book 2!
August 28, 2023
How do I even express my absolute astonishment over this book?!
All is Quiet in the Cosmos was written in such an intricate way that kept me on my toes while also dragging me into my feelings. It’s hard to find books that have such wonderful world-building skills AND character development. Emerson has been able to make his characters come to life both emotionally and mentally for me. He has such a talent for telling stories that feel real and extremely personal to you as a person.
One thing that I admire about this book, and his work, is that he makes every single one of his characters completely unique and he also makes them real by making them all morally gray. They may do things that want to make you pull your hair out or scream and cry but they also make you smile and laugh because that’s how real people work.
No one is perfect.
None of these characters are perfect.
They do so many things wrong and so many things right.
There is a lot of love and heartbreak in this story. The amount of angst fluff and slow burn is crazy. You get two plots in one. I, as a reader and a writer, try to come up with different theories as I read stories. For this book, I was able to come up with a few but I was always stumped, texting Emerson every chapter with questions and freaking out about what was next or what happened in that chapter that made me feel something different.
Over all, I give this book a five out of five stars. (I really rate this book a trillion out of five.) Emerson you have done a wonderful job in creating this world and making these connections with the characters come true. They are REAL people who live in my head rent-free. It’s a shame that the sequel won’t be out until next year. :(
I just know you’re going to do great and this is going to take off. You got this and I can’t wait for everyone who is going on this journey with you to see the amazing things you do in your next piece.
All is Quiet in the Cosmos was written in such an intricate way that kept me on my toes while also dragging me into my feelings. It’s hard to find books that have such wonderful world-building skills AND character development. Emerson has been able to make his characters come to life both emotionally and mentally for me. He has such a talent for telling stories that feel real and extremely personal to you as a person.
One thing that I admire about this book, and his work, is that he makes every single one of his characters completely unique and he also makes them real by making them all morally gray. They may do things that want to make you pull your hair out or scream and cry but they also make you smile and laugh because that’s how real people work.
No one is perfect.
None of these characters are perfect.
They do so many things wrong and so many things right.
There is a lot of love and heartbreak in this story. The amount of angst fluff and slow burn is crazy. You get two plots in one. I, as a reader and a writer, try to come up with different theories as I read stories. For this book, I was able to come up with a few but I was always stumped, texting Emerson every chapter with questions and freaking out about what was next or what happened in that chapter that made me feel something different.
Over all, I give this book a five out of five stars. (I really rate this book a trillion out of five.) Emerson you have done a wonderful job in creating this world and making these connections with the characters come true. They are REAL people who live in my head rent-free. It’s a shame that the sequel won’t be out until next year. :(
I just know you’re going to do great and this is going to take off. You got this and I can’t wait for everyone who is going on this journey with you to see the amazing things you do in your next piece.
May 3, 2023
This book is amazing. It drew me in from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. The dual timelines made for an interesting read. Every time something happened it was almost like a cliffhanger moving onto the next timeline. It kept the book feeling like it was constantly moving forward. I loved all the characters, eventually.
Varys was a winner from the get-go, but Zen grew on me. He is portrayed as a more feminine character, which I enjoyed. But at times he came off as whiny. For the other timeline Altair was also a more timid, and at times whiny, character. But he has been through a lot and his situation makes his attitude/behavior more understandable. And then there is Lil, Lilith, who is a BA bounty hunter.
Overall, the plot line and the world building were very intriguing and unique enough that it feels like a book/story that you’ve never read before. It does end on a cliffhanger. So, beware! But I recommend this book and can’t wait to get my hands on book 2.
I was given an ARC of this book for free. And I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Varys was a winner from the get-go, but Zen grew on me. He is portrayed as a more feminine character, which I enjoyed. But at times he came off as whiny. For the other timeline Altair was also a more timid, and at times whiny, character. But he has been through a lot and his situation makes his attitude/behavior more understandable. And then there is Lil, Lilith, who is a BA bounty hunter.
Overall, the plot line and the world building were very intriguing and unique enough that it feels like a book/story that you’ve never read before. It does end on a cliffhanger. So, beware! But I recommend this book and can’t wait to get my hands on book 2.
I was given an ARC of this book for free. And I am voluntarily leaving this review.
June 18, 2023
Did I feel the relationships felt a little rushed despite the fact that neither couple is really established by the end of the book? Yes. Did it stop me from enjoying it and greatly anticipating the sequel? Absolutely not.
I like the fact that there is substantial plot outside of the romance. Maybe I could do with a little less broody backstory from Altair, but it is what it is. I did find his relationship arc less interesting than the other. But I stan the other. Maybe I just find hetero pairings less interesting. Who knows.
All I know is that the book is a solid read. And I want more.
I like the fact that there is substantial plot outside of the romance. Maybe I could do with a little less broody backstory from Altair, but it is what it is. I did find his relationship arc less interesting than the other. But I stan the other. Maybe I just find hetero pairings less interesting. Who knows.
All I know is that the book is a solid read. And I want more.
July 15, 2023
This book is a wonderful mix of Sci-fi, Romance, Disability, and LGBTQ+ representation. The story draws you in from page one. Make sure you read the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book though as the content in parts may be too much for some.
Emerson's use of dual plots from various POVs does take some getting used to but once you fall into the groove of reading in this format you start to get used to it. The books world building is very well thought out and allows for an immersive experience. The characters are well-developed and I'm excited to see what he has in store for them in the sequel.
Emerson's use of dual plots from various POVs does take some getting used to but once you fall into the groove of reading in this format you start to get used to it. The books world building is very well thought out and allows for an immersive experience. The characters are well-developed and I'm excited to see what he has in store for them in the sequel.
April 24, 2024
What a great read! What stands out most in this book is the depth and complexity of the characters. Altair's struggle with his curse, Zen's journey as a reluctant soldier, the supporting characters adding layers to the narrative with their unique personalities and backstories... This is the type of book you just can't put down.
The world-building in "All is Quiet in the Cosmos" is rich and immersive, the dual plotlines are expertly interwoven, and THE REPRESENTATION is next-level! I loved it all. Emerson is an author worth following!
The world-building in "All is Quiet in the Cosmos" is rich and immersive, the dual plotlines are expertly interwoven, and THE REPRESENTATION is next-level! I loved it all. Emerson is an author worth following!
May 4, 2023
This was a good book. I was entertained all the way throug. You find your self wanting to know more all the time but then it changes pov and the story takes on a new tale. A great way to keep the reader hocked.
I feldt It did get a little descriptive at times and some repetitions but nothing that influential to the story. Loved the chemistry between m/m. My only wish is that I would love to se more of the romance and passion ;) I recomend this book for most fiction readers.
I feldt It did get a little descriptive at times and some repetitions but nothing that influential to the story. Loved the chemistry between m/m. My only wish is that I would love to se more of the romance and passion ;) I recomend this book for most fiction readers.
March 29, 2023
This book has everything; gay aliens, straight aliens, war, romance, disabled representation in the form of a main character, stuff that’ll make you cry, make you laugh, maybe even yell at the book a little. 10/10 would recommend. Excited to see what comes next for this author.
April 4, 2023
I loved loved loved this book! It was so hard to put down. As far as representation goes, it has something for everyone! Eloquently written, lots of detail, and a plot so captivating I'm already dying for the sequel!
June 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It did take me longer than anticipated to read it, but I am so glad I was able to! This is a sci-fi romance that left me wanting more. This was not my typical read, but I cannot wait to read more.
August 5, 2023
This book is extremly well writen and in a way that felt very organic. I enjoyed learning about the world through the eyes of the characters and that the author doesn't just tell you everything upfront. The characters are easy to connect with, especially Zen and Varys. I eagerly await the next book
December 18, 2023
This was the magical space odyssey I’ve been dying for. All 4 of these characters are wonderfully flawed and amazing in their own ways and I had such a blast getting to know all of them. The writing, the world building, all of it.
August 26, 2023
Recommended by a friend. So creative and surprising in all the best ways. Can't wait for more.
September 15, 2023
This book was a lot of fun to read! I enjoyed both plot lines and the sci fi feel.
April 1, 2024
SUCH an amazing story and I'm so excited for book 2. I loved reading this!
November 16, 2025
I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading others in the series.
So like. Not a single inn in the galaxy stocks two-bed rooms, huh? 😝 (not a bad thing)
Its kinda making me want to try write a romance myself.
I also really like the First Earth/Second Earth thing. We never learn.
So like. Not a single inn in the galaxy stocks two-bed rooms, huh? 😝 (not a bad thing)
Its kinda making me want to try write a romance myself.
I also really like the First Earth/Second Earth thing. We never learn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
For me this was a whole new experience as someone who is not easily interested in sci-fi, this book was kinda like a rollercoaster. It got me hooked from very beginning of the book(but also was a slow read for me at the same time), a very exciting thing for me was world building, aliens and i loved Altair, i mean there are two people one: who have read the book and loved Altair second: those who have not read the book and don't know Altair you just can't not love him
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews