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The Maredian
--- In the Shadow of Destruction, an Unlikely Alliance is Humanity's Last Hope---
In the year 2085, humanity's worst nightmares and fears are realized when they arrive. The Maredian. Aliens of unknown origin, decimating cities, exterminating billions, and abducting unsuspecting humans into the heart of horror. Among them is Gracie Pinto, a diligent environmental engineer and a loving mother, who on the heels of her 30th birthday party finds herself taken from the ruins of Don Mills Megacity and thrust into the alien abyss.
A chance encounter in the cold and foreboding spaceship alters the fate of both Gracie and a newborn alien creature, who in its immature curiosity, absorbs a part of Gracie's humanity. Their connection, bewildering and unprecedented, seeds a relationship that defies the norm of both species, the alien's growing obsession leading it on a relentless pursuit through the shadowy hellscape of the alien vessel to find the woman who is the source of its transformation.
In a strange reimagining of the 1980s, Gracie is forced to confront her monstrous fears, deciphering the motives behind the alien onslaught and grappling with the revelations of humanity's self-destruction. The unlikely bond between woman and alien becomes their only hope of survival, the key to understanding the cataclysmic judgement of the 'Master', and a beacon for a future that hangs by a thread.
"The Maredian" interweaves the chilling dystopia of alien invasion with the poignancy of loss, resilience, and an unexpected bond. Echoes of 'War of the Worlds' resonate within its pages, seasoned with a dose of dark wit and biblical undertones. It paints a future teetering on the brink, yet clings to the shards of hope amidst the horror. This is a thrilling, soul-searching ride for fans of horror, futuristic sci-fi, and those who dare to stare into the abyss of the unknown. Can Gracie and her alien companion find redemption and survival in a world gone mad? Only the journey through "The Maredian" will tell.
In the year 2085, humanity's worst nightmares and fears are realized when they arrive. The Maredian. Aliens of unknown origin, decimating cities, exterminating billions, and abducting unsuspecting humans into the heart of horror. Among them is Gracie Pinto, a diligent environmental engineer and a loving mother, who on the heels of her 30th birthday party finds herself taken from the ruins of Don Mills Megacity and thrust into the alien abyss.
A chance encounter in the cold and foreboding spaceship alters the fate of both Gracie and a newborn alien creature, who in its immature curiosity, absorbs a part of Gracie's humanity. Their connection, bewildering and unprecedented, seeds a relationship that defies the norm of both species, the alien's growing obsession leading it on a relentless pursuit through the shadowy hellscape of the alien vessel to find the woman who is the source of its transformation.
In a strange reimagining of the 1980s, Gracie is forced to confront her monstrous fears, deciphering the motives behind the alien onslaught and grappling with the revelations of humanity's self-destruction. The unlikely bond between woman and alien becomes their only hope of survival, the key to understanding the cataclysmic judgement of the 'Master', and a beacon for a future that hangs by a thread.
"The Maredian" interweaves the chilling dystopia of alien invasion with the poignancy of loss, resilience, and an unexpected bond. Echoes of 'War of the Worlds' resonate within its pages, seasoned with a dose of dark wit and biblical undertones. It paints a future teetering on the brink, yet clings to the shards of hope amidst the horror. This is a thrilling, soul-searching ride for fans of horror, futuristic sci-fi, and those who dare to stare into the abyss of the unknown. Can Gracie and her alien companion find redemption and survival in a world gone mad? Only the journey through "The Maredian" will tell.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2023
About the author
Susan B. Iris
2 books11 followersI learned how to read at a very young age (by age 6) and I have been a devoted reader since then. I was amazed at that young age, how words could come together and form characters, worlds and plots (I was reading Little Golden Books, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes and Beatrix Potter books and a few years later, Roald Dahl and Beverly Cleary). During the same time, I became aware of music and how it tended to turn on my imagination to create my own characters, intricate worlds and plots.
At the age of 9, my passion for reading turned into a passion for writing stories, and I’ve carried this passion with me ever since then and continue forward with it.
When I am not writing, I continue to do a lot of reading (including research for the current or next book I am working on) and listening to music. I don’t watch much TV but I do enjoy films, mostly international or classical films, and I love theatre/musicals.
At the age of 9, my passion for reading turned into a passion for writing stories, and I’ve carried this passion with me ever since then and continue forward with it.
When I am not writing, I continue to do a lot of reading (including research for the current or next book I am working on) and listening to music. I don’t watch much TV but I do enjoy films, mostly international or classical films, and I love theatre/musicals.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 20, 2024
4👽👽👽👽
Beautiful world building. This 👽 alien sci-fi was very intriguing. The year is 2085, and aliens have invaded 🌎. What would you do if your life was suddenly taken from you? Everything you knew and loved gone in an instant? Could you survive? Follow Gracie's story as she struggles with her new life. Mild horror/gore. Loved it🖤
Beautiful world building. This 👽 alien sci-fi was very intriguing. The year is 2085, and aliens have invaded 🌎. What would you do if your life was suddenly taken from you? Everything you knew and loved gone in an instant? Could you survive? Follow Gracie's story as she struggles with her new life. Mild horror/gore. Loved it🖤
August 27, 2024
4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gracie Pinto is a normal average woman living in Don Mills Megacity and she has left her small son Jimmy home with her grandmother Rose for the night, it is the year 2085 and it happens to be Gracie’s 30th birthday, so she is out at a nightclub celebrating with friends. On the way home all hell breaks loose.
Humanity doesn’t realize that aliens known as The Maredian have arrived. Don Mills is decimated and Gracie and countless other humans are kidnapped and whisked away aboard the alien ship. There the humans face countless horrors at the hands of The Maredian. They are worked to death, starved, and even eaten and killed for sport. Gracie is just trying to stay alive and out of the way of the monsters that are everywhere, until a chance encounter with a tiny monster changes her life.
One Maredian has become infatuated with Gracie and determined to keep her safe at all costs. He moves her to an isolated part of the ship where she has everything she could possibly need, shelter, food, water, and even a form of companionship and entertainment.
Can Gracie live the rest of her life in this lonely comfortable prison? Will she ever make it back to Earth and her small son? Will she ever find out what has happened to the rest of the world since she has been sequestered on this alien ship? Could she ever learn to live with or forgive one of the monsters that caused so much pain, devastation, and heartbreak?
This book was such a wild ride! We were taken to so many different places, discovered a futuristic world, a horrifying alien spacecraft, a retro 1980’s apartment as imagined by an alien species, a hostile planet and future Earth in chaos and still always at war.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes futuristic, sci-fi, horror, or dystopian themes in their stories!
Gracie Pinto is a normal average woman living in Don Mills Megacity and she has left her small son Jimmy home with her grandmother Rose for the night, it is the year 2085 and it happens to be Gracie’s 30th birthday, so she is out at a nightclub celebrating with friends. On the way home all hell breaks loose.
Humanity doesn’t realize that aliens known as The Maredian have arrived. Don Mills is decimated and Gracie and countless other humans are kidnapped and whisked away aboard the alien ship. There the humans face countless horrors at the hands of The Maredian. They are worked to death, starved, and even eaten and killed for sport. Gracie is just trying to stay alive and out of the way of the monsters that are everywhere, until a chance encounter with a tiny monster changes her life.
One Maredian has become infatuated with Gracie and determined to keep her safe at all costs. He moves her to an isolated part of the ship where she has everything she could possibly need, shelter, food, water, and even a form of companionship and entertainment.
Can Gracie live the rest of her life in this lonely comfortable prison? Will she ever make it back to Earth and her small son? Will she ever find out what has happened to the rest of the world since she has been sequestered on this alien ship? Could she ever learn to live with or forgive one of the monsters that caused so much pain, devastation, and heartbreak?
This book was such a wild ride! We were taken to so many different places, discovered a futuristic world, a horrifying alien spacecraft, a retro 1980’s apartment as imagined by an alien species, a hostile planet and future Earth in chaos and still always at war.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes futuristic, sci-fi, horror, or dystopian themes in their stories!
March 25, 2026
The alien amoebas are devout Christians, and they have returned, bringing the wrath of God. The first quarter of the book is compelling horror, extremely graphic, and well thought out. The heroine is protected by an alien named Amigo and kept in a replica 80's apartment for the second quarter, where she becomes a martial arts master by Jazzercising and watching VHS tapes of WrestleMania. Rescued by the Earth Empire one-hundred-and-something years later, she is foretold by an ancient prophecy to save humanity from the return of God and his invading army. However, I'm not sure a humanity who pours cold milk over pudding is worth saving.
The best part is the horror of the alien ship. Iris has a knack for disturbing, hellish imagery. The most disappointing aspect of the book is a heroine with little agency and no growth. She's strong in that she endures the horror of what she sees, and there is real emotion in her reactions, but she just endures, waiting for the next thing to happen. It takes superpowers to enact any change in her, and she is promptly served up some attempted rapists to clobber. As the emperor's secret weapon, they join the front lines of the invasion, ready to kick some slimy alien butt. Instead, God shines His light, which no one can resist. The end.
There are only a few grammatical mistakes, but there are some distracting word choices, such as "cicatrize" as a noun, describing a person's skin as "stern", gun nozzles, walls with "alleviated" levels, or "ascendants" instead of "descendants." I'm not normally harsh when English obviously isn't an author's first language, but this story demands another edit.
The best part is the horror of the alien ship. Iris has a knack for disturbing, hellish imagery. The most disappointing aspect of the book is a heroine with little agency and no growth. She's strong in that she endures the horror of what she sees, and there is real emotion in her reactions, but she just endures, waiting for the next thing to happen. It takes superpowers to enact any change in her, and she is promptly served up some attempted rapists to clobber. As the emperor's secret weapon, they join the front lines of the invasion, ready to kick some slimy alien butt. Instead, God shines His light, which no one can resist. The end.
There are only a few grammatical mistakes, but there are some distracting word choices, such as "cicatrize" as a noun, describing a person's skin as "stern", gun nozzles, walls with "alleviated" levels, or "ascendants" instead of "descendants." I'm not normally harsh when English obviously isn't an author's first language, but this story demands another edit.
March 22, 2024
📚 Book Review 📚
The Maredian
By
Susan Iris
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystonia Horror
#bookloungereviewteam
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The year is 2085, and a young, single mother, Gracie Pinto, is out celebrating her thirtieth birthday when the strange aliens arrive, The Maredian. The destruction, devastation, and annihilation of billions of people around the world by the aliens is further enhanced by the abduction of innocent humans who are transported into alien ships to live a life of horror, Gracie being one of them. Not knowing the fate of her child and family, Gracie is broken until she meets an alien, unlike the rest, and her world begins to change.
I thought the story was intriguing from the very start. The author did an outstanding job of world-building, detailing the characters and events in such a way that the reader was pulled into the horror, pain, and surrender of a life of futility. There is no escape. The plot was a little slow in the beginning but developed dramatically as the story progressed. The description of the horrors and tortures the MC endured and the encounter with an alien that will eventually change Gracie’s future was well unfolded. The dark, ominous mood combined with the unpredictable twists made for a haunting and mind-provoking experience. What if that were me? The story was well-written and entertaining and targeted to readers of this genre. I would recommend this book for a very impactful, sci-fi dystonia/horror story. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy
The Maredian
By
Susan Iris
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystonia Horror
#bookloungereviewteam
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The year is 2085, and a young, single mother, Gracie Pinto, is out celebrating her thirtieth birthday when the strange aliens arrive, The Maredian. The destruction, devastation, and annihilation of billions of people around the world by the aliens is further enhanced by the abduction of innocent humans who are transported into alien ships to live a life of horror, Gracie being one of them. Not knowing the fate of her child and family, Gracie is broken until she meets an alien, unlike the rest, and her world begins to change.
I thought the story was intriguing from the very start. The author did an outstanding job of world-building, detailing the characters and events in such a way that the reader was pulled into the horror, pain, and surrender of a life of futility. There is no escape. The plot was a little slow in the beginning but developed dramatically as the story progressed. The description of the horrors and tortures the MC endured and the encounter with an alien that will eventually change Gracie’s future was well unfolded. The dark, ominous mood combined with the unpredictable twists made for a haunting and mind-provoking experience. What if that were me? The story was well-written and entertaining and targeted to readers of this genre. I would recommend this book for a very impactful, sci-fi dystonia/horror story. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy
December 4, 2024
Susan Iris's exploration of the darkest corners of human survival and alien encounters captivated me from the first page - the narrative feels less like a story and more like a visceral transmission from another space time.
Iris's ability to tap into a horror transcending typical alien invasion tropes isn't just about destruction; it's a profound meditation on existence, resilience, and the unexpected connections that can emerge in catastrophic circumstances.
The novel accomplishes something remarkable: it makes you feel the existential terror of humanity's potential extinction while exploring the subtle nuances of inter-species understanding.
The world-building is extraordinary. Set in 2085, the novel feels futuristic and disturbingly plausible. Gracie Pinto's journey is not just a narrative of survival, but a complex psychological exploration of adaptation and hope in the face of unimaginable horror.
Iris's prose is unflinching. Yet she manages to infuse moments of unexpected tenderness and connection with brutal circumstances. The relationship between Gracie and the alien defies conventional storytelling, creating an emotionally resonant, thought-provoking narrative.
Intriguingly, the novel even weaves in subtle references that echo contemporary cultural touchstones - I was particularly fascinated by the nods to latter-day Elvis Presley sightings, for example – still pertinent.
Iris's profound exploration of what it means to be human when everything familiar has been stripped away is mesmerizing. Brilliant!
Iris's ability to tap into a horror transcending typical alien invasion tropes isn't just about destruction; it's a profound meditation on existence, resilience, and the unexpected connections that can emerge in catastrophic circumstances.
The novel accomplishes something remarkable: it makes you feel the existential terror of humanity's potential extinction while exploring the subtle nuances of inter-species understanding.
The world-building is extraordinary. Set in 2085, the novel feels futuristic and disturbingly plausible. Gracie Pinto's journey is not just a narrative of survival, but a complex psychological exploration of adaptation and hope in the face of unimaginable horror.
Iris's prose is unflinching. Yet she manages to infuse moments of unexpected tenderness and connection with brutal circumstances. The relationship between Gracie and the alien defies conventional storytelling, creating an emotionally resonant, thought-provoking narrative.
Intriguingly, the novel even weaves in subtle references that echo contemporary cultural touchstones - I was particularly fascinated by the nods to latter-day Elvis Presley sightings, for example – still pertinent.
Iris's profound exploration of what it means to be human when everything familiar has been stripped away is mesmerizing. Brilliant!
April 17, 2024
Author- Susan B Iris
Book- The Maredian
Genre- Science Fiction
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love anything to do with outer space, and it's a bonus when there are aliens involved. I was thrilled to see this took place in Toronto since I don't live far from there. Another bonus is that it takes place in 2085, (which is another thing I love. I love books in the future. It's one of the reasons I chose this book) Gracie, the main character, gets abducted and ends up having a horrible time with The Maredians, though not all of them are bad. She is a single mom trying to find her son, Jimmy. I'm surprised this book isn't more read. It has all the right stuff for a good story - a relatable main character, great world building with vivid descriptions, aliens - who are more unique looking than I expected, the plot has twists and turns I wasn't expecting at all. It is dark because her city is destroyed, she's separated from her son, and as a reader, even though I don't have kids, I still felt her pain and horror. If you love aliens, horror, books that take place in the future, 80s throwbacks, and a main character who doesn't give up, even when she seems broken, I can't recommend this enough! This one will be one I reread in the future when I can sit down and read it all in one sitting without distractions.
Book- The Maredian
Genre- Science Fiction
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love anything to do with outer space, and it's a bonus when there are aliens involved. I was thrilled to see this took place in Toronto since I don't live far from there. Another bonus is that it takes place in 2085, (which is another thing I love. I love books in the future. It's one of the reasons I chose this book) Gracie, the main character, gets abducted and ends up having a horrible time with The Maredians, though not all of them are bad. She is a single mom trying to find her son, Jimmy. I'm surprised this book isn't more read. It has all the right stuff for a good story - a relatable main character, great world building with vivid descriptions, aliens - who are more unique looking than I expected, the plot has twists and turns I wasn't expecting at all. It is dark because her city is destroyed, she's separated from her son, and as a reader, even though I don't have kids, I still felt her pain and horror. If you love aliens, horror, books that take place in the future, 80s throwbacks, and a main character who doesn't give up, even when she seems broken, I can't recommend this enough! This one will be one I reread in the future when I can sit down and read it all in one sitting without distractions.
January 26, 2024
Gracie Pinto lives in 2085. She has a good life and everything’s going well for her until the Maredians show up, destroying her city and taking her captive. Does she have the will to survive?
This book exceeded my expectations. There is a LOT going on, but the author did a wonderful job at piecing this work of art together. I have never read anything quite like this, and I hope to again. I never would have thought someone could tie in extraterrestrials and a biblical rapture together in one book, but Susan B. Iris does this seamlessly. I applaud the creativity and the expression of this novel. Filled with themes of love, hope, and new beginnings in the midst of fear and horror. The author begs the question of who we become when we lose everything that makes us who we are and I found that beautiful.
“…no human is the same. That uniqueness should be celebrated, not deliberately manufactured and modified, turned into some kind of one hive ideology.”
Well done, Susan B. Iris. I look forward to more of your works and it was a pleasure to review this!
This book exceeded my expectations. There is a LOT going on, but the author did a wonderful job at piecing this work of art together. I have never read anything quite like this, and I hope to again. I never would have thought someone could tie in extraterrestrials and a biblical rapture together in one book, but Susan B. Iris does this seamlessly. I applaud the creativity and the expression of this novel. Filled with themes of love, hope, and new beginnings in the midst of fear and horror. The author begs the question of who we become when we lose everything that makes us who we are and I found that beautiful.
“…no human is the same. That uniqueness should be celebrated, not deliberately manufactured and modified, turned into some kind of one hive ideology.”
Well done, Susan B. Iris. I look forward to more of your works and it was a pleasure to review this!
March 13, 2024
This book should be a movie!! Gracie (the MC) is a single mom who goes out with friends for her 30th birthday. After a full night of celebration, she, and others, are abducted by these beings. You'll have to read this amazing book to find out what happens.
The imagery was so vivid. The book started out very futuristic, sci-fi/hi-tech/AI. I felt the author did a very good job giving readers that vibe. After a night at the club, immediately the book gives a dystopian vibe when the aliens take over. Again, the imagery in this book is great! I felt like I was watching this, with so many details. I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but these aliens made me think of the Book of Revelation in the Bible with the mixed-match limbs from various animals. Overall, I think the author wrote an amazing book, and looking forward to more of her content!
The imagery was so vivid. The book started out very futuristic, sci-fi/hi-tech/AI. I felt the author did a very good job giving readers that vibe. After a night at the club, immediately the book gives a dystopian vibe when the aliens take over. Again, the imagery in this book is great! I felt like I was watching this, with so many details. I'm not sure if this was the author's intent, but these aliens made me think of the Book of Revelation in the Bible with the mixed-match limbs from various animals. Overall, I think the author wrote an amazing book, and looking forward to more of her content!
January 15, 2024
The Maredian is a sci-fi/alien invasion book taking place in the near future, in 2085. Our main character is Gracie, a single mother who eventually gets captured by the vicious aliens and becomes separated from her young son, Jimmy. I'd classify this as a sci-fi dystopian/horror book first and a romance second. It was SO much more touching than I expected.
The book deals with love, grief, heartache, and death. There is gore and there is brutality. There is falling in love but also acceptance of death and pain. It's beautiful. Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this book. I particularly enjoyed the world-building, which was painstakingly done with so much detail and impact. Looking forward to future books by Susan Iris :)
The book deals with love, grief, heartache, and death. There is gore and there is brutality. There is falling in love but also acceptance of death and pain. It's beautiful. Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed this book. I particularly enjoyed the world-building, which was painstakingly done with so much detail and impact. Looking forward to future books by Susan Iris :)
February 5, 2024
The Maredian, is a dystopian/sci-fi that takes place in Toronto in the year 2085. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I didn't expect it to have the amount of unexpected turns, and surprises. There are themes of loss but there is also redemption. Some violence in Part 2, when humans are abducted, but just in a few pages, it's not throughout. If you were a kid of the 80's, you also will recognize a lot of items mentioned in Part three, without saying anything further on how that fits in a plot from 2085 . Also the ending ties into the revelations. I recommend giving it a go and you will be amused and entertained.
August 14, 2024
A few editing issues but I thoroughly enjoyed this story, though the ending felt a little rushed, things being brought to a resolution with little apparent effort. That said, this story is not for the faint of heart, having some quite graphic and gruesome details. If you enjoy sci fi stories such as Alien and Starship Troopers, this one is for you. Terrifying at times, heartbreaking at others—Don’t be fooled by the quiet beginning in the megacity! An original and interesting read, would definitely recommend.
October 12, 2024
A thoroughly engaging, if somewhat horrific and graphic book in it depiction of violence. It reimagines a world of the future where aliens invade and devastate it, and when it reemerges it is divided into different fractions that it is presently. Amongst the survivors of the invasion, is Gracie, and what follows is her captivity and the absolute horror of it. The writer does not spare the reader. It is graphic. If you are a fan of horror, and sci-fi horror, then this is probably the book for you.
May 12, 2024
It took me a while to get into the story as there is such a lot going on from many POVs.
There is quite a bit of time-changing especially when Gracie ‘speaks’ with her grandma. And this, I had to read carefully to place myself in time.
That said, it was an unusual read where Gracie befriends an alien who she named Amigo. If you like sci-fi, this could be right up your street. I'm not going to say anymore. I don't want to spoil the story for you.
There is quite a bit of time-changing especially when Gracie ‘speaks’ with her grandma. And this, I had to read carefully to place myself in time.
That said, it was an unusual read where Gracie befriends an alien who she named Amigo. If you like sci-fi, this could be right up your street. I'm not going to say anymore. I don't want to spoil the story for you.
August 21, 2024
The Maredian is an engaging sci-fi dystopian novel that blends the intensity of an alien invasion with deep emotional themes. Set in 2085, it follows Gracie Pinto, a single mother, as she fights for survival after being abducted by mysterious aliens. The narrative is driven by intriguing characters and unexpected twists, with a focus on the unique, evolving bond between Gracie and an alien creature. I typically don’t read this genre, but I did enjoy the book and would recommend it!
August 22, 2024
Not once did I know where this book was going! Written by the talented Susan B. Iris, this book takes readers on a journey that is truly out of this world. Gracie is a very likeable protagonist whose character development I thoroughly enjoyed, an average woman turned badass fighting machine, as a Feminist I appreciated that. This novel reminds readers that all you need is love and the light will come, and that everyone could use a good Amigo.
March 2, 2024
I strongly recommend this book to read, The Maredian, for dystopian/sci-fi fans. Even though I usually don't read this kind of genre, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as it had twists and turns, and a few amusing surprises with Gracie the protagonist, never giving up the search for her little son, remembering the people she had loved and the life she left behind, if she will ever return. There are themes of love, loss and redemption for Gracie in the end and the rise of new hope. I highly recommend giving it a go.
February 9, 2025
This is an entertaining, action packed sci-fi novel with scary aliens. I enjoyed the character development of the protagonist as well. I am more of a hard core sci-fi fan however and the story was a bit more fantastical than I would have preferred. Other than that I'd recommend this book for an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews