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AUgury: A Sci-Fi Novel
Science fiction, Eldrich/lovercraftian, thriller, horror. In the year 2139, humans are on the brink of interstellar travel. Their destination is Proxima Centauri to colonize the solar system. The remaining population of Earth continues to produce resources for the colonies of Mars and the Moon at a breakneck pace until the Inkululeko gold mine stumbles upon an unknown chrome sphere seven miles under the surface. More are found around the world and the scientific community struggles to identify these mysterious objects, each trying to gain an advantage over the other. Where did they come from? What are they for? Soon they'll discover more than they anticipated.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 16, 2025
This is my voluntary ARC review of AUgury, by T.B. Secrest, set to be released on April 15, 2025. A bit of a disclaimer, I’m not as huge a fan of science fiction as I am a fan of horror. Science fiction, especially as I get older, is more difficult for me to read because of all the unusual character names, cities, worlds, species of creatures, alien populations, etc. It all gets jumbled in my head and distracts me from the story. However, when I came across this sci-fi horror, I figured I’d give it a try, and I’m so glad I did.
This story revolves around life in the years 2139-40, on the cusp of interstellar travel. A metallic object of unknown origin and makeup is found during a gold mining accident in South Africa, with the same objects found in three other goldmines throughout the world. This leads to a quest for knowledge of not only what the scientific community is dealing with, but how to survive the destruction these objects bring forth. The race for answers begins. But will the answers come too late, before all hope is lost? You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out.
I’ll start with the negative first, as I always like to end on a positive note. I wasn’t totally engaged in the story for about the first 40%. It seemed a bit slow, slower than a slow burn. But after continuing on, I understood why. It was a good buildup of things to come, and to add to the character development, which was vital to this read. From then on, I was hooked. Well, not only hooked, but flying through the pages, wanting to see what was going to happen next, while trying not to feel overwhelmed by the losses. Add in some heart-pounding action, and it became even more enjoyable. So, I guess my “negative” turned out to be not so negative after all. I thought the concept is incredible. I can’t describe more than that without giving too much away, but I found it to be original. As for the characters, some were likeable, some were not. A slice of life, if you will.
Shout out to the author for strong female main characters, including a cat lady. If you’re a fan of sci-fi horror, I highly recommend giving it a read. I rate this a 4 out of 5.
This story revolves around life in the years 2139-40, on the cusp of interstellar travel. A metallic object of unknown origin and makeup is found during a gold mining accident in South Africa, with the same objects found in three other goldmines throughout the world. This leads to a quest for knowledge of not only what the scientific community is dealing with, but how to survive the destruction these objects bring forth. The race for answers begins. But will the answers come too late, before all hope is lost? You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out.
I’ll start with the negative first, as I always like to end on a positive note. I wasn’t totally engaged in the story for about the first 40%. It seemed a bit slow, slower than a slow burn. But after continuing on, I understood why. It was a good buildup of things to come, and to add to the character development, which was vital to this read. From then on, I was hooked. Well, not only hooked, but flying through the pages, wanting to see what was going to happen next, while trying not to feel overwhelmed by the losses. Add in some heart-pounding action, and it became even more enjoyable. So, I guess my “negative” turned out to be not so negative after all. I thought the concept is incredible. I can’t describe more than that without giving too much away, but I found it to be original. As for the characters, some were likeable, some were not. A slice of life, if you will.
Shout out to the author for strong female main characters, including a cat lady. If you’re a fan of sci-fi horror, I highly recommend giving it a read. I rate this a 4 out of 5.
March 9, 2025
I was not entirely sure what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is very well written and kept me constantly wondering how things would unfold. There is a great cast of characters (some more likeable than others). There is little certainty as you read as to who will live or die - which adds to the suspense - so don't get too attached. My favorite was an Aussie but I'm probably a little biased there. The author manages to weave multiple plots lines into a single story.
The writing seems to lean towards the soft-world building style and does require the reader on occasion to just 'go with it' rather than dishing up detailed explanations and justifications. All that is fine by me and leaves the reader with room to exercise their imagination or just ponder things.
There are a couple of anomalies that jumped out at me - but didn't impact my enjoyment of the story - for example:
In summary, an enjoyable and well-crafted read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving an honest and voluntarily review.
The writing seems to lean towards the soft-world building style and does require the reader on occasion to just 'go with it' rather than dishing up detailed explanations and justifications. All that is fine by me and leaves the reader with room to exercise their imagination or just ponder things.
There are a couple of anomalies that jumped out at me - but didn't impact my enjoyment of the story - for example:
In summary, an enjoyable and well-crafted read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving an honest and voluntarily review.
April 7, 2025
**ARC Review**
Author: T. B. Secrest
Book: AUgury
Book Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Post-apocalyptic Horror/Sci-fi
AUgury by T. B. Secrest is a high-octane, genre-blending thrill ride that grabs you from page one and doesn’t loosen its grip until the final chapter. A brilliant mix of science fiction, horror, and suspense, this book delivers an intense reading experience packed with twists, tension, and thought-provoking ideas. He also tackles themes (at least according to me) of government overstep and the dangers of greed and consumerism.
The story begins when mysterious spherical objects are discovered deep within the Earth’s crust. As scientists around the world race to understand their origin and purpose, the discovery takes a dark turn—what lies within these orbs is far more sinister than anyone could have anticipated. What follows is a gripping tale of survival as Earth faces a global catastrophe, prompting a desperate and chaotic exodus from the planet.
What sets AUgury apart is its pacing and structure. The novel opens with a historical lens, detailing the late 2000s and early 2100s, providing a grounding sense of realism before plunging into full-throttle apocalyptic suspense. It effortlessly transitions from speculative science to action-packed horror, and each genre element is executed with finesse. At times terrifying, at others profoundly fascinating, the narrative kept me completely engaged from start to finish.
T. B. Secrest has crafted a vivid, immersive world with just the right balance of dread, drama, and intrigue. It’s a book that will satisfy fans of sci-fi thrillers and dystopian horror alike. I found myself tearing through the pages, always eager to see what came next.
Many thanks to T. B. Secrest for the ARC—AUgury was an absolute ride, and I can’t wait to see what he delivers next. Highly recommend for fans of fast-paced, intelligent speculative fiction.
Author: T. B. Secrest
Book: AUgury
Book Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Post-apocalyptic Horror/Sci-fi
AUgury by T. B. Secrest is a high-octane, genre-blending thrill ride that grabs you from page one and doesn’t loosen its grip until the final chapter. A brilliant mix of science fiction, horror, and suspense, this book delivers an intense reading experience packed with twists, tension, and thought-provoking ideas. He also tackles themes (at least according to me) of government overstep and the dangers of greed and consumerism.
The story begins when mysterious spherical objects are discovered deep within the Earth’s crust. As scientists around the world race to understand their origin and purpose, the discovery takes a dark turn—what lies within these orbs is far more sinister than anyone could have anticipated. What follows is a gripping tale of survival as Earth faces a global catastrophe, prompting a desperate and chaotic exodus from the planet.
What sets AUgury apart is its pacing and structure. The novel opens with a historical lens, detailing the late 2000s and early 2100s, providing a grounding sense of realism before plunging into full-throttle apocalyptic suspense. It effortlessly transitions from speculative science to action-packed horror, and each genre element is executed with finesse. At times terrifying, at others profoundly fascinating, the narrative kept me completely engaged from start to finish.
T. B. Secrest has crafted a vivid, immersive world with just the right balance of dread, drama, and intrigue. It’s a book that will satisfy fans of sci-fi thrillers and dystopian horror alike. I found myself tearing through the pages, always eager to see what came next.
Many thanks to T. B. Secrest for the ARC—AUgury was an absolute ride, and I can’t wait to see what he delivers next. Highly recommend for fans of fast-paced, intelligent speculative fiction.
March 11, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens for this free ARC! Just a quick note—this review isn’t sponsored or paid for, and all the thoughts here are 100% my own. Okay, let’s dive in!
This book has a very intriguing premise that immediately grabbed me. Humans stumble across something they think will make them rich, and instead of being cautious, they just dive headfirst into chaos. I mean, come on, that’s such a relatable disaster-in-the-making, right? I also thought it was really cool how the story unfolded through the lens of surveillance drones. It gave the whole thing this eerie, voyeuristic vibe that made it feel fresh and different. You’re not just reading about the characters—you’re watching them, which was a neat twist.
But I couldn’t really connect with the characters at all. They all felt kind of flat, like cardboard cutouts of people rather than actual humans. The only one who stood out a little was based on the author’s relative, so I guess that’s why they felt a bit more real? But even then, it wasn’t enough to save the rest of the cast for me. The world-building and storytelling also felt really barebones, like the skeleton of a story without any meat on its bones. There were moments where it literally felt like I was reading a to-do list—like, “this happened, then this happened, then this happened.” It just didn’t have that depth or richness I was hoping for.
Oh, and can we talk about the line, “She tucked her anatomy back in and decided it was better to walk quickly”? I had to take a break after it and was on the verge of DNFing it. WTF was that?
That said, if TB Secrest’s writing style clicks with you, I can totally see why you’d love this book. The premise is seriously amazing, and there’s so much potential there. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’d give it a solid 3/5 stars—it’s not bad, but it’s not something I’d recommend to my friends.
This book has a very intriguing premise that immediately grabbed me. Humans stumble across something they think will make them rich, and instead of being cautious, they just dive headfirst into chaos. I mean, come on, that’s such a relatable disaster-in-the-making, right? I also thought it was really cool how the story unfolded through the lens of surveillance drones. It gave the whole thing this eerie, voyeuristic vibe that made it feel fresh and different. You’re not just reading about the characters—you’re watching them, which was a neat twist.
But I couldn’t really connect with the characters at all. They all felt kind of flat, like cardboard cutouts of people rather than actual humans. The only one who stood out a little was based on the author’s relative, so I guess that’s why they felt a bit more real? But even then, it wasn’t enough to save the rest of the cast for me. The world-building and storytelling also felt really barebones, like the skeleton of a story without any meat on its bones. There were moments where it literally felt like I was reading a to-do list—like, “this happened, then this happened, then this happened.” It just didn’t have that depth or richness I was hoping for.
Oh, and can we talk about the line, “She tucked her anatomy back in and decided it was better to walk quickly”? I had to take a break after it and was on the verge of DNFing it. WTF was that?
That said, if TB Secrest’s writing style clicks with you, I can totally see why you’d love this book. The premise is seriously amazing, and there’s so much potential there. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’d give it a solid 3/5 stars—it’s not bad, but it’s not something I’d recommend to my friends.
March 14, 2025
The most interesting narrative choice of "AUgury" is how it manages to be both a global catastrophe story and a deeply personal one. TB Secrest has crafted a novel that feels scientifically grounded while taking creative liberties with space travel and alien biology.
What really works here is the multi-perspective approach - we get to experience the unfolding events through the eyes of several scientists, each with their own flaws and motivations (hubris, greed, desire for acclaim, and etc.), while also following Riley and her father aboard humanity's first interstellar ship. This parallel storytelling creates a compelling tension as Earth faces an existential threat while the ship continues its mission into deep space. Riley is a much stronger character than the others, who can sometimes seem a little rushed in their characterizations.
The novel manages to balance cosmic horror with moments of genuine warmth and humor, especially in scenes between Riley and her father, or Isla and her many cats, giving readers emotional anchors amid the increasingly dire circumstances.
Ultimately this is a good read. "AUgury" maintains enough narrative coherence to tell its story of humanity facing extinction while a small group escapes to the stars. The emotional arcs and character relationships generally make sense, even when some of the scientific or plot elements require suspension of disbelief, which is perfectly fine IMHO for good sci-fi tales like this one. While the characterizations aren't 100% amazing, the premise is great. You should enjoy this book.
What really works here is the multi-perspective approach - we get to experience the unfolding events through the eyes of several scientists, each with their own flaws and motivations (hubris, greed, desire for acclaim, and etc.), while also following Riley and her father aboard humanity's first interstellar ship. This parallel storytelling creates a compelling tension as Earth faces an existential threat while the ship continues its mission into deep space. Riley is a much stronger character than the others, who can sometimes seem a little rushed in their characterizations.
The novel manages to balance cosmic horror with moments of genuine warmth and humor, especially in scenes between Riley and her father, or Isla and her many cats, giving readers emotional anchors amid the increasingly dire circumstances.
Ultimately this is a good read. "AUgury" maintains enough narrative coherence to tell its story of humanity facing extinction while a small group escapes to the stars. The emotional arcs and character relationships generally make sense, even when some of the scientific or plot elements require suspension of disbelief, which is perfectly fine IMHO for good sci-fi tales like this one. While the characterizations aren't 100% amazing, the premise is great. You should enjoy this book.
March 23, 2025
Releasing April 15th!!!
First off, this is sci-fi horror with a cosmic horror angle. One of my favorite horror movies is ‘Alien’ so that works for me!
Around 150 years in the future humanity has worked out a lot of our problems. We have colonized the moon and Mars We also now do a lot of deep mining. With mines in Canada, China, Russia, and South Africa, humans are really trying to acquire all of the resources they can. In South African miners find a strange metal object that can’t be damaged or altered by any normal means. One scientist finally finds a way and it costs them dearly. That’s when the horror starts.
With a great diverse cast of characters we read along as humanity faces a creeping enemy unlike anything we’ve faced before.
I kept getting similar vibes to ‘Phantoms’ by Dean Koontz, ‘Three Body Problem’ by Cixin Liu, and a little of King’s ‘The Stand’ and the movie ‘2012’. The first half was pretty science heavy so I read pretty slow to really get a feel for everything. The build is gradual but the plot builds really well.
If you’re looking for something Sci-Fi Horror I’d really recommend this one. Thanks for the early copy, TB! Maybe we will see a sequel someday!
First off, this is sci-fi horror with a cosmic horror angle. One of my favorite horror movies is ‘Alien’ so that works for me!
Around 150 years in the future humanity has worked out a lot of our problems. We have colonized the moon and Mars We also now do a lot of deep mining. With mines in Canada, China, Russia, and South Africa, humans are really trying to acquire all of the resources they can. In South African miners find a strange metal object that can’t be damaged or altered by any normal means. One scientist finally finds a way and it costs them dearly. That’s when the horror starts.
With a great diverse cast of characters we read along as humanity faces a creeping enemy unlike anything we’ve faced before.
I kept getting similar vibes to ‘Phantoms’ by Dean Koontz, ‘Three Body Problem’ by Cixin Liu, and a little of King’s ‘The Stand’ and the movie ‘2012’. The first half was pretty science heavy so I read pretty slow to really get a feel for everything. The build is gradual but the plot builds really well.
If you’re looking for something Sci-Fi Horror I’d really recommend this one. Thanks for the early copy, TB! Maybe we will see a sequel someday!
March 18, 2025
Augury Review
By Joseph Wiess
When I came across this ARC on BookSirens, I took a good look at the cover and thought I had found a cool fantasy novel to read. Boy, was I in for s surprise. This novel turns out to be mostly science fiction. It starts out with four mining teams digging for gold because, of course, gold is used in space travel and instrumentation. One group comes across a sphere made of an unknown material. I could tell you more, but I don’t want to ruin the book.
Needless to say, an accident happens, and the fate of the universe is in the balance. The heroes and villains in this book are mostly scientists who caused the problem. The one bright spot in this book is a little girl named Riley, who’s a crawlspace worker on Earth’s first ship to Proxima Centauri. She and her aunt, who lives on an island just off of Canada, communicate back and forth, making for a sweet family-like thread throughout the story.
If you are looking for a fantasy read, this isn’t it. But if you are looking for a great Science Fiction or Apocalypse read, this is your book.
I’d give it a 3.8 out of 5.
By Joseph Wiess
When I came across this ARC on BookSirens, I took a good look at the cover and thought I had found a cool fantasy novel to read. Boy, was I in for s surprise. This novel turns out to be mostly science fiction. It starts out with four mining teams digging for gold because, of course, gold is used in space travel and instrumentation. One group comes across a sphere made of an unknown material. I could tell you more, but I don’t want to ruin the book.
Needless to say, an accident happens, and the fate of the universe is in the balance. The heroes and villains in this book are mostly scientists who caused the problem. The one bright spot in this book is a little girl named Riley, who’s a crawlspace worker on Earth’s first ship to Proxima Centauri. She and her aunt, who lives on an island just off of Canada, communicate back and forth, making for a sweet family-like thread throughout the story.
If you are looking for a fantasy read, this isn’t it. But if you are looking for a great Science Fiction or Apocalypse read, this is your book.
I’d give it a 3.8 out of 5.
April 23, 2025
I received this ARC from booksirens in return for an honest review.
I found the beginning of the book to be a bit of a slow burn. It took some time for the narrative to truly gain momentum, and I wasn't entirely gripped in the initial chapters.
One aspect I did enjoy was the unique way information was conveyed through what seemed to be log entries. T.B. Secrest has a distinct writing style in these sections, which I found quite engaging and effective in presenting the scientific discoveries and unfolding events. It added a layer of realism to the unfolding mystery.
Overall, "AUgury" has a fascinating concept with a compelling element in its log-style writing. While the slow start and lack of connection with the characters held it back for me, the underlying mystery of the chrome spheres and their implications kept me reading. It's a book with potential, that might be better on my second reading.
I found the beginning of the book to be a bit of a slow burn. It took some time for the narrative to truly gain momentum, and I wasn't entirely gripped in the initial chapters.
One aspect I did enjoy was the unique way information was conveyed through what seemed to be log entries. T.B. Secrest has a distinct writing style in these sections, which I found quite engaging and effective in presenting the scientific discoveries and unfolding events. It added a layer of realism to the unfolding mystery.
Overall, "AUgury" has a fascinating concept with a compelling element in its log-style writing. While the slow start and lack of connection with the characters held it back for me, the underlying mystery of the chrome spheres and their implications kept me reading. It's a book with potential, that might be better on my second reading.
March 23, 2025
As someone who doesn't read a whole lot of sci-fi, I got surprised by this book. There were so many characters in this book, which usually makes it very confusing for me, but this time they felt different enough for me to separate them.
There are a couple characters I really love. I also liked the post-apocalyptic vibes, I kept imagining some sort of Netflix show.
While there's a lot of (valid) critique to be given to this book, I found it very enjoyable. The emotions came across well and at some point I felt so hopeless regarding to how it would end.
If you like sci-fi and/or post-apocalyptic stories, this one is for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There are a couple characters I really love. I also liked the post-apocalyptic vibes, I kept imagining some sort of Netflix show.
While there's a lot of (valid) critique to be given to this book, I found it very enjoyable. The emotions came across well and at some point I felt so hopeless regarding to how it would end.
If you like sci-fi and/or post-apocalyptic stories, this one is for you!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2025
If I ever read the word squelch again it’ll be too soon. This book is almost void of emotion, it’s all telling no showing. It really only starts to get going in the last 30%, up until then everything is paragraphs of exposition. It feels like this book is trying to emulate a feeling similar to reading the book of elsewhere but the mystical feeling of scientific anomalies isn’t there. The military aspect is very realistic, which makes sense since the author is former military. But the scientific aspect is very clunky, especially the dialog. Also some of the treatment of female characters rubs me the wrong way. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book.
March 7, 2025
I was hooked from the cover and description and was excited to get into this story. The characters had that element that I was looking for and was glad everything worked with the genre of book. It had a horror and scifi element to the story. T. B. Secrest has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 20, 2025
Although sold as Sci-Fi this book has a good mix of apocalyptic and cosmic horror to it.
Reading the other reviews I would agree that it is a slow burn for the first 30-40% but this was definitely worth it for the character development.
The story had an original plot and had plenty of twists and turns. Without spoiling there were some gasp worthy moments.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend.
Reading the other reviews I would agree that it is a slow burn for the first 30-40% but this was definitely worth it for the character development.
The story had an original plot and had plenty of twists and turns. Without spoiling there were some gasp worthy moments.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend.
April 15, 2025
I received this ARC and I'm so happy I did. I love sci-fi horror and this book didn't disappoint. It starts off as a slow burn but with excellent buildup/world building. There are strong female characters that are very well written. Isla was my absolute favorite with her cats because I, myself, am a cat lady! I hope to see a sequel to this at some point.
April 22, 2025
This was a very entertaining Sci-fi Horror.
Great characters, great premise.
Highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Great characters, great premise.
Highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2026
AUgury by T.B. Secrest is a gripping and thought provoking science fiction novel that explores humanity on the brink of interstellar travel while confronting an unexpected and deeply unsettling mystery beneath its own planet.
This is the second book I have read by T.B. Secrest, and while AUgury is vastly different from the first, his talent shines just as brightly. His ability to move seamlessly between subject matter while maintaining depth, tension, and emotional resonance is impressive. Once I began reading, I found it incredibly difficult to put down. The story kept me engaged and constantly questioning what would happen next.
The first half was a bit of a slow burn for me, but knowing how strong Secrest’s storytelling can be, I pushed through and I am genuinely grateful that I did. The payoff is well worth the patience. The concept behind this book is phenomenal and feels both fresh and intelligently executed. The characters are compelling, the emotional arcs hit hard, and the story took me on a true rollercoaster of curiosity, tension, and twists.
I received AUgury as an ARC directly from the author and I am voluntarily posting my own honest review. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this review is being submitted later than planned, but my enthusiasm for this book has not diminished in the slightest. I truly loved this story and I am excited to continue following T.B. Secrest’s work as his writing career unfolds.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intelligent science fiction with mystery, depth, and thinking about a read well after it has concluded.
This is the second book I have read by T.B. Secrest, and while AUgury is vastly different from the first, his talent shines just as brightly. His ability to move seamlessly between subject matter while maintaining depth, tension, and emotional resonance is impressive. Once I began reading, I found it incredibly difficult to put down. The story kept me engaged and constantly questioning what would happen next.
The first half was a bit of a slow burn for me, but knowing how strong Secrest’s storytelling can be, I pushed through and I am genuinely grateful that I did. The payoff is well worth the patience. The concept behind this book is phenomenal and feels both fresh and intelligently executed. The characters are compelling, the emotional arcs hit hard, and the story took me on a true rollercoaster of curiosity, tension, and twists.
I received AUgury as an ARC directly from the author and I am voluntarily posting my own honest review. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this review is being submitted later than planned, but my enthusiasm for this book has not diminished in the slightest. I truly loved this story and I am excited to continue following T.B. Secrest’s work as his writing career unfolds.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intelligent science fiction with mystery, depth, and thinking about a read well after it has concluded.
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