What do you think?
Rate this book
The Forgetting Navigations
Not yet published
Expected 6 May 26Abandoned 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.
- GenresScience FictionNovella
92 pages, ebook
Expected publication May 6, 2026
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Marlee Jane Ward
17 books63 followersI’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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
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
March 1, 2026
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:
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.)
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.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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 ⭐️
“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 ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The mc of this book is a woman who doesn't have a place to call home, as she ran away and now takes rides on ships. This goes awry when a guy doesn't have her best interests. She goes away in a life pod, and she gets found by an older woman.
The brutality in the book is put right next to the warmth of healing after the event by someone the mc grows to care for. The way the author describes all the horrific events are visceral. There's not that much space lore, focusing mainly on the characters instead.
It was a well paced book, and I'm quite excited to see what the author will do next.
ARC provided by Netgalley
The brutality in the book is put right next to the warmth of healing after the event by someone the mc grows to care for. The way the author describes all the horrific events are visceral. There's not that much space lore, focusing mainly on the characters instead.
It was a well paced book, and I'm quite excited to see what the author will do next.
ARC provided by Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
That was a really good novella, and I will definitely look foward to reading more books from this author.
It talks about heavy topics, but there are also quiet moments. It's beautiful at times, with its descriptions of space and the conversations between main characters. I loved the relationship between Evey and Shirr, it has a lot of beauty to it as well. They are there for each other, no matter what happens, they listen and try to understand each others experiences.
I liked the world; unspecified far future, with all these different planets that we visit. It makes the world seem large, even if not much of it is really explored.
The ending was really satisfying.
It talks about heavy topics, but there are also quiet moments. It's beautiful at times, with its descriptions of space and the conversations between main characters. I loved the relationship between Evey and Shirr, it has a lot of beauty to it as well. They are there for each other, no matter what happens, they listen and try to understand each others experiences.
I liked the world; unspecified far future, with all these different planets that we visit. It makes the world seem large, even if not much of it is really explored.
The ending was really satisfying.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first published work I've read by Ward, though I have followed the "nothing here" newsletter for some years, in which they are a frequent contributor.
I couldn't put this novella down. It was captivating and tense, without being exploitative or cliche. Ward's writing is faultless and trauma-informed, and I would definitely read anything else she publishes. I think those who have enjoyed Corey J. White's work would also find this novella interesting.
RIYL: strong women, self-realization, revenge, & the vastness of space.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn't put this novella down. It was captivating and tense, without being exploitative or cliche. Ward's writing is faultless and trauma-informed, and I would definitely read anything else she publishes. I think those who have enjoyed Corey J. White's work would also find this novella interesting.
RIYL: strong women, self-realization, revenge, & the vastness of space.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Marlee Jane Ward's The Forgetting Navigations poetically uses the speculative fiction buffer to make her harrowing subject of systemic sexual abuse of vulnerable underage girls accessible, while unflinchingly truthful. As a woman I can normally not read books that deal with this subject as it hits too close to home - but this novella succeeds in making it possible by finding such a great balance of sharp truthfullnes, respect, and hope. The queer, understated love story in its peaceful groundedness is the cherry on top. Fully recommend!
Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy!
Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was a mixed experience for me. Maybe that's mostly because of expectations. I was expecting a short space opera story with a bit of trauma in it, instead I got a trauma story with a bit of space opera.
This story tells the tale of a sexual assault survivor on a spaceship. She bonds with another woman and there's a lot of therapy speak and people lifting each other up. It's written like a thriller, in bursts of action, but it left me wanting for more.
Thanks to Interstellar Flight Press for an ARC via NetGalley!
This story tells the tale of a sexual assault survivor on a spaceship. She bonds with another woman and there's a lot of therapy speak and people lifting each other up. It's written like a thriller, in bursts of action, but it left me wanting for more.
Thanks to Interstellar Flight Press for an ARC via NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This felt much longer than it actually was, which was a positive and a negative. At times it dragged a little, but overall, I enjoyed the story and thought it was quite unique. Shirr is a great character and I loved the quiet moments where they sat together drinking tea.
A heavy subject matter for such a short novel and I felt like there wasn't the time to decompress from that at the end. I recommend checking trigger warnings for this but the author does also preface the book with content warnings which is appreciated!
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc
A heavy subject matter for such a short novel and I felt like there wasn't the time to decompress from that at the end. I recommend checking trigger warnings for this but the author does also preface the book with content warnings which is appreciated!
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc
March 10, 2026
Ik heb deze novella gevonden op Netgalley. De cover trok mij wel aan. Buiten dat het verhaal zich in de ruimte afspeelt, komt het niet echt overeen met de inhoud.
Het gaat over geweld tegen vrouwen. En hoe zij het recht in eigen hand moeten nemen om te overleven.
Spijtig genoeg nog steeds een actueel onderwerp… Je zou denken dat als de mensheid de ruimte zou veroveren, ze zo’n barbaars gedrag achter zouden laten…
Het gaat over geweld tegen vrouwen. En hoe zij het recht in eigen hand moeten nemen om te overleven.
Spijtig genoeg nog steeds een actueel onderwerp… Je zou denken dat als de mensheid de ruimte zou veroveren, ze zo’n barbaars gedrag achter zouden laten…
February 8, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ A short story about survival, trauma, grief and overcoming fears. It packs so much thought, intention and feeling into something so immersive it has you compelled to finish. I think this story is so impactful especially for a novella and can resonate with a lot of people on different levels.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is exactly what I want in a fanfiction, but for a stand alone book? Trickier. You put my favorite characters through this? Beautiful. You make some random characters that I am not yet attached to do it? Ehhh, feels like I couldn't connect. Very good writing though, and short and sweet.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set against a backdrop of trauma and survivorhood this beautiful story manages to explore heavy topics without feeling overly heavy. It's suspenseful and peaceful and satisfying in a way that feels firmly grounded in reality. Evey and Shirr are complex characters with enough mystique to feel real but still deeply relatable.
There is so much packed into this short story I found myself thinking about it for days after finishing it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews