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Hell Hare House Short Reads
Shattered
In the vast, unforgiving expanse of space, Kate, now living under the alias Grace, is on a desperate mission—disguised as a Space Corp employee, she’s determined to uncover the truth behind her brother’s mysterious disappearance.
On a routine debris collection mission, her world is shattered when she discovers a clue that could expose Space Corp’s darkest secrets.
Thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Grace must navigate the treacherous void, facing not only the perils of space but also the haunting memories of her past captivity.
With her crewmates’ lives hanging in the balance, she must decide who she can trust as she races against time to unravel the conspiracy threatening to consume her.
A pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller that delves deep into the human spirit, exploring themes of identity, betrayal, and resilience.
The intricate plot and breathtaking depiction of space will captivate you from the first page to the last.
Perfect for fans of intense, character-driven narratives and gripping science fiction, promising a journey that is as emotionally compelling as it is thrilling.
On a routine debris collection mission, her world is shattered when she discovers a clue that could expose Space Corp’s darkest secrets.
Thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Grace must navigate the treacherous void, facing not only the perils of space but also the haunting memories of her past captivity.
With her crewmates’ lives hanging in the balance, she must decide who she can trust as she races against time to unravel the conspiracy threatening to consume her.
A pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller that delves deep into the human spirit, exploring themes of identity, betrayal, and resilience.
The intricate plot and breathtaking depiction of space will captivate you from the first page to the last.
Perfect for fans of intense, character-driven narratives and gripping science fiction, promising a journey that is as emotionally compelling as it is thrilling.
151 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2024
About the author
Pauline Yates
37 books100 followersPauline Yates is an award-winning author of horror and science fiction from Australia, including Aurealis, BookFest, Indies Today, and Australasian Shadows Awards. Her work spans novels, novellas, short fiction, and poetry, often exploring themes of memory, identity, and the uncanny. Visit paulineyates dot com or find her on socials @midnightmuser1.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 12, 2025
Is there anything more terrifying than the vastness of space? Between the lack of air, the radiation, and freezing temperatures, no other environment is more hostile. It would make a great setting for a novel, right? Enter award-winning Australian author, Pauline Yates with her book “SHATTERED.” This is solid, tightly written sci-fi thriller designed to curl your toes, and cure you of space-travel forever. Objective achieved. Tick! The story is immersive, and the characters are realistic. Kudos to Yates for authoring such a rip-snorting novel. It’s a short snappy read and it packs a punch.
August 24, 2025
You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat
Kate, who is living under the alias of Grace, is a crew member of a Space Corp vessel doing routine debris collection. Her goal? Uncover and expose the truth of Space Corp and find out what really happened to her brother. She must navigate the haunting memories and perils of space while her crew mate's lives hang in the balance, all while not being discovered. Things aren't exactly what she thinks, and life will never be the same.
I was super keen for this one because not only is it a shorty, it's a sci fi with horror which I'm so excited about right now. For me, personally, I feel like there's not enough sci-fi horror around which is a travesty. This one was a fantastic addition to the sub-genre and I am here for it. I've already recommended it to a close friend who immediately bought a copy (from my horror bookstore no less).
I loved how Yates was able to imbue so much personality into her cast of characters in a shorter page count, this to me really illustrates Yates' ability in her craft. I was here for Kate's mission, and I was super intrigued to learn more about her backstory and even more intrigued the more we learnt about her brother's disappearance. The supporting characters were fantastic, and I was here for all of them. I felt like they all really complimented each other quite well. I'd honestly be keen for a story about Kate's brother and the incident that happened on the ship that he was on. I feel like there's a lot of stuff that could be explored and it'd be a great addition to the Shattered world.
The story started off with a solid mystery, sci-fi elements that really brought everything I love about a sci fi movie and story, and the way that it slowly shifted into a horror story was masterful. I was honestly glued to the page with this one, I needed to know what was going to happen, and I needed to uncover the truth as much as Kate did. As said above, the story was a riveting one and I feel like there's things here that could be further explored and I'm really hoping that Yates will revisit this world eventually. I need moooorrreee.
All in all, I don't want to go too much into this one because I feel like it's better going in with what the blurb gives, but trust me, it's a page turner, it's sci fi horror done well. This is a solid read and one that I'll be shouting about for ages to come. I highly recommend this one. It was ace.
Kate, who is living under the alias of Grace, is a crew member of a Space Corp vessel doing routine debris collection. Her goal? Uncover and expose the truth of Space Corp and find out what really happened to her brother. She must navigate the haunting memories and perils of space while her crew mate's lives hang in the balance, all while not being discovered. Things aren't exactly what she thinks, and life will never be the same.
I was super keen for this one because not only is it a shorty, it's a sci fi with horror which I'm so excited about right now. For me, personally, I feel like there's not enough sci-fi horror around which is a travesty. This one was a fantastic addition to the sub-genre and I am here for it. I've already recommended it to a close friend who immediately bought a copy (from my horror bookstore no less).
I loved how Yates was able to imbue so much personality into her cast of characters in a shorter page count, this to me really illustrates Yates' ability in her craft. I was here for Kate's mission, and I was super intrigued to learn more about her backstory and even more intrigued the more we learnt about her brother's disappearance. The supporting characters were fantastic, and I was here for all of them. I felt like they all really complimented each other quite well. I'd honestly be keen for a story about Kate's brother and the incident that happened on the ship that he was on. I feel like there's a lot of stuff that could be explored and it'd be a great addition to the Shattered world.
The story started off with a solid mystery, sci-fi elements that really brought everything I love about a sci fi movie and story, and the way that it slowly shifted into a horror story was masterful. I was honestly glued to the page with this one, I needed to know what was going to happen, and I needed to uncover the truth as much as Kate did. As said above, the story was a riveting one and I feel like there's things here that could be further explored and I'm really hoping that Yates will revisit this world eventually. I need moooorrreee.
All in all, I don't want to go too much into this one because I feel like it's better going in with what the blurb gives, but trust me, it's a page turner, it's sci fi horror done well. This is a solid read and one that I'll be shouting about for ages to come. I highly recommend this one. It was ace.
October 25, 2024
I am familiar with this author's work and was keen to read Shattered. I devoured the novella in a couple of sittings. The story is a fast-paced industrial sci-fi mystery which morphs into horror. The protag Kate is unnervingly realistic with her mix of uncertainty and dogged determination, and almost the entire work is set in the claustrophobic surrounds of a near-future debris-mining shuttle. The work has echoes of Alien and Event Horizon but is still its own unique story.
The author Pauline Yates is extremely skilled in balancing hope, desperation and despair in her characters, and plays the rise and fall of tension like a virtuoso. I enjoyed this work immensely, and recommend it thoroughly.
Black Hare Press supplied an e-ARC of this work in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The author Pauline Yates is extremely skilled in balancing hope, desperation and despair in her characters, and plays the rise and fall of tension like a virtuoso. I enjoyed this work immensely, and recommend it thoroughly.
Black Hare Press supplied an e-ARC of this work in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 29, 2025
'Shattered' moved like a bullet, and it won the 2024 Aurealis Award, and was nominated for an Australian Shadows Award.
This novella was my first introduction to the work of Pauline Yates, and she created a believable and terrifying situation. The concept of shattering is true, and if you read the novella you'll know what I'm talking about. The fact Pauline used that term as the title of the book was genius.
What happens when you combine space, mystery, past secrets, and a terrifying situation? A wild ride.
This is great writing, and some of the scenes and images are still fresh in my mind. I'll be checking out more of Pauline's work soon.
This novella was my first introduction to the work of Pauline Yates, and she created a believable and terrifying situation. The concept of shattering is true, and if you read the novella you'll know what I'm talking about. The fact Pauline used that term as the title of the book was genius.
What happens when you combine space, mystery, past secrets, and a terrifying situation? A wild ride.
This is great writing, and some of the scenes and images are still fresh in my mind. I'll be checking out more of Pauline's work soon.
November 29, 2024
A tense space thriller that moves at a rapid pace. After Kate's brother supposedly dies on a mining ship in space, she goes undercover to find out what happened. On board a scavenging ship, the crew picks up something that could prove her theories, but also wipe out humanity. Filled with snappy scenes, interesting characters, horror elements, and an ending that is perfection, this is one for fans of gripping novellas that will keep you entertained.
May 4, 2026
The moment I read the first sentence of this novella, I was all in—even stating that “this is my kind of story!” when taking review notes. With the recent Artemis II mission, I’ve been transfixed with sci-fi, wanting to dip back into reading it since I love it. Of course, injecting it with copious amounts of horror makes it even better, hence my reading of this terror-filled sci-fi novella.
Something mysterious is happening onboard the Space Corp sweeper shuttle. As a reader, I enjoyed all of the layers being peeled back slowly as I learned more and more of the backstory of all of the characters. Not only did it allow me to contemplate what was actually going on, but I felt like I was there in real time discovering what was happening.
This isn’t a jump scare “Boo” type of horror. It’s a story where horrific things have happened/are happening, and you get to experience it through the point of view of several characters. Though it’s in space, there are real-world emotions at hand: loss of control. grief, trauma (invisible & physical), and greed.
Panic, lying, deceit, and hidden agendas are lurking around every corner. I enjoyed trying to suss out which characters I could trust. Yates creates characters with unreliable POVs, making it that much more exciting and mysterious as you rocket toward the end of the book, trying your best to figure out what’s happening. I was kept guessing the entire time, which is a huge plus for me, and I was not disappointed by the ending.
I love a book where, as I’m reading, I get just the right amount of hints and breadcrumbs to lead me down the trail to that satisfying and craved aha moment while still allowing me to think things through and come up with the reason something is occurring rather than having it hit me over the head. I especially loved realizing why the book is called Shattered.
This novella is also a treat for the senses. Alarms blaring, sounds as space debris pounds the vessel, the rumbling of the ship’s vibration chamber, and the smells and screams assaulting the compact shuttle all serve to quicken your pulse as you turn the pages.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite things about this book, and that’s the gore and body horror I hadn’t anticipated. I was giddy as I read those scenes, impressed by the descriptions Yates used to describe what was happening while keeping me engrossed in every gory detail.
Shattered is a fantastic and suspenseful read loaded with mystery, body horror, fear, isolation, and deceit at every turn. If you enjoy sci-fi and the above, grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed.
***For the full spoiler-free review: https://www.robinknabel.com/review-bl...
Something mysterious is happening onboard the Space Corp sweeper shuttle. As a reader, I enjoyed all of the layers being peeled back slowly as I learned more and more of the backstory of all of the characters. Not only did it allow me to contemplate what was actually going on, but I felt like I was there in real time discovering what was happening.
This isn’t a jump scare “Boo” type of horror. It’s a story where horrific things have happened/are happening, and you get to experience it through the point of view of several characters. Though it’s in space, there are real-world emotions at hand: loss of control. grief, trauma (invisible & physical), and greed.
Panic, lying, deceit, and hidden agendas are lurking around every corner. I enjoyed trying to suss out which characters I could trust. Yates creates characters with unreliable POVs, making it that much more exciting and mysterious as you rocket toward the end of the book, trying your best to figure out what’s happening. I was kept guessing the entire time, which is a huge plus for me, and I was not disappointed by the ending.
I love a book where, as I’m reading, I get just the right amount of hints and breadcrumbs to lead me down the trail to that satisfying and craved aha moment while still allowing me to think things through and come up with the reason something is occurring rather than having it hit me over the head. I especially loved realizing why the book is called Shattered.
This novella is also a treat for the senses. Alarms blaring, sounds as space debris pounds the vessel, the rumbling of the ship’s vibration chamber, and the smells and screams assaulting the compact shuttle all serve to quicken your pulse as you turn the pages.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite things about this book, and that’s the gore and body horror I hadn’t anticipated. I was giddy as I read those scenes, impressed by the descriptions Yates used to describe what was happening while keeping me engrossed in every gory detail.
Shattered is a fantastic and suspenseful read loaded with mystery, body horror, fear, isolation, and deceit at every turn. If you enjoy sci-fi and the above, grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed.
***For the full spoiler-free review: https://www.robinknabel.com/review-bl...
January 13, 2025
Okay, I'll start with the fact that I should not have read this on an airplane. I was extremely conscious of being enclosed in a small tin can flying through the air with no safe way to get out. (Yes, I know airplanes are a little more technical than a "tin can" but while reading a novella like this one that was all I could think about.) That being said, it might also be the best place to read something like Shattered, especially if you love creepy science fiction and horror. Though, I now have a number of new nightmares to wake me from in the middle of the night. And perhaps don't read this one if you have arachnophobia. Being an Australian... this one pressed all the "fear" buttons for me. BUT what a brilliant story. I couldn't put it down. It's a short read that flies along at a ripping pace. All the best bits of Sci-fi are here - including traveling through space on a spaceship that is falling apart while surrounded by people you cannot trust despite knowing you already have justifiable trust issues. It's like a horror version of Star Trek mashed with the grit and despair of Star Wars and the fear from the Alien franchise. Throw in an unstoppable invasion of deadly critters, body horror, hidden agendas, secret identities, this one is a MUST READ for sci fi fans who love a scare. Pauline Yates once again knocks it out of the park. Weeks later I am still thinking about it.
May 23, 2025
Shattered 5 STARS!!!
This is sitting on the edge of your seat, holding your breath kind of reading. Loved the story, and I am not a sci-fi person, but the concept of not knowing what happened to your brother and finding a space suit floating in a mining area, risking everything to retrieve the astronaut. Will they be frozen and shattered to be taken back to Earth? What they find is totally unexpected and unbelievable. And just when you think you are safe…..
Excellent read!
This is sitting on the edge of your seat, holding your breath kind of reading. Loved the story, and I am not a sci-fi person, but the concept of not knowing what happened to your brother and finding a space suit floating in a mining area, risking everything to retrieve the astronaut. Will they be frozen and shattered to be taken back to Earth? What they find is totally unexpected and unbelievable. And just when you think you are safe…..
Excellent read!
December 17, 2024
Shattered by Pauline Yates is a short read that packs a punch. Kate, masquerading as Space Corp employee, Grace, is on a mission to find her brother. Did he suffer an accidental death, or is his disappearance part of a coverup for misdeeds by Space Corp?
Yates’s visceral prose takes us deep into Kate’s world and left me wanting more.
Yates’s visceral prose takes us deep into Kate’s world and left me wanting more.
December 26, 2024
Shattered is a really great read. Pauline builds tension exquisitely, then let's the reader down softly only to blind side them with their guard down. This novella delivers a delightful shot of horror that will leave the reader exhilaratingly disturbed. Loved it!
Did Not Finish
April 26, 2026Gave it away.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews