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Symbiote
A new sci-fi thriller where a new biological threat ravages scientists and military personnel on the South Pole. A great read for fans of Contagion and Extinction Horizon by Nicholas Sansbury Smith.
As World War III rages, the scientists in Antarctica are thankful for the isolation – until a group of Chinese scientists arrive at the American research base. In their truck is a dead body, the first murder in Antarctica. The potential for a geopolitical firestorm is great, and, with no clear jurisdiction, the Americans don’t know what to do. But they soon realize the Chinese scientists have brought far more with them than the body…
Within seventy-two hours, thirteen others lie dead in the snow, murdered in acts of madness and superhuman strength.
An extremophile parasite from the truck, triggered by severe cold, is spreading by touch. It is learning from them. Evolving. It triggers violent tendencies in the winter crew, and, more insidiously, the beginnings of a strange symbiotic telepathy.
Exhausted by suspicion and fear, with rescue impossible for months, the desperate crewmembers turn on each other. A small group of survivors try to resist the siren call of the growing hive mind and stay alive long enough to solve the mystery of the symbiotic microbe’s origins. But the symbiote is more than a disease – it is a biological weapon that can change the balance of power in a time of war.
The survivors cannot let anyone infected make it to the summer season, when planes will arrive to take them – and potentially the symbiote – back to civilization.
As World War III rages, the scientists in Antarctica are thankful for the isolation – until a group of Chinese scientists arrive at the American research base. In their truck is a dead body, the first murder in Antarctica. The potential for a geopolitical firestorm is great, and, with no clear jurisdiction, the Americans don’t know what to do. But they soon realize the Chinese scientists have brought far more with them than the body…
Within seventy-two hours, thirteen others lie dead in the snow, murdered in acts of madness and superhuman strength.
An extremophile parasite from the truck, triggered by severe cold, is spreading by touch. It is learning from them. Evolving. It triggers violent tendencies in the winter crew, and, more insidiously, the beginnings of a strange symbiotic telepathy.
Exhausted by suspicion and fear, with rescue impossible for months, the desperate crewmembers turn on each other. A small group of survivors try to resist the siren call of the growing hive mind and stay alive long enough to solve the mystery of the symbiotic microbe’s origins. But the symbiote is more than a disease – it is a biological weapon that can change the balance of power in a time of war.
The survivors cannot let anyone infected make it to the summer season, when planes will arrive to take them – and potentially the symbiote – back to civilization.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2025
106 people are currently reading
3071 people want to read
About the author
Michael Nayak
7 books29 followersFollow Michael (Mikey) Nayak on X @mikeynayak and LinkedIn @michael-nayak.
Mikey was born in Los Angeles and now lives in Washington D.C.; he has worked as a planetary scientist, pilot and skydiving instructor, and most recently as a Program Manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He has logged 1,000+ hours of flight time in 30+ aircraft including the F-16, T-38 and BE-76, is a US Air Force Test Pilot School graduate, and former NASA Space Shuttle engineer.
Mikey was born in Los Angeles and now lives in Washington D.C.; he has worked as a planetary scientist, pilot and skydiving instructor, and most recently as a Program Manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He has logged 1,000+ hours of flight time in 30+ aircraft including the F-16, T-38 and BE-76, is a US Air Force Test Pilot School graduate, and former NASA Space Shuttle engineer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
January 6, 2025
3.0 Stars
This is a contagion story set at a snowy South Pole. As a sci-fi thriller, I felt this one will most appeal to readers looking for a suspenseful read. I have read a lot of similar narratives so I found this one to be relatively predictable and tropey.
I liked it but I wish I cared more about the characters because I would have been more attached to them and their survival.
I would primarily recommend this one to readers looking for a fast paced thriller in a wintery setting.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a contagion story set at a snowy South Pole. As a sci-fi thriller, I felt this one will most appeal to readers looking for a suspenseful read. I have read a lot of similar narratives so I found this one to be relatively predictable and tropey.
I liked it but I wish I cared more about the characters because I would have been more attached to them and their survival.
I would primarily recommend this one to readers looking for a fast paced thriller in a wintery setting.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 25, 2025
2.5 stars
Update:
I'm even more annoyed with the based-on-real-life-experience portrayal that the author has sketched out in this book. With his emphasis that hooking up and sex is "naturally" everyone's total focus working at Antarctica, Nayak fails to mention anything like this going on: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/wome...
Review:
I won’t say this book was terrible, but I certainly didn’t care much for it and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It was slightly better than Among the Living storywise, although that book was better written (as expected given Nayak is a debut author and Tim Lebbon is a very experienced writer).
The first third of this the writing is really clunky, but that smoothed out somewhat over the course of the book. There were lots of characters to keep track of, but with a couple of exceptions they mostly seemed like pretty unpleasant people so I didn’t care much about what happened to them.
The author has in reality done a turn as a researcher at the Antarctic station where the story takes place, and all I could think was “is this place really like a gross return to high school?” because the internal politics, social backstabbing, and generally immature mindset of the “Polies” certainly made it seem like that. Ugh. That’s a horror story all by itself. See also, update above about what it's really like for women working there.
The actual contagion story was good, kind of like John Carpenter’s The Thing, but it was a bit more all over the place rather than the neatly focused contagion horror story that plays out so perfectly in that classic film.
Overall this was one of those books that sounds like it should be great but is actually very poorly executed.
Update:
I'm even more annoyed with the based-on-real-life-experience portrayal that the author has sketched out in this book. With his emphasis that hooking up and sex is "naturally" everyone's total focus working at Antarctica, Nayak fails to mention anything like this going on: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/wome...
Review:
I won’t say this book was terrible, but I certainly didn’t care much for it and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It was slightly better than Among the Living storywise, although that book was better written (as expected given Nayak is a debut author and Tim Lebbon is a very experienced writer).
The first third of this the writing is really clunky, but that smoothed out somewhat over the course of the book. There were lots of characters to keep track of, but with a couple of exceptions they mostly seemed like pretty unpleasant people so I didn’t care much about what happened to them.
The author has in reality done a turn as a researcher at the Antarctic station where the story takes place, and all I could think was “is this place really like a gross return to high school?” because the internal politics, social backstabbing, and generally immature mindset of the “Polies” certainly made it seem like that. Ugh. That’s a horror story all by itself. See also, update above about what it's really like for women working there.
The actual contagion story was good, kind of like John Carpenter’s The Thing, but it was a bit more all over the place rather than the neatly focused contagion horror story that plays out so perfectly in that classic film.
Overall this was one of those books that sounds like it should be great but is actually very poorly executed.
November 28, 2024
Contagion meets The Walking Dead in this new sci-fi thriller where a biological threat ravages scientists and military personnel at the South Pole.
This was a mind-bending, nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, violent, crazy thriller.
2028. The U.S. and China wage war, but there is still a peace treaty at the end of the world at the ice-bound Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica where a U.S. research team is preparing for four months of complete darkness. Then a desperate Chinese convoy turns up with three scientists and one mutilated body, Antarctica’s first murder.
From there, things quickly dissolve into madness, violence, and a fast-mutating microbe that thrives in the cold and controls its hosts’ minds.
This book plays on that cold creeping feeling. On the isolation and loneliness and a parasite that thrives on suspicion, on turning people against each other. Easy enough in a confined facility with limited outside contact, hierarchies, high emotions, and sexual tension.
The anxiety of realizing how isolated they are from help. The inescapable feeling that they are trapped, backs to a cliff, being edged implacably toward the edge; a chess game they didn’t know they were playing, but are losing. Ice-cold hands curling implacably around his throat.
I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this as there were so many characters and facts thrown at you at the start, but this does become more character focused, centring on the only military personnel on the station, Rajan.
It does jump between other perspectives and even the microbe and past articles, outside communications. This keeps you on your toes as you see the situation from every perspective possible but keeping you grounded with Rajan as the protagonist.
The male ego was the bedrock of the patriarchy, but a girl could throw a saddle on that stallion and ride it to her own benefit, given the right circumstances.
The ending demonstrates horror at both an invading species and humanity’s capacity for selfishness, survival, and choices.
WARNING: This is not a standalone! However, I do think you can feel satisfied reading this alone or continuing if? when? the next book does release!
If you enjoyed Ascension by Nicholas Binge, I would recommend this or vice versa!
Thank you to Angry Robit for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!
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This was a mind-bending, nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, violent, crazy thriller.
2028. The U.S. and China wage war, but there is still a peace treaty at the end of the world at the ice-bound Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica where a U.S. research team is preparing for four months of complete darkness. Then a desperate Chinese convoy turns up with three scientists and one mutilated body, Antarctica’s first murder.
From there, things quickly dissolve into madness, violence, and a fast-mutating microbe that thrives in the cold and controls its hosts’ minds.
This book plays on that cold creeping feeling. On the isolation and loneliness and a parasite that thrives on suspicion, on turning people against each other. Easy enough in a confined facility with limited outside contact, hierarchies, high emotions, and sexual tension.
The anxiety of realizing how isolated they are from help. The inescapable feeling that they are trapped, backs to a cliff, being edged implacably toward the edge; a chess game they didn’t know they were playing, but are losing. Ice-cold hands curling implacably around his throat.
I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this as there were so many characters and facts thrown at you at the start, but this does become more character focused, centring on the only military personnel on the station, Rajan.
It does jump between other perspectives and even the microbe and past articles, outside communications. This keeps you on your toes as you see the situation from every perspective possible but keeping you grounded with Rajan as the protagonist.
The male ego was the bedrock of the patriarchy, but a girl could throw a saddle on that stallion and ride it to her own benefit, given the right circumstances.
The ending demonstrates horror at both an invading species and humanity’s capacity for selfishness, survival, and choices.
WARNING: This is not a standalone! However, I do think you can feel satisfied reading this alone or continuing if? when? the next book does release!
If you enjoyed Ascension by Nicholas Binge, I would recommend this or vice versa!
Thank you to Angry Robit for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
February 26, 2025
The most misogynistic and weirdly sexual book I’ve read in years. The women in this book are all defined by their sexual partners and sexual availability to POV male characters. The male POV characters think about their dicks way more than I would expect for people dying of a weird rage plague in a claustrophobic space. We know too much about the male characters (and their dicks) and almost nothing about the female characters except how they look and who they are (or aren’t) sleeping with. If I recall correctly, there’s only one female character with a POV, and that was only a chapter or two. The male characters tend to have backstories. The female characters don’t. One woman is consistently described by her cute, pixie-like smallness. I could go on.
In addition to all that, the actions of the characters seemed illogical and often downright stupid. At every turn, I was surprised that someone would act so dumb. And many of those stupid choices can’t be blamed on irrationality caused by the pants-shitting fear they should be feeling because, even when we’re in their head and reading their thoughts, no one’s fear is conveyed as a real motivation for anything until the very last few chapters of the book. This book is (presumably) set in our real universe, just a few years in the future, yet these characters know nothing about quarantine procedures. I know more about quarantine just from having lived through a pandemic. These characters should too.
I’m giving it two stars because it was readable and I liked the idea of the plot. I’m probably being kind because this type of claustrophobic horror is my favorite. I hated this book though. I wish I hadn’t paid full price.
In addition to all that, the actions of the characters seemed illogical and often downright stupid. At every turn, I was surprised that someone would act so dumb. And many of those stupid choices can’t be blamed on irrationality caused by the pants-shitting fear they should be feeling because, even when we’re in their head and reading their thoughts, no one’s fear is conveyed as a real motivation for anything until the very last few chapters of the book. This book is (presumably) set in our real universe, just a few years in the future, yet these characters know nothing about quarantine procedures. I know more about quarantine just from having lived through a pandemic. These characters should too.
I’m giving it two stars because it was readable and I liked the idea of the plot. I’m probably being kind because this type of claustrophobic horror is my favorite. I hated this book though. I wish I hadn’t paid full price.
March 6, 2025
Narrated by Paul Bellantoni
Presented by Dreamscape Media
Big Venom fan here, so you call your book Symbiote and I'm gonna pay attention!
There's a virus spreading through Antarctica, and it's infecting people with murderous rage and inhuman strength.
The setup here was perfect - remote location with just enough characters that you know a decent number of them are going to die horribly. The threat of the cold lurking behind all the chaos the virus causes, and character dynamics, add some interesting plot points.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The suspense was meted out well and the story moved at a decent pace. We get a few different viewpoints to keep things interesting, and there are a lot of Venom-esque interjections throughout to add an extra creep factor.
I'm very curious as to how this story looks on the page, because the narrator did a brilliant job of defining those crazy symbiote asides and I wonder if it would translate as well on the physical page or if all the parentheses would drive me mad. It feels very much like a Marvel Venom story, without the 'protect the innocents' bit to make the symbiote likeable. I love Venom, so I enjoyed it a lot, but it does also feel a little too close to ripping off the character.
Towards the second half of the book, it was starting to feel like things should have already wrapped up and so it began to drag. I found my thoughts drifting a bit and even though there were still some really cool moments, ultimately I was waiting for it to finish.
The narrator had his work cut out for him with all the different voices and possessions and things and did an absolutely brilliant job of it. Some of the characters sounded a bit the same, but the different tones he used to convey the interjections and things was perfect. I'd happily trust this narrator again.
On the whole, it was an enjoyable read that was a steady 4-star until the last third or so of the book.
I'd recommend this one for horror fans and Venom fans alike.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
Presented by Dreamscape Media
Big Venom fan here, so you call your book Symbiote and I'm gonna pay attention!
There's a virus spreading through Antarctica, and it's infecting people with murderous rage and inhuman strength.
The setup here was perfect - remote location with just enough characters that you know a decent number of them are going to die horribly. The threat of the cold lurking behind all the chaos the virus causes, and character dynamics, add some interesting plot points.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The suspense was meted out well and the story moved at a decent pace. We get a few different viewpoints to keep things interesting, and there are a lot of Venom-esque interjections throughout to add an extra creep factor.
I'm very curious as to how this story looks on the page, because the narrator did a brilliant job of defining those crazy symbiote asides and I wonder if it would translate as well on the physical page or if all the parentheses would drive me mad. It feels very much like a Marvel Venom story, without the 'protect the innocents' bit to make the symbiote likeable. I love Venom, so I enjoyed it a lot, but it does also feel a little too close to ripping off the character.
Towards the second half of the book, it was starting to feel like things should have already wrapped up and so it began to drag. I found my thoughts drifting a bit and even though there were still some really cool moments, ultimately I was waiting for it to finish.
The narrator had his work cut out for him with all the different voices and possessions and things and did an absolutely brilliant job of it. Some of the characters sounded a bit the same, but the different tones he used to convey the interjections and things was perfect. I'd happily trust this narrator again.
On the whole, it was an enjoyable read that was a steady 4-star until the last third or so of the book.
I'd recommend this one for horror fans and Venom fans alike.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
December 5, 2025
You can tell that the author has been on the ice before; the detail of the research station, the feelings of isolation, the gnawing cold and wind eating at you each time you step outside. I really felt like the scene was set and I was there in each moment. Another polie in an environment inhospitable to human life.
Loved the creepy scifi/ bacterial aspects as well.
What I didn’t love were all the dang hookups and relationship drama with everyone at the South Pole. It just felt ridiculously over the top, like a frozen episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
Loved the creepy scifi/ bacterial aspects as well.
What I didn’t love were all the dang hookups and relationship drama with everyone at the South Pole. It just felt ridiculously over the top, like a frozen episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
January 27, 2025
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
’All fights for survival were fights to the death’
Symbiote claims to be ‘Contagion meets The Walking Dead’, and as a fan of Contagion and a die-hard supporter of The Walking Dead, a series that defined my childhood, I was immediately sold.
In reality, this is 28 Days Later meets a poor man’s The Thing.
Nayak creates something with potential, but doesn’t create something unique. This story has been told before, but I don’t entirely think it shouldn’t be told again, and for the most part I enjoyed this book. The writing was acceptable, in parts reminiscent of Clay McLeod Chapman (although not quite as good), and pacing effective. The characters, while nothing special, carried the story somewhat well, particularly Ben, Siri and Dr Wei. The sense of dread that Nayak built up was certainly effective, and the pay-offs of each infection and death worked. However, I was pretty confused with the tone this story took. It wasn’t gory enough to be a slasher or body-horror, there wasn’t enough hard-science to truly commit to the sci-fi plot, and the random outbursts of romance and sex scenes were strange and killed any tension the story had. I think there was far too much being attempted at once and, for me, it detracted from the most interesting part - the symbiote itself.
I’m a massive fan of disease / infection / parasite horror, and that’s probably why I could sort of forgive things I didn’t like about this book. The symbiote was undeniably threatening, and the hosts it infected were sufficiently creepy and dangerous. This, unfortunately, was slightly ruined by the downright stupid mistakes some of the characters made. For the first 45% of the book I was impressed by the intelligent and dare I say realistic decisions the non-infected people were making. But, in what I can only assume was an attempt to further the stakes and story, these incredibly educated scientists and technicians started making incredibly ridiculous decisions, that completely contrasted statements and choices they’d made not even two chapters earlier. There’s no bigger disappointment in horror, than stupid characters.
Overall, Symbiote gets 3/5 stars. The setting was wonderful, but I just couldn’t get over certain character actions or the stilted tonal shifts.
’All fights for survival were fights to the death’
Symbiote claims to be ‘Contagion meets The Walking Dead’, and as a fan of Contagion and a die-hard supporter of The Walking Dead, a series that defined my childhood, I was immediately sold.
In reality, this is 28 Days Later meets a poor man’s The Thing.
Nayak creates something with potential, but doesn’t create something unique. This story has been told before, but I don’t entirely think it shouldn’t be told again, and for the most part I enjoyed this book. The writing was acceptable, in parts reminiscent of Clay McLeod Chapman (although not quite as good), and pacing effective. The characters, while nothing special, carried the story somewhat well, particularly Ben, Siri and Dr Wei. The sense of dread that Nayak built up was certainly effective, and the pay-offs of each infection and death worked. However, I was pretty confused with the tone this story took. It wasn’t gory enough to be a slasher or body-horror, there wasn’t enough hard-science to truly commit to the sci-fi plot, and the random outbursts of romance and sex scenes were strange and killed any tension the story had. I think there was far too much being attempted at once and, for me, it detracted from the most interesting part - the symbiote itself.
I’m a massive fan of disease / infection / parasite horror, and that’s probably why I could sort of forgive things I didn’t like about this book. The symbiote was undeniably threatening, and the hosts it infected were sufficiently creepy and dangerous. This, unfortunately, was slightly ruined by the downright stupid mistakes some of the characters made. For the first 45% of the book I was impressed by the intelligent and dare I say realistic decisions the non-infected people were making. But, in what I can only assume was an attempt to further the stakes and story, these incredibly educated scientists and technicians started making incredibly ridiculous decisions, that completely contrasted statements and choices they’d made not even two chapters earlier. There’s no bigger disappointment in horror, than stupid characters.
Overall, Symbiote gets 3/5 stars. The setting was wonderful, but I just couldn’t get over certain character actions or the stilted tonal shifts.
February 8, 2025
This one unsettled me so much that I had to keep putting it down between chapters to process. It's even more unsettling to know that the author wrote this sci fi horror set in the South Pole WHILE he was at the South Pole.
While China and America battle in WWIII in the outside world, a group of American scientists at a South Pole research center are astonished when a truck of Chinese scientists arrives looking for assistance, bearing a dead body that shows signs of extreme trauma. Unfortunately they don't realize that the Chinese have also come bearing a parasite that is spread by touch and triggers extreme violence.
One after another, the Antarctic residents are overcome and lash out against former friends and colleagues. The parasite starts to think for those it inhabits, and can communicate telepathically. The research crew begins a desperate bid for survival until warmer weather and the possibility of rescue.
This one scared me, because it seemed within the realm of possibility! The eerie effects of isolation, extreme cold, the dynamics of addiction, competing for a limited supply of romantic partners; these all add up with the terror of this violent contagion with no place to escape to. I was very thankful to be far away from the icy setting of this story!
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for this ARC!
While China and America battle in WWIII in the outside world, a group of American scientists at a South Pole research center are astonished when a truck of Chinese scientists arrives looking for assistance, bearing a dead body that shows signs of extreme trauma. Unfortunately they don't realize that the Chinese have also come bearing a parasite that is spread by touch and triggers extreme violence.
One after another, the Antarctic residents are overcome and lash out against former friends and colleagues. The parasite starts to think for those it inhabits, and can communicate telepathically. The research crew begins a desperate bid for survival until warmer weather and the possibility of rescue.
This one scared me, because it seemed within the realm of possibility! The eerie effects of isolation, extreme cold, the dynamics of addiction, competing for a limited supply of romantic partners; these all add up with the terror of this violent contagion with no place to escape to. I was very thankful to be far away from the icy setting of this story!
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for this ARC!
February 9, 2025
4.5*
Symbiote is such a cool story (pun not intended, but I'm going to go ahead and keep it). I mean, Antarctica is a fascinating setting regardless, but when you take into the account that the author has actual firsthand knowledge that makes this probably the most authentic fiction book possible, it's downright mesmerizing. I've read a few "unearthed frozen germ" type books, but this one has been my favorite, and I think the author's experience is a huge reason why. Because look- you and I cannot really put ourselves in the shoes of the folks at the South Pole. We could try, sure, and that is the fun of reading, but actually living the psychology of being so sequestered from the rest of humanity really packs a punch here in terms of characterization and emotional evocativity.
I was, at first, bummed that we didn't learn more about what was happening elsewhere in the world, since it is a plot point. But then, I found out there is more planned for this world and so that became much less of an issue. I will also say that at first I had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters, but that started to change midway through the book. Obviously, the stakes are huge, because it is clear from the start that this parasitic entity isn't just going to wreak havoc in Antarctica and then burrow back into the snow for a hibernation. No, this has the potential to disrupt the world at large, and at the very least, mess up the entire continent beyond recognition.
My only qualm is that I didn't wholly love some of the more action-driven parts where we actually get to hear from the parasite, in a way. Funny enough, this is the part that most other reviewers seem to enjoy the most, so take my opinion with a grain of salt! I am glad that we did get to understand more of how the parasite worked, I just maybe would have wanted a little less once we did know what we were dealing with. The atmosphere was also on point, which I suppose makes sense since the author lived it, but he did a great job translating it to paper, too.
Bottom Line: Very atmospheric and exciting, I look forward to whatever comes next!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Symbiote is such a cool story (pun not intended, but I'm going to go ahead and keep it). I mean, Antarctica is a fascinating setting regardless, but when you take into the account that the author has actual firsthand knowledge that makes this probably the most authentic fiction book possible, it's downright mesmerizing. I've read a few "unearthed frozen germ" type books, but this one has been my favorite, and I think the author's experience is a huge reason why. Because look- you and I cannot really put ourselves in the shoes of the folks at the South Pole. We could try, sure, and that is the fun of reading, but actually living the psychology of being so sequestered from the rest of humanity really packs a punch here in terms of characterization and emotional evocativity.
I was, at first, bummed that we didn't learn more about what was happening elsewhere in the world, since it is a plot point. But then, I found out there is more planned for this world and so that became much less of an issue. I will also say that at first I had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters, but that started to change midway through the book. Obviously, the stakes are huge, because it is clear from the start that this parasitic entity isn't just going to wreak havoc in Antarctica and then burrow back into the snow for a hibernation. No, this has the potential to disrupt the world at large, and at the very least, mess up the entire continent beyond recognition.
My only qualm is that I didn't wholly love some of the more action-driven parts where we actually get to hear from the parasite, in a way. Funny enough, this is the part that most other reviewers seem to enjoy the most, so take my opinion with a grain of salt! I am glad that we did get to understand more of how the parasite worked, I just maybe would have wanted a little less once we did know what we were dealing with. The atmosphere was also on point, which I suppose makes sense since the author lived it, but he did a great job translating it to paper, too.
Bottom Line: Very atmospheric and exciting, I look forward to whatever comes next!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
did-not-finish
January 25, 2025I got 50 pages in, went to check the reviews to see if the weirdly crude sex stuff continues and apparently it does so I am out. It's disappointing. I was into the idea of a South Pole thriller. I was really interested in the parasite/biological weapon angle. Sadly, all any of these characters want to talk about is hate fucking each other (at best; sexual assault at worst), and it's not interesting at all. If you want the end of the world to feel tense, don't set things up so I'm rooting for everyone to die ASAP because they're so awful.
August 28, 2025
4.5⭐️
A book that’s in the running for one of my favourite reads of 2025, Michael Nayak’s Symbiote is the perfect fusion of sci-fi and horror with a cast of characters who are flawed, unlikeable and as cold and brutal to one another as the freezing environment they find themselves in.
Set in Antarctica, Nayak’s use of this claustrophobic and bleak landscape elevates the tension, the isolation, the hopelessness and sheer terror that the characters experience.
I’m a huge fan of the movie The Thing and Symbiote is the perfect love child of this film/book with a number of twists that make this fast-paced story a brutal and gruesome parasite-infested read. Your skin will crawl- literally!
Nayak’s writing style is clear and to the point… no extraneous detail. He gives the story to us in a matter of fact way which is refreshing to read, fitting for the science-themed plot. The multiple points of view work well to immerse you in this story, the investment in the characters’ motivations and interactions with one other strengthened by this element within the narrative. You will not like the majority of these characters - some sick and twisted minds lurk on the ice. I also loved the reports from later dates thrown in at various points, adding another layer to the story.
The horror is brutal, savage and extreme. I see similarities to Nick Cutter’s The Queen and The Troop in terms of Nayak’s vivid description of the viciousness of the violent acts carried out by those stuck at the station desperate to survive.
This is a story of survival, both of the humans who inhabit this unrelenting space as well as the sentient parasites who become a character all of their own. There’s a sequel coming in February ‘26 and I can’t wait to read it.
A book that’s in the running for one of my favourite reads of 2025, Michael Nayak’s Symbiote is the perfect fusion of sci-fi and horror with a cast of characters who are flawed, unlikeable and as cold and brutal to one another as the freezing environment they find themselves in.
Set in Antarctica, Nayak’s use of this claustrophobic and bleak landscape elevates the tension, the isolation, the hopelessness and sheer terror that the characters experience.
I’m a huge fan of the movie The Thing and Symbiote is the perfect love child of this film/book with a number of twists that make this fast-paced story a brutal and gruesome parasite-infested read. Your skin will crawl- literally!
Nayak’s writing style is clear and to the point… no extraneous detail. He gives the story to us in a matter of fact way which is refreshing to read, fitting for the science-themed plot. The multiple points of view work well to immerse you in this story, the investment in the characters’ motivations and interactions with one other strengthened by this element within the narrative. You will not like the majority of these characters - some sick and twisted minds lurk on the ice. I also loved the reports from later dates thrown in at various points, adding another layer to the story.
The horror is brutal, savage and extreme. I see similarities to Nick Cutter’s The Queen and The Troop in terms of Nayak’s vivid description of the viciousness of the violent acts carried out by those stuck at the station desperate to survive.
This is a story of survival, both of the humans who inhabit this unrelenting space as well as the sentient parasites who become a character all of their own. There’s a sequel coming in February ‘26 and I can’t wait to read it.
March 6, 2025
Set at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station in 2028. It is the second year of the Pacific Rim war between China and the USA. Three Chinese scientists come to the station, bringing a ravaged corpse with them that speaks of a very violent death. The dead body carries microbes and people start to act strangely. The horror story develops from there. The Thing meets… something violent and creepy, anyway.
The author uses many, many metaphors and similes to describe everything and anything. Early on it‘s very heavy handed and really threw me out of my reading flow. It took me forever to make progress (slow buildup) and I almost tossed the book during the first few chapters. It gets less pronounced as the story proceeds, but I wish he (or his editor) would have toned it down a little more.
This ticks the boxes for a horror story. Yuck, I felt uncomfortable for many stretches of this. The Antarctic setting is always something that works well for me. But I had serious issues with the writing. Too many crude characters and sexual swear words for my taste—that’s me though. Mileage may vary for you. Written from a very male perspective, aka should make male readers happier.
I started to lightly skim about three-quarters into this, because I just didn‘t like the direction and the feel of the story much anymore and wanted to be done with it. My interest level picked up again in the stretch to the finale and the ending was full of action, suspenseful and fun. Maybe a little too violent, the good guys were barely distinguishable from the monsters.
So, this is a hard one to have an opinion about and to rate. Lots that I didn‘t like about the writing. Deducting one star for the excessive use of similes. Not sure I am a fan of the pacing or the switch of narrative voice in the middle. Struggling a bit with the characterizations. It‘s his first published novel, so benefit of the doubt?
Do I recommend this novel? Well, if my above comments haven‘t deterred you so far, go for it! Depending on the sound of the blurb, I might even pick up the sequel that seems to be in the works.
2.5/5 — 🦠🦠½, rounded down after some deliberation…
The author has an interesting sounding bio: https://www.michaelnayak.com/about-me
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
The author uses many, many metaphors and similes to describe everything and anything. Early on it‘s very heavy handed and really threw me out of my reading flow. It took me forever to make progress (slow buildup) and I almost tossed the book during the first few chapters. It gets less pronounced as the story proceeds, but I wish he (or his editor) would have toned it down a little more.
This ticks the boxes for a horror story. Yuck, I felt uncomfortable for many stretches of this. The Antarctic setting is always something that works well for me. But I had serious issues with the writing. Too many crude characters and sexual swear words for my taste—that’s me though. Mileage may vary for you. Written from a very male perspective, aka should make male readers happier.
I started to lightly skim about three-quarters into this, because I just didn‘t like the direction and the feel of the story much anymore and wanted to be done with it. My interest level picked up again in the stretch to the finale and the ending was full of action, suspenseful and fun. Maybe a little too violent, the good guys were barely distinguishable from the monsters.
So, this is a hard one to have an opinion about and to rate. Lots that I didn‘t like about the writing. Deducting one star for the excessive use of similes. Not sure I am a fan of the pacing or the switch of narrative voice in the middle. Struggling a bit with the characterizations. It‘s his first published novel, so benefit of the doubt?
Do I recommend this novel? Well, if my above comments haven‘t deterred you so far, go for it! Depending on the sound of the blurb, I might even pick up the sequel that seems to be in the works.
2.5/5 — 🦠🦠½, rounded down after some deliberation…
The author has an interesting sounding bio: https://www.michaelnayak.com/about-me
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
February 27, 2025
Symbiote by Michael Nayak was generally a great book. While parasitic contagions that turn humans into murderers is not a new concept in Science Fiction and Horror, having a sentient contagion with the capability to quickly evolve to it's environment is relatively new, and this is what drew me to this book. The body violence and gore in the writing is very effective and visceral, and thus well executed.
Unfortunately, this book has major two flaws that I believe will impact its popularity. First, the main character and almost all males characters are written in the voice of the stereotypical "man's man" voice. The women are described using language that emphasizes their looks and not their capabilities, And even the consensual sexual encounters in this book are described using violent and cringy manners that will turn away a lot of potential readers. The second flaw is that the narrator, Paul Bellantoni does not appear to have a wide enough range for engaging and varied female characters. For these two reasons, the book looses both stars.
Thank you Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore, Angry Robot, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the advanced review copy of his book. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3 Stars
Book Pub Date: Feb 11 2025
Audio Pub Date: Pub Date Mar 04 2025
#Symbiote #NetGalley
@DreamscapeAudio
@angryrobotbooks
Unfortunately, this book has major two flaws that I believe will impact its popularity. First, the main character and almost all males characters are written in the voice of the stereotypical "man's man" voice. The women are described using language that emphasizes their looks and not their capabilities, And even the consensual sexual encounters in this book are described using violent and cringy manners that will turn away a lot of potential readers. The second flaw is that the narrator, Paul Bellantoni does not appear to have a wide enough range for engaging and varied female characters. For these two reasons, the book looses both stars.
Thank you Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore, Angry Robot, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the advanced review copy of his book. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3 Stars
Book Pub Date: Feb 11 2025
Audio Pub Date: Pub Date Mar 04 2025
#Symbiote #NetGalley
@DreamscapeAudio
@angryrobotbooks
February 8, 2025
A great sci-fi thriller that is so realistic as to be possible! And that's a scary thought I don't want to indulge in!
Not only is the plot engrossing and the background credible, but as a scientist, I felt an additional kinship with this book and the characters which made me appreciate it in a different way.
The plot is scary, claustrophobic and just insane, with both moments of fast action and quiet, so that the reader could focus on something different whilst the worst was just around the corner ready to pounce. Because it does become worse!
I've always thought that microbes will be the way humanity ends, and this is a perfect example of how it would start and for what reasons. I also enjoyed the depiction of how life in Antarctica (basically at the end of the world) is, through the difficult and complex relationships between all the characters and how thin the line between friendship and rivalry is.
This is a book that definitely kept me reading, dying to know if Rajan would make it and the microbes’ evolution. I can't wait for the sequel!
Thanks to the author and Angry Robot Books for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
Not only is the plot engrossing and the background credible, but as a scientist, I felt an additional kinship with this book and the characters which made me appreciate it in a different way.
The plot is scary, claustrophobic and just insane, with both moments of fast action and quiet, so that the reader could focus on something different whilst the worst was just around the corner ready to pounce. Because it does become worse!
I've always thought that microbes will be the way humanity ends, and this is a perfect example of how it would start and for what reasons. I also enjoyed the depiction of how life in Antarctica (basically at the end of the world) is, through the difficult and complex relationships between all the characters and how thin the line between friendship and rivalry is.
This is a book that definitely kept me reading, dying to know if Rajan would make it and the microbes’ evolution. I can't wait for the sequel!
Thanks to the author and Angry Robot Books for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
April 6, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Symbiote is a fast paced science fiction horror novel, written by Michael Nayak, and published by Angry Robot Books. A contagion thriller that takes each single step to increase the tension and that plays with the strengths and the particularities of the setting (the South Pole) in ways that only enhanced this excellent book.
2028. A U.S. research team is preparing to pass the next four months in the Amudsen-Scott South Pole Station; a desperate Chinese convoy arrives with three scientists and the mutilated corpse of the Antarctica's first murder. However, this is only the start of the madness at the station, which quickly descends into insecurity and violence, with a fast-mutating microbe which thrives with cold and that plays with the primal instincts of the host to control them. Chaos rapidly spreads amid the station, and isolation only adds fuel into the fire.
Nayak takes a bold approach to this novel, portraying the whole situation as a choral play, jumping through different perspectives on the base to give us a full picture of the outbreak, even giving us some insight into the parasite; the addition of some articles and conversations helps to complete the image. It is true that with a cast that includes so many characters, no one is particularly likeable, but Nayak manages to give us some brushstrokes about everybody.
The prose is sharp, devoid of frills, almost surgical in its approach, fitting excellently with this kind of blend between horror, science fiction and thriller. The pacing is fast, and Nayak keeps the reader in tension during the whole novel, giving us a taste of the worst and the best of humanity through their actions. The setting is really oppressive, and I feel we can appreciate how well the author knows it, playing perfectly with the strengths of such an special place as Antarctica.
While Symbiote is not a standalone novel, it is an excellent self-contained thriller, perfect for fans of Contagion and people that are looking for unique settings, violent moments and a reading that keeps on the edge of your seat. Michael Nayak debuts with an incredible novel which lets us craving for more!
Symbiote is a fast paced science fiction horror novel, written by Michael Nayak, and published by Angry Robot Books. A contagion thriller that takes each single step to increase the tension and that plays with the strengths and the particularities of the setting (the South Pole) in ways that only enhanced this excellent book.
2028. A U.S. research team is preparing to pass the next four months in the Amudsen-Scott South Pole Station; a desperate Chinese convoy arrives with three scientists and the mutilated corpse of the Antarctica's first murder. However, this is only the start of the madness at the station, which quickly descends into insecurity and violence, with a fast-mutating microbe which thrives with cold and that plays with the primal instincts of the host to control them. Chaos rapidly spreads amid the station, and isolation only adds fuel into the fire.
Nayak takes a bold approach to this novel, portraying the whole situation as a choral play, jumping through different perspectives on the base to give us a full picture of the outbreak, even giving us some insight into the parasite; the addition of some articles and conversations helps to complete the image. It is true that with a cast that includes so many characters, no one is particularly likeable, but Nayak manages to give us some brushstrokes about everybody.
The prose is sharp, devoid of frills, almost surgical in its approach, fitting excellently with this kind of blend between horror, science fiction and thriller. The pacing is fast, and Nayak keeps the reader in tension during the whole novel, giving us a taste of the worst and the best of humanity through their actions. The setting is really oppressive, and I feel we can appreciate how well the author knows it, playing perfectly with the strengths of such an special place as Antarctica.
While Symbiote is not a standalone novel, it is an excellent self-contained thriller, perfect for fans of Contagion and people that are looking for unique settings, violent moments and a reading that keeps on the edge of your seat. Michael Nayak debuts with an incredible novel which lets us craving for more!
March 27, 2025
Thanks to the publisher for this one! This is an Antarctic contagion thriller that was actually written on the continent! That’s so sick.
A team of scientists and engineers have begun to hunker down for the winter season on the ice of Antarctica. The author does a good job of letting the reader know right off the bat that these two groups don’t really get along, foreshadowing future tensions. He also does an incredible job of juggling quite a large cast of characters, which was something I initially worried about—but no need.
When a trio of Chinese scientists make an incredible trek across the frozen wasteland, with quite a heinous scene on display in the back of the truck, you know this is not your normal winter on the ice. One of their team had been brutalized, completely unrecognizable, and no one knows why. And even worse, the station’s Dr. Wei now thinks that all those that stepped foot on the truck after may now be infected.
What follows is a truly high octane, nightmare fueled battle from start to finish. Where the author brings us scientific reasoning just as often as shockingly brutal violence. This is a well paced, and intricately organized thriller, and the author does not let off the pedal until it’s over. It’s a unique take, where the infestation is fighting just as hard (if not harder) for its survival as the humans.
The novel takes place during WWIII, where its near-future take on politics extrapolated to their almost inevitable conclusion, is almost more frightening than the violence itself. But it also gives the novel this truly grounded feeling, that even without stepping foot on that ice, you can know it’s actually happening.
To touch on this quick, the back cover says Contagion meets The Walking Dead. While I have not seen Contagion, this really is nothing like TWD, and while there are some zombie-ish descriptions it’s more like a rage-fueled illness. It felt kind of like they grabbed the biggest IP they could think of and rolled with it, even though it’s not a perfect fit. Maybe to further itself from The Thing? Now, this really in no way marred my enjoyment of this novel, I was definitely looking for it though because they put it there. Maybe more I Am Legend, fresh-turned Z Nation zombies, Days Gone even. Coincidentally the use of worms and infestation did go hand in hand with Angela Sylvaine’s Frost Bite, which I read right after, or even The Troop by Nick Cutter and Infected by Scott Sigler.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-symbio...
A team of scientists and engineers have begun to hunker down for the winter season on the ice of Antarctica. The author does a good job of letting the reader know right off the bat that these two groups don’t really get along, foreshadowing future tensions. He also does an incredible job of juggling quite a large cast of characters, which was something I initially worried about—but no need.
When a trio of Chinese scientists make an incredible trek across the frozen wasteland, with quite a heinous scene on display in the back of the truck, you know this is not your normal winter on the ice. One of their team had been brutalized, completely unrecognizable, and no one knows why. And even worse, the station’s Dr. Wei now thinks that all those that stepped foot on the truck after may now be infected.
What follows is a truly high octane, nightmare fueled battle from start to finish. Where the author brings us scientific reasoning just as often as shockingly brutal violence. This is a well paced, and intricately organized thriller, and the author does not let off the pedal until it’s over. It’s a unique take, where the infestation is fighting just as hard (if not harder) for its survival as the humans.
The novel takes place during WWIII, where its near-future take on politics extrapolated to their almost inevitable conclusion, is almost more frightening than the violence itself. But it also gives the novel this truly grounded feeling, that even without stepping foot on that ice, you can know it’s actually happening.
To touch on this quick, the back cover says Contagion meets The Walking Dead. While I have not seen Contagion, this really is nothing like TWD, and while there are some zombie-ish descriptions it’s more like a rage-fueled illness. It felt kind of like they grabbed the biggest IP they could think of and rolled with it, even though it’s not a perfect fit. Maybe to further itself from The Thing? Now, this really in no way marred my enjoyment of this novel, I was definitely looking for it though because they put it there. Maybe more I Am Legend, fresh-turned Z Nation zombies, Days Gone even. Coincidentally the use of worms and infestation did go hand in hand with Angela Sylvaine’s Frost Bite, which I read right after, or even The Troop by Nick Cutter and Infected by Scott Sigler.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-symbio...
February 12, 2025
In the near-future, a group of American scientists researching at the South Pole come in contact with a deadly parasite that seeks to propagate throughout the world.
Symbiote does an great job at capturing the claustrophobic, tense and paranoid atmosphere surrounding the characters as they intially go about their research in one of the most isolated locations in the world. The technological, scientific and behavioral information provided is also very detailed and felt like an interesting glimpse at a place that most people will never encounter.
The cast of characters in Symbiote is intially so large however, it makes getting attached to more than a few central characters difficult. The characters that are given focus aren’t always the most engaging and there is an undercurrent of the male characters receiving more depth and development than their female counterparts.
The emphasis upon sex throughout the novel is sometimes uncomfortable as well. There is a fair amount of violence and some body horror, but that is to be expected from a story involving unexpected and deadly infections.
A parasitic species attempting to infiltrate a number of hosts in a frigid environment isn’t the most unique plot, yet Symbiote utilizes intriguing methods of depicting the evolution of the microbe; not only due to new and unsettling behaviors, but also through actual changes in the novel’s perspectives.
Given the nature of the ending, I am quite curious to see where the story will go.
Thank you Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing a physical copy and ebook of Symbiote in exchange for an honest review.
Symbiote does an great job at capturing the claustrophobic, tense and paranoid atmosphere surrounding the characters as they intially go about their research in one of the most isolated locations in the world. The technological, scientific and behavioral information provided is also very detailed and felt like an interesting glimpse at a place that most people will never encounter.
The cast of characters in Symbiote is intially so large however, it makes getting attached to more than a few central characters difficult. The characters that are given focus aren’t always the most engaging and there is an undercurrent of the male characters receiving more depth and development than their female counterparts.
The emphasis upon sex throughout the novel is sometimes uncomfortable as well. There is a fair amount of violence and some body horror, but that is to be expected from a story involving unexpected and deadly infections.
A parasitic species attempting to infiltrate a number of hosts in a frigid environment isn’t the most unique plot, yet Symbiote utilizes intriguing methods of depicting the evolution of the microbe; not only due to new and unsettling behaviors, but also through actual changes in the novel’s perspectives.
Given the nature of the ending, I am quite curious to see where the story will go.
Thank you Angry Robot and NetGalley for providing a physical copy and ebook of Symbiote in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2025
Everything about this should have been enjoyable and fun. Its not entirely ground breaking but hits the right spot in terms of sci-fi tropes, integrating geopolitics and horror. Be it "The Thing" mixed with isolated horror with new pathogens, etc., the narration treats characters (there are plenty of them) with a level of disregard that takes away enjoyment of reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2025
Fun little sci fi horror thriller set at the South Pole. I think it’s my first book I’ve read that is set there and Nayak does a great job with the setting. He mentions in the acknowledgements he spent a year though and loved it and it shows. I’m American and a southeastern one at that so I can’t say I’ve experienced any extreme cold weather. So it was fascinating to see the different protocols in place for safety and health.
Symbiote has a LARGE cast of characters and at time it was hard to keep everyone’s various connections in check. This coupled with the fact there is a fair amount of sex/love triangles within the plot. They’re absolutely not integral to the book but I wouldn’t consider it overly raunchy. Considering Nayak has spent some time in Antarctica I find it likely that spending this much time in close quarters with a small amount of people could lead into some Love Island-ish drama. Overall, the extensive cast lead to some confusion within the plot as the story continued to evolve but it helped having a digital edition where I could search by name to aid recollection. I think this would’ve been more of a struggle with a physical copy.
Symbiote doesn’t have the most unique storyline (rampant infection that changes people, isolation, government being shady, etc etc) but I still found it well written and entertaining. It does have some gory scenes but nothing too over the top.
Symbiote follows a team in Antarctica in winter of 2028 as a war between the heavy hitters rages around the world. When a small group of Chinese researchers unexpectedly head into the National Science Foundation’s area things get pretty bad. It does feel a bit cinematic at times but the pacing is solid and the story was definitely entertaining. I would definitely love to check out more work by Nayak in the future.
Symbiote has a LARGE cast of characters and at time it was hard to keep everyone’s various connections in check. This coupled with the fact there is a fair amount of sex/love triangles within the plot. They’re absolutely not integral to the book but I wouldn’t consider it overly raunchy. Considering Nayak has spent some time in Antarctica I find it likely that spending this much time in close quarters with a small amount of people could lead into some Love Island-ish drama. Overall, the extensive cast lead to some confusion within the plot as the story continued to evolve but it helped having a digital edition where I could search by name to aid recollection. I think this would’ve been more of a struggle with a physical copy.
Symbiote doesn’t have the most unique storyline (rampant infection that changes people, isolation, government being shady, etc etc) but I still found it well written and entertaining. It does have some gory scenes but nothing too over the top.
Symbiote follows a team in Antarctica in winter of 2028 as a war between the heavy hitters rages around the world. When a small group of Chinese researchers unexpectedly head into the National Science Foundation’s area things get pretty bad. It does feel a bit cinematic at times but the pacing is solid and the story was definitely entertaining. I would definitely love to check out more work by Nayak in the future.
December 28, 2025
One of my favorite episodes of The X-Files is in season one, episode 8, titled "Ice."
In it, Mulder and Scully go to investigate the deaths of an Alaskan research team who have (spoiler alert) unearthed a once-frozen parasitic organisms that need hosts to survive and thrive.
This episode, of course, was inspired by The Thing which, of course, was inspired by John W. Campbell Jr's novella Who Goes There?
SO, if you like any of those things, then maybe check out Michael Nayak's Symbiote. It is very much inspired by all of The Things.
I loved this book. Sure, the characters needed a bit of work, but maybe they will get there in the sequels.
I did not realize this was the first book in a series, and likely would not have read it if I had. However, I enjoyed this enough to be looking forward to the next one.
4 out of 5
In it, Mulder and Scully go to investigate the deaths of an Alaskan research team who have (spoiler alert) unearthed a once-frozen parasitic organisms that need hosts to survive and thrive.
This episode, of course, was inspired by The Thing which, of course, was inspired by John W. Campbell Jr's novella Who Goes There?
SO, if you like any of those things, then maybe check out Michael Nayak's Symbiote. It is very much inspired by all of The Things.
I loved this book. Sure, the characters needed a bit of work, but maybe they will get there in the sequels.
I did not realize this was the first book in a series, and likely would not have read it if I had. However, I enjoyed this enough to be looking forward to the next one.
4 out of 5
March 22, 2025
I started this book thinking it was so clearly based on The Thing, but apart from being set in Antarctica and the, er, thing being brought to one station from another, it's quite different (as is the beast). There's a large and occasionally unwieldly group of characters and a contributing geopolitical situation, and the action is fast and furious - could be a decent film, in the right hands. The sequel-signaling ending and epilogue cheapened it for me, but I'd give it 3.75 overall.
November 16, 2024
Very reminiscent of The Thing and The Hot Zone. My biologist heart loved it and oozed nerdiness. My skin crawled the whole time.
December 1, 2024
Combining the isolation from any outside help with a deadly biological threat that infiltrates an Antarctic research base - Symbiote remains grounded in reality as chaos threatens to take over. This book felt like a fantastic combination of a zombie and survival thriller, where every step the main characters take to learn more about the microbe - it is also learning about them, as well.
One thing I really loved about this book was how realistic the biological threat present in this book felt. Even as the body count began to stack up and the chaos was building - everything felt like it could be happening right now, and no one not at the bottom of the world would even know about it. I also loved the surprise with how the politics of the world, and the war currently going on, was incorporated into this story, as up until a certain point I wasn’t certain the relevance of the specific timeline. However, with the current political climate this book felt almost too realistic, at times.
I also really liked how this book took the typical bones of the typical zombie virus and developed it into its own story as the novel progressed. The microbe present in this book evolved and developed in ways I never anticipated, and I really loved the changes that occurred from the start to the ending of this book. It seemed that once the main characters got a handle on how to survive and eliminate the threat, it would change in a new way to still outmaneuver them. I really liked how at no point was I certain who, or how, anyone would survive to the end of this novel.
Also, this book ends with such a bang! This ending could be perfect just on its own to read this book as a standalone - but it also lends itself for a sequel to continue the story. And I was so excited that the author’s note promised more to see how everything develops after the chaos of this book. I’ll absolutely be wanting to read the next installment to see what happens next.
The only thing I struggled with during this book was some of the technical names, naming conventions, and buildings and their locations. While my copy did include a brief glossary of characters and their titles, as well as the abbreviations that were used throughout this book, I do think it would benefit with a small map (nothing fancy) of the buildings and their locations to allow the reader to more easily picture and track the movements of the characters throughout the novel.
If you like zombie thrillers, Antarctic/Arctic horror, and authors like Darcy Coates and SA Barnes, I would highly recommend picking up this novel to read for yourself With no true heroes or villains, only people desperate to survive a chaos they never expected when they signed up to work at the bottom of the world - Symbiote is a strangely realistic tale of survival against all costs, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Angry Robot for providing both an e-ARC as well as a physical copy for review.
One thing I really loved about this book was how realistic the biological threat present in this book felt. Even as the body count began to stack up and the chaos was building - everything felt like it could be happening right now, and no one not at the bottom of the world would even know about it. I also loved the surprise with how the politics of the world, and the war currently going on, was incorporated into this story, as up until a certain point I wasn’t certain the relevance of the specific timeline. However, with the current political climate this book felt almost too realistic, at times.
I also really liked how this book took the typical bones of the typical zombie virus and developed it into its own story as the novel progressed. The microbe present in this book evolved and developed in ways I never anticipated, and I really loved the changes that occurred from the start to the ending of this book. It seemed that once the main characters got a handle on how to survive and eliminate the threat, it would change in a new way to still outmaneuver them. I really liked how at no point was I certain who, or how, anyone would survive to the end of this novel.
Also, this book ends with such a bang! This ending could be perfect just on its own to read this book as a standalone - but it also lends itself for a sequel to continue the story. And I was so excited that the author’s note promised more to see how everything develops after the chaos of this book. I’ll absolutely be wanting to read the next installment to see what happens next.
The only thing I struggled with during this book was some of the technical names, naming conventions, and buildings and their locations. While my copy did include a brief glossary of characters and their titles, as well as the abbreviations that were used throughout this book, I do think it would benefit with a small map (nothing fancy) of the buildings and their locations to allow the reader to more easily picture and track the movements of the characters throughout the novel.
If you like zombie thrillers, Antarctic/Arctic horror, and authors like Darcy Coates and SA Barnes, I would highly recommend picking up this novel to read for yourself With no true heroes or villains, only people desperate to survive a chaos they never expected when they signed up to work at the bottom of the world - Symbiote is a strangely realistic tale of survival against all costs, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Angry Robot for providing both an e-ARC as well as a physical copy for review.
November 28, 2024
An unknown infection is affecting the staff at the South Pole. With an intelligent, adaptive enemy it comes down to a fight for survival, both at the pole and beyond.
This book touches on a lot of issues that are becoming more prevalent in our lives:
Disease X ✅
Post Covid there’s a bigger conversation around when the next “big one” is coming and what disease x might look like.
Fear around bioweapons and growing hostility globally ✅
Global warming and the risk of ancient, unknown microorganisms and viruses being released in the melting glaciers and permafrost ✅
The above themes and the remote setting create a terrifying story that you can’t look away from as it plays out in the microcosm of the South Pole.
Symbiote is chilling, disturbing and exciting. It’s hard to put down. The characters are interesting and the relationships explored between them help drive the action.
The Author has no problem in letting his characters die but it really ups the stakes. Theres a large roster of characters but you get to know a lot of them.
There’s multiple POVs as events unfold and at times it is difficult to tell who’s narrating.
The ‘we’ section of the infected is fascinating. Ben and the hive are so disconcerting and creepy it really sets you on edge. Seeing the shared POV was fascinating.
The ending gives me chills! Life finds a way.
Fantastic read!
Authors note - it’s mindblowing blowing to think this book might not have made it to the shelf if this author didn’t persevere. Thank god he did!
Despite the horror, the authors immersive writing style does make you want to spend some time at the South Pole! There’s a passion for the ice and it shows in the writing - a setting doesn’t need to fictional to be gripping and the backdrop of experience brings this book to life.
This book touches on a lot of issues that are becoming more prevalent in our lives:
Disease X ✅
Post Covid there’s a bigger conversation around when the next “big one” is coming and what disease x might look like.
Fear around bioweapons and growing hostility globally ✅
Global warming and the risk of ancient, unknown microorganisms and viruses being released in the melting glaciers and permafrost ✅
The above themes and the remote setting create a terrifying story that you can’t look away from as it plays out in the microcosm of the South Pole.
Symbiote is chilling, disturbing and exciting. It’s hard to put down. The characters are interesting and the relationships explored between them help drive the action.
The Author has no problem in letting his characters die but it really ups the stakes. Theres a large roster of characters but you get to know a lot of them.
There’s multiple POVs as events unfold and at times it is difficult to tell who’s narrating.
The ‘we’ section of the infected is fascinating. Ben and the hive are so disconcerting and creepy it really sets you on edge. Seeing the shared POV was fascinating.
The ending gives me chills! Life finds a way.
Fantastic read!
Authors note - it’s mindblowing blowing to think this book might not have made it to the shelf if this author didn’t persevere. Thank god he did!
Despite the horror, the authors immersive writing style does make you want to spend some time at the South Pole! There’s a passion for the ice and it shows in the writing - a setting doesn’t need to fictional to be gripping and the backdrop of experience brings this book to life.
April 30, 2025
The bones of the book were readable. I can tell that Nayak has the ability to compose a story with beautiful, detailed world-building and build tension until the reader feels ready to vibrate out of their seat. With that said, I found this novel difficult to read through. While there were parts that I enjoyed, like Nayak's descriptions of the Antarctic station, most of the writing felt clunky (I do acknowledge that this is his first published book), unscientific, and ultimately, incredibly misogynistic. It seemed like the female characters only existed to be beautiful and tempting to the male characters. They were routinely described by their physical appearances first (and sometimes only), what male character with whom they had ever been intimate (and how male characters felt about it), and their (often unkind) attitudes towards the few other female characters in the story. If this is an accurate depiction of life working at an Antarctic station, then it's not for me. Additionally, I stopped counting how many times a man's erection was mentioned in the first 100 pages. The obsession with genitals and sex, in general, did not stop, even after the tension began building more seriously. It felt objectifying, uncomfortable, and unrealistic.
Overall, the story is not what I expected after picking it up based on the description. It's not bad, but I wouldn't consider it good either. I do hope that Nayak continues writing, and grows out of the obsession with sex.
Overall, the story is not what I expected after picking it up based on the description. It's not bad, but I wouldn't consider it good either. I do hope that Nayak continues writing, and grows out of the obsession with sex.
February 16, 2025
First if all, huge apologies for missing my review date of 13th Feb. I scheduled the wrong date, so completely my fault.
Symbiote is a creepy, intense Sci-fi thriller, set in the near future, during World War III, in Antarctica when a deadly parasite escapes causes havoc.
The paraste arrives with a group of Chinese scientists, fleeing their station, they arrive at the neighbouring U.S base, and before long, the parasite takes hold, and causes violent tendencies in their hosts, which leads to chaos and murders abound.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
All in all, a great, fast paced read, full of action and more than a dash or two of horror.
I loved the snowy, atmospheric, claustrophobic, isolated feel to this read. For me, this type of setting always adds another level of threat and danger. The feeling that no one's coming to help.
We meet some great characters along this rollercoaster ride of a novel, each and every one feels real and are entirely believable.
I think this would make a great film, and I found it to be reminiscent of "The Thing", "28 Days Later" or "The Walking Dead'
A big 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Symbiote is a creepy, intense Sci-fi thriller, set in the near future, during World War III, in Antarctica when a deadly parasite escapes causes havoc.
The paraste arrives with a group of Chinese scientists, fleeing their station, they arrive at the neighbouring U.S base, and before long, the parasite takes hold, and causes violent tendencies in their hosts, which leads to chaos and murders abound.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
All in all, a great, fast paced read, full of action and more than a dash or two of horror.
I loved the snowy, atmospheric, claustrophobic, isolated feel to this read. For me, this type of setting always adds another level of threat and danger. The feeling that no one's coming to help.
We meet some great characters along this rollercoaster ride of a novel, each and every one feels real and are entirely believable.
I think this would make a great film, and I found it to be reminiscent of "The Thing", "28 Days Later" or "The Walking Dead'
A big 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
December 13, 2024
Symbiote is a fast paced contagion style horror book about researchers and workers in Antarctica that are exposed to a parasitic entity that thrives in the cold.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I am giving this book 3 stars.
I think that if you are a fan of the movie The Thing that you will enjoy this book. I was happy that this wasn't so close to that movie that it felt like an imitation but it is definitely comparable.
The biggest issue I have with this book is how the women in the book were handled. While the men had back stories, internal emotions and thought processes, the women were mostly relegated to.arm candy. Their significance was purely based on who they were sleeping with and their places.in love triangles that motivated acts of violence by the men.
While I would be interested in exploring more books by this author in the future and will make.sure to post about this book on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) closer to its release date, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed by this one
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I am giving this book 3 stars.
I think that if you are a fan of the movie The Thing that you will enjoy this book. I was happy that this wasn't so close to that movie that it felt like an imitation but it is definitely comparable.
The biggest issue I have with this book is how the women in the book were handled. While the men had back stories, internal emotions and thought processes, the women were mostly relegated to.arm candy. Their significance was purely based on who they were sleeping with and their places.in love triangles that motivated acts of violence by the men.
While I would be interested in exploring more books by this author in the future and will make.sure to post about this book on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) closer to its release date, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed by this one
February 5, 2025
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the ARC! Here are my thoughts.
A group of American scientists are researching at the South Pole. A trick of Chinese scientists arrives, but one of the men in their truck is dead. Soon the scientists are facing their worst fear as a parasite begins taking over. Can the scientists study and learn and prevent their death, or is the parasite just too quick for them?
This book was the perfect cold weather book to read. We were facing temperatures that felt around -30C. It’s not quite the temps these characters had to face, but I felt for them. The elements felt like an extra character in this novel, as the harsh cold was so isolating and heavily impacted the characters’ ability to make decisions. It also played a huge part with the parasite.
I worked in microbiology for about 12 years and am currently writing my thesis on a micro project, so any horror/sci fi novel that uses microbiology makes me happy. I try my best to not focus too much on the actual scientific fact and allow myself to have fun with the disbelief. Symbiote was very well researched and yes some of the scenarios are a little farfetched but that’s what makes it a fun horror read.
The characters are vast and there are some readers will love and some they will hate. They all felt human though, living a very complicated and unique job experience. Overall, I enjoyed this. Reading a little about the author’s background also shed some light on why this book felt so real and well researched. I would pick up another book by Nayak, as I love sci-fi and horror and he balanced the two beautifully.
A group of American scientists are researching at the South Pole. A trick of Chinese scientists arrives, but one of the men in their truck is dead. Soon the scientists are facing their worst fear as a parasite begins taking over. Can the scientists study and learn and prevent their death, or is the parasite just too quick for them?
This book was the perfect cold weather book to read. We were facing temperatures that felt around -30C. It’s not quite the temps these characters had to face, but I felt for them. The elements felt like an extra character in this novel, as the harsh cold was so isolating and heavily impacted the characters’ ability to make decisions. It also played a huge part with the parasite.
I worked in microbiology for about 12 years and am currently writing my thesis on a micro project, so any horror/sci fi novel that uses microbiology makes me happy. I try my best to not focus too much on the actual scientific fact and allow myself to have fun with the disbelief. Symbiote was very well researched and yes some of the scenarios are a little farfetched but that’s what makes it a fun horror read.
The characters are vast and there are some readers will love and some they will hate. They all felt human though, living a very complicated and unique job experience. Overall, I enjoyed this. Reading a little about the author’s background also shed some light on why this book felt so real and well researched. I would pick up another book by Nayak, as I love sci-fi and horror and he balanced the two beautifully.
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