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Typhon's Legacy
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
2 days and 14:32:43
100 copies available
U.S. only
“Typhon’s Legacy is a gripping debut that blends hard science with the urgency of a survival thriller … it’s a standout for readers who like their sci-fi equal parts brainy and breathless.”
Sarah Jensen, goodreads member.
It is two hundred years into the future, and Earth is on the verge of collapse. Humanity is fleeing into the solar system, bringing with it the age-old vices of corruption, ambition, and greed.
Jamie Borgia and her husband, Dan Hamilton, are chasing a dream: exploration and scientific discovery aboard their research vessel, the Mariner III. But when debt threatens to destroy everything they’ve built, they accept a last-minute commission from Silas, a powerful interplanetary corporation, to survey Mercury’s frozen North Pole for precious metals.
While on Mercury, Jamie and her team discover something both extraordinary and terrifying - a miracle of biology.
Something alive.
And it changes everything.
As Jamie and Dan realize Silas’s true motives, they’re drawn into a nightmare that spans the solar system - from the moons of Saturn to the fierce outlaw colonies of the Kuiper Belt. Hunted, betrayed, they must confront the horrifying consequences of their own discovery: a biological entity powerful enough to reshape humanity.
Now, trapped on a frozen, bleak planet at the edge of the solar system, Jamie must decide how far she is willing to go to save the people she loves, and the human species she may have doomed.
If you’re a fan of The Expanse Series by James S A Corey, the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold and Alien, this might be the book you’ve been waiting for.
- GenresScience Fiction
539 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
8 people are currently reading
1671 people want to read
About the author
Terry Young
1 book11 followersTerry Young is a writer and teacher who lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia with her husband and two daughters. She graduated from the University of Victoria with degrees in English and History.
When she is not reading or writing space themed science fiction, Terry enjoys hosting large family dinners, gardening, hiking and cruising the West Coast of British Columbia on a sailboat with her husband.
When she is not reading or writing space themed science fiction, Terry enjoys hosting large family dinners, gardening, hiking and cruising the West Coast of British Columbia on a sailboat with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 11, 2025
Such a fantastic debut novel! I have never seen Alien but now I feel like I have to while we wait for book #2.
Some novel highlights:
💖 I loved Jamie as a character and really seeing her come into her own. She was intelligent, compassionate, and absolutely fierce.
🔬 Clearly a lot of thought went into making sure the science was correct, while incorporating cool & believable AI advances.
🧬 There were so many twists, turns, tension building - some things I saw coming and were paid off satisfyingly and some caught me by surprise. I love a book that keeps you on your toes.
All in all, a very enjoyable novel and I can't wait for the sequel! 🕷️
Some novel highlights:
💖 I loved Jamie as a character and really seeing her come into her own. She was intelligent, compassionate, and absolutely fierce.
🔬 Clearly a lot of thought went into making sure the science was correct, while incorporating cool & believable AI advances.
🧬 There were so many twists, turns, tension building - some things I saw coming and were paid off satisfyingly and some caught me by surprise. I love a book that keeps you on your toes.
All in all, a very enjoyable novel and I can't wait for the sequel! 🕷️
March 6, 2025
The Goldilocks zone
The pacing is not too slow, not too fast, but just right.
An editor is supposed to help a first time author find that habitable zone in the literary world
A xenomorph is found under the oceans of Mercury. A xeno what?
The evil Weyland-Yutani Corporation funded the project to corner the market to extract DNA and weaponize it.
This was ok. The pacing was at times too slow and at times too fast
I didn't get to know the characters.
"Hey Vazquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man? No. Have you?"
"You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage." -Ripley
It didn't have any clever dialogue. It was too long and some scenes were head scratching.
A pod race from Star Wars The Phantom Menace? What did that have to do with anything?
The pacing is not too slow, not too fast, but just right.
An editor is supposed to help a first time author find that habitable zone in the literary world
A xenomorph is found under the oceans of Mercury. A xeno what?
The evil Weyland-Yutani Corporation funded the project to corner the market to extract DNA and weaponize it.
This was ok. The pacing was at times too slow and at times too fast
I didn't get to know the characters.
"Hey Vazquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man? No. Have you?"
"You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage." -Ripley
It didn't have any clever dialogue. It was too long and some scenes were head scratching.
A pod race from Star Wars The Phantom Menace? What did that have to do with anything?
July 30, 2025
Book Review: Typhon’s Legacy by Terry Young
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
Terry Young’s Typhon’s Legacy is a gripping debut that blends hard science fiction with the urgency of a survival thriller. Set in a future where humanity has scattered across the solar system to escape a dying Earth, the novel follows geobiologist Jamie Borgia and her team as they uncover a discovery with catastrophic potential. While the premise isn’t entirely novel, Young’s execution—particularly the interplay between scientific curiosity and moral dilemma—elevates this beyond typical dystopian fare.
Emotional Resonance & Thematic Depth
What struck me most was how Young grounds the story in human relationships despite its cosmic scale. Jamie’s dynamic with her husband and crewmates feels authentic, making their peril resonate emotionally rather than just physically. The scene where they first realize the magnitude of their discovery—a mix of awe and creeping dread—was particularly masterful. As someone who usually prefers character-driven narratives, I was pleasantly surprised by how invested I became in these scientists, not just as victims of circumstance but as flawed people making impossible choices.
The novel’s exploration of scientific ethics also lingers. Young doesn’t villainize the pursuit of knowledge but rather examines how good intentions can spiral into disaster when paired with institutional greed. One late-night debate among the crew about whether to destroy their findings—knowing it might set back research for decades—left me questioning what I would sacrifice for the greater good.
Constructive Criticism
The pacing stumbles in the middle act, where excessive technical descriptions of astrobiology and spacecraft mechanics occasionally bog down the tension. While the science is impressively detailed (and clearly well-researched), some readers might crave tighter editing to maintain momentum. Additionally, the antagonist organization feels underdeveloped—their motives are generically corporate, lacking the nuance that makes Jamie’s team so compelling.
Worldbuilding is another mixed bag. The settlements on Mercury and the Kuiper Belt are vividly rendered, but Earth’s decline remains frustratingly vague. A few more interludes about the planet’s fate could have added weight to the characters’ desperation to preserve humanity’s future.
Summary Takeaways:
- The Martian meets Annihilation—with all the thrills and none of the easy answers.
- A sci-fi thriller that asks: How far would you go to undo your own discovery?
- Young doesn’t just imagine the future—she makes you fear it.
- Perfect for fans of plausible science fiction with heart and high stakes.
Personal Connection
As a former STEM student, I geeked out over the astrobiological details—especially the eerie plausibility of the “biological entity” at the story’s core. But what surprised me was how the book’s emotional core—Jamie’s struggle to reconcile her love for science with its consequences—mirrored my own career doubts. That duality between wonder and responsibility is where Typhon’s Legacy truly shines.
Final Assessment
This debut earns its 4-star rating through strong character work and ethical complexity, even if it occasionally buckles under its own ambition. The climax—which I won’t spoil—delivers both spectacle and emotional payoff, setting up a sequel I’ll eagerly read. While not flawless, it’s a standout for readers who like their sci-fi equal parts brainy and breathless.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for the review copy. As someone who’s wary of “science-heavy” fiction, I’m delighted to have found one that balances intellect with pulse-pounding tension.
Recommended For:
- Fans of Project Hail Mary or The Three-Body Problem
- Readers who enjoy moral dilemmas in high-stakes settings
- Anyone who’s ever wondered, “Could my work accidentally end the world?”
- Book clubs interested in debates about scientific ethics
Rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
Terry Young’s Typhon’s Legacy is a gripping debut that blends hard science fiction with the urgency of a survival thriller. Set in a future where humanity has scattered across the solar system to escape a dying Earth, the novel follows geobiologist Jamie Borgia and her team as they uncover a discovery with catastrophic potential. While the premise isn’t entirely novel, Young’s execution—particularly the interplay between scientific curiosity and moral dilemma—elevates this beyond typical dystopian fare.
Emotional Resonance & Thematic Depth
What struck me most was how Young grounds the story in human relationships despite its cosmic scale. Jamie’s dynamic with her husband and crewmates feels authentic, making their peril resonate emotionally rather than just physically. The scene where they first realize the magnitude of their discovery—a mix of awe and creeping dread—was particularly masterful. As someone who usually prefers character-driven narratives, I was pleasantly surprised by how invested I became in these scientists, not just as victims of circumstance but as flawed people making impossible choices.
The novel’s exploration of scientific ethics also lingers. Young doesn’t villainize the pursuit of knowledge but rather examines how good intentions can spiral into disaster when paired with institutional greed. One late-night debate among the crew about whether to destroy their findings—knowing it might set back research for decades—left me questioning what I would sacrifice for the greater good.
Constructive Criticism
The pacing stumbles in the middle act, where excessive technical descriptions of astrobiology and spacecraft mechanics occasionally bog down the tension. While the science is impressively detailed (and clearly well-researched), some readers might crave tighter editing to maintain momentum. Additionally, the antagonist organization feels underdeveloped—their motives are generically corporate, lacking the nuance that makes Jamie’s team so compelling.
Worldbuilding is another mixed bag. The settlements on Mercury and the Kuiper Belt are vividly rendered, but Earth’s decline remains frustratingly vague. A few more interludes about the planet’s fate could have added weight to the characters’ desperation to preserve humanity’s future.
Summary Takeaways:
- The Martian meets Annihilation—with all the thrills and none of the easy answers.
- A sci-fi thriller that asks: How far would you go to undo your own discovery?
- Young doesn’t just imagine the future—she makes you fear it.
- Perfect for fans of plausible science fiction with heart and high stakes.
Personal Connection
As a former STEM student, I geeked out over the astrobiological details—especially the eerie plausibility of the “biological entity” at the story’s core. But what surprised me was how the book’s emotional core—Jamie’s struggle to reconcile her love for science with its consequences—mirrored my own career doubts. That duality between wonder and responsibility is where Typhon’s Legacy truly shines.
Final Assessment
This debut earns its 4-star rating through strong character work and ethical complexity, even if it occasionally buckles under its own ambition. The climax—which I won’t spoil—delivers both spectacle and emotional payoff, setting up a sequel I’ll eagerly read. While not flawless, it’s a standout for readers who like their sci-fi equal parts brainy and breathless.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for the review copy. As someone who’s wary of “science-heavy” fiction, I’m delighted to have found one that balances intellect with pulse-pounding tension.
Recommended For:
- Fans of Project Hail Mary or The Three-Body Problem
- Readers who enjoy moral dilemmas in high-stakes settings
- Anyone who’s ever wondered, “Could my work accidentally end the world?”
- Book clubs interested in debates about scientific ethics
September 2, 2025
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads and, since it was self published, the author.
Alien (1979) and Slither (2006) have a baby. One day that baby is zipping around the solar system in her experimental space ship and crashes into the Rocinante (Leviathan Wakes 2011,The Expanse 2015) and out pops Typhoon’s Legacy.
I opened this book at about 7:30 one evening and when I looked up again I was 150 some pages in and I should have gone to bed half an hour ago. So I check to see if I saw the publisher information correctly and yep, self published. It must crash and burn later on. But no.
This is probably the most fun I have had with a book since Dungeon Crawler Carl (no, it is nothing like DCC other than being thoroughly entertaining). While the various bits and pieces are out there in popular books and movies, the author does an excellent job of putting things together in a way that adds a bit of freshness to the story. The one thing I don’t recall seeing anywhere else is the final step leading to the “birth” of the xenomorph. I figured that one out about two lines before the primary characters did, so good job.
Five stars all the way. If you like space opera and horror, defiantly give this book a try.
Alien (1979) and Slither (2006) have a baby. One day that baby is zipping around the solar system in her experimental space ship and crashes into the Rocinante (Leviathan Wakes 2011,The Expanse 2015) and out pops Typhoon’s Legacy.
I opened this book at about 7:30 one evening and when I looked up again I was 150 some pages in and I should have gone to bed half an hour ago. So I check to see if I saw the publisher information correctly and yep, self published. It must crash and burn later on. But no.
This is probably the most fun I have had with a book since Dungeon Crawler Carl (no, it is nothing like DCC other than being thoroughly entertaining). While the various bits and pieces are out there in popular books and movies, the author does an excellent job of putting things together in a way that adds a bit of freshness to the story. The one thing I don’t recall seeing anywhere else is the final step leading to the “birth” of the xenomorph. I figured that one out about two lines before the primary characters did, so good job.
Five stars all the way. If you like space opera and horror, defiantly give this book a try.
May 15, 2025
Inspired by the likes of Bujold, the Expanse, and Alien, this debut action adventure/horror romp is grounded by its exploring believable science and by its characters. I love a flawed heroine who gets a chance to grow and surprise herself and the reader. The action writing and the ending in particular are fantastic, looking forward to book two.
March 17, 2025
An action-packed adventure with amazing protagonists! Typhon's Legacy integrates a good level of real science into the story and makes you care about the characters. It also has a great level of horror/thriller and creepiness that makes it hard to put the book down. The ending is fantastic.
August 25, 2025
Received a digital copy through GoodReads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews