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Chimera: A SciFi Novella
One spaceship.
Ten humans.
Something is killing them off one by one.
Commander Galina Zaneta and her Enhanced Shifter Squad are finally on well-earned leave. With a government-paid ticket on a small civilian ship, all she has to deal with is the anti-shifter politician determined to get them kicked off.
When the ship suddenly loses air and shifter biomatter is found by the damaged system, Galina and her squad are immediately blamed. Things get worse when one of her shifters is found standing over a dead passenger, claiming something killed him.
As the passengers demand justice, Galina seems to be the only one who cares about finding the truth before anyone else gets hurt. But her body can’t handle any more shifter serum, and what she finds may be more than she can handle.
Can Galina stop whatever is killing them before it kills them all?
This is a standalone novella featuring mystery, action, and a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Alien and Michael Crichton.
Don't miss this gripping story. Grab your copy now!
Ten humans.
Something is killing them off one by one.
Commander Galina Zaneta and her Enhanced Shifter Squad are finally on well-earned leave. With a government-paid ticket on a small civilian ship, all she has to deal with is the anti-shifter politician determined to get them kicked off.
When the ship suddenly loses air and shifter biomatter is found by the damaged system, Galina and her squad are immediately blamed. Things get worse when one of her shifters is found standing over a dead passenger, claiming something killed him.
As the passengers demand justice, Galina seems to be the only one who cares about finding the truth before anyone else gets hurt. But her body can’t handle any more shifter serum, and what she finds may be more than she can handle.
Can Galina stop whatever is killing them before it kills them all?
This is a standalone novella featuring mystery, action, and a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Alien and Michael Crichton.
Don't miss this gripping story. Grab your copy now!
95 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 24, 2024
Boy, do I love a mystery and this one sucked me in from the first chapter! Every chapter left me wanting to know what was going to happen next! I really enjoyed reading this and actually had to pace myself with it as to not read it all in one day! Really a 11/10 read!
October 26, 2024
I received a copy for review and am leaving my thoughts voluntarily.
My rating: 4.6/5 Stars
Chimera by Lena M. Johnson is a novella that packs a punch, showcasing her remarkable ability to create a vivid, immersive world in a short span. Within just a few pages, Johnson presents a fully realized sci-fi landscape where technology, biology, and society blend, creating a setting that’s both imaginative and grounded in plausible science-fiction mechanics.
What struck me most was how deeply I was pulled into the world of Chimera — Johnson’s descriptions of the isolated environment sucked me in right away. There’s a cinematic quality here that reminded me of classics like Alien, and even some nostalgic favorites from my childhood, like Ben 10 and Avatar: The Last Airbender. This might make Chimera feel a touch familiar to fans of sci-fi classics, so if you’re looking for a groundbreaking new premise, you might not find it here. However, the story’s appeal lies less in reinventing the genre and more in the depth and authenticity Johnson brings to her characters.
Every character in Chimera stands out as a distinct, vivid personality — not mere vehicles for the plot but real people with quirks, motivations, and histories. This strong character work keeps the story engaging and made me genuinely invested in their journeys and relationships.
Lena M. Johnson’s Chimera is a beautifully crafted story that feels complete and compelling, even within the novella format. Hats off to Johnson for creating such an absorbing, character-rich sci-fi experience in so few words. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a memorable, immersive read.
My rating: 4.6/5 Stars
Chimera by Lena M. Johnson is a novella that packs a punch, showcasing her remarkable ability to create a vivid, immersive world in a short span. Within just a few pages, Johnson presents a fully realized sci-fi landscape where technology, biology, and society blend, creating a setting that’s both imaginative and grounded in plausible science-fiction mechanics.
What struck me most was how deeply I was pulled into the world of Chimera — Johnson’s descriptions of the isolated environment sucked me in right away. There’s a cinematic quality here that reminded me of classics like Alien, and even some nostalgic favorites from my childhood, like Ben 10 and Avatar: The Last Airbender. This might make Chimera feel a touch familiar to fans of sci-fi classics, so if you’re looking for a groundbreaking new premise, you might not find it here. However, the story’s appeal lies less in reinventing the genre and more in the depth and authenticity Johnson brings to her characters.
Every character in Chimera stands out as a distinct, vivid personality — not mere vehicles for the plot but real people with quirks, motivations, and histories. This strong character work keeps the story engaging and made me genuinely invested in their journeys and relationships.
Lena M. Johnson’s Chimera is a beautifully crafted story that feels complete and compelling, even within the novella format. Hats off to Johnson for creating such an absorbing, character-rich sci-fi experience in so few words. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a memorable, immersive read.
October 23, 2024
This novella had a bit of a rocky start, with some awkward exposition dumps in the beginning. However, it found its stride around the 20% mark, and from there, the action quickly picked up.
One of the highlights for me was the dynamic between Galina and Celadon. Their uneasy trust added a lot of tension, and you could sense the depth of their history and camaraderie. I also found the evolving relationship between Galina and Sandoval compelling, especially how they developed through their differences.
While these relationships kept me engaged, I was a little disappointed by the lack of focus on Galina’s team, beyond Celadon. Characters like Mische, Chloe, and Johan felt somewhat underdeveloped and superfluous (except for Mische’s role in the inciting incident). I didn’t get enough sense of Galina’s leadership through them, which was a missed opportunity.
Overall, I’d love to explore more stories set in this universe, whether through more novellas or full-length novels. There’s so much potential here, especially with the shifters and the political intrigue surrounding them, which I’d love to see expanded on.
One of the highlights for me was the dynamic between Galina and Celadon. Their uneasy trust added a lot of tension, and you could sense the depth of their history and camaraderie. I also found the evolving relationship between Galina and Sandoval compelling, especially how they developed through their differences.
While these relationships kept me engaged, I was a little disappointed by the lack of focus on Galina’s team, beyond Celadon. Characters like Mische, Chloe, and Johan felt somewhat underdeveloped and superfluous (except for Mische’s role in the inciting incident). I didn’t get enough sense of Galina’s leadership through them, which was a missed opportunity.
Overall, I’d love to explore more stories set in this universe, whether through more novellas or full-length novels. There’s so much potential here, especially with the shifters and the political intrigue surrounding them, which I’d love to see expanded on.
July 30, 2025
Chimera by Lena M Johnson is a fast paced SciFi Novella that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat with its blend of locked room mystery style storytelling and deep space setting. The set up is pretty simple, a squad of enhanced soldiers hop a ride on a civilian ship and when things go wrong and one of the civilian crew is killed the rest of the passengers are quick to blame the shifters, but it soon becomes clear that no one on board is safe, and if they are to have any hope of survival the Shifter Squad and civilians will have to work together, something that will prove challenging for both groups.
The premise of enhanced humans who can shift to take on various animal qualities with a simple, if painful, injection was really interesting and it allowed the author to bring so much action and drama to the fight sequences while also posing some interesting questions about what makes us human. I also appreciated that the author was able to create a pretty detailed world in such a short piece of fiction, without over loading or info dumping, something that is not easy to do. The world and the story feels complete and I would definitely be keen to read more from this author.
The premise of enhanced humans who can shift to take on various animal qualities with a simple, if painful, injection was really interesting and it allowed the author to bring so much action and drama to the fight sequences while also posing some interesting questions about what makes us human. I also appreciated that the author was able to create a pretty detailed world in such a short piece of fiction, without over loading or info dumping, something that is not easy to do. The world and the story feels complete and I would definitely be keen to read more from this author.
March 1, 2025
I'm increasingly enjoying the artform that is the novelette, a fully fleshed out plot arc and character arc that's at a length on the shortest end of the novella spectrum. This was one of those, and I inhaled it in just 90 minutes. Kinda like the experience of sitting down to a feature-length movie.
CHIMERA is a fun & focused foray into space opera with soldier characters as its focus. it's not mil-sf per se, but it's 'adjacent.'
Enjoyable scifi tech. Nice immersion in an uncomfortable situation from the get go. Main character is suitably ornery, capable, and likeable. Interesting backstory and broader hitory peppered reveals throughout. Articulate writing. Appropriate consequences for those actions requiring a reaction.
Great read.
My favourite passage:
"Her fingers elongated, the bones melting and reforming. Her eyesight dimmed, and her back legs lengthened. The instant her jaws shrank, she let go. Galina threw herself backwards, crawling and stumbling on newly formed human legs to find safety around the corner. Her lungs gasped for air, the pain of her wounds nearly crushing her into unconsciousness. Forcing her eyes to stay open, she watched for the nightmare to snake around the wall, searching for her dying body."
CHIMERA is a fun & focused foray into space opera with soldier characters as its focus. it's not mil-sf per se, but it's 'adjacent.'
Enjoyable scifi tech. Nice immersion in an uncomfortable situation from the get go. Main character is suitably ornery, capable, and likeable. Interesting backstory and broader hitory peppered reveals throughout. Articulate writing. Appropriate consequences for those actions requiring a reaction.
Great read.
My favourite passage:
"Her fingers elongated, the bones melting and reforming. Her eyesight dimmed, and her back legs lengthened. The instant her jaws shrank, she let go. Galina threw herself backwards, crawling and stumbling on newly formed human legs to find safety around the corner. Her lungs gasped for air, the pain of her wounds nearly crushing her into unconsciousness. Forcing her eyes to stay open, she watched for the nightmare to snake around the wall, searching for her dying body."
October 8, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
An absolute gem! The author skillfully characterized her cast and dramatized her story in this novella. I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish, and I'm already wishing for more stories with these characters. Our Commander Galina is a strong, independent woman in a good way - who actually kicks butt! Typically I don't enjoy stories with TOO much action on the page (I'm a visual person), but this felt just right, and the twists and turns in battle were unexpected enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. For fans of fast-paced action, with a healthy dose of sci-fi sans the extra jargon, and a refreshing take on animal-shifter themes that would make any fan of Animorphs proud. This is a world I would love to explore, even with mystery creatures out to get you in the depth of space.
An absolute gem! The author skillfully characterized her cast and dramatized her story in this novella. I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish, and I'm already wishing for more stories with these characters. Our Commander Galina is a strong, independent woman in a good way - who actually kicks butt! Typically I don't enjoy stories with TOO much action on the page (I'm a visual person), but this felt just right, and the twists and turns in battle were unexpected enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. For fans of fast-paced action, with a healthy dose of sci-fi sans the extra jargon, and a refreshing take on animal-shifter themes that would make any fan of Animorphs proud. This is a world I would love to explore, even with mystery creatures out to get you in the depth of space.
July 24, 2026
Chimera follows a group of shifter soldiers who everybody suspects to be the culprit of some gruesome murders aboard their ship.
First of all, I have to say that I love this format because you have an enclosed space and there’s only so many people that can do it… Unless something gets in from the outside….
There is a very tense atmosphere throughout the story, which fits really well with the setting. The mystery had me guessing until the end.
I also really enjoyed the interactions of the characters. How their personalities came out during the crises and how they all stepped up to help each other even if they had differences. There is so much I love about this story. 10 out of 10. Five stars. Go pick this up right now and read it!
First of all, I have to say that I love this format because you have an enclosed space and there’s only so many people that can do it… Unless something gets in from the outside….
There is a very tense atmosphere throughout the story, which fits really well with the setting. The mystery had me guessing until the end.
I also really enjoyed the interactions of the characters. How their personalities came out during the crises and how they all stepped up to help each other even if they had differences. There is so much I love about this story. 10 out of 10. Five stars. Go pick this up right now and read it!
October 18, 2024
Chimera consists of themes on politics, trust, power, and fortitude. Moreover, the book had scenes on death, exploration, and finding facts that revealed the main character’s hidden full potential and explored the main character’s faith and understanding in oneself and others. I highly recommend this interesting book with great dialogues, unpredictable scenes, and great ending. The story will keep you awake until the last page.
October 30, 2024
- this is sci fi novella
- love the quote "For all the monsters hidden inside of us."
- it was a slow burn and had alot of mixed characters at the beginning
- some of the characters had lot of interesting backstories
- the world building in this book was solid and not going back into the weed past
- I noticed that some of facets have made the characters tick
- but it sure did meet the Spooky season for me and as i really enjoy this story and book so good
- love the quote "For all the monsters hidden inside of us."
- it was a slow burn and had alot of mixed characters at the beginning
- some of the characters had lot of interesting backstories
- the world building in this book was solid and not going back into the weed past
- I noticed that some of facets have made the characters tick
- but it sure did meet the Spooky season for me and as i really enjoy this story and book so good
July 28, 2025
If you like sci-fi horror, you will love this.
An elite military squadron are going on vacation. They are stuck on a shuttle when the passengers are attacked. Only the crazy, or is she brave, Commander thinks she can save them. I can't wait to read more from Lena M. Johnson ( no relation) !
An elite military squadron are going on vacation. They are stuck on a shuttle when the passengers are attacked. Only the crazy, or is she brave, Commander thinks she can save them. I can't wait to read more from Lena M. Johnson ( no relation) !
October 13, 2024
Absolutely loved this book. Only wish it had been even longer so there would be more to read. Definitely looking forward to reading more books from this universe, the author has done a wonderful job in world building and I definitely want to learn more. Definitely worth reading.
October 5, 2024
Upgrading to 5 stars because I just keep thinking about it. There’s only one bit that didn’t float my boat and it’s not enough to dock a star. I think the whole premise is very cool and I want another installment. And I still want to punch a character in the face.
October 17, 2024
I. Could. Not. Stop. Reading!
A quick, action packed and fun read
A quick, action packed and fun read
October 20, 2024
I liked this book, the characters were entertaining and quiet likable. The ending is very cool and makes you want to read more.
October 26, 2024
Commander Galina Zaneta commands a group of military shifters, 4th Enhanced Squad, in transit aboard a ship to another world.. There is distrust between the shifters and others on board. A very gory murder takes place on board Good closed door locked room mystery.
January 26, 2026
***THIS BOOK WAS RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHOR***
It's interesting how the "shifter" genre seems to use the same animals repeatedly. If you're looking for something different, look no further than Lena M. Johnson's Chimera. This novella was originally part of the Forgotten Shifter Files anthology, but now has its own release as a standalone novella. I appreciate how Johnson took the shifter prompt in the sci fi direction, as it feels easier to explain (and more feasible) in that context than in the way shifter stories usually go.
I'll admit that there were a lot of characters presented at the beginning of Chimera that I had trouble keeping track of. I wasn't sure who was going to be the lead character until about a third of the way through, and there were sparse details to let me distinguish between the different individuals. Even with this cast of characters, there were a lot of interesting backstories and lore hinted at in really special ways. For a novella, the world-building was solid and didn't spend too much time getting into the weeds past the important facets that made these characters tick. The themes of racism, war, and regret were expertly woven into the story and grounded it with their details.
Vibe-wise, I thought Chimera felt a lot like Alien (1979), but not in the way you'd think. Sure, there's the element of horror as a mysterious monster slowly kills off passengers one-by-one, but just surviving isn't enough here. It all leads to Chimera's climax, which is when the storytelling is at its absolute best. It's a bit of a slow build at the beginning, but once the action started, I could not put it down. Whether you like shifter stories or sci fi horror vibes, Chimera is a novella you should definitely read.
A unique shifter novella with stupendous world-building and a killer climax, I give Chimera 4.5 stars out of 5.
1/2 
November 14, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this book! There were a bunch of interesting characters to get to know, and I loved how it had me at the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what was going on. I didn't want to put it down!
I loved this book! There were a bunch of interesting characters to get to know, and I loved how it had me at the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what was going on. I didn't want to put it down!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews