Forfeiture

by J.P. Nebra

Iconoclastic eco-SciFi



They were summoned here to save the world. But humanity may wish it had stayed silent.




For millennia, a secret has been held in the ice of the North and the rainforests of the South: a way to call ancient travellers from the deep past. And as the permafrost thaws and the Amazon burns, a blind shaman fleeing loggers and a dying Inuit elder both trigger the beacon using rituals older than memory.



An answer comes quickly from the stars. But when the alien leader, Chasmaultash, arrives at Earth with an armada, she is greeted with a shocking crime scene. Rescuing the human race is forgotten, the mission now is to save Earth itself.



Horrified and repulsed by humans' desecration of this sacred Temple of Life planet, the aliens issue a threatening ultimatum upon humanity. Yet as Chasmaultash starts finding complex beauty and redemption in the very humans she is here to judge, a dangerous mutiny brews. To extremist aliens in her ranks, humanity is a rapacious parasite that must be purged—and their own leader has become infected.



As the countdown approaches for the species that is destroying the planet, can Chasmaultash rescue them, and Life on Earth, but still survive herself?

Genres: Science Fiction, Amazon

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2025

Reviews

[Kasia Kulma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this slow burner: the mystique of the Indigos, the cosmic perspective on life and biodiversity, and the contrast between the lives of indigenous people and those of modern society. But at one point the slow burn became too slow and I lost interest, so I stopped halfway through.

[Gareth David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm on a roll, the last three books i have read have been brilliant. This is a great sci fi book with a huge ecological message. We really are a loathsome species !

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the Author and Netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Forfeiture tells the Story of the Intervention of the destruction of biological diversity by an Alien Species called the 'Indigos'. They see themselves as the Protectors of Life in Earth since first discoerin Earth and it's Biodiversity some 20000 years ago.
Having been contacted by Indigenous Tribes calling for help, the give the Humans of Earth 1 Year to change before intervening. As anyone currently witnessing the political Opinions towards Climate Change and protection of Biodiversity can imagine, this proes challenging.

I really liked the Premise of this noel and the conlcusion wrapped up nicely. However I often felt a bit lost with the many perspective changes between characters and I wish there would have been a clearer markinh of the timeline. The Structure was very much focussed on the beginning and end of the 1 Year period but the development of plot in the middle was missing a bit for me.
Since there were quite a few perspective changes (of both the human and alien characters) I also found it a little difficult to really connect to the characters and properly understand the societal workings of the Indigos.

Overall though I enjoyed reading the story and would recomment it to readers who like an environmental aspect and critique to their scifi reading.

[Neena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nebra blends environmental urgency with cosmic perspective in a bold first-contact story about a planet on trial. An ancient beacon buried in Earth’s wild places summons an alien armada when a rainforest shaman and an Inuit elder unknowingly activate it. The visitors arrive expecting to rescue humanity—only to find a planet ravaged by its own species. As alien commander Chasmaultash begins to see hope in humanity, extremists in her ranks plot a very different outcome.

Nebra contrasts Indigenous worldviews with an extraterrestrial perspective to explore questions of stewardship, responsibility, and survival. Through figures such as an Amazonian shaman and an Inuit elder, the novel highlights traditions that view land, animals, and ecosystems as part of a living relationship rather than mere resources. When these perspectives meet the aliens’ stark assessment of humanity’s environmental destruction, the moral stakes sharpen. Earth emerges not simply as a home, but as an extraordinarily rare sanctuary of life. Bold in scope and urgent in theme, this is a provocative piece of speculative fiction. Readers seeking environmentally conscious science fiction in the tradition of classic first-contact narratives will find plenty to admire.

[Zineb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am normally not a sci-fi reader. I picked up this book because a friend recommended it. The storyline is engaging and presents a fresh take on alien-human encounters, with a cast of multidimensional, engaging characters, including really well developed alien perspectives. What really drew me in was the thoughtful social commentary and the beautifully crafted language. The author artfully examines humanity’s place on Earth and grapples with the devastating impact of Homo sapiens on the planet and other species. The vivid examples of systematic deforestation, mindless hunting of endangered species, and destruction of habitat are chilling. They put the spotlight on how we failed as a species in our stewardship of the planet. This book is intelligently written, extensively researched, and thought-provoking. It offers a sobering look at the long-term impact we have on Earth and makes you stop and reflect on your own actions. Humans have been acting without restraint because no one is here to judge us, but what if our species were put on trial?

[Carolyn Fernández · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this concept of typically non violent aliens who were called here to save the Earth from humans. It was fresh and made me think about what we have been blessed with.

That being said, it dragged a lot. I felt like so much time was spent reiterating the same truth - the humans are destructive and will never prioritize the natural gifts we have over greed and profit. While I agree, it didn’t expand past this much so the message got tired fast. I wanted the aliens to DO something rather than just talk about our failings the whole time. The ending finally hooked me since there was actionable steps taken by both humans and the aliens but dang it took forever for me to really feel invested.

I don’t regret reading this, but I am glad I’m done now.

[Brad Lucht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earth is a mess. Pollution, global warming, species extermination. So indigenous peoples use ancient communication devices to send out a call for hep to the aliens that first visited earth a long time ago. The aliens arrive and give the world’s leaders one year to stop their destructive behaviors. Or else. You can pretty much figure out what happens next.

[Matt W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars

This book gave me chills. Forfeiture takes a first-contact premise and turns it into something deeply human and painfully relevant. It starts with Indigenous communities tapping into ancient memories to call back the Indigo—these alien explorers who once saw Earth as a “temple of Life.” They return, 8-foot-tall, color-shifting, and deeply alien, only to find a world wrecked by greed, pollution, and war. Their response? One year. One chance for humanity to undo centuries of harm before they pass judgment.

What makes this story shine is how grounded it feels despite its massive scale. Nebra doesn’t romanticize anyone—Indigenous characters are complex and flawed, the aliens themselves are divided about whether we’re worth saving, and humanity as a whole comes across as… well, complicated. There are moments of horror (especially when the aliens confront the damage we’ve done to wildlife and ecosystems) but also flashes of beauty and hope that make you root for us anyway. It’s part thriller, part moral reckoning, and part love letter to Earth itself. If you like your science fiction full of big ideas, heart, and a serious punch, add this one to your list.