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Dead New World: A Cozy Sci-Fi Adventure
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Expected 17 Nov 26Win a free print copy of this book!
25 days and 04:37:37
5 copies available
U.S. only
Technology has raised the dead, but their new lease on life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, in the first book of this cozy cyber-noir duology.
Hildy Doval is dead―and still unemployed . . .
Humanity wasn’t quite ready for immortality, even in 3025. Ever since the Flicker/Helix company “cured” death with technologically advanced holographic hardware, flicker ghosts have been secondary citizens, lacking purpose and agency.
Spending her afterlife in a boarding house in Faraday City, Hildy is the least-requested flicker-ghost at Carlotta Sun’s Purgatory House for Spectral Services. At Carlotta Sun’s, Hildy competes daily for ghost gigs against her more marketable housemates: the flighty musician Eyvind, desperate to compose the masterpiece he never got to in life, and Anjali, an imperious silent-film extra whose single surviving motion picture shot her to post-mortem stardom despite it being based on a lie.
Meanwhile, a shadowy, headless ghost called the Graverobber has been spotted emerging from holographic billboards, snatching the resurrected from their so-called lives and sowing chaos throughout the city. When one of their fellow boarders goes missing, Hildy and her friends find themselves at the center of a highly publicized mystery. With only two months to go before a crucial election that’ll decide the future of all specters, they must determine who the Graverobber is―and, more importantly, where they belong in this dead new world.
Hildy Doval is dead―and still unemployed . . .
Humanity wasn’t quite ready for immortality, even in 3025. Ever since the Flicker/Helix company “cured” death with technologically advanced holographic hardware, flicker ghosts have been secondary citizens, lacking purpose and agency.
Spending her afterlife in a boarding house in Faraday City, Hildy is the least-requested flicker-ghost at Carlotta Sun’s Purgatory House for Spectral Services. At Carlotta Sun’s, Hildy competes daily for ghost gigs against her more marketable housemates: the flighty musician Eyvind, desperate to compose the masterpiece he never got to in life, and Anjali, an imperious silent-film extra whose single surviving motion picture shot her to post-mortem stardom despite it being based on a lie.
Meanwhile, a shadowy, headless ghost called the Graverobber has been spotted emerging from holographic billboards, snatching the resurrected from their so-called lives and sowing chaos throughout the city. When one of their fellow boarders goes missing, Hildy and her friends find themselves at the center of a highly publicized mystery. With only two months to go before a crucial election that’ll decide the future of all specters, they must determine who the Graverobber is―and, more importantly, where they belong in this dead new world.
- GenresScience FictionAdultLGBT
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 24, 2026
I was just obsessed with everyone in this book as soon as they arrived on the page - there's no other writer whose characters I've fallen so instantly in love with. Devoured this book and was delighted by every moment of it.
^ That’s my official blurb, but also:
-----
This book has so much stuff I WISH I saw more in other queer SFF: an exuberantly creative world, gorgeously crafted prose, regularly devastatingly romantic, and just so fun and comforting to read WITHOUT sacrificing character, nuance, themes, thorny drama, or big plot.
PLOT: Set on a far-future planet, with sci-fi plot threads powerfully exploring digital footprints and exploitation in a way that feels extremely relevant. At the same time, it’s full of delicious historical energy, since the culture is obsessed with ‘pre-exodus’ Earth, and it follows a holographic ghost underclass trapped in a gig economy, some of whom are turning to underground revolution.
(It would not have occurred to me to describe as ‘cosy’ btw - Big Stuff Happens - but it’s definitely character-driven and often very funny.)
CHARACTERS: Honestly hard to describe how much I loved them, and their slowly unfolding plots are such a ride that there are certain ones I don't want to spoil, but it involves:
A nonbinary musician who died on a farming planet yearns to make True Art, but ends up forced-proximity trapped with a stoic victorian lieutenant who died on a polar expedition. There’s an undead librarian and mysterious man with a secret passion for watercolours who transcendently opened my mind to a whole new kind of character I could be feral about.
I stayed up WAY too late reading, parts made me react out loud by mistake (in excitement, laughter, emotional distress etc), and just so many lines that were so good I wanted to save them and write them down.
Just such a gem of a book!!!!!!
Advance [non audio] copy - I know the author BECAUSE in the past I followed her short story & comics work and was a huge fan, and was vv delighted to get to read this early.
^ That’s my official blurb, but also:
-----
This book has so much stuff I WISH I saw more in other queer SFF: an exuberantly creative world, gorgeously crafted prose, regularly devastatingly romantic, and just so fun and comforting to read WITHOUT sacrificing character, nuance, themes, thorny drama, or big plot.
PLOT: Set on a far-future planet, with sci-fi plot threads powerfully exploring digital footprints and exploitation in a way that feels extremely relevant. At the same time, it’s full of delicious historical energy, since the culture is obsessed with ‘pre-exodus’ Earth, and it follows a holographic ghost underclass trapped in a gig economy, some of whom are turning to underground revolution.
(It would not have occurred to me to describe as ‘cosy’ btw - Big Stuff Happens - but it’s definitely character-driven and often very funny.)
CHARACTERS: Honestly hard to describe how much I loved them, and their slowly unfolding plots are such a ride that there are certain ones I don't want to spoil, but it involves:
A nonbinary musician who died on a farming planet yearns to make True Art, but ends up forced-proximity trapped with a stoic victorian lieutenant who died on a polar expedition. There’s an undead librarian and mysterious man with a secret passion for watercolours who transcendently opened my mind to a whole new kind of character I could be feral about.
I stayed up WAY too late reading, parts made me react out loud by mistake (in excitement, laughter, emotional distress etc), and just so many lines that were so good I wanted to save them and write them down.
Just such a gem of a book!!!!!!
Advance [non audio] copy - I know the author BECAUSE in the past I followed her short story & comics work and was a huge fan, and was vv delighted to get to read this early.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dead New World is a cozy, charming read, but also a story that’ll haunt you in a beautiful way. It explores feeling invisible in your own life, what happens when a group is thrust into the spotlight without their consent and then becomes an easy target, and that it’s never too late to change your story. Plus it’s super queer and has a brilliant cyberpunk (hopepunk?) world!
It’s 3025, and Former Earth is, well, former, but technological immortality isn’t as easy to accept. Thanks to some sparkling new holographic hardware from the Flicker/Helix company, ghosts were unwillingly brought back, but nobody quite knows what to do with them.
Enter Hildy Doval: once a librarian, and now feeling more lost than ever. Ghosts have minimal rights, and can’t leave without a chaperone or own anything physical of their own, but they are expected to work any spectral gigs that come their way. The trouble is, Hildy is the least-requested ghost in her Purgatory House.
Her roommates are doing a smidge better. Eyvind is a musician who never saw eye-to-eye with his farmer dad in life, but is hoping to compose something brilliant in death. And Anjali has a bit of cinematic legacy surrounding her; she was an extra in an early holographic immersive silent film, and the last recovered bit from that film is her shining moment. But that’s not the whole truth …
And all three of their lives are in jeopardy, thanks to an aggressive election campaign and a new figure known only as the Graverobber, a headless being who has snatched several ghosts and taken them who-knows-where. Our three narrators have to solve the mystery of who the Graverobber is and what they want while also figuring out their own purposes and spots in this peculiar new world.
I’m fascinated by the idea of ghosts being unwillingly thrust into the future. Here, ghosts aren't hauntings of the past, but beings made to feel invisible in a world they no longer understand. They’re desperately trying to puzzle out their own humanity in its current state and find joy and purpose.
Though none of the resurrected ghosts are ready to die again, there’s also the uncomfortable fact that death was “cured” by bringing 10,000 people back to life without their consent. And maybe the adjustment wouldn’t have been so terrible if the world was happy to see them, but instead they’re seen as lesser beings or even threats. Society shifted to create a new secondary class of citizens with all sorts of fresh rules to keep them thoroughly contained.
We switch between three points of view, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of them and their individual arcs. They all felt fully-developed, with plenty of flaws, but with so much to root for. They’re all holding on to a lot of past trauma, and have to learn how to see their own value along the way. They also all slowly develop a meaningful relationship - nothing was instant, and everyone had to learn how to trust each other - and I loved watching them forge their future paths.
Though I occasionally felt overwhelmed by how much was going on (the pacing was a little uneven as well), I thoroughly appreciated the originality here, and I felt beautifully immersed in this world.
There’s dark humor and also an overflowing amount of death and grief talk, especially since all of our ghosts are struggling both now and in their past lives. But layered on top of that is so much coziness, a throughline of discovering your own path forward, and even a bit of love.
CW: death (talks of drowning, falling, freezing to death, etc.), murder, suicide, grief, chronic illness
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
It’s 3025, and Former Earth is, well, former, but technological immortality isn’t as easy to accept. Thanks to some sparkling new holographic hardware from the Flicker/Helix company, ghosts were unwillingly brought back, but nobody quite knows what to do with them.
Enter Hildy Doval: once a librarian, and now feeling more lost than ever. Ghosts have minimal rights, and can’t leave without a chaperone or own anything physical of their own, but they are expected to work any spectral gigs that come their way. The trouble is, Hildy is the least-requested ghost in her Purgatory House.
Her roommates are doing a smidge better. Eyvind is a musician who never saw eye-to-eye with his farmer dad in life, but is hoping to compose something brilliant in death. And Anjali has a bit of cinematic legacy surrounding her; she was an extra in an early holographic immersive silent film, and the last recovered bit from that film is her shining moment. But that’s not the whole truth …
And all three of their lives are in jeopardy, thanks to an aggressive election campaign and a new figure known only as the Graverobber, a headless being who has snatched several ghosts and taken them who-knows-where. Our three narrators have to solve the mystery of who the Graverobber is and what they want while also figuring out their own purposes and spots in this peculiar new world.
I’m fascinated by the idea of ghosts being unwillingly thrust into the future. Here, ghosts aren't hauntings of the past, but beings made to feel invisible in a world they no longer understand. They’re desperately trying to puzzle out their own humanity in its current state and find joy and purpose.
Though none of the resurrected ghosts are ready to die again, there’s also the uncomfortable fact that death was “cured” by bringing 10,000 people back to life without their consent. And maybe the adjustment wouldn’t have been so terrible if the world was happy to see them, but instead they’re seen as lesser beings or even threats. Society shifted to create a new secondary class of citizens with all sorts of fresh rules to keep them thoroughly contained.
We switch between three points of view, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed all of them and their individual arcs. They all felt fully-developed, with plenty of flaws, but with so much to root for. They’re all holding on to a lot of past trauma, and have to learn how to see their own value along the way. They also all slowly develop a meaningful relationship - nothing was instant, and everyone had to learn how to trust each other - and I loved watching them forge their future paths.
Though I occasionally felt overwhelmed by how much was going on (the pacing was a little uneven as well), I thoroughly appreciated the originality here, and I felt beautifully immersed in this world.
There’s dark humor and also an overflowing amount of death and grief talk, especially since all of our ghosts are struggling both now and in their past lives. But layered on top of that is so much coziness, a throughline of discovering your own path forward, and even a bit of love.
CW: death (talks of drowning, falling, freezing to death, etc.), murder, suicide, grief, chronic illness
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dead New World certainly takes Sci-Fi to another level. More so in that it uses technology to resurrect the dead and bring them into a futuristic world. And like, imagine specters doing manual labor because they got forcefully brought back. I would be pissed.
Things I did enjoy were the world-building here. The dead being resurrected without their consent, and therefore becoming the majority and a marginalized class. The dark humor was fun for me, and the mystery plot felt very meh, but even then, it's still a read I'm not quite sure where to sit with, which is why I leave it at 3 stars. I think it leans more on the cozy side of things, which I personally didn't connect with as much as I would have liked when I was reading. I need a bit more life on the edge here.
I definitely wouldn't recommend this for people well-versed in sci-fi, but it's definitely for people who want to dabble in it and need lower stakes.
Thank you podium entertainment & netgalley for the earc!
Things I did enjoy were the world-building here. The dead being resurrected without their consent, and therefore becoming the majority and a marginalized class. The dark humor was fun for me, and the mystery plot felt very meh, but even then, it's still a read I'm not quite sure where to sit with, which is why I leave it at 3 stars. I think it leans more on the cozy side of things, which I personally didn't connect with as much as I would have liked when I was reading. I need a bit more life on the edge here.
I definitely wouldn't recommend this for people well-versed in sci-fi, but it's definitely for people who want to dabble in it and need lower stakes.
Thank you podium entertainment & netgalley for the earc!
Review of advance copy
I absolutely adored this book. If you like queer speculative mystery sci-fi and mythology, this book is FOR YOU! The writing style is snappy, detailed, and engaging and I view this as a very successful first novel debut for Darrow.
The world is built out with such color and beautiful specificity I was so awed by the detail and delighted in finding out how the all the technology functioned in this new strange and beautiful world.
I also appreciated the three main characters being so different in style, voice, and tone. Every time I was invested in one POV it would leave me on a devastating cliff hanger and I just had to keep reading!
The mystery was gripping too: the political hotbed of spectral rights of the forcibly resurrected ghosts, the Graverobber somehow kidnapping the specters, the Underground resistance, the interrogation of what it means to be human when you’re dead, and so much more.
Without further ado, a breakdown of our players:
Hildy is your average girl put into extremely unordinary circumstances. Mainly that she’s dead and has been forcibly resurrected without a dedicated talent or speciality to call her own. I loved how she had a flavor and uniqueness to her character that, if you looked beyond the surface, belied such a strength of mind. I also loved her relationship with Jack (and I shan’t say more for spoilers).
Eyvind, the poet, the musician, the man who died without finishing his master song. If there was ever an Orpheus and Eurydice retelling to laud, it’s this one. I loved their flair for the dramatic and spunky personality and I did find myself crying at his story. There’s something so touching about their journey in the Underground and Hadestown lovers (myself included) will love them as much as I do. Also: nonbinary and done in such an authentic way.
And my biased favorite, Anjali. The enigmatic glamour starlet queen whose claim to fame has been hotly debated in the video of her pulling a red bridal veil from the water for 12 minutes. It’s the only surviving fragment of a long lost technology used for film. Of course, the only person who can share the meaning of the scene won’t give it up so easily. What’s the fun in a solved mystery? Anjali’s character of the strong-but-faded starlet really resonated with me and I love how she hid secrets from not only her friends, but herself too. She has so many layers and truths/untruths to unpick. Also her and Yemi Callo, enough said.
I can tell this work is a love letter to the strange and beautiful queer world we inhabit and creativity just oozes off the page. I cannot WAIT for Darrow’s next!
I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. Bravissima!
The world is built out with such color and beautiful specificity I was so awed by the detail and delighted in finding out how the all the technology functioned in this new strange and beautiful world.
I also appreciated the three main characters being so different in style, voice, and tone. Every time I was invested in one POV it would leave me on a devastating cliff hanger and I just had to keep reading!
The mystery was gripping too: the political hotbed of spectral rights of the forcibly resurrected ghosts, the Graverobber somehow kidnapping the specters, the Underground resistance, the interrogation of what it means to be human when you’re dead, and so much more.
Without further ado, a breakdown of our players:
Hildy is your average girl put into extremely unordinary circumstances. Mainly that she’s dead and has been forcibly resurrected without a dedicated talent or speciality to call her own. I loved how she had a flavor and uniqueness to her character that, if you looked beyond the surface, belied such a strength of mind. I also loved her relationship with Jack (and I shan’t say more for spoilers).
Eyvind, the poet, the musician, the man who died without finishing his master song. If there was ever an Orpheus and Eurydice retelling to laud, it’s this one. I loved their flair for the dramatic and spunky personality and I did find myself crying at his story. There’s something so touching about their journey in the Underground and Hadestown lovers (myself included) will love them as much as I do. Also: nonbinary and done in such an authentic way.
And my biased favorite, Anjali. The enigmatic glamour starlet queen whose claim to fame has been hotly debated in the video of her pulling a red bridal veil from the water for 12 minutes. It’s the only surviving fragment of a long lost technology used for film. Of course, the only person who can share the meaning of the scene won’t give it up so easily. What’s the fun in a solved mystery? Anjali’s character of the strong-but-faded starlet really resonated with me and I love how she hid secrets from not only her friends, but herself too. She has so many layers and truths/untruths to unpick. Also her and Yemi Callo, enough said.
I can tell this work is a love letter to the strange and beautiful queer world we inhabit and creativity just oozes off the page. I cannot WAIT for Darrow’s next!
I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. Bravissima!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dead New World was such a wonderfully weird book.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going into a story about holographic ghosts, resurrection technology, a future where death has essentially become a technological inconvenience, and ghosts trying to figure out what the hell they’re supposed to do with their second chance at existence. Somehow, Lin Darrow makes all of that feel completely natural.
The worldbuilding was easily one of my favorite parts. The idea of the dead becoming a marginalized class and then having to navigate jobs, housing, relationships, and their place in society was fascinating. I loved the combination of science fiction, noir mystery, dark humor, and genuinely bizarre supernatural elements. It is a very strange book, but in a way that kept me curious rather than confused.
Hildy was such a fun protagonist. I really enjoyed her perspective and watching her navigate this completely unfamiliar version of the afterlife while trying to figure out where she actually belongs. The supporting cast was another highlight. There were so many interesting personalities that I found myself just as invested in the characters and their relationships as I was in solving the mystery.
And the mystery itself kept me guessing. The Graverobber storyline gave the book that underlying sense of danger while still allowing plenty of room for the characters, humor, and worldbuilding to breathe.
My biggest reason for landing at four stars rather than five is that the story sometimes felt like it was trying to juggle a LOT at once. There were moments when I wanted the mystery to move faster, while other sections could have used a little more time to develop. The sheer amount of worldbuilding and ideas occasionally made the pacing feel uneven for me.
That said, I really appreciated how original this was. It doesn’t feel like another recycled dystopian or sci-fi story. It has its own very specific identity, and I genuinely enjoyed being dropped into this strange, futuristic world.
If you like cozy sci-fi, cyber-noir, queer characters, ghosts, bizarre technology, murder mysteries, dry humor, and incredibly imaginative worldbuilding, this is definitely worth checking out.
A very solid 4 stars from me. I may be dead tired after reading it, but I’m definitely not dead to the idea of continuing this series.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going into a story about holographic ghosts, resurrection technology, a future where death has essentially become a technological inconvenience, and ghosts trying to figure out what the hell they’re supposed to do with their second chance at existence. Somehow, Lin Darrow makes all of that feel completely natural.
The worldbuilding was easily one of my favorite parts. The idea of the dead becoming a marginalized class and then having to navigate jobs, housing, relationships, and their place in society was fascinating. I loved the combination of science fiction, noir mystery, dark humor, and genuinely bizarre supernatural elements. It is a very strange book, but in a way that kept me curious rather than confused.
Hildy was such a fun protagonist. I really enjoyed her perspective and watching her navigate this completely unfamiliar version of the afterlife while trying to figure out where she actually belongs. The supporting cast was another highlight. There were so many interesting personalities that I found myself just as invested in the characters and their relationships as I was in solving the mystery.
And the mystery itself kept me guessing. The Graverobber storyline gave the book that underlying sense of danger while still allowing plenty of room for the characters, humor, and worldbuilding to breathe.
My biggest reason for landing at four stars rather than five is that the story sometimes felt like it was trying to juggle a LOT at once. There were moments when I wanted the mystery to move faster, while other sections could have used a little more time to develop. The sheer amount of worldbuilding and ideas occasionally made the pacing feel uneven for me.
That said, I really appreciated how original this was. It doesn’t feel like another recycled dystopian or sci-fi story. It has its own very specific identity, and I genuinely enjoyed being dropped into this strange, futuristic world.
If you like cozy sci-fi, cyber-noir, queer characters, ghosts, bizarre technology, murder mysteries, dry humor, and incredibly imaginative worldbuilding, this is definitely worth checking out.
A very solid 4 stars from me. I may be dead tired after reading it, but I’m definitely not dead to the idea of continuing this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Dead New World was a wonderfully weird book and I mean that as a compliment. Holographic ghosts, resurrection technology, political drama, revolution, murder, and people trying to figure out what exactly you’re supposed to do when you’ve already died? It’s a lot, but Lin Darrow somehow makes the whole bizarre setup feel surprisingly plausible.
The worldbuilding was definitely the strongest part for me. I loved the idea of resurrected people becoming their own marginalized class and having to navigate housing, work, relationships, and society all over again. The mix of sci-fi, noir, dark humor, and supernatural weirdness gave the book a very distinct personality, and I appreciated that it wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill dystopian future.
Hildy was probably my favorite part. I enjoyed following her and watching her try to find her place in this strange second life. The supporting characters were interesting too, and the Graverobber mystery gave everything a nice thread of danger.
My problem was that the book occasionally seemed determined to do everything. There are multiple characters, storylines, political conflicts, personal crises, mysteries, and existential questions all competing for attention. Eventually the pieces come together, but getting there felt a little uneven. At times I wanted the mystery to pick up the pace; at others, I wanted the story to stop adding new things and actually spend some time developing the ones already on the table.
A very strange, creative read. Just not quite my favorite kind of strange.
Dead New World was a wonderfully weird book and I mean that as a compliment. Holographic ghosts, resurrection technology, political drama, revolution, murder, and people trying to figure out what exactly you’re supposed to do when you’ve already died? It’s a lot, but Lin Darrow somehow makes the whole bizarre setup feel surprisingly plausible.
The worldbuilding was definitely the strongest part for me. I loved the idea of resurrected people becoming their own marginalized class and having to navigate housing, work, relationships, and society all over again. The mix of sci-fi, noir, dark humor, and supernatural weirdness gave the book a very distinct personality, and I appreciated that it wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill dystopian future.
Hildy was probably my favorite part. I enjoyed following her and watching her try to find her place in this strange second life. The supporting characters were interesting too, and the Graverobber mystery gave everything a nice thread of danger.
My problem was that the book occasionally seemed determined to do everything. There are multiple characters, storylines, political conflicts, personal crises, mysteries, and existential questions all competing for attention. Eventually the pieces come together, but getting there felt a little uneven. At times I wanted the mystery to pick up the pace; at others, I wanted the story to stop adding new things and actually spend some time developing the ones already on the table.
A very strange, creative read. Just not quite my favorite kind of strange.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I wanted to love this one so much more than I did. The story and characters were both fine but I did struggle with the pacing at points, and I didn't vibe with the writing style sadly.
Overall, it was an okay read but it just felt like it was missing something for me.
I wanted to love this one so much more than I did. The story and characters were both fine but I did struggle with the pacing at points, and I didn't vibe with the writing style sadly.
Overall, it was an okay read but it just felt like it was missing something for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, what a read! If you love queer sci-fi, this book is for you. Wonderfully weird from start to finish, I genuinely could not put it down. Ten thousand people brought back to life as spectres just to be forced back to work? Not going to lie, I'd be furious!
The multi-POV narrative completely hooked me. Following Hildy, Eyvind, and Anjali kept the pacing fresh, and each character brought such a distinct voice and dynamic to the story.
Darrow’s world-building balances creative sci-fi, mystery with a splash of dark humor.
I would love to read another book set in this crazy supernatural world. Highly recommended!
The multi-POV narrative completely hooked me. Following Hildy, Eyvind, and Anjali kept the pacing fresh, and each character brought such a distinct voice and dynamic to the story.
Darrow’s world-building balances creative sci-fi, mystery with a splash of dark humor.
I would love to read another book set in this crazy supernatural world. Highly recommended!
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October 4, 2026Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews