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Paphos
Austin thought bringing his daughter on a routine mission would be a chance to reconnect after years apart. But their deep-space expedition to the uncharted planet Paphos is anything but routine.
Buried within the planet's forests lies a sprawling, crumbling alien compound—and they are not alone. A creature capable of seizing control of any host stalks them, turning their expedition into a desperate fight for survival.
With their escape pods sabotaged and radios destroyed, hunted by an intelligence that hides among them, Austin must forsake all others to keep his daughter safe. The only way home is forward—deeper into the facility, deeper into the unknown.
Perfect for fans of sci-fi thrillers, this pulse-pounding novel explores the limits of survival, the mysteries of first contact, and the unbreakable bond between a father and his daughter.
Buried within the planet's forests lies a sprawling, crumbling alien compound—and they are not alone. A creature capable of seizing control of any host stalks them, turning their expedition into a desperate fight for survival.
With their escape pods sabotaged and radios destroyed, hunted by an intelligence that hides among them, Austin must forsake all others to keep his daughter safe. The only way home is forward—deeper into the facility, deeper into the unknown.
Perfect for fans of sci-fi thrillers, this pulse-pounding novel explores the limits of survival, the mysteries of first contact, and the unbreakable bond between a father and his daughter.
250 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A father and daughter on an alien expedition must survive not only the local wildlife but the crumbling morality of their own crew.
It’s rare to find a sci-fi thriller that delivers full creature-feature terror while still taking the emotional interior of parenthood seriously. Paphos manages both. On the surface, it’s a classic expedition-gone-wrong narrative: a research team lands on a lush alien planet, discovers an ancient obsidian wall hiding a buried facility, and unleashes a parasitic, jellyfish-like species. But beneath the bio-horror and collapsing infrastructure, this is a story about a father watching his daughter change in ways he cannot control.
Once the team breaches the facility, the tone shifts from curiosity to suffocating dread. The underground setting, with its flooded tunnels and honeycombed walls, becomes as hostile as the organism itself. The pacing is tight and relentless, pushing the group from scientific detachment into panic and fracture.
What elevates the novel is the contrast between Austin and Dmitry. Austin is driven by fear and love, his every decision filtered through the instinct to protect Carolina’s innocence. Dmitry, by contrast, embodies ambition without empathy. His calculated pragmatism curdles into cruelty, and the moments where he manipulates Carolina are more disturbing than the alien attacks. The real horror lies as much in moral collapse as in infection.
The infection itself is handled with nuance. Rather than simple loss of self, Carolina’s transformation hints at evolution, even symbiosis.
Not flawless, but tense, atmospheric, and emotionally grounded.
It asks the reader: To what extent do we own our children, and at what point does their survival depend on them becoming something we fear?
4.5/5 Best For: Readers who liked The Last of Us for the relationship dynamics but wished it took place in the universe of Alien.
Review copy provided by Histria Books @ NetGalley
It’s rare to find a sci-fi thriller that delivers full creature-feature terror while still taking the emotional interior of parenthood seriously. Paphos manages both. On the surface, it’s a classic expedition-gone-wrong narrative: a research team lands on a lush alien planet, discovers an ancient obsidian wall hiding a buried facility, and unleashes a parasitic, jellyfish-like species. But beneath the bio-horror and collapsing infrastructure, this is a story about a father watching his daughter change in ways he cannot control.
Once the team breaches the facility, the tone shifts from curiosity to suffocating dread. The underground setting, with its flooded tunnels and honeycombed walls, becomes as hostile as the organism itself. The pacing is tight and relentless, pushing the group from scientific detachment into panic and fracture.
What elevates the novel is the contrast between Austin and Dmitry. Austin is driven by fear and love, his every decision filtered through the instinct to protect Carolina’s innocence. Dmitry, by contrast, embodies ambition without empathy. His calculated pragmatism curdles into cruelty, and the moments where he manipulates Carolina are more disturbing than the alien attacks. The real horror lies as much in moral collapse as in infection.
The infection itself is handled with nuance. Rather than simple loss of self, Carolina’s transformation hints at evolution, even symbiosis.
Not flawless, but tense, atmospheric, and emotionally grounded.
It asks the reader: To what extent do we own our children, and at what point does their survival depend on them becoming something we fear?
4.5/5 Best For: Readers who liked The Last of Us for the relationship dynamics but wished it took place in the universe of Alien.
Review copy provided by Histria Books @ NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
From the very first page, Paphos straps you directly into the dropship alongside the characters and plunges you headfirst into the unknown. The narrative wastes no time throwing you into the tension of a deep-space expedition gone wrong, and the transition from a supposedly routine mission to a desperate fight for survival is immediate and gripping.
What truly elevates this psychological sci-fi thriller is its emotional core. As a parent, I resonated deeply with Austin and his drive to keep his daughter safe. Raising kids brings a constant underlying instinct to protect them, and placing that fierce parental devotion into a hostile, uncharted alien world makes the stakes feel incredibly personal. Austin’s willingness to forsake everything else to ensure her survival is a sentiment any parent will immediately understand. This grounds the story in terrifying reality and makes the character development shine as they try to reconnect amidst the chaos.
The world-building on the planet Paphos is equally fantastic. Burnette crafts a vivid, claustrophobic atmosphere within the sprawling, crumbling alien compound buried deep in the forest. The environmental threats are perfectly balanced with the intense psychological dread of an intelligence capable of seizing control of its hosts. With escape pods sabotaged and radios destroyed, the resulting paranoia makes for a truly pulse-pounding read.
If you are a fan of tense sci-fi thrillers that balance creeping first-contact mysteries with rich, relatable character development, this book is an absolute must-read.
What truly elevates this psychological sci-fi thriller is its emotional core. As a parent, I resonated deeply with Austin and his drive to keep his daughter safe. Raising kids brings a constant underlying instinct to protect them, and placing that fierce parental devotion into a hostile, uncharted alien world makes the stakes feel incredibly personal. Austin’s willingness to forsake everything else to ensure her survival is a sentiment any parent will immediately understand. This grounds the story in terrifying reality and makes the character development shine as they try to reconnect amidst the chaos.
The world-building on the planet Paphos is equally fantastic. Burnette crafts a vivid, claustrophobic atmosphere within the sprawling, crumbling alien compound buried deep in the forest. The environmental threats are perfectly balanced with the intense psychological dread of an intelligence capable of seizing control of its hosts. With escape pods sabotaged and radios destroyed, the resulting paranoia makes for a truly pulse-pounding read.
If you are a fan of tense sci-fi thrillers that balance creeping first-contact mysteries with rich, relatable character development, this book is an absolute must-read.
April 7, 2026
Now he had a bolt of lightning ready to pop, and if he was really lucky, the battery might be good for two bolts of lightning.
Firstly, let me tell you... I was astonished at how quickly Paphos snatched up my attention. Within just a few pages, I was already drawn into the exhausted father and spirited daughter dynamic, and found myself feeling genuine empathy for both of them.
Paphos follows Austin, his daughter Carolina, and a research team travelling to an alien planet for a mission that quickly turns into a fight for survival. The world feels vivid and eerie without ever overwhelming the reader, which makes it easy to stay immersed in the story.
The characters are all well-written and develop naturally throughout. I especially enjoyed the interactions between them, as well as the moments of humour that provided brief relief from the tension. However, the real standout for me was Carolina, whose spirited personality added both heart and energy to the story.
I would happily read a sequel to Paphos, as I feel there are so many avenues of exploration.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nick Burnette for the ARC.
March 13, 2026
Every once in a while, I crave a good sci-fi to read. Let me tell you - THIS!! This was it. I started reading and next thing I knew it was dark outside and my dog was staring me down after ignoring him the whole day. That's how much the story had me in its grasp, I lost all sense of reality because I was so focused on the characters and the chaos they found themselves in. I had to know what was happening next like I needed air. Will I be buying a shelf trophy of this book? ABSOLUTELY! Because I will definitely be reading this one again.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unique sci-fi work that manages to effectively juggle both intense interpersonal aspects and some impeccable sci-fi with a parasitic, hijacking jellyfish entity. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews