Subterranean

In Dying Starlight #11

by Emily McCosh

A floating city. The answers they’ve been searching for.As the floating city of Zar enters the horizon, Aaron and crew prepare for a dangerous trip to the city built of a thousand layers of stone, glass, and metal. With answers for their little family finally within reach, Aaron gets in contact with an old friend to give them a lead.

But answers for Aaron, Zane, and Lalia come at a price. Tensions rise as old enemies return to haunt them and the unending city threatens to swallow them up. Injured and alone, Aaron must find a way back to Bat and his humans.

If the city doesn’t kill him first.

Subterranean is the eleventh episode in the action-packed space opera series In Dying Starlight . Featuring a grumpy sarcastic cyborg, a talking badger, plenty of space travel, a cast of oddball characters, and a bit of romance, In Dying Starlight is perfect for fans of Star Wars , Firefly, and Blade Runner .

Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2023

About the author

Emily McCosh is a graphic designer, writer of strange things, and daydreamer extraordinaire. She currently lives in California with her two parents, two dogs, one fish, one tree swing, and innumerable characters who need to learn some manners. Her fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer Magazine, Galaxy’s Edge, Flash Fiction Online, Nature: Futures, and elsewhere.

Find her online on her writing and bookish YouTube channel, website where she sometimes blogs, and Instagram full of sappy poetry.

YouTube: Emily McCosh
TikTok: emilymccosh
Instagram: emily_mccosh
Blog: oceansinthesky.com
Facebook & Twitter: @wordweaveremily

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. I could not put this book down. Even when I had to put it down my hand was itching to pick it up and ignore all my other duties for the day. It's been awhile since I had a book make me cry the way this one did. The characters are amazing and the way they have grown from when we first meet them is vastly different in a good way. This conclusion to whether Aaron is Zane and Lalias brother felt earned. I was absolutely heartbroken that they weren't related and went through the emotions with Aaron at the loss not having anyone for him. But the bonds they've forged over the last couple books have only shown that blood doesn't make you family. It's something so much more and that's what Aaron has with his group of friends, a makeshift family that will do anything for him. This was an actioned packed, emotionally draining, and one heck of a penultimate book. I can not wait to see what the finale book is gonna be like but it's probably gonna have me dying.

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sci fi adventure

I love this series. The characters are engaging, and the found family makes for heartwarming and humorous moments. Subterranean was a difficult read; Aaron is tested in multiple ways. There is graphic violence. Both the older women (Cath and crazy tunnel woman) are hilarious and lighten up a somewhat grim story. I have no idea how McCosh is going to finish this series, but I'm definitely along for the ride. And Bat rocks!

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man. The tears were rolling on this one. What a ride. Just adore this series and these characters and am so happy with where this portion of their story took them. Why is it all gonna be over soon?! Wah!
Just a fabulous series.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I thought the last book hurt.

I can't say anything for fear of spoiling something but oh, this one is so good. All the stars.

Content warning: PG-13 language scattered throughout.

[Ryan Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy Sci-Fi with Found Family

It’s hard to describe how I feel about this book. It was kinda devastating. I was not expecting that twist I guess.

[Megan Borrego · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good, but so so so painful. 10/10 would suffer again