The Wayward Souls of Avalon

by A.L. Davidson

After the collapse of Earth sends the last of humanity soaring to Mars, documentarian Jocasta Thorne finds himself trapped in his spaceship on the outskirts of the planet’s orbit. Nearly giving up hope of ever seeing another human again, Jocasta’s quiet life is disrupted when a knock at the bay door breaks through the silence, and the stranger on the other side promises he can get them home.

The Wayward Souls of Avalon is a cozy sci-fi tale about two strangers caught in each other’s orbits and their year-long trip to Mars, perfect for fans of Becky Chambers and “The Darkness Outside Us”.

Genres: Science Fiction, Queer, Adult, Space

Unknown Binding

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

A.L. Davidson is a queer and disabled indie author who loves writing genre-blending stories, tales of heartwarming and haunting romance, and the coziest sci-fi and urban fantasies you’ll find this side of the galaxy. She specializes in narratives filled with ghosts, grief, isolation, queerness, life with disabilities, ecohorror, space exploration, slow burn romance, found family, and the human condition.

They are best known for their collection of web novels - most notably The Night Farm - as well as their horrormance stories such as When The Rain Begins To Burn, Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence, and All For The Blood of the Lamb.

She is an Indie Ink, Queer Indie, Pushcart Prize, BBNYA, Thorpe Menn, BookTok Indie Author Awards, OutWrite Scary, and IndieVerse nominee, as well as a 2025 Small Spec Awards Semifinalist. The Night Farm was a 2025 Inkies Finalist for Favorite Community Novel on Tapas.

She lives in Kansas City with way too many plants and her cat, Jukebox The Ghost. When they’re not writing, you can find them hanging out at the cemetery or working a shift at their local haunted museum, playing cozy video games, and diving into an ever-growing manga pile.

You can follow A.L. Davidson at
DisturbancesbyAlycia.weebly.com
Patreon.com/AlyciaDavidsonAuthor

Reviews

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Let me start by saying that this is the first book of a planned duet, it ends on a huge cliff, and I’m not sure when the next book releases. This book is the epitome of forced proximity, as it is literally two men trapped in, essentially, a metal tube. There are no other characters in the book, and Troy and Jocasta have nowhere to go and no one else to talk to. The author handles this very well, as there is good communication between the MCs. It’s not always perfect, as both men are flawed and sometimes keep things to themselves, but it works well between them.

The tension and pacing were spot on throughout the story and, by the end, my heart dropped with where the author left it. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these two and what awaits them on Mars. If you’re a fan of dystopian themes and sci-fi in general, all wrapped up with a healthy dose of that cozy, then check this book out.

Read Kris’s review in its entirety here.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cozy, character-driven sci-fi that focused much more on the people than the science, and I enjoyed that. The relationship between Jocasta and Troy was the heart of the story, and I was invested in seeing where their journey would take them.

It started a little slow for me, and the middle dragged in places, but I liked the quiet, hopeful feel of the story. Just know this is definitely a slow burn with a cliffhanger ending, so don’t expect everything to be wrapped up by the final page.

If you enjoy cozy sci-fi with emotional character development and don’t mind a slower pace, this one is worth checking out.

[Shrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Troy and Jocasta. Their ability to read each other is so sweet. Troy absolutely swept me off my feet with his tenderness even when he and Jocasta were still perfect strangers in the midst of unimaginable catastrophe. I love how they protect each other, grieving their losses together while finding hope in one another's arms.
Andromeda the cat was another highlight. The Avalon felt more like a home with her at Jocasta's side.

This little family stole my heart and left me eager for more. I'm really excited for their next chapter! I appreciate the chance to check out an early copy, and I ordered my own copy the second I could.

[Janet (iamltr) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its hard for me to review this one.

On the one hand, I loved the story. I liked Jocasta and enjoyed seeing the way he changed throughout the emotional issues.

But.

That ending killed it for me. I mean, I get why one would think that this cliffhanger ending would make someone want to contimue the series, but not for me.

I absolutely dislike them.

But outside of that, I do recommend this one, I loved the way it was written.

[ElleBearBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

AL has a way of making you tear up, and this story was no exception for me. It's been awhile since I read a sci-fi setting story, and I was delighted to meet these two lost souls as they navigate space together. I was feeling all the emotions from their very first meeting together. What stood out like a beacon throughout the book was the nuances.

How they picked up on behavior, documented each other's emotional states and supported each other through tough times. Even with their very unique circumstances, they were still able to turn a bittersweet situation into something along the way.

Jocasta and Troy at times had a quiet understanding, and were respectful of each other's vulnerable moments. Space was given, things were discussed when they were ready, and reflection on lives once lived was absolutely beautiful.

This might be added to my comfort reads collection, because I'll be coming back to read it again.

[Heidi H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a queer, disabled reader I am always eager for stories filled with representation. A. L. Davidson's The Wayward Souls of Avalon is a fantastic example of such a story. Set in a speculative future, readers meet Jocasta and Troy as they attempt to flee the wreckage of Earth for the promised safety of a new colony on Mars. I loved seeing their relationship grow and flourish in spite of and because of their differences and abilities. The author has written a beautiful tale of heartbreak, sacrifice, love, and hope filled with so much representation. Everyone deserves to be a main character in a story, and this book gives readers two amazing main characters to fall in love with (and a sassy cat, I didn't forget you Andromeda).

[Darvi V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cozy slice of life and stuck in space story I have been searching for! Two men on separate journeys with the same goal of getting to Mars find each other and try to figure out how to survive together. It was queer without spice, it was heartfelt and tragic, it was raw and emotional, and it was everything I needed! I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I am looking forward to more books by this author and this publishing company! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was truly amazed by how much this story touched me the more I sat with it. I found myself thinking about the characters and world days later. The writing is immersive and beautifully crafted.

This was an incredible start to The Avalon Duet, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!!! I need the second book asap! Highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[K.R. Yauger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Captivating, breathtaking journey of love, loss, and the space that lies between."

I had the pleasure of receiving an endorsement copy of this novel from the publisher.
I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read more by this author.

This book is cozy yet explores themes of love, loss, politics, survival, and also chronic illness and disability. It's a beautiful story encapsulating the human experience and how power corrupts.
I really appreciated how this story takes time for Jacosta and Troy to grow and learn about each other. It's not insta love, nor is it lust. It's just pure unconditional love for each other.
The Wayward Souls of Avalon is perfect for anyone to take a journey of self discovery and enjoy a cup of tea with a cat in their lap.

[AElis]

I received this book has an ARC.

I have currently read 20% of the book and don't believe I will be finishing it.

This book has gay representation and disable representation. One of the two main character use a wellchair. The other has an anxiety disorder which cause him panic attack.

What I don't like:
To be honest, I find the able bodied MC a bit annoying. Also, it feels like the two characters will end up together and I am NOT in bord for that.

The "first" MC has just lost his husband (who is presumed dead but nobody knows really) and I'm not really comfortable with the idea of said MC moving on so soon. Especialy when there is still hope that the two might get reunited at the end of the story.

Since I haven't finish the book I don't actualy know if the two MC will endup together but just the idea makes me uncomfortable and I can't seem to enjoy the read without know that part.

[Rallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Dragonbone Publishing and BookSirens for providing me with an eARC, this review and opinions are my own.

I gave this book three stars because I think it has an audience - that audience just isn't me, even though everything about the description led me to think it would be. But the two characters are insufferable! The same two conflicts are repeated over and over again - Jocasta gets hurt/has a Bad day (my fellow disableds know what I mean when I capitalize that) and Troy rescues and comforts him, Troy has an anxiety flare and Jocasta rescues and comforts him - and that's literally just the book. I'm not sure if A.L. Davidson decided that, since the journey takes a year the story needs to cover every month (or so) or if she really wanted to have that many scenes of the same thing over and over because she liked writing it.

Also, the age difference between Jocasta and Carlyle was weird and nonsensical. Age Carlyle up by 10 years and then it makes sense. Like you really want to tell me a 32 year old was in charge of the design of the ship/station that will save humanity? Sure he might have been capable of such a thing but no multibillion dollar corporation tasked with saving the wealthy elite is going to leave that to a 32 year old. And while Jocasta's character is very believably 22, the power differential between a 42 year old and a 22 year old dependent gets a little iffy. So like - either age them both up, or age up Carlyle and then account for an even more dynamic power differential that you're already writing.

This would have been a phenomenal short story (50-80 pages) or smaller novella (100-150 pages), but what A.L. Davidson wrote is a repetitive, bloated piece of scifi that is less cozy than it is insipid.

Also I'm sorry I spoke with six different people and all of them agreed it's weird as hell to call another person by their full name multiple times in the same conversation in general and especially when there are no other people to conceivably need to differentiate between. I've literally only seen it in one other place to the degree Davidson uses it, The Ship Who Sang by Ann McCaffrey (which is super interesting because if someone wanted to take the time to, they could write a comparative analytical piece about the two).


Original Review
Full review to come - but my biggest issue with this book is that it should have been a novella, or even a (longish) short story. It was just so repetitive that you could cut even 1/3 and it would be a much more enjoyable read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book tour experience, and I’m so delighted that it was as enjoyable of a read as it was!

Following a mass extinction event on Earth - as in, nobody is left except for those rich enough to escape to Mars beforehand - Jocasta is entirely alone on the Avalon. He is struggling with the unexpected solitude, until an unexpected figure knocks(?!) on one of the spaceship’s hatches. It’s another human, Troy, and he’s nearly out of supplies and in bad shape about it.

What follows is a genuinely touching and heartfelt story about two people connecting and figuring out how to live fulfilling lives while coping with the very real knowledge that everyone they’ve ever known and loved is probably dead. This is one of the most prevalent themes for Jocasta specifically, as his husband Carlyle was the one to build the Avalon for them and kept Jocasta’s need for a wheelchair in mind. His love for Jocasta is everywhere, even if there were a few moments here and there where I was like ‘oh, that’s a little messed up.’

Troy, on the other hand, has to cope most keenly with his ever-growing anxiety and worries about 1. How to keep both of them alive all the way to Mars and 2. What will happen to them after they get there? Add in his slowly growing feelings for Jocasta, and… it’s a lot for him to be dealing with all at once.

I really, really enjoyed this one. The characterization was really strong, though there were times that the dialogue felt kind of stilted and… therapized, if that makes sense. There were moments where I felt that “oh, this is what they SHOULD say, but WOULD they?” Their strengths and needs played off of each other well, and there’s a few particularly tense moments that had me absolutely gripped. I did notice a few times where things would be really good, kind, and satisfied and then I’d get hit with the knowledge that something BAD was going to happen. And then it WOULD.

Still an enjoyable and horrifyingly realistic read. It got especially tense at the end; I’m legitimately worried to see what happens next, and I don’t get that for a lot of books I read.

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of science fiction recently, but honestly have never encountered a story like this. From when I first picked up 'Red Mars' years ago, I've been fascinated by the journey we may one day take to the Red Planet - but such books are always about societies exploring voluntarily. This is just two men, forced to travel together. And it's beautiful.

I kept asking myself throughout the book 'What would I do in this situation?' and I couldn't ask for better companions than Jocasta and Troy. The terrifying idea that the Earth is doomed, with the remnants of humanity forced to escape to Mars to keep life as we know it alive... and being caught up in that as a disabled man whose husband was lost during the apocalypse, status unknown.

Then we have a born soldier, himself suffering with CPTSD and major anxiety (to which I relate), just enough supplies, and a ship which wasn't quite ready to go... and we have a fine adventure romance across the stars.

I was captivated from the start, as both protagonists are so very likeable in their hopes and dreams, as well as their frailty and grief. This may be a 'closed room' sort of tale, but it's two smart men working together - no forced anger or tension, just an understanding of what must be done. The coming together in a relationship seems to flow naturally as a result.

My only quibble (and it's entirely a problem from my own head!) was that to me, Jocasta is a female name - so in my headcanon, Jocasta here became a queer person, gender-neutral, despite being described as male. That somehow worked even more effectively as these two represent folk not often seen as heroes of such a story, and I deeply appreciated that.

A fantastic tale of friendship that blossoms into love in the best way. Definitely recommended.

I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[ech0reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for giving me an ARC.

This is a really interesting exploration of grief and lonliness, wrapped up in a cozy Sci-Fi adventure, with an adorable kitty, and lots of fantastically written representation. Jocasta is trapped on a spaceship his husband designed after the Earth has become uninhabitable. To pass the time, he writes letters to his husband, who is most likely deceased, and tries to keep his mind off his reality. Troy knocks on the airlock door and says he can get Jocasta to Mars, where a small human settlement has been set up. Together, they make the year-long journey.

I liked the dynamic between Jocasta and Troy. They were both really gentle with each other, whilst providing some much needed moral support. I am surprised at how little they got angry with each other though. I think it would have been understandable for them to have more conflict as they were trapped together for long periods of time, in an extremely dangerous environment, and Jocasta is still dealing with the grief of losing his husband.

I'm not sure why but I can't help feeling like Jocasta's husband was up to something shady. Maybe I'm completely wrong but the way he sheltered Jocasta from how bad things were on Earth, to how the Mars colony is, and doing a lot for Jocasta whilst on Earth, it makes me thing maybe he was up to something.

[Sill Bihagia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Emotional tension, anxiety, and trauma of the character came through strong and compelling in the earlier chapters with a good mix of coziness to balance that out. But I struggled to get to the end, and left with mixed feelings.

Some romance elements of the plot felt convenient, and I felt the book's theme conflated romantic love with psychological need and dependence.

A stronger developmental edit would also have been helpful to tighten the plot and align with genre expectations. When the book opened with a character wondering if scientists ever needed to test if a scream was silent in space, I assumed this was to show the MC had some education gaps, as that makes premise of him being stuck in space even more terrifying. That tracked with what he learned about him later (spent some time homeless as a teen) But when a more educated military tech specialist enters the story, a pattern emerges. No one bats an eye at "not believing in evolution" in the space age? It kept happening. The science never came through for sci-fi readers.

I can tell a lot of soul went into this, and I hope others can appreciate it more, but this wasn't for me.

[Robbie Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens for an advanced copy of this awesome book.

While this may be marketed as a cosy sci fi- and it certainly does fit that criteria- this book is so so much more then this.

A lot of end of the world books deal with humanity in its finest, but the bigger question is what would you or I do in that situation?

A.L. Davidson in this book gives us just that- Jocasta is left on the starship in low Earth orbit when it all goes to shit on Earth- an Earth that is destroyed and where his husband was finishing things up before joining Jocasta on the trip to a newly colonised Mars.

Thanks to this sudden on set apocalypse, there’s soon a knock on the airlock (sounds crazy but it’s very plausible); and soon we have Troy on the scene to help pilot them towards Mars.

Where this book exceeds is that it exists in the world as is- yes there’ll be heroes, but what about the everyday folk? The you and I of this world; how would we go knowing the earth has gone, we’ve lost our other half?

Davidson is a talented author who in this book gives us characters that are soo real; Jo is in wheelchair that eventually will have a shorter life span due to immunocompromised system, and Troy has his own troubles.

The representation is as great as the plot!

[Reign Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Wayward Souls of Avalon’ was slow to start. It took a while to get into it, which is fine. I eventually got to a point where I was glad I stuck it out, and truly got into it. Jocasta and Troy are each wonderful characters in their own right, and the prose is immersive and evocative. However, their chemistry didn’t seem genuine, even taking the forced proximity into consideration. Eventually their feelings seem to be as close to genuine as they could be given the circumstances and their respective mental and physical health. With all of those taken into consideration, I would’ve rated 4 stars. However, what brought it to 3 was that after a certain point it felt overly repetitive. There were some truly brilliant chapters in this book that show immense skill and potential, and it truly felt like the author could have cut down the length of the book overall to let those true gems shine. I have a love/hate relationship with the ending, but I didn’t let that affect my rating, as I know this is a duet. Overall, it was fine, and I’m looking forward to the second part to see what happens with Jocasta, Troy, and especially Andromeda.

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars
The Wayward Souls of Avalon is a poignant, cozy, queer dystopian story. The overall plot is engaging and the story has good pacing as the two main characters travel across the stars over the course of about a year. The main characters are very well developed with great chemistry. The two have a beautiful, tender, and vulnerable slow burn romance. The disability representation in this book is great with sci-fi elements that still feel grounded in our current reality. Overall I really enjoyed reading The Wayward Souls of Avalon and will definitely recommend it to my friend who love sci-fi and disability representation!

What I liked most about The Wayward Souls of Avalon:
~ Queer romance!
~ Engaging sci-fi lore!
~ Disabled main characters!
~ Tender & vulnerable romance!
~ Poignant themes reflecting current society!

Overall rating: 4/5 stars
📘Plot / lore: ★★★★★ 4.5/5
💙 Romance : ★★★★☆ 4/5
♿️Disability rep: ★★★★☆ 4/5
🖋️Writing: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance reader copy of this e-book through BookSirens at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Michaela Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me introduce you to my new favorite comfort read and comfort author!!! A.L. created such an amazing little world in this book! The atmosphere, the main character, the incredible & cozy spaceship, THE FEELS and most importantly the space kitty were all perfect. It’s everything that I hope for in a cozy book AND more!! Cozy sci-fi is such a fun way to get into reading science fiction! You get the tension and excitement of a full sci-fi in space novel but with a lot more emotional depth, hopeful moments and a bit more sunshine. The Wayward Souls of Avalon was so comforting, sweet and meaningful. Jocasta and Troy have both been through so much in their own journeys and somehow literal time and actual space brought them together. They both have chronic illness and mental health struggles that can only be truly helped when they are together. A.L does such an incredible job with disability rep in their books and it can be so helpful to readers who relate to each book’s characters. I loved The Wayward Souls of Avalon so much and cannot wait to see how it continues in book two!!

[Plaguedoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth has been destroyed, and two strangers are left to travel through space to get to the human settlement on Mars.

The story is a forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and low-heat MM romance. The characters are well written, with decently built backstories, and the world building/descriptions are pretty good for a sci-fi story. The descriptions of space tech are sufficient without bogging down the story with unnecessary explanations.

What I wasn’t all that fond of is that most of the story seemed to be small happy moments between serious medical emergencies, and there are MANY medical issues for both characters. It slowed the story down and kind of seemed like a bunch of filler.

The spicy bits are low-heat and fade-to-black. The story ends on a big cliffhanger.

Despite the slow pace and repeated medical emergencies, I’m giving the story a 3.5, rounded up to 4 stars, because the storyline and writing are great.

*ARC review; my opinions are my own.

[Arlo Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first cozy sci-fi romance read and I found it captivating. Sweet, emotional, The Wayward Souls of Avalon is a journey of isolation, loss, grief, healing, and hurt. We follow two unlikely passengers on a lonely trip to Mars after the end of the world.

The slow burn romance and processing of grief, trauma, and loss all hit home and I especially appreciated the raw disability rep and sweetness of the queer love story.

While the story is cozy, it pangs with fear, anxiety, and an ever ticking clock the young lovers must strive to beat. The depictions of chronic illness and disability aren’t down-played and I appreciated that. It would be easy to shy away from the less pleasant aspects and the author does not.

To me, the ending felt like it cut at exactly the right place to leave the reader fulfilled and yet breathless, poised at the edge of their seat.

[cam (taylor's version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.

The Wayward Souls of Avalon was slow to start, to the point I considered not finishing it a few times. However, it grasps your attention suddenly, before you even realize it. I will be reading the second book as soon as it comes out since, despite feeling repetitive at times with the struggles of the main characters, it always makes sense, it does not feel like drama for the sake of it but rather building up for the ending of this book.

I'd recommend this book not as the one you carry everywhere because you're desperate to finish it, but rather as the one you keep by your bedside to read a few pages before going to bed, or the one you read during a long trip.

[Olivia L. Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy sci-fi story that tugs at your heartstrings.
Earth is gone and two strangers find they need each other to survive the journey to Mars where a remnant of humans are starting over.

It's not heavy on the science fiction aspect. It's more of a testament to humanity and the need to not be alone. To not feel alone in the grand scheme of the universe.

I was worried it would turn into a tragedy and not a love story and I suppose you won't know until book 2 (I hope there's a book two!). Definitely a hard cliffhanger.

But this was a sweet story, and I enjoyed it and found myself picking it back up over and over again.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shout out to Book Sirens for the ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

The book reminded me heavily of 2020, and the covid lock downs. It was really cozy, but it dragged at times, which was maybe the point? After all, the characters are trapped on a ship for a very long period of time, it's bound to be a lil repetitive... Regardless, I still kept picking it up and cared deeply about these characters and I enjoyed my time aboard <3 hopefully, the next one will be a bit more fast paced.

[lfthndofdrknss · Rating 4 out of 5]

received as a BookSirens arc in exchange for an honest review

The Wayward Souls of Avalon is a heartwarming and heartbreaking addition to sci-fi. I've never read a book where the characters treated each other with such grace and kindness. The dynamic reminded me of the Preservation Colonies from the Murderbot series in the best way. Although I hope the future isn't Fahrenheit, I hope it supports love like that shared between Davidson's characters.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very excited to be publishing The Wayward Souls of Avalon!

This is a cozy story at heart, but it's set during a very turbulent and tragic time in humanity's future. Davidson navigates the grief, fear, and resilience so well. I am looking forward to seeing how other people respond to this story.

[Lauren F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I liked this book! Definitely lived up to the promised coziness, and you can tell a lot of heart went into the story. My only criticism would be that sometimes the language between the characters was almost too intentional, and felt a bit scripted. Thanks for letting me read this!

[Cypher . · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some of the best disability representation I’ve ever read. There were such a focus on mutual care, and it made me really think about the disabled people in my own life. My only qualm is with the pacing, because I find that it’s inconsistent throughout the story. I look forward to book 2!

[Roe Hocking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book, the story was beautiful and I really saw myself in both characters, the ending had me gasping, I need moreeeee

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vibeke Hiatt]

I enjoyed the space travel elements of this book and am curious how the colonization of Mars will go, but the pace is too slow for me. It also bothered me that when one character was struggling with grief or anxiety, the other knew exactly the right thing to do it say. It didn't feel realistic.