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As You Wake, Break the Shell
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100 copies available
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Explore a universe of stubborn survival and found family, of persistent danger and quiet wonder in the first installment of a heartfelt new duology from Hugo Award–winning author Becky Chambers.
Life on the resource-poor planet of Fortune is challenging, but for its inhabitants, it’s home. For two of them, Signy and Cora, this home might no longer be enough.
Signy is a brilliant but reclusive botanist who bio-prints medicine from her small plant shop, often bending the rules to help those the system leaves behind. Her life is filled with the green of her store, the warmth of her one elderly friend, and the quiet determination to help others without putting herself in danger.
Cora is a rorqual pilot, one of the few with the unique ability to navigate the massive, living ships that connect the scattered settlements of their solar system. Her bond with her rorqual, Colibri, is profound—a connection that is both her greatest gift and a threat to her career.
It is that threat—the “mindbleed,” a dangerous side effect of her piloting—that brings her to Signy’s shop, and her appearance puts Signy in the danger she so fears. But it’s soon apparent it’s not just about losing her license—this delicate balance between risk and trust has the potential to change everything for them.
Told in an alternating timeline of their initial coming together and a not-so-distant future where they have found domestic bliss, this is a story harrowing and haunting, heartfelt and hopeful. Through a love story centered around survival, we are given a glimpse into the very best of what Becky Chambers does in her writing: explore what it means to be human, and what it means to come together.
Life on the resource-poor planet of Fortune is challenging, but for its inhabitants, it’s home. For two of them, Signy and Cora, this home might no longer be enough.
Signy is a brilliant but reclusive botanist who bio-prints medicine from her small plant shop, often bending the rules to help those the system leaves behind. Her life is filled with the green of her store, the warmth of her one elderly friend, and the quiet determination to help others without putting herself in danger.
Cora is a rorqual pilot, one of the few with the unique ability to navigate the massive, living ships that connect the scattered settlements of their solar system. Her bond with her rorqual, Colibri, is profound—a connection that is both her greatest gift and a threat to her career.
It is that threat—the “mindbleed,” a dangerous side effect of her piloting—that brings her to Signy’s shop, and her appearance puts Signy in the danger she so fears. But it’s soon apparent it’s not just about losing her license—this delicate balance between risk and trust has the potential to change everything for them.
Told in an alternating timeline of their initial coming together and a not-so-distant future where they have found domestic bliss, this is a story harrowing and haunting, heartfelt and hopeful. Through a love story centered around survival, we are given a glimpse into the very best of what Becky Chambers does in her writing: explore what it means to be human, and what it means to come together.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 13, 2026
36 people are currently reading
8792 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Want to Read
February 23, 2026This is the best news I've heard this year!
Want to Read
April 20, 2026Not to be dramatic, but Becky Chambers returning in 2026 might heal planet Earth.
Want to Read
May 4, 20265/3: I GOT AN ARC AND I AM MAKING IT EVERYONE'S PROBLEM
4/23: WE HAVE A COVER FOLKS CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. everyone shut up! NEW BECKY CHAMBERS
4/23: WE HAVE A COVER FOLKS CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. everyone shut up! NEW BECKY CHAMBERS
Want to Read
January 6, 2026I AM SEATED. THE BOOKSTORE EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING ME TO LEAVE BECAUSE "IT'S NOT OCTOBER YET" BUT I'M SIMPLY TOO SEATED!!!!
Want to Read
April 20, 2026new becky chambers hallelujah
April 12, 2026
Full disclosure, I’ve read and enjoyed all of Becky Chambers’ published works. That being said, As You Wake, Break the Shell is tied for my new favourite, tucked neatly alongside To Be Taught if Fortunate.
The first book in this upcoming duology features lived-in communities, achingly realized characters be they human or alien, and interchanging ripples of hope and struggle, all of which readers can expect when they pick up a Becky Chambers work.
But above all, this book is steeped in love: how we open to it, how we tend it, how we grieve when we lose it, and what we’re willing to do to find it again.
This is such a special novel. I hope it finds its way into the hands of readers because it will make its way into their hearts as well.
Thanks Edelweiss for the ARC.
The first book in this upcoming duology features lived-in communities, achingly realized characters be they human or alien, and interchanging ripples of hope and struggle, all of which readers can expect when they pick up a Becky Chambers work.
But above all, this book is steeped in love: how we open to it, how we tend it, how we grieve when we lose it, and what we’re willing to do to find it again.
This is such a special novel. I hope it finds its way into the hands of readers because it will make its way into their hearts as well.
Thanks Edelweiss for the ARC.
Want to Read
January 7, 2026it’s only 10 months to October she said. it’ll be easy she said.
Want to Read
January 18, 2026what a thing to know i will be experiencing this kind of joy again in a few months 😭😭
Want to Read
April 27, 2026A new Becky Chambers is what we all deserve with the way 2026 is already going. And this cover!? Are you joking?? <3
Want to Read
February 23, 2026OMG FINALLY!!!! Did my pleading to TOR work? WE ARE BLESSED.
unreleased
March 6, 2026everybody shut up new becky chambers book in october !!!!! and it’s book 1 of 2 !!!
Want to Read
March 20, 2026shaking crying screaming
Want to Read
March 16, 2026I've just found out about this new Becky Chambers novel, and I couldn't get more excited!!!!! \o/
Want to Read
April 20, 2026I NEED IT GUYS
Want to Read
April 30, 2026Best news this year. So very much looking forward to this.
x-new
April 27, 2026Squee!
Want to Read
April 27, 2026I have never wanted to win a giveaway so much.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, so, I kind of really loved this book, but I don't exactly know why. It was quite different from anything I’ve ever read before. The two timelines, the two points of view, the interstitials (emails, texts, recipes, symbols that took me way too long to figure out what they were, etc.)...I didn’t always know what was going on (though I guess most of if it made sense to me by the end), but I also couldn’t seem to put it down. And I think Signy and Cora were very much the reason for that.
I loved getting to know both of the characters and them getting to know each other. I loved Signy’s bluntness and Cora trying to woo her. I loved how these two just seemed to fit together and how they quickly became each other’s person. I also loved the time we got to spend with Otto, and especially when Cora joined in on that little family.
As I said, this was very different from anything I’ve ever read. It wasn’t your typical plot, and honestly, if I tried to explain to someone what it was about, I’d probably fail. In a way, it felt like it was about nothing (and I don't mean this in a bad way). It was just going through the lives of two people as they fall in love and try to survive the world they’re in. Apparently, I’m okay with that.
I wasn’t aware this was a duology when I began reading it, but I was happy to learn there’s going to be a second book. And I’m thankful for that because I want to know the in-between. The things that happened between the two timelines. I also certainly didn’t see the ending to this one coming, so I’m excited to see what comes next and what this book was setting up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I loved getting to know both of the characters and them getting to know each other. I loved Signy’s bluntness and Cora trying to woo her. I loved how these two just seemed to fit together and how they quickly became each other’s person. I also loved the time we got to spend with Otto, and especially when Cora joined in on that little family.
As I said, this was very different from anything I’ve ever read. It wasn’t your typical plot, and honestly, if I tried to explain to someone what it was about, I’d probably fail. In a way, it felt like it was about nothing (and I don't mean this in a bad way). It was just going through the lives of two people as they fall in love and try to survive the world they’re in. Apparently, I’m okay with that.
I wasn’t aware this was a duology when I began reading it, but I was happy to learn there’s going to be a second book. And I’m thankful for that because I want to know the in-between. The things that happened between the two timelines. I also certainly didn’t see the ending to this one coming, so I’m excited to see what comes next and what this book was setting up.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is such a quiet, emotional kind of sci-fi.
It’s not action-heavy or plot-twist driven at all—it’s very character-focused, and that’s exactly what I liked about it.
It has a really strong grumpy/closed-off energy vs soft, caring connection dynamic, but in a very subtle way. Nothing feels overly labeled or forced—it’s more about two people slowly learning how to exist around each other and then with each other.
I also really liked the forced proximity / shared survival situation trope, because it doesn’t feel dramatic for the sake of it. It actually makes sense in the world they’re in, and it naturally pushes the characters together.
There’s also a strong “healing through connection” theme, where both characters are dealing with their own kind of isolation and slowly start to shift because of each other. It’s not instant romance or big emotional declarations—it’s more quiet understanding and trust building over time.
What stood out most to me is how patient the story is. It lets the relationship develop in small moments instead of rushing anything, which made it feel more real and grounded.
If you like:
* slow-burn, understated relationships
* forced proximity done in a natural way
* emotionally distant characters slowly opening up
* soft, reflective sci-fi instead of heavy plot
this will probably work really well for you.
It’s quiet, emotional, and very much about connection more than anything else.
It’s not action-heavy or plot-twist driven at all—it’s very character-focused, and that’s exactly what I liked about it.
It has a really strong grumpy/closed-off energy vs soft, caring connection dynamic, but in a very subtle way. Nothing feels overly labeled or forced—it’s more about two people slowly learning how to exist around each other and then with each other.
I also really liked the forced proximity / shared survival situation trope, because it doesn’t feel dramatic for the sake of it. It actually makes sense in the world they’re in, and it naturally pushes the characters together.
There’s also a strong “healing through connection” theme, where both characters are dealing with their own kind of isolation and slowly start to shift because of each other. It’s not instant romance or big emotional declarations—it’s more quiet understanding and trust building over time.
What stood out most to me is how patient the story is. It lets the relationship develop in small moments instead of rushing anything, which made it feel more real and grounded.
If you like:
* slow-burn, understated relationships
* forced proximity done in a natural way
* emotionally distant characters slowly opening up
* soft, reflective sci-fi instead of heavy plot
this will probably work really well for you.
It’s quiet, emotional, and very much about connection more than anything else.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the publisher, and could not open it fast enough. This book is INCREDIBLE. It feels both fresh and familiar as a Becky Chambers book, which is just a stunning combination.
This book follows Cora, a pilot psychically linked to a species similar to space whales--but so much better. The psychic link is slowly eroding Cora's ability to differentiate herself as human, rather than one of these whales, and that misconception can kill her over time. To prevent this, Cora seeks help from Signy, a botanist secretly creating new medicine inside her plant store.
The gorgeous sapphic romance in this book was *everything* to me, and I absolutely devoured it. There's also a chapter where we see how this eroding psychic link affects Cora personally--and guys, my jaw dropped. It's the most incredible example of body dysphoria I've ever read, and that feels so, so needed in this day and age. The world was immersive and extravagant, and the dual timeline was so fun to read.
Yet again, Becky Chambers delivers with a book that is sure to win every award and accolade out there, and rightfully so! 12/10 would recommend, and I cannot WAIT to get a physical copy of this one.
This book follows Cora, a pilot psychically linked to a species similar to space whales--but so much better. The psychic link is slowly eroding Cora's ability to differentiate herself as human, rather than one of these whales, and that misconception can kill her over time. To prevent this, Cora seeks help from Signy, a botanist secretly creating new medicine inside her plant store.
The gorgeous sapphic romance in this book was *everything* to me, and I absolutely devoured it. There's also a chapter where we see how this eroding psychic link affects Cora personally--and guys, my jaw dropped. It's the most incredible example of body dysphoria I've ever read, and that feels so, so needed in this day and age. The world was immersive and extravagant, and the dual timeline was so fun to read.
Yet again, Becky Chambers delivers with a book that is sure to win every award and accolade out there, and rightfully so! 12/10 would recommend, and I cannot WAIT to get a physical copy of this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn’t aware going in that this was the first half of a duology—but honestly, thank goodness it is, because that ending nearly broke me.
As You Wake, Break the Shell is a beautiful and deeply moving portrayal of humanity in all its complexity. It explores both the good and the bad, the rigidity and the ingenuity that shape us. What stood out most to me was how vividly it captures the beauty of life through relationships—how we connect, grow, and care for one another.
The story thoughtfully examines our capacity to grieve and to love: ourselves, others, strangers, and even those who are entirely different from us. There’s something profoundly touching about the way love and care are shown to be reciprocal, extending beyond boundaries and expectations.
I’m already looking forward to adding a finished copy to my collection when it releases in October, and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel.
I wasn’t aware going in that this was the first half of a duology—but honestly, thank goodness it is, because that ending nearly broke me.
As You Wake, Break the Shell is a beautiful and deeply moving portrayal of humanity in all its complexity. It explores both the good and the bad, the rigidity and the ingenuity that shape us. What stood out most to me was how vividly it captures the beauty of life through relationships—how we connect, grow, and care for one another.
The story thoughtfully examines our capacity to grieve and to love: ourselves, others, strangers, and even those who are entirely different from us. There’s something profoundly touching about the way love and care are shown to be reciprocal, extending beyond boundaries and expectations.
I’m already looking forward to adding a finished copy to my collection when it releases in October, and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
In the far future, a corporation has seeded dozens--hundreds--of colonies on distant worlds, challenging them to reach the stars on their own and thus proving their worthiness to join the corporate entity. But some of those distant worlds are barely habitable.
Fortune has a corrosive atmosphere and is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Nevertheless, the colony hangs on, floating on barges in a poisonous lake. All of their water is mined as ice from nearby moons, ferried to the planet by enormous, genetically engineered space-dwelling animals, bonded to their pilots and held in bondage.
Cora is one such pilot, devoted to her mount and to her younger sister. Signy, prickly and antisocial, is a botanist, making forbidden medications for a a select few. Their relationship grows and changes over the course of the book, with sections set in their future...elsewhere.
Engaging, thought-provoking, and structurally interesting. This is the first part of a planned duology.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fortune has a corrosive atmosphere and is prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Nevertheless, the colony hangs on, floating on barges in a poisonous lake. All of their water is mined as ice from nearby moons, ferried to the planet by enormous, genetically engineered space-dwelling animals, bonded to their pilots and held in bondage.
Cora is one such pilot, devoted to her mount and to her younger sister. Signy, prickly and antisocial, is a botanist, making forbidden medications for a a select few. Their relationship grows and changes over the course of the book, with sections set in their future...elsewhere.
Engaging, thought-provoking, and structurally interesting. This is the first part of a planned duology.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Becky Chambers sparks joy. I have read and loved every one of her books. She writes with such profound humanism and kindness that she makes me want to be a better person. I really mean that. This book is science fiction--human colonies, strange aliens, the vasty deeps of space--but it is also deeply human. I cannot prove this, but I think that she was writing about her relationship with her wife as much as about plants and far-flung colonies struggling to survive. This book is as much a love story as it is a sci-fi novel. Color me moved. Because it has not been published yet, and because I am among "the spaceborn few" (see what I did there?) who got to read a (much appreciated) ARC from Netgalley, I'm not going to write a detailed review. Suffice it to say: me loved. I read it in two days. I would read her grocery list and be brought to tears. So, so good.
May 9, 2026
I fell in love with these characters and this sci-fi story! Signy and Cora are both so alive, learning about their individual backstories and following their budding relationship was delightful. Also seeing glimpses of their future with the alternating timeline was so cozy. The supporting characters are also wonderful, especially Colibri and Cora’s unique bond.
Becky Chambers is so talented at building out complex characters and worlds and this newest book is no exception. I adore being able to transport into these adventures and feel comforted by her pervasive themes of found family and optimistic cozy sci-fi.
I can’t wait for the next book in this duology and honestly anything Becky Chambers writes!
Note: I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.
Becky Chambers is so talented at building out complex characters and worlds and this newest book is no exception. I adore being able to transport into these adventures and feel comforted by her pervasive themes of found family and optimistic cozy sci-fi.
I can’t wait for the next book in this duology and honestly anything Becky Chambers writes!
Note: I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.
May 9, 2026
sadly this wasn’t for me but i do see the beauty in this that most other people would appreciate. brilliantly written but far too quiet. it started off strong but the dual timeline structure was the most jarring and it softened so much of what the book could’ve offered. yes i understand its cozy but too many times it revved up an engine that was cut off far too abruptly for it to be enjoyable for me. sadly i wasn’t engaged in the story or either of the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This book resonates — so much emotion and processing, thoughtful contemplations, many different kinds of love, and grief, and striving, and hope, and sorrow. I loved it. I loved the narrative, the moving timeline, the desire, the gardening. It feels like a paean to change, with all the grief that entails. Profound and moving and a great story.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Very well done and the relationship between the two main characters is very realistic and also heartwarming. The rorqual is also interesting, an original kind of alien being and its relationship with one of the main human characters is an entertaining part of the book.
Want to Read
April 4, 2026ouiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews