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Cut Off from Sky and Earth
"A suspenseful story of buried trauma, female friendship, and the cost of secrets."— Kirkus Reviews
From USA Today bestselling author Melissa F. Miller comes a haunting psychological thriller about two women trapped by a storm, tormented by the past, and desperate to survive the present.
A stay in a remote cabin is supposed to help Emily Rose finish her book—a feminist retelling of a fairytale about a princess and her lady-in-waiting imprisoned in a tower. Instead, it becomes the setting for a reckoning seven years in the making.
Emily has spent years hiding her trauma from the night she found her roommate murdered. When her husband, Tristan, arranges a writing retreat for her, she meets Alex, the owner of the isolated property and a woman with secrets of her own—including one that threatens to destroy Emily's marriage.
Trapped by a fierce storm and haunted by echoes of past violence, the women encounter a series of unnerving events—a watcher in the woods, a smashed cell phone, slashed tires. Their only hope will be to work together to rescue themselves from a very real, present danger.
Interspersed with passages of Emily’s work-in-progress, Cut Off from Sky and Earth is a chilling exploration of the weight of memory, the burden of trauma, and the courage it takes to break free.
For readers of psychological suspense, feminist thrillers, and literary mysteries with a dark fairytale edge.
From USA Today bestselling author Melissa F. Miller comes a haunting psychological thriller about two women trapped by a storm, tormented by the past, and desperate to survive the present.
A stay in a remote cabin is supposed to help Emily Rose finish her book—a feminist retelling of a fairytale about a princess and her lady-in-waiting imprisoned in a tower. Instead, it becomes the setting for a reckoning seven years in the making.
Emily has spent years hiding her trauma from the night she found her roommate murdered. When her husband, Tristan, arranges a writing retreat for her, she meets Alex, the owner of the isolated property and a woman with secrets of her own—including one that threatens to destroy Emily's marriage.
Trapped by a fierce storm and haunted by echoes of past violence, the women encounter a series of unnerving events—a watcher in the woods, a smashed cell phone, slashed tires. Their only hope will be to work together to rescue themselves from a very real, present danger.
Interspersed with passages of Emily’s work-in-progress, Cut Off from Sky and Earth is a chilling exploration of the weight of memory, the burden of trauma, and the courage it takes to break free.
For readers of psychological suspense, feminist thrillers, and literary mysteries with a dark fairytale edge.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
30 people are currently reading
6826 people want to read
About the author
Melissa F. Miller
89 books595 followersMelissa F. Miller is a multi-time USA Today bestselling author of mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance novels. Formerly a complex commercial litigator, Melissa graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in medieval literature and creative writing poetry and earned her JD, cum laude, from the Duquesne University School of Law, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review.
After fifteen years, Melissa traded the practice of law for the art of storytelling, drawing on her legal background and love of research to craft fast-paced, twisty books for readers who believe light drives out darkness, love is brave, and kind is strong. She writes strong, resilient characters who tackle serious (and sometimes dark) issues and themes with heart.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Novelists, Inc. When she’s not writing, you can find her tending her garden, doing yoga, or drinking coffee. Melissa currently lives outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her family and their rescues—a cat and a beagle. The cat’s in charge.
After fifteen years, Melissa traded the practice of law for the art of storytelling, drawing on her legal background and love of research to craft fast-paced, twisty books for readers who believe light drives out darkness, love is brave, and kind is strong. She writes strong, resilient characters who tackle serious (and sometimes dark) issues and themes with heart.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Novelists, Inc. When she’s not writing, you can find her tending her garden, doing yoga, or drinking coffee. Melissa currently lives outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her family and their rescues—a cat and a beagle. The cat’s in charge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 13, 2025
In a Nutshell: A psychological suspense thriller with an undertone of a feminist fairytale retelling. A clever story with interesting but complex characters. Avoids most of the pitfalls of the genre such as unreliable narration. Had a couple of things been edited, this would have been an easy 5 star for me. Much recommended. Go in blind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview: (This is just a barebones version. The actual story is much more layered.)
It is best to go into this book blind, so I’ll keep my review somewhat vague. Do not read the Goodreads blurb as it reveals TOO much. (What a surprise, right?! 😒)
Bookish Yays:
🤩 The main characters. Each with their share of past and present troubles.
🤩 The storyline. Past trauma shadowing present reality – written so convincingly.
🤩 The highlight of how different people react to similar trauma differently.
🤩 The decision of writing all three perspectives in first person – a clever tactic. While it does become trickier at times to remember who is speaking, the positives far outweigh this sole negative. The change in perspective carries the story ahead efficiently. Especially in case of Tristan and Emily, It’s tough to decide whom to side with, as we hear both their internal thoughts and both sound genuine and likeable!
🤩 The careers of the key characters: a forensic geneticist, an author, and a hands-on remote property owner. These aren’t job titles used only for effect but their skillsets are actually utilised properly in the plot.
🤩 Non-annoying secret-keeping. Tristan and Emily both keep secrets from each other but as they don’t seem like typical domestic thriller couples and you can feel their love and concern for each other, you keep second-guessing what's happening. Funnily, each character knows at least one of the secrets kept by the other characters but they don't reveal their awareness of it. Very well-written.
🤩 The flashbacks that add to the plot without making it lose its momentum. The timeframe for all flashbacks is clearly indicated, thus easy to keep track.
🤩 The remote setting. Excellently used to add to the atmosphere without making it unrealistically creepy and without any stupid tropes such as walking alone in the woods at night without any supporting (and fully charged) device.
🤩 Minimal number of convenient coincidences. Or perhaps I should say, there are coincidences but a majority of them are explained. Given how this genre functions, I was quite impressed by how the author could elucidate most of them clearly.
🤩 The fairytale retelling that Emily is writing, and its parallels with the main plot. I won't reveal the name of the fairytale as it is better to discover the commonalities while you read. Just know that it is not among the popular Grimm works.
🤩 Only 240-odd pages, fast-paced, no extraneous information.
🤩 The epilogue. I wish I could tell you why I loved it, but without going into spoilers, I’ll just have to say: life is never straightforward and it is high time books reflect the same.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 The cover. It is stunning by itself, and it also stands out from most psych suspense covers. But will it attract the right target reader?
🤔 Partial infodump during the ending. To be fair, it is not as extensive as most books in the mystery genre, and the author drops snippets of reveals throughout the story instead of reserving everything for the end. But I do hate infodumps of any size, hence the ‘mixed bag’.
🤔 Ironically, despite the above infodump, I still feel like I needed more convincing to “buy” the final reveal. Perhaps a few pages more would have plugged in the gaps? It’s not bad; it just needed more padding.
🤔 Some more details are left unexplained, which can be partly justified by the use of the first-person POV to reveal the events. But it doesn’t help curious cats (such as moi!) who want to know every juicy detail.
Overall, most of my complaints came up during the ending. Until the point, this book was a strong 4.5 stars for me. The ending does suit the plot and the epilogue was rock-solid. I just wish the reveal had gone smoother for me. So I am going to stick to my rating but round it downwards.
For the first time ever, the secret-keeping in a story didn't bother me. I took a long time to figure out why this book was turning out to be an exception. The answer was simple: the characters kept secrets mainly from each other and not from us, at least not most of them. Thereby, the resulting emotion is more of curiosity than of frustration or annoyance.
This is my first book by this prolific author. At about the 25% mark, I knew that I had to add her name to my list of must-read authors, so I immediately subscribed to her newsletter. In one of her introductory emails, she wrote: “I don't write unlikable protagonists, unreliable narrators, graphic or sexual violence, abuse of children or animals, (much) profanity, or steamy love scenes. No judgment here! There are many talented, wonderful writers who cover these topics (some of whom are on my reading list), but that's not my jam as a writer.” I have found a new favourite author who speaks my language! 🤩😍
Much recommended to psychological suspense/domestic suspense readers looking for a different kind of storyline that avoids/minimizes most of the problematic tropes of the genre.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Brown Street Books for providing the DRC of “Cut Off from Sky and Earth” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview: (This is just a barebones version. The actual story is much more layered.)
Emily has spent many years keeping a secret from her husband Tristan. Now a writer with an anxiety disorder thanks to the past trauma and a looming deadline thanks to a writer’s block, Emily takes up Tristan’s suggestion of going to an isolated location away from networks and distractions in order to complete her retelling of a fairytale. However, a storm awaits Emily during her stay. A physical storm as well as a psychological one.
The story comes to us in the first-person perspectives of Emily, Tristan, and Alex – the owner of the property where Emily has booked her remote stay.
It is best to go into this book blind, so I’ll keep my review somewhat vague. Do not read the Goodreads blurb as it reveals TOO much. (What a surprise, right?! 😒)
Bookish Yays:
🤩 The main characters. Each with their share of past and present troubles.
🤩 The storyline. Past trauma shadowing present reality – written so convincingly.
🤩 The highlight of how different people react to similar trauma differently.
🤩 The decision of writing all three perspectives in first person – a clever tactic. While it does become trickier at times to remember who is speaking, the positives far outweigh this sole negative. The change in perspective carries the story ahead efficiently. Especially in case of Tristan and Emily, It’s tough to decide whom to side with, as we hear both their internal thoughts and both sound genuine and likeable!
🤩 The careers of the key characters: a forensic geneticist, an author, and a hands-on remote property owner. These aren’t job titles used only for effect but their skillsets are actually utilised properly in the plot.
🤩 Non-annoying secret-keeping. Tristan and Emily both keep secrets from each other but as they don’t seem like typical domestic thriller couples and you can feel their love and concern for each other, you keep second-guessing what's happening. Funnily, each character knows at least one of the secrets kept by the other characters but they don't reveal their awareness of it. Very well-written.
🤩 The flashbacks that add to the plot without making it lose its momentum. The timeframe for all flashbacks is clearly indicated, thus easy to keep track.
🤩 The remote setting. Excellently used to add to the atmosphere without making it unrealistically creepy and without any stupid tropes such as walking alone in the woods at night without any supporting (and fully charged) device.
🤩 Minimal number of convenient coincidences. Or perhaps I should say, there are coincidences but a majority of them are explained. Given how this genre functions, I was quite impressed by how the author could elucidate most of them clearly.
🤩 The fairytale retelling that Emily is writing, and its parallels with the main plot. I won't reveal the name of the fairytale as it is better to discover the commonalities while you read. Just know that it is not among the popular Grimm works.
🤩 Only 240-odd pages, fast-paced, no extraneous information.
🤩 The epilogue. I wish I could tell you why I loved it, but without going into spoilers, I’ll just have to say: life is never straightforward and it is high time books reflect the same.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🤔 The cover. It is stunning by itself, and it also stands out from most psych suspense covers. But will it attract the right target reader?
🤔 Partial infodump during the ending. To be fair, it is not as extensive as most books in the mystery genre, and the author drops snippets of reveals throughout the story instead of reserving everything for the end. But I do hate infodumps of any size, hence the ‘mixed bag’.
🤔 Ironically, despite the above infodump, I still feel like I needed more convincing to “buy” the final reveal. Perhaps a few pages more would have plugged in the gaps? It’s not bad; it just needed more padding.
🤔 Some more details are left unexplained, which can be partly justified by the use of the first-person POV to reveal the events. But it doesn’t help curious cats (such as moi!) who want to know every juicy detail.
Overall, most of my complaints came up during the ending. Until the point, this book was a strong 4.5 stars for me. The ending does suit the plot and the epilogue was rock-solid. I just wish the reveal had gone smoother for me. So I am going to stick to my rating but round it downwards.
For the first time ever, the secret-keeping in a story didn't bother me. I took a long time to figure out why this book was turning out to be an exception. The answer was simple: the characters kept secrets mainly from each other and not from us, at least not most of them. Thereby, the resulting emotion is more of curiosity than of frustration or annoyance.
This is my first book by this prolific author. At about the 25% mark, I knew that I had to add her name to my list of must-read authors, so I immediately subscribed to her newsletter. In one of her introductory emails, she wrote: “I don't write unlikable protagonists, unreliable narrators, graphic or sexual violence, abuse of children or animals, (much) profanity, or steamy love scenes. No judgment here! There are many talented, wonderful writers who cover these topics (some of whom are on my reading list), but that's not my jam as a writer.” I have found a new favourite author who speaks my language! 🤩😍
Much recommended to psychological suspense/domestic suspense readers looking for a different kind of storyline that avoids/minimizes most of the problematic tropes of the genre.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Brown Street Books for providing the DRC of “Cut Off from Sky and Earth” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
August 27, 2025
4 stars for a psychological thriller/mystery set in remote North Carolina. Emily Rose is a writer with a deadline from her publisher. Her husband Tristan rents a cabin for her so remote that there is no WiFi or cell phone service. He hopes that she can finish her book with no distractions. Alex is the cabin owner. All three have secrets. Then an unknown person threatens Emily and Alex. How they overcome the threat makes for a tense thriller with a surprise ending.
Thank you Brown Street Books for sending me this eARC through Booktrovert.
Thank you Brown Street Books for sending me this eARC through Booktrovert.
September 2, 2025
“There’s something to be said for a fresh start.”
I think you’ll agree with me that this genre (hopepunk) is the perfect antidote to the uncertain (and escalating dark) times we now experience. When we’re surrounded by cynicism and underhandedness, it’s comforting to read about people standing up and fighting for what they believe in.
Melissa Miller’s 5-star novel examines whether deception (in the name of love) can ever be justified, and if it’s possible for relationships to both protect and imprison us. She whisks us away to The Farm At The End Of The World and introduces us to characters who all live with past trauma, particularly survivor's guilt, before engaging us deeply in a story that showcases women who save themselves.
I love a plot that leads me to question how I view my world! Miller had me thinking about the aim of those who well-meaningly protect us from danger, how time distorts memory and perception, the fine line between protection and control, and the danger of building self-imposed protective walls around us and/or our hearts. Miller's exploration of the power of connection and the power of standing up for ourselves was fascinating.
Most noteworthy, though, was the main plot line - on the run from murder. Miller’s compulsive and compelling narrative kept me anxious, suspect, and alert. I needed to know who was lying, why, what they were running towards and away from, and the purpose for all the secrecy. I didn’t figure it out before the characters!
This story has taken up residence in my thoughts this week, proving to me that Miller is an expert storyteller.
I was under no obligation to provide a review for this gifted copy.
I think you’ll agree with me that this genre (hopepunk) is the perfect antidote to the uncertain (and escalating dark) times we now experience. When we’re surrounded by cynicism and underhandedness, it’s comforting to read about people standing up and fighting for what they believe in.
Melissa Miller’s 5-star novel examines whether deception (in the name of love) can ever be justified, and if it’s possible for relationships to both protect and imprison us. She whisks us away to The Farm At The End Of The World and introduces us to characters who all live with past trauma, particularly survivor's guilt, before engaging us deeply in a story that showcases women who save themselves.
I love a plot that leads me to question how I view my world! Miller had me thinking about the aim of those who well-meaningly protect us from danger, how time distorts memory and perception, the fine line between protection and control, and the danger of building self-imposed protective walls around us and/or our hearts. Miller's exploration of the power of connection and the power of standing up for ourselves was fascinating.
Most noteworthy, though, was the main plot line - on the run from murder. Miller’s compulsive and compelling narrative kept me anxious, suspect, and alert. I needed to know who was lying, why, what they were running towards and away from, and the purpose for all the secrecy. I didn’t figure it out before the characters!
This story has taken up residence in my thoughts this week, proving to me that Miller is an expert storyteller.
I was under no obligation to provide a review for this gifted copy.
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September 2, 2025Cut Off from Sky and Earth is HERE!
June 15, 2025
This is one of those books one begins to read and it becomes a compulsion to escape from the pages to get to the end. All I can say is wow what a story. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time and Melissa F Miller, thank goodness you escaped from your tower because this is just one of your best novels and I have read all of your books.
The characters Emily, Tristan and Alex are all very complex characters and Melissa has them leaping off the page in a psychological thriller to escape their own individual towers. They are very likeable and it is wonderful that we get to know them and what each of them has faced in their pasts.
Of course the past often does not stay in the past and that is where the conflict and pivotal point of the narrative goes.
I really liked the description of the mountain farm and how it symbolized the tower in the German Fairy tale. The interaction and communication of Emily and Alex drives the plot to the conclusion.
I will remember this story for some time. I received an advanced reader copy of this novel and I am on my own free will leaving this review.
The characters Emily, Tristan and Alex are all very complex characters and Melissa has them leaping off the page in a psychological thriller to escape their own individual towers. They are very likeable and it is wonderful that we get to know them and what each of them has faced in their pasts.
Of course the past often does not stay in the past and that is where the conflict and pivotal point of the narrative goes.
I really liked the description of the mountain farm and how it symbolized the tower in the German Fairy tale. The interaction and communication of Emily and Alex drives the plot to the conclusion.
I will remember this story for some time. I received an advanced reader copy of this novel and I am on my own free will leaving this review.
September 1, 2025
See, this is what happens when people don't communicate with each other. This is the mess we get.
An absolute page-turner of a book, "Cut Off from Sky and Earth" is a fast-paced psychological thriller involving a cast of characters who are, for the most part, all keeping some pretty big secrets from their loved ones.
Miller did a great job here at intertwining all of the character's stories together. The novel followed a logical progression and spent just enough time developing each POV to keep the pace up without leaving the reader feeling too rushed. I also really loved how the book Emily, one of our main characters, is writing connected to the overall plot. This wasn't just a character writing a book for the sake of giving them something to do; it's writing a book for the sake of both character and plot development!
That said, I did have a couple minor issues with the novel. First off, having three different POVs meant that we were rehashing a lot of the same information from each person's perspective, so things definitely started to feel repetitive — especially at the times when the next POV really didn't add any extra details. Secondly, I personally found the story to be rather predictable, but seems like I'm in the minority there based on what other reviewers have been saying. Either way, I still flew through this book within the span of a single day so there's something to be said there as to how much I enjoyed it even through the predictability.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book to psychological thriller fans or even fans of crime mysteries.
(I received an ARC of this book for free via a giveaway, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)
An absolute page-turner of a book, "Cut Off from Sky and Earth" is a fast-paced psychological thriller involving a cast of characters who are, for the most part, all keeping some pretty big secrets from their loved ones.
Miller did a great job here at intertwining all of the character's stories together. The novel followed a logical progression and spent just enough time developing each POV to keep the pace up without leaving the reader feeling too rushed. I also really loved how the book Emily, one of our main characters, is writing connected to the overall plot. This wasn't just a character writing a book for the sake of giving them something to do; it's writing a book for the sake of both character and plot development!
That said, I did have a couple minor issues with the novel. First off, having three different POVs meant that we were rehashing a lot of the same information from each person's perspective, so things definitely started to feel repetitive — especially at the times when the next POV really didn't add any extra details. Secondly, I personally found the story to be rather predictable, but seems like I'm in the minority there based on what other reviewers have been saying. Either way, I still flew through this book within the span of a single day so there's something to be said there as to how much I enjoyed it even through the predictability.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book to psychological thriller fans or even fans of crime mysteries.
(I received an ARC of this book for free via a giveaway, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)
July 29, 2025
I knew right away that this book was going to suck me in. While the cover is beautiful, don’t let it fool you. Cut Off From Sky and Earth is a clever psychological thriller about secrets, hidden pasts, resilience and hope. A perfect book club pick!
Emily, struggling with writer’s block on her new novel, takes time away to a far-off cabin in the hopes it will giver her some inspiration and the words will start flowing. The owner of the cabin, Alex, lives in a house nearby on her farm and is still trying to cope with the devastation that almost took her life. During an intense storm the two find themselves waiting it out together and find they both share a similar tragic event from years before. After some strange occurrences, they soon learn they are not alone and have to fight for their lives and escape from the past together.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brown Street Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Emily, struggling with writer’s block on her new novel, takes time away to a far-off cabin in the hopes it will giver her some inspiration and the words will start flowing. The owner of the cabin, Alex, lives in a house nearby on her farm and is still trying to cope with the devastation that almost took her life. During an intense storm the two find themselves waiting it out together and find they both share a similar tragic event from years before. After some strange occurrences, they soon learn they are not alone and have to fight for their lives and escape from the past together.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brown Street Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2025
I generally don't like psychological thrillers. Too creepy. Its also another type of book I don't like but wont say because it gives away too much plot. BUT I liked this book mainly because of the intertwinded stories and the parallels to what one character was writing (again no spoinlers). The nerd in me thought I had it all figured out (but guess what I didn't!!). Melissa added a twist I should have seen coming but was probably too arrogant to see because thinking back she gave lots of clues. Again no spoilers because you will have to see if you figure it out yourself. This book could have been creepier but I was glad it wasn't because it was one of "heck" of a story. Mellissa said it best, we need to be "resilient, optimistic and brave despite the odds and despite our fears". This book struck a cord in me that I did not expect especially given what is going in our lives and in our country. In my case, I care for my Mother with dementia - it's my tower (for now and also one many others share) and a very long story I hope to write someday. Melissa gave me hope with this story and her quote "kindness, connection and resistence matter in the face of darkness". No matter what you are going through, read this story, it may give you hope. There is hope no matter how much darkness & life messiness you are currently dealing with. Enjoy!
August 30, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book which is due out 9/2. This was my first book by Melissa Miller and will be looking up others.
This is a quick chapter’d suspenseful read. Quite the entanglement of lies by all the characters that took half the book to fully understand what could be happening yet the ending had its own twist. It kept my attention and the storyline was intriguing but I’m not sure it’s one that will stick with me long term.
This is a quick chapter’d suspenseful read. Quite the entanglement of lies by all the characters that took half the book to fully understand what could be happening yet the ending had its own twist. It kept my attention and the storyline was intriguing but I’m not sure it’s one that will stick with me long term.
June 20, 2025
Received an e-ARC of this book - the first published by the author in the genre of psychological thriller - I haven’t read much in this genre since Covid but was engrossed in this story from the initial pages. Told via a retelling of a Grimm Fairy tale (via one of the characters who is authoring a retelling of the tale), the characters are believable, the suspense palpable, and the psychology a bit frighteningly real, all of which combine to make this tale gripping in the best way!
September 4, 2025
Melissa F Miller has once again, yet in a completely unique way, if you are an avid Miller follower, touched my soul in many ways with cut off from sky and earth.
Years ago, Emily Rose’s roommate was viciously attacked and murdered. Emily believes she was the victim. She’s been running and hiding from the nightmarish memory since.
Years ago, Lexi (Alex) Lincoln was brutally attacked, she should not have survived. She’s been hiding yet surviving the nightmarish memory since.
cut off from sky and earth is an intense thriller revolving around two women, Emily and Alex, who share a horrific experience, separately, with different outcomes that were intended to be the same. Now, years later, they are united in a chilling tale of survival. Emily and Alex unknowingly share a bond that few may ever experience. But they've never even met until now. Emily is a famous author that refuses to appear publicly to promote her books for fear of being recognized. Emily and Tristan Rose have been married for five short years. Tristan knows Emily’s secret, but Emily doesn’t know he knows. When Emily suffers writers block close to the anniversary of the death of her roommate at the same time a local murder similar to Emily’s roommates happens, to get her to safety Tristan books a retreat for Emily in a remote cabin in the mountains so she can finish her book. The cabin is owned by Lexi a.k.a. Alex Lincoln. What Tristan doesn't realize is the unknowing connection between himself, Alex and Emily and the danger he has put them all in now as he returns home leaving Alex and Emily alone. As Emily and Alex have to rely not only on themselves but each other, they form a connection out of necessity and survival.
cut off from sky and earth allowed my mind to explore ways of viewing and adjusting my emotions through alternative spiritual beliefs and meditation. It was an insight into strength, overcoming individual fears and looking deeper into those we may not immediately understand, finding common ground so we may move forward, working together towards an important, even life-saving goal. Author Melissa F Miller has given her readers an exception novel. Highly recommend!
Years ago, Emily Rose’s roommate was viciously attacked and murdered. Emily believes she was the victim. She’s been running and hiding from the nightmarish memory since.
Years ago, Lexi (Alex) Lincoln was brutally attacked, she should not have survived. She’s been hiding yet surviving the nightmarish memory since.
cut off from sky and earth is an intense thriller revolving around two women, Emily and Alex, who share a horrific experience, separately, with different outcomes that were intended to be the same. Now, years later, they are united in a chilling tale of survival. Emily and Alex unknowingly share a bond that few may ever experience. But they've never even met until now. Emily is a famous author that refuses to appear publicly to promote her books for fear of being recognized. Emily and Tristan Rose have been married for five short years. Tristan knows Emily’s secret, but Emily doesn’t know he knows. When Emily suffers writers block close to the anniversary of the death of her roommate at the same time a local murder similar to Emily’s roommates happens, to get her to safety Tristan books a retreat for Emily in a remote cabin in the mountains so she can finish her book. The cabin is owned by Lexi a.k.a. Alex Lincoln. What Tristan doesn't realize is the unknowing connection between himself, Alex and Emily and the danger he has put them all in now as he returns home leaving Alex and Emily alone. As Emily and Alex have to rely not only on themselves but each other, they form a connection out of necessity and survival.
cut off from sky and earth allowed my mind to explore ways of viewing and adjusting my emotions through alternative spiritual beliefs and meditation. It was an insight into strength, overcoming individual fears and looking deeper into those we may not immediately understand, finding common ground so we may move forward, working together towards an important, even life-saving goal. Author Melissa F Miller has given her readers an exception novel. Highly recommend!
July 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 STARS!
this had me on the edge of my seat. i couldn't stop reading and didn't want to. you just needed to see the story through. even when you think you have it all figured out, everything takes a turn. it's intense and riveting from the start. then things take a mind-blowing twist that will have you reeling.
i loved reading through the three characters' POV. they all have secrets, they all have a past they're running from, and they all end up in having to face it. and yes, this is a psychological thriller. heavy on the psychology aspect! each characters' downward spiral and anxiety is so palpable, i even caught myself holding my breath at times because i didn't know what the next page would bring.
the author really did a phenomenal job in intertwining a "fairy-tale retelling manuscript" into the characters' stories. you can see how well they correlate to their journey about overcoming and persevering through their most troubling times. they are psychologically, emotionally, and physically challenged. really begs the question of how far the human spirit would go to survive alone versus with someone who truly sees & understands them. such a seamless, immersive, methodical storytelling!
i would definitely recommend this! this would make a great book club book or something you can buddy read because i know the discussions would, without a doubt, be interesting. the reactions, i'm sure, would be just as equally entertaining.
thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
this had me on the edge of my seat. i couldn't stop reading and didn't want to. you just needed to see the story through. even when you think you have it all figured out, everything takes a turn. it's intense and riveting from the start. then things take a mind-blowing twist that will have you reeling.
i loved reading through the three characters' POV. they all have secrets, they all have a past they're running from, and they all end up in having to face it. and yes, this is a psychological thriller. heavy on the psychology aspect! each characters' downward spiral and anxiety is so palpable, i even caught myself holding my breath at times because i didn't know what the next page would bring.
the author really did a phenomenal job in intertwining a "fairy-tale retelling manuscript" into the characters' stories. you can see how well they correlate to their journey about overcoming and persevering through their most troubling times. they are psychologically, emotionally, and physically challenged. really begs the question of how far the human spirit would go to survive alone versus with someone who truly sees & understands them. such a seamless, immersive, methodical storytelling!
i would definitely recommend this! this would make a great book club book or something you can buddy read because i know the discussions would, without a doubt, be interesting. the reactions, i'm sure, would be just as equally entertaining.
thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
Having followed Melissa F. Miller’s work for over a decade, I’ve come to expect a certain addictive quality from her novels: once you start, everything else falls away until the final page. But ‘Cut off from Sky and Earth’, her standalone psychological thriller, delivers a very different reading experience.
Departing from the familiar Sasha McCandless universe, this novel plunges readers into a darker, more ominous world. The shift in tone is striking: gone are the moments of comic relief, replaced by a creeping dread that builds relentlessly. The inclusion of NSFW language— practically absent in Miller’s previous work—adds a layer of realism that will make European readers, especially, feel at home (we swear. A lot).
Initially, I struggled to trust one of the narrators, suspecting I was in the hands of an unreliable voice (a narrative device I usually find grating). Thankfully, that suspicion was unfounded, and once the tension began to mount, I was utterly gripped.
At its core, ‘Cut off from Sky and Earth’ is a feminist survival story—one that centers not just on a in single heroine, but on two “final girls” who refuse to be defined by victimhood. Their journey is harrowing, not only through immediate trauma but also through the echoes of generational pain. Miller crafts a multilayered narrative that is both terrifying and profoundly moving.
With over fifty books to her name, Miller proves she can pivot from beloved series fiction to the kind of psychological thriller that dominates bestseller lists. ‘Cut off from Sky and Earth’ is a masterclass in suspense and themes exploration. Netflix, take note: this one’s begging to be adapted into a chilling, character-driven mini-series.
Departing from the familiar Sasha McCandless universe, this novel plunges readers into a darker, more ominous world. The shift in tone is striking: gone are the moments of comic relief, replaced by a creeping dread that builds relentlessly. The inclusion of NSFW language— practically absent in Miller’s previous work—adds a layer of realism that will make European readers, especially, feel at home (we swear. A lot).
Initially, I struggled to trust one of the narrators, suspecting I was in the hands of an unreliable voice (a narrative device I usually find grating). Thankfully, that suspicion was unfounded, and once the tension began to mount, I was utterly gripped.
At its core, ‘Cut off from Sky and Earth’ is a feminist survival story—one that centers not just on a in single heroine, but on two “final girls” who refuse to be defined by victimhood. Their journey is harrowing, not only through immediate trauma but also through the echoes of generational pain. Miller crafts a multilayered narrative that is both terrifying and profoundly moving.
With over fifty books to her name, Miller proves she can pivot from beloved series fiction to the kind of psychological thriller that dominates bestseller lists. ‘Cut off from Sky and Earth’ is a masterclass in suspense and themes exploration. Netflix, take note: this one’s begging to be adapted into a chilling, character-driven mini-series.
June 27, 2025
Cut off from Sky and Earth is an intense thriller revolving around two women, Emily and Alex, who share a horrific experience, separately, with different outcomes that were intended to be the same. Now, years later, they are united in a chilling tale of survival. Emily and Alex unknowingly share a bond that few may ever experience. But they've never even met until now. Emily is a famous author that refuses to appear publicly to promote her books for fear of being recognized. Several years ago, her roommate was viciously attacked and murdered. Emily believes she was the victim. Several years prior, Alex was brutally attacked, she should have died. When Emily suffers writers block close to the anniversary of the death of her roommate, her husband books a retreat for her at Alex's inn. What and who is the connection to their pasts and their attacks? Cut Off from Sky and Earth allowed my mind to explore ways of viewing and adjusting my emotions through alternative spiritual beliefs and meditation. It was an insight into strength, overcoming individual fears and looking deeper into those we may not immediately understand, finding common ground so we may move forward, working together towards an important, even life-saving goal. Author Melissa F Miller has given her readers an exception novel. Highly recommend!
July 27, 2025
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Brown Street Books in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a phenomenal read. The premise might sound like a familiar thriller - two women stranded in a storm, stalked by a killer that reflects their unresolved past; but the story is more multilayered than that. From the opening chapter I was pulled in, curious about why everyone was being deceptive towards one another. The atmosphere is taut with quiet tension, and the characters’ evasiveness and subtle manipulations created a slow, simmering suspense that kept me invested.
As the narrative unfolded, the pacing tightened and I couldn’t put the book down. I raced through the final chapters to get to the end. One element I especially appreciated was the fairy tale the main character is rewriting alongside the main plot. The way it echoed certain themes and emotional beats gave the story an added sense of structure without being too literal.
The buildup leads to a twist that genuinely surprised me and a climax that felt both inevitable and satisfying. I’m glad I had the chance to read this one early. It’s an intense, engaging, and thoughtful story that I’ll be thinking about long after I’ve finished reading.
This book is a phenomenal read. The premise might sound like a familiar thriller - two women stranded in a storm, stalked by a killer that reflects their unresolved past; but the story is more multilayered than that. From the opening chapter I was pulled in, curious about why everyone was being deceptive towards one another. The atmosphere is taut with quiet tension, and the characters’ evasiveness and subtle manipulations created a slow, simmering suspense that kept me invested.
As the narrative unfolded, the pacing tightened and I couldn’t put the book down. I raced through the final chapters to get to the end. One element I especially appreciated was the fairy tale the main character is rewriting alongside the main plot. The way it echoed certain themes and emotional beats gave the story an added sense of structure without being too literal.
The buildup leads to a twist that genuinely surprised me and a climax that felt both inevitable and satisfying. I’m glad I had the chance to read this one early. It’s an intense, engaging, and thoughtful story that I’ll be thinking about long after I’ve finished reading.
June 27, 2025
In this new style of writing for a Melissa Miller book,this was a great artwork for a change and , "I loved it."
Utilization of a fairy tail fantasy into a realistic thriller was totally unique in form. The brothers Tate and Tristan are totally opposite of each other or one could say, good vs evil.You have Tristan who is trying to protect his wife from a killer , only to find out with a twist ,that it is nothing but a marriage based on lies and deceit.
The meeting of Emily and Alex is unique and pulls together a friendship between two women who have under gone such a scary experience, that one has to put the book down to get a reprieve. This is directly related to the ability of Melissa's writing skills to intercept your own sense of awareness of, "Living In Your Own Tower." You will find you are immersed in this book from beginning to end with an understanding that friendship can be obtained from the most unusual circumstances.
Reading this book is not only a thriller, but inspiring in the sense you need to evaluate and not judge people till you have walked in their shoes. A MUST READ BOOK!!!.
Utilization of a fairy tail fantasy into a realistic thriller was totally unique in form. The brothers Tate and Tristan are totally opposite of each other or one could say, good vs evil.You have Tristan who is trying to protect his wife from a killer , only to find out with a twist ,that it is nothing but a marriage based on lies and deceit.
The meeting of Emily and Alex is unique and pulls together a friendship between two women who have under gone such a scary experience, that one has to put the book down to get a reprieve. This is directly related to the ability of Melissa's writing skills to intercept your own sense of awareness of, "Living In Your Own Tower." You will find you are immersed in this book from beginning to end with an understanding that friendship can be obtained from the most unusual circumstances.
Reading this book is not only a thriller, but inspiring in the sense you need to evaluate and not judge people till you have walked in their shoes. A MUST READ BOOK!!!.
June 28, 2025
Cut Off from Sky and Earth: A Novel is Miller’s first foray into the truly unpredictable world of psychological thrillers and she negotiates that world superbly. Her characters, while deeply flawed, were believable and, in most cases, even likable. Their roles, past and present, intertwined from beginning to end without being obvious until each piece clicked into place.
When you have a book within a book within another book and all the books are populated by traumatized characters, things are rarely what they seem. And, even on the rare occasions when they are, as a reader, you can never quite trust the damaged characters who tell the story.
I loved this book. I plan to read the Brothers Grimm’s version of Maid Maleen’s story (the furthest removed book), I would love to read The Tower, Emily’s version of the story and the one she struggles to write in the outermost story. If Melissa would please write it, I would be most grateful and promise to buy it and review it. I would also love to know more about Emily, Tristan, and Tristan’s mother.
When you have a book within a book within another book and all the books are populated by traumatized characters, things are rarely what they seem. And, even on the rare occasions when they are, as a reader, you can never quite trust the damaged characters who tell the story.
I loved this book. I plan to read the Brothers Grimm’s version of Maid Maleen’s story (the furthest removed book), I would love to read The Tower, Emily’s version of the story and the one she struggles to write in the outermost story. If Melissa would please write it, I would be most grateful and promise to buy it and review it. I would also love to know more about Emily, Tristan, and Tristan’s mother.
June 26, 2025
Cut off from Sky and Earth
Unlike most reviews I will not recap the story as the book details preceding this review will do a better job than I.
This psychological thriller is a first in this genre by Melissa F. Miller, the bestselling author of over 50 books. Her mainstay character has been Sasha McCandless with various spinoffs featuring some of her most notable characters that deserved their own series. You should check them out, preferably in order, after this one.
Cut Off from Sky and Earth is perhaps the most engaging psychological thriller I have encountered. It is at once gripping and thought provoking. The author’s discussion points included at the end help focus the reader’s thoughts upon completion.
Her characters are complex and worth your analysis and exploration. Enjoy the read as I did.
Thanks to author for the ARC.
Unlike most reviews I will not recap the story as the book details preceding this review will do a better job than I.
This psychological thriller is a first in this genre by Melissa F. Miller, the bestselling author of over 50 books. Her mainstay character has been Sasha McCandless with various spinoffs featuring some of her most notable characters that deserved their own series. You should check them out, preferably in order, after this one.
Cut Off from Sky and Earth is perhaps the most engaging psychological thriller I have encountered. It is at once gripping and thought provoking. The author’s discussion points included at the end help focus the reader’s thoughts upon completion.
Her characters are complex and worth your analysis and exploration. Enjoy the read as I did.
Thanks to author for the ARC.
August 30, 2025
Emily Rose is an author struggling with severe anxiety and writer's block. Tristan her loving husband rents a secluded cabin in the mountains, hoping to help her get her wiring going again. Both are harboring secrets!
Emily has past trauma from finding her murdered roommate. Tristan has a past with a troubled family. Both united in keeping their secrets hidden from one another.
This book was engaging and a great read. Intertwined with Emily's book coming together along with her husband's past as well as hers, this story takes surprising twists and turns, uniting both their pasts along with a surprising ending. I enjoyed the read and recommend it if you enjoy twisty thrillers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Emily has past trauma from finding her murdered roommate. Tristan has a past with a troubled family. Both united in keeping their secrets hidden from one another.
This book was engaging and a great read. Intertwined with Emily's book coming together along with her husband's past as well as hers, this story takes surprising twists and turns, uniting both their pasts along with a surprising ending. I enjoyed the read and recommend it if you enjoy twisty thrillers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 17, 2025
The story evokes reflection, It just evokes your emotional and observational instincts.
Perfect blend of a thriller, an emotional power-up and relaxation all at once.
It feels so motivational and inspiring that may have you wonde over your boundaries and the thoughts, the incidents and experiences that are holding you back.
The way the narrator has weaved the fairytale of Maid Maleen with the narrator, its stupendously done.
I initially was running after the culprit and later found my own foe in my life's twists and turns.
4 stars- As I really wanted to have a much better unfolding of the truth about the actual murderer and his partner, not just in a single statement.
Perfect blend of a thriller, an emotional power-up and relaxation all at once.
It feels so motivational and inspiring that may have you wonde over your boundaries and the thoughts, the incidents and experiences that are holding you back.
The way the narrator has weaved the fairytale of Maid Maleen with the narrator, its stupendously done.
I initially was running after the culprit and later found my own foe in my life's twists and turns.
4 stars- As I really wanted to have a much better unfolding of the truth about the actual murderer and his partner, not just in a single statement.
July 19, 2025
Melissa Miller has definitely done it again. Her newest book is one you won't want to miss. Cut Off From Earth and Sky draws you in immediately.
The idea of the retelling for Grimm's Maid Maleen was woven in perfectly to the entirety of the plot. Emily and Tristan are so well developed, I felt like I truly understood them as characters. The side characters add more depth, intrigue and questions! The plot twists keep you guessing until the very end.
I truly enjoyed this read!
Thank you to@melissafmillerbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this one!
The idea of the retelling for Grimm's Maid Maleen was woven in perfectly to the entirety of the plot. Emily and Tristan are so well developed, I felt like I truly understood them as characters. The side characters add more depth, intrigue and questions! The plot twists keep you guessing until the very end.
I truly enjoyed this read!
Thank you to@melissafmillerbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this one!
August 28, 2025
I received a free ARC of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cut Off From Sky and Earth is an intense psychological thriller. It's a story within a story, told from multiple points of view. The character, the plot, the pacing. Everything came together to create a super creepy experience. I read it in one day, staying up late and on the edge of my seat. I think the less you know going into it, the better. I will absolutely read more books from this author.
Cut Off From Sky and Earth is an intense psychological thriller. It's a story within a story, told from multiple points of view. The character, the plot, the pacing. Everything came together to create a super creepy experience. I read it in one day, staying up late and on the edge of my seat. I think the less you know going into it, the better. I will absolutely read more books from this author.
September 30, 2025
I don't read many phycological thrillers, but when I read the premise for this on the giveaway entry, it sounded good, so I entered. I won. It was very good, twists and turns and action packed. An author goes to a cabin to finish her book. The cabin is in a town her husband once lived in and know the owner of the cabin and the stories unfold. Both the story being written by the author and her real story.
July 2, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book kept me guessing till the end. As the plot unfolds it’s clear there are lies involved but my opinion on who was lying and who was in danger kept flip flopping. There were plenty of twists and the way the chapters jumped from person to person really helped this story unfold in an easy to follow way. I was on the edge of my seat for much of this book.
July 7, 2025
What do you do when your favorite author writes a book in your favorite genre? You thank the universe and settle in for a good ride. Cut Off From Sky and Earth is not just a thriller, it is a journey of self-discovery and resiliance in the face of sheer pain and trauma. With a twist you'd love but not see coming, the story is gripping till the last page.
July 12, 2025
I have been a fan of Melissa Miller from the first book in the Sasha McCandless series. This book is a psychological thriller unlike anything I have previously read by this author. In fact, it was a pleasant change. The story developed at a nice pace with details revealed through different character perspectives. Kind of kept me guessing until the end.
September 2, 2025
Wow! Some thoughts: enthralling, engrossing, seriously thought-provoking feminist thriller from favorite author Melissa F. Miller. Though this is a little different then her books, it is not to be missed. It raised the question of "What is true love?" Through this book and a few others, I think that as much as the male may want to protect his love, the female has that same right. To love truly is to empower each to overcome their issues themselves. Being open and honest is part of that. In Cut Off From Sky and Earth, Emily and Tristan have secrets they keep from each other and it inevitable hurts their relationship. Emily states that "protection can become its own kind of prison". Do they live through their trauma? Will they find their HEA? Read and find out.
June 16, 2025
Astounding. Unputdownable. Heart-poundingly delicious reading. The book is absolutely gripping. I had to finish it in one sitting once I started it. I have loved every book Melissa F. Miller has shared with us, and this one is her best one to date.
June 26, 2025
I loved the story line and the characters. It's a book you cannot put down. I have read all the books from this author and loved each one. This is a change of style for Melissa but it is as pure gold as you can get. Bravo!!
June 28, 2025
Melissa F. Miller has reached deep to write a book so different from her usual genres, and has penned an extremely well written and captivating book!
The characters are so well written and the style used in writing the book really lends itself to providing such depth of each person and their closely held secrets and thoughts.
There are so many twists and turns that are as tightly entwined as the threads of an intricate ball of yarn.
Plan on a late night of reading because you won’t want to put it down.
The characters are so well written and the style used in writing the book really lends itself to providing such depth of each person and their closely held secrets and thoughts.
There are so many twists and turns that are as tightly entwined as the threads of an intricate ball of yarn.
Plan on a late night of reading because you won’t want to put it down.
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