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Cousins From a Distant Sun
An archaeologist is drawn into a mission to save a mysterious community of supernatural beings hiding deep within the Andes in this humorous, offbeat novel.
Archaeologist Ruth Baker is in Peru for a new dig, but discovers more than she bargained for—a secret community of giant supernatural beings hiding in the mountains.
The Wanami were originally kidnapped from Earth by aliens thousands of years ago to work on planet Qoom. Eventually they were shipped back and lived happily alongside the Inca civilization—until they were forced to take refuge in the treasure-filled caves beneath the Inca monuments they helped to build.
Now, a new threat has emerged—and Ruth is the only thing that stands between them and real extinction! Can she persuade the outside world to help ensure their survival, or will the human lust for gold cause her efforts to backfire spectacularly?
A rollicking adventure perfect for fans of quirky, fun science fiction from Riley August and Becky Chambers.
Archaeologist Ruth Baker is in Peru for a new dig, but discovers more than she bargained for—a secret community of giant supernatural beings hiding in the mountains.
The Wanami were originally kidnapped from Earth by aliens thousands of years ago to work on planet Qoom. Eventually they were shipped back and lived happily alongside the Inca civilization—until they were forced to take refuge in the treasure-filled caves beneath the Inca monuments they helped to build.
Now, a new threat has emerged—and Ruth is the only thing that stands between them and real extinction! Can she persuade the outside world to help ensure their survival, or will the human lust for gold cause her efforts to backfire spectacularly?
A rollicking adventure perfect for fans of quirky, fun science fiction from Riley August and Becky Chambers.
- GenresScience FictionCozy
224 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Tamar Myers
71 books295 followersTamar Myers was born and raised in the Belgian Congo (now just the Congo). Her parents were missionaries to a tribe which, at that time, were known as headhunters and used human skulls for drinking cups. Hers was the first white family ever to peacefully coexist with the tribe, and Tamar grew up fluent in the local trade language. Because of her pale blue eyes, Tamar’s nickname was Ugly Eyes.
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
In 1960 the Congo, which had been a Belgian colony, became an independent nation. There followed a period of retribution (for heinous crimes committed against the Congolese by the Belgians) in which many Whites were killed. Tamar and her family fled the Congo, but returned a year later. By then a number of civil wars were raging, and the family’s residence was often in the line of fire. In 1964, after living through three years of war, the family returned to the United States permanently.
Tamar was sixteen when her family settled in America, and she immediately underwent severe culture shock. She didn’t know how to dial a telephone, cross a street at a stoplight, or use a vending machine. She lucked out, however, by meeting her husband, Jeffrey, on her first day in an American high school. They literally bumped heads while he was leaving, and she entering, the Civics classroom.
Tamar now calls Charlotte, NC home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.
Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Pichu in the near future.
Series:
* Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery
* Den of Antiquity Mystery
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
In 1960 the Congo, which had been a Belgian colony, became an independent nation. There followed a period of retribution (for heinous crimes committed against the Congolese by the Belgians) in which many Whites were killed. Tamar and her family fled the Congo, but returned a year later. By then a number of civil wars were raging, and the family’s residence was often in the line of fire. In 1964, after living through three years of war, the family returned to the United States permanently.
Tamar was sixteen when her family settled in America, and she immediately underwent severe culture shock. She didn’t know how to dial a telephone, cross a street at a stoplight, or use a vending machine. She lucked out, however, by meeting her husband, Jeffrey, on her first day in an American high school. They literally bumped heads while he was leaving, and she entering, the Civics classroom.
Tamar now calls Charlotte, NC home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.
Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Pichu in the near future.
Series:
* Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery
* Den of Antiquity Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 12, 2026
2 stars.
Cousins from a Distant Sun started off strong; I was pulled in right from the first chapter. Also, the cover is gorgeous. The story mixes in sci-fi with adventure… an American archaeologist, who is located in Peru, is called to a dig where they have found remains of otherworldly humans. She is then approached by a very old, tall man, who begs her to make a detour to accompany him to his town to meet and help his people.
So, my first beef with this book is that the main character, Ruth Baker, is tremendously unpleasant. She’s rude, unapproachable, and seemingly has very few (if any) friends. Gee, I wonder why. Carlos, the old man, says that he has been watching her for quite some time and saw that she was kind. She was not kind once during the book. While she made some choices toward the end of the book that helped others, her internal dialogue revealed that she really hadn’t changed much.
Also, I don’t know if this is a character choice, or the author’s perspective, but the book came off as very anti-fat. Some main characters were described as a “slug,” “overstuffed calzone,” “stuck pig,” “bloated whale,” and more. Additionally, these characters were also repeatedly described as being smelly - Limburger cheese smelly. The book would have been stronger without these extraneous descriptions. To be fair (?), a man who was slender was also described as smelly, and a handsome man was told he had bad breath… but… the juiciest descriptions were for the obese characters.
It also seemed like the author was trying to make a statement on slavery, and using animals as beasts of burden. I thought she was going in one direction - but then some characters made choices at the end that makes me wonder. Whatever the point was, it was definitely muddled (and I feel like points about slavery need to be VERY clear).
The plot petered out - the ending was not particularly satisfying - and while this book is already short, I believe that it might have been better suited as a tight short story.
Thank you to Severn House via NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Cousins from a Distant Sun started off strong; I was pulled in right from the first chapter. Also, the cover is gorgeous. The story mixes in sci-fi with adventure… an American archaeologist, who is located in Peru, is called to a dig where they have found remains of otherworldly humans. She is then approached by a very old, tall man, who begs her to make a detour to accompany him to his town to meet and help his people.
So, my first beef with this book is that the main character, Ruth Baker, is tremendously unpleasant. She’s rude, unapproachable, and seemingly has very few (if any) friends. Gee, I wonder why. Carlos, the old man, says that he has been watching her for quite some time and saw that she was kind. She was not kind once during the book. While she made some choices toward the end of the book that helped others, her internal dialogue revealed that she really hadn’t changed much.
Also, I don’t know if this is a character choice, or the author’s perspective, but the book came off as very anti-fat. Some main characters were described as a “slug,” “overstuffed calzone,” “stuck pig,” “bloated whale,” and more. Additionally, these characters were also repeatedly described as being smelly - Limburger cheese smelly. The book would have been stronger without these extraneous descriptions. To be fair (?), a man who was slender was also described as smelly, and a handsome man was told he had bad breath… but… the juiciest descriptions were for the obese characters.
It also seemed like the author was trying to make a statement on slavery, and using animals as beasts of burden. I thought she was going in one direction - but then some characters made choices at the end that makes me wonder. Whatever the point was, it was definitely muddled (and I feel like points about slavery need to be VERY clear).
The plot petered out - the ending was not particularly satisfying - and while this book is already short, I believe that it might have been better suited as a tight short story.
Thank you to Severn House via NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 14, 2026
Thank you to Severn House via NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I would like to begin this review with a story of my own.
Recently, my wife and I came across a house listing for a beautiful, mid-century modern home in a desirable neighborhood, right across the street from a private golf course, a community pool, and a gym. From the photos, it looked like a dream! The entire front of the house was glass facing south, designed for passive solar heating. The architecture was unique, with strong Mexican influences, and even the tile floors had been imported from Mexico. The living room featured vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a massive fireplace that served as the centerpiece of what looked like an incredibly cozy space. There was a sunroom, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and every room had its own sliding glass door that opened onto a shared patio area. From the pictures, and even from driving by, it looked like the perfect home for our family. So we rushed to get pre-qualified for a loan, contacted my realtor friend to see the house before the open houses began, and scheduled a showing as quickly as possible.
And that’s where the excitement stopped.
The listing and photos had set the home up beautifully, but once we stepped inside, the reality was very different. The house was clearly aging and full of unfinished renovation projects. The original tile floors had been removed, leaving only bare concrete with rugs thrown on top. There were cracks in some of the walls and ceilings. The kitchen hadn’t been updated since 1978, which could have been charming for the mid-century vibe, but instead it just felt dark and dingy. In the end, the house had potential, but it simply didn’t justify the price tag. We had to walk away.
Unfortunately, that experience mirrors how I felt about Cousins from a Distant Sun by Tamar Myers.
The cover and description were enticing enough to get me through the door, but once inside, the story felt riddled with narrative renovation projects. The concept itself - a hidden race of supernatural giants tied to Inca history and alien abduction - is genuinely intriguing. There’s a cool vibe at the heart of the premise, but the execution didn’t quite live up to that promise.
The humor often felt dated and occasionally cringey, and at times it seemed written to appeal to a younger audience than the one the story appears to target. Many of the characters came across as fairly one-dimensional, and Ruth Baker’s sudden mood swings were honestly the most “out-of-this-world” element in the entire book.
What I believe was meant to feel like a whimsical science-fiction adventure never quite captured that sense of excitement for me. Readers who regularly dive into quirky or offbeat sci-fi may also find themselves wanting more depth or originality. I could see this working as an introductory science-fiction story for readers with a lower reading level, but it’s difficult for me to recommend it broadly.
Ironically, I think the story might have found a better home if it had been repackaged for a younger audience. With some adjustments, it might have worked well as a middle-grade or early YA introduction to speculative fiction. As it stands, though, I don’t see it standing out in the space it’s currently trying to compete in.
I’m giving Cousins from a Distant Sun 2 out of 5 stars. It’s a “cozy” story in some ways, but not one I can easily recommend or feel particularly excited about sharing with others.
I would like to begin this review with a story of my own.
Recently, my wife and I came across a house listing for a beautiful, mid-century modern home in a desirable neighborhood, right across the street from a private golf course, a community pool, and a gym. From the photos, it looked like a dream! The entire front of the house was glass facing south, designed for passive solar heating. The architecture was unique, with strong Mexican influences, and even the tile floors had been imported from Mexico. The living room featured vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a massive fireplace that served as the centerpiece of what looked like an incredibly cozy space. There was a sunroom, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and every room had its own sliding glass door that opened onto a shared patio area. From the pictures, and even from driving by, it looked like the perfect home for our family. So we rushed to get pre-qualified for a loan, contacted my realtor friend to see the house before the open houses began, and scheduled a showing as quickly as possible.
And that’s where the excitement stopped.
The listing and photos had set the home up beautifully, but once we stepped inside, the reality was very different. The house was clearly aging and full of unfinished renovation projects. The original tile floors had been removed, leaving only bare concrete with rugs thrown on top. There were cracks in some of the walls and ceilings. The kitchen hadn’t been updated since 1978, which could have been charming for the mid-century vibe, but instead it just felt dark and dingy. In the end, the house had potential, but it simply didn’t justify the price tag. We had to walk away.
Unfortunately, that experience mirrors how I felt about Cousins from a Distant Sun by Tamar Myers.
The cover and description were enticing enough to get me through the door, but once inside, the story felt riddled with narrative renovation projects. The concept itself - a hidden race of supernatural giants tied to Inca history and alien abduction - is genuinely intriguing. There’s a cool vibe at the heart of the premise, but the execution didn’t quite live up to that promise.
The humor often felt dated and occasionally cringey, and at times it seemed written to appeal to a younger audience than the one the story appears to target. Many of the characters came across as fairly one-dimensional, and Ruth Baker’s sudden mood swings were honestly the most “out-of-this-world” element in the entire book.
What I believe was meant to feel like a whimsical science-fiction adventure never quite captured that sense of excitement for me. Readers who regularly dive into quirky or offbeat sci-fi may also find themselves wanting more depth or originality. I could see this working as an introductory science-fiction story for readers with a lower reading level, but it’s difficult for me to recommend it broadly.
Ironically, I think the story might have found a better home if it had been repackaged for a younger audience. With some adjustments, it might have worked well as a middle-grade or early YA introduction to speculative fiction. As it stands, though, I don’t see it standing out in the space it’s currently trying to compete in.
I’m giving Cousins from a Distant Sun 2 out of 5 stars. It’s a “cozy” story in some ways, but not one I can easily recommend or feel particularly excited about sharing with others.
Did Not Finish
March 22, 2026DNF 43%
I’ve officially lost count of the number of books I’ve DNF’d because of it being labeled as adult but reads YA.
The tone was petulantly immature, the attempts at humor was cringey, and the execution was devoid of any creativity.
I honestly feel bad saying this should be marketed to the YA audience because it’s kind of disrespectful to YA readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve officially lost count of the number of books I’ve DNF’d because of it being labeled as adult but reads YA.
The tone was petulantly immature, the attempts at humor was cringey, and the execution was devoid of any creativity.
I honestly feel bad saying this should be marketed to the YA audience because it’s kind of disrespectful to YA readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have decided to lower my initial rating to 2 stars, however Goodreads with its new feature does not allow me to change it as of right now since it is not published, I apologise.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This book started really well. It was intriguing and the premise was very interesting. It's incredible well-written in my opinion. I remember starting the book and thinking to myself: "woah its prose is evocative and reflects perfectly what it's happening". Which is definitely a compliment.
The prose is fairly my favorite part of this book, aside from Ruth Baker, the protagonist. I believe her character is well developed. Her morals and what she values are very distinct, therefore navigate this story through her lenses.
Despite all of these great points and her personality, which I love, I think her character development is close to non-exitant. She starts being this independent intelligent woman, and she ends up the book being exactly that, without learning anything valuable. Please believe me when I say that there were lessons and morals that could be taken out of what was happening, but she doesn't learn anything. Perhaps the point was to teach you as a reader those lessons and how not to ignore them.
My next point is related to the plot. I have to be honest and I think the premise and the plot developed nicely. What it didn't was the ending. It felt rushed and leaves you without many answers. Although, that last point I believe is the author's intention. Sometimes in life you don't get all the answers to your questions, and you have to just move on. And in others, the bad situation you're in can't be avoided. Nonetheless, it angered me a little bit.
My final point relates to the atmosphere portrayed in this book. I felt as if I was there too, with Ruth, meeting the wanami and learning their life-style and culture. Also, the descriptions, as I said earlier, are top-tier, so the experience is amazing.
All in all, I think it's a great book to transport you to a world of fantasies set in the modern day. A book to let your imagination free and get immersed in a tale based on myths.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This book started really well. It was intriguing and the premise was very interesting. It's incredible well-written in my opinion. I remember starting the book and thinking to myself: "woah its prose is evocative and reflects perfectly what it's happening". Which is definitely a compliment.
The prose is fairly my favorite part of this book, aside from Ruth Baker, the protagonist. I believe her character is well developed. Her morals and what she values are very distinct, therefore navigate this story through her lenses.
Despite all of these great points and her personality, which I love, I think her character development is close to non-exitant. She starts being this independent intelligent woman, and she ends up the book being exactly that, without learning anything valuable. Please believe me when I say that there were lessons and morals that could be taken out of what was happening, but she doesn't learn anything. Perhaps the point was to teach you as a reader those lessons and how not to ignore them.
My next point is related to the plot. I have to be honest and I think the premise and the plot developed nicely. What it didn't was the ending. It felt rushed and leaves you without many answers. Although, that last point I believe is the author's intention. Sometimes in life you don't get all the answers to your questions, and you have to just move on. And in others, the bad situation you're in can't be avoided. Nonetheless, it angered me a little bit.
My final point relates to the atmosphere portrayed in this book. I felt as if I was there too, with Ruth, meeting the wanami and learning their life-style and culture. Also, the descriptions, as I said earlier, are top-tier, so the experience is amazing.
All in all, I think it's a great book to transport you to a world of fantasies set in the modern day. A book to let your imagination free and get immersed in a tale based on myths.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I admit, this novel first got me with its cover (I know everyone says don’t judge a book by its cover, but we all do it), and then once I read the title I was hooked. The premise is promising, and invites so many questions that I was quite excited to read it.
Overall – the story is quite simple. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of understanding the backstory of the Wanami. It was interesting and gripping, and tied in real world events into the fantasy world which I always enjoy. The humor in the story was used effectively, and it does fit the definition of cozy – this is not a story you have to think a lot about to enjoy.
This story did not work for me overall. I applaud the ingenuity and creativity and see a lot of potential. Ruth was quite an erratic character, changing her personality drastically between scenes which did not sit well with me. The other characters in the story, like Palley, Queycha, and The Colleena to name a few, were one dimensional. I found myself wanting more depth from these characters, and a stronger lead.
The conclusion was anticlimactic and unsatisfying. There were so many nuggets in the story that if elaborated, would have drawn me in deeper. Although this didn’t work for me, I think if you are new to fantasy/sci-fi and not an avid reader, this will be up your alley. If you are an avid fantasy/sci-fi reader, this might not be the novel for you.
I received a free eARC of Cousins From a Distant Sun from Severn House via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Overall – the story is quite simple. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of understanding the backstory of the Wanami. It was interesting and gripping, and tied in real world events into the fantasy world which I always enjoy. The humor in the story was used effectively, and it does fit the definition of cozy – this is not a story you have to think a lot about to enjoy.
This story did not work for me overall. I applaud the ingenuity and creativity and see a lot of potential. Ruth was quite an erratic character, changing her personality drastically between scenes which did not sit well with me. The other characters in the story, like Palley, Queycha, and The Colleena to name a few, were one dimensional. I found myself wanting more depth from these characters, and a stronger lead.
The conclusion was anticlimactic and unsatisfying. There were so many nuggets in the story that if elaborated, would have drawn me in deeper. Although this didn’t work for me, I think if you are new to fantasy/sci-fi and not an avid reader, this will be up your alley. If you are an avid fantasy/sci-fi reader, this might not be the novel for you.
I received a free eARC of Cousins From a Distant Sun from Severn House via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2 out of 5
This hit all my hotspots based on the genre, the cover, and the summary. Archaeology, Peru, Incan civilizations, kidnapped and returned natives. And then I started reading. Okay, Ruth Baker didn't come off as likable, but I can live with that. However, the portrayal of a white American rudely interacting with others in a foreign country? No. We really need to get past the Ugly American trope ever if it is sometimes accurate. And how she thought of others in disparaging ways? Yeah, big problem.
This ARC is courtesy of NetGalley and Severn House, an imprint of Canongate Books Ltd., U.K. Anticipated publication date is 5 May 2026.
There were issues with the story itself, which seemed to veer a bit too much, going from fairly intriguing and interesting to a slog as if the author was either bored or too far out of her comfort zone. It appears to be her first science fiction story. And, sadly, I can tell.
Then we come to the end of the story. Nope, didn't work. Weak and inadequate. There may be a hint of a sequel, but I would recommend not going there. If Myers wishes to continue with this genre, she needs a mentor and an editor who will be more involved in tightening up her prose and premise.
Would I recommend it? No, I simply cannot.
Review is also posted on Tumblr, Goodreads, and StoryGraph.
This hit all my hotspots based on the genre, the cover, and the summary. Archaeology, Peru, Incan civilizations, kidnapped and returned natives. And then I started reading. Okay, Ruth Baker didn't come off as likable, but I can live with that. However, the portrayal of a white American rudely interacting with others in a foreign country? No. We really need to get past the Ugly American trope ever if it is sometimes accurate. And how she thought of others in disparaging ways? Yeah, big problem.
This ARC is courtesy of NetGalley and Severn House, an imprint of Canongate Books Ltd., U.K. Anticipated publication date is 5 May 2026.
There were issues with the story itself, which seemed to veer a bit too much, going from fairly intriguing and interesting to a slog as if the author was either bored or too far out of her comfort zone. It appears to be her first science fiction story. And, sadly, I can tell.
Then we come to the end of the story. Nope, didn't work. Weak and inadequate. There may be a hint of a sequel, but I would recommend not going there. If Myers wishes to continue with this genre, she needs a mentor and an editor who will be more involved in tightening up her prose and premise.
Would I recommend it? No, I simply cannot.
Review is also posted on Tumblr, Goodreads, and StoryGraph.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this eARC. All opinions are my own.
____________
The lore in this is interesting, detailing how aliens from outer space visited Earth back in prehistory and kidnapped early man, bringing them back thousands of years later after enslaving them. Once we had learned all this, the story started to slow. I felt that the dialogue choices were often very weird, mostly when it was human characters talking with other human characters; they just didn't feel like real people who would actually act like that. There were some random side characters who appear late in the book and have hardly any role to play, and I was confused why they were even present. The second half of the story had some pacing issues and the ending happens very abruptly and I would say unimpactfully. With everything how it was, I'm glad it was in the region of 200 pages, because any more would have lost my interest completely.
A pretty crazy story, just didn't totally work for me.
PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 05 2026
____________
The lore in this is interesting, detailing how aliens from outer space visited Earth back in prehistory and kidnapped early man, bringing them back thousands of years later after enslaving them. Once we had learned all this, the story started to slow. I felt that the dialogue choices were often very weird, mostly when it was human characters talking with other human characters; they just didn't feel like real people who would actually act like that. There were some random side characters who appear late in the book and have hardly any role to play, and I was confused why they were even present. The second half of the story had some pacing issues and the ending happens very abruptly and I would say unimpactfully. With everything how it was, I'm glad it was in the region of 200 pages, because any more would have lost my interest completely.
A pretty crazy story, just didn't totally work for me.
PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 05 2026
May 2, 2026
2.5/5 ⭐️
I think this book has a unique plot, in that distant relatives of the current human species were abducted from earth and later returned, where they are discovered by the protagonist in the present day.
However, I would say that the prose and dialogue is quite dated. I would’ve thought this would be based several decades ago if it wasn’t for the book mentioning it’s based in 2026. The way the author describes characters by focusing on how they look/weigh and sometimes smell was quite off-putting for me in places.
The book started off with action and interesting things happening, but by the time we’ve learnt more about the history of the Wunami it’s quite far into the book, and not much else has actually happened. It’s around 70% in when the plot starts to pick up and the pace was quite fast, so I think that could have been improved as it felt rushed. I think the ending also felt somewhat short or missing something, I would have liked to know more about the endings of certain characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC.
I think this book has a unique plot, in that distant relatives of the current human species were abducted from earth and later returned, where they are discovered by the protagonist in the present day.
However, I would say that the prose and dialogue is quite dated. I would’ve thought this would be based several decades ago if it wasn’t for the book mentioning it’s based in 2026. The way the author describes characters by focusing on how they look/weigh and sometimes smell was quite off-putting for me in places.
The book started off with action and interesting things happening, but by the time we’ve learnt more about the history of the Wunami it’s quite far into the book, and not much else has actually happened. It’s around 70% in when the plot starts to pick up and the pace was quite fast, so I think that could have been improved as it felt rushed. I think the ending also felt somewhat short or missing something, I would have liked to know more about the endings of certain characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Severn House, NetGalley and Tamar Myers for this ARC.
Absolutely original, and even somewhat groundbreaking work.
Archaeologist Ruth Baker is brought to an alien tribe in Peru. They need her help to survive.
Sadly, this was a DNF for me. Brilliant concept and premise, I couldn’t wait to dive in.
The first third was fascinating, but the middle third was such a turn off. The aliens were like cartoon characters, vapid and uninspired. They were also not welcoming to Baker, although they summoned her and needed her. And she was not very nice in return, her inner thoughts were more of disgust and disinterest instead of awe. Oh well, nice try. I hate to give negative reviews because I know how hard the authors work. Also this might be a very enjoyable and laugh out loud book for another reader.
Absolutely original, and even somewhat groundbreaking work.
Archaeologist Ruth Baker is brought to an alien tribe in Peru. They need her help to survive.
Sadly, this was a DNF for me. Brilliant concept and premise, I couldn’t wait to dive in.
The first third was fascinating, but the middle third was such a turn off. The aliens were like cartoon characters, vapid and uninspired. They were also not welcoming to Baker, although they summoned her and needed her. And she was not very nice in return, her inner thoughts were more of disgust and disinterest instead of awe. Oh well, nice try. I hate to give negative reviews because I know how hard the authors work. Also this might be a very enjoyable and laugh out loud book for another reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This was a really interesting concept. I loved the Peruvian setting. The references to history and culture were fascinating. It felt really cool reading a book with this setting and especially in the sci-fi genre. I found the blending of Peruvian folklore and landscapes with the sci-fi elements of the story were fantastic. I also liked how the main character’s occupation informed her involvement in this story and it made sense how she found herself in this situation. She herself was a likeable character, intelligent and driven, and refusing to cower to bullies.
Where this fell down a little was there was a lot of explaining, and this often ran quite lengthy. This felt like it could have been broken up a little bit more so there was more action and progress to the plot in between sections of explaining. There was also a bit of a disconnect between some characters’ behaviours. The main character is told she’d desperately needed to save a group, but when she meets them she’s threatened with death and violence constantly which made no sense given how they needed her.
This was a really interesting concept. I loved the Peruvian setting. The references to history and culture were fascinating. It felt really cool reading a book with this setting and especially in the sci-fi genre. I found the blending of Peruvian folklore and landscapes with the sci-fi elements of the story were fantastic. I also liked how the main character’s occupation informed her involvement in this story and it made sense how she found herself in this situation. She herself was a likeable character, intelligent and driven, and refusing to cower to bullies.
Where this fell down a little was there was a lot of explaining, and this often ran quite lengthy. This felt like it could have been broken up a little bit more so there was more action and progress to the plot in between sections of explaining. There was also a bit of a disconnect between some characters’ behaviours. The main character is told she’d desperately needed to save a group, but when she meets them she’s threatened with death and violence constantly which made no sense given how they needed her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm going to start off by admitting that i didn't finish this book. i just couldn't get into it. i really liked the premise, but the writing style was very reminiscent of a biography, rather than a fiction. it was very dry and read much like a person writing a history book. if your a fan of more educational prose, then you would probably enjoy this read a lot more than i did. so while i very much enjoyed the personality of the main character, and i was very curious about where all this was going, i just couldn't get my brain to focus. felt too much like trying to read homework.
Thank you to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
Thank you to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Although the book did capture my attention right away, and I liked the initial discussion of the archeology, after that, I found the world-building and story-telling weak. The protagonist spent way too much time insulting the looks and smells of the other characters, and to me, there was nothing even mildly amusing, up to the point I stopped reading halfway through. The banter between characters added nothing. Thank you to Netgalley and Severn House for the advance reader copy.
May 7, 2026
Never quite landed for me. A very unique concept that wasn't quite supported by the surrounding aspects and the writing. 3 stars. tysm for the E-ARC.
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