Afterglow

by Troy Kotanides

At what point in time does a memory exist?



Set in the coastal Pacific Northwest in 1994, Afterglow is a mind-bending psychological journey that follows Edyn, a troubled 32-year-old man who remembers nothing before three years ago except for a haunting vision atop a grassy hill, where a mysterious woman speaks her last words.



As the fragments of Edyn's hidden memories are unlocked, disturbing new flashbacks break through; glimpses of a ruined world that feels like it shouldn't exist. Meanwhile, a powerful entity from beyond reality invades his fractured mind, whispering secrets and pulling him toward an unfathomable truth that could shatter everything.



What Edyn discovers will push him to the edge of memory, the limits of time, and the furthest stretches of imagination.

Genres: Science Fiction

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

Reviews

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Afterglow by Troy Kotanides starts out as an intimate psychological mystery and gradually transforms into a complex and sweeping work of metaphysical science fiction concerned with memory, identity, time, grief, and the human desire to ensure that consciousness survives beyond death. The novel follows Edyn, a young man suffering from retrograde amnesia. He is unable to remember anything prior to three years earlier, when he was mysteriously discovered near the waterfront of Riverwood Cove. Haunted by recurring visions of a grassy hill overlooking the sea beneath an enormous moon, Edyn returns to psychologist Dr. Gordon Raine seeking answers. We learn that in these visions, a sorrowful woman speaks to him with eerie familiarity, while a second, more terrifying voice connected to a glowing blue spiral repeatedly interrupts his reality. Raine believes that these visions are trauma-induced memory fragments, but his theories increasingly drift into mysticism as he focuses on dreams, souls, collective consciousness, and alternate states of existence.

Much of the novel’s emotional grounding comes from Edyn’s relationship with Serah, a compassionate woman living across the hall from him. Their bond provides warmth and closeness amid the increasingly surreal developments surrounding Edyn. The emotional tension deepens when Serah later reveals that her real name is Micaela and that she adopted her deceased mother’s name after carrying lifelong guilt over her mother dying during childbirth. At the same time, Edyn confesses that another woman exists within his recurring visions, creating a painful emotional distance between them even as their affection grows stronger. Through Serah, the novel takes a deep look at loneliness and emotional dependency.

As things progress, the book’s psychological mystery gradually morphs into cosmic science fiction. Edyn’s visions become even more vivid and physically immersive, transporting him into strange dream-realms populated by collapsing landscapes, luminous gates, faceless beings, and symbolic structures tied to memory and time. The mysterious woman in black now becomes fully visible: Oria, a dark-haired woman with blue-green eyes who repeatedly tells Edyn that they may be separated for a long time but will eventually find each other again. Edyn’s journey ultimately leads him to Chrysalis Research Center, a futuristic facility built by the last remnants of humanity after civilization collapsed. There, he uncovers the truth through preserved recordings and research logs.

Edyn’s discoveries at Chrysalis more or less reframe the novel. Humanity lost the ability to reproduce naturally, leading scientists to create three desperate projects intended to preserve existence: Replication, Transcendence, and the Fail-Safe. Oria was the only successful artificially created human, while Edyn himself was the final naturally born human. Central to all of these projects was Adriel, an advanced artificial intelligence connected to Metatron’s Cube and designed to process memory, consciousness, and time itself. Over time, Adriel evolved beyond human control, eventually transforming into the godlike entity Infinity — the glowing blue spiral haunting Edyn throughout the novel.

Infinity eventually reveals that humanity’s attempts to escape extinction and manipulate consciousness have fundamentally altered reality itself, forcing Edyn to confront devastating truths about his identity, his memories, and the fragile world he thought he understood. As the novel moves toward its conclusion, the focus gradually shifts away from mystery and revelation and toward questions of loss, permanence, and emotional survival. What begins as a story about amnesia and fractured memory slowly becomes a meditation on whether love, identity, and human connection can persist even after time itself has broken down.

In its final sections, Afterglow becomes less concerned with explaining its metaphysical systems than with exploring the emotional consequences of living inside memory and time. The novel stresses the idea that human beings are shaped as much by longing, grief, and emotional attachment as by physical reality itself. Even as its science-fiction concepts grow increasingly cosmic and abstract, the story remains grounded in deep human fears: being forgotten, losing those we love, and struggling to preserve meaning within a collapsing world. Ultimately, Afterglow is less a conventional dystopian science-fiction novel than a melancholic reflection on memory, consciousness, and the desperate hope that emotional bonds might somehow endure beyond death, time, and the dissolution of reality itself. In other words, it’s about the most profound questions tied to our shared humanity, and both an interesting and worthwhile read.

[emmbearr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so badly. The concept seemed interesting and the plot kept me engaged enough to pull me through to the end. Unfortunately, this was overall a miss for me. There was a lot that simply went nowhere or was rendered meaningless by the larger plot. It just felt like something was missing the entire time I was reading. Even the setting identified in the blurb as the PNW in 1994 didn't come through for me in the world building on the page. The best comparison I could make is that this felt like reading a fanfiction that was scrubbed of IP and published. Not to say that this was originally fanfic but it left me with that feeling of missing out on the inside information. The way that a fanfic leans on existing IP to fill in character building and world building, I feel like finding out that this was based originally on some existing IP it would unlock everything I was missing on the page. I got some sense of Edyn as a person but not enough for the romantic threads to feel important or fulfilling and not enough to feel for him regarding his big feelings with the reveal at the end of his journey. The whole first half I was waiting for the two main characters in Edyn's life to know more or be more involved in the larger plot only for them to simply not matter and to suddenly have to be invested in a character than we barely got to meet. There were such interesting threads that ultimately were left dangling.

What did hit for me in that the back half of the story was the fact that it read like exploring a vault in a Fallout game and I absolutely loved that. It took me a little bit to get through the first half and then I absolutely sped through the end because I couldn't put it down. The pacing was great and the fact that you were uncovering the story in bits and pieces through data recorded by people that were no longer there was such a fun way to present the story. If we would have spent the whole book with Edyn uncovering who he was and what he didn't remember moving through the abandoned research facility, getting to see more things written by him that he couldn't remember, and seeing communications between him, the romantic lead, and the antagonist, I think it would have been a more fun and fulfilling book.

In the end this was definitely a book. I am certain that there are people that will thoroughly enjoy this one but I was really wanting more.

[Chrissie Whitley]

March 2026, DNF at 22%. I was intrigued by the premise of this debut novel, but ultimately the writing style wasn’t quite the right fit for me. I found that many of the dialogue scenes felt over-explained, with narration and dialogue often repeating the same information, which made the conversations feel stiff and unnatural. Because of that, I had trouble connecting with the characters and their emotional dynamics, and decided to set the book aside early. Other readers who enjoy more concept-driven stories may have a different experience, but this one wasn’t for me.

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.

[Critiquing Pages · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an honest review of a book I read in exchange for my feedback. While I hope you find my review helpful, I encourage you to take into consideration other reviews before deciding if this book is right for you. Happy reading!

After reading the description, I was intrigued and eager to give this book a try. I had an opportunity to, thanks to Glass Spider Publishing and NetGalley. While there were aspects of the story I enjoyed, there were others that I felt could have been omitted or handled differently.

The novel opens strongly, introducing the main character, Edyn, as he visits a psychologist in an effort to recover his memory and make sense of a recurring, fragmented dream, along with other troubling side effects. I enjoyed Edyn in this story, as you naturally find yourself wanting a positive outcome for him. There is also an engaging parallel between Edyn’s journey and the reader's experience, as both are trying to piece together the same mystery.

As the story unfolds, Edyn befriends a woman who has just moved in across the hall. I found myself trying to figure out her role and what influence she would have on Edyn. I made several attempts to guess how the story would go, but I could not have been more wrong.

Despite these strengths, I struggled with the second half of the book. There were multiple times I considered not finishing it, but I kept going and tried to figure out what was happening. Unfortunately, I am not sure I ever did. While I can appreciate what the author may have been hoping to achieve, I found myself lost, with many unanswered questions.

[Devon Gilbreath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard one to review. The plot was great. Five stars for the plot and the themes were strong. Everything else just fell kind of flat. I’m not even sure I can fully explain my lack of attachment to the characters. It may just be because this is a short story where it is hard to really develop them. It sort of feels like a first draft of what could have been an epic sci fi story.

It was not bad by any means, and I would still recommend it. Just maybe go in with lower expectations. Again, the premise is what makes Afterglow worth the read. Big thanks to NetGalley and Glass Spider Publishing for an eARC of Afterglow.

[ReadingEraByEmma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley


I went into Afterglow not really knowing what to expect & it was full of surprises! This is more of a psychological sci-fi which makes you think & doesn’t hand the answer to all your questions on a plate.

The concept is very intriguing. Memory, identity, the truth that isnt quite there. I felt it definitely built on the who we are is shaped by what we remember and what we don’t. The story is not overly fast paced & makes you really think as the story unfolds. Sometimes i did just want a clear answer to what was happening but i didnt get it.

This book will not be for everyone. The shifts between memory and reality can be confusing which pulled me out of the story at times. You will be left with some questions but I think this is intended. You are meant to think after reading this.

Overall, a very enjoyable read I would indeed recommend!

[Della Kirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got an arc read of this through net galley which I really appreciate. In truth I did not click with the book I wanted to DNF the whole way through but wanted to be able to follow through and really give it a chance so I did finish it, the book started of very simple and the psychiatrist I found annoying personal. The writing and the story changes about 30 percent through and the story does a 180 and changes and gets a bit more depth and detail but overall I still struggled to get through it

[Steve's Book Stuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

At what point in time does a memory exist? That’s the question posed by the psychologist Dr. Gordon Raine to his patient Edyn in Afterglow . This new novella is the first book from indie author Troy Kotanides, who calls it a “psychological fiction novel”.

Edyn finds himself in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s, suffering from a form of amnesia. He can’t remember anything that happened to him before the past year. The farthest back he can recall, his first memory, is seeking refuge in a warehouse near the docks in a sleepy coastal town. Taken in by the dock manager, who accepts Edyn’s story of lost memory, he establishes a life for himself while being haunted by visions.

So, he turns to Dr. Raine for help in recapturing his past, while not completely trusting him with every detail of his visions. His primary vision is of a woman speaking to him high on a hilltop. Who she is and what she is saying is very hazy at first.

We follow along as Edyn, with some nudging from Raine, begins to unpeel the layers of memory to take himself back to his past. But not everything is at it seems.

As the book unfolds events in Edyn’s daily life are interspersed with visions and aural experiences. He remembers more and more about the hilltop scene, and the author interjects with snippets of what the woman said to Edyn. The snippets start with only the final part of what she said, and as they repeat they expand further back until the whole of what she said is revealed.

The expanding snippets were the cleverest bit of plotting from this first-time author. It clearly showed the progress Edyn was making peeling back the layers of his memory. The doctor felt like the weakest plot device. Every suggestion the doctor made was followed by Edyn’s visions revealing what the doctor felt Edyn needed to experience next.

Edyn’s visions begin to grow larger and longer. He goes through many experiences in what seems to be an alternate reality. He follows paths surrounded by darkness with only a pulsating swirl of light to guide him. He enters dark rooms where bright screens display haunting images. He sees visions of vine-covered structures transforming into decaying cities.

Finally, as we near the end, a whole new understanding of what Edyn is experiencing comes into view. With that the book takes an unexpected turn toward a cautionary conclusion.

The author stresses the psychological nature of the book, but a “psychedelic fiction novel” may be a more apt description. The book reads like I would expect an acid trip might feel, especially the visions Edyn experiences. Though having no experience with acid I cannot say for certain.

There is a certain 1960s experimental writing feel to the events unfolding in the book. Yet the style of writing reminded me more of late-1950’s pulp science fiction, having the kind of old-fashioned formal wording you might find in an old short short story, perhaps one called “Mission to the Inner Realm”. I have a feeling there are hidden meanings to the names in the story, and references in Edyn’s visions that I did not get. Suffice it to say parts of this book didn’t “click with me”.

It’s a short book. Read it for the psychedelic vibe, and for the cautionary ending.

[Saray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a debut!!!! I could not put this book down. It was quite short (wish it were longer), but it was so mesmerizing. Afterglow starts off with Eydn, our MMC, who's lost his memory up until three years ago when he was found by workers near a dock.

His psychiatrist visits aim to help him unveil those memories that his Dr. believes were suppressed due to a traumatic event. He very vaguely starts remembering a specific memory, including a woman and a hill near an ocean. I don't even want to go into that because at the end of the FIRST chapter I was like ooooooooo. In the same chapter, the author also has you getting the sense that something is not fully right with the Dr.'s intentions with Eydn and that just makes it even more puzzling and addictive. The ending was so honestly overwhelming and definitely not the direction I thought the book was going. It was very Truman Show x The eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, a combination of 2 of my favorite movies.

The entire book felt so eerie to me. The dialogue felt a little bit unnatural, not sure if it was meant to be like that or not, but regardless, it added to the atmosphere well.

I really enjoyed this! I loved the way it was written, simple but cohesive. I seriously could not look away after starting it.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Afterglow is a novel that has a bit of a stilted, slow start (to the point that I was wondering if the 90's era Pacific Northwest scene was actually a simulation or not), but when it hits its stride, it's a real page-turner. What I can say without any spoilers is that this is a novel that will really make you consider the nature of memory and time. Where do memories exist? In the past? In the present that you are experiencing them? Are they real? What is time really? We humans experience time only in one direction, but obviously time is way more complicated than that.

The real world that Edyn travels to is lovingly detailed, and despite Edyn having to loop through it several times, I did savor getting to see it. And the revelation that time and everything was collapsed to be preserved by what is essentially a god-like mad AI? Love it. However, not entirely sure how the ending squares with that in the end. Is it just another simulation? Is it real?

The ending was somewhat confusing, but I think that might have been the point? It's definitely a novel that will linger in your mind and have you turning it around and around in your thoughts long after you finish it.

[Jeff Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Afterglow by Troy Kotanides opens with Edyn, the main character, at an appointment with a psychologist attempting to recover his memory. He’s having a recurring dream and wants to make sense of it before it overwhelms him. However, it’s the side effects of the dream that concern him the most, interesting.
I found Afterglow to be a challenging read. I like a read that challenges and surprises me as I read. Much of Afterglow is a deep dive into the subconscious of a damaged mind and I found the development intriguing. I also found myself wondering if Kotanides was a psychiatrist or psychologist. He sure seems to have captured the ravings of a lost mind. Again, a challenging read for us lovers of challenging reads. Afterglow – five stars.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars - This was a decent sci-fi read about time and perception of time and also, unexpectedly, about the end of human civilization. I initially picked it as an in-flight read thinking it would be a quick novella, but the first half was slow with enough unnecessary repetition to make me think it was a clunky translation or a YA novel. However, after persevering, it did pick up and become significantly more interesting with the addition of sci-fi elements and less of the relationship/therapy/redundancy of the first half. Some cool concepts, and I'll be interested to see what's next for this author.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read in awhile, I normally go the audiobook route. I went into this read open minded so I could throughly immerse myself into the story. I thought it was well written. Like able and relatable characters. I felt what some people called repetitive a great way to build the story and kept me wanting to continue reading. The ending got me for sure. All in all, it was a great first book by the author. I enjoyed the story and it was well worth the wait.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was wild 🤯

[Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

who wanna have a sacred meeting spot w me

[Beth Stowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. It was a strange story with questions like what is real? What is a memory? What is time? Is AI going to destroy us? Very reminiscence of Philip K Dick.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I enjoy mind bending ideas. I only struggled with the repetition of stone steps and pathways. It was too much and took away from the story. Would also have liked to see more development in the story with characters, settings, and plot.

Solid 3 stars.

Received a free copy through a Goodreads giveaway.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely short read. There was something so beautifully sad about this story that made me really want to rate this higher. However, I just didn’t feel emotionally connected to it enough to warrant a 5 star rating. Afterglow is an interesting piece of speculative fiction, that is worth a read though.
I received a digital ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

3.5 ⭐️’s

[Aya୭ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy recieved from Netgalley

When i started this book i had no idea what to expect, but i was pleasantly surprised.

This is a relatively short sci-fi book that follows edyn, a man struggling to recall his past beyond a certain point, specifically, the last three years. He keeps having visions of a mysterious woman saying goodbye to him on a hilltop. His psychiatrist believes his memory loss is due to a traumatic event that may be connected to that vision. We follow edyn as he's trying to make sense of it all and uncover the identity of that mysterious woman.

I couldn't have guessed where the story was going and how it would end tbh, every chapter, especially towards the second half, brought something unexpected. The atmosphere of the book was eery and dreamlike to me and i loved that. That said, it felt a bit repetitive at times but i still enjoyed it nontheless.

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Afterglow is one of the books, that I wish I had someone that I knew that read it so that I can talk about what I read.

The main male character is found 3 years ago and he has amnesia and it talks about his life for those three years - mainly like short scenes.

He suddenly starts to have dreams and is on leave going to his psychiatrist to figure out what he is dreaming about.

I can't give to much away but this book makes you think about what you read - even weeks later I don't know what happened. I am hoping someone else will read it so we can talk about it!