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Godless Cosmologies
When young Pear arrives at Kopolka's mental asylum on the day of his mother's death, he is summoned to a cavernous midnight rendezvous where he meets Mystery, an enigmatic patient with a penchant for philosophy. He is soon tricked into her service which, at first, requires little more than helping her torment a school tyrant and retrieving a shipwreck for a seaboard shelter. All seems well, particularly during his sojourns to the mollifying Water, a fantasy, underwater world in which he finds himself a whale in the company of erudite octopus Mr Octaveley. Soon, though, he discovers that Mystery harbours dangerous delusions of her own and, as the price of replacing his mother becomes ever more challenging for his shy, quiet nature, the lines between reality and fancy begin to shake. The question is, will Pear let them crumble or can he fight back?
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2026
4 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Christy Theodoulou
1 book2 followersChristy 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.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 7, 2026
“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!
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!
April 30, 2026
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
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
May 3, 2026
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!
“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!
May 7, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
May 3, 2026
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.
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.
May 6, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
May 8, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Beautifully realised, surreal storytelling and fascinating world building. Rich, evocative prose, full of drama and interesting ideas. An amazing achievement.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews