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Titan of the Stars #1
Titan of the Stars
Titanic meets Aliens in this tense YA science fiction horror series by #1 New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston.
Celeste knows every inch of this ship. She's proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars — this new life.
Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him — a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind.
Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers . . . until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life . . .
Celeste knows every inch of this ship. She's proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars — this new life.
Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him — a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind.
Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers . . . until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life . . .
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2025
17 people are currently reading
5176 people want to read
About the author
E.K. Johnston
23 books2,680 followersE.K. Johnston had several jobs and one vocation before she became a published writer. If she’s learned anything, it’s that things turn out weird sometimes, and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Well, that and how to muscle through awkward fanfic because it’s about a pairing she likes.
You can follow Kate on Twitter (@ek_johnston) to learn more about Alderaanian political theory than you really need to know, or on Tumblr (ekjohnston) if you're just here for pretty pictures.
You can follow Kate on Twitter (@ek_johnston) to learn more about Alderaanian political theory than you really need to know, or on Tumblr (ekjohnston) if you're just here for pretty pictures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 16, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
a queer mash-up of alien and titanic, with a dash of wall-e makes for a fun sci-fi — horror/thriller!
a queer mash-up of alien and titanic, with a dash of wall-e makes for a fun sci-fi — horror/thriller!
February 28, 2025
3.5 Stars, rounded up
The biggest problem with this book is that it is too short. It is too short, and so it doesn't reach its full potential. I loved what I got, and I wanted more. The setting is evocative, a gilt space shuttle heading towards Mars's new mining colony. There's a class divide. There's ecological disaster back on Earth. There's the unveiling of new alien life (albeit long dead) on this ship. It has such great components. And the characters! I loved each of the characters. They all stood on their own, solid and different. A great mix of motives, temperaments, and personality clashes. I wanted more of the characters, especially, because even the shortest glimpse here told me Johnston has fleshed these characters out so well. Just... not on the page. Not yet, maybe, since this is the start of a series. But I wanted more than what I got. I wanted to know these characters now, because knowing them would have added just that much more to the plot! Alas.
Anyway, the cliffhanger here worked so well, and I can't tell you how ready I am to have the next installment (and this book hasn't even hit shelves yet). So I'll be digging into this one more in my full review, available at Gateway Reviews on May 16, 2025. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
The biggest problem with this book is that it is too short. It is too short, and so it doesn't reach its full potential. I loved what I got, and I wanted more. The setting is evocative, a gilt space shuttle heading towards Mars's new mining colony. There's a class divide. There's ecological disaster back on Earth. There's the unveiling of new alien life (albeit long dead) on this ship. It has such great components. And the characters! I loved each of the characters. They all stood on their own, solid and different. A great mix of motives, temperaments, and personality clashes. I wanted more of the characters, especially, because even the shortest glimpse here told me Johnston has fleshed these characters out so well. Just... not on the page. Not yet, maybe, since this is the start of a series. But I wanted more than what I got. I wanted to know these characters now, because knowing them would have added just that much more to the plot! Alas.
Anyway, the cliffhanger here worked so well, and I can't tell you how ready I am to have the next installment (and this book hasn't even hit shelves yet). So I'll be digging into this one more in my full review, available at Gateway Reviews on May 16, 2025. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
July 21, 2025
Definitely reminiscent of Aliens, E.K. Johnston's story also deals with classism and income inequality, while aliens ravage a ship headed towards Mars new mining colony. The ship is beautifully outfitted for its wealthy guests, while the crew, most of them poor and eager for they payout awaiting them, are all looking forward to arriving at their destination.
Johnston focuses on two characters, Celeste, a member of the engineering crew, and Dominic, the son of a wealthy family that's eager to move up into higher echelons of society.
The aliens are brought on board as museum pieces, but no one is aware that the unknown species is actually in hibernation, and when they wake up, passenger snack time!
Celeste and Dominic are very different people, but are drawn together by the horrors on board, as they try to stay alive. Their lives are changed irrevocably by what the experience, and there's more to come, as this is book one in a series.
The pacing is fast, Celeste and Dominic are well drawn characters, and one can understand why each is so frustrated with their situations in life prior to the start of the journey, and how their individual skills help them survive it.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Tundra Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Johnston focuses on two characters, Celeste, a member of the engineering crew, and Dominic, the son of a wealthy family that's eager to move up into higher echelons of society.
The aliens are brought on board as museum pieces, but no one is aware that the unknown species is actually in hibernation, and when they wake up, passenger snack time!
Celeste and Dominic are very different people, but are drawn together by the horrors on board, as they try to stay alive. Their lives are changed irrevocably by what the experience, and there's more to come, as this is book one in a series.
The pacing is fast, Celeste and Dominic are well drawn characters, and one can understand why each is so frustrated with their situations in life prior to the start of the journey, and how their individual skills help them survive it.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Tundra Book Group for this ARC in exchange for my review.
November 29, 2025
Okay, Titan of the Stars (Titan of the Stars #1) by E.K. Johnston was a fun one. I'm a fan of both Aliens and Titanic and I got a kick out of where this went. It wasn't as good as either since that would be a tall order. That said I still had a good time. I'll have to check out future books in this series.
May 11, 2025
An exquisite blend of science fiction and horror, Titan of the Stars has the suspense and thrills to keep you flipping pages, and characters who you’ll root for till the very end. This story is much more than a pulse-pounding journey to Mars—though it delivers that too! Amidst the terrifying extraterrestrials and backdrop of an opulent space craft are poignant comments on class, survival, and who is left behind in the pursuit of progress.
gave-up-on
January 24, 2025I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a chance at reading.
I'm not unfamiliar with E.K. Johnston's writing. I have read a couple of her Star Wars books with female protagonists. I'm familiar with her sci-fi vibe.
In terms of this story, this was going to be her first original piece. I think she can write, but without a 'bounceboard' (in terms, Star Wars) or some kind of strong idea, I think the story is a bit of a muddled mess. Our protagonists aren't really interesting for me to follow them. Honestly, with all the info dumping I didn't really gleam anything about who they were in response around other characters.
If I don't have interesting characters to follow, then I'm not going to get far with the story. Perhaps it works for others, but this was my issue.
Out of respect for the author, I will not rate this book due to not finishing it.
I'm not unfamiliar with E.K. Johnston's writing. I have read a couple of her Star Wars books with female protagonists. I'm familiar with her sci-fi vibe.
In terms of this story, this was going to be her first original piece. I think she can write, but without a 'bounceboard' (in terms, Star Wars) or some kind of strong idea, I think the story is a bit of a muddled mess. Our protagonists aren't really interesting for me to follow them. Honestly, with all the info dumping I didn't really gleam anything about who they were in response around other characters.
If I don't have interesting characters to follow, then I'm not going to get far with the story. Perhaps it works for others, but this was my issue.
Out of respect for the author, I will not rate this book due to not finishing it.
July 9, 2025
No, no, no. This was not the book I was looking for when I picked it up from the library "new YA" section.
For starters, this doesn't even read like YA. Titan of the Stars was advertised as a mix of Alien (1979) and Titanic (1997), both movies with more mature tones. Titan of the Stars swings, and it misses so badly that it ends up not only screwing up the tones of the material it's inspired by but also completely missing the point of said material (more about the story later)
Ok, back to the writing and tones. I swear, this book got so lost. It's as if you took a children's science fiction novel (reading level 6, to be exact) and just wrote in an absurd amount of gore. so much, in fact, that when it actually has a kernel of horror, you're so desensitized to blood because they pulled the "omg there's bodies in the freezer!" card 7 times already. it's as if the writer thought that if they just added swearing, guts, and gore that the book would be serious.
Now, the main event; the story, and, gosh, it's rough. It starts well enough, Celeste (Jack) and Dominic (Rose) are established as our main characters, and I have no major complaints about those two, especially Dominic. I have no problems with a Peeta-ish guy. Celeste doesn't have nearly enough charm to be compared to Jack, but, honestly, that is the least of my worries.
Let's cut to the chase; this book completely forgets to add in the Titanic, and it suffers from it. if I had read this book without reading the back, I would not have guessed that Titanic was even part of the equation.
In the entire 295-page book, there was one page of romantic material. They don't even kiss!
On the other hand, the book sure has a heck of a lot of aliens, but Titan of the Stars completely misses what made the movie Alien scary. It's not the gore (though that movie does gore terrifyingly well) but the idea that there is something hunting you, and the people you care about, and that the corporation you gave your life to won't do anything to stop it. Nope! Scary octopus Aliens are better, I guess.
This book is mildly interesting at its best, but needlessly bloody and emotionless at it's worse.
- Your favorite book person, Autumn 😉
For starters, this doesn't even read like YA. Titan of the Stars was advertised as a mix of Alien (1979) and Titanic (1997), both movies with more mature tones. Titan of the Stars swings, and it misses so badly that it ends up not only screwing up the tones of the material it's inspired by but also completely missing the point of said material (more about the story later)
Ok, back to the writing and tones. I swear, this book got so lost. It's as if you took a children's science fiction novel (reading level 6, to be exact) and just wrote in an absurd amount of gore. so much, in fact, that when it actually has a kernel of horror, you're so desensitized to blood because they pulled the "omg there's bodies in the freezer!" card 7 times already. it's as if the writer thought that if they just added swearing, guts, and gore that the book would be serious.
Now, the main event; the story, and, gosh, it's rough. It starts well enough, Celeste (Jack) and Dominic (Rose) are established as our main characters, and I have no major complaints about those two, especially Dominic. I have no problems with a Peeta-ish guy. Celeste doesn't have nearly enough charm to be compared to Jack, but, honestly, that is the least of my worries.
Let's cut to the chase; this book completely forgets to add in the Titanic, and it suffers from it. if I had read this book without reading the back, I would not have guessed that Titanic was even part of the equation.
In the entire 295-page book, there was one page of romantic material. They don't even kiss!
On the other hand, the book sure has a heck of a lot of aliens, but Titan of the Stars completely misses what made the movie Alien scary. It's not the gore (though that movie does gore terrifyingly well) but the idea that there is something hunting you, and the people you care about, and that the corporation you gave your life to won't do anything to stop it. Nope! Scary octopus Aliens are better, I guess.
This book is mildly interesting at its best, but needlessly bloody and emotionless at it's worse.
- Your favorite book person, Autumn 😉
January 27, 2026
I somehow went into this without reading any blurbs or marketing material (EK Johnston is an autobuy) so reading the first few chapters and realizing what I was getting into was a delight.
Another absolute banger and I cannot wait for the sequel!
Another absolute banger and I cannot wait for the sequel!
September 27, 2025
page 160 is when stuff begins to happen btw. also for a book that is based on very mature toned movies (and event, in titantic's case) this book lacks any thrill, suspense, mystery, or anything really
July 24, 2025
I hate when a book ends with a cliffhanger but honestly, it’s a really well crafted cliffhanger so I’m not that mad. The world building is great and the budding relationship between our protagonists is believable and endearing. Although I am not typically a fan of horror, Johnston crafts such a strong story with believable, likeable characters that I enjoyed this and even want to read the next one.
Thank you to Tundra Books who gifted me a published copy for review.
Thank you to Tundra Books who gifted me a published copy for review.
February 17, 2025
Wow, and not wow in a good way this book was hard to get through , I kept waiting for the story to pick up .
There was a lot of description and a lot of talking with very little advancement to the story and I felt like it just kept droning on and that half of the dialog and plot thus far wasn’t even necessary.
30 percent through the book I was literally having to fight my own urge to stop reading with how bored I was.
There is a point when a writer needs to realize that while description is helpful there is a point where you can write to much description and forget to write the actual story.
I noticed a lot of the same points where brought up through the story only written in a slightly different way but even so it felt like a lot of repeated information especially when discussing their past, the rupt and the goverment.
Onto the characters, there were a lot of characters to follow, that being said I could not connect to anyone at all and the constant back and forth got really hard to follow at times. The only character I even had a slight fascination in was Dominic.
Thank you netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for the arc
There was a lot of description and a lot of talking with very little advancement to the story and I felt like it just kept droning on and that half of the dialog and plot thus far wasn’t even necessary.
30 percent through the book I was literally having to fight my own urge to stop reading with how bored I was.
There is a point when a writer needs to realize that while description is helpful there is a point where you can write to much description and forget to write the actual story.
I noticed a lot of the same points where brought up through the story only written in a slightly different way but even so it felt like a lot of repeated information especially when discussing their past, the rupt and the goverment.
Onto the characters, there were a lot of characters to follow, that being said I could not connect to anyone at all and the constant back and forth got really hard to follow at times. The only character I even had a slight fascination in was Dominic.
Thank you netgalley and Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books for the arc
April 12, 2025
Titan of the Stars follows Celeste, an apprentice engineer, and Dominic, a passenger. Celeste is eager about her new beginning on the Titan’s maiden voyage from Earth to Mars because it means a chance at a better, new life. Meanwhile, Dominic feels trapped on the ship as his father forced him to come and to accept the life chosen for him when all he wants to do is be an artist. Everything is not as smooth sailing as it seems when an exhibit of ancient aliens discovered under melted ice caps is unveiled on board … and they’re not as dead as the scientists thought.
Loved this book so much!!! Sci-fi horror is one of my all-time favourite niche genres and E. K. Johnston delivered a phenomenal story! The horror elements were top notch, and the aliens were so creepy and terrifying. The atmosphere and vibes were on point, especially in the second half. It was so eerie and had me on the edge of my seat. The setting was so interesting and made for such a captivating read. The pacing was perfect, and the ending was SO intense! I am in desperate need of the sequel!! And the comp titles (Titanic meets Aliens) were perfect for this book.
Along with the incredible horror elements, the characters really stand out in this novel. Celeste and Dominic were such good MCs. They were so different but complimented one another really well. I loved their backstories and felt so much for them. Celeste’s friendship with Ren was so sweet—it felt so genuine and realistic. Dominic’s struggles were so intriguing, and I loved his arc and how he finally stood up for himself. I’m really interested in seeing where these two end up in the next one!
Overall, if you love sci-fi horror that’s like Titanic meets Aliens, I’d highly recommend checking this out when it releases May 27th!
A huge thank you to Penguin Teen CA for sending me a physical arc!!
Loved this book so much!!! Sci-fi horror is one of my all-time favourite niche genres and E. K. Johnston delivered a phenomenal story! The horror elements were top notch, and the aliens were so creepy and terrifying. The atmosphere and vibes were on point, especially in the second half. It was so eerie and had me on the edge of my seat. The setting was so interesting and made for such a captivating read. The pacing was perfect, and the ending was SO intense! I am in desperate need of the sequel!! And the comp titles (Titanic meets Aliens) were perfect for this book.
Along with the incredible horror elements, the characters really stand out in this novel. Celeste and Dominic were such good MCs. They were so different but complimented one another really well. I loved their backstories and felt so much for them. Celeste’s friendship with Ren was so sweet—it felt so genuine and realistic. Dominic’s struggles were so intriguing, and I loved his arc and how he finally stood up for himself. I’m really interested in seeing where these two end up in the next one!
Overall, if you love sci-fi horror that’s like Titanic meets Aliens, I’d highly recommend checking this out when it releases May 27th!
A huge thank you to Penguin Teen CA for sending me a physical arc!!
June 11, 2025
3.5/5 stars
Goodness, do I love isolation horror in space and Titan of the Stars absolutely delivers.
From the start, this book hits all my favorite notes: eerie vibes, creeping dread, and the sheer panic of being trapped somewhere cold, mechanical, and very, VERY far from home. Titan is a perfect setting for things to go horribly wrong, and once they do...?
Pacing-wise, this book is tight. Johnston wastes no time, and the tension never lets up once it starts. And those aliens? Chilling. I won’t spoil what they are or how they work because honestly, it’s way more fun to go in blind.
That said, I did find myself wishing for a bit more depth. There’s so much potential here, and I honestly wouldn’t have minded a longer, meatier story to explore it all more fully.
And the ending? Open-ended in exactly the right way. Enough resolution to feel satisfying, but just ambiguous enough to leave you wondering (and hoping for a sequel; I definitely am).
If you like your space horror atmospheric, queer-inclusive, and fast-paced, Titan of the Stars is an easy yes. Highly recommend.
Thanks so much to TBR and Beyond Tours, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Goodness, do I love isolation horror in space and Titan of the Stars absolutely delivers.
From the start, this book hits all my favorite notes: eerie vibes, creeping dread, and the sheer panic of being trapped somewhere cold, mechanical, and very, VERY far from home. Titan is a perfect setting for things to go horribly wrong, and once they do...?
Pacing-wise, this book is tight. Johnston wastes no time, and the tension never lets up once it starts. And those aliens? Chilling. I won’t spoil what they are or how they work because honestly, it’s way more fun to go in blind.
That said, I did find myself wishing for a bit more depth. There’s so much potential here, and I honestly wouldn’t have minded a longer, meatier story to explore it all more fully.
And the ending? Open-ended in exactly the right way. Enough resolution to feel satisfying, but just ambiguous enough to leave you wondering (and hoping for a sequel; I definitely am).
If you like your space horror atmospheric, queer-inclusive, and fast-paced, Titan of the Stars is an easy yes. Highly recommend.
Thanks so much to TBR and Beyond Tours, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
May 5, 2025
Oh man this one was one thrilling horror!
My only wish was that it was longer, and we could have delved deeper into each of the characters. I would have liked to see more flashbacks maybe of their lives as kids after the Rupt, or their struggles as teenagers. But this was such a good sci fi horror that it had me ignoring my responsibilities so that I could keep reading. It was a well written pace that had a good flow, and did well building the imagery of the ship and the space setting.
I really loved the dual POV, and the Canadian setting was just the cherry on top.
Our story follows Celeste an apprentice engineer, and Dominic an aspiring artist passenger on the Titan. But things get interesting when it’s announced there are ancient aliens aboard their ship to Mars. Their week long trip in space to Mars! And something has set the aliens free…
This is perfect if you love
-the Titanic
-Alien
-Horror
-Found Family
-Canadian setting
𝘼 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝘼 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮
My only wish was that it was longer, and we could have delved deeper into each of the characters. I would have liked to see more flashbacks maybe of their lives as kids after the Rupt, or their struggles as teenagers. But this was such a good sci fi horror that it had me ignoring my responsibilities so that I could keep reading. It was a well written pace that had a good flow, and did well building the imagery of the ship and the space setting.
I really loved the dual POV, and the Canadian setting was just the cherry on top.
Our story follows Celeste an apprentice engineer, and Dominic an aspiring artist passenger on the Titan. But things get interesting when it’s announced there are ancient aliens aboard their ship to Mars. Their week long trip in space to Mars! And something has set the aliens free…
This is perfect if you love
-the Titanic
-Alien
-Horror
-Found Family
-Canadian setting
𝘼 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝘼 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮
June 5, 2025
I don’t know why, but I didn’t go into this book considering there would be a sequel, lol. The cliffhanger caught me by surprise. I enjoyed it, though. The writing style was very easy to pick up. I think this would be a good intro to YA sci-fi book recommendation. I liked the action and gore, and our trio. I would like to see more of Dominic and Celeste— I wonder if that could be possible in the sequel, considering where we left off. 🤔
3 stars. Thank you to @tandemcollectiveglobal for gifting me a copy to join the readalong. 👾
3 stars. Thank you to @tandemcollectiveglobal for gifting me a copy to join the readalong. 👾
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
Titanic x Alien seems to be an accurate description, seeing as the Titanic was a failure that could have been avoided. In that same vein, maybe bringing aliens that you know nothing about on your ship's maiden voyage to Mars is a bad idea. But you know, hindsight is 20/20 and all that. I will say, if you compare your story to two VERY well known and praised pieces of media, you are setting a very high bar.
Expect 50% mild YA scifi then 50% YA scifi horror from this read.
This was unfortunately not something that held my attention. The prologue's writing style was perhaps one of my least favorite styles to read (and also just doesn't line up at all with anything else timing-wise in this book, unless I majorly misremebered it). Then the rest of the copy (ARC, so potentially fixed?) was so full of formatting and spelling errors that it was approaching unbearable to read. Not to mention the pacing...
I'm confused by how it takes a whole day to get to the moon, but only 6 more days to supposedly get to Mars? And then in the back half of the book, we have a 100 hour countdown... Only to go through 95 of those hours in maybe a page?? What was even the point then if you aren't going to build character relationships or do literally anything at all?
Also the aliens literally don't make sense in a physical sense. 🤷🏼♀️
This should've been cool, but instead it took me 2+ weeks to finish because I was so uninterested.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for providing an eARC of Titan of The Stars in exchange for this honest review.
Expect 50% mild YA scifi then 50% YA scifi horror from this read.
This was unfortunately not something that held my attention. The prologue's writing style was perhaps one of my least favorite styles to read (and also just doesn't line up at all with anything else timing-wise in this book, unless I majorly misremebered it). Then the rest of the copy (ARC, so potentially fixed?) was so full of formatting and spelling errors that it was approaching unbearable to read. Not to mention the pacing...
I'm confused by how it takes a whole day to get to the moon, but only 6 more days to supposedly get to Mars? And then in the back half of the book, we have a 100 hour countdown... Only to go through 95 of those hours in maybe a page?? What was even the point then if you aren't going to build character relationships or do literally anything at all?
Also the aliens literally don't make sense in a physical sense. 🤷🏼♀️
This should've been cool, but instead it took me 2+ weeks to finish because I was so uninterested.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for providing an eARC of Titan of The Stars in exchange for this honest review.
January 27, 2026
Dnf’d the book. I thought the plot was interesting either way the aliens on the spaceship, but I didn’t like the two main characters relationship. The guy liked the other guy but he was kinda using him so they broke up, but then the two main characters started developing a relationship- I didn’t like the direction it was going 😭
I know I had like 100 pages left but I just couldn’t get through them
I know I had like 100 pages left but I just couldn’t get through them
January 28, 2026
Ahhhhhg I’m so disappointed because the premise of this book is so good. Classic sci-fi with good characters but it just wasn’t long enough to establish more growth and more plot. I wanted way more aliens and way more impending doom!! It was “oh no we’re going to die!…. Never mind I know exactly what to do.” And it was done in 15 pages… LIKE GIVE ME TIME TO QUESTION IF WE ACTUALLY LIVE OR DIE HERE?
Also Adam sucks.
Also Adam sucks.
November 19, 2025
White Pine 2026
well that was an ending - clearly there is going to be a sequel which I need right now!
this book was super creepy at times, and though a bit predictable, you hoped you were wrong
Johnston creates characters that are easy to root for a easy to hate with the firey passion of a thousand suns
well that was an ending - clearly there is going to be a sequel which I need right now!
this book was super creepy at times, and though a bit predictable, you hoped you were wrong
Johnston creates characters that are easy to root for a easy to hate with the firey passion of a thousand suns
June 18, 2025
Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston
This YA Sci-Fi Horror novel mixes theTitanic’s doomed luxury, Alien’s deadly terror, and an up close and personal experience of class and survival.
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Enemies to Allies
- Themes of Class Divides and Colonial Greed
When the glamorous starliner Titan launches from Earth to Mars, no one expects it to turn into a fight for survival. But hidden deep within the ship’s bowels are recently discovered ancient alien specimens. It is thought that someone sabotage the containment displays and unleashes them. The once luxury cruise becomes a nightmare.
This novel is told through two powerful POV's. Celest is a Titan engineer with nothing to lose, and Dominic is a rich passenger. Together, they must outsmart and outrun Aliens as well as their similar pasts.
E.K. Johnston did a great job of encapsulating internal dialog and creating tension between characters in doing so. I really liked the interludes between chapters. There were surprising moments that left you shocked, and some I could see coming. The relationship between Celest and Dominic felt a bit insta crush, but in scary situations, we do crazy things so understandable.
Be aware that this book leaves you on such a cliffhanger! I can't wait for book 2!
This YA Sci-Fi Horror novel mixes theTitanic’s doomed luxury, Alien’s deadly terror, and an up close and personal experience of class and survival.
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Enemies to Allies
- Themes of Class Divides and Colonial Greed
When the glamorous starliner Titan launches from Earth to Mars, no one expects it to turn into a fight for survival. But hidden deep within the ship’s bowels are recently discovered ancient alien specimens. It is thought that someone sabotage the containment displays and unleashes them. The once luxury cruise becomes a nightmare.
This novel is told through two powerful POV's. Celest is a Titan engineer with nothing to lose, and Dominic is a rich passenger. Together, they must outsmart and outrun Aliens as well as their similar pasts.
E.K. Johnston did a great job of encapsulating internal dialog and creating tension between characters in doing so. I really liked the interludes between chapters. There were surprising moments that left you shocked, and some I could see coming. The relationship between Celest and Dominic felt a bit insta crush, but in scary situations, we do crazy things so understandable.
Be aware that this book leaves you on such a cliffhanger! I can't wait for book 2!
July 3, 2025
Whoa there, that was a wild ride! Really dialed up the horror a la Titanic crossed with Sphere. I was freaking out pretty much the entire time, and I love who Dominic ended up to be.
June 2, 2025
Honestly, there was more creativity and passion thrown into the cover art than the entire book...
The concept has been done, but I didn't mind that. I'm drawn to this concept because it works and am always curious about what writers do with it. However, this author went incredibly generic down to the name of the ship. I could not attach myself to the characters at all, and I found their conflicts lacking depth. It's all very superficial and stuff you've read a million times.
It does read very quickly, and when you finally get to the horror aspect, it's not bad. She wrote that decently.
I saw some reviews saying it's not long enough to flesh out, but I actually think she should have cut 150 pages and made this a short novella. It's decent when you get 150 pages in, and this reads like something that didn't need to be a novel stretched into a novel for no reason. That stretching ruined it, in my opinion.
The concept has been done, but I didn't mind that. I'm drawn to this concept because it works and am always curious about what writers do with it. However, this author went incredibly generic down to the name of the ship. I could not attach myself to the characters at all, and I found their conflicts lacking depth. It's all very superficial and stuff you've read a million times.
It does read very quickly, and when you finally get to the horror aspect, it's not bad. She wrote that decently.
I saw some reviews saying it's not long enough to flesh out, but I actually think she should have cut 150 pages and made this a short novella. It's decent when you get 150 pages in, and this reads like something that didn't need to be a novel stretched into a novel for no reason. That stretching ruined it, in my opinion.
May 21, 2025
This was a fun, entertaining read but nothing more. It takes at least half the book for the alien action I was promised to get started but once it does it’s a fast paced and quick read.
I will say that the story lacks originality. It was described as Alien meets Titanic and that’s exactly what it is with nothing more to add to the genre. I understand that some elements of the story are meant to be a sort of homage to the Alien franchise (like a character named Dr. Ripley for example) but this was much too similar. The aliens are almost exactly the same, down to their human incubation period complete with chest bursting. They only look a little different and “possess” the host for a brief period. And the story line itself is in no way new or creative. In fact it even falls short on content by hyping up certain elements of the aliens like their queen and then ends before we even encounter her.
Also why are we focusing on teenage crushes while everyone is in imminent danger of death by aliens? I just don’t understand it.
Thank you Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I will say that the story lacks originality. It was described as Alien meets Titanic and that’s exactly what it is with nothing more to add to the genre. I understand that some elements of the story are meant to be a sort of homage to the Alien franchise (like a character named Dr. Ripley for example) but this was much too similar. The aliens are almost exactly the same, down to their human incubation period complete with chest bursting. They only look a little different and “possess” the host for a brief period. And the story line itself is in no way new or creative. In fact it even falls short on content by hyping up certain elements of the aliens like their queen and then ends before we even encounter her.
Also why are we focusing on teenage crushes while everyone is in imminent danger of death by aliens? I just don’t understand it.
Thank you Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston falls short of the high expectations set by her previous works, earning a middling 3 stars. While the premise promised an exciting interstellar adventure, the execution lacked the depth needed to truly bring the story to life. The world-building felt sparse and underdeveloped, leaving too many questions unanswered and failing to immerse the reader in the universe. Similarly, the characters lacked the complexity and growth necessary to make them compelling, their motivations and relationships feeling superficial. The overall tone came across as overly simplistic and juvenile, a departure from the nuanced storytelling Johnston is known for. While the book had moments of promise, it ultimately didn’t deliver on its potential.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram
October 28, 2025
This book is Titanic in the first half and Alien in the second—- and I loved every minute of it. It’s a fast paced read but I loved the character build up in the first half— especially as it touched on the socioeconomic status of everyone (relevant to the story) on board. It very much was Titanic but make it space. Except Dominic isn’t a villain like Rose was (that’s a discussion for later).
The aliens were so fascinating to me. We got the gore of a sci-fi thriller, but I’m intrigued to see where the plot goes with the sequel given the ending. I would also be completely content with that ending as it’s SUCH a good horror ending.
Thank you Topplingbookstacks for the copy for review!
The aliens were so fascinating to me. We got the gore of a sci-fi thriller, but I’m intrigued to see where the plot goes with the sequel given the ending. I would also be completely content with that ending as it’s SUCH a good horror ending.
Thank you Topplingbookstacks for the copy for review!
June 11, 2025
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher/author. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Titanic meets Aliens? Yes, please! The ultimate horror story for me is a science fiction tale that takes place on a space ship. I don't know why this particular micro-trope is my jam but when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to partake of this book.
I really enjoyed E.K. Johnston's writing style. I was immediately drawn into her narrative. It was so smooth and easy to read. This was my first book by this author and I was very impressed with how her writing won me over and felt like such a perfect fit for me. I love the entire concept and premise of this story. I adore science fiction horror and this entire plot was like the sweetest candy that I was eating up. The execution of the plot was a mixed bag for me simply because this book felt way too short. The sequence of events happens so quickly that there isn't much buildup. The plot itself was crafted very well but I feel like there should have been more time for the characters to get to know each other before chaos ensued. The world-building had a combination of showing and telling. There were things about this world that were spelled out to the reader and other things we learn from seeing through the eyes of the characters.
I found these characters very relatable. I was able to step into their shoes easily. Their personalities were brought to life quite well. I would have loved a bit more build-up and a bit more time to get to know them better but overall I was pleased with the characters.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD! The romance in this book is mild. It felt more like the catching of feelings or a crush as opposed to a full-blown romance. I think that the main characters complimented each other well and made a great match. The "romance" felt a bit too instalovey for my taste, if I am being honest. I don't prefer instalove and I normally avoid it at all costs because I can never find an instalove romance believable. This "romance" had that vibe because the events take place over an extremely short period of time and I need more time for the characters to get to know each other and interact for me to be convinced of the romance. I could feel the beginnings of a pull between them but I think calling it a romance is a stretch.
Overall, this was a satisfying story with relatable characters and a riveting plot but could use some lengthening to strengthen some aspects of the story. I was able to predict the plot twist at the end of the book but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. The ending sort of leaves off on a cliffhanger which surprised me since this book is marketed as a standalone to the best of my knowledge. I honestly don't know how the author could leave things how she did without a follow-up. Even without a future sequel, the story had an interesting ending that leaves things up to interpretation. So bravo to E.K. Johnston for making me worry my little head over that ending. If you enjoy books set on a spaceship with some horror elements then this book will fit the bill. If the author does potentially decide to continue this story I will definitely pick it up and I look forward to trying more books from this author.
BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM GOODREADS STORYGRAPH TIKTOK TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON BOOKSIRENS PINTEREST KO-FI
My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.
Titanic meets Aliens? Yes, please! The ultimate horror story for me is a science fiction tale that takes place on a space ship. I don't know why this particular micro-trope is my jam but when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to partake of this book.
I really enjoyed E.K. Johnston's writing style. I was immediately drawn into her narrative. It was so smooth and easy to read. This was my first book by this author and I was very impressed with how her writing won me over and felt like such a perfect fit for me. I love the entire concept and premise of this story. I adore science fiction horror and this entire plot was like the sweetest candy that I was eating up. The execution of the plot was a mixed bag for me simply because this book felt way too short. The sequence of events happens so quickly that there isn't much buildup. The plot itself was crafted very well but I feel like there should have been more time for the characters to get to know each other before chaos ensued. The world-building had a combination of showing and telling. There were things about this world that were spelled out to the reader and other things we learn from seeing through the eyes of the characters.
I found these characters very relatable. I was able to step into their shoes easily. Their personalities were brought to life quite well. I would have loved a bit more build-up and a bit more time to get to know them better but overall I was pleased with the characters.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD! The romance in this book is mild. It felt more like the catching of feelings or a crush as opposed to a full-blown romance. I think that the main characters complimented each other well and made a great match. The "romance" felt a bit too instalovey for my taste, if I am being honest. I don't prefer instalove and I normally avoid it at all costs because I can never find an instalove romance believable. This "romance" had that vibe because the events take place over an extremely short period of time and I need more time for the characters to get to know each other and interact for me to be convinced of the romance. I could feel the beginnings of a pull between them but I think calling it a romance is a stretch.
Overall, this was a satisfying story with relatable characters and a riveting plot but could use some lengthening to strengthen some aspects of the story. I was able to predict the plot twist at the end of the book but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. The ending sort of leaves off on a cliffhanger which surprised me since this book is marketed as a standalone to the best of my knowledge. I honestly don't know how the author could leave things how she did without a follow-up. Even without a future sequel, the story had an interesting ending that leaves things up to interpretation. So bravo to E.K. Johnston for making me worry my little head over that ending. If you enjoy books set on a spaceship with some horror elements then this book will fit the bill. If the author does potentially decide to continue this story I will definitely pick it up and I look forward to trying more books from this author.
BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM GOODREADS STORYGRAPH TIKTOK TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON BOOKSIRENS PINTEREST KO-FI
My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.
December 22, 2024
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Tundra Book Group
E.K. Johnston can write a thriller.
There were tingles down my spine from the prologue alone, where I didn't know the character's names, I didn't know about their relationships or deepest desires, all I knew was that they were trapped on a spaceship and something was hunting them down. The creepiness factor was cranked all the way up and handled with precision through the whole book. I don't want to spoil all of the masterful elements, because that would be besides the point, but I'm amazed at how Johnston used so few words to cause so much fear.
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Johnston's work and that I completely disregarded my carefully planned ARC reading list to catapult Titan of the Stars straight to the top. I've been following this project since it was a secret book called "Space Bees". The reasons I love Johnston's work are still present in Titan of the Stars; I love how she's continuing to hone her craft and develop more and more precision in her world building. Aetherbound also takes place in a spaceship and I really enjoyed watching how Johnston had refined the space ship, the logistics, and the journey even further than her masterful exploration of logistics in Aetherbound. Johnston isn't an engineer, and most author's aren't, but the details and research she put in meant that I never got thrown out of Titan of the Stars because of the fundamental laws of physics being broken or emergency planning and logistics being a literal nightmare. It's these little details that allow myself to completely immerse myself in Celeste and Dominic's world.
I loved the stark contrast between Celeste and Dominic, but also the fundamental similarities. Part of Johnston's incredible attention to detail is that she thought long and hard about why humans would be going to Mars. Although the Catholic Church might consider the Moon (and Mars) as part of Florida, corporations consider it no-man's land. No laws, no labour rights, no government, no oversight, just every corporation's dream to exploit the workers and the land for maximum profit. It gives Celeste, an orphan, and Dominic, an adopted orphan in to a powerful family, two very different reasons to be going to Mars. No one does an examination of class privilege, the impact of wealth, and the power of normal human beings like Johnston.
There was something about Dominic's point-of-view that really resonated with me. I'd assume I'd love Celeste - the engineer, the underdog, the go-getter. I don't know if it's the Christmas season and the various inevitabilities that are facing me down, but Dominic's hopelessness, even though on paper he has all the power and has "won the lottery", struck home. The moral of Johnston's books is never to sympathize with the rich who can and should be doing better, but being in Dominic's head as all of the choices were being made around him and he was screaming inside to stop and think about people that could have been him touched my soul.
This wasn't the kind of ARC where I could highlight quotes, so I can't leave you with some of my favourite lines of the book here. What I can do is acknowledge that dropping all of Sudbury to Montréal in a giant seismic rift has made me so happy. Unfortunately, Johnston didn't pull a The Calculating Stars and do it while parliament was in session.
E.K. Johnston can write a thriller.
There were tingles down my spine from the prologue alone, where I didn't know the character's names, I didn't know about their relationships or deepest desires, all I knew was that they were trapped on a spaceship and something was hunting them down. The creepiness factor was cranked all the way up and handled with precision through the whole book. I don't want to spoil all of the masterful elements, because that would be besides the point, but I'm amazed at how Johnston used so few words to cause so much fear.
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Johnston's work and that I completely disregarded my carefully planned ARC reading list to catapult Titan of the Stars straight to the top. I've been following this project since it was a secret book called "Space Bees". The reasons I love Johnston's work are still present in Titan of the Stars; I love how she's continuing to hone her craft and develop more and more precision in her world building. Aetherbound also takes place in a spaceship and I really enjoyed watching how Johnston had refined the space ship, the logistics, and the journey even further than her masterful exploration of logistics in Aetherbound. Johnston isn't an engineer, and most author's aren't, but the details and research she put in meant that I never got thrown out of Titan of the Stars because of the fundamental laws of physics being broken or emergency planning and logistics being a literal nightmare. It's these little details that allow myself to completely immerse myself in Celeste and Dominic's world.
I loved the stark contrast between Celeste and Dominic, but also the fundamental similarities. Part of Johnston's incredible attention to detail is that she thought long and hard about why humans would be going to Mars. Although the Catholic Church might consider the Moon (and Mars) as part of Florida, corporations consider it no-man's land. No laws, no labour rights, no government, no oversight, just every corporation's dream to exploit the workers and the land for maximum profit. It gives Celeste, an orphan, and Dominic, an adopted orphan in to a powerful family, two very different reasons to be going to Mars. No one does an examination of class privilege, the impact of wealth, and the power of normal human beings like Johnston.
There was something about Dominic's point-of-view that really resonated with me. I'd assume I'd love Celeste - the engineer, the underdog, the go-getter. I don't know if it's the Christmas season and the various inevitabilities that are facing me down, but Dominic's hopelessness, even though on paper he has all the power and has "won the lottery", struck home. The moral of Johnston's books is never to sympathize with the rich who can and should be doing better, but being in Dominic's head as all of the choices were being made around him and he was screaming inside to stop and think about people that could have been him touched my soul.
This wasn't the kind of ARC where I could highlight quotes, so I can't leave you with some of my favourite lines of the book here. What I can do is acknowledge that dropping all of Sudbury to Montréal in a giant seismic rift has made me so happy. Unfortunately, Johnston didn't pull a The Calculating Stars and do it while parliament was in session.
May 24, 2025
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
My favorite read of 2025 to date! Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston is a blend of sci-fi and horror set aboard a spaceship traveling to Mars. Celeste Sparrow is an engineer on Titan, a first-of-its-kind spaceship that will make the trip from Earth to Mars in one week. She’s proud of her work and cautiously optimistic about the life she’s been promised. Dominic is the son of one of the co-creators of Titan. He has high hopes for Mars, hopes to get out from underneath his parents’ thumb, hopes to live a life that is his own. But there is something on the ship with them, something put there intentionally, something none of them could predict.
I really, really liked everything about this book. Celeste is a Rupt kid, one of a few that survived a devastating earthquake that left thousands dead. She’s worked her whole life to not be indentured to the government. To work on Titan is a dream come true. She can leave Earth behind and start fresh on Mars. She can work on the ship, coming back and forth, and save money while doing it. The possibilities are endless. Her goals are simple. She wants to live her life freely and away from the eyes of the public, who will always view her as one of the lucky few.
Dominic is also a Rupt kid, but he was luckier than most as he was adopted a few weeks after the disaster. He has no ties to his home, no memories of what happened, but an intense curiosity to know. While his life has been more comfortable than most, he lives in the shadow of his parents’ respective careers. His mom, who works in government, has used his backstory as leverage for her campaigns for years, making him speak at conventions and fundraisers. His dad is just disappointed that Dominic doesn’t want anything to do with the family business, instead opting to be an artist. I like Dominic. He’s kind, a bit naive, and noble when he wants to be.
The entire book takes place aboard the Titan. It starts with passengers boarding, and the excitement and thrills begin soon after. Dominic’s father has been working on a secret project for the ship. On their first night of the voyage, the passengers and a select few of the crew (Celeste and her friends included) witness the project’s unveiling: a museum of aliens. Dr. Ripley, an ethnobiologist, uncovered them in a bit of melting permafrost, and they’ve been staged here in a museum setting. Most of the passengers are rightly frightened, but what’s the harm? They’ve been frozen for thousands of years, clearly dead, right?
When the blurb described this book as a cross between Titanic and Aliens, I was hesitantly excited. I love sci-fi horror, and I love learning about all things Titanic. This is one of the most accurate descriptions/comparisons I’ve ever seen for a book. Societal differences are explored through Celeste the engineer and Dominic a wealthy passenger. The thrills of a ship going down. AND the horror/mystery that are the aliens brought on board.
Overall, I loved every word of Titan of the Stars. My only complaint is that it was too short. I could have read another hundred pages and been happy. I loved seeing how Celeste and Dominic work together, the horror of the aliens, and all the unknowns. The book does end without needing a sequel, but it is left open should the author want to revisit (and PLEASE do). I highly recommend this one to fans of sci-fi and horror.
My favorite read of 2025 to date! Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston is a blend of sci-fi and horror set aboard a spaceship traveling to Mars. Celeste Sparrow is an engineer on Titan, a first-of-its-kind spaceship that will make the trip from Earth to Mars in one week. She’s proud of her work and cautiously optimistic about the life she’s been promised. Dominic is the son of one of the co-creators of Titan. He has high hopes for Mars, hopes to get out from underneath his parents’ thumb, hopes to live a life that is his own. But there is something on the ship with them, something put there intentionally, something none of them could predict.
I really, really liked everything about this book. Celeste is a Rupt kid, one of a few that survived a devastating earthquake that left thousands dead. She’s worked her whole life to not be indentured to the government. To work on Titan is a dream come true. She can leave Earth behind and start fresh on Mars. She can work on the ship, coming back and forth, and save money while doing it. The possibilities are endless. Her goals are simple. She wants to live her life freely and away from the eyes of the public, who will always view her as one of the lucky few.
Dominic is also a Rupt kid, but he was luckier than most as he was adopted a few weeks after the disaster. He has no ties to his home, no memories of what happened, but an intense curiosity to know. While his life has been more comfortable than most, he lives in the shadow of his parents’ respective careers. His mom, who works in government, has used his backstory as leverage for her campaigns for years, making him speak at conventions and fundraisers. His dad is just disappointed that Dominic doesn’t want anything to do with the family business, instead opting to be an artist. I like Dominic. He’s kind, a bit naive, and noble when he wants to be.
The entire book takes place aboard the Titan. It starts with passengers boarding, and the excitement and thrills begin soon after. Dominic’s father has been working on a secret project for the ship. On their first night of the voyage, the passengers and a select few of the crew (Celeste and her friends included) witness the project’s unveiling: a museum of aliens. Dr. Ripley, an ethnobiologist, uncovered them in a bit of melting permafrost, and they’ve been staged here in a museum setting. Most of the passengers are rightly frightened, but what’s the harm? They’ve been frozen for thousands of years, clearly dead, right?
When the blurb described this book as a cross between Titanic and Aliens, I was hesitantly excited. I love sci-fi horror, and I love learning about all things Titanic. This is one of the most accurate descriptions/comparisons I’ve ever seen for a book. Societal differences are explored through Celeste the engineer and Dominic a wealthy passenger. The thrills of a ship going down. AND the horror/mystery that are the aliens brought on board.
Overall, I loved every word of Titan of the Stars. My only complaint is that it was too short. I could have read another hundred pages and been happy. I loved seeing how Celeste and Dominic work together, the horror of the aliens, and all the unknowns. The book does end without needing a sequel, but it is left open should the author want to revisit (and PLEASE do). I highly recommend this one to fans of sci-fi and horror.
March 22, 2025
First and foremost thank you NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for letting me have early access to Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston.
This YA science fiction horror had me on the edge of my seat. If there's one trope I'm always down to read it is “we are trapped in space alone with aliens and there is no help coming”. The description of the Titan preparing to take its maiden voyage made me want to slip through the pages and explore the ship myself. Preferably without the unthawing aliens brought on the ship to be displayed as the next big scientific breakthrough. Seriously who thought the best idea was to bring aliens to space, let alone back to Mars?
The human settlement on Mars brings new opportunities for both Celeste (A hard working engineer who seeks to better herself without belittling herself or capitalizing on her tragic childhood) and Dominic (The adopted son of a prominent rich family who uses their wealth as a form of control over him). The parallels between these two characters both revolve around money and their shared tragic childhoods. Celeste having no family is self made, working hard to not become a charity case for the wealthy. She relies on herself, and no one else to blaze a way for her future on Mars. Dominic was adopted and is often portrayed in the book as "rescued". His family often reminds him of how fortunate he is and how grateful he should be towards them for giving him a life above all the others. The gratitude his parents wish to see from him often involves Dominic doing exactly what they want him to do, which includes giving up his dreams of art school for a more practical and socially acceptable job. Dominic is constantly belittled for his emotions and talked down to when he defies orders. Dominic is by far the most sympathetic out of his family and a developed empath. He's lonely and searching for a place he feels he belongs.
From a writing mechanics standpoint the dual perspectives alternating between Celeste and Dominic flowed nicely. I never felt bored reading one perspective over the other. The characters of this book were equally lovable as they were despicable (I'm looking at you Adam).
Full disclosure, I read 63% of this book before I DNF’d because the amount of cursing was just too distracting for me. This was disheartening because I was super invested in the plot and I wanted to know what happened to the Titan. I will definitely be looking for spoilers to fill in the gaps of what I know!
Overall, despite reading just 63% of the book, I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because I enjoyed the characters, backstory, descriptions, and pacing of the plot. My only negative comment is the heavy cursing which is a personal reading pet peeve of mine.
I cannot end this review without mentioning what an absolutely stunning front cover this book has!
This YA science fiction horror had me on the edge of my seat. If there's one trope I'm always down to read it is “we are trapped in space alone with aliens and there is no help coming”. The description of the Titan preparing to take its maiden voyage made me want to slip through the pages and explore the ship myself. Preferably without the unthawing aliens brought on the ship to be displayed as the next big scientific breakthrough. Seriously who thought the best idea was to bring aliens to space, let alone back to Mars?
The human settlement on Mars brings new opportunities for both Celeste (A hard working engineer who seeks to better herself without belittling herself or capitalizing on her tragic childhood) and Dominic (The adopted son of a prominent rich family who uses their wealth as a form of control over him). The parallels between these two characters both revolve around money and their shared tragic childhoods. Celeste having no family is self made, working hard to not become a charity case for the wealthy. She relies on herself, and no one else to blaze a way for her future on Mars. Dominic was adopted and is often portrayed in the book as "rescued". His family often reminds him of how fortunate he is and how grateful he should be towards them for giving him a life above all the others. The gratitude his parents wish to see from him often involves Dominic doing exactly what they want him to do, which includes giving up his dreams of art school for a more practical and socially acceptable job. Dominic is constantly belittled for his emotions and talked down to when he defies orders. Dominic is by far the most sympathetic out of his family and a developed empath. He's lonely and searching for a place he feels he belongs.
From a writing mechanics standpoint the dual perspectives alternating between Celeste and Dominic flowed nicely. I never felt bored reading one perspective over the other. The characters of this book were equally lovable as they were despicable (I'm looking at you Adam).
Full disclosure, I read 63% of this book before I DNF’d because the amount of cursing was just too distracting for me. This was disheartening because I was super invested in the plot and I wanted to know what happened to the Titan. I will definitely be looking for spoilers to fill in the gaps of what I know!
Overall, despite reading just 63% of the book, I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because I enjoyed the characters, backstory, descriptions, and pacing of the plot. My only negative comment is the heavy cursing which is a personal reading pet peeve of mine.
I cannot end this review without mentioning what an absolutely stunning front cover this book has!
December 30, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Titan of the Stars by E. K. Johnston is a mixed third and first person multi-POV YA sci-fi horror combining Alien and Titanic. Celeste and Ren are two young engineers on the Titan, a space cruiser heading to Mars, and were chosen for being young survivors of a massive earthquake that ripped through Ottawa, Canada. Dominic is another survivor of the earthquake and was adopted by rich, opportunistic parents who used his circumstances to better their own. When the three meet and are introduced to fossilized aliens, they couldn't have expected what would happen.
A major theme is how the rich tend to not think of others and will use the misfortunes of others to gain the upper hand. Dominic’s mother is a politician who paraded her son around to really boost her career but is also extremely controlling and doesn't support his artistic talents. Dominic's father is even worse and his boyfriend, Adam, cares more about sex than he cares about Dominic. Celeste and Ren reveal parts of their childhood where the rich came in and gave ‘opportunities’, but many of those chances left the people who took them in a worse spot.
The pacing is on the slower end but is what I would expect of a horror novel. Horror needs time to build that atmosphere and to really set the stakes when things start to happen and not a page feels wasted here. The character arcs are fairly tightly written as are the bits and pieces we see with the aliens on display, such as their neon coloring and how many eggs are in the nest. The worldbuilding and atmosphere really worked together and sold that Alien meets Titanic concept.
Celeste and Dominic have a somewhat complicated dynamic because of their shared past but this is also the first time they've ever met. Celeste isn't very interested in getting to know a spoiled rich teen, though Dominic soon proves to be different from Adam. Meanwhile, Dominic is looking for some kind of connection to what happened when he was too young to remember, but he also starts to develop feelings for Celeste that go beyond that. There's mutual trust and respect that isn't made more difficult by misunderstandings because the aliens are enough.
Content warning for depictions of child abuse
I would recommend this to fans of YA horror looking for something more sci-fi and fans of space horror
Titan of the Stars by E. K. Johnston is a mixed third and first person multi-POV YA sci-fi horror combining Alien and Titanic. Celeste and Ren are two young engineers on the Titan, a space cruiser heading to Mars, and were chosen for being young survivors of a massive earthquake that ripped through Ottawa, Canada. Dominic is another survivor of the earthquake and was adopted by rich, opportunistic parents who used his circumstances to better their own. When the three meet and are introduced to fossilized aliens, they couldn't have expected what would happen.
A major theme is how the rich tend to not think of others and will use the misfortunes of others to gain the upper hand. Dominic’s mother is a politician who paraded her son around to really boost her career but is also extremely controlling and doesn't support his artistic talents. Dominic's father is even worse and his boyfriend, Adam, cares more about sex than he cares about Dominic. Celeste and Ren reveal parts of their childhood where the rich came in and gave ‘opportunities’, but many of those chances left the people who took them in a worse spot.
The pacing is on the slower end but is what I would expect of a horror novel. Horror needs time to build that atmosphere and to really set the stakes when things start to happen and not a page feels wasted here. The character arcs are fairly tightly written as are the bits and pieces we see with the aliens on display, such as their neon coloring and how many eggs are in the nest. The worldbuilding and atmosphere really worked together and sold that Alien meets Titanic concept.
Celeste and Dominic have a somewhat complicated dynamic because of their shared past but this is also the first time they've ever met. Celeste isn't very interested in getting to know a spoiled rich teen, though Dominic soon proves to be different from Adam. Meanwhile, Dominic is looking for some kind of connection to what happened when he was too young to remember, but he also starts to develop feelings for Celeste that go beyond that. There's mutual trust and respect that isn't made more difficult by misunderstandings because the aliens are enough.
Content warning for depictions of child abuse
I would recommend this to fans of YA horror looking for something more sci-fi and fans of space horror
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