The First Parasite

by Angel R. Sánchez

When a tear in the sky unleashes something unknown, Yuri Volkov and the crew of Aurora Station become trapped in a nightmare of silence, hallucinations, and infection.

What begins as malfunctions and whispers soon erupts into full contamination, rewriting flesh, bending minds, and twisting belief into fanaticism.

With Earth cut off and trust collapsing inside the station, survival means confronting not only what entered through the breach, but what it awakens within.

The First Parasite, Book Three of The Mortal Coil, follows the events of The Real Monster and The Pale Hunger, while still standing on its own as a complete story. It is a descent into contagion, cosmic dread, and the fragility of humanity’s mental and physical state.

Beware of the infection.
Coming to you January 25th, 2026

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror

Paperback

Expected publication January 25, 2026

About the author

Angel R. Sánchez is a passionate storyteller who weaves mystery, adventure, and emotion into every page. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, his love for ancient legends and stories of human resilience inspired him to dream of worlds where courage and hope defy the limits of the possible.

After publishing his first works in Spanish, Linajes (2014), the poetry collection Katharsis, and the anthology Coleccionando Cuentos, co-written with his best friend, Víctor L. Miranda, life took him on a long detour away from writing. For years, he stepped back from his passion, balancing work and family while carrying stories quietly within him.

In 2025, Angel returned to the page with renewed purpose, making his English-language debut with The Real Monster. This novel not only reignited his literary journey but also launched his shared horror universe, The Mortal Coil.

Through vivid storytelling and emotional depth, Ángel invites readers to cross invisible thresholds, confront the unknown, and discover pieces of themselves within each tale. His inspiration springs from everyday life, myths hidden in plain sight, and his firm belief that imagination knows no boundaries.

Above all, Angel is a husband and the proud father of an amazing autistic daughter. Beyond the books, he’s a regular guy who works as an industrial machine operator and, like so many others, does his best every day to keep his family strong and cared for.

Prepare to lose yourself in unforgettable adventures... and perhaps, to find yourself along the way.

Reviews

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Chef kiss*

If you guys don't know about Angel R. Sanchez you really need to. I am ALL IN for this deep, dark and poetic world he is creating.

This gives off the creep vibe like Event Horizon but with the depth we get from the Cenobites in Hellraiser. It is unrelenting in its cause, its truth and its brutality. The Veil has been broken and we are lucky to experience it. Down to the very last drop of blood.

The Mortal Coil has gone to space and in space no one can hear you scream.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from this author. Really enjoyed it! It was a fast read with good character development. The cosmic setting gives you built-in tension. Now I’m going to have to read the others.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Mortal Coil series by Angel R. Sanchez. The third book takes the sci-fi route, which I thought was an interesting twist. However, the backstory makes much more sense as you read what exactly this parasite is. It's a testament to how fragile a human's mental state really is. I enjoyed the sci-fi atmosphere presented in this one.

While the story was well executed, I would be remised if I didn't mention my absolute favorite part of the story. That would be the character, Chip. This dude steals the show in this one. He's a badass who doesn't take himself too seriously and reminds me of myself if I'm being honest. He's determined, but also has one heck of a sense of humor as you'll see with some of the more light-hearted moments in this one. I truly enjoyed him cursing in Spanish as it reminds me of what I do at times at home, lol.

For the third installment, this one takes a whole different direction than the first two, but the lore carries on from the previous books. I'm enjoying this series so far and I think you will as well.

[Zoi Gauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third installment in the Mortal Coil series, and while considered a stand alone, it is very much tied into the other two books. This story is located on the space station Aurora and it is a chilling story and a good example of cosmic horror. However, just like Game of Thrones, don't get too attached to the characters. Chip was a great comic relief, but make sure you break out your Spanish translator as he speaks in his native language quite a bit. I did not like Nina, because religious fanatics are just annoying and she was definitely an antagonist later on in the book. The ending was sort of a surprise to me, and hints at future books in the series. The only down side is that there is a lot of telling, rather than showing, however that could be a good thing as the violence and destruction of the inhabitants of the space station aren't told on graphic detail.

[roberta freyta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third installment of The Mortal Coil series is GREAT! The plot thickens as the three books/characters begin to intertwine as a bigger picture comes in to focus.

Taking place in space leaves the reader with an additional layer of fear… There is literally no where to run! Anxiety, cloister phobia and a fear of space is palpable. If that’s your jam, this book is for you! But I recommend getting caught up in the Mortal Coil Universe by reading The Real Monster and The Pale Hunger first.

I cannot wait until the fourth book is released!

[Metal Megz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book played out like a movie in my head, combining elements of space, sci-fi and horror. Angel never disappoints with the action in his books!
This is not my typical read, but it made me think of all of the cinematic masterpieces- like Alien. This infection worms its way in.... Can they beat it before it gets to Earth?

I highly recommend reading the first 2 books in the Mortal Coil series first, to truly understand the background story that's building within the book.

[Eli V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of the other Mortal Coil books, but found it easy enough to enjoy it without the info from the other books.

This is a good, quick little sci-fi horror that is perfect for anybody looking at something that is fast-paced, creepy and keeps you guessing with what is really going on.

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First Parasite (The Mortal Coil Universe)
By: Angel R. Sánchez
Publisher: BetterWay Stories
Published Date: January 25, 2026
ASIN: B0G6XF3YB5
Page Count: Not provided
Triggers: Body horror, infection, hallucinations, psychological unraveling, death, gore, religious fanaticism, isolation, cosmic dread
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀

What Did I Just Walk Into?

Humanity builds a floating sanctuary in space and immediately finds a brand-new way to get absolutely obliterated by the universe. Aurora Station is sleek, ambitious, and very proud of itself, which in horror means it’s about to become a very expensive haunted house with airlocks.

First it’s malfunctions. Then it’s hallucinations. Then it’s the part where you realize the “infection” isn’t just a medical problem, it’s a reality problem. This thing devours flesh, corrupts minds, and evolves like it’s speed-running the apocalypse. And the worst part? It didn’t start on Aurora. It started on Earth. The Veil is broken, the void looked back, and now everyone’s stuck in a metal coffin drifting in the dark with something that wants in your bones and behind your eyes.

Here’s What Slapped:
• The vibe is pure claustrophobic sci-fi horror. Big Event Horizon energy, but with that Mortal Coil poetry and brutality that makes it feel like the void is personally offended by your existence.
• The parasite is not playing fair. It’s body horror, mind horror, and cosmic horror doing a group project and getting an A+.
• The tension doesn’t let up. This is the kind of story where you start bargaining with the pages like, “If I read one more chapter nothing bad will happen,” and the book laughs directly into your face.
• Chip. Listen. Chip is that rare horror character who can bring comic relief without defanging the dread. He steals scenes, throws punches, and swears in Spanish like punctuation is optional. Absolute menace. Absolute delight.

What Could’ve Been Better:

If you’re the kind of reader who needs everything shown instead of explained, there are moments where the story leans a little more “tell” than “watch it unfold in real time.” Also, fair warning: you may want a Spanish translator handy if you want to catch every glorious Chip moment. And Nina? If religious fanatic antagonists grind your gears, buckle up. She is A Lot.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:

🚀 Space station horror that feels like a trap
🕳️ Cosmic dread and “the universe is wrong” vibes
🧠 Hallucinations and reality erosion
🩸 Infection horror with teeth and evolution
👁️ Event Horizon-style despair, but poetic and brutal
😈 Cast members you love until the book reminds you this is horror

Book Series:
• The Real Monster (The Mortal Coil Universe)
• The Pale Hunger (The Mortal Coil Universe)
• The First Parasite (The Mortal Coil Universe)

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Angel Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun with this one. There’s no comedy here at all, but honestly, I really enjoyed myself writing it. This is my first sci-fi horror, and you can feel the evolution of The Mortal Coil throughout the story. Here is where everything expands, sharpens, and begins the spiral that’s very hard to escape from.

I gave it four stars because, just like the others, I wrote it, and maybe I’m a little biased. But thank you for taking a chance with me and this story. Step into this universe that’s quickly becoming a saga of pure horror.

The infection has only begun.

Expect it on January 25, 2026.

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a story. Angel has done it again in this third installment of the Mortal Coil series. This is a standalone, but does tie into the other two. This story takes us on a different route as we travel to space in a sci-fi, horror tale. It gives off Event Horizon vibes as the crew of the Aurora is infected and have to deal with all the issues that it causes. The characters rang out and the tenseness keeps you turning the pages well into the night. It's fast-paced, creepy, and poetic--which is exactly what we've come to expect from Angel.