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The Scientist, The Spaceman, and The Stars Between Them
They’ve incited deicide, and the old gods are angry…
In a desperate attempt at saving humanity from its own destructive hubris, the Zeus Project set out to explore the untouched reaches of deep space. Now, countless light years later, the colonizing efforts are well under way, but the vast universe has been anything but kind.
After surviving a near-fatal revival from their cryo-pod that permanently damaged their lungs, Dr. London Davies has spent the last two years trapped within the confines of a sterile, sanitized outpost far away from the rest of humanity and their loving husband, Temple.
Acting as the chief embalmer for Zeus, London grows more and more concerned as cadavers filled with writhing worms and unusual forms of decay overrun their cold storage. With their husband off fighting for humanity’s survival under the brutal, watchful eye of Zeus, anxiety, and claustrophobia test the limits of the embalmer’s sanity.
The once quiet morgue has transformed into a playground for something otherworldly, and London's only hope is that Temple can breach the stars between them before it's too late.
"The Scientist, The Spaceman, and The Stars Between Them" was nominated for
"Best Book Cover and Cover Artist", "Best Setting", "Writing The Future We Need: Disability Representation by a Disabled Author", "Writing The Future We Need: Gay/Lesbian Representation", "Writing The Future We Need: LGBTQ+ Representation", "Writing The Future We Need: Mental Health Representation", and "Writing The Future We Need: Trans or Nonbinary Representation" in the 2024 Indie Ink Awards, and was nominated for the 2024 Small Spec Awards.
In a desperate attempt at saving humanity from its own destructive hubris, the Zeus Project set out to explore the untouched reaches of deep space. Now, countless light years later, the colonizing efforts are well under way, but the vast universe has been anything but kind.
After surviving a near-fatal revival from their cryo-pod that permanently damaged their lungs, Dr. London Davies has spent the last two years trapped within the confines of a sterile, sanitized outpost far away from the rest of humanity and their loving husband, Temple.
Acting as the chief embalmer for Zeus, London grows more and more concerned as cadavers filled with writhing worms and unusual forms of decay overrun their cold storage. With their husband off fighting for humanity’s survival under the brutal, watchful eye of Zeus, anxiety, and claustrophobia test the limits of the embalmer’s sanity.
The once quiet morgue has transformed into a playground for something otherworldly, and London's only hope is that Temple can breach the stars between them before it's too late.
"The Scientist, The Spaceman, and The Stars Between Them" was nominated for
"Best Book Cover and Cover Artist", "Best Setting", "Writing The Future We Need: Disability Representation by a Disabled Author", "Writing The Future We Need: Gay/Lesbian Representation", "Writing The Future We Need: LGBTQ+ Representation", "Writing The Future We Need: Mental Health Representation", and "Writing The Future We Need: Trans or Nonbinary Representation" in the 2024 Indie Ink Awards, and was nominated for the 2024 Small Spec Awards.
233 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2024
5 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Davidson
16 books66 followersA.L. Davidson is a queer and disabled indie author who loves writing genre-blending stories, tales of heartwarming and horrifying romance, and the coziest sci-fi and urban fantasies you’ll find this side of the galaxy. She specializes in narratives filled with ghosts, grief, isolation, queerness, life with disabilities, ecohorror, space exploration, slow burn romance, found family, and the human condition.
They are best known for their collection of web novels: The Night Farm, Lonely Planet Hotel, and The Wayward Souls of Avalon, as well as their horrormance stories such as When The Rain Begins To Burn, Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence, and All For The Blood of the Lamb. She is a 2023 Indie Ink, Queer Indie, Pushcart Prize, and BBNYA nominee, and a 2024 Small Spec, Indie Ink, BookTok Indie Awards, and Thorpe Menn nominee. The Night Farm was a 2024 Inkies Finalist for Favorite Community Novel on Tapas.
She lives in Kansas City with way too many plants and her cat, Jukebox The Ghost. When they’re not writing, you can find them hanging out at the cemetery or working a shift at their local haunted museum, playing cozy video games, and diving into an ever-growing manga pile.
They are best known for their collection of web novels: The Night Farm, Lonely Planet Hotel, and The Wayward Souls of Avalon, as well as their horrormance stories such as When The Rain Begins To Burn, Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence, and All For The Blood of the Lamb. She is a 2023 Indie Ink, Queer Indie, Pushcart Prize, and BBNYA nominee, and a 2024 Small Spec, Indie Ink, BookTok Indie Awards, and Thorpe Menn nominee. The Night Farm was a 2024 Inkies Finalist for Favorite Community Novel on Tapas.
She lives in Kansas City with way too many plants and her cat, Jukebox The Ghost. When they’re not writing, you can find them hanging out at the cemetery or working a shift at their local haunted museum, playing cozy video games, and diving into an ever-growing manga pile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 28, 2024
I stumbled across this book through a re-tweet from the author announcing its release. Whoever says posting to Twitter isn't effective is dead wrong. I am positive I would not have had AL Davidson's book hit my radar otherwise. And I'm really glad it did.
It's a queer space rom-horror that intertwines alien and fungal terror for a ridiculously captivating read. Yes, maybe I'm coining a new sub-genre term. Just go with it, yeah? And hellooo... do you see that cover?
London and Temple have been apart more than they've been together since they started working with the Zeus Project. London's compromised health keeps them locked away in a remote outpost while they perform autopsies on deceased crewmembers who've suffered strange and worrying deaths, while Temple is captain of a team that's been sent to a distant planet to begin terraform procedures. In addition to their health issues, London is also suffering from anxiety, depression, and may be starting to go a little crazy... doors they know they've locked are starting to open on their own, they swear they hear movement and whispers in the lower level of the outpost, and the bodies that are being sent to them, which are without a doubt very dead, also appear to be somewhat alive, even though London knows that can't be possible.
This one is a bit of a slow burn, with a higher focus on the relationship between London and Temple, but once the weirdness starts up, the book gets kicked into high gear. It's an emotional, slightly gory, terror filled journey out amongst the stars....
It's a queer space rom-horror that intertwines alien and fungal terror for a ridiculously captivating read. Yes, maybe I'm coining a new sub-genre term. Just go with it, yeah? And hellooo... do you see that cover?
London and Temple have been apart more than they've been together since they started working with the Zeus Project. London's compromised health keeps them locked away in a remote outpost while they perform autopsies on deceased crewmembers who've suffered strange and worrying deaths, while Temple is captain of a team that's been sent to a distant planet to begin terraform procedures. In addition to their health issues, London is also suffering from anxiety, depression, and may be starting to go a little crazy... doors they know they've locked are starting to open on their own, they swear they hear movement and whispers in the lower level of the outpost, and the bodies that are being sent to them, which are without a doubt very dead, also appear to be somewhat alive, even though London knows that can't be possible.
This one is a bit of a slow burn, with a higher focus on the relationship between London and Temple, but once the weirdness starts up, the book gets kicked into high gear. It's an emotional, slightly gory, terror filled journey out amongst the stars....
July 5, 2024
No thoughts, just lots of internal screaming.
--
I have returned with some thoughts. I want to do this book justice with a longer review because Davidson deserves it.
To start, I'll have you know that when I was nine pages into this book, I messaged a friend of mine and said I was so excited because 'they're a damn good writer'. That sentiment pretty much sums up this entire experience. The plot here is amazing, the characters are so real, the twists and turns are mindblowing, but the writing really takes this next level. I sank into the words. They were tangible and I wanted to live in them forever.
There's a lot of power in this story. It has a slow start that really enhances the setting and brings the reader into this universe. When things start happening, we're already so deep in the setting that it all feels so real. The descriptions are on point and had me 'mouth open, eyes bulging' for long periods of time. This is the perfect balance of sci-fi and spook.
If you are an avid sci-fi reader who hasn't dabbled much in sci-fi horror, but are looking to try out something, this is a great intro book. It's weird and slightly scary, but it won't scare you away from the genre. It'll prepare you for what might come next.
Davidson is well on their way to becoming a favourite author.
--
I have returned with some thoughts. I want to do this book justice with a longer review because Davidson deserves it.
To start, I'll have you know that when I was nine pages into this book, I messaged a friend of mine and said I was so excited because 'they're a damn good writer'. That sentiment pretty much sums up this entire experience. The plot here is amazing, the characters are so real, the twists and turns are mindblowing, but the writing really takes this next level. I sank into the words. They were tangible and I wanted to live in them forever.
There's a lot of power in this story. It has a slow start that really enhances the setting and brings the reader into this universe. When things start happening, we're already so deep in the setting that it all feels so real. The descriptions are on point and had me 'mouth open, eyes bulging' for long periods of time. This is the perfect balance of sci-fi and spook.
If you are an avid sci-fi reader who hasn't dabbled much in sci-fi horror, but are looking to try out something, this is a great intro book. It's weird and slightly scary, but it won't scare you away from the genre. It'll prepare you for what might come next.
Davidson is well on their way to becoming a favourite author.
May 7, 2024
I was hooked from the beginning. London and Temple are magnetic even as their love struggles to bloom in a desolate universe. I'm also absolutely here for the nonbinary and queer rep.
I loved the foreshadowing and steadily growing tension. Whenever I thought the stakes couldn't get higher...Davidson proved me wrong. This book hurts in the best way.
In short...this novel is everything I love in a horror novel. Gorgeous, gross, and VERY gay.
Thanks so much to Davidson and Timber Ghost Press for the chance to read this ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I loved the foreshadowing and steadily growing tension. Whenever I thought the stakes couldn't get higher...Davidson proved me wrong. This book hurts in the best way.
In short...this novel is everything I love in a horror novel. Gorgeous, gross, and VERY gay.
Thanks so much to Davidson and Timber Ghost Press for the chance to read this ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
August 15, 2024
Temple and London left Earth with a few trusted friends to the far future to help save humanity through expansion. However when it came time to awaken from cyro-sleep, London suffers an accident that has left them unable to process any foreign particles to the losing they are sequestered to an unfinished yet tightly sealed space station to do their work. They’re a medical examiner who just might have the most important job in the Galaxy; to find out what fatally happens to humans while terraforming and attempting to live after Earth. So the half corpse in the basement covered in fungus isn’t a big deal unless something happens to the sealed tank it sits in. London’s husband and team are sent constantly around to terraforming worlds leaving them completely alone. Which wouldn’t be an issue if time apart wasn’t leaving London so tired of it all. Oh and the knocks and sounds from the station when it is supposed to be medically sealed have becoming more frequent and there’s no way London left that door open…
If I couldn’t only read one genre for the rest of my life, it would be sci-fi horror. So when I saw this, I immediately downloaded and INHALED it. The relationship between London and their husband was so tender and raw that it made the developing horror around them so dreadful. Beware you might be crying and checking all your drains at 2am just like me by the end.
If I couldn’t only read one genre for the rest of my life, it would be sci-fi horror. So when I saw this, I immediately downloaded and INHALED it. The relationship between London and their husband was so tender and raw that it made the developing horror around them so dreadful. Beware you might be crying and checking all your drains at 2am just like me by the end.
November 13, 2024
This book ruined me. I’ll probably review this later but I can’t string together anything coherent right now
May 22, 2024
This was an interesting story to read. I do have to say that this isn't a happily ever after type of story. It did pull me in and held my attention. It was worth reading.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
February 29, 2024
NB: I just finished an advance copy from Timber Ghost Press (thank you Cody).
And it's my first time reading A.L. (Alycia) Davidson
Starting primarily as sci-fi, a future where searching for new worlds to ensure human survival is the goal.
It's a tale laced with mysterious events. A corporation who don't appear entirely trustworthy. One of our protagonists may, or may not be, suffering a breakdown. Revelations that leave you feeling just a little bit wtf-ish :) 😱
And all of this transforming into an eco/cosmic horror in space.
A fun ride indeed 🤓 Recommended 😊
Alycia's website linked below:
http://disturbancesbyalycia.weebly.co...
And it's my first time reading A.L. (Alycia) Davidson
Starting primarily as sci-fi, a future where searching for new worlds to ensure human survival is the goal.
It's a tale laced with mysterious events. A corporation who don't appear entirely trustworthy. One of our protagonists may, or may not be, suffering a breakdown. Revelations that leave you feeling just a little bit wtf-ish :) 😱
And all of this transforming into an eco/cosmic horror in space.
A fun ride indeed 🤓 Recommended 😊
Alycia's website linked below:
http://disturbancesbyalycia.weebly.co...
April 13, 2024
Why do I do this to myself. Look I can't lie the beginning of this book depressed me. It's one very sad thing after another and the intimate and gentle writing style makes you attached to Temple and London immediately so it's difficult to see them struggle. That being said, I couldn't stop reading it. It was like a trainwreck you can't stop watching. The insidious dread was soaked within each sentence from the very first chapter, causing a creeping sensation that makes you want to keep checking over your shoulder as you read. You got that awful apprehensive feeling that something horrible was right around the page.
I stopped about half way in because I just knew shit was gonna happen and I was terrified. But then the agony of not knowing was worse than knowing so I sat down and finished it. And uh... To be honest I don't know what I'm feeling right now. The ending was marketed as bittersweet but I would say it's 100% sad. Do not read this unless you are willing to feel empty. I cried. And now I have that adrift feeling you get when everything in a book ends sadly and you don't know what to do with yourself.
If you like this genre, it's a beautifully written and heartbreaking book with a terrifyingly dark twist near the end. Obviously I wish it had a happier ending, just so many sad emotions inside me right now. Only read this if you just really want to make yourself cry. That's all I can say here
This gut wrenching book is out May 24th. God what even am I supposed to do with myself right now except stare into space and think about what I just read 😭
I stopped about half way in because I just knew shit was gonna happen and I was terrified. But then the agony of not knowing was worse than knowing so I sat down and finished it. And uh... To be honest I don't know what I'm feeling right now. The ending was marketed as bittersweet but I would say it's 100% sad. Do not read this unless you are willing to feel empty. I cried. And now I have that adrift feeling you get when everything in a book ends sadly and you don't know what to do with yourself.
If you like this genre, it's a beautifully written and heartbreaking book with a terrifyingly dark twist near the end. Obviously I wish it had a happier ending, just so many sad emotions inside me right now. Only read this if you just really want to make yourself cry. That's all I can say here
This gut wrenching book is out May 24th. God what even am I supposed to do with myself right now except stare into space and think about what I just read 😭
May 9, 2024
Wow! Okay. Wow! Okay....wow. This was a refreshing read. It has everything I love, too. Scifi, romance, cosmic horror. I dunno if I'm good at this review thing, however the authors command over language was impeccable. It slowly built, the characters were great, and I am absolutely floored. When it got to the moment, and if you read it you'll know what I am talking about, it is a descent much like a rollercoaster, and man does it have a long drop. The stakes kept raising, but not in any sort of ridiculous manner. I just did not know what to expect, and was surprised, again! The love story was also well told, the relationship between London and Temple seeming realistic and very much adorable.
This was a well told story, and it was probably one of my favorites this year. Thank you A.L. for breaking my heart, you are truly a good storyteller.
Thank you BookSirens for this opportunity to read The Scientist, The Spaceman and The Stars Between Them.
This was a well told story, and it was probably one of my favorites this year. Thank you A.L. for breaking my heart, you are truly a good storyteller.
Thank you BookSirens for this opportunity to read The Scientist, The Spaceman and The Stars Between Them.
April 26, 2024
I recieved this book via BookSirens and this arc is entirely of my own will.
-
It’s hard to put into words that adequately describe how this book made me feel. My heart hurt for London and Temple, and the losses they’d suffered and I hoped and wished for some light in their future but all of that was overshadowed by a creeping sense of dread. It was unsettling and addictive.
The writing was beautifully captivating, and you can’t help but feel for London as they begin to circle the drain of the life they’re now living. Temple too, because he’s trying his best but he seems to keep falling short. Their love is decadent and bottomless and utterly sweet, despite the tragedies they have faced.
That dread I mentioned? It continues throught the book, building in intensity as the story progresses. There were parts where I physically recoiled and had to take a minute to process what was happening.
The twist was completely unexpected, and the ending was devastating. I can’t help but hope there is more to this story yet to come, however the ending feels very final. I wouldn’t mind if this book was a standalone, but I think there’s more to the story. There has to be.
Some parts I felt were too brief, I wanted to know more about the broken cryo pod. I wanted to know more about London and why their immune system was so weak. I wanted to know more about how they ended up at the outpost and the stories of the side characters. But ultimately, the main story was well executed and written beautifully.
The Scientist, The Spaceman and The Stars Between Them is going to be on my mind for a while to come, I feel.
-
It’s hard to put into words that adequately describe how this book made me feel. My heart hurt for London and Temple, and the losses they’d suffered and I hoped and wished for some light in their future but all of that was overshadowed by a creeping sense of dread. It was unsettling and addictive.
The writing was beautifully captivating, and you can’t help but feel for London as they begin to circle the drain of the life they’re now living. Temple too, because he’s trying his best but he seems to keep falling short. Their love is decadent and bottomless and utterly sweet, despite the tragedies they have faced.
That dread I mentioned? It continues throught the book, building in intensity as the story progresses. There were parts where I physically recoiled and had to take a minute to process what was happening.
The twist was completely unexpected, and the ending was devastating. I can’t help but hope there is more to this story yet to come, however the ending feels very final. I wouldn’t mind if this book was a standalone, but I think there’s more to the story. There has to be.
Some parts I felt were too brief, I wanted to know more about the broken cryo pod. I wanted to know more about London and why their immune system was so weak. I wanted to know more about how they ended up at the outpost and the stories of the side characters. But ultimately, the main story was well executed and written beautifully.
The Scientist, The Spaceman and The Stars Between Them is going to be on my mind for a while to come, I feel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2024
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
Reading this book may result in you needing an immediate hug from a loved one. Proceed with caution.
But in all seriousness, this book DID make me cry but it was… a good cry? A bittersweet type of cry.
Beware of lengthy reviews on this one. There are too many small details that will spoil the book as a whole.
Go in blind. Enjoy the slow build up of tension and WTF moments in the background while the author fleshes out the main characters’ relationship perfectly. Feel their longing for one another. Feel the forced distance between the two of them. And then feel everything come collapsing down around them until the very last chapter that wraps up the entirety of the story beautifully.
tl:dr; If you’re looking for a queer slow burn cosmic eco-horror book with a sprinkle of romance and a dash of greedy corporations that fuck around and find out… then this is the book for you.
Thank you to the author, Timber Ghost Press, & BookSirens for a digital eARC in exchange for a honest review.
Reading this book may result in you needing an immediate hug from a loved one. Proceed with caution.
But in all seriousness, this book DID make me cry but it was… a good cry? A bittersweet type of cry.
Beware of lengthy reviews on this one. There are too many small details that will spoil the book as a whole.
Go in blind. Enjoy the slow build up of tension and WTF moments in the background while the author fleshes out the main characters’ relationship perfectly. Feel their longing for one another. Feel the forced distance between the two of them. And then feel everything come collapsing down around them until the very last chapter that wraps up the entirety of the story beautifully.
tl:dr; If you’re looking for a queer slow burn cosmic eco-horror book with a sprinkle of romance and a dash of greedy corporations that fuck around and find out… then this is the book for you.
Thank you to the author, Timber Ghost Press, & BookSirens for a digital eARC in exchange for a honest review.
May 29, 2024
Thanks to BookSirens for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is one of those books where I had to go lay face down on the floor for a while after finishing it. The characters, the setting, the painfully accurate depiction of chronic illness, the protagonists' complex relationship, the too-close-to-home collapse of a capitalist empire in real time -- it was the perfect mix of beautiful, frustrating, and heartbreakingly hopeless. The body horror descriptions added a wonderfully visceral layer to this already complex mix of feelings elicited. Queer space horror is such an underappreciated genre and this book quickly became my personal gold standard for it. Everyone should read this book!
This is one of those books where I had to go lay face down on the floor for a while after finishing it. The characters, the setting, the painfully accurate depiction of chronic illness, the protagonists' complex relationship, the too-close-to-home collapse of a capitalist empire in real time -- it was the perfect mix of beautiful, frustrating, and heartbreakingly hopeless. The body horror descriptions added a wonderfully visceral layer to this already complex mix of feelings elicited. Queer space horror is such an underappreciated genre and this book quickly became my personal gold standard for it. Everyone should read this book!
May 9, 2024
Thank you to BookSirens for the ebook arc!
Zombie space horror, and YET. IM IN TEARS.
London was phenomenal. I loved all the details about them. Temple was a lighthouse in a storm, a husband who truly loved his partner.
The plot most definitely TWISTED. I had so much hope until the last few chapters. I didn't expect to get so attached to characters in such a short amount of time.
A shorter read than most of my books, but a welcome one.
Zombie space horror, and YET. IM IN TEARS.
London was phenomenal. I loved all the details about them. Temple was a lighthouse in a storm, a husband who truly loved his partner.
The plot most definitely TWISTED. I had so much hope until the last few chapters. I didn't expect to get so attached to characters in such a short amount of time.
A shorter read than most of my books, but a welcome one.
May 15, 2024
Super grateful to Booksirens for offering this ARC, I didn’t really know what to expect with this one and it truly blew me away.
I absolutely adored Temple and London, their love and chemistry was palpable through these pages. My heart went out to these characters and I was so invested in their story.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but I loved the themes of this book. The universe taking back what is theirs. It was atmospheric, tension filled, horrifying and absolutely stunning. This is one of my favourite reads so far of 2024.
I received an ARC of this novel, and I happily leave a voluntary review!
I absolutely adored Temple and London, their love and chemistry was palpable through these pages. My heart went out to these characters and I was so invested in their story.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but I loved the themes of this book. The universe taking back what is theirs. It was atmospheric, tension filled, horrifying and absolutely stunning. This is one of my favourite reads so far of 2024.
I received an ARC of this novel, and I happily leave a voluntary review!
May 24, 2024
This was a roller coaster of a book, it was riveting the entire way through. It was one of those books that made you want to laugh, cry, and scream… sometimes simultaneously. The sci-fi elements throughout also added intrigue, the author introduces you to a world that is easy to follow along with yet detailed enough to provide sophisticated mental images. I received an ARC, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 27, 2024
Wow this book was haunting and absolutely beautiful. This is a story that will stick with you for months. London and Temple will be stuck in my mind for a long time to come and what their life came to be in the end. It was an ending you don’t hope for but I would almost saying the perfect ending for London and Temple.
May 30, 2024
I'll be requesting therapy from the author after reading this
My heart is so broken and the tears are heavy - this slow burn was grim, gross and gorgeous also gay as heck
You may be able to tell, I loved it very much - but I knew I would, A.L. Davidson has a fantastic writing style which makes me engrossed in every story they write
My heart is so broken and the tears are heavy - this slow burn was grim, gross and gorgeous also gay as heck
You may be able to tell, I loved it very much - but I knew I would, A.L. Davidson has a fantastic writing style which makes me engrossed in every story they write
June 8, 2024
"Some horrors were not with understanding."
I can't think of anything else that perfectly sums up this beautiful book. A.L. Davidson is a genius, and without giving too much away, simply because you need to read this, I am shattered in the best way.
A beautiful and wild ride from start to finish. Highly recommend!
I can't think of anything else that perfectly sums up this beautiful book. A.L. Davidson is a genius, and without giving too much away, simply because you need to read this, I am shattered in the best way.
A beautiful and wild ride from start to finish. Highly recommend!
March 6, 2024
What an inventive and empathetic bit of sci-fi horror! I love the subgenre of sci-fi horror, when done well, and this is a novel, unique spin on the genre. The highlight of this story is its characters, who feel grounded and real. I do wish more time was spent with some of the secondary characters that make up the research team, because the little we got from them was great, but our lead characters were a lot of fun to dive into. The story itself took elements of the genre and played with them, mixing and matching, adding in some flavors of everything from queer romance to weird fiction, and for the most part the combination worked well and endeared me to the story and its characters. There was also a seamlessness in the way the narrative voice moved from one character to the next that I thought was really skillful. A paragraph could start from the perspective of one character and somehow shift to the perspective of another character by its end, and this always felt natural and did a good job of making the story feel round and complete. Without having hard breaks, such as different chapters or sections demarcating different POVs, and instead having this more organic, flowing style, it felt rounder, lusher.
The plotting did feel a little lopsided to me. I was compelled and interested throughout the story, every chapter pulled me into the next one easily, but the events that happened in the final 20% of the book seemed disproportionate to everything that came before. There are so many smaller stories that could have been fleshed out and explored, seeding the action and the mystery along throughout. So, it felt a little off-balance and like a missed opportunity. And while I did appreciate the narrative flow and style, some of the dialogue felt a little forced, and on occasion some word choices felt odd. Not so much as to be a distraction, but enough to stand out from what was otherwise really enjoyable, sometimes poetic, sometimes philosophic, prose. I liked where the story started and where it ended up, but the journey there could have been a little more balanced, and a little more meandering, at that, as the world that was introduced was interesting and the characters were people I wanted to spend more time with.
Overall, this was a really fun read. It has a tender love story at its heart, wrapped in interesting costume of anti-colonialist eco/space horror. It has great representation that is naturalized and left without commentary. I enjoyed it and definitely think that anyone who finds themselves floating in these genre spaces will find something captivating to explore here.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Timber Ghost Press, and BookSirens, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The plotting did feel a little lopsided to me. I was compelled and interested throughout the story, every chapter pulled me into the next one easily, but the events that happened in the final 20% of the book seemed disproportionate to everything that came before. There are so many smaller stories that could have been fleshed out and explored, seeding the action and the mystery along throughout. So, it felt a little off-balance and like a missed opportunity. And while I did appreciate the narrative flow and style, some of the dialogue felt a little forced, and on occasion some word choices felt odd. Not so much as to be a distraction, but enough to stand out from what was otherwise really enjoyable, sometimes poetic, sometimes philosophic, prose. I liked where the story started and where it ended up, but the journey there could have been a little more balanced, and a little more meandering, at that, as the world that was introduced was interesting and the characters were people I wanted to spend more time with.
Overall, this was a really fun read. It has a tender love story at its heart, wrapped in interesting costume of anti-colonialist eco/space horror. It has great representation that is naturalized and left without commentary. I enjoyed it and definitely think that anyone who finds themselves floating in these genre spaces will find something captivating to explore here.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Timber Ghost Press, and BookSirens, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 22, 2025
Whoa
What in the actual fuck did I just read? Honestly, work.
And how dare this book break my heart so thoroughly at the end!!!!!
What in the actual fuck did I just read? Honestly, work.
And how dare this book break my heart so thoroughly at the end!!!!!
June 13, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rating: 3.5/5, rounded up
This story is a mixed bag. Clearly taking inspiration from sci-fi horror greats like Alien and The Last of Us, it struggles to marry the horror and romance genres effectively. With characterization that feels over the top and silly at times and a romantic backstory/subplot between the two main protagonists that causes some tonal whiplash, this story just doesn't feel like it knows whether it wants the romance or the horror to be the main driving force of the plot. It does manage to wrap things up in a very beautifully written, bleak, and bittersweet final chapter, but the road to the end is a little bumpy. I also struggled at times with the third-person perspective shifting between characters, which would occur within the same chapter. The prose is interesting, engaging, and wonderfully descriptive, and I think it's worth reading despite any criticisms I have because the writing itself is honestly stellar and the latter half of the book where the horror took the reins kept me on the edge of my seat.
Beware, spoilers ahead.
I loved the atmosphere of the research outpost and its hauntingly lonely purple hues, and I very much enjoyed the usage of plant metaphors because London has a green thumb. I LOVED the action scenes and the autopsies, they were so descriptive and genuinely so fun to read! It's just the romance started off fine but was just so cheesy at times (some of lines were hard to take seriously), which felt out of place between the descriptions of mangled corpses and the Project falling to pieces. The early chapters focused mainly on the relationship between London and Temple, focusing on how they met and the trauma they experienced that got them into this situation, revealed to us through reminiscing. It worked for some things, such as when they danced to their song in the kitchen, but overall it felt like it was meeting a checklist of things you had to know before the actual plot started. As a result I think it gives the reader quite a bit tonal whiplash. In just a few days they go from
Also not sure if this is where I should mention this, but the ePub of this book crashes on my Kobo from chapter 6 onward so I had to finish it on my phone.
Rating: 3.5/5, rounded up
This story is a mixed bag. Clearly taking inspiration from sci-fi horror greats like Alien and The Last of Us, it struggles to marry the horror and romance genres effectively. With characterization that feels over the top and silly at times and a romantic backstory/subplot between the two main protagonists that causes some tonal whiplash, this story just doesn't feel like it knows whether it wants the romance or the horror to be the main driving force of the plot. It does manage to wrap things up in a very beautifully written, bleak, and bittersweet final chapter, but the road to the end is a little bumpy. I also struggled at times with the third-person perspective shifting between characters, which would occur within the same chapter. The prose is interesting, engaging, and wonderfully descriptive, and I think it's worth reading despite any criticisms I have because the writing itself is honestly stellar and the latter half of the book where the horror took the reins kept me on the edge of my seat.
Beware, spoilers ahead.
I loved the atmosphere of the research outpost and its hauntingly lonely purple hues, and I very much enjoyed the usage of plant metaphors because London has a green thumb. I LOVED the action scenes and the autopsies, they were so descriptive and genuinely so fun to read! It's just the romance started off fine but was just so cheesy at times (some of lines were hard to take seriously), which felt out of place between the descriptions of mangled corpses and the Project falling to pieces. The early chapters focused mainly on the relationship between London and Temple, focusing on how they met and the trauma they experienced that got them into this situation, revealed to us through reminiscing. It worked for some things, such as when they danced to their song in the kitchen, but overall it felt like it was meeting a checklist of things you had to know before the actual plot started. As a result I think it gives the reader quite a bit tonal whiplash. In just a few days they go from
Also not sure if this is where I should mention this, but the ePub of this book crashes on my Kobo from chapter 6 onward so I had to finish it on my phone.
May 24, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I give this book a 2.5/5, rounded up to 3.
Temple and London Davies attempt to hold on to one another in the aftermath of a world-ending cataclysm. But on the ships that are supposed to be humanity's last salvation, there lives something that may just be beyond human understanding. And it is angry.
I wanted to love this book. The characters and their relationships are interesting, as is the setting, and the author was clearly passionate. There are some beautiful bits of prose in here, especially towards the very end, and I truly appreciate what the author was intending to do. However, there were issues throughout the entirety of the book which severely impacted my enjoyment of it.
To start with, the writing itself. The style was fine, at times beautiful, but the way the story was told was a problem for me. The author went for third-person omniscient for this story, and the point of view often switches between multiple characters. This isn’t by itself a problem, but the switches happen seemingly at random, sometimes even within the same paragraph, and it can be confusing as to whose eyes we’re seeing through at any given time. We’re also given the perspective of characters who do little in the story itself, in ways I found didn’t expand upon the characters or work for the impact of the plot.
I also don’t think that the starting point for the book did the story justice. We’re dropped into the story after both the main characters are already broken people, already in a futile situation not of their own making. This had a chance to be extremely interesting, but the way we’re told how they got here was a bit disappointing to me. We’re told the past terrible things that have happened to these characters, told how they used to be, told so many things, but we’re often not actually SHOWN any of it. So many important plot points are told after the fact without exploring them as full, fleshed-out scenes. In some cases this works – the two main characters reminiscing about their first meeting, for example. But I feel like the first half of the story would have been so much more impactful if we’d been given more context. Yes, we know that London is heavily traumatized and very sad and lonely, but specifically why should we care if that’s the only facet of this character we’ve been allowed to see? How much of a gut-punch would it be to see how far Temple and London’s relationship has deteriorated, had we ever been shown what it was like before all of the hardships?
The pacing is also a bit off-putting. The first half of the book is very slow, which personally I wouldn’t have minded nearly as much had the above problems been addressed. The second half of the book has a faster pace but more than that it actually has characters interacting in meaningful ways, which gives their relationships more depth and makes the reader more interested in what may happen.
Finally, the themes. At the end of the story (light spoilers) there’s a lot of talk about the toll humanity is taking on the ecosystem, and about nature taking over its rightful place in the universe. But again, this doesn’t really land because we aren’t actively shown in which ways humanity has been destructive in-universe. Yes, we’re told that the main characters are drilling/mining resources from planets after the death of Earth, but we never really see what that looks like. And because we’re never given snapshots of how beautiful the natural world was for our main characters before the story started, it all sort of falls flat to me.
To sum up, I feel like this story failed to live up to its potential. There were interesting ideas and characters here, and some quality writing as well, but I think all of this was really hindered by the decision to start the story so near the “end” of all of these events. Still, I will still think of this story, and I am glad I read it. And a side-note: as a nonbinary person I really appreciated seeing a main character go by they/them pronouns.
I give this book a 2.5/5, rounded up to 3.
Temple and London Davies attempt to hold on to one another in the aftermath of a world-ending cataclysm. But on the ships that are supposed to be humanity's last salvation, there lives something that may just be beyond human understanding. And it is angry.
I wanted to love this book. The characters and their relationships are interesting, as is the setting, and the author was clearly passionate. There are some beautiful bits of prose in here, especially towards the very end, and I truly appreciate what the author was intending to do. However, there were issues throughout the entirety of the book which severely impacted my enjoyment of it.
To start with, the writing itself. The style was fine, at times beautiful, but the way the story was told was a problem for me. The author went for third-person omniscient for this story, and the point of view often switches between multiple characters. This isn’t by itself a problem, but the switches happen seemingly at random, sometimes even within the same paragraph, and it can be confusing as to whose eyes we’re seeing through at any given time. We’re also given the perspective of characters who do little in the story itself, in ways I found didn’t expand upon the characters or work for the impact of the plot.
I also don’t think that the starting point for the book did the story justice. We’re dropped into the story after both the main characters are already broken people, already in a futile situation not of their own making. This had a chance to be extremely interesting, but the way we’re told how they got here was a bit disappointing to me. We’re told the past terrible things that have happened to these characters, told how they used to be, told so many things, but we’re often not actually SHOWN any of it. So many important plot points are told after the fact without exploring them as full, fleshed-out scenes. In some cases this works – the two main characters reminiscing about their first meeting, for example. But I feel like the first half of the story would have been so much more impactful if we’d been given more context. Yes, we know that London is heavily traumatized and very sad and lonely, but specifically why should we care if that’s the only facet of this character we’ve been allowed to see? How much of a gut-punch would it be to see how far Temple and London’s relationship has deteriorated, had we ever been shown what it was like before all of the hardships?
The pacing is also a bit off-putting. The first half of the book is very slow, which personally I wouldn’t have minded nearly as much had the above problems been addressed. The second half of the book has a faster pace but more than that it actually has characters interacting in meaningful ways, which gives their relationships more depth and makes the reader more interested in what may happen.
Finally, the themes. At the end of the story (light spoilers) there’s a lot of talk about the toll humanity is taking on the ecosystem, and about nature taking over its rightful place in the universe. But again, this doesn’t really land because we aren’t actively shown in which ways humanity has been destructive in-universe. Yes, we’re told that the main characters are drilling/mining resources from planets after the death of Earth, but we never really see what that looks like. And because we’re never given snapshots of how beautiful the natural world was for our main characters before the story started, it all sort of falls flat to me.
To sum up, I feel like this story failed to live up to its potential. There were interesting ideas and characters here, and some quality writing as well, but I think all of this was really hindered by the decision to start the story so near the “end” of all of these events. Still, I will still think of this story, and I am glad I read it. And a side-note: as a nonbinary person I really appreciated seeing a main character go by they/them pronouns.
July 12, 2024
I found The scientist the spaceman and the stars between them to be a great book. The experience was overwhelmingly positive and whilst I found it to have a shaky start the book certainly improved in quality as Davidson found their feet in the creative process.
My initial thoughts weren’t great, a lot of the wording was cliche and found myself desperately wishing to never have to read the words ‘small lover’ again, once or twice is passable, this was a little much. My only other notable criticism of phrase choice was during an intimate scene where ‘free from his bonds of cotton’ was thrown in there, however phrases like this did die off later in the story.
Questionable descriptions aside, this story was excellent, I found myself genuinely intrigued to know what was going on at the station, and on edge for London. Davidson didn’t beat around the bush with descriptions of the more gruesome occurrences, and they’ve truly mastered the art of suspense.
My highest praise would be how real it all felt towards the end. Things got hectic, scary, I was desperate to know who would get to live and who wouldn’t make it past the next corner, I found myself mourning alongside London and Temple for those that were lost, emotions were powerful and I felt that. The conclusion of this book was commendable, and I left it knowing I would be thinking about that scene for a while, I want to avoid spoilers but truly, this was something special and I would highly recommend it.
I received an ARC copy if this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
My initial thoughts weren’t great, a lot of the wording was cliche and found myself desperately wishing to never have to read the words ‘small lover’ again, once or twice is passable, this was a little much. My only other notable criticism of phrase choice was during an intimate scene where ‘free from his bonds of cotton’ was thrown in there, however phrases like this did die off later in the story.
Questionable descriptions aside, this story was excellent, I found myself genuinely intrigued to know what was going on at the station, and on edge for London. Davidson didn’t beat around the bush with descriptions of the more gruesome occurrences, and they’ve truly mastered the art of suspense.
My highest praise would be how real it all felt towards the end. Things got hectic, scary, I was desperate to know who would get to live and who wouldn’t make it past the next corner, I found myself mourning alongside London and Temple for those that were lost, emotions were powerful and I felt that. The conclusion of this book was commendable, and I left it knowing I would be thinking about that scene for a while, I want to avoid spoilers but truly, this was something special and I would highly recommend it.
I received an ARC copy if this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
May 19, 2024
a book that I really wanted to like more, because I understand the vision!! human transcendence and a return to the earth, love and connection and eternity, life and its persistence in a hostile universe. the earth and its anger and wrath of gods. body horror that has the range of being pure horror for the shock and then horror in the beauty of it all. all chef's kiss on their own, what's not to love about it.
but then the narrative gets a bit over-complicated with different side narrative threads that slow the pacing of the story and sort of happen without too much proper resolution. for me, specifically the unfortunately this specific aspect is what a good chunk of this narrative hinges on for plot.
what really saves this story for me is the last chapter, because it is written so beautifully and is nearly flawless. like I imagine that this entire story was written just so the last chapter would have its narrative weight. which is not inherently bad, but it's a bit disappointing that the rest of the story wasn't as strong as the end.
thank you to Book Sirens and Timber Ghost Press for the advanced reader copy!
but then the narrative gets a bit over-complicated with different side narrative threads that slow the pacing of the story and sort of happen without too much proper resolution. for me, specifically the unfortunately this specific aspect is what a good chunk of this narrative hinges on for plot.
what really saves this story for me is the last chapter, because it is written so beautifully and is nearly flawless. like I imagine that this entire story was written just so the last chapter would have its narrative weight. which is not inherently bad, but it's a bit disappointing that the rest of the story wasn't as strong as the end.
thank you to Book Sirens and Timber Ghost Press for the advanced reader copy!
April 9, 2024
I generally try to go into books knowing as little about them as possible. I picked this up because the cover and title are awesome, and I’ll read pretty much any sci-fi.
But there is one thing you need to know upfront is that this is a horror novel. A bleak horror novel. And if that’s not your jam, move on.
Temple (he/him) and London (they/them) are part of an exploratory expedition to terraform planets to make them fit for humanity after we destroyed Earth: Temple leads a group of terraformers while London is stuck alone in a small, sterile outpost. Their love is strong, but the distance is wearying.
In both of their worlds, things start to slowly go wrong, and Temple tries his best to support London while dealing with his own nightmares.
I don’t want to say more than that for fear of giving this away.
In a book that really focuses on two characters and their relationship, Davidson manages to cover big themes like environmental stewardship, living in a world you’re not suited for, and corporate greed and coverups.
I was initially going to give this three stars but had to round up because the concept and world-building were so well thought out and unique.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Timber Ghost Press!
But there is one thing you need to know upfront is that this is a horror novel. A bleak horror novel. And if that’s not your jam, move on.
Temple (he/him) and London (they/them) are part of an exploratory expedition to terraform planets to make them fit for humanity after we destroyed Earth: Temple leads a group of terraformers while London is stuck alone in a small, sterile outpost. Their love is strong, but the distance is wearying.
In both of their worlds, things start to slowly go wrong, and Temple tries his best to support London while dealing with his own nightmares.
I don’t want to say more than that for fear of giving this away.
In a book that really focuses on two characters and their relationship, Davidson manages to cover big themes like environmental stewardship, living in a world you’re not suited for, and corporate greed and coverups.
I was initially going to give this three stars but had to round up because the concept and world-building were so well thought out and unique.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Timber Ghost Press!
March 18, 2024
I LOVED this.
The book follows Dr. London Davies, who is part of the Zeus Project, an initiative aimed at saving humanity by colonizing deep space. After surviving a near-fatal revival from cryo-sleep, London finds themselves isolated in a sterile outpost, away from their spouse, Temple. London, working as the chief embalmer for Zeus, becomes increasingly disturbed by the strange decay and infestations in the cadavers they work on. Meanwhile, Temple is engaged in a struggle for humanity's survival elsewhere. As anxiety and claustrophobia grip London, they desperately await Temple's return, hoping he can rescue them from the eerie occurrences plaguing their isolated outpost.
All in all...I love weird books. It turns out I really love weird books set in space. And zombies? It was visceral, dank, claustrophobic, weird, and...beautiful? This novel was such a unique read that kept me enthralled the whole way through.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
The book follows Dr. London Davies, who is part of the Zeus Project, an initiative aimed at saving humanity by colonizing deep space. After surviving a near-fatal revival from cryo-sleep, London finds themselves isolated in a sterile outpost, away from their spouse, Temple. London, working as the chief embalmer for Zeus, becomes increasingly disturbed by the strange decay and infestations in the cadavers they work on. Meanwhile, Temple is engaged in a struggle for humanity's survival elsewhere. As anxiety and claustrophobia grip London, they desperately await Temple's return, hoping he can rescue them from the eerie occurrences plaguing their isolated outpost.
All in all...I love weird books. It turns out I really love weird books set in space. And zombies? It was visceral, dank, claustrophobic, weird, and...beautiful? This novel was such a unique read that kept me enthralled the whole way through.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
March 30, 2024
I received an ARC for this book from BookSirens for free.
Space, cosmic horror, queer characters, isolation, everything that sounds like something I would really love. But in the end this book just didn't work for me.
The first 100 pages or so felt so slow and there wasn't that much happening besides being introduced to the two main characters and world building. There wasn't enough horror in the beginning and on the second part of the book everything just happened so fast and there were so many characters and everyone is dying and I'm like who was that again and oh a new characters, well they're dead now also.
The ending was kind of cool but was not enough for me rate this higher.
Space, cosmic horror, queer characters, isolation, everything that sounds like something I would really love. But in the end this book just didn't work for me.
The first 100 pages or so felt so slow and there wasn't that much happening besides being introduced to the two main characters and world building. There wasn't enough horror in the beginning and on the second part of the book everything just happened so fast and there were so many characters and everyone is dying and I'm like who was that again and oh a new characters, well they're dead now also.
The ending was kind of cool but was not enough for me rate this higher.
March 31, 2024
I absolutely loved this story, I'd forgotten how much I enjoy cosmic horror. The characters are extremely well written and felt like real people facing real, terrifying problems, and the disability and queer representation was so good. London and Temple were the main POVs, but we got snippets from other characters as well. I wish I could explore more of this universe, explore more of Temple and London's life together, before the Zeus project. My only regret with this story is that I'll never be able to read it for the first time again, and the twists and horrors will never hit as hard again. The ending was absolutely beautiful and I want more.
Thank you to Timber Ghost Press and BookSirens for this advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Timber Ghost Press and BookSirens for this advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 4, 2025
Wow, just wow
I overuse this line a lot but it's so valid here; sad, beautiful, tragic.
Only two things are holding this back from being a 5-star
1. 3rd person omniscient
2. LIGHTYEARS ARE A MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE NOT TIME, NEVER TIME.
I will concede that it could've been a metaphor for how far they've come from the circumstances mentioned yet still my twitched every time I saw it used. Overall loved the vibes here, the headhopping did detract from my enjoyment but i was able to get used to it and the author created a pretty good sense of atmosphere with high stakes and an interesting turn of events. I will always enjoy climate fiction, especially where nature fights back and reclaims what was stolen.
I overuse this line a lot but it's so valid here; sad, beautiful, tragic.
Only two things are holding this back from being a 5-star
1. 3rd person omniscient
2. LIGHTYEARS ARE A MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE NOT TIME, NEVER TIME.
I will concede that it could've been a metaphor for how far they've come from the circumstances mentioned yet still my twitched every time I saw it used. Overall loved the vibes here, the headhopping did detract from my enjoyment but i was able to get used to it and the author created a pretty good sense of atmosphere with high stakes and an interesting turn of events. I will always enjoy climate fiction, especially where nature fights back and reclaims what was stolen.
November 9, 2025
This was a wholly unique read. Space horror but also body horror and environmental horror... while at its core also a love story. I thought the love story came through authentically and was the most emotional aspect of the book. From the science fiction standpoint, I wanted just a little more science in the story, the how so to speak, and more details on what the Zeus project actually was and who controlled it. Overall, and enjoyable and emotional read.
Thank you to Timber Ghost Press for the complimentary copy as part of the Small Spec Book Awards judging process.
Thank you to Timber Ghost Press for the complimentary copy as part of the Small Spec Book Awards judging process.
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