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Immortal Aberration
Forged to be a sword. Sworn to be a killer.
Ludaan has spent a lifetime fighting a secret war for the Black Ocean Guild. Their mission: purge the galaxy of forbidden tech.
But when new intel surfaces, he’s tasked with assaulting a fortress defended by hordes of hideous spawn and cosmic evils that will challenge the oaths he holds sacred.
Truth. Duty. Loyalty.
In the face of annihilation, they may be all he has left.
Ludaan has spent a lifetime fighting a secret war for the Black Ocean Guild. Their mission: purge the galaxy of forbidden tech.
But when new intel surfaces, he’s tasked with assaulting a fortress defended by hordes of hideous spawn and cosmic evils that will challenge the oaths he holds sacred.
Truth. Duty. Loyalty.
In the face of annihilation, they may be all he has left.
134 pages, ebook
First published October 28, 2025
4 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Calum Lott
7 books39 followersBorn and raised in Australia, Calum Lott is the science-fantasy author of a Dirge For Cascius, Arkoma, and the series My Mortal Memories, all set in the vast Valsollas galaxy. His greatest inspirations are the video game Bloodborne, the manga Berserk and The Lord of the Rings. In his spare time, you'll find Calum adequately playing the guitar, reading at a snail's pace, watching movies (LOTR over and over), annoying his gorgeous partner or sitting at his laptop writing stories whilst getting a sore arse.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2025
Book Review
Immortal Aberration by Calum Lott
(My Mortal Memories 1)
Book Summary by author:
Ludaan has sworn his life to purging forbidden tech across the galaxy with the Black Ocean Guild. As a Lawless youth, the guild took him into their fold and shaped him into a sword of death, relentlessly hunting the mad-diseased Zenlians who cower in the dark between stars.
But after receiving precious intel, Ludaan is tasked with assaulting a fortress to capture an elusive being who wielded immortal-granting tech. Hacking through hordes of hideous spawns alongside his Guild comrades, Ludaan's strength and loyalty will be put to the ultimate test. Untold horrors await in the madness of Malnetha.
"We are all equal in battle. Equal in death."
Thank you so much Calum, for sending me an e-arc for Immortal Aberration in exchange for an honest review.
"If you live without meaning, then you have already died."
This novella was described to me as being perfect for lovers of Sun Eater and Warhammer 40k, and I can see why!
Though it has a short page count, this novella really packs a punch and is action packed from start fo finish. This was cosmic, gore-filled romp, and I devoured it!
The concepts behind the story invoke a lot of discussion around power and technology and what lengths may be gone to in order to achieve immortality, and the cost of this to civilisation. I would love to see how these concepts are explored in future novels. For the most part, this novella was filled with action, grit and comerarderie and I think it is such an excellent introduction to the world. The descriptions of the enemy and the warfare were fantastic, dark and terrifying! One scene made me cringe 😂 oddly, that's a huge compliment from me!
I would love to see where this world and all of these concepts that have been set up go - I have so many questions!
Immortal Aberration by Calum Lott
(My Mortal Memories 1)
Book Summary by author:
Ludaan has sworn his life to purging forbidden tech across the galaxy with the Black Ocean Guild. As a Lawless youth, the guild took him into their fold and shaped him into a sword of death, relentlessly hunting the mad-diseased Zenlians who cower in the dark between stars.
But after receiving precious intel, Ludaan is tasked with assaulting a fortress to capture an elusive being who wielded immortal-granting tech. Hacking through hordes of hideous spawns alongside his Guild comrades, Ludaan's strength and loyalty will be put to the ultimate test. Untold horrors await in the madness of Malnetha.
"We are all equal in battle. Equal in death."
Thank you so much Calum, for sending me an e-arc for Immortal Aberration in exchange for an honest review.
"If you live without meaning, then you have already died."
This novella was described to me as being perfect for lovers of Sun Eater and Warhammer 40k, and I can see why!
Though it has a short page count, this novella really packs a punch and is action packed from start fo finish. This was cosmic, gore-filled romp, and I devoured it!
The concepts behind the story invoke a lot of discussion around power and technology and what lengths may be gone to in order to achieve immortality, and the cost of this to civilisation. I would love to see how these concepts are explored in future novels. For the most part, this novella was filled with action, grit and comerarderie and I think it is such an excellent introduction to the world. The descriptions of the enemy and the warfare were fantastic, dark and terrifying! One scene made me cringe 😂 oddly, that's a huge compliment from me!
I would love to see where this world and all of these concepts that have been set up go - I have so many questions!
November 1, 2025
Heart-pounding and immersive
Review of Immortal Aberration
By Calum Lott
Whew!! I need to go calm my breathing down after finishing this one!
It is a novella with its own characters, just to inform readers. It’s set in the same galaxy as ‘A Dirge For Cascius’, but in this we are introduced to a covert military branch called the Black Ocean Guild. It’s a group of highly skilled warriors who seek out and destroy Malnetha and the mindless beings infected by it, the Zenlians.
We meet Ludaan, an orphan living out a desperate and brutal life on a far flung planet full of others who are just like him. But his savior, this is somewhat questionable, Bastion, has chanced upon him after Ludaan has slaughtered several who were trying to end his existence. Bastion is the head of the Black Ocean Guild, and sees something he can work with and shape into a deadly warrior. Ludaan also is savvy enough to realize this is his only chance to have a life that doesn’t involve being in constant fear.
We are along for the journey Ludaan takes, after he’s grown and become a high ranking member of the Black Ocean Guild. This is where things heat up, and I mean REALLY reach a full roiling BOIL. The tension, adrenaline, and unceasing action don’t slow down in any capacity at this point until the last chapter. I had to get up, take deep breaths, and pace around a few times, just to keep from flying in all directions! The action is heartbreaking on more than one occasion, so be prepared.
Ultimately, what we learn is that an oath once given is a dangerous thing to honor. The very best of intentions can come back to bite one on the backside, and at the most inconvenient moments. Especially when an oath is broken to make another, which seems like the right choice….. The saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” applies here.
Another thing I really think was effective, and Calum wielded to great effect, is the usage of first person narrative. It seals the reader to the narrative which was part of why the battle scenes were so heart pounding. I found this to be a great slice of this world, and I really can’t wait to see where Ludaan, and Calum, of course, next take us!
Review of Immortal Aberration
By Calum Lott
Whew!! I need to go calm my breathing down after finishing this one!
It is a novella with its own characters, just to inform readers. It’s set in the same galaxy as ‘A Dirge For Cascius’, but in this we are introduced to a covert military branch called the Black Ocean Guild. It’s a group of highly skilled warriors who seek out and destroy Malnetha and the mindless beings infected by it, the Zenlians.
We meet Ludaan, an orphan living out a desperate and brutal life on a far flung planet full of others who are just like him. But his savior, this is somewhat questionable, Bastion, has chanced upon him after Ludaan has slaughtered several who were trying to end his existence. Bastion is the head of the Black Ocean Guild, and sees something he can work with and shape into a deadly warrior. Ludaan also is savvy enough to realize this is his only chance to have a life that doesn’t involve being in constant fear.
We are along for the journey Ludaan takes, after he’s grown and become a high ranking member of the Black Ocean Guild. This is where things heat up, and I mean REALLY reach a full roiling BOIL. The tension, adrenaline, and unceasing action don’t slow down in any capacity at this point until the last chapter. I had to get up, take deep breaths, and pace around a few times, just to keep from flying in all directions! The action is heartbreaking on more than one occasion, so be prepared.
Ultimately, what we learn is that an oath once given is a dangerous thing to honor. The very best of intentions can come back to bite one on the backside, and at the most inconvenient moments. Especially when an oath is broken to make another, which seems like the right choice….. The saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” applies here.
Another thing I really think was effective, and Calum wielded to great effect, is the usage of first person narrative. It seals the reader to the narrative which was part of why the battle scenes were so heart pounding. I found this to be a great slice of this world, and I really can’t wait to see where Ludaan, and Calum, of course, next take us!
November 3, 2025
For a 150-page novella, Immortal Aberration packs a serious punch. Lott makes use of every page — balancing rich worldbuilding, tight pacing, and nonstop action without ever feeling overwhelming. It’s fast, cinematic, and surprisingly emotional for something this short.
Our main character, Ludaan, is easy to root for right away. We get just enough of his backstory to understand his motives, but not so much that it slows the story down. Lott hints at a much bigger world — Ludaan’s past stretches over a hundred years — which makes this the perfect setup for a larger series.
While side characters could use a bit more development, the short format opens the door for future novellas to explore them in more depth — maybe even through timeline jumps or focused prequels.
Stylistically, it feels like a blend between Warhammer 40K and The Sun Eater series: dark, bloody, and heavy on the action, but blends some sci-fantasy and reluctant hero elements. The tech is explained clearly, the combat hits hard, and the tone lands right between sci-fi and fantasy.
If you like the darkness and scale of 40K mixed with some philosophical flavor of Sun Eater, you’ll eat this up. It’s a tight, ambitious novella that leaves you ready for more. Calum, please give us more of this series!
Our main character, Ludaan, is easy to root for right away. We get just enough of his backstory to understand his motives, but not so much that it slows the story down. Lott hints at a much bigger world — Ludaan’s past stretches over a hundred years — which makes this the perfect setup for a larger series.
While side characters could use a bit more development, the short format opens the door for future novellas to explore them in more depth — maybe even through timeline jumps or focused prequels.
Stylistically, it feels like a blend between Warhammer 40K and The Sun Eater series: dark, bloody, and heavy on the action, but blends some sci-fantasy and reluctant hero elements. The tech is explained clearly, the combat hits hard, and the tone lands right between sci-fi and fantasy.
If you like the darkness and scale of 40K mixed with some philosophical flavor of Sun Eater, you’ll eat this up. It’s a tight, ambitious novella that leaves you ready for more. Calum, please give us more of this series!
October 28, 2025
This is the epitome of science fantasy. An epic fantasy tale spun in the darkest depths of space. Perfect for fans of the Sun Eater, Red Rising and Warhammer 40K. A novella of great proportions, deep worldbuilding and unique story. Grim dark Star Wars.
October 16, 2025
"Immortal Aberration" is the latest addition to the list of stories set in the world of Valsollas and the first novella in the "My Mortal Memories" series, which is pitched as great for fans of Warhammer 40K and Sun Eater. This can be read separate from other Valsollas stories though as all the necessary information about the tech in this world is provided to the reader in here as well.
If you live without meaning then you have already died.
The story follows Ludaan, a member of the Black Ocean Guild, which is responsible for purging forbidden tech in the galaxy. After receiving some new intel about tech that's considered to be a myth at most, the guild plans a mission to retrieve the being holding information about this tech within a Zenlian fortress.
Lott does a good job of providing the most crucial details about Ludaan and his found family of guild members, so that we get at least some level of emotional connection with the core cast of characters before they set off on their mission, especially in terms of what kind of role they play in Ludaan's life.
From there on out, the pace kicks into top gear and keeps at it until the very end. Having the W40K reference in the back of my mind made it especially easy to get into the sci-fi battlefield mayhem setting and vibe of the story. The action scenes are vivid and the progression of the mission definitely provided a video game feel to everything as the characters travel further into the fortress and discover unexpected twists, problems alongside losses on both sides of the battle. And by the end, the outcome of the mission provides the premise for the rest of the series to come with its own big twist.
If you're looking for a fast-paced sci-fi battle story that could be read in one longer sitting, then "Immortal Aberration" gets a recommendation from me.
Thank you for the eARC, Calum. The review contains my honest opinions and I am leaving it voluntarily.
If you live without meaning then you have already died.
The story follows Ludaan, a member of the Black Ocean Guild, which is responsible for purging forbidden tech in the galaxy. After receiving some new intel about tech that's considered to be a myth at most, the guild plans a mission to retrieve the being holding information about this tech within a Zenlian fortress.
Lott does a good job of providing the most crucial details about Ludaan and his found family of guild members, so that we get at least some level of emotional connection with the core cast of characters before they set off on their mission, especially in terms of what kind of role they play in Ludaan's life.
From there on out, the pace kicks into top gear and keeps at it until the very end. Having the W40K reference in the back of my mind made it especially easy to get into the sci-fi battlefield mayhem setting and vibe of the story. The action scenes are vivid and the progression of the mission definitely provided a video game feel to everything as the characters travel further into the fortress and discover unexpected twists, problems alongside losses on both sides of the battle. And by the end, the outcome of the mission provides the premise for the rest of the series to come with its own big twist.
If you're looking for a fast-paced sci-fi battle story that could be read in one longer sitting, then "Immortal Aberration" gets a recommendation from me.
Thank you for the eARC, Calum. The review contains my honest opinions and I am leaving it voluntarily.
December 28, 2025
Anche se non è proprio il tipo di fantascienza che prediligo, devo ammettere due cose: alla seconda novella letta, confermo che Lott da scrivere e pure molto bene; e che la sua fantasia ancora una volta si dimostra assolutamente versatile e senza tanti limiti!
Utilizzando il suo sistema tecnologico di simil nanoparticelle, le stala, creato e utilizzato in modo originale in tutto il suo universo, passa da una storia western a una in stile Warhammer 40k..
E lo fa con grandissima naturalezza..
In meno di 150 pagine riesce a creare una storia densa, ricca di idee e pienissima di azione..
Unendo sci-fi e fantasy, crea un universo con tanto di forze cosmiche contrapposte e una lore molto interessante.. Forse, immagino a causa della brevità non troppo approfondita.. avrei voluto capire meglio come Malnetha distorce e deforma gli esseri..
Un enorme missione di recupero da parte di una gilda di potentissimi guerrieri dediti alla distruzione di tecnologie proibite, in un dungeon su una luna spersa.. inutile dire che il dungeon si rivelerà terribilmente pieno di mostri e creature folli.. qui le idee malsane, cupe e body horror si riversano una sull'altra.. in un ode al Chaos warrammeriano, ma con una propria identità.. forse i tantissimi combattimenti tolgono un po' di spazio a qualche caratterizzazione in più e in qualche approfondimento di lore che di sicuro avrebbe reso il tutto ancora più coerente..
Resta il fatto che per essere una semplice novella, è assurdo la mole di epicità, lore e idee che Lott ci ha zeppato.. e sono curioso di vedere cosa escogiterà nella prossima novella con un finale così..
Utilizzando il suo sistema tecnologico di simil nanoparticelle, le stala, creato e utilizzato in modo originale in tutto il suo universo, passa da una storia western a una in stile Warhammer 40k..
E lo fa con grandissima naturalezza..
In meno di 150 pagine riesce a creare una storia densa, ricca di idee e pienissima di azione..
Unendo sci-fi e fantasy, crea un universo con tanto di forze cosmiche contrapposte e una lore molto interessante.. Forse, immagino a causa della brevità non troppo approfondita.. avrei voluto capire meglio come Malnetha distorce e deforma gli esseri..
Un enorme missione di recupero da parte di una gilda di potentissimi guerrieri dediti alla distruzione di tecnologie proibite, in un dungeon su una luna spersa.. inutile dire che il dungeon si rivelerà terribilmente pieno di mostri e creature folli.. qui le idee malsane, cupe e body horror si riversano una sull'altra.. in un ode al Chaos warrammeriano, ma con una propria identità.. forse i tantissimi combattimenti tolgono un po' di spazio a qualche caratterizzazione in più e in qualche approfondimento di lore che di sicuro avrebbe reso il tutto ancora più coerente..
Resta il fatto che per essere una semplice novella, è assurdo la mole di epicità, lore e idee che Lott ci ha zeppato.. e sono curioso di vedere cosa escogiterà nella prossima novella con un finale così..
December 25, 2025
scrumptious read, very much recommended for those a fan of 40k, Star Wars and Beserk
January 30, 2026
I had high hopes for Immortal Aberration after A Dirge for Cascius made my 'Top 5 Reads of 2025' Throw in the fact this is set within his extended Valsollas Universe, plus stunning cover art from John Devlin and I was stoked to get to this.
IA however is a very different beast to ADFC however. Told form the point of view of Ludaan a soldier for the Black Ocean Guild,the basic underpinnings are the same, with a revising of a number of themes and concepts around the various factions and the quasi-religious underpinnings of the setting, this focuses a lot more on what the 'front-lines' of this universe feels like, and while it has some amazing character moments and interactions throughout, with a focus on found family, military brotherhood, honour and sacrifice, with moments of introspections around loss, trust and misinformation, they very much act as stopgaps between a powerfully realised combat mission that does not go according to plan.
As a result, this is in many ways an inverse of Dirge, with this being a far more action focused piece punctuated with character moments, forging forward at fast piece with barely a moment to catch your breath.
The action scenes themselves are brutal and vivid, and have a real senses of impact both physically in the moment, ad mentally when those charcater moments kick in when we get the brief moments of respite. Something I picked up on more in this is the use of colours within the various groups for the abilities and technologies, as well as the naming conventions used by our our POV character, which really hammered home the opposed dynamics and opinions of the the opposing sides.
This is the first in a series, and the ending sequence does a great job of building interest for whatever comes next, with an extra shade of grey (well more midnight black, this is a DARK setting) introduced towards the end as deals are made,
Overall, this was a dark, gruesome, none stop ride of a novella that has left me wanting more.
IA however is a very different beast to ADFC however. Told form the point of view of Ludaan a soldier for the Black Ocean Guild,the basic underpinnings are the same, with a revising of a number of themes and concepts around the various factions and the quasi-religious underpinnings of the setting, this focuses a lot more on what the 'front-lines' of this universe feels like, and while it has some amazing character moments and interactions throughout, with a focus on found family, military brotherhood, honour and sacrifice, with moments of introspections around loss, trust and misinformation, they very much act as stopgaps between a powerfully realised combat mission that does not go according to plan.
As a result, this is in many ways an inverse of Dirge, with this being a far more action focused piece punctuated with character moments, forging forward at fast piece with barely a moment to catch your breath.
The action scenes themselves are brutal and vivid, and have a real senses of impact both physically in the moment, ad mentally when those charcater moments kick in when we get the brief moments of respite. Something I picked up on more in this is the use of colours within the various groups for the abilities and technologies, as well as the naming conventions used by our our POV character, which really hammered home the opposed dynamics and opinions of the the opposing sides.
This is the first in a series, and the ending sequence does a great job of building interest for whatever comes next, with an extra shade of grey (well more midnight black, this is a DARK setting) introduced towards the end as deals are made,
Overall, this was a dark, gruesome, none stop ride of a novella that has left me wanting more.
October 18, 2025
I received an e-book of this novel as an ARC review. I loved the concept and storyline, and would easily read more of this world to see where Ludaan’s journey leads him.
I found that while this was a quick read for me, I was immediately absorbed and the world around me faded away until I was part of Ludaan’s crew searching for the Rebirth Doc. I laughed, cried, and felt fear with the crew.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 Stars was that in the beginning, the vocabulary used (such as opus, countenance, resplendent, and grandiosity) may be hard for all readers to understand. While this wasn’t a struggle for myself, per se, I thought honestly about those around me who would enjoy this novel, such as my 12 year old, and what their perspective reading may be.
Overall, I would highly recommend this to any sci-fi fan as it has an incredible premise, it’s action filled, and very gripping.
I found that while this was a quick read for me, I was immediately absorbed and the world around me faded away until I was part of Ludaan’s crew searching for the Rebirth Doc. I laughed, cried, and felt fear with the crew.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 Stars was that in the beginning, the vocabulary used (such as opus, countenance, resplendent, and grandiosity) may be hard for all readers to understand. While this wasn’t a struggle for myself, per se, I thought honestly about those around me who would enjoy this novel, such as my 12 year old, and what their perspective reading may be.
Overall, I would highly recommend this to any sci-fi fan as it has an incredible premise, it’s action filled, and very gripping.
October 30, 2025
Okay, wow! This novella seriously blew me away. For something with such a short page count, Immortal Aberrations hits hard. From the first chapter, it’s got this gritty, cosmic, blood-and-bolts energy. Lott takes that larger-than-life, grimdark sci-fi vibe and somehow squeezes it into a novella that feels both massive in scale and surprisingly personal.
The story follows Ludaan, a guy who starts off on a crime-ridden planet and ends up part of the Black Ocean Guild, basically a found family of warriors who keep dangerous tech under wraps. Their mission this time? Recover a Rebirth Doc, someone who’s been dabbling with the forbidden tech of immortality. It’s a setup that sounds straightforward at first, but things escalate fast and violently. Once the action kicks in, it does not stop. There’s this constant pulse to the story that makes it feel like a cinematic space battle mixed with a video game campaign, one mission leading into the next, with every encounter feeling like a boss fight.
I loved how creative some of the concepts were, especially the Cos Realm, a sort of higher-dimensional space used for travel. The descriptions here are wild. It’s like Lott mashed up hyperspace and a spiritual awakening, then sprinkled in a hallucinogenic dream sequence. Weirdly enough, it works perfectly.
What really ties the story together, though, is the dynamic between Ludaan and the rest of the guild. There’s a strong found-family thread throughout. His mentor Bastion gives major grizzled-dad energy, and their bond adds a layer of emotion that makes the big action moments hit even harder. That said, I did feel like some of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. There are glimpses of who they are, but I didn’t get quite enough time with them to fully care when things got intense. Still, it’s a novella, there’s only so much room, and what’s here works well enough to keep the story moving.
The writing itself is clean and sharp, though it does use some heavier vocabulary that might throw off readers new to sci-fi (good that at the beginning of the book you can find a glossary of basic terms). Once you settle in, though, it’s a smooth, fast-paced read. The world-building is rich without feeling like an info dump, and the tech feels grounded with clear rules and limits, always a plus in this genre.
Verdict: Immortal Aberrations is a fast, bloody, and surprisingly heartfelt sci-fi ride. It’s got all the grit and cosmic weirdness I love about dark space epics, but with just enough humanity to make it stick. If you want a quick read that feels like a mix between a war story and a fever dream, this one’s absolutely worth your time.
Huge thanks to Calum Lott for sending me a free eARC of his book in exchange for an honest review. I had an awesome time diving into this world!
The story follows Ludaan, a guy who starts off on a crime-ridden planet and ends up part of the Black Ocean Guild, basically a found family of warriors who keep dangerous tech under wraps. Their mission this time? Recover a Rebirth Doc, someone who’s been dabbling with the forbidden tech of immortality. It’s a setup that sounds straightforward at first, but things escalate fast and violently. Once the action kicks in, it does not stop. There’s this constant pulse to the story that makes it feel like a cinematic space battle mixed with a video game campaign, one mission leading into the next, with every encounter feeling like a boss fight.
I loved how creative some of the concepts were, especially the Cos Realm, a sort of higher-dimensional space used for travel. The descriptions here are wild. It’s like Lott mashed up hyperspace and a spiritual awakening, then sprinkled in a hallucinogenic dream sequence. Weirdly enough, it works perfectly.
What really ties the story together, though, is the dynamic between Ludaan and the rest of the guild. There’s a strong found-family thread throughout. His mentor Bastion gives major grizzled-dad energy, and their bond adds a layer of emotion that makes the big action moments hit even harder. That said, I did feel like some of the side characters could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. There are glimpses of who they are, but I didn’t get quite enough time with them to fully care when things got intense. Still, it’s a novella, there’s only so much room, and what’s here works well enough to keep the story moving.
The writing itself is clean and sharp, though it does use some heavier vocabulary that might throw off readers new to sci-fi (good that at the beginning of the book you can find a glossary of basic terms). Once you settle in, though, it’s a smooth, fast-paced read. The world-building is rich without feeling like an info dump, and the tech feels grounded with clear rules and limits, always a plus in this genre.
Verdict: Immortal Aberrations is a fast, bloody, and surprisingly heartfelt sci-fi ride. It’s got all the grit and cosmic weirdness I love about dark space epics, but with just enough humanity to make it stick. If you want a quick read that feels like a mix between a war story and a fever dream, this one’s absolutely worth your time.
Huge thanks to Calum Lott for sending me a free eARC of his book in exchange for an honest review. I had an awesome time diving into this world!
November 6, 2025
Holy hell. Welcome to the grittiest, grungiest, gruesomest sci fi adventure. This has murderbot vibes, space legionnaire, warhammer 40k destruction and endless battles. Set in his vast universe, Calum takes a first person perspective and places you right in that pilots seat. You don’t have the control, but you have to hold onto something as this story flings you to the outer reaches of valsollas for one hell of a wild ride.
‘No one in the Guild—myself included—was genetically spliced to become physically superior. Using such forbidden tech would have violated our entire purpose, though many of us still carried the genetic strengths from the Splicing Age millennia ago. What we had was our naturally hardened bodies, tempered by gravity, by the cold void, by the discipline of our relentless training and our superior tech. Not to mention our sanity.’
Immortal aberration
‘No one in the Guild—myself included—was genetically spliced to become physically superior. Using such forbidden tech would have violated our entire purpose, though many of us still carried the genetic strengths from the Splicing Age millennia ago. What we had was our naturally hardened bodies, tempered by gravity, by the cold void, by the discipline of our relentless training and our superior tech. Not to mention our sanity.’
Immortal aberration
November 11, 2025
Absolutely a thrill to enjoy. Non-stop action. Very well written
October 13, 2025
Calum Lott has created something really cool with Immortal Aberration leveraging an emerging trend of of blending sci-fi with fantasy elements in this SciFantasy book 1. Being a novella, it requires a certain style to be able to tell a full story in a short platform, and, we get a fully formed arc, fast paced action, enough lore and world-building sprinkled in so I understood what was going on, and a satisfying conclusion with a good book 2 hook at the end earning it a 4/5 ⭐️.
This instantly grabbed my attention with it’s first sentence and held it until the last page. It explodes with action around the 20% mark and doesn’t let up until the end of the book. I literally couldn’t put it down outside of being forced to by demands from the duo of small women that run the show in my house.
The exploration of space travel via an energy plane was so clever, and the fact that the characters describe the experience as basically being on a great shroom trip just added a certain ease to understanding how it worked. I enjoyed learning more about the world Lott built, the new tech like the Crystalas was what make me love the sci-fi genre, it also had very clear rules and it not being an infinite resource of power with clear weaknesses was a good example of Lott interweaving fantasy like magic into Immortal Aberration.
Full in-depth review can be found on Bromantasy.com
This instantly grabbed my attention with it’s first sentence and held it until the last page. It explodes with action around the 20% mark and doesn’t let up until the end of the book. I literally couldn’t put it down outside of being forced to by demands from the duo of small women that run the show in my house.
The exploration of space travel via an energy plane was so clever, and the fact that the characters describe the experience as basically being on a great shroom trip just added a certain ease to understanding how it worked. I enjoyed learning more about the world Lott built, the new tech like the Crystalas was what make me love the sci-fi genre, it also had very clear rules and it not being an infinite resource of power with clear weaknesses was a good example of Lott interweaving fantasy like magic into Immortal Aberration.
Full in-depth review can be found on Bromantasy.com
October 25, 2025
My whole read I kept coming back to the MMORPG Hell Divers. Reading through the story felt like living through a mission to "liberate" another planet from the hordes of insect like creatures! In fact I thought the video game could use some of the ideas from this story like not just fighting on the surface but going down into the base of these creatures to fight the big bad inside!
The imagery of the battles and enemies felt good. I found myself getting a bit lost in the world building in the beginning, but I think that's a me issue with scifi settings (same thing happened in Casius and Dune).
Nice work to Calum, goodluck and thank you once again for the arc!
The imagery of the battles and enemies felt good. I found myself getting a bit lost in the world building in the beginning, but I think that's a me issue with scifi settings (same thing happened in Casius and Dune).
Nice work to Calum, goodluck and thank you once again for the arc!
November 15, 2025
This was a heck of a ride!
We are immediately dropped into non stop action as Ludaan and his team are sent to a planet to assault a fortress that houses something it shouldn't. It will take all his skill to keep himself and his team, the Black Ocean Guild alive. What he finds there will shock him and change the way he thinks.
The author takes no prisoners so this novella is not without it's losses. Those only highlight the knife edge's danger they are all in...it's literally life and death!
Relentless and brutal, with awesome worldbuilding...and oh so good!
Thanks to Callum for the opportunity to read this novella!
We are immediately dropped into non stop action as Ludaan and his team are sent to a planet to assault a fortress that houses something it shouldn't. It will take all his skill to keep himself and his team, the Black Ocean Guild alive. What he finds there will shock him and change the way he thinks.
The author takes no prisoners so this novella is not without it's losses. Those only highlight the knife edge's danger they are all in...it's literally life and death!
Relentless and brutal, with awesome worldbuilding...and oh so good!
Thanks to Callum for the opportunity to read this novella!
December 8, 2025
I had the wonderful opportunity to be a beta reader for this book (I’m rather late in posting my review, been a crazy few months lol). This book was a delight from start to finish, and the pages just flew by. It shares a similar atmosphere with The Suneater and Warhammer 40K, as well as some more surprising sci-fi like Hyperion and Book of the New Sun. It’s full of action and intrigue, with characters that just jump off the page. Only downside is I wish some of the ideas had been explored in more detail/complexity but I understand the constraints of the novella format.
December 1, 2025
Just finished Immortal Aberration! Bravo! So much action, character and world building in such a short compact format and the author pulled it off beautifully!
November 8, 2025
“Guild Mother, send death!”
What a freakin awesome short story. Came across the author on social media and man am I glad I did! This book made me think of the video game Helldivers mixed with an awesome beginning of a (hopefully) long story. I can’t wait til he continues with this series!
What a freakin awesome short story. Came across the author on social media and man am I glad I did! This book made me think of the video game Helldivers mixed with an awesome beginning of a (hopefully) long story. I can’t wait til he continues with this series!
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