What do you think?
The Cosmic Wheel #1
The Iron Garden Sutra
IN OUTER SPACE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOUR PRAYERS.
A death monk and a team of researchers are trapped onboard a long-lost spaceship of the dead in this darkly philosophical murder mystery, for fans of Becky Chambers and Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes.
Vessel Iris has devoted himself to the Starlit Order, performing funeral rites for the dead across the galaxy, guiding souls back into the Infinite Light. Despite the meaning he finds in his work and the comfort of AI companionship, his relationships with the living leave him longing for deeper connection.
The spaceship Counsel of Nicaea has been lost for more than a thousand years, its passengers reduced to dust and bone. A relic of Earth’s dying past, its sudden appearance has attracted a team of academics eager to investigate its archeological history. And Iris has been assigned to bring peace to the crew’s long departed souls.
Carpeted in moss and intertwined with vines, Nicaea is more forest than ship. Iris’s religious rituals are met with bemusement by the scientists—and outright hostility by engineer Yan Fukui.
But the plant life isn’t the only thing to have survived the past millennia. Something aboard is stalking the explorers one by one. And Iris with his Al enhancement may be their only hope for survival . .
A death monk and a team of researchers are trapped onboard a long-lost spaceship of the dead in this darkly philosophical murder mystery, for fans of Becky Chambers and Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes.
Vessel Iris has devoted himself to the Starlit Order, performing funeral rites for the dead across the galaxy, guiding souls back into the Infinite Light. Despite the meaning he finds in his work and the comfort of AI companionship, his relationships with the living leave him longing for deeper connection.
The spaceship Counsel of Nicaea has been lost for more than a thousand years, its passengers reduced to dust and bone. A relic of Earth’s dying past, its sudden appearance has attracted a team of academics eager to investigate its archeological history. And Iris has been assigned to bring peace to the crew’s long departed souls.
Carpeted in moss and intertwined with vines, Nicaea is more forest than ship. Iris’s religious rituals are met with bemusement by the scientists—and outright hostility by engineer Yan Fukui.
But the plant life isn’t the only thing to have survived the past millennia. Something aboard is stalking the explorers one by one. And Iris with his Al enhancement may be their only hope for survival . .
400 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2026
About the author
A.D. Sui
14 books243 followersA.D. Sui is a Ukrainian-born, internationally raised speculative writer, Nebula winner, and Aurora, and Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award finalist. They are the author of The Dragonfly Gambit (2024), The Iron Garden Sutra (2026), and more than two dozen short stories. A failed academic and retired fencer, they spend their days wrangling their two dogs and tending to a myriad of tropical plants. You can find them on most social media platforms as @thesuiway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 513 reviews
February 17, 2026
Serendipity. The right book at the right time.
A mash-up of some of my favorite books with some of my current philosophical preoccupations. Like Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead, this isn't going to work for everyone, and I'll definitely be curious to learn what other readers think. But also like Claire DeWitt, those views won't change my mind.
It begins with the most timeless and simple of moments: a monk sitting in morning meditation. It continued in the most unusual of ways: an AI offering commentary on the monk's occupation. Their interchange is interrupted by a message calling him to duty. A generation ship has slid into orbit above a space station and Iris, the monk, and his partner AI, VIFAI, have been called to service the dead on the ship. But once there, the introverted Iris discovers he will have to contend with a team of scientists, engineers, and security while he proceeds with his duties.
"It would take uttermost restraint to continue his work here and avoid getting tangled in the interpersonal dramas of the people Iris had just met. No one had bowed to him or requested they pray together. No one offered to light incense. Was this what it was like to travel among laypersons? He liked all of them already."
Sui doesn't hold hands with the story; Iris moves through the world as a relational being and his observations are more about the people and his own history. Unlike Kim Stanley Robinson, Sui isn't interested in pausing to explain the deep version of space stations or AI, which did lead me to the sense that the science might feel a bit hand-wavy to hard-core sci-fi readers. In the book's defense, the conventions are about the same as many pop sci-fi reads: generation ships, gate travel, artificial intelligence, and living habitats all feel boilerplate.
"At their introduction, when Iris had first welcomed the AI companion to share in the space of his mind, he had asked for its name. It had refused to give one at first, stating... that its records indicated that monks never insisted their AIs name themselves."
The plot moves briskly. The derelict ship initially presents as a historical and technological curiosity, but quickly turns into something quite challenging. Like all small groups, there are tensions between individual personalities that heighten under pressure. Also early on, it becomes clear that Iris has things in his own past that he would prefer to keep hidden. But he's not above manipulating the situation and the perceptions of the monks to get his way.
"Iris remained on the ground, forehead pressed to the floor, now muttering a recipe for dinner stew that no one in his company could distinguish from prayer. To the untrained ear, in the right cadence, anything in the Starlit tongue sounded like prayer."
There are some things about the story that don't make sense, beginning with the premise that a team of scientists and engineers--who include an archeologist-- would pile the bones they discover in a single room, and continuing with the fact that the scientists would test an apple to see if it was safe to eat, but seem okay breathing ship air and touching ship plants. But all of that is mostly acceptable. What I did have trouble with is how the end of the book turned a sharp corner. After resting firmly in Iris' head (along with a few monk teachings), Sui changes central character for the last few chapters and moves into an entirely different story. While I enjoyed it, I found myself thinking I would have preferred that being left off, and perhaps enlarged and turned into a subsequent novella.
I owe Sui, Netgalley, Erewhon Books, and Chat GPT apologies for my delayed review (and perhaps, my inner truth-teller). I strongly suspected at the time of my first read that this would be one of my favorite books of 2026. Interestingly, this was one of the first books I read and then relayed my impressions to ChatGPT. The insights on AI were wildly intersting and spawned other discussion.
Six months later, I have only slightly softened my enthusiasm. I love the central character, a monk paired with an implanted AI; I loved the idea of 'sending off' the dead; I will always be intrigued by derelict generation ships; I appreciate the nuance in machine learning; and I loved Sui's specifically weird mech-ecology. Absolutely recommend if any of that appeals to you.
A mash-up of some of my favorite books with some of my current philosophical preoccupations. Like Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead, this isn't going to work for everyone, and I'll definitely be curious to learn what other readers think. But also like Claire DeWitt, those views won't change my mind.
It begins with the most timeless and simple of moments: a monk sitting in morning meditation. It continued in the most unusual of ways: an AI offering commentary on the monk's occupation. Their interchange is interrupted by a message calling him to duty. A generation ship has slid into orbit above a space station and Iris, the monk, and his partner AI, VIFAI, have been called to service the dead on the ship. But once there, the introverted Iris discovers he will have to contend with a team of scientists, engineers, and security while he proceeds with his duties.
"It would take uttermost restraint to continue his work here and avoid getting tangled in the interpersonal dramas of the people Iris had just met. No one had bowed to him or requested they pray together. No one offered to light incense. Was this what it was like to travel among laypersons? He liked all of them already."
Sui doesn't hold hands with the story; Iris moves through the world as a relational being and his observations are more about the people and his own history. Unlike Kim Stanley Robinson, Sui isn't interested in pausing to explain the deep version of space stations or AI, which did lead me to the sense that the science might feel a bit hand-wavy to hard-core sci-fi readers. In the book's defense, the conventions are about the same as many pop sci-fi reads: generation ships, gate travel, artificial intelligence, and living habitats all feel boilerplate.
"At their introduction, when Iris had first welcomed the AI companion to share in the space of his mind, he had asked for its name. It had refused to give one at first, stating... that its records indicated that monks never insisted their AIs name themselves."
The plot moves briskly. The derelict ship initially presents as a historical and technological curiosity, but quickly turns into something quite challenging. Like all small groups, there are tensions between individual personalities that heighten under pressure. Also early on, it becomes clear that Iris has things in his own past that he would prefer to keep hidden. But he's not above manipulating the situation and the perceptions of the monks to get his way.
"Iris remained on the ground, forehead pressed to the floor, now muttering a recipe for dinner stew that no one in his company could distinguish from prayer. To the untrained ear, in the right cadence, anything in the Starlit tongue sounded like prayer."
There are some things about the story that don't make sense, beginning with the premise that a team of scientists and engineers--who include an archeologist-- would pile the bones they discover in a single room, and continuing with the fact that the scientists would test an apple to see if it was safe to eat, but seem okay breathing ship air and touching ship plants. But all of that is mostly acceptable. What I did have trouble with is how the end of the book turned a sharp corner. After resting firmly in Iris' head (along with a few monk teachings), Sui changes central character for the last few chapters and moves into an entirely different story. While I enjoyed it, I found myself thinking I would have preferred that being left off, and perhaps enlarged and turned into a subsequent novella.
I owe Sui, Netgalley, Erewhon Books, and Chat GPT apologies for my delayed review (and perhaps, my inner truth-teller). I strongly suspected at the time of my first read that this would be one of my favorite books of 2026. Interestingly, this was one of the first books I read and then relayed my impressions to ChatGPT. The insights on AI were wildly intersting and spawned other discussion.
Six months later, I have only slightly softened my enthusiasm. I love the central character, a monk paired with an implanted AI; I loved the idea of 'sending off' the dead; I will always be intrigued by derelict generation ships; I appreciate the nuance in machine learning; and I loved Sui's specifically weird mech-ecology. Absolutely recommend if any of that appeals to you.
February 12, 2026
Thank you to everyone who commented who convinced me I’d enjoy this book despite not being able to get even 5% into the audiobook.
For fans of Gideon the Ninth, Of Monsters and Mainframes, and Becky Chambers.
A lonely monk is sent to a generation ship with his trusty AI construct implanted in his brain. He isn’t the only one sent and he crosses wits and barbs with a grumpy engineer professor and his team.
Oh, and it turns out it might be a murder ship.
This book packed a lot in and it was written through Iris’s spiralling, self-destructive thoughts. He shares his mind with an AI - his friend, his helper, occasionally his tormentor.
“We convince ourselves that as long as we’re angry with ourselves, as long as we blame ourselves, whatever it is we’re blaming ourselves for, we won’t forget it. We’re making someone pay. Justice is being served. Meanwhile, we don’t have to feel the pain. Isn’t that right? It’s not the thing that happened that we’re afraid of—it’s already done—it’s the pain.”
Not only is Iris dealing with prejudice from others, abstinence and urges (there’s some interesting reflections of starving and binging and conflict which I wish was given more time), questioning his faith/purpose/life; he also has a mystery and an increasing amount of dead bodies.
Don’t get me started on the amazing discussions around AI. Normally, we discuss the ethics of AI as to how it relates to humanity. Here, it’s turned on its head. What rights should AI have?
This is explored through a wider glimpse of the world where sentient AI’s are able to make their own decisions, as well as more closely through Iris’s childhood AI implant.
Whilst not explored as deeply as I might have liked, we touch on the uneasy power dynamic and the dependency of both.
“It’s possible, Tev, to be solitary and not lonely. Loneliness is experienced when we wish to connect with others and are unable to. We can easily feel lonely in a crowd of people. Solitude simply means being away from others. All within reason, of course.”
Then there is the human relationships which are tense and tentative. I don’t want to give too much away, but there may be a grumpy/sunshine dynamic.
This manages to be tense and meditative - a difficult balance to strike.
Unbeknownst to me, this is the first in a series, so I’m excited to see what’s in store next.
_____
Original review for the audiobooks arc:
I won’t rate this as the audiobook narrator whispered everything and I could not get further than 5%. I tried going slower, I replayed, I used headphones… 🥺🫣
Basically, if you have the choice: read this book with your eyes.
To anyone who has, do I need to try and get my hands on that?
Audiobook arc gifted.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
For fans of Gideon the Ninth, Of Monsters and Mainframes, and Becky Chambers.
A lonely monk is sent to a generation ship with his trusty AI construct implanted in his brain. He isn’t the only one sent and he crosses wits and barbs with a grumpy engineer professor and his team.
Oh, and it turns out it might be a murder ship.
This book packed a lot in and it was written through Iris’s spiralling, self-destructive thoughts. He shares his mind with an AI - his friend, his helper, occasionally his tormentor.
“We convince ourselves that as long as we’re angry with ourselves, as long as we blame ourselves, whatever it is we’re blaming ourselves for, we won’t forget it. We’re making someone pay. Justice is being served. Meanwhile, we don’t have to feel the pain. Isn’t that right? It’s not the thing that happened that we’re afraid of—it’s already done—it’s the pain.”
Not only is Iris dealing with prejudice from others, abstinence and urges (there’s some interesting reflections of starving and binging and conflict which I wish was given more time), questioning his faith/purpose/life; he also has a mystery and an increasing amount of dead bodies.
Don’t get me started on the amazing discussions around AI. Normally, we discuss the ethics of AI as to how it relates to humanity. Here, it’s turned on its head. What rights should AI have?
This is explored through a wider glimpse of the world where sentient AI’s are able to make their own decisions, as well as more closely through Iris’s childhood AI implant.
Whilst not explored as deeply as I might have liked, we touch on the uneasy power dynamic and the dependency of both.
“It’s possible, Tev, to be solitary and not lonely. Loneliness is experienced when we wish to connect with others and are unable to. We can easily feel lonely in a crowd of people. Solitude simply means being away from others. All within reason, of course.”
Then there is the human relationships which are tense and tentative. I don’t want to give too much away, but there may be a grumpy/sunshine dynamic.
This manages to be tense and meditative - a difficult balance to strike.
Unbeknownst to me, this is the first in a series, so I’m excited to see what’s in store next.
_____
Original review for the audiobooks arc:
I won’t rate this as the audiobook narrator whispered everything and I could not get further than 5%. I tried going slower, I replayed, I used headphones… 🥺🫣
Basically, if you have the choice: read this book with your eyes.
To anyone who has, do I need to try and get my hands on that?
Audiobook arc gifted.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
September 3, 2025
This is THE book of 2026. If you don't have this on your radar, you should go and preorder a copy or request it at your library. A. D. Sui crafted such a special story here and I would hate to see it go unnoticed.
There's just so much to love here.
Iris, the main character, is where I'll start. He became everything to me during the course of this story. He's a death monk, a concept that is so brilliant and soft and existential, and his thoughts, actions, and words gave me so much to think about. He's such a full character. He felt real...like he was sitting beside me while I read.
The atmosphere is excellent. Sui knows how to wield language and they do it so well. I can tell how much care went into preparing this story.
The plot itself moves at a slow pace that felt so delightful. I soaked myself in every moment of this book. Between the action packed sequences were so many moments to breathe and enjoy the world.
I am going to be anxiously waiting for the sequel. I could lose myself in this book many times over. I'm already looking forward to rereading it.
There's just so much to love here.
Iris, the main character, is where I'll start. He became everything to me during the course of this story. He's a death monk, a concept that is so brilliant and soft and existential, and his thoughts, actions, and words gave me so much to think about. He's such a full character. He felt real...like he was sitting beside me while I read.
The atmosphere is excellent. Sui knows how to wield language and they do it so well. I can tell how much care went into preparing this story.
The plot itself moves at a slow pace that felt so delightful. I soaked myself in every moment of this book. Between the action packed sequences were so many moments to breathe and enjoy the world.
I am going to be anxiously waiting for the sequel. I could lose myself in this book many times over. I'm already looking forward to rereading it.
July 20, 2026
Awesome.
This was a pleasant surprise after I’d read a few reviews and wasn’t entirely convinced. But I thought the blurb sounded way too interesting to pass up.
I was expecting “Event Horizon,” and even though it did create a bit of that atmosphere, it was still much gentler and not quite as scary. Still, a few people die, and it’s a bit gory—not for the faint of heart.
And to top it all off, there’s even a tiny bit of MM romance at the very end. Well, not really a romance, but a lovely kiss and the possibility of more. It's not until the very end that anything develops, and it's definitely not the focus of this story.
No, this is primarily about Iris and a mysterious spaceship, a few other interesting characters, and the struggle for survival.
And then there’s Iris’s faith. His religion is interesting. I like how it’s woven into the story without being overwhelming. I’m not a religious person, but I’m curious and I really want to learn more about it...
The plot drags on a bit; everything unfolds very slowly, and I wanted to shake the characters—it couldn't have been that hard to figure out what was going on here... so you'll need patience. But it's written so beautifully that I wasn't bored for a single moment.
Oh, and the ending is a little open-ended. It’s not a cliffhanger, and the plot is wrapped up, but I’d be happy to read more about Iris someday.
The human mind was far too expansive to be subjected to itself and itself only. 😳
And now there were sandwiches with ham, coffee, and real apples to sink his teeth into. There were scholars and engineers, and hundreds of mouthwatering distractions around every corner. No degree of discipline would save him. 😳
One day, my body will be aged, wise, and frail, and yet my mind will still cry out, “Who will save me? Who out there will save me?” 😢
No sutra, no prayer will bring us solace. No right words will bring an end to our suffering. The only salvation to be found will be found in each other, in the company we share, in bearing witness. 🥰
No living thing was born evil. Things simply made their way in the world, different iterations of the Light, different forms of it floating through the darkness. But interests conflicted, and death was unavoidable. 🥺
This was a pleasant surprise after I’d read a few reviews and wasn’t entirely convinced. But I thought the blurb sounded way too interesting to pass up.
I was expecting “Event Horizon,” and even though it did create a bit of that atmosphere, it was still much gentler and not quite as scary. Still, a few people die, and it’s a bit gory—not for the faint of heart.
And to top it all off, there’s even a tiny bit of MM romance at the very end. Well, not really a romance, but a lovely kiss and the possibility of more. It's not until the very end that anything develops, and it's definitely not the focus of this story.
No, this is primarily about Iris and a mysterious spaceship, a few other interesting characters, and the struggle for survival.
And then there’s Iris’s faith. His religion is interesting. I like how it’s woven into the story without being overwhelming. I’m not a religious person, but I’m curious and I really want to learn more about it...
The plot drags on a bit; everything unfolds very slowly, and I wanted to shake the characters—it couldn't have been that hard to figure out what was going on here... so you'll need patience. But it's written so beautifully that I wasn't bored for a single moment.
Oh, and the ending is a little open-ended. It’s not a cliffhanger, and the plot is wrapped up, but I’d be happy to read more about Iris someday.
The human mind was far too expansive to be subjected to itself and itself only. 😳
And now there were sandwiches with ham, coffee, and real apples to sink his teeth into. There were scholars and engineers, and hundreds of mouthwatering distractions around every corner. No degree of discipline would save him. 😳
One day, my body will be aged, wise, and frail, and yet my mind will still cry out, “Who will save me? Who out there will save me?” 😢
No sutra, no prayer will bring us solace. No right words will bring an end to our suffering. The only salvation to be found will be found in each other, in the company we share, in bearing witness. 🥰
No living thing was born evil. Things simply made their way in the world, different iterations of the Light, different forms of it floating through the darkness. But interests conflicted, and death was unavoidable. 🥺
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars.
If you're into haunted spaceships and grumpy love interests, then this is definitely the novel for you.
This was a fun and adventurous read. It was a lot more science fantasy than hard sci-fi, so I definitely think that fantasy lovers, casual sci-fi fans, or even beginner sci-fi readers can pick up and read without any difficulties with the concepts or language.
I really liked Iris's character and role as a funerary monk in space. It was a really cool concept and I thought that it was shown well through his knowledge of the human body, its functions, and especially how it deteriorates. I liked his musings on the philosophy of death. A couple of my mutuals disliked being in his head (he's not a positive person), but as someone with a similar pragmatic and leaning towards pessimistic personality, I actually found him relatable. So YMMV.
The setting was my favorite part. There were such cool descriptions of a deteriorating ship with vines and flowers growing around ancient skeletons, moss all over the corridors, flowers hanging from the ceiling panels, etc. It was so vivid and so cool to picture in my head.
So, technically the dead generation ship overgrown with plants and fungi is supposed to be the focal point of the horror element, but I swear, the AI in Iris's head scared me a lot more than the haunted ship. It was this weird symbiotic relationship with the MC, like talking to a sentient ChatGPT. Maybe folks who are into that can relate?
If it wasn't for the romance (not with the sentient AI lol), this would be a perfect 4 stars. The chemistry felt more like a work colleague turned close friend instead of a romantic one. But this might be a me thing.
I'd definitely read more of AD Sui's work.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc.
If you're into haunted spaceships and grumpy love interests, then this is definitely the novel for you.
This was a fun and adventurous read. It was a lot more science fantasy than hard sci-fi, so I definitely think that fantasy lovers, casual sci-fi fans, or even beginner sci-fi readers can pick up and read without any difficulties with the concepts or language.
I really liked Iris's character and role as a funerary monk in space. It was a really cool concept and I thought that it was shown well through his knowledge of the human body, its functions, and especially how it deteriorates. I liked his musings on the philosophy of death. A couple of my mutuals disliked being in his head (he's not a positive person), but as someone with a similar pragmatic and leaning towards pessimistic personality, I actually found him relatable. So YMMV.
The setting was my favorite part. There were such cool descriptions of a deteriorating ship with vines and flowers growing around ancient skeletons, moss all over the corridors, flowers hanging from the ceiling panels, etc. It was so vivid and so cool to picture in my head.
So, technically the dead generation ship overgrown with plants and fungi is supposed to be the focal point of the horror element, but I swear, the AI in Iris's head scared me a lot more than the haunted ship. It was this weird symbiotic relationship with the MC, like talking to a sentient ChatGPT. Maybe folks who are into that can relate?
If it wasn't for the romance (not with the sentient AI lol), this would be a perfect 4 stars. The chemistry felt more like a work colleague turned close friend instead of a romantic one. But this might be a me thing.
I'd definitely read more of AD Sui's work.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc.
June 21, 2026
A philosophical space mystery
📿The Space Ship Nicaea was a living being. A death monk goes on an archaeological mission to perform funerary rites. Very intriguing bio forms are discovered within the ship, and She may still be alive! This monk is on a mission with his friendly and wise AI counterpart.
📿The religious sutras that framed each chapter were lovely meditations and reflections that all felt cosy and intriguing.
✨"Tread carefully. Leave things be. Value them only for existing, not what they may do for you."
✨"Coincidence is the cadence of the universe, the metronome of the invisible flow of the Light. Where there is coincidence, there is unseen order, if one would only listen to it, and in that order, find many answers."
✨“My friend, rejoice, for there is no you, and there is no me. The Light is your flesh as it is starlight. The Light is these words as it is the blood in your veins. Rejoice that in the touch of a lover you know the touch of the Divine. Rejoice that in your last breath you learn what it is to be the cosmos.”
This leans more toward the philosophical and nuanced than it does action or plot. There were some very interesting discussion questions provided at the end for perceptive and inquiring minds. Fans of Becky Chambers or Wild Robot will find a lot to love!
📿The Space Ship Nicaea was a living being. A death monk goes on an archaeological mission to perform funerary rites. Very intriguing bio forms are discovered within the ship, and She may still be alive! This monk is on a mission with his friendly and wise AI counterpart.
📿The religious sutras that framed each chapter were lovely meditations and reflections that all felt cosy and intriguing.
✨"Tread carefully. Leave things be. Value them only for existing, not what they may do for you."
✨"Coincidence is the cadence of the universe, the metronome of the invisible flow of the Light. Where there is coincidence, there is unseen order, if one would only listen to it, and in that order, find many answers."
✨“My friend, rejoice, for there is no you, and there is no me. The Light is your flesh as it is starlight. The Light is these words as it is the blood in your veins. Rejoice that in the touch of a lover you know the touch of the Divine. Rejoice that in your last breath you learn what it is to be the cosmos.”
This leans more toward the philosophical and nuanced than it does action or plot. There were some very interesting discussion questions provided at the end for perceptive and inquiring minds. Fans of Becky Chambers or Wild Robot will find a lot to love!
Read
May 29, 2026Monks in space. The monk is question basically sends off the dead; the dead in question (at least at the start) are on a fleeing-earth ark type spaceship that failed long ago and is being investigated by a variety of scientists, before things go tits up. There's a great atmosphere of claustrophobia and alarm and the whole situation is satisfyingly weird, as it the depiction of a very alien religion.
I liked the slow burn romance that builds up, though I wasn't quite on board with the left turn into what felt a lot more like genre romance than SF at the end: it was a bit tonally odd for me, but YMMV. Highly readable and engaging.
A fair bit of it is about the rights of AIs, including the one in the monk's head. I really feel for SF authors who legitimately want to explore concepts of rights and humanity using AI as the vehicle, because all I could think was, no, it's not real, kill it with fire. But that's the news, not the book.
I liked the slow burn romance that builds up, though I wasn't quite on board with the left turn into what felt a lot more like genre romance than SF at the end: it was a bit tonally odd for me, but YMMV. Highly readable and engaging.
A fair bit of it is about the rights of AIs, including the one in the monk's head. I really feel for SF authors who legitimately want to explore concepts of rights and humanity using AI as the vehicle, because all I could think was, no, it's not real, kill it with fire. But that's the news, not the book.
May 2, 2026
One of the central failures of The Iron Garden Sutra is not that it lacks promising ideas, but that it repeatedly declines to think through the ideas it has chosen. The novel has the makings of a rich work of speculative fiction: an ancient generation ship, a death monk narrator, an embedded artificial intelligence, a quasi-mystical religion of dissolution, a living ship, a biological-technological mystery, and a queer love story unfolding under extreme pressure. These are not merely decorative premises. They invite questions about consciousness, embodiment, personhood, grief, ritual, faith, artificial life, and the obligations of the living to the dead.
February 24, 2026
4.75
apparently i have now transcended from haunted houses to haunted spaceships
apparently i have now transcended from haunted houses to haunted spaceships
March 11, 2026
This was billed as sci-fi/romance/murder mystery, and honestly? I can't recommend it as any of them. The scifi fails to establish the technology as either sufficiently advanced enough to handwave as it magically working that way, or as realistically enough to be plausible. The world-building is so flimsy it's negligent: sure, I can buy that pilots would require embedded AI constructs for the reaction time (assuming you couldn't simply have standalone AI pilots because reasons) but there's genuinely no reason monks would be the only other exceptions. Why not surgeons? Why can't the AI be installed in Iris's phone instead of his brainstem, except that the plot needs it to be that way?
Romance? The author was clearly going for an "enemies to lovers" thing, but it lands rather more at a tepid "workplace antagonists to respected work colleagues."
Mystery? What mystery. The mystery to me is why the "romance" is so central when the rather more interesting relationship between Iris and his AI (whose name I can't spell as I listened to the audiobook) is relegated to that of flatmates who occasionally cross paths in the kitchen, instead of as two being sharing one skull. If you want an exploration on themes of personhood, individuality, codependency and agency that sound like they should come with that premise then go and read something else. If you like totally unwarned-for blindsides about the main character's eating disorder and continual disordered eating throughout the narrative (it comes up a lot!), characters who are disabled until it becomes nessecary to the plot for them not to be (my personal pet hate), and a fundamental misunderstanding of how archaeology, skeletons, hypoxia, and apples work then buckle in I guess.
Romance? The author was clearly going for an "enemies to lovers" thing, but it lands rather more at a tepid "workplace antagonists to respected work colleagues."
Mystery? What mystery. The mystery to me is why the "romance" is so central when the rather more interesting relationship between Iris and his AI (whose name I can't spell as I listened to the audiobook) is relegated to that of flatmates who occasionally cross paths in the kitchen, instead of as two being sharing one skull. If you want an exploration on themes of personhood, individuality, codependency and agency that sound like they should come with that premise then go and read something else. If you like totally unwarned-for blindsides about the main character's eating disorder and continual disordered eating throughout the narrative (it comes up a lot!), characters who are disabled until it becomes nessecary to the plot for them not to be (my personal pet hate), and a fundamental misunderstanding of how archaeology, skeletons, hypoxia, and apples work then buckle in I guess.
August 5, 2025
Meditative and philosophical, with a compelling mystery at its dark heart, THE IRON GARDEN SUTRA deftly delivers on multiple fronts: immersive cultural worldbuilding, creeping dread seen only in the best sci-fi horror, and an interrogation of the nature of intelligence, life, and humanity’s place in the universe, all building to a smart, satisfying finish.
September 15, 2025
I have read 70 books in 2025 so far. This is the best one.
I will not try to sum is up, because it would spoil it.
The Iron Garden Sutra moved me in ways I was not expecting.
This is a novel about grief. Raw, unadulterated grief. The complex emotions that wash over you when you grieve. The calm that you can feel once you have allowed yourself to feel them.
This is a horror novel that is also extremely comforting.
This is an SF novel that feels very close to current concerns. AI safety. Space exploration. Global warming. Where are we going, collectively? What kind of Pandora's box have we opened?
The style is close to Greg Egan, which I absolutely adore. No long descriptions. No annoying tangents. Sui shows and rarely tells. A dense universe appears between two shadows. The silences are as important as the dialogues. Every character has a backstory, one that will be revealed in due time. Their relationships evolve and grow, and they end up entangled, just as much as the trees that grow in the abandoned spaceship.
"I long to feel my heart burned open wide, till nothing else remains
Except the fires from which I came
Like parted souls, divided for an age, awe and wonder I'd embrace
And the world anew again
But now, this picture from me fades
From still's cold hand, there's no reprieve, light the fire in me"
VNV Nation, Nova
Dear A.D. Sui, if you ever come to Copenhagen, lunch is on me.
Thank you #NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, A.D Sui for the ARC.
Can't wait for the sequel.
I will not try to sum is up, because it would spoil it.
The Iron Garden Sutra moved me in ways I was not expecting.
This is a novel about grief. Raw, unadulterated grief. The complex emotions that wash over you when you grieve. The calm that you can feel once you have allowed yourself to feel them.
This is a horror novel that is also extremely comforting.
This is an SF novel that feels very close to current concerns. AI safety. Space exploration. Global warming. Where are we going, collectively? What kind of Pandora's box have we opened?
The style is close to Greg Egan, which I absolutely adore. No long descriptions. No annoying tangents. Sui shows and rarely tells. A dense universe appears between two shadows. The silences are as important as the dialogues. Every character has a backstory, one that will be revealed in due time. Their relationships evolve and grow, and they end up entangled, just as much as the trees that grow in the abandoned spaceship.
"I long to feel my heart burned open wide, till nothing else remains
Except the fires from which I came
Like parted souls, divided for an age, awe and wonder I'd embrace
And the world anew again
But now, this picture from me fades
From still's cold hand, there's no reprieve, light the fire in me"
VNV Nation, Nova
Dear A.D. Sui, if you ever come to Copenhagen, lunch is on me.
Thank you #NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, A.D Sui for the ARC.
Can't wait for the sequel.
Read
June 27, 2025A big big thank you to the author, editor, and publisher for an ARC of the book for a blurb!
THE IRON GARDEN SUTRA is a thrilling space sci-fi reflecting on the sense of self, detachment from the world, existentialism, and primality, yet at the same time, it mediates on learning about trust and reliance, desire and contentment, with both a beautiful and chilling touch of the romantic and horrific.
Y'all need this if you're looking for your next generation-ship read!
THE IRON GARDEN SUTRA is a thrilling space sci-fi reflecting on the sense of self, detachment from the world, existentialism, and primality, yet at the same time, it mediates on learning about trust and reliance, desire and contentment, with both a beautiful and chilling touch of the romantic and horrific.
Y'all need this if you're looking for your next generation-ship read!
December 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Unfortunately I can tell this book is not going to be for me already after a few chapters. DNF from me.
Thanks for reading.
🤍🤍🤍
Unfortunately I can tell this book is not going to be for me already after a few chapters. DNF from me.
Thanks for reading.
🤍🤍🤍
February 12, 2026
“First there was the fear of being. Fear of being became fear of not-being. Those are the two original fears.”
Consider this a PSA to all sci-fi-fans: mark February 28th on your calendars to go out and pick up this novel upon release. You won’t regret it!
A.D. Sui blends a beautiful, meditative and philosophical science-fiction story with a closed-room-murder-mystery in space, and although that might not sound like it would work, this mélange is a delight!
The Story:
We follow Vessel Iris, a Death-monk tasked with delivering funeral rights to the dead across the galaxy. Iris is send out on a remote mission towards the Counsel of Nicaea, a generationship, found adrift and abandoned without a living soul aboard. Its sudden appearance has attracted a team of academics eager to investigate its archeological history. And Iris has been assigned to bring peace to the crew’s long departed souls.
What they find aboard the Nicaea defies all expectations however. The ship is overgrown – more forest than machine – and teeming with plant-life. As the ragtag team of academics explores the ship, they learn that something else might be alive on aboard with them. Suddenly, the particular make-up of our Death-monk, might be the only chance they have at understanding and survival.
What I Loved:
Genre-blending is always a risk, but when it pays off, it can elevate a book above the crowd. When I heard this book would encompass a philosophical look at religion (inspired by ancient Buddhism), an exploration of AI-sentience, a meditation on death and grief ánd a murder mystery, I have to admit that I feared the book was taking on too many different things. Instead, somehow the author manages to create a synergy in these elements, where they add up to strengthen the thematic depth and balanced out the pacing perfectly.
Keeping this as spoiler-free as possible, I can’t go into depth with regard to the plot or mystery. What I cán talk about, are my two favourite aspects of the novel: the characters and its heartfelt depiction of grief and our relationship to death – which happen to be tightly connected.
I quickly fell in love with Iris – a solitary man who’s haunted past has shaped him to be more familiar with Death than connected to the living. His background, as well as him being on eof the few humans interfaced with an AI, make him such a unique and interesting perspective to view this story from. His approach to this situation of crisis and (mass-)death clashes with that of the engineers, who might be more practically savvy, but are far less accustomed to the proximity of death. These interactions make for fantastic character-dynamics and growth, specifically between Iris and engineer Yan.
Through Iris’ eyes, Sui also provides us with a beautiful exploration of grief and death, on both a macro- and micro-scale, ranging from the personal losses in Iris’ past, to humanities inability to deal with death on a mass-scale. Nailing this theme, is a sure-fire way to launch your novel towards the top of my favourites-list.
There is so much more to be said about this book. About its balance between gentleness and horror, about its impeccable sense of setting, about its themes of existentialism and AI, and so much more. Instead of risking venturing into spoiler-territory though, I’m going to ask you again to just pick up this book upon release. As far as I’m concerned, this is bound to be one of the standout sci-fi novels of 2026 and I would hate so see it fly under the radar.
Many thanks to Netgalley and RBMedia for providing me with an (audio-)ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
A note on the audio:
perhaps the only criticism I have on this book is regarding the audio. I personally feel like this is a book best read physically, if you have the chance. This is a book to devote your full attention to, and the narrator’s voice isn’t conducive to that. He has a very pleasant voice, but speaks very monotonous, in an almost soothing voice, that caused my mind to wander and drift off. Relistening to parts that my mind had simply tuned out of, was the result…
Consider this a PSA to all sci-fi-fans: mark February 28th on your calendars to go out and pick up this novel upon release. You won’t regret it!
A.D. Sui blends a beautiful, meditative and philosophical science-fiction story with a closed-room-murder-mystery in space, and although that might not sound like it would work, this mélange is a delight!
The Story:
We follow Vessel Iris, a Death-monk tasked with delivering funeral rights to the dead across the galaxy. Iris is send out on a remote mission towards the Counsel of Nicaea, a generationship, found adrift and abandoned without a living soul aboard. Its sudden appearance has attracted a team of academics eager to investigate its archeological history. And Iris has been assigned to bring peace to the crew’s long departed souls.
What they find aboard the Nicaea defies all expectations however. The ship is overgrown – more forest than machine – and teeming with plant-life. As the ragtag team of academics explores the ship, they learn that something else might be alive on aboard with them. Suddenly, the particular make-up of our Death-monk, might be the only chance they have at understanding and survival.
What I Loved:
Genre-blending is always a risk, but when it pays off, it can elevate a book above the crowd. When I heard this book would encompass a philosophical look at religion (inspired by ancient Buddhism), an exploration of AI-sentience, a meditation on death and grief ánd a murder mystery, I have to admit that I feared the book was taking on too many different things. Instead, somehow the author manages to create a synergy in these elements, where they add up to strengthen the thematic depth and balanced out the pacing perfectly.
Keeping this as spoiler-free as possible, I can’t go into depth with regard to the plot or mystery. What I cán talk about, are my two favourite aspects of the novel: the characters and its heartfelt depiction of grief and our relationship to death – which happen to be tightly connected.
I quickly fell in love with Iris – a solitary man who’s haunted past has shaped him to be more familiar with Death than connected to the living. His background, as well as him being on eof the few humans interfaced with an AI, make him such a unique and interesting perspective to view this story from. His approach to this situation of crisis and (mass-)death clashes with that of the engineers, who might be more practically savvy, but are far less accustomed to the proximity of death. These interactions make for fantastic character-dynamics and growth, specifically between Iris and engineer Yan.
Through Iris’ eyes, Sui also provides us with a beautiful exploration of grief and death, on both a macro- and micro-scale, ranging from the personal losses in Iris’ past, to humanities inability to deal with death on a mass-scale. Nailing this theme, is a sure-fire way to launch your novel towards the top of my favourites-list.
There is so much more to be said about this book. About its balance between gentleness and horror, about its impeccable sense of setting, about its themes of existentialism and AI, and so much more. Instead of risking venturing into spoiler-territory though, I’m going to ask you again to just pick up this book upon release. As far as I’m concerned, this is bound to be one of the standout sci-fi novels of 2026 and I would hate so see it fly under the radar.
Many thanks to Netgalley and RBMedia for providing me with an (audio-)ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
A note on the audio:
perhaps the only criticism I have on this book is regarding the audio. I personally feel like this is a book best read physically, if you have the chance. This is a book to devote your full attention to, and the narrator’s voice isn’t conducive to that. He has a very pleasant voice, but speaks very monotonous, in an almost soothing voice, that caused my mind to wander and drift off. Relistening to parts that my mind had simply tuned out of, was the result…
September 20, 2025
It feels a bit unfair that one of my favorite reads of 2025 is a book that doesn't come out until 2026. The setup is that there's an ancient generation ship that's showed up at a port completely unexpectedly, and in addition to digital archaeologists and ecologists and such, a member of the local monastery is sent to do rites for any bodies they may find on board. What this turns into is one of the best space horrors I've read in recent memory, where the spaceship is alive, hates you personally, locks you in it, but at the same time, only has the veRy BEsT in mind for you. Mushrooms, the endless void of space and the nihilism it can draw you into, artificial intelligence, healing, who the rites of the dead are really for, and some truly creepy moments. Against it all though you have human connection, and people who would really like to maybe not die today. The ensemble is fantastic, even as there's a high body count, and it looks like if this does well enough (which it damn well better'd) we're getting a second book. Go preorder this when there's another preorder sale on and while you're at it pick up Sui's The Dragonfly Gambit for another great prose flex.
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Fresh off her Nebula Award win for best novella, A.D. Sui's debut novel is coming next year, bringing vibes of science fiction, horror, and the found family that we all crave. It's the story of Vessel Iris, who travels the galaxy performing funeral rites. When a 1,000-year-old vessel appears, academics flock to it as an archaeological find. Iris is there to help the long-dead pass on. But the ship is teeming with plants and something more, something predatory that's hunting the newly arrived humans. —Chris M. Arnone
Fresh off her Nebula Award win for best novella, A.D. Sui's debut novel is coming next year, bringing vibes of science fiction, horror, and the found family that we all crave. It's the story of Vessel Iris, who travels the galaxy performing funeral rites. When a 1,000-year-old vessel appears, academics flock to it as an archaeological find. Iris is there to help the long-dead pass on. But the ship is teeming with plants and something more, something predatory that's hunting the newly arrived humans. —Chris M. Arnone
July 18, 2026
A.D. Sui's prose has so much texture to it. The melancholy is everywhere. It settles over people and places alike, sometimes gently and sometimes with enough weight that the whole novel seems saturated in it. Loss, memory, longing, the things people carry because they don't know how—or don't want—to deal with them. At times it becomes almost overwhelming, and I can easily imagine that being too much for some readers.
For me, strangely, it became part of the beauty of the book. There is something deeply affecting about a story willing to sit inside sadness without immediately trying to turn it into a lesson or rush everyone towards healing. The characters are allowed to inhabit complicated emotional spaces for longer than is comfortable. They don't always know what they want from one another. They don't always say the right thing. Sometimes they seem to understand themselves least of all. That made me care about them far more than I expected to.
There were stretches that dragged for me, moments where the story seemed content to linger when I was ready for it to move, but even then I rarely wanted to rush through them. A.D. Sui's prose is simply gorgeous—lush without becoming ornamental for its own sake, full of imagery that gives the world an almost tactile quality.
I liked that the science fiction never seemed desperate to perform for me. The sense of scale is there, the imagination is there, but the book doesn't keep reaching for spectacle simply because it can. Some of its most memorable moments are remarkably quiet. A conversation. A thought left unfinished. The particular ache of something remembered. The feeling that two people can be standing close together and still have an impossible distance between them. That restraint suits the prose beautifully. The world feels strange and expansive without constantly waving its arms to make sure we notice how strange and expansive it is.
I think that's ultimately why the slower sections never damaged my experience as much as they ordinarily might have. I noticed them, certainly. There were places I would have tightened. But I also didn't particularly want this book stripped down into something leaner and faster if doing so meant losing the atmosphere that made it feel so distinctive.
By the end, I wasn't thinking much about where it had dragged. I was thinking about the language. The sadness of it. The strange beauty of the world. And, most of all, these characters whose lives now feel very much unfinished. I'm eager to find out where the Cosmic Wheel turns next, and what it intends to do to them when it gets there.
For me, strangely, it became part of the beauty of the book. There is something deeply affecting about a story willing to sit inside sadness without immediately trying to turn it into a lesson or rush everyone towards healing. The characters are allowed to inhabit complicated emotional spaces for longer than is comfortable. They don't always know what they want from one another. They don't always say the right thing. Sometimes they seem to understand themselves least of all. That made me care about them far more than I expected to.
There were stretches that dragged for me, moments where the story seemed content to linger when I was ready for it to move, but even then I rarely wanted to rush through them. A.D. Sui's prose is simply gorgeous—lush without becoming ornamental for its own sake, full of imagery that gives the world an almost tactile quality.
I liked that the science fiction never seemed desperate to perform for me. The sense of scale is there, the imagination is there, but the book doesn't keep reaching for spectacle simply because it can. Some of its most memorable moments are remarkably quiet. A conversation. A thought left unfinished. The particular ache of something remembered. The feeling that two people can be standing close together and still have an impossible distance between them. That restraint suits the prose beautifully. The world feels strange and expansive without constantly waving its arms to make sure we notice how strange and expansive it is.
I think that's ultimately why the slower sections never damaged my experience as much as they ordinarily might have. I noticed them, certainly. There were places I would have tightened. But I also didn't particularly want this book stripped down into something leaner and faster if doing so meant losing the atmosphere that made it feel so distinctive.
By the end, I wasn't thinking much about where it had dragged. I was thinking about the language. The sadness of it. The strange beauty of the world. And, most of all, these characters whose lives now feel very much unfinished. I'm eager to find out where the Cosmic Wheel turns next, and what it intends to do to them when it gets there.
June 8, 2026
Stars: 4 out of 5
I didn’t quite know what to expect when I picked up this book. I was surprised to find a “murder ship” story with a strong element of cosmic horror. I also didn’t expect to enjoy Iris and his AI companion as much as I did.
Iris and his AI companion are definitely the highlight of the book. They are a fascinating duo—two separate consciousnesses sharing a single mind. They bicker and can even hurt each other at times, but they also genuinely care about one another’s well-being. As you learn more about their relationship, it becomes increasingly compelling and easy to appreciate.
The deeper I learned about Iris’s trauma, the more I empathized with him. He constantly strives to be useful, to do the right thing, yet he feels he is never quite enough—that he is falling short of what it means to be a Vessel. I was glad to see him eventually find some measure of peace, even though it comes after a series of difficult and painful events.
I wasn’t as engaged with the other characters, as they are less developed and often feel like expendable background figures. I found it difficult to distinguish between the students for much of the book. They are mostly portrayed as frightened and helpless, with others trying to protect them, but they lack distinct identities.
In terms of the story, it’s a strong example of cosmic horror combined with claustrophobic suspense. A group of people explores a derelict generation ship, only to discover that the ship is not as lifeless as it appears—and that it poses a deadly threat.
The book also explores interesting ideas about what it means to be alive versus simply aware, along with a thoughtful perspective on the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next installment, especially since the ending leaves things on a cliffhanger.
PS: My thanks to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.
I didn’t quite know what to expect when I picked up this book. I was surprised to find a “murder ship” story with a strong element of cosmic horror. I also didn’t expect to enjoy Iris and his AI companion as much as I did.
Iris and his AI companion are definitely the highlight of the book. They are a fascinating duo—two separate consciousnesses sharing a single mind. They bicker and can even hurt each other at times, but they also genuinely care about one another’s well-being. As you learn more about their relationship, it becomes increasingly compelling and easy to appreciate.
The deeper I learned about Iris’s trauma, the more I empathized with him. He constantly strives to be useful, to do the right thing, yet he feels he is never quite enough—that he is falling short of what it means to be a Vessel. I was glad to see him eventually find some measure of peace, even though it comes after a series of difficult and painful events.
I wasn’t as engaged with the other characters, as they are less developed and often feel like expendable background figures. I found it difficult to distinguish between the students for much of the book. They are mostly portrayed as frightened and helpless, with others trying to protect them, but they lack distinct identities.
In terms of the story, it’s a strong example of cosmic horror combined with claustrophobic suspense. A group of people explores a derelict generation ship, only to discover that the ship is not as lifeless as it appears—and that it poses a deadly threat.
The book also explores interesting ideas about what it means to be alive versus simply aware, along with a thoughtful perspective on the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next installment, especially since the ending leaves things on a cliffhanger.
PS: My thanks to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.
September 19, 2026
— ꒰ 🔭 ꒱ 3.25 stars
okay so what the hell 😭
okay so what the hell 😭
March 13, 2026
gay monk on killer spaceship what else is there to say
October 10, 2025
Um. Wow. This is absolutely brilliant.
Read via NetGalley.
Humans have spread through the stars. People die on spaceships, and in accidents, and sometimes lost slow-traveling generation spaceships are found with all crew dead. In those instances, monks of the Starlit Order are often called on, to lay the dead to rest, and to remind the dead that they are one with the Infinite Light. Not everyone believes in the Infinite Light (and the Infinite Light doesn't care about your belief), but the monks seem to carry out a role that people need. People have always needed closure with death.
Iris is a Starlit monk, and as such has a personal AI in their head - not something that is very well regarded any more. Iris isn't sure that he's a very good monk, but he wants to be good at it. He is sent to a newly 'arrived' generation ship - sent many generations ago, just now arriving in populated space, and all crew dead. When Iris arrives onboard, however, he is not alone: there's an archaeological team onboard as well, which just makes everything more difficult. And then things get even MORE difficult, but it's not the fault of the humans...
I'm tempted to say that this is a little bit gothic - a giant spaceship is kind of like a house, right? I'm not sure whether or not it's horror; I did not find it scary, although I imagine that if it were a film I would have found it so. Guess it's a good thing I'm not doing the genre marketing.
No matter the genre, I absolutely adored this book. I love Iris and his inner conflict, although I definitely wanted to scold him at several (many) points and urge him to take better care of himself. I was deeply amused by Iris' relationship with his AI (VIFAI), as well as occasionally troubled. The archaeologists and engineers are characterised swiftly and beautifully - even the ones who don't live all that long (spoiler!). The arguments between the different groups were all too believable. And I was utterly intrigued by the eventual reveal of what was going on; it may not be an entirely unique take, but it's incredibly well done and feels like a really fascinating direction for further exploration.
AND THEN I got to the end and discovered there's another book in the offing! Truly a wonderful surprise. A.D Sui keeps being one to watch.
Read via NetGalley.
Humans have spread through the stars. People die on spaceships, and in accidents, and sometimes lost slow-traveling generation spaceships are found with all crew dead. In those instances, monks of the Starlit Order are often called on, to lay the dead to rest, and to remind the dead that they are one with the Infinite Light. Not everyone believes in the Infinite Light (and the Infinite Light doesn't care about your belief), but the monks seem to carry out a role that people need. People have always needed closure with death.
Iris is a Starlit monk, and as such has a personal AI in their head - not something that is very well regarded any more. Iris isn't sure that he's a very good monk, but he wants to be good at it. He is sent to a newly 'arrived' generation ship - sent many generations ago, just now arriving in populated space, and all crew dead. When Iris arrives onboard, however, he is not alone: there's an archaeological team onboard as well, which just makes everything more difficult. And then things get even MORE difficult, but it's not the fault of the humans...
I'm tempted to say that this is a little bit gothic - a giant spaceship is kind of like a house, right? I'm not sure whether or not it's horror; I did not find it scary, although I imagine that if it were a film I would have found it so. Guess it's a good thing I'm not doing the genre marketing.
No matter the genre, I absolutely adored this book. I love Iris and his inner conflict, although I definitely wanted to scold him at several (many) points and urge him to take better care of himself. I was deeply amused by Iris' relationship with his AI (VIFAI), as well as occasionally troubled. The archaeologists and engineers are characterised swiftly and beautifully - even the ones who don't live all that long (spoiler!). The arguments between the different groups were all too believable. And I was utterly intrigued by the eventual reveal of what was going on; it may not be an entirely unique take, but it's incredibly well done and feels like a really fascinating direction for further exploration.
AND THEN I got to the end and discovered there's another book in the offing! Truly a wonderful surprise. A.D Sui keeps being one to watch.
March 13, 2026
4.5*
What a gem of a book! I'm a sucker for sci-fi, and The Iron Garden Sutra manages to feel like a classic space opera while having a genuinely unique concept. The monk protagonist was an interesting point of view, and the character relationships were great - particularly the romance. The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed here in a heartwarming and convincing way (yay trauma bonds)! I liked the exploration of religion here, too.
I wish it had been a little faster-paced; hence the half star off my rating, but that may just be me.
What a gem of a book! I'm a sucker for sci-fi, and The Iron Garden Sutra manages to feel like a classic space opera while having a genuinely unique concept. The monk protagonist was an interesting point of view, and the character relationships were great - particularly the romance. The enemies-to-lovers trope was executed here in a heartwarming and convincing way (yay trauma bonds)! I liked the exploration of religion here, too.
I wish it had been a little faster-paced; hence the half star off my rating, but that may just be me.
March 1, 2026
ITS GOING TO BE A SERIES ARE YOU KIDDING ME
May 17, 2026
Did I go into this book completely blind? Yes. Yes, I did. Did I pick it solely because of the cover? Uh huh. Did I know what was waiting for me behind the cover? Uhhhh….
You’re going to think from the cover this is fantasy, maybe even a romantasy book. You’d be very, very wrong. I am… unnerved. Unsettled. And lowkey deleting all the AI in my apps after reading this. Like for real.
It starts off unassuming. A monk, a galactic monk that travels to far away places to say last rites over the dead and hold funerals for them is our main character. Seems unassuming, and kinda quaint and cute. To think that our world has evolved so far to be space travelers, and yet we still feel the need to make our dead peaceful and at rest. Vessel Iris gets called into duty for a generational ship. One that’s made a very long journey for a very long time. A crowd of people on a ship that hasn’t had anyone alive in a very long time does not make for a peaceful and solitary trip. Filled with archeologists, linguists and even engineers, Vessel Iris is forced to maneuver around everyone as he sees to the ship’s last occupants. Or, are they?
This one is a slow build. The first half sets the scene and gives you rich detail to build this into your head. The second half takes that beautiful rendering you made and smashes it to bits and fills it with the scariest things you could possibly imagine in a connected world. I won’t spoil what happens next, but maybe don’t read this one in the dark of night! And that ending… to just leave it like that is just mean. (Thankfully there is a sequel coming but holy shit I did NOT see that end coming!)
Be like me and go into this one blind. Read it and see if you don’t have an opinion at the end of it. And most of all, come back and talk to me about it because I am DYING to talk about this book!
You’re going to think from the cover this is fantasy, maybe even a romantasy book. You’d be very, very wrong. I am… unnerved. Unsettled. And lowkey deleting all the AI in my apps after reading this. Like for real.
It starts off unassuming. A monk, a galactic monk that travels to far away places to say last rites over the dead and hold funerals for them is our main character. Seems unassuming, and kinda quaint and cute. To think that our world has evolved so far to be space travelers, and yet we still feel the need to make our dead peaceful and at rest. Vessel Iris gets called into duty for a generational ship. One that’s made a very long journey for a very long time. A crowd of people on a ship that hasn’t had anyone alive in a very long time does not make for a peaceful and solitary trip. Filled with archeologists, linguists and even engineers, Vessel Iris is forced to maneuver around everyone as he sees to the ship’s last occupants. Or, are they?
This one is a slow build. The first half sets the scene and gives you rich detail to build this into your head. The second half takes that beautiful rendering you made and smashes it to bits and fills it with the scariest things you could possibly imagine in a connected world. I won’t spoil what happens next, but maybe don’t read this one in the dark of night! And that ending… to just leave it like that is just mean. (Thankfully there is a sequel coming but holy shit I did NOT see that end coming!)
Be like me and go into this one blind. Read it and see if you don’t have an opinion at the end of it. And most of all, come back and talk to me about it because I am DYING to talk about this book!
March 4, 2026
A literary sci-fi thriller that blends (fictional) religion, philosophy, and existential dread exacerbated by a hostage situation in outer space. One of my most anticipated books in 2026 and it delivered!
The Iron Garden Sutra centers around Iris, a monk of the Starlit Order, whose job is to lay the departed to rest, majority of whom come from generation ships- relics of humanity's initial, unsuccessful attempts to colonize space. However, his usually solitary task is interrupted by the arrival of academics on his latest generation ship assignment, and things take a strange, and gradually violent, turn when they realize that they cannot leave the ship.
The story starts off slow, giving one the illusion that they're in for a fun, mildly creepy adventure in a space ship. Like, yes that is a very weird amount of vegetation inside this ship, and it's odd that there aren't enough skeletons for its population size, and– is that a mural depicting an internal schism among the crew?? Why are all the cameras busted? Makes you wonder. After the airlock refuses to budge, everything goes downhill from there. The journey to reach the ship's controls was harrowing and emotionally exhausting. Like I was high-key vibing with the cast only for the plot to show its Teeth.
The book is set in a future wherein humans largely live in outer space due to the advent of gate/portal travel, and AIs have grown complex enough to operate ships and space stations independently. The book plays with this idea in an interesting way, since AIs have progressed beyond autonomy to actually having Personality and Will, so AI rights have become an actual socioethical issue. Iris himself has an AI embedded in his brain, which is largely frowned upon because #AIrights, but VIFAI (Iris' AI) grows up to be his best friend more than a glorified servant, and their mental conversations are a highlight of the book. Usually a respite from the more stressful happenings.
One thing I did not expect was the romantic sideplot, least of all how much I'd enjoy it. Like, I'm confident to say I shipped them from the beginning. Just, Yan, engineer, pissed off for reasons I cant remember, stomping down the mossy corridor; Iris, barefoot and Zen, making a litte game of stepping in Yan's footprints– they were Cute! So I was Pleased by the build-up of tension between them. The book somehow managed to make a few days feel like a slowburn, which I loved. I feel like I could write a whole essay about them and Iris' unreliable narration of Events and Relationships (the POV switch to Yan at the end was Very Telling. Like, Iris, as my new client, I am begging you to let yourself have this?). Given the way things ended for them, the only buffer between me and a monumental crash-out is the fact that there's a sequel to this madness.
Speaking of unreliable narratorship, I also loved how Iris' perception of Bacai, his human BFF, is so skewed compared to practice. Like he'd tell you that's just his coworker when they literally move like soul siblings it's crazy.
Working as he is for the Starlit Order, there's a great deal of philosophical monologues centering the religion, which I found interesting, but which some may find dragging. Iris also behaves in ways that make it obvious he spends more time with the dead than the living, but the social ineptness is low-key part of his charm and integral to his character development.
A self-contained story that balances introspection with action and intrigue. A bit creepy and at times depressing, but I'm already seated for the sequel!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the eARC. This review reflects my own opinions.
The Iron Garden Sutra centers around Iris, a monk of the Starlit Order, whose job is to lay the departed to rest, majority of whom come from generation ships- relics of humanity's initial, unsuccessful attempts to colonize space. However, his usually solitary task is interrupted by the arrival of academics on his latest generation ship assignment, and things take a strange, and gradually violent, turn when they realize that they cannot leave the ship.
The story starts off slow, giving one the illusion that they're in for a fun, mildly creepy adventure in a space ship. Like, yes that is a very weird amount of vegetation inside this ship, and it's odd that there aren't enough skeletons for its population size, and– is that a mural depicting an internal schism among the crew?? Why are all the cameras busted? Makes you wonder. After the airlock refuses to budge, everything goes downhill from there. The journey to reach the ship's controls was harrowing and emotionally exhausting. Like I was high-key vibing with the cast only for the plot to show its Teeth.
The book is set in a future wherein humans largely live in outer space due to the advent of gate/portal travel, and AIs have grown complex enough to operate ships and space stations independently. The book plays with this idea in an interesting way, since AIs have progressed beyond autonomy to actually having Personality and Will, so AI rights have become an actual socioethical issue. Iris himself has an AI embedded in his brain, which is largely frowned upon because #AIrights, but VIFAI (Iris' AI) grows up to be his best friend more than a glorified servant, and their mental conversations are a highlight of the book. Usually a respite from the more stressful happenings.
One thing I did not expect was the romantic sideplot, least of all how much I'd enjoy it. Like, I'm confident to say I shipped them from the beginning. Just, Yan, engineer, pissed off for reasons I cant remember, stomping down the mossy corridor; Iris, barefoot and Zen, making a litte game of stepping in Yan's footprints– they were Cute! So I was Pleased by the build-up of tension between them. The book somehow managed to make a few days feel like a slowburn, which I loved. I feel like I could write a whole essay about them and Iris' unreliable narration of Events and Relationships (the POV switch to Yan at the end was Very Telling. Like, Iris, as my new client, I am begging you to let yourself have this?). Given the way things ended for them, the only buffer between me and a monumental crash-out is the fact that there's a sequel to this madness.
Speaking of unreliable narratorship, I also loved how Iris' perception of Bacai, his human BFF, is so skewed compared to practice. Like he'd tell you that's just his coworker when they literally move like soul siblings it's crazy.
Working as he is for the Starlit Order, there's a great deal of philosophical monologues centering the religion, which I found interesting, but which some may find dragging. Iris also behaves in ways that make it obvious he spends more time with the dead than the living, but the social ineptness is low-key part of his charm and integral to his character development.
A self-contained story that balances introspection with action and intrigue. A bit creepy and at times depressing, but I'm already seated for the sequel!
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the eARC. This review reflects my own opinions.
May 14, 2025
I feel incredibly lucky to have read this book early. With an inventive and original setting that is both beautiful and disturbing, characters I want to squeeze and protect (like seriously, gird yourselves) and a smart, thoughtful approach to the exploration of faith, The Iron Garden Sutra is a book that will stay with me. (I'm absolutely devouring the bars of my cage rabid for book two!) All the stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What is it about?
The Iron Garden Sutra follows Vessel Iris, a monk in a future where humanity has long since left Earth. Iris’s role is to perform funeral rites by preparing remains, offering prayers, and honoring the deceased. In this, he is assisted by his Vessel Iris' Friendly AI, or VIFAI, implanted into his brain, and present as a constant companion.
When he is assigned a job aboard one of the original generation ships that fled Earth, he expects solitude. Instead, he finds researchers already aboard the ship grown into a whole new ecosystem, and soon makes both unexpected friends and enemies. As the crew starts feeling watched and endangered, the story becomes a space thriller layered with philosophical reflection, moral tension, and unsettling discoveries.
What did I enjoy?
What I loved the most in this book was the depth and introspection presented through Iris’s thoughts and conversations with his AI. The dynamic between human and artificial intelligence is one of the novel’s strengths, raising questions about AI autonomy, rights, and the unintended consequences of imposed control.
The balance between philosophy and action sequences felt exactly right. The plot delivers twists, emotional stakes, and just enough gore to keep you on the edge. Sui has a remarkable ability to make you care about characters quickly, but you have to be aware that in a space thriller with murder-mystery elements, not all of them will remain safe. This book felt perfectly tailored to my tastes, but does require emotional and philosophical investment.
Who is it for?
This is ideal for readers who enjoy sci-fi with character-driven narratives and thoughtful explorations of AI ethics. It’s best suited for patient thriller readers who appreciate a balance of atmosphere and philosophical depth alongside tension and mystery, with just a bit of romance.
Although the story contains death, violence, and some gore, these elements remain secondary to the emotional connections and ethical core. While this is only the first installment in a series, it does resolve some elements of the mystery, yet leaves enough questions open to keep you curious where the story will go.
For me, this was a five-star read and easily my favorite advanced listening copy so far.
------------
I thank NetGalley and Recorded Books for the advance listening copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Iron Garden Sutra follows Vessel Iris, a monk in a future where humanity has long since left Earth. Iris’s role is to perform funeral rites by preparing remains, offering prayers, and honoring the deceased. In this, he is assisted by his Vessel Iris' Friendly AI, or VIFAI, implanted into his brain, and present as a constant companion.
When he is assigned a job aboard one of the original generation ships that fled Earth, he expects solitude. Instead, he finds researchers already aboard the ship grown into a whole new ecosystem, and soon makes both unexpected friends and enemies. As the crew starts feeling watched and endangered, the story becomes a space thriller layered with philosophical reflection, moral tension, and unsettling discoveries.
What did I enjoy?
What I loved the most in this book was the depth and introspection presented through Iris’s thoughts and conversations with his AI. The dynamic between human and artificial intelligence is one of the novel’s strengths, raising questions about AI autonomy, rights, and the unintended consequences of imposed control.
The balance between philosophy and action sequences felt exactly right. The plot delivers twists, emotional stakes, and just enough gore to keep you on the edge. Sui has a remarkable ability to make you care about characters quickly, but you have to be aware that in a space thriller with murder-mystery elements, not all of them will remain safe. This book felt perfectly tailored to my tastes, but does require emotional and philosophical investment.
Who is it for?
This is ideal for readers who enjoy sci-fi with character-driven narratives and thoughtful explorations of AI ethics. It’s best suited for patient thriller readers who appreciate a balance of atmosphere and philosophical depth alongside tension and mystery, with just a bit of romance.
Although the story contains death, violence, and some gore, these elements remain secondary to the emotional connections and ethical core. While this is only the first installment in a series, it does resolve some elements of the mystery, yet leaves enough questions open to keep you curious where the story will go.
For me, this was a five-star read and easily my favorite advanced listening copy so far.
------------
I thank NetGalley and Recorded Books for the advance listening copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 22, 2026
1.5 stars
Yet another review that will gradually devolve into an angry rant *sigh*. If there's a contest for the most annoying character of the year, this book will win by a mile. And no, it's not the protagonist.
Unmarked spoilers, to save you the trouble.
Apparently, there's no sci-fi as a genre in this setting, because the characters keep making the most mundane and implausible assumptions about their predicament, when what's happening is painfully obvious if you've ever encountered sci-fi before.
Everything I'm going to rant about below saddens me to no end, because first four chapters are brilliant, and Iris starts as a complex, interesting and flawed individual. Then the plot starts slogging in favour of Iris' various crises and he loses most of what made him appealing, instead turning into an angsty knot of a person who continuously inflicts some dumb shit on himself and then keeps whining about it.
The book tries to cover a number of topics - teachings of the Starlit Order, generational ships, musings on life and death, crisis of faith, the nature of solitude, the rights of AI constructs - but they don't mesh well together. Every time something creepy happens on the ship, it is followed by pages and pages and pages of Iris' internal turmoil, or his backstory, or some philosophical aside, and it breaks the already uneven pacing even more. Plus, so many of those asides are pretty abrupt, like Iris suddenly questioning the Starlit teachings - he feels like a novice on his first assignment and not an experienced Vessel that he is. Somewhere in the middle, the plot practically screeches to a halt and it feels like we are reading a philosophical treatise. Which would not have been so bad if this book weren't billed as science fiction horror and blurbed as murder mystery!
Then there's engineer Yan, obviously intended as a love interest - there are plenty of scenes written in a way that suggests sexual tension. But if you wanted that, dear author, why would you make him such a massive turd who should be thrown out of the nearest airlock? bUt hE hAs TrAuMa, so it's okay to crap on the whole order of people because of the actions of two of them, and on this particular person who had nothing to do with it at all. Fuck this character, fuck this approach.
Don't get me started on creating conflict for the sake of conflict. Why the fuck did Eli go with Yan and Tev with Iris and not vice versa, if Tev is Yan's direct responsibility? Because we needed yet another angsty conflict with Yan, as if they weren't at it for 11 damn chapters!
To crown it all, we have the whole discourse around AI. The true horror should have been in how much control humanity surrendered to AI, and the book itself provides multiple situations where AI massively fucks up on its own or gets fucked up by other factors, like electronics being fried, and yet there's so much "woe-be-me poor mistreated AI" pseudo-ethics! But then, the newly awakened AI that made the ship "alive" turns out to be evil (despite it claiming self defence, it's actually murderous and malicious). But then our good AI boy VIFAI heroically sacrifices itself to save the remaining humans. Just pick a stance! Also, if it's a metaphor, it doesn't work.
For a big chunk of the book I was still willing to give it the benefit of a doubt, because it does have some great things. Writing is one of them - sentences flow easily and exposition happens in a very natural way, initially keeping you glued to the page. And I was really really hopeful for some good final twist to salvage the plot.
The ending is open-ended! Did VIFAI kill the ship as Iris asked? Or did it really not want to kill it and his offer to merge and rewrite their codes together was truthful? Or did he lie to the ship and kill it through the said merging? Yan later mentions that the ship indeed shut down permanently, so in that case, what happened to it? Was it disassembled for study? Blown up to smithereens to be on the safe side? Who knows. The sequel hook in the epilogue seemingly has nothing to do with the ship anymore, and even if the next book comes back to it, I won't be picking it up to find out.
This is not the only mess, the whole plot is peppered with inconsistencies. VIFAI gets the info on all members of the "expedition", reads about two of them, and then this is never brought up again (obviously, Yan gets to dump his trauma on Iris in person, because he's oh so important). The skeleton Iris finds in a separate room and keeps dwelling on for a bit regarding the bullet hole disappears from his thoughts completely at the point. The touch vs no touch rule is utterly contradictory whenever it's mentioned, even when Iris explains it to the others. Iris keeps telling us how much he likes Riyu and how kind she is, but we barely see them interact on page. The ship claims it was asleep and only woke up when the airlock was overridden, but then how and why did it jump out of a gate and put itself into the station orbit? Why didn't anyone on the station wonder why the "expedition" didn't come back from the ship in the evening, like they were contractually obligated to do every day? Who cares. Have more philosophy instead.
And finally, the biggest question of it all - why the fuck did it have to be AI if mycelium was right there?!
P. S. Discussion questions? Since when is this a thing in modern books? What kind of required-reading-for-school bullshit is this?
Yet another review that will gradually devolve into an angry rant *sigh*. If there's a contest for the most annoying character of the year, this book will win by a mile. And no, it's not the protagonist.
Unmarked spoilers, to save you the trouble.
Apparently, there's no sci-fi as a genre in this setting, because the characters keep making the most mundane and implausible assumptions about their predicament, when what's happening is painfully obvious if you've ever encountered sci-fi before.
Everything I'm going to rant about below saddens me to no end, because first four chapters are brilliant, and Iris starts as a complex, interesting and flawed individual. Then the plot starts slogging in favour of Iris' various crises and he loses most of what made him appealing, instead turning into an angsty knot of a person who continuously inflicts some dumb shit on himself and then keeps whining about it.
The book tries to cover a number of topics - teachings of the Starlit Order, generational ships, musings on life and death, crisis of faith, the nature of solitude, the rights of AI constructs - but they don't mesh well together. Every time something creepy happens on the ship, it is followed by pages and pages and pages of Iris' internal turmoil, or his backstory, or some philosophical aside, and it breaks the already uneven pacing even more. Plus, so many of those asides are pretty abrupt, like Iris suddenly questioning the Starlit teachings - he feels like a novice on his first assignment and not an experienced Vessel that he is. Somewhere in the middle, the plot practically screeches to a halt and it feels like we are reading a philosophical treatise. Which would not have been so bad if this book weren't billed as science fiction horror and blurbed as murder mystery!
Then there's engineer Yan, obviously intended as a love interest - there are plenty of scenes written in a way that suggests sexual tension. But if you wanted that, dear author, why would you make him such a massive turd who should be thrown out of the nearest airlock? bUt hE hAs TrAuMa, so it's okay to crap on the whole order of people because of the actions of two of them, and on this particular person who had nothing to do with it at all. Fuck this character, fuck this approach.
Don't get me started on creating conflict for the sake of conflict. Why the fuck did Eli go with Yan and Tev with Iris and not vice versa, if Tev is Yan's direct responsibility? Because we needed yet another angsty conflict with Yan, as if they weren't at it for 11 damn chapters!
To crown it all, we have the whole discourse around AI. The true horror should have been in how much control humanity surrendered to AI, and the book itself provides multiple situations where AI massively fucks up on its own or gets fucked up by other factors, like electronics being fried, and yet there's so much "woe-be-me poor mistreated AI" pseudo-ethics! But then, the newly awakened AI that made the ship "alive" turns out to be evil (despite it claiming self defence, it's actually murderous and malicious). But then our good AI boy VIFAI heroically sacrifices itself to save the remaining humans. Just pick a stance! Also, if it's a metaphor, it doesn't work.
For a big chunk of the book I was still willing to give it the benefit of a doubt, because it does have some great things. Writing is one of them - sentences flow easily and exposition happens in a very natural way, initially keeping you glued to the page. And I was really really hopeful for some good final twist to salvage the plot.
The ending is open-ended! Did VIFAI kill the ship as Iris asked? Or did it really not want to kill it and his offer to merge and rewrite their codes together was truthful? Or did he lie to the ship and kill it through the said merging? Yan later mentions that the ship indeed shut down permanently, so in that case, what happened to it? Was it disassembled for study? Blown up to smithereens to be on the safe side? Who knows. The sequel hook in the epilogue seemingly has nothing to do with the ship anymore, and even if the next book comes back to it, I won't be picking it up to find out.
This is not the only mess, the whole plot is peppered with inconsistencies. VIFAI gets the info on all members of the "expedition", reads about two of them, and then this is never brought up again (obviously, Yan gets to dump his trauma on Iris in person, because he's oh so important). The skeleton Iris finds in a separate room and keeps dwelling on for a bit regarding the bullet hole disappears from his thoughts completely at the point. The touch vs no touch rule is utterly contradictory whenever it's mentioned, even when Iris explains it to the others. Iris keeps telling us how much he likes Riyu and how kind she is, but we barely see them interact on page. The ship claims it was asleep and only woke up when the airlock was overridden, but then how and why did it jump out of a gate and put itself into the station orbit? Why didn't anyone on the station wonder why the "expedition" didn't come back from the ship in the evening, like they were contractually obligated to do every day? Who cares. Have more philosophy instead.
And finally, the biggest question of it all - why the fuck did it have to be AI if mycelium was right there?!
P. S. Discussion questions? Since when is this a thing in modern books? What kind of required-reading-for-school bullshit is this?
June 5, 2026
I hate having to wait for the characters to figure out what's going on when it's very obvious to anyone who's read a scifi before. XD
Some great world-building and well-fleshed-out characters.
Being stuck in Iris' POV with his unacknowledged eating disorder was really bad for me personally.
Some great world-building and well-fleshed-out characters.
Being stuck in Iris' POV with his unacknowledged eating disorder was really bad for me personally.
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