The Forgetting Navigations

by Marlee Jane Ward

Abandoned in a lifepod in the vastness of space, Evey is left for dead. When the bookish freight hauler Shirr rescues her, the two form a connection over tea and unspoken trauma. Just when things feel safe again, their peace is threatened by a relic of their past, and they’re forced to embark on a mission across the stars to protect themselves and others from the threat of violence. THE FORGETTING NAVIGATIONS is a brutally honest exploration of what it means to be a survivor, set against the brilliant backdrop of the cosmos.

Genres: Science Fiction, Novella, Queer, Adult

92 pages, ebook

Published May 6, 2026

About the author

I’m a writer from Melbourne, Australia.
I grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales and studied creative writing at the University of Wollongong. I attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop in 2014.

You can find my short stories at Interzone, Interfictions, Terraform, Apex, The Sockdolager, Aurealis, Mad Scientist Journal, Slink Chunk Press, Feminartsy and the In Your Face, Hear Me Roar, Kindred, Best Summer Stories, and Someone Like You anthologies.

My debut novella, Welcome To Orphancorp, won Seizure’s Viva La Novella 3 and the 2016 Victorian Premiers Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction. It was shortlisted for The NSW Premiers Award, an Aurealis Award, and the Norma K Hemming Award.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨🌌 The Forgetting Navigations 🌌✨

This was a quick sci fi novella. If you like stories about space survivial, you will enjoy this!

📅 Pub Date: May 4, 2026
📝 Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Dana Cristiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would love to thank Interstellar Flight Press, Marlee Jane Ward and NetGalley for this novella in exchange of an honest review.

Release Date: 6th of May!

Evey Et has had a rough life. Being born in a cult and seeing what atrocities her mother went through, she decided to flee. Since then she's been a hitcher through the galaxy, going from one place to another. But when a stranger decided to help her, being polite and friendly, things turned out worse for her. Now, escaping through a life pod from his ship and almost dying, she is saved by a woman named Shirr Krus on her ship, The Algea. Evey never felt safer. She enjoys her company, her library of books and sipping tea together, while descending on different planets to drop off cargo on a contract.

But now Evey starts seeing Carter, the man who took hold of her everywhere they arrive. Is it her trauma response? Or is the man actually there?

I liked this story overall. What I enjoyed most was Shirr and the cozy vibes while the characters were reading, sipping tea and discussing life. Them growing closer together and slowly opening up to each other. I also laughed at a few lines, including the literal book-opener:
"My chances in the lifepod are fifty-fifty, but I'll take those odds."
It had a light tonality throughout.

But other than this, I felt like I couldn't truly connect with these women. I felt like the story was too rushed and convenient at times.
And the last 10 pages? Pure madness and cliche! The end confrontation was ridiculous and cartoonish. I rolled my eyes a few times and the characters got rid of the bad guy way too easy.

But overall it wasn't a bad story, just not something very memorable. I feel like this would have worked out better as a novel, with higher and more serious stakes.
3 stars.

[Georgia T-S · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful, and also horrible, dip into this world! This is the kind of sci-fi I love, where it's character driven but the world is built in a deep way too. You could really feel the effort that had been put into worldbuilding even though we only say what must be a tiny part of it. I keep picking shorter reads/novellas and then finding such gems that every review I write is me simply asking for more... I've not come across Marlee Jane Ward's work before but I'm definitely interested now! This was as wholesome as it was horrific and I'd like to live longer in this universe. The only thing I would have liked to be slightly different was more time getting to know the characters, time passed with them living together but because we didn't get to see that growth it felt harder to connect. A little epilogue after that ending would have been a nice addition too, just to take a moment of hope and calm and see a little of their futures after everything. But it is a novella so you can't have everything! Loved the glimpse we got of other people on different planets too, felt very visual and visceral and I would love to see it on screen!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting and it definitely has its merits but I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped. It is less of a science fiction story, and more of a story of how a (heavily implied) sexual assault and cult survivor lives with and attempts to overcome her trauma. As it was a novella there wasn’t too much time to explore the structure of the worlds in detail, but what was there was intriguing enough to keep me wanting more. I really liked how pronoun inclusion had been so universally adopted, that was cool. It was a lot darker and heavier than I personally enjoy, but it addresses a lot of serious, important topics so it’s not a criticism at all. I felt like it needed more show don’t tell in certain scenes and a personal pet peeve is using capitals for shouting. But overall it was an easy to read, fast paced, and interesting novella. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Casey Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The descriptions of the noises and the silence in this book add so much to the tension and the release of the narrative.
As with most good sci fi, this takes a universal experience and puts in in an unfamiliar place and time to make it that much more powerful.
Absolutely masterfully written, I did not put it down once. The tension in the story was excellently paced and the fear was manageable so I could read it, but impactful.

[Katie Wisecup · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forgetting Navigations is a character study that explores trauma and human connection. It’s about finding a place and a person that feel like home, when you’ve never had that before. Evey escapes an abusive situation and is left drifting through space in an escape pod with her only hope being someone seeing her distress beacon and stopping for her.
Due to the short nature of it being a novella, we only really get to explore the mind of Evey. I would love to see more of the connection between Evey and Shirr. There wasn’t too much world building, but what there was really interesting. I wanted to know more of the religions, societies, and technology. This story felt like it could easily be expanded to create a longer book.
Definitely heed the content warnings for this, it isn’t too graphic, but does deal with quite a few heavy topics.
Thank you to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth Greenop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read that really packed an emotional punch for me. The main character, Evie Et has escaped from a cult and is trying to live her life and heal…and running a little bit from the past. The book has some hope as well, it isn’t all dark. Overall enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, all thoughts and options are my own.

[Andra-Mihaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hello everyone!🙃

Today is #review day!☺️

From me, The Forgetting Navigations by Marlee Jane Ward receives 3.5⭐! 😁

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a honest review!

General info: scifi novella about 2 people connecting despite trauma; a story about the abuse vulnerable women often face, set in space; honest depiction about trauma response, mental state, the fight against gaslighting, and the first steps into a journey of healing; queer normative world

CW: violence, allusions to SA, mentions of mutilation and self-harm, excrement

BOOK THOUGHTS

Well😅...I knew this story will be difficult, but I wasn't fully prepared for it...
I recommend seriously taking into consideration the content warnings above, as this novella might trigger you.

We start the story with Evey Et as she's just escaped an extremely dangerous situation, only to find herself at the mercy of the vast, cold space. 😫
From there, we see the emotional torrent she's experiencing due to her past and current circumstances, and let me tell you... it's heart wrenching. 😔 As it's says in the synopsis, this novella is brutally honest in its exploration of the 'survivor' and how many obstacles one still has to overcome long after the threat is gone...

I really enjoyed the story, despite the heavy content and some minor issues, and I believe readers that like exploring such topics will be moved by it.
The writing is really good; the author took care to convey to us the emotional state of the MC vividly. There's a constant undercurrent of fear, anxious waiting and plain tension throughout the pages. I was really invested into seeing what's going to happen, despite also feeling dread.

The pacing is sometimes a little slow( in my opinion), and the characterisation is well done only for the protagonist. Shirr Krus is mainly an anchor, a focus for Evey to try to fight her thoughts and seek strength to move on; and this leads to a not-as-convincing-as-it-could-have-been romance between the 2.( if you can even call it that in these circumstances)

On the flipside, the world building is really good for such a short read. We get ships, planets, technology, societal constructs, religion, trade, social issues and cultures! I believe we have enough here to make a movie if the chance presents itself! I might be reaching, but I think that the author also match the emotional state of Evey with each setting she visited...if so, bonus points from me!

Now...coming back to characters..As I said, Evey is the most developed( you could say the only one.😅) She's not only a victim, but also a fighter ( we see that from the very first moment, and from the glimpses we see of her past). She's an overthinker..a fact that often makes her spiral into anxiety attacks, second-guess herself and refuse to share her concerns due to fear of abandonment. She's quiet, thinks herself worthless ( this broke my heart😔) and rarely wants to take space.
My issue with her characters is this: after a whole story in which she's in such a difficult mental state, the ending feels unrealistic...from my point of view, compared to the rest, her final actions are out of character. I understand wanting to save the day, but her knowing and, more importantly, doing all those steps that require so much confidence...it felt a little out of sorts. ( take this with a grain of salt...my opinion may be influenced by my own imagined ending 🤷🏼‍♀️)
Taking into consideration that both Carter and Shirr are one-dimentional, you can see why I cannot give this otherwise lovely novella more than 3 stars.

In conclusion, this story has some very strong points and some unfortunate weaknesses, but I believe lots of readers will appreciate the depiction of what it means to be a survivor.
I'll definitely read more form this author 🤭... especially if they decide to write more scifi in the future.😏

I highly recommend this novella to any readers that like scifi mixed with difficult topics; those that seek raw depiction of SA survivors and anyone curious enough. ☺️

[Lilah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you very much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this novella in exchange for an honest review.

The Forgetting Navigations is a story of human connection and post-traumatic survivorship. It follows Evey Et as she navigates the universe with her new companion, Shirr Krus, in the aftermath of a traumatic assault.

First and foremost, I would warn prospective readers to heed the content warnings. The themes explored here are profoundly difficult. Please also note that this review will also mention themes of sexual assault, mutilation, and violence.

The story does a very good job of exploring its protagonist’s psyche. Evey’s pain is viscerally described, and all her emotional states are clearly defined and explored. It also touches on woefully underwritten themes like female genital mutilation (FGM), specifically infibulation, and powerfully showcases the horrific normalisation of misogyny and violence against women.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find much else to like about this story. The science part of the science-fiction seemed flimsy and lacked any real engagement with time dilation, warp travel, or close-to-light-speed travel.

Other themes are mentioned for shock value but not engaged with, even within the limits of it being a novella. For instance, the cult of Et is said to put its girls through FGM/infibulation when they first menstruate. Why when they menstruate? I’ve done activism myself against FGM and many of these cases happen long before menstruation. Why would the cult wait so long? What are we trying to say by including it? If the goal was shock value, then I have to critically question whether such a pervasive and deeply harmful phenomenon that still plagues women around the world should be employed so haphazardly.

Setting that aside, the pacing felt uncomfortably slow and even repetitive at some parts. So much time was given to Evey’s repetitive thoughts and so little was given to any real development or exploration of the book’s themes. I was also jarred by the introduction of characters with no real acknowledgement of their circumstances. Why, on a planet far into the galaxy, is a Black (presumably African???) woman speaking French? Is she French? Is she not? This is an inherently post-colonial question that I couldn’t bring myself to ignore. There is an onus that comes with writing characters of colour in worlds rooted in our own (as established by references to Dickens and Greece) to research and provide nuance to these literary choices.

The ending was perhaps my least favourite portion of the book. Aside from seeming cartoonish (I nearly expected the villain to let out a “mwahahaha!”), it also seemed oddly pacifistic. I won’t spoil it for the prospective reader, but the final decision seemed odd and frustrating to me.

Overall, I think The Forgetting Navigations had the potential to be an excellent exploration of trauma, survival, and human connection. However, it seemed to lack direction and suffered from its prioritisation of the protagonist’s emotions and psyche over nuanced exploration of the themes it presented. It being a short read, I would nevertheless encourage readers to read it and form their own opinions and thoughts.

[Aaqilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a week of hurtling through space in a windowless lifepod. Naked, in fear, surrounded by globules of her own piss and poop, escaping Him, her abuser from the last ship she hitched a ride from, Evey is rescued by another ship.

What follows in this novella is a friendship between Evey and Shirr from this new ship, conversations had between cups of warm tea, Evey trying to find herself after a traumatic incident which she escaped from, the effects post trauma but also making sure her abuser doesn’t hurt another woman like he did her.

Even though it’s set in a future where intergalactic space travel is possible, the experiences Women face in the hands of men, whether on earth or space is the same across all timelines.

Through words of relatability, and sometimes comfort, we join Evey and Shirr in eliminating the menace that hurt Evey, and many other girls like Evey across the galaxy, but we also see Evey regaining her self with time.

It sounds like a book about female friendships and Evey finding herself but it really is about abuse, and how much power the abuser and the abused hold.

A couple books before this, I read Heaven by Mieko Kawakami that had me discussing about this very subject, about how the abuser’s power is loud, immediate, and visible.

And the abused person’s power is hidden under layers of trauma, shame, fear and guilt.

I highlighted so much while reading and was astonished at how good the author is with their words. It’s very powerful and thought provoking. I’ve highlighted 30, in a total of 5 chapters.

Some of them as below:

“It’s like I'm looking at myself from a long way away, and I’m not dead or alive but something else, hovering in a space between yes and no, up and down, life and death.”

“I’m trying to contain it, to make the boxes this pain can fit inside, but I don’t have anything big enough to hold this agony. I want to pierce my skull, let the hurt suck out like air through a hull breach.”

“When he had me, it’s almost like he used everything I love about being in space against me. The vastness, the silence, the elasticity of time. On his ship, felt so tiny and insignificant. It made me realize that I don’t matter, not at all.”

“I feel like I can imagine.” “You can, but you can’t, too. In a place like this, when you’re cold deep in your blood, so hungry you feel sick, tired, but you can’t sleep because the ground is wet . . . the misery is endless. The pain, it hurts so bad. It makes you willing to do anything, anything to escape it. They know that,”

“He’s right. I am invisible. But it doesn’t mean I’m not a person. It doesn’t mean I deserve to be used and wasted for this man’s convoluted desires, my body floating out in the cold of space or discarded on a refuse pile.”

The author portrays the thoughts of a victim and survivor of abuse perfectly. It hits so hard.

I really enjoyed this and I like how the author trusted the reader to keep up with the quick world building.

And as for what exactly happened to Evey on that ship, just like in real life, that’s none of our business. A person’s past trauma is not for others to pry open or judge.

OVERALL RATING: 4.2/5

[SleepingBeauty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Marlee Jane Ward, the publisher, Interstellar Flight Press, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

What I particularly liked about this book is that it explores how oppressive systems are created and maintained at both the collective and individual levels. Our main characters, Evey and Shirr, experience trauma inflicted by a systemic misogyny maintained by institutions and the multitudes of individuals within them. Then there is a specific misogynistic trauma inflicted more specifically by a single man.
Overcoming this trauma is a significant theme and driving force of this work. The first half focuses more on the psychological overcoming of this trauma immediately after Evey is rescued. I really enjoyed this section for its more character-driven, day-to-day exploration of the effects of psychological trauma. Additionally, I think the development of Evey’s and Shirr’s relationship was paced well enough. The second half takes a more physical approach to overcoming trauma; in doing so, it becomes a bit more plot-heavy (a transition that at first felt a little jarring) as our characters seek justice against the man who harmed Evey. The fate of this man is sure to satisfy anyone who enjoys revenge stories. And in terms of that larger systemic oppression I mentioned before, our sapphic couple is able to find escape and recourse within this wider oppressive system through each other. In this regard, I think this novella offers both a satisfying revenge story alongside a solution that is, unfortunately, more realistic and recognizable to the average person. However, despite the themes being explored in this work, they are executed in a way that can feel a bit heavy-handed. The reader is not given the chance to reach the conclusion the author wants after a skillfully executed dramatic argument or complex wrestling with the themes, but rather, the message is spoon-fed. Despite this, the book is still a good, quick read for those who want a sapphic revenge story that deals with real-world themes in a way that requires little to no complex thinking or engagement from the reader.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Forgetting Navigations" is a very gentle look into a life that has been defined by trauma, the threat of violence, and the denial of personhood. For a lot of people the description "very gentle" may be completely at odds with their experience reading this book, but talking around an event, as opposed to nitty gritty details, has always been my preference for sharing difficult experiences. We know what has happened to Evey Et, even without specific phrasing, it isn't difficult to fill in the gaps with our own stories, or the stories of people we've known.

I generally avoid books along this same storyline/genre because they feel exploitative, or are a multi-chapter commitment to adrenaline rush/fatigue, and I've decided my life doesn't have to feel that way anymore. However, I'm so glad I took the risk. Evey's story is told in glimpses; snatches of time peppered with "unimportant," intimate sensory details like clammy skin, sweaty thighs, but without putting more specific words to the unthinkable cruelty of mankind; the same way I've told my own stories, the way others have told me theirs. Stories about trauma don't need to be a visceral play-by-play to hit hard. There's so much more room for empathy and horror in broad language, allusion, and fade-to-black scenes. I want to choose how horrible of a portrait to paint in my mind, and The Forgetting Navigations excels at that.

Even the title itself is a nod to the same broad poetry the entire story is brimming with. Anyone can read the words "compartmentalization" and "dissociation," but reading them and consuming them are different things. The metaphor of a coping mechanism as a roadmap to reaching a less troubled state of being, setting coordinates as far away from a thought as possible, was such an unexpected delight, if delight can exist in reading a story like this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Interstellar Flight Press, and Marlee Jane Ward for the opportunity to read a free copy.

[En · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forgetting Navigations is a character-driven novella of seeking hope in the face of a formidable adversary and having the bravery to fight it.

This one uses gentle words to pull you towards the narrator’s corner. Then quickly exposes you to some deeply lodged trauma that climaxes into a satisfying yet morally questionable ending. That ending made me ponder the intentions behind the age-old saying: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

Evey Et is drifting through space after a near escape from a perpetrator. Her time alone in the pod is a heart-wrenching portrait of loneliness; loneliness of escape, loneliness of a survivor, loneliness despite the vastness of the universe.

Our narrator’s life had been a series of unfortunate events, and those events had tainted the way she perceives people. Every offer is a negotiation. Every kindness met with scepticism. Even when Shirr pulls her out of her misery and grants her access to that dope library on her ship.

Shirr, thankfully, is a highly empathetic individual. Much of the communication between the main characters takes place between unspoken words and sips of tea. And it feels apt. Nicely done!

For a short read, The Forgotten Navigations manages to touch on heavy topics like trauma, disassociation, sexual assault, and more. (CW here!) What makes this stand out is the way none of these were explicitly named. Instead, the hurt is shared and experienced from Evey’s POV.

Ngl, seeing Evey introduce herself and others with their preferred pronouns stumped me, because that didn’t seem to add to the plot or the worldbuilding. And while that final zero-gravity fight was exhilarating, it felt as though there were some gaps. Maybe it was meant to suggest something of Evey. 🤷‍♀️

Sidenote: kudos to the author for naming a wide range of authors, including Nnedi Okorafor, which reminds me. I have to get to my copy of Death of the Author.

[Keira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First things first, we need to fix the synopsis. Evey is not abandoned in a lifepod, she deliberately runs for, jumps into and launches a lifepod in an attempt to escape the cruel and dangerous situation she finds herself in. Yes, she is facing the potentiality of no one coming to rescue her, at which point she will die, but I don’t think this situation can be considered “abandoned” or “left for dead”…

That’s pretty much the only significant issue with this whole book though, so if we just make this minor tweak to the synopsis so that it’s accurate to the book then the rest of this review will be pretty much all sparkly stars and pretty gas clouds. (I was going to say all roses, but I don’t think roses grow in space.)

This is a brief book – but it’s definitely not a light book. There are definitely some trigger warnings to be considered if entering into this book, although it mostly occurs off page before the start of the novella and it’s not 100% clear what occurred. The book mostly focuses on the healing journey that the main character goes on after escaping the grasp of her kidnapper (of sorts). The plot is well balanced with a good amount of action and intrigue, as well as some lovely found family moments and rumination about books that I think book lovers in general will very much enjoy. The pacing is also very well done and I remained engaged throughout the book.

There is some worldbuilding as the characters move through space on a spaceship and disembark at various different stations, although the focus is very much on the experience of the main character rather than a greater plot externally – which is good, since this is a novella and to attempt to focus on too many things would definitely have weakened the main plot line. Therefore, I think this book can be suitable for both space-based sci-fi lovers who appreciate a more character-driven story and don’t necessarily need a significant amount of worldbuilding and politics, but it could also appeal to readers who typically don’t read sci-fi but to whom stories about surviving abuse or traumatic situations and the subsequent healing process appeal.

Perhaps what stood out to me most from this book is the writing style. In general, it’s definitely not a ‘unique’ writing style or one where every single sentence is going to pop out at you – and that is almost my preference for this sort of genre. However, apart from general good writing and editing throughout, there are some gems sprinkled through just the right amount to make me find a couple of passages to highlight and remember. I won’t share much here since this was an ARC and any quotes are subject to change, but the quote below was perhaps my favourite from the book – I really love how Ward describes the character’s memories:

"…it’s just me and my memories, floating in the harsh-lit pod. The good ones I can lose myself in. My collection is small, and precious. The bad memories I try to keep in boxes, wrapped up tight. They pile up, spill over. I wish I could blast them out of an airlock, let the universe have them."

Verdict

This is a brief, engaging novella that balances some dark themes with moments of recovery and comfort. I definitely recommend checking it out if the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, as it’s well-crafted and well-written (and short – it actually helped me get out of a bit of a reading slump)!

This isn’t a super super high four stars, but it’s definitely a very solid four stars – I very much enjoyed this book and I hope it gets a nice physical edition at some point so I can add it to my collection.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forgetting Navigations by Marlee Jane Ward may be short but it packs quite the emotional punch for such a slim volume. The set up is almost deceptively simple, deep in space Evey Et is alone in a tiny life pod waiting for her supplies of food, water and oxygen to run out. As desperate as that may seem she has almost made her peace with it, seeing it as a better alternative that the situation she fled from that saw her ending up here. By chance or by fate the life pod signal is spotted by Shirr, a grizzled freight hauler, and despite her better judgement she diverts and ends up rescuing Evey. At first trust is in short supply but gradually the traumatised Evey and the wonderfully bookish and rather wise Shirr build a bond that heals but also places them both in danger.
As I said this is a short book, but there is a lot going on, and I was really impressed with how much the author made me care about these characters in the short amount of time we got to spend with them. As a heads up to potential readers I will say that this book does go to some dark places, but they are very effectively counterbalanced by the warmth of the friendship between Evey and Shirr, their cozy bookish conversations truly had a healing quality. The depiction of Evey's trauma was sensitively handled, without being graphic it was clear what made her desperate enough to flee the only home she had known, and I appreciated that the author showed the effects through things like dissociation and flashbacks.
This little novella really impressed me and I would definitely like to read more from this author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Rhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for the DRC of The Forgetting Navigations that enabled me to write this review. All opinions my own.

The Forgetting Navigations by Marlee Jane Ward is a short but sweet exploration of the trauma carried by and the abuse of women, set to the backdrop of the infinite vacuum of space. The reader follows Evey, our narrator for this tale, escaping the clutches of a man who took advantage of her status as a hitcher (an undocumented person who has to rely on their wits and the "kindness" of strangers to survive) to lure her onto his ship to abuse her. There are content warnings at the start, and I would highly recommend taking them into account when reading. While Ward never goes into graphic detail of what happened to any of the women in this story, there is enough described that you can fill in the blanks if you so desire.

I felt that Ward's exploration and portrayal of trauma and PTSD was compelling and written with accuracy and sensitivity in mind. The unlabelled but clearly important relationship between Evey and Shirr was was wonderful, the unspoken but palpable love they shared was a delight amidst the pain and cruelty of their universe.

I really enjoyed The Forgetting Navigations. Being as short as it is, it doesn't even come close to outstaying its welcome, but wraps itself up satisfyingly in a nice little bow, telling a complete story without the constraints of having to build an entire world. I would absolutely recommend this work, but again would caution prospective readers to take heed of the content warnings.

[Syndrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella does a great job in saying things without actually saying them and making sure the reader is fully able to understand the main character's mental state. Even though this is really a story about trauma, abuse, and learning to survive in the aftermath, it's still written in a way that's extremely accessible for readers. This novella never needed to use strong, graphic detail to tell the full story of Evey's past — proving that the unspoken can sometimes be even louder than what's actually being said.

I did love the space setting and getting to see little glimpses of what life could be like as a space freighter, but I will say this overall isn't a particularly unique plot because I've definitely read similar stories before. That said, I think the main strength with this novella was really the character work as Evey and Shirr felt like real people with understandable emotions. Their relationship develops naturally over time and by the end of the story I was just really happy that these two managed to find each other.

If you're a reader that likes stories that hit on darker topics, but aren't looking for anything too heavy right now, then this might be a great pick for you! It can easily be read in a single sitting while still doing great job at scratching that itch to read a satisfying story without having to commit to a 300+ page novel.

(I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher, Interstellar Flight Press, via NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.)

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

After recently finishing Marlee Jane Ward’s The Forgetting Navigations, I found myself lingering on its haunting imagery long after the final page. This novelette is a visceral, space-bound exploration of trauma and recovery that manages to feel both expansive and intensely claustrophobic, in a beautifully crafted piece of speculative fiction.

This novelette is not just a journey across the stars to escape a persistent threat from MC Evey’s past but an internal journey toward healing. Ms Ward’s worldbuilding is lean but evocative; she doesn't weigh the reader down with political lore, focusing instead on the lived experience of the characters within the steel walls of their vessels and the various stations they visit.

Evey is an incredibly grounded protagonist. Her internal monologue is fraught with the bad memories she tries to box up, and her struggle to reconcile her past with her current safety is portrayed with painful honesty. Shirr is a wonderful foil—kind, patient, and bonded to Evey through shared tea and unspoken trauma. Their "found family" dynamic provides the emotional heartbeat of the story, offering a sense of hope against a backdrop that could easily have felt too bleak.

The Forgetting Navigations is an engaging character study on what it means to be a survivor told in a “soft” sci-fi environment that does just enough to keep one’s own relative traumas at bay, prioritizing the bravery it takes to break free.

Thank you to the author and publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC and the chance to be with Evey in this distinctly told story.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

After escaping an abusive man, Evey has been left for dead in an abandoned lifepod, floating in space. She doesn't expect to be rescued—until Shirr hears the distress call and saves her. But when Evey is confronted with her past, the two embark on a mission to keep themselves and others protected.

This is such an impactful novella. Marlee Jane Ward does a fantastic job tackling trauma and violence against women that isn't graphic or gratuitous. Evey is simply visceral, I could feel her hurt and anguish in every moment. It was made even more special to watch her grow into herself, her friendship with Shirr allowing her to be vulnerable.

"It's just me and my memories, floating in the harsh-lit pod. The good ones I can lose myself in. My collection is small, and precious. The bad memories I try to keep in boxes, wrapped up tight. They pile up, spill over. I wish I could blast them out of an airlock, let the universe have them."

I loved everything that Shirr represented—someone to look after us, who is kind, patient, who we can relate to. Their dynamic is the heart of this story for me, and what it means to relate to others.

"That's the thing about showing yourself; you can't control what people see."

If you enjoy revenge stories that focus on overcoming trauma, with found family vibes and female friendships, set against a space backdrop, then you will love The Forgetting Navigations.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to be what a lot of sci-fi is becoming now. A lot of genre fiction, in general. Female characters exploring female-specific issues in a very gender-conscious world that gets all the pronouns right but still has the same problems with violence and abuse. In this instance, it's sexual abuse. The protagonist is a survivor, rescued by another survivor, with who she bonds.
The entire novella is focused on that and the ramifications of it and, eventually, a reckoning.

Though the story is placed within the conventional trappings of a space opera, the setting here seems almost irrelevant to the plot. This isn't a science fiction story about a SA survivor so much as it is a SA survivor story set in space.

Before any self-righteous outrage may begin to foam, please note that I take the subject very seriously and think it is important to address and talk about. But I don't necessarily want to read an entire book about it, or any book most of which concentrates on two women drinking tea and talking about their feelings. Mainly because it doesn't make for a particularly interesting, complex, or exciting reading experience. Which is a completely subjective opinion, as are all opinions when it comes to reading.

I will say that the author can write fairly well, to the point where one might be curious to see what else she can come up with. And it was a very quick read. Thanks Netgalley.

[Farren Benvenuti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. Wow wow wow. Okay. If that’s not enough of a review, I will expand.

I am NOT a novella fan. I find that it is extremely difficult to flesh out characters, create a story that has depth and meaning, and have a strong beginning and ending all within such a short amount of space. This book proved me wrong and made me a fan. I picked it up as a palate cleanser after a very bad reading slump, figuring I could knock out 92 pages in no time and it can reset me. This was everything I needed.

First of all, I am an absolute sucker for a space opera, and this is my ideal genre. Not only did book have a solid beginning, middle, and ending, but it also touched on trauma in a very delicate but meaningful way (read the trigger warnings). The ending was a little rushed, but it works for this book since everything was wrapped up cleanly, so I can’t complain about that.

You really learn to empathize with Evey and Shirr in such a short time. The details of the ship and political structure of the worlds were great. I was very satisfied with how it all played out. And the writing was excellent. I really can’t say enough about this.

There was an excessive amount of tea drinking, but that’s not anything bad that needs to be noted. Just kind of funny like, “ope, here they go again! What flavor is it this time?”

I highly recommend this book. If you’re new to sci-fi or space operas, it is a great place to start. If you love that genre, it is the perfect book to read in a day or two.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected & beautiful surprise! The writing recalled both the hazy morning after a perfect dream that you can’t remember and the creeping horror of nightmare hovering just out of sight. Trigger Warnings include; violence against women, references to off page SA, references to off page DV and brief self harm.

Beyond the gorgeous writing the story checks so many boxes for me. In the aftermath of an extremely violent attack on a young woman, Evey Et, hitchhiking through space, she is picked up by an older queer captain, Shirr, of a cargo ship. While they travel from planet to planet, they both contend with the small and large acts of violence they’ve survived. The book creates a space that is both free of men so these women can heal and yet dominated by the power violent men have wielded against them. The last third of the book expands, Evey & Shirr, leave the womb of the space ship and have to interact with men again planet side. Confronted with more violence, Evey & Shirr, turn to violence themselves. They hunt down the predator and make sure it’s impossible for him to continue hurting others.

[iris ☀︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5, rounded up to 4

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of "The Forgetting Navigations" in exchange for an honest review!

I found "The Forgetting Navigations" to be a very moving story about trauma and healing and I think being a novella worked perfectly for the story being told. We never know exactly what our main character, Evey, went through at the hands of her abuser before she escaped, but I don't think we need to. The actions that we do see is enough for us to understand the events that play out through the story, and I think it works really well.

This story is set in space, which makes it interesting, especially when the worldbuilding isn't a main focus. We get little bits and pieces of the worlds that Evey and Shirr stop at, but this is mostly focused on characters. I think it works well though, if any more time was spent on worldbuilding, I don't think it would have made it as impactful of a story.

Overall, I found this to be a solid novella with a well-done story for the length of it. It was engaging despite being short, and told a sweet story about healing and overcoming trauma.

Again, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Kelsey Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella. What stood out the most was how the book explores trauma and the way it connects people. The bonds between the characters feel really raw and real, and I loved how much emphasis there was on finding strength in community. It was not always easy to read, but it feels honest, which made it hit even harder.

The writing really pulls you in. The descriptions are so vivid you can not only picture the setting, but almost hear it too, the quiet, the background noise, all of it. The way the silence is written feels so present, like you’re right there with the characters.

Overall, this is a powerful, emotional read that balances heavier themes with connection and resilience. Definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley, Interstellar Flight Press and Marlee Jane Ward for the ARC

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press for the free e-ARC.

Giving this 4 stars.

Wow, for such a short book, this one packs an emotional gutpunch.

Please be warned, this novella is centered around discussions of trauma and recovery. The traumatic events themselves (SA and assault) aren't described explicitly on-page, but are alluded to strongly and discussed heavily.

I cannot speak to the experiences of survivors, or how well those experiences are reflected here. All I can say is that, to me, it read very emotional and thought-provoking.

I do appreciate that the relationship between the main characters is profound, and can be read as either platonic or romantic without diminishing its depth.

While I advise caution if these are difficult topics for you, this is a novella I would recommend, especially in times like these.

[Ohdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press and NetGalley for this E-Arc. All opinions are my own.

The Forgetting Navigations is novella that packs a punch. Evey is in a life pod and thinks that's it, she's going to die. She is picked up by Shirr, a bookish cargo hauler who she slowly bonds with. We find more about their past and shared but different trauma. Then one of Evey's nightmares catch up with them.

This book in my opinion is about connection, continuing to live after trauma and figuring out what makes you happy. The women show courage in both their dedication to each other and with the events in the book. I enjoyed their possibility in growth beyond the book and think it was fitting the way Mx. Ward ended it.

Although this novella was a quick read and I would look forward to an expanded work where we get the opportunity to find out more about other cultures and planets.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. One of those rare novellas that feel fully fleshed out and genuinely impactful, despite the short length. It deals with some heavy topics like trauma, violence, abuse and cult activities, so please check the TWs before proceeding. That said, it's all non-graphic and fade-to-black, and we're left to fill in the blanks for the most part.

The portrayal of trauma felt very authentic — especially the dissociation and compartmentalisation, which were described in vivid detail. This is, in many ways, a story of survival. But despite all the grittiness, at its core the story is gentle — one of shared companionship, hope and healing. The language is gentle too, almost poetic.

I'm truly glad to have read this. Thanks Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for providing me with the ARC.
(All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of this unique space novella.

The vastness of space and the lure of off-planet sanctuary is a riveting setting for the exploration of trauma and the embodiment of survival. Two women are unexpectedly brought together on a cargo route. They develop a connection through honest conversation and shared traumas. This story captures raw human emotion about the all too familiar horror of violence against women, and does so with a haunting tenderness.

I would have preferred more in depth character back stories but for a novella, I think the information provided is enough. There are some typos and the formatting is unusual. Overall, it was an enjoyable and quick read.

[Atlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Interstellar Publishing for an eARC of this!

We follow our main character, Evey, through her story of survival. Throughout this we learn about her trauma and experiences shape who she is as a person and how she interacts with the world. This powerful and immersive novella really managed to pull at my heart. Evey's traumas and the way she overcame them really spoke volumes as to who she is as a character.

My only real hang up with this novella was I felt like it was trying too hard in some areas to be cozy. I'm sure it was in attempt to make sure everything was balanced in between the chaos and the hard moments but it didn't quite fit.

Overall I really enjoyed this.

[soha!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy

“One girl in one lifepod for one week is nothing, nothing, is of no consequence to the vastness of the universe. Time is short for humans, though, and it is shortest for me in here.”

This is a sci-fi novella that explores themes of grief and fear. Even though this book is a sci-fi book, it honestly felt like a story about friendship and healing, it carries more of relatable experiences and places it in the story to make the readers own feeling feel real and meaningful somehow, the premise of this book was a little misleading on some notes, but i definitely recommend reading this story, for a short book it definitely carries more than you expect.

3.75 ⭐️