"An expansive, effectively realized mystery... coherently blends noir and socio-political thriller elements into an intriguing whole." — Bluelnk Review
"A captivating story that will thrill adrenaline junkies, science fiction fans, and anyone curious about what it might have been like if Sergio Leone had gotten into sci-fi." - Gaius Konstantine for Readers'
"A master of creating an intricate and immersive world occupied by unique and relatable characters. Highly recommended!" — Reader's Favorite
"Speculative science fiction that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish." — Reader's Favorite
"Believable, well-developed characters... a gritty, authentic setting... compelling themes of found family, fidelity, rebellion, and power." — Reader's Favorite
"A richly imagined world... exciting and atmospheric... well worth the read." — Reedsy Discovery Star Sheriff Jack Kessler thought a posting to Osiris I would mean the quiet life he'd earned; a distant Saturnian colony, a war long behind him. But when a miner dies under suspicious circumstances, the local police and the all-powerful Solar Mining Corporation want it dismissed as an accident. Jack knows better.
What begins as a single death unravels into a web of compromised institutions, weaponized belief, and a planetary revolt disguised as progress. As he digs deeper, Jack finds himself protecting a grieving teenage girl, confronting a manipulative corporate regime, and reckoning with the ghosts that still haunt his damaged body and mind.
From magnetic MagSled rails looping the city to the ever-present HoloLens connecting every colonist, Osiris Rising immerses you in a vividly imagined future; one where survival, loyalty, and truth collide in unexpected ways, forever grounded in reality and the realm of possible.
A story of memory embedded in the body, the failure of institutional morality, and the quiet defiance of found family, Osiris Rising resists genre clichés in favor of moral ambiguity, slow revelation, and the notion that survival itself can be the most radical act.
The first installment in The Jack Kessler Chronicles. Perfect for fans of character-driven science fiction, layered mysteries, and richly detailed worlds.
★ For readers of Le Guin, Dick, Corey, and Powers
★ Features detailed world-building, intricate political dynamics, and deep, layered characters
★ Explores power, memory, autonomy—and the cost of doing what's right when the rules no longer apply
This book left an extraordinary impression on me. Every chapter was written in such a way that I read each one with great excitement. The story was so well crafted that I felt as if I were truly there. I loved how the characters were portrayed - I grew so fond of them that they almost felt real. I even caught myself thinking about them over breakfast. I must also say that | am not someone who usually reads much, but this book may have pushed me to change my attitude toward reading altogether. All praise goes to the young author.
I finished it two weeks ago and waited before writing my review to let it sink in.
I really enjoyed Osiris Rising! I loved the pace, the setting, and the overall atmosphere. The characters are well-developed and the story is captivating. The short chapters make it an absolute page-turner!
I'm waiting for the second book in the series and hoping the author will continue Amanda's story.
Osiris Rising, the first installment in The Jack Kessler Chronicles, transports readers to the mining colony of Osiris I—a cold, industrial outpost in the far reaches of the Solar System. When a miner, Matthew Stevenson, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Star Sheriff Jack Kessler is drawn into a case that pits him against local law enforcement, corporate powerhouses, and a tangle of political undercurrents. Initially dismissed as an industrial accident, the death’s peculiar wound profile hints at advanced and possibly illicit weaponry, igniting Kessler’s instincts for foul play. As he navigates the colony’s labyrinthine tunnels, corporate boardrooms, and public squares, the investigation reveals both the fragility and ruthlessness of life in an off-world frontier.
The novel weaves themes of corporate overreach, jurisdictional tension, and the moral ambiguity of frontier justice into its hard sci-fi framework. The conflict between Terra Sol’s federal authority and the Osiris I Police Force mirrors real-world struggles between central governance and local autonomy. The pervasive presence of the Solar Mining Corporation (SMC) underscores themes of exploitation, image control, and the human cost of industrial expansion. A recurring undercurrent of physical and psychological resilience—embodied in Kessler’s old war injury—adds depth to the broader theme of survival in hostile environments.
Characters and Setting:
Jack Kessler emerges as a compelling protagonist—world-weary, pragmatic, and quietly principled. His war injury, and the way it both hinders and defines him, is not just a character detail but an ongoing reminder of sacrifice and consequence. Supporting characters, from Anette Hanamura’s loyal efficiency to Sergeant Drummond’s rule-bound obstinacy, are sketched with enough personality to avoid archetype. The setting is a major strength: Osiris I feels fully realized, from ramen shops thick with recycled-air tang to the claustrophobic hum of mining shafts and the artificial charm of plazas under oxygen domes. These locations are not mere backdrops but integral to mood and narrative, immersing readers in a lived-in world.
The story’s early chapters balance procedural detail with atmospheric world-building, gradually increasing narrative tension. While the pace occasionally lingers in exchanges heavy with protocol and jurisdictional wrangling, these moments deepen the political intrigue. The most gripping sequences occur in the mines and in shadowy side conversations between antagonists, where danger feels immediate and unvarnished.
Davidovic writes in a cinematic, detail-oriented style, layering sensory impressions with technological exposition. Dialogue is functional and often charged with subtext, though at times it leans toward overexplaining motives or procedures. The prose excels in evoking place—be it the stark, echoing tunnels of Sector 17A or the bustle of Kofi Annan Plaza. Narrative immersion is enhanced by the integration of futuristic technology—HoloLens overlays, MagSled transport, AI-assisted crime scene reconstruction—without letting them overshadow the human element.
Notable Strengths:
World-building: The colony’s culture, infrastructure, and politics are vividly drawn and organically integrated into the plot.
Protagonist depth: Kessler’s injury and moral code anchor the narrative in personal stakes.
Atmospheric tension: Mining shafts, corporate corridors, and public plazas each have their own distinct mood, heightening the noir-inflected investigation.
Potential Weaknesses:
Occasional overexposition: Certain exchanges risk slowing momentum by reiterating procedural or political points already established.
Pacing variance: The narrative sometimes lingers too long in non-critical conversations before returning to the core mystery.
Overall Assessment:
Osiris Rising succeeds as a blend of space-noir mystery and corporate-political thriller, distinguished by meticulous setting construction and a grounded, human lead. Readers who appreciate the investigative grit of The Expanse or the lived-in sci-fi environments of Blade Runner will find much to enjoy. The book’s strength lies in its fusion of procedural intrigue with immersive world-building, making it a promising start to a series. While the pacing could be slightly more streamlined, its deliberate tempo matches the layered stakes at play.
Recommended for fans of hard science fiction who prefer character-driven mysteries over action-heavy space opera.
I don’t usually read sci-fi, so it took me a little while to get my bearings in the space-age world of Osiris Rising. But once everything clicked into place, it turned into a genuinely fun ride from the very beginning, right through to the end.
I started the book expecting a fairly straightforward thriller, but what I got instead was a gritty, Saturn-colony detective story that felt a bit like “Harry Hole, but with magboots.” And honestly? That unexpected blend worked really well for me.
Jack Kessler has that classic noir energy: a little battered, quietly persistent, and absolutely incapable of letting a suspicious death stay tidy. Osiris I is one of the book’s biggest strengths—cold, industrial, and so vividly described I could practically hear the hiss of recycled air and the hum of mining machinery. It’s the kind of place where corporate secrets drift around more freely than oxygen.
The mystery unfolds in a satisfying, twisty way. What begins as one questionable death expands into corporate intrigue, buried agendas, and political tension that had me leaning in closer with every chapter. Once the story finds its stride, it keeps tightening its grip right through to the finale.
And I really have to hand it to the author—there’s a witty, smart, and slightly offbeat touch to the whole thing that makes the thriller feel fresh and out of the ordinary. It’s a clever mix of classic noir moodiness and futuristic grit, and it works far better than you’d expect on paper.
Osiris Rising is a gritty, immersive slice of space-noir with a strong sense of place and a detective lead I’d happily follow into further trouble. Even for someone who doesn’t normally read sci-fi, this was a smart, engaging, and surprisingly addictive story.
Star Sheriff Jack Kessler’s pursuit of a quiet retirement on the Saturnian colony of Osiris I is shattered by a miner’s "accidental" death. When the Solar Mining Corporation attempts to bury the truth, Jack delves deep into a web of weaponized ideology and brewing planetary revolt. Forced to protect the victim’s orphaned daughter, he must navigate a landscape of corporate greed while finally confronting the ghosts of his own violent history.
Milos Davidovic crafts an atmospheric noir-infused sci-fi mystery blending hard-boiled detective work with richly imagined world-building. He avoids sterile, shiny tropes: his future feels tarnished and worn at the edges, the sci-fi elements firmly grounded in mechanical reality. Jack emerges as a morally complex, emotionally damaged protagonist, a scarred man searching for a scrap of redemption in the unlikeliest of places. His frontier lawman story blends a dusty-boots western vibe with cynical, cerebral sci-fi paranoia. It’s a cinematic collision of Sergio Leone’s western opera and Richard K. Morgan’s bleak corporate dystopia, thoughtful and layered. Ultimately, the novel transcends its genre roots to explore how a single act of radical empathy can dismantle a corrupt system. It is a haunting reminder that even in the lifeless enormity of space, the most dangerous thing an individual can do is refuse to look away.
I went in to this book hoping for something like Red Rising, and instead I got something more like Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole in space. I'm not complaining about that, because I really enjoyed the Harry Hole detective series. However, I felt that Davidovic's space noir was missing a lot in the area of character-building.
Most noir stories work by building off of the typical archetypes: the damsel in distress, the world weary detective or private eye, and the shadowy crime organization the first two are working against. Osiris Rising has these components, but in my opinion Davidovic struggles to get them to breathe off the page. In particular the character of Amanda struggles to actualize. Characters are so important to me as a reader--especially in a detective story. They may be archetypes but the little quirks in their personality and the consistency of their characterization help carry the plot forward. The relationship between Amanda and Jack just kept pulling me out of the narrative because it seemed so forced.
Overall, it was a fun space noir to read. I would be interested to hear what happens on Osiris I in light of the power vacuum at the end of the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Osiris Rising by Milos Davidovic is the kind of science fiction that lingers long after the final page, gritty, intelligent, and driven by profoundly human stakes beneath its sleek futuristic skin.
Star Sheriff Jack Kessler is a beautifully wounded protagonist, physically scarred, emotionally haunted, and morally unflinching. What begins as a suspicious miner’s death quickly unfolds into a chilling portrait of compromised institutions, corporate deception, and a society where belief itself can be weaponized. The relationship between Jack and the grieving teenage girl he protects becomes the emotional backbone of the story, grounding the political intrigue in raw human vulnerability.
What truly elevates Osiris Rising is its restraint. Instead of leaning on spectacle, the novel thrives on slow-burn tension, moral ambiguity, and the quiet resistance of found family. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, from the looping MagSled rails to the omnipresent HoloLens, every detail serves the story rather than distracting from it.
This is not just a sci-fi thriller, it’s a meditation on power, memory, institutional failure, and the cost of survival. A stunning first installment that announces a bold new voice in character-driven speculative fiction.
A layered sci-fi mystery that burns slow and hits hard
*Osiris Rising* is the kind of story that reminds you why character-driven science fiction matters. Jack Kessler isn’t your typical hero—he’s broken, burdened, and trying to do the right thing in a world built on compromise. What begins as a miner’s death spirals into something much larger: corruption, rebellion, and the quiet endurance of found family.
The worldbuilding is rich and textured—Saturnian colonies, corporate control, MagSled rails, and HoloLens tech all feel grounded in reality rather than fantasy. Yet beneath the futuristic sheen lies something timeless: questions of loyalty, morality, and what survival really costs.
Kessler’s world feels lived-in, his pain earned, and his choices painfully human. This isn’t a flashy space saga—it’s noir-tinged, introspective, and morally complex. Perfect for readers who like their sci-fi thoughtful, gritty, and emotionally resonant. I closed the book feeling both haunted and strangely hopeful—a rare thing in this genre.
The story starts with a violent death on a space colony/mining area. Then it jumps around as you meet the Star sherriff plus his deputy, the colony police, several different employees of SMC (the mining company), the victim, the victim's daughter, and later the governor of the colony. It is a jumble for a while before you can see how some of the characters fit in together. Throw in some politics, illegal weapons, misreporting of funds and a dock master that seems to be shady, then there is the mix for some umexpected shenigans to go on. It takes a bit to learn the "world" and it's politics but then more of the story starts to make sense. The star sheriff is the main one for going to the root of the problem but that makes him a target for the bad guys as well. Enjoy this view of a futuristic world with people living in space all their lives. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“Osiris Rising is an absorbing, atmospheric, and brilliantly constructed work of character-driven science fiction. Milos Davidovic delivers a richly detailed world, alive with political tension, corporate manipulation, and the gritty realities of colonized space, that feels both futuristic and eerily plausible. The slow-burn unraveling of truth through Star Sheriff Jack Kessler is gripping, emotionally layered, and deeply human.
Davidovic bypasses genre clichés in favor of moral ambiguity, nuanced power struggles, and the quiet, intimate moments that shape survival. With immersive worldbuilding, complex characters, and a mystery that expands into a sharp commentary on institutional corruption, autonomy, loyalty, and found family, Osiris Rising stands as a standout addition to modern science fiction. Fans of Le Guin, Dick, Corey, and Powers will find themselves right at home.”
Osiris Rising is a gritty space noir with real soul. Sheriff Jack Kessler is a wounded but relentless lead, limping through Osiris I’s recycled air and corporate lies while chasing a miner’s murder. What starts as a simple death, spirals into conspiracies, shadowy weapons, and a girl left behind. Amanda’s grief grounds the story, making the stakes personal. The mix of mystery, political intrigue, and frontier atmosphere hooked me hard, and the finale leaves threads dangling for the next book. If you like The Expanse but want more heart and human struggle, this is a great pick.
I loved Osiris Rising. From its intriguing premise to its explosive finale, the book kept me turning the pages late into the night. Jack Kessler is a character you can truly root for, and the story combines fast-paced action with deeper themes that stay with you after reading. The author has created a richly imagined world that feels both fantastic and believable. I especially appreciated how the mythological elements were woven seamlessly into a modern thriller narrative—it gave the book a unique edge. An excellent start to what promises to be a powerful series. Five stars, highly recommended for fans of sci-fi thrillers with brains and heart.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of the book for free and was pleasantly surprised by its quality and depth. The book features layered, real characters, believable dialogue, deep themes, and is generally very well written. The story starts off slowly, and meticulously builds up to a crescendo that will leave you craving for more! Honestly I was surprised this is indie press since I have read much worse books traditionally published in the past few years.
Osiris Rising is a slow-burn but rewarding sci-fi thriller where a single murder turns into something much bigger. I liked the mix of political intrigue, betrayal, and personal struggles, though at times the story felt a bit slow in the middle. Still, an interesting crime drama set on a distant Saturnian colony.
You have such a unique voice, and I really admire the way you were able to make every page so engaging. Honestly, it’s one of those books that stays with you long after reading.
While the story starts off slow, once it starts picking up the pace it does not let up until the end. The characters are developed very well with good back story. The setting is described very well, creating a vivid world. I can not wait to read the next Jack Kessler adventure. Would recommend
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*