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Pax Galactica #3
Alien Haunts
Alien ruins — avoid or explore?
Madison Cardinal knows some mysteries are best left buried—like her past. But there’s a new multi-species exploration team in town and their proposed expedition is stirring up trouble.
If Madison’s new business as a human pilot in hantu space is to survive, she needs the exploration team to get in, get out, and leave her cargo route intact.
So, she agrees to drop them off.
But when it’s time to collect them, comms are down, the people are missing, and the ruins are…waking up.
***
Alien Haunts is a stand-alone novel in the Pax Galactica series. It’s a character-driven space opera with a twisty plot and a guaranteed happy ever after. Alien Haunts is a novel about finding your place in the universe.
Madison Cardinal knows some mysteries are best left buried—like her past. But there’s a new multi-species exploration team in town and their proposed expedition is stirring up trouble.
If Madison’s new business as a human pilot in hantu space is to survive, she needs the exploration team to get in, get out, and leave her cargo route intact.
So, she agrees to drop them off.
But when it’s time to collect them, comms are down, the people are missing, and the ruins are…waking up.
***
Alien Haunts is a stand-alone novel in the Pax Galactica series. It’s a character-driven space opera with a twisty plot and a guaranteed happy ever after. Alien Haunts is a novel about finding your place in the universe.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2024
195 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books565 followersAustralian science fiction and fantasy author.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 4, 2025
Entertaining space opera listening ✨🎉
This kindle ebook novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book three of three a new release hopefully more to come.
She is a spacecraft owner where only licensed pilots can be hired. What a great story about relationships, making friends, and living with the natives. 🙃😉
I would recommend this series and author to readers of space opera adventures family and friends relationships novels 🤔😯 2025 😊😏
This kindle ebook novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book three of three a new release hopefully more to come.
She is a spacecraft owner where only licensed pilots can be hired. What a great story about relationships, making friends, and living with the natives. 🙃😉
I would recommend this series and author to readers of space opera adventures family and friends relationships novels 🤔😯 2025 😊😏
October 16, 2024
Romance:
December 30, 2024
Fascinatingly complex SF-adventure novel with a lovely romance subplot
The central core of this story is the marvelous FMC, 33-year-old Madison, a highly skilled pilot who owns her own spaceship. She is an extremely ethical protagonist, and I admired her very much. Her love interest, a retired military officer, Ziel, who is also 33 years old, is an excellent match for her, both in terms of life experience and the fact that he is as honorable as she is. Though they make an HEA commitment to each other by the end of the novel, due to plausible issues of obtaining privacy on a crowded spaceship, there is no sexual activity between them beyond a few kisses.
I must admit that I had difficulty at times following the nuances of the philosophical ideas discussed by the main characters throughout this novel, but those conversations were pertinent to the resolution of the main plot, and they never bored me.
I am in awe at the author's ability to write such a complex, interplanetary, SF universe throughout this trilogy, which offers multiple, distinct, alien cultures interacting with each other.
The author states clearly in a note at the end of this novel that she considers this book to be the end of this series. It offers a satisfying resolution to this particular story, and ties in and resolves some significant issues brought up tangentially in the first two novels. However, should the author ever wish to return to this universe, there are clearly many more stories that could be told.
I own the audiobook version of the first two books in this trilogy, and I assume that, at some point in the future, an audiobook will be released for this novel as well.
The central core of this story is the marvelous FMC, 33-year-old Madison, a highly skilled pilot who owns her own spaceship. She is an extremely ethical protagonist, and I admired her very much. Her love interest, a retired military officer, Ziel, who is also 33 years old, is an excellent match for her, both in terms of life experience and the fact that he is as honorable as she is. Though they make an HEA commitment to each other by the end of the novel, due to plausible issues of obtaining privacy on a crowded spaceship, there is no sexual activity between them beyond a few kisses.
I must admit that I had difficulty at times following the nuances of the philosophical ideas discussed by the main characters throughout this novel, but those conversations were pertinent to the resolution of the main plot, and they never bored me.
I am in awe at the author's ability to write such a complex, interplanetary, SF universe throughout this trilogy, which offers multiple, distinct, alien cultures interacting with each other.
The author states clearly in a note at the end of this novel that she considers this book to be the end of this series. It offers a satisfying resolution to this particular story, and ties in and resolves some significant issues brought up tangentially in the first two novels. However, should the author ever wish to return to this universe, there are clearly many more stories that could be told.
I own the audiobook version of the first two books in this trilogy, and I assume that, at some point in the future, an audiobook will be released for this novel as well.
April 7, 2025
Madison Cardinal left the PGC after her contract was up because she was unable to save a passenger ship from pirates. She was flying a counselor on a mission to prevent a war and though she and the counselor were willing to sacrifice their lives to save the 2000 on the ship they had to stop the war. Because the hantu counselor and herself were on the same page he bought a spaceship for her that she would buy from him. Being human she could fly through hantu ruin space that hantus could not fly in. The hantu only allowed her and no others. A multi-specie expedition, with a former human pax ranger, hires her to take them to the ruin 'planet'. She drops them off and continues to make her delivery. Returning to pick them up mystery ensues.
October 11, 2024
love it
I desperately want to add spoilers here to show how and why I love this book so much.
The discussions between the characters were eye opening to say the least and made me consider my own stance on families and boundaries, as well as providing considerable food for thought in respect to future conversations.
The story provides some incredible insights into what amazing things can be achieved when unconditional acceptance is the primary rationale for interacting with others
Thanks for the great read!
I desperately want to add spoilers here to show how and why I love this book so much.
The discussions between the characters were eye opening to say the least and made me consider my own stance on families and boundaries, as well as providing considerable food for thought in respect to future conversations.
The story provides some incredible insights into what amazing things can be achieved when unconditional acceptance is the primary rationale for interacting with others
Thanks for the great read!
October 15, 2024
Alien Haunts by Jenny Schwartz
Good science fiction novels should make you think. And even better ones should stay with you. Jenny Schwartz has this ability and it is evident in her newest novel Alien Haunts. The concept of a sapient planet is not new but she has been able to give its genesis a new twist. Her use of different alien species to explore humanity works well and her two main human characters are suitably introspective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it however I would suggest that it should be read slowly to appreciate the depth of discussion.
Good science fiction novels should make you think. And even better ones should stay with you. Jenny Schwartz has this ability and it is evident in her newest novel Alien Haunts. The concept of a sapient planet is not new but she has been able to give its genesis a new twist. Her use of different alien species to explore humanity works well and her two main human characters are suitably introspective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it however I would suggest that it should be read slowly to appreciate the depth of discussion.
March 17, 2025
Alien Haunts, book three of the Pax Galactica series, is an ebook I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). This series can be read in any order as they focus on a separate set of characters in each book. I enjoyed the first book of this series, and decided to try another PAX book. Unusual story line, which is to be expected by this writer. I enjoyed how much Madison was a part of the alien, Haunt, culture and how well she was respected and fit in with them. One of my favorite stories by Schwartz.
March 18, 2025
Life gets redefined but love never changes
As the token human on a Hantu planet, pilot Madison has built a new life away from Earth and family. When Ziel, a human military retiree approaches her with plans for a mission to a dead planet, she finds herself embroiled in a growing personal connection, and scientific, diplomatic, and historic events that alter the known universe. Jenny Schwartz’s engrossing tale pits the best qualities of sentient beings against their worst fears, and allows the impact of love to tip the balance.
As the token human on a Hantu planet, pilot Madison has built a new life away from Earth and family. When Ziel, a human military retiree approaches her with plans for a mission to a dead planet, she finds herself embroiled in a growing personal connection, and scientific, diplomatic, and historic events that alter the known universe. Jenny Schwartz’s engrossing tale pits the best qualities of sentient beings against their worst fears, and allows the impact of love to tip the balance.
October 13, 2024
Fantastic sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is fascinating, but the best part of Haunts is the lack of current time doom and destruction. Some minor character-specific bad things happen, but the overall tone of the book is hope and found family. The romance is believable. Madison and Ziel are loveable characters, and Madison is a great narrator. Alien Haunts is a heartwarming sci fi adventure filled with surprises.
The worldbuilding is fascinating, but the best part of Haunts is the lack of current time doom and destruction. Some minor character-specific bad things happen, but the overall tone of the book is hope and found family. The romance is believable. Madison and Ziel are loveable characters, and Madison is a great narrator. Alien Haunts is a heartwarming sci fi adventure filled with surprises.
July 5, 2025
I enjoyed this one the most in the series. Each book is a stand-alone story but set in the same universe/time frame. I especially enjoyed the complexity of the plan behind this story. The fmc, Madison, was great. Like the other books, there was a bit of insta-love, however it was extremely low key and felt more realistic and less rushed. I have read a number of books by this author and have enjoyed their creativity and strong lead characters.
January 16, 2025
satisfying and surprisingly cozy
A really satisfying meditation on what it means to be true to yourself, what you owe others, and how found families are created while navigating both of these tensions. This is one where the mysteries — and there are two — help drive the story forward, but they are not the focus of the story, and that’s worth keeping in mind.
A really satisfying meditation on what it means to be true to yourself, what you owe others, and how found families are created while navigating both of these tensions. This is one where the mysteries — and there are two — help drive the story forward, but they are not the focus of the story, and that’s worth keeping in mind.
March 29, 2025
complicated but fascinating
What sets Jenny Schwartz‘s books apart is her interesting galactic view of how we can all live together. If you ask me, her books are a great lead in to us being able to make our own entrance into the real world galactic community. A very enjoyable read.
What sets Jenny Schwartz‘s books apart is her interesting galactic view of how we can all live together. If you ask me, her books are a great lead in to us being able to make our own entrance into the real world galactic community. A very enjoyable read.
April 7, 2025
More than a pilot
Madison Cardinal almost the only human living in Hantu territory left the PGC becoming an independent pilot with the help of a crisis counselor because they experienced the trauma of not being able to save a passenger ship. Another human, part of a multi-species expedition, gets her to fly them to ruins. Another individual is found.
Madison Cardinal almost the only human living in Hantu territory left the PGC becoming an independent pilot with the help of a crisis counselor because they experienced the trauma of not being able to save a passenger ship. Another human, part of a multi-species expedition, gets her to fly them to ruins. Another individual is found.
October 14, 2024
Yeah, this book kept me on my toes
I really enjoyed this book.
Space, friendship, kindness, love all combination were an awesome experience.
This could and perhaps have occurred
Thank you
Rose
I really enjoyed this book.
Space, friendship, kindness, love all combination were an awesome experience.
This could and perhaps have occurred
Thank you
Rose
October 19, 2024
This is an excellent story and...
One of the most complicated examinations of what is "the good" and why we should pursue it. All wrapped up in the love and joy of the Author.
Which keeps me coming back to read and re-read her stories.
Please enjoy.
One of the most complicated examinations of what is "the good" and why we should pursue it. All wrapped up in the love and joy of the Author.
Which keeps me coming back to read and re-read her stories.
Please enjoy.
October 23, 2024
Jenny Shwartz never dissapoints
Good read for any age. Entertaining and a bit challenging on the sciee part, the character building was great, and the plot held interesting challenges and twists.
Good read for any age. Entertaining and a bit challenging on the sciee part, the character building was great, and the plot held interesting challenges and twists.
December 21, 2024
best I have read in years!
Wonderful, great characters and really enticing. Intellectually fun, not boring in the least. Well crafted and a joy to read. Be prepared to read instead of sleep!
Wonderful, great characters and really enticing. Intellectually fun, not boring in the least. Well crafted and a joy to read. Be prepared to read instead of sleep!
January 18, 2025
Unexpected
This book was an up close and personal experience of being surrounded by a variety of very different alien creatures who weirdly have a lot of the same issues as humans. Enjoyable
This book was an up close and personal experience of being surrounded by a variety of very different alien creatures who weirdly have a lot of the same issues as humans. Enjoyable
Read
February 4, 2025Enjoyed. Not my favorite of hers, but I did enjoy it. Most everything I've read from this author I've enjoyed (except one short story - "Lost" - that inspired a very rant-y review, but whatever, can't please everybody all the time).
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.
October 21, 2024
Riveting read.
The world building is fantastic, the characters are well developed and truly engaging. The best of the series (so far?)
The world building is fantastic, the characters are well developed and truly engaging. The best of the series (so far?)
October 27, 2024
Brilliant
I love this author. She weaves complex stories with twists and sweet romance. Throw some quantum mechanics in the mix too. Highly recommended.
I love this author. She weaves complex stories with twists and sweet romance. Throw some quantum mechanics in the mix too. Highly recommended.
November 21, 2024
3.75 stars.
November 23, 2024
Author is always good
February 10, 2025
Fun series especially if you love the esoteric
Sometimes the prose bogs down the story but overall the characters are great plus this book has alot more action in it than the others in the series.
Sometimes the prose bogs down the story but overall the characters are great plus this book has alot more action in it than the others in the series.
March 5, 2025
Good book especially Madison's scenes with her haunt friends & 'new family'. Also liked when truths are revealed.
November 15, 2025
this one was very hard to read: the story felt artificial
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews