Godless Cosmologies

by Christy Theodoulou

For fans of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Piranesi — a spellbinding gothic fantasy about a boy lost between two worlds, and the dangerous woman who holds the map to both.

When young Pear is admitted to Kopolka's mental asylum on the very day his mother dies, he expects grief. What he does not expect is Mystery.

Enigmatic, brilliant, and terrifyingly persuasive, Mystery is a fellow patient with a gift for philosophy and a hunger for power. Before Pear understands what has happened, he is bound to her service — tasked with tormenting a school bully, salvaging a shipwreck for a seaside shelter, and navigating the labyrinthine rules of a world that makes no sense.

But there is another world. In the depths of sleep, Pear descends into the Water — a luminous, underwater realm where he becomes a whale, befriended by the wise and erudite Mr Octaveley, an octopus philosopher with a talent for comfort. Down here, nothing is frightening. Down here, everything makes sense.

The two worlds cannot coexist forever.

As Mystery's delusions grow darker and her demands on Pear more dangerous, the line between reality and fantasy begins to shake. Pear must decide: surrender to the beautiful madness around him, or find the courage to fight his way back to himself.

Godless Cosmologies is a haunting, beautifully written debut — lush with dark humour, classical prose, and a cast of unforgettable characters. It is a novel about grief, imagination, and what it costs a quiet soul to survive in a world that refuses to stay still.

Perfect for readers who love:

• Gothic and literary fantasy
• Mental asylum settings with dark humour
• Unreliable narrators and dreamlike fiction
• Richly drawn, eccentric supporting casts
• Classic-feeling prose with a modern sensibility

"Haunting and spellbinding... a must read for anyone looking for a slightly darker, but no less magical, take on classic tales like Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan." — L. W. Young

"[T]he reflective reader will be hard pressed to come away either untouched or unchanged. ... [A] beautiful tragedy". — Ashley Jeffs

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2026

About the author

Christy Theodoulou is the author of the novel Godless Cosmologies, published by Hawkwood Books. She has a law degree from Lancaster University and a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford. She currently resides in London, pondering existential thoughts if not reading, prowling charity shops or otherwise imagining a life with many legged creatures. Beyond that, she thinks, writes and reads to animals.

Reviews

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No psychosis at the table!”

For fans of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’ - because ‘Godless Cosmologies’ felt like a magical mixture of them all, but also managed to be SO original, which made for a really wonderful reading experience!

At first I was worried I wasn’t following the story, particularly the ‘fantasy’ elements, but it soon became clear that the reader is on the same journey as our protagonist, Pear, in a mental asylum - a journey to try and separate reality from fantasy.

The prose is absolutely stunning and reads like a classic, without feeling laborious. The two different ‘worlds’, ie the ‘real’ world and Pear’s underwater world of fancy with Mr Octaveley (the wise and wonderful octopus), were so excellently differentiated - the real world scenes were dark and gothic and the fantasy world felt full of colour and wonder. I would have liked this contrast to be portrayed on the cover because it really is so wonderfully done and would have given me more of an understanding of what to expect.

The cast of ‘Lunes’ were amazing, all with such clear characters and quirks. I loved how we also got to know and learn about them alongside Pear and I was so attached to them all by the end. Their characters were all complimented and enhanced by the supporting cast’s ‘normalcy’ and made for many literal laugh out loud moments!

I’m glad I persevered through my initial confusion because the payoff was more than worth it. What a phenomenal story with shocking twists and turns, tragedy, humour - ‘Godless Cosmologies’ had it all!

[Dez Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Godless Cosmologies is a novel that feels as though it has slipped through time and reality. The author shows a beautiful control of the English language, weaving together a rich, layered, almost classical style.

I was deeply intrigued by the story, though at times I struggled to fully follow it. The narrative feels intentionally dreamlike, which may explain this sense of disorientation. Between the dense fantasy elements, themes of mental health and delusion, and the use of elevated vocabulary, it occasionally felt like there was just a little too much competing for attention.

That said, readers who enjoy classic literature will likely find the writing style especially rewarding. It evokes a blend of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Piranesi, and The Bell Jar.

I particularly loved the world building, which really drew me in. The concept of “the Three,” the distinct nations, and the references to 19th century texts created something immersive and intriguing. The novel is rich in metaphor and symbolism, especially in its portrayal of patients who do not experience reality in a stable way. Characters shift between identities, roles, and even species, which adds to the dreamlike, disorienting atmosphere.

Ultimately, I feel some of the depth may have been lost on me, but I can absolutely appreciate the ambition and artistry behind it

[Abby May · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

“No psychosis at the table”

We follow Pear who has arrived at a mental asylum the day his beloved mother died, and forms a bond with fellow patient “Mystery”, and delving into a fantasy underwater world “Water” to cope with his grief. But a relationship between two people suffering great delusions is messy, and soon the fabric of both their realities begins to unravel with dangerous consequences.

It took me a while to get in to this story but once I wrapped my head around the narrative and being inside Pear’s head, I really enjoyed it!
The prose is moody and atmospheric, if at times a little confusing but not so much that I couldn’t follow what was happening.
While I was reading I didn’t think I had connected to the characters but I found the ending really emotional, I had to sit there in silence mull over what had just happened.

I really pleasant surprise of a book, excited to see what the author comes out with next!

[Wednesday · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A unique, beautifully written story that blends reality and ‘fantasy’ with originality.

I initially found it challenging to connect with the story, but once Pear’s journey through the ‘worlds’ and their vivid characters began to take shape, everything clicked.

By the second half, I was fully invested and eager to see how Pear’s path would unfold and where it would ultimately lead.

A richly written story that carries the depth of a modern classic.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book, as the author seemed lovely and sent me an advanced reading copy.

I went into Godless Cosmologies expecting a gothic fantasy novel, but it landed more towards prose with it's rich and complex metaphors. There were moments where I connected to the metaphors - particularly the ones of grief & its "waves" - and others where I was left feeling confused, flicking back through the pages to see if there was something I had missed. It disrupted the flow of the story and unfortunately became more of a headache.
The author clearly has a talent with words and I commend them for their imagery and way of painting a vivid world, however it felt as though the trust wasn't there for the reader to make their own interpretation and instead, we were left with excessive descriptions that felt exhausting and took away the magic.

The story follows the POV of Pear who has been commited to a mental asylum following his mother's death. Due to the trauma of his loss, it has left him with delusions as a way to help him cope. With my clinical knowledge I could see this was linked to experiences with trauma induced conditions such as psychosis, dissociation, etc. however without this knowledge I feel that most other readers will find themselves confused. Particularly as the flow of the novel left you wondering where the delusions ended and where reality began.

I feel the story could have done with a plotline that explictly outlined Pears recovery with more clarity and gave more context as to why Pear had those particular delusions. Without this clarity, I felt as though I was well within the throws of the delirium alongside Pear and neither of us could see the end. On the note of clarity, as the chapters aren't formatted in the usual way you'd expect, there were times where I'd crossed into a new chapter without realising the previous one had ended.

The twist (without naming the twist because no spoilers) in the story comes when Pear meets a fellow in-patient "Mystery" who experiences delusions of their own and their lives betcome intwined. I don't feel like I can mention any more about this connection without adding spoilers, but I will say the ending really p**'d me off. I would have loved Mystery to get their own healing journey, but as usual, women who end up in asylums don't often leave 'triumphant' and by choice. This is a personal gripe however and not one towards the author. I just felt sorry for Mystery's circumstances.

Overall, the story in and of itself is one that I enjoyed, I just wish it had been written differently. It felt like everything was crammed into 15 chapters and rushed. Rather than it becoming a medium-paced beautiful and heart-wrenching story that would have done incredibly well if it had been spread out to allow more emotion, more story building, more depth of the characters, and more clarity on the complexities that the author was trying to portray.

Honestly Christy, if you ever read this review I don't want you to feel discouraged - I would absolutely read more of your work and would especially enjoy reading a revised version of Godless Cosmologies, as I feel that you have something special here and the story that you have to tell is one worth telling, I just feel it needs more justice and more time (chapters) to develop.

[Lou G]

I genuinely don’t know where to begin when it comes to gathering my thoughts on this review.

The author reached out asking if we’d be interested in reading her debut novel, released earlier this year, described as a gothic literary fantasy following an asylum patient facing one of life’s greatest paradoxes: in order to heal the mind through love, must the mind first be lost?

What immediately intrigued me was that the novel was informed by the author’s own experiences with mental health as an inpatient, and her desire to spread awareness surrounding mental health struggles. Having dealt with my own mental health battles over the years, this definitely called out to me.
However… I’m still not entirely sure what I was expecting going into this, and honestly, I have absolutely no idea how I feel now that I’ve finished it.

The story follows Pear, who arrives at an asylum shortly after losing his mother. There, he is introduced to another enigmatic patient known only as Mystery.
During his stay, Pear also finds himself swept into a strange underwater fantasy world alongside Mr Octaveley, an octopus.
In searching for comfort and understanding after his mother’s death, Pear becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the mystery behind Mystery.

I’ve seen people compare this to Alice in Wonderland, and I can definitely understand why. It absolutely gives off “you’ve spent too long with the Cheshire Cat” levels of surrealism and disorientation.
This book is undeniably unique and original. I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like it before. Whether that’s a good thing or not… I still genuinely don’t know.

For most of the novel, I felt completely unsure of what was happening - and I actually think that may have been intentional. It reads as though you, the reader, are also an inpatient yourself. There’s a distorted sense of reality throughout, constantly blurring the line between the conscious and subconscious mind.
That atmosphere is incredibly well conveyed, but it also makes the story difficult to follow at times. While that confusion clearly serves a purpose, I do think it disrupted the overall flow for me personally, as I often felt more baffled than immersed.

I also found the language quite elevated and intense. At times, I caught myself simply reading words on a page rather than emotionally connecting to them. The author is clearly intelligent and undeniably talented, but occasionally the heavy descriptions and overly literary style became a little exhausting, and perhaps took away from some of the emotional impact and underlying message.

That said, this is undeniably a deep, rich, and atmospheric novel.
Even if, for me, it remains something of a mystery lost beneath the waves.

Thank you to Christy for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Jeffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deftly written and cerebral dark fantasy novel. There's much to love about this book: the harsh reality of Pear's trauma and asylum life, the gentle phantasy of The Water, and the constant ebb and flow between the two--leaving the reader wondering, as Pear does, where to place the cleft between fact and fiction.

The descriptive style of the novel was deployed to great success, Christy paints a vivid picture of Kopolka, the style drags us deep into this fantasy world, all the while the plot and themes push me away--thank God I don't live Pear's life! The rich metaphorical bent in Christy's writing fills the book to it's brim with meaning, the reflective reader will be hard pressed to come away either untouched or unchanged.

Pear's tale is a beautiful tragedy. He starts the book as a boy at the peak of his suffering, and throughout we watch as he flourishes from next to nothing into a man loved by his peers, community, and - crucially - himself. His asylum found family, especially Mystery, fill his journey with joy, complicated of course by each of their conditions, and this sets the stage for a thrilling drama to unfold. Christy manoeuvres delicately between this drama and The Water, culminating in a satisfying and bittersweet ending.

[Glafira Osypets · Rating 5 out of 5]

When young Pear arrives at Kopolka's mental asylum following his mother’s death, he discovers it being quite a curious place. And apart from visits by fantastic, sometimes not specifically benevolent, creatures at night, Mystery, another patient, notices Pear and befriends him, yet he soon understands that not only does she live in the world of dangerous delusions.
I have to admit that I rarely read fantasy books. But the first words that come into my mind are ‘mysterious’ and ‘like in a dream’. At the very beginning, I was somewhat uncertain about what exactly was unfolding, and it took me a little while to realise that the story is presented through the perspective of someone suffering from mental illness. The text is created with the purpose of being confusing and sometimes hard to follow, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But the writing style and language made the book feel something like a mix of a classical novel and contemporary gothic. It is dark, atmospheric, and elegant. I am a big connoisseur of the English language, and what matters in the book in the first place is the language. It was a delight for my eyes. Such beautiful vocabulary, such wonderfully crafted sentences, and such remarkable dexterity in the use of English.

[made_for_reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No psychosis at the table”
This interesting little fantasy world you’ll be jumping into is filled with some dangerous delusions that blur the lines between what is real and what is fantasy. Pear the MMC is in a mental asylum and there’s a fellow inmate called Mystery who seems to have an interest in philosophy. The world you’ll enter gives off Alice in Wonderland vibes and Pear finds himself as whale and meets a rather interesting Octopus called Mr Octaveley.
Mystery is harbouring some really deep and strange delusions that may or may not put them in danger of loosing grip on reality. It’s up to Pear to decide if he wants to fight back or let it all fall apart.
It’s such a unique and imaginative read that I really enjoyed. It wasn’t what I expected but I was in the end really happy with the result! Perfect quick read if you’re looking for something new and different with a gothic fantasy twist.

[Charlotte Mylifeinbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You only fear being alone. And so you can’t. You can’t love when your love is an illusion- a mask for your greatest fear.”

How would I describe this book? It’s like a fever dream enriched with complex metaphors and beautiful pose. A gothic fantasy enmeshed with lit fic and the setting of an asylum only enriched the story’s purpose.

Our protagonist Pear is immersed into a whole new world when he is taken to Kopolka’s Asylum. I’d liken his experience to what Alice went through when she went down that hole. The story definitely lends itself to the “we’re all mad here” vibes. Alongside vivid imagery Pear’s experiences really explore the darkness within and makes the reader reflect on the hardships of mental health struggles.

It’s a thought provoking read which I’m still reflecting on days later. I commend the talented author for her beautiful writing, imaginative ideas and the escape she provides from the outside world.

[Quarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love Godless Cosmologies because there’s clearly a lot of talent behind it. Christy has a genuinely strong writing style and some beautiful ideas, but for me the execution felt a bit fragmented.

A lot of the prose leaned overly descriptive and unnecessarily complex in places that could have benefited from simplicity and clarity, while the emotional and character-driven moments, the parts I most wanted to sit with and see develop, felt too brief or underexplored. Because of that, the pacing came across jumpy at times, and I struggled to fully connect with the narrative flow.

That said, I don’t think this is a lack of ability at all. If anything, it feels like a writer with real skill whose ideas just didn’t fully come together cohesively in this particular book. There’s enough promise here that I’d still be interested in reading what Christy writes next.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Described as an existential, gothic fantasy, Godless Cosmologies is a unique and original debut novel by a talented author.

It is cleverly written and uses rich imagery and descriptive writing to convey a dark, gothic-like, foreboding reality contrasted with the bright, vivid, dreamlike world of the protagonist Pear’s mind. Pear has been committed to an asylum following the death of his parents and this contrast is effective in allowing the reader a look into his troubled, muddled mind.

Both the writing style and language are complex, mirroring the complexities of the human mind, particularly for those with mental health issues.
The story is told with a surreal, dreamlike narrative which to begin with I found hard to follow. However, after a couple of chapters, once I began to understand what the author was trying to do, I found that I was keen to keep reading and to enjoy the beautiful use of the English language.

I rarely reread books but I think this is one that I will return to as I think a second read, after having some time to digest it, would allow me truly appreciate it.

[L.W. Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Godless Cosmologies is an entranching stories about dreams, memories, and nightmares.

The story follows Pear, who is sent to a mental asylum following the death of their Mother. Pear is visited by fantastic, sometimes scary, creatures and characters at night and taken to a dream world where all is not as it seems.

Christy's beautiful writing style and charming characters really help sell an altogether wonderous, frighting and intriguing tone that permeates the whole book and makes Godless Cosmologies unique in its field. A must read for anyone looking for a slightly darker, but no less magical, take on classic tales like Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan.

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much, @christytheodoulou, for sending me a copy of your incredible book plus goodies. You are the sweetest! ❤️

Godless Cosmologies is the story of Pear, who finds himself in an asylum after the death of this mother. Upon arrival, he is summoned to meet another patient by the name of Mystery. He is tricked into completing tasks for her, as well as this he also finds himself half of the time in a world of water with the company of Mr Octaveley an octopus. Seeking to replace the comfort of his mother, Pear finds himself trying desperately to figure Mystery out and the secrets she's hiding! This is such a beautifully written story with the pose of a classic. This book feels like a combination of Alice in Wonderland and a Brontë novel while also being completely unique and original. You don't always know exactly what's going due to Pear suffering alot with mental illness and grief, it feels very dream like kind of similar to a Mona Awad book, which I absolutely loved and struggle to find in other books! Though this book reminded me of other books I've definitely never read anything quite like this I loved getting lost in Pears story and highly recommend picking up this book if you enjoy a gothic fantasy read that almost reads like a classic! This book blew me away! 😩🥰💗

[whiskers_andwords · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pear arrives at a mental asylum on the very day of his mother’s death, he is immediately pulled into a strange new world. On his first night, he is summoned to a midnight rendezvous, where he meets Mystery, an enigmatic patient with a brilliant, philosophical mind. Before long, Pear is subtly tricked into her service.

Godless Cosmologies is a profound and thoughtful exploration of grief, isolation and the fragile boundaries of the human mind. It weaves a dark, whimsical tapestry where a grieving boy must choose between the comfort of delusion and the harsh light of reality.

A beautiful book, that will leave you thinking about it, long after you’ve finished the final page.

[Sienna Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Our bodies may pass into non-existence, but through stories we pass into immortality.’

I had the pleasure of being sent this book by Christy , and there is not enough praise in the world for how talented the writing is in this book.

The writing is very description heavy. It felt as if I was reading a classic with how eloquently sentences were strung together. I had images and feelings evoked I had not considered, which created vivid emotions within me.

In adjusting to this writing style and plot, I had to completely let go any idea I had of where the story may go, and subject myself at its will. The line between fantasy and reality became incredibly blurred, and with that I allowed myself to sit in this grey area and experience this world.

I throughly enjoyed the time spent in the Water: Pear’s underwater, fantasy world. It had a similar feeling to Alice in Wonderland in which we found links between here and what we deem to be Pear’s ‘reality’. The environment was rich with description, and completely transported me to this world. Also, without any spoilers, I am heartbroken by the ending. I had no idea where this story was going, but it was not that at all!

This was such an incredibly unique experience, and one I thoroughly recommend to anyone interested by the idea of a gothic fantasy.

[Deanna Grimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book’s complex metaphors and descriptions took a while to make sense through the first half, however after I understood how deep the meanings were, I enjoyed the process and the development of the story.

The journey of realisation of what is real and what is fantasy I feel that as readers, we go on this journey with Pear and at times it was hard to connect with the characters and understand their part in the story, however in the end they all make sense.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written book. I loved the journey we were taken on with Pear and the rich cast of characters we meet along the way. If you can allow yourself to feel lost at the beginning and let the story unfold, then this is so worth a read.

[Helen Larder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully realised, surreal storytelling and fascinating world building. Rich, evocative prose, full of drama and interesting ideas. An amazing achievement.