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Sphaera
Earth is dying.
Humanity’s last hope lies in Sphaera—a distant world rumoured to be its salvation. But mere weeks after landing, the ARC crew goes silent, leaving behind only questions.
With time slipping away, a final mission is launched. The Echo crew is sent to finish what ARC could not: assess the planet’s viability and report back before it's too late.
But something is waiting for them when they make landfall—something twisted, ravenous, and relentless. Whatever befell the ARC still lingers, and it’s hungry for more.
Ava, a driven scientist aboard the Echo, is determined to uncover the truth. But as tensions rise and a lethal virus spreads, she’s forced to navigate impossible choices—between duty and survival, between grief and a growing, undeniable pull toward a hardened soldier—while struggling to move on from what she left behind.
Humanity’s last hope lies in Sphaera—a distant world rumoured to be its salvation. But mere weeks after landing, the ARC crew goes silent, leaving behind only questions.
With time slipping away, a final mission is launched. The Echo crew is sent to finish what ARC could not: assess the planet’s viability and report back before it's too late.
But something is waiting for them when they make landfall—something twisted, ravenous, and relentless. Whatever befell the ARC still lingers, and it’s hungry for more.
Ava, a driven scientist aboard the Echo, is determined to uncover the truth. But as tensions rise and a lethal virus spreads, she’s forced to navigate impossible choices—between duty and survival, between grief and a growing, undeniable pull toward a hardened soldier—while struggling to move on from what she left behind.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
215 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 20, 2026
About the author
Raelle Lowe
2 books15 followersA Canadian Author who writes Scifi, Horror, Romance, & Fantasy.
Hackett creek: Horromance, captor/captive, Touch her and die, cannibal hillbillies.
NOW AVAILABLE
Sphaera: Space Zombies, Saving Humanity, Spicy Slowburn, SoldierxScientist, Strange Planet, Rick Grimes MMC
COMING JUNE 2026
Hackett creek: Horromance, captor/captive, Touch her and die, cannibal hillbillies.
NOW AVAILABLE
Sphaera: Space Zombies, Saving Humanity, Spicy Slowburn, SoldierxScientist, Strange Planet, Rick Grimes MMC
COMING JUNE 2026
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Earth is dying. It’s a simple fact. And we are their last resort.”
I LOVED this. Oh my god.
This book was so far outside my usual reads, but I absolutely ATE IT UP. Raelle’s writing hooked me from the first page and refused to let go. I felt completely immersed in the story, and before I knew it, I had finished the whole thing in one sitting.
And some of those plot twists??? HELLOOOOO. They had me on the edge of my seat.
“Fear does terrible things to a person, even to one trained to face the most terrifying things imaginable.”
This fed my past dystopian-loving heart. It’s been so long since I’ve found something that truly scratched that itch, and this delivered.
I also absolutely adored our two stubborn main characters. The tension that built between them while they were simply trying to survive was chef’s kiss.
“You’re the one thing this planet can’t keep me away from. Through rain, or fire, or blood, I will always come back—for you.”
And then there was this quote:
“If there's something I've learned from the life I was given, it's that pain is constant. It comes often, never truly leaving-only dulling, until something newer and sharper takes its place. Sometimes old wounds resurface, like an ache in a bone on a damp day. This pain will linger in Hunt—in all of us—but it means that we loved. It means that we lived a life worth feeling.”
That one hit close to home.
This story gave me everything I was craving: a gripping dystopian world, high stakes, twists I didn’t see coming, and characters I couldn’t stop rooting for. If you’re a fan of survival stories with heart, tension, and a little bit of devastation, I’d absolutely recommend picking this one up.
A massive thank you to the author for this e-arc. I cannot wait for what you make next 🖤
I LOVED this. Oh my god.
This book was so far outside my usual reads, but I absolutely ATE IT UP. Raelle’s writing hooked me from the first page and refused to let go. I felt completely immersed in the story, and before I knew it, I had finished the whole thing in one sitting.
And some of those plot twists??? HELLOOOOO. They had me on the edge of my seat.
“Fear does terrible things to a person, even to one trained to face the most terrifying things imaginable.”
This fed my past dystopian-loving heart. It’s been so long since I’ve found something that truly scratched that itch, and this delivered.
I also absolutely adored our two stubborn main characters. The tension that built between them while they were simply trying to survive was chef’s kiss.
“You’re the one thing this planet can’t keep me away from. Through rain, or fire, or blood, I will always come back—for you.”
And then there was this quote:
“If there's something I've learned from the life I was given, it's that pain is constant. It comes often, never truly leaving-only dulling, until something newer and sharper takes its place. Sometimes old wounds resurface, like an ache in a bone on a damp day. This pain will linger in Hunt—in all of us—but it means that we loved. It means that we lived a life worth feeling.”
That one hit close to home.
This story gave me everything I was craving: a gripping dystopian world, high stakes, twists I didn’t see coming, and characters I couldn’t stop rooting for. If you’re a fan of survival stories with heart, tension, and a little bit of devastation, I’d absolutely recommend picking this one up.
A massive thank you to the author for this e-arc. I cannot wait for what you make next 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5
This was such a fun blend of sci-fi, horror, survival, and romance. The premise immediately hooked me. Earth is dying, humanity's future rests on a distant planet, and naturally, everything goes wrong. And zombies of course.
Sphaera was fascinating. I loved discovering more about the planet alongside the crew, and the mystery surrounding what happened to the ARC mission kept me turning pages. Every answer seemed to lead to even more questions, which made it incredibly hard to put down.
I loved the horror elements. Between the spreading virus, the constant sense of danger, and the creatures lurking on the planet, there was an underlying tension that never really let up. The atmosphere felt bleak and creepy.
I also really enjoyed Ava as a protagonist. She's intelligent, determined, and trying to hold herself together while everything is falling apart. There were definitely moments where I wanted to yell at her, but those flaws made her feel real. And the slow-burn attraction between her and Hunt was well done.
The characters as a whole felt believable, especially once the pressure started mounting and survival instincts began taking over. Watching relationships strain, loyalties shift, and people make impossible choices added so much to the story.
If you love sci-fi horror with zombies, deadly planets, terrifying creatures, high-stakes survival, found-family vibes, and a touch of romance, you will love this novella.
Thank you so much Raelle Lowe for the #gifted earc!
All opinions are my own 🖤
This was such a fun blend of sci-fi, horror, survival, and romance. The premise immediately hooked me. Earth is dying, humanity's future rests on a distant planet, and naturally, everything goes wrong. And zombies of course.
Sphaera was fascinating. I loved discovering more about the planet alongside the crew, and the mystery surrounding what happened to the ARC mission kept me turning pages. Every answer seemed to lead to even more questions, which made it incredibly hard to put down.
I loved the horror elements. Between the spreading virus, the constant sense of danger, and the creatures lurking on the planet, there was an underlying tension that never really let up. The atmosphere felt bleak and creepy.
I also really enjoyed Ava as a protagonist. She's intelligent, determined, and trying to hold herself together while everything is falling apart. There were definitely moments where I wanted to yell at her, but those flaws made her feel real. And the slow-burn attraction between her and Hunt was well done.
The characters as a whole felt believable, especially once the pressure started mounting and survival instincts began taking over. Watching relationships strain, loyalties shift, and people make impossible choices added so much to the story.
If you love sci-fi horror with zombies, deadly planets, terrifying creatures, high-stakes survival, found-family vibes, and a touch of romance, you will love this novella.
Thank you so much Raelle Lowe for the #gifted earc!
All opinions are my own 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
*****ARC REVIEW*****
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My chillis:🌶
Apocalyptic sci-fi horror with a spicy edge? That was all it took to sell me on signing up for this ARC. I'm a simple book girlie, what can I say? 🤣
Lowe throws us in at the deep end from page one, and I was completely here for it. Let me sink my nails into the story immediately, I love being dropped straight into the action.
Humanity has had its turn at destruction, and the end is nigh. One final journey across the stars aims to determine the viability of humanity's last hope. But it's never that simple, is it? Awakening to find a half-mad captain, we're left wondering: is this simply the result of a year of isolated space travel while his companions slept peacefully in their cryo pods, or is something far more sinister at play?
Lowe gives us a well-developed FMC to guide us through the story. You feel every high and low alongside her, and before long, you're wholeheartedly rooting for her success. One human placed at the forefront of saving an entire species, an impossible task in the most gruelling of circumstances. It was an emotional rollercoaster, and my heart felt every dip, twist, and turn.
This is cosmic horror in novella form, done beautifully. There was so much packed into such a short space, yet somehow it still left me yearning for more.
If you love The Walking Dead but wish it were set in space, this one's for you.
A massive thank you to Raelle Lowe for the opportunity to ARC read Sphera. It was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for a fantastic book—and for the palpitations! 🤣💜
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My chillis:🌶
Apocalyptic sci-fi horror with a spicy edge? That was all it took to sell me on signing up for this ARC. I'm a simple book girlie, what can I say? 🤣
Lowe throws us in at the deep end from page one, and I was completely here for it. Let me sink my nails into the story immediately, I love being dropped straight into the action.
Humanity has had its turn at destruction, and the end is nigh. One final journey across the stars aims to determine the viability of humanity's last hope. But it's never that simple, is it? Awakening to find a half-mad captain, we're left wondering: is this simply the result of a year of isolated space travel while his companions slept peacefully in their cryo pods, or is something far more sinister at play?
Lowe gives us a well-developed FMC to guide us through the story. You feel every high and low alongside her, and before long, you're wholeheartedly rooting for her success. One human placed at the forefront of saving an entire species, an impossible task in the most gruelling of circumstances. It was an emotional rollercoaster, and my heart felt every dip, twist, and turn.
This is cosmic horror in novella form, done beautifully. There was so much packed into such a short space, yet somehow it still left me yearning for more.
If you love The Walking Dead but wish it were set in space, this one's for you.
A massive thank you to Raelle Lowe for the opportunity to ARC read Sphera. It was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for a fantastic book—and for the palpitations! 🤣💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 stars!
A sci‑fi horror romance with a killer premise.
I was immediately drawn in by the setup: Earth is beyond saving, and a small crew is sent to a new planet that represents everything Earth used to be—beautiful, untouched, full of possibility. I loved that none of the characters have ever experienced that kind of world before; made the ache to find a new home for humanity that much more real.
The dynamic between the main characters, a scientist, and her love interest, a soldier, worked really well for me. They each bring different strengths and different kinds of intelligence to the horrors they face, and their approaches complement each other in a satisfying way. Some of the other crew members felt a bit cliché, but honestly, it fit the tone and the genre.
The first half of the book felt a little choppy in structure, especially in how it shifted between horror and romance. The switches sometimes came at awkward moments—particularly when a romantic beat undercut the tension of a terrifying scene. But the last 30% absolutely delivered. The horror, the romance, the action, the resolution—it all clicked together and made the buildup worth it.
Overall, this is a great novella that delivers on its promise: a tense, imaginative blend of sci‑fi, horror, and romance with an exciting finish.
Thank you to author Raelle Lowe for letting me have a sneak peak into the exciting world she created.
A sci‑fi horror romance with a killer premise.
I was immediately drawn in by the setup: Earth is beyond saving, and a small crew is sent to a new planet that represents everything Earth used to be—beautiful, untouched, full of possibility. I loved that none of the characters have ever experienced that kind of world before; made the ache to find a new home for humanity that much more real.
The dynamic between the main characters, a scientist, and her love interest, a soldier, worked really well for me. They each bring different strengths and different kinds of intelligence to the horrors they face, and their approaches complement each other in a satisfying way. Some of the other crew members felt a bit cliché, but honestly, it fit the tone and the genre.
The first half of the book felt a little choppy in structure, especially in how it shifted between horror and romance. The switches sometimes came at awkward moments—particularly when a romantic beat undercut the tension of a terrifying scene. But the last 30% absolutely delivered. The horror, the romance, the action, the resolution—it all clicked together and made the buildup worth it.
Overall, this is a great novella that delivers on its promise: a tense, imaginative blend of sci‑fi, horror, and romance with an exciting finish.
Thank you to author Raelle Lowe for letting me have a sneak peak into the exciting world she created.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A book that reminds you that even in the more darkest and dire of situations you can hope and love 🧟♀️ ❤️
Dystopian x Zombies x Romance x Space x Gore
🧟♀️ Sphaera by Raelle Lowe 🧟♂️
This was our first Raelle Lowe book and what an introduction. It was like The Walking Dead, The Thing and Underworld in one. We have a dystopian world where a crew are sent from a doomed Earth to the planet Sphaera in the hopes to set up a new home and civilisation. However its not long before Sphaera inhabitants present themselves and the mission is up a certain s-named creek without a paddle.
We loved this story. There was a wonderful balance between dystopian, sci-fi horror and romance elements. We also enjoyed learning how all the characters behaved and the actions they took once they realised they were in a grim situation. And of course we loved the zombie elements, we could have read more of that, especially the body horror elements hehe.
Thank you Raelle for our early copy. What a fantastic story 🧟♀️ Perfect for fans of Sci-fi, horror and of course zombies. Sphaera releases June 20!
Dystopian x Zombies x Romance x Space x Gore
🧟♀️ Sphaera by Raelle Lowe 🧟♂️
This was our first Raelle Lowe book and what an introduction. It was like The Walking Dead, The Thing and Underworld in one. We have a dystopian world where a crew are sent from a doomed Earth to the planet Sphaera in the hopes to set up a new home and civilisation. However its not long before Sphaera inhabitants present themselves and the mission is up a certain s-named creek without a paddle.
We loved this story. There was a wonderful balance between dystopian, sci-fi horror and romance elements. We also enjoyed learning how all the characters behaved and the actions they took once they realised they were in a grim situation. And of course we loved the zombie elements, we could have read more of that, especially the body horror elements hehe.
Thank you Raelle for our early copy. What a fantastic story 🧟♀️ Perfect for fans of Sci-fi, horror and of course zombies. Sphaera releases June 20!
June 19, 2026
Who loves zombies because I know I do! 🧟♂️🪐
Raelle Lowe has done it again! I had such a fun time reading Sphera and as a huge zombie lover this book hit in all the right spots from gruesome horror to an eerie feeling. This was my first sci-fi story and I’m OBSESSED, the plot was plotting and I am here for it!
I absolutely love the MCs Ava and Hunt, I think they work so well together, their chemistry was perfect and let me tell you the spice was *chef’s kiss* and the fact that Hunt is inspired but Rick Grimes made it all the more hot 🔥
I love Raelle’s writing so much, the descriptiveness really captures you in making you feel like you’re with the crew experiencing all the action.
Overall I loved every moment of this story, it hooked me right from page one til the end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror, zombies and sci-fi or if you’re wanting to check out something new then this book is for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
Thank you Raelle Lowe for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Raelle Lowe has done it again! I had such a fun time reading Sphera and as a huge zombie lover this book hit in all the right spots from gruesome horror to an eerie feeling. This was my first sci-fi story and I’m OBSESSED, the plot was plotting and I am here for it!
I absolutely love the MCs Ava and Hunt, I think they work so well together, their chemistry was perfect and let me tell you the spice was *chef’s kiss* and the fact that Hunt is inspired but Rick Grimes made it all the more hot 🔥
I love Raelle’s writing so much, the descriptiveness really captures you in making you feel like you’re with the crew experiencing all the action.
Overall I loved every moment of this story, it hooked me right from page one til the end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror, zombies and sci-fi or if you’re wanting to check out something new then this book is for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
Thank you Raelle Lowe for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 20, 2026
Top Read of the year!
Earth is dying. Humanity's last hope? A planet called Sphaera. Sounds simple enough, right? WRONG. The first crew lands... and then just. goes. silent. 😬
Enter the Echo crew, sent to finish the job ARC couldn't. And maybe see what happened with the first crew 🦴👁️
I was HOOKED from chapter one. The pacing in this book is unreal! I'm talking edge-of-your-seat, can't-put-it-down, "just one more chapter" turning into I'm staying up all night to finish this 😅📚
And of course, because we love a little chaos with our terror 👀🔥 The grief + duty + slow-burn tension?? Combo of dreams.
If you love sci-fi horror with teeth, claustrophobic tension, and a romance that sneaks up on you while everything is literally trying to kill everyone....Go pre-order now!!🚀💀❤️
Earth is dying. Humanity's last hope? A planet called Sphaera. Sounds simple enough, right? WRONG. The first crew lands... and then just. goes. silent. 😬
Enter the Echo crew, sent to finish the job ARC couldn't. And maybe see what happened with the first crew 🦴👁️
I was HOOKED from chapter one. The pacing in this book is unreal! I'm talking edge-of-your-seat, can't-put-it-down, "just one more chapter" turning into I'm staying up all night to finish this 😅📚
And of course, because we love a little chaos with our terror 👀🔥 The grief + duty + slow-burn tension?? Combo of dreams.
If you love sci-fi horror with teeth, claustrophobic tension, and a romance that sneaks up on you while everything is literally trying to kill everyone....Go pre-order now!!🚀💀❤️
June 5, 2026
The end, or is it ? Yeah. Yeah it is. Or is it ?
4/5✨ 1.5/5🌶️
This was my first book by Raelle Lowe and it did not disappoint !!!
This was a solid novella, it kept me throughly entertained while also still having a dash of romance..Ya i’m looking at you Ava and Vince🔥🔥 the characters were great and the chemistry was spot on !
The science talk was really easy to follow and I actually found it really interesting (as someone who hated science class and really anything related to it) I gotta give Raelle a round of applause for writing it in a way that made me understand and not feel stupid.
I am very grateful the author gave me a chance with this so thank you so much for the ARC🖤 I cannot wait to read more from you.
I highly recommend checking her out !! and she’s a fellow canadian🫶🏻
4/5✨ 1.5/5🌶️
This was my first book by Raelle Lowe and it did not disappoint !!!
This was a solid novella, it kept me throughly entertained while also still having a dash of romance..Ya i’m looking at you Ava and Vince🔥🔥 the characters were great and the chemistry was spot on !
The science talk was really easy to follow and I actually found it really interesting (as someone who hated science class and really anything related to it) I gotta give Raelle a round of applause for writing it in a way that made me understand and not feel stupid.
I am very grateful the author gave me a chance with this so thank you so much for the ARC🖤 I cannot wait to read more from you.
I highly recommend checking her out !! and she’s a fellow canadian🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Felt like I was watching a movie in head the whole time while reading (a super big compliment). I usually watch a lot of sci-fi horror but this is my first time reading sci-fi horror. Let alone, a romance sci-fi horror. It was everything I usually love in a sci-fi horror but in book form. It was fast paced with the action and horror but with a medium slow romance pace. Honestly wish it would have been longer but overall it was a nice easy and super enjoyable read. Horror wasn’t over the top or gruesome for no reason (part of why I usually enjoy sci-fi horror) but definitely was enough to keep me interested. If you are looking for a good intro for romance sci-fi horror this would be a great pick!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love reading novellas! They're so fun, especially when they manage to pack a punch and a twist. This one definitely delivered on the stakes front. While I did guess the "twist" at one point, I still thought it was a nice deviation from the genre and decontextualized a lot of the book—which, in my opinion, is what a satisfying twist should do!
I'm also always so impressed by authors who manage to get me to care for characters in such a short period of time. I've got to be honest and say that I wasn't superrrr feeling the romance between the two main leads, but they were both solid characters that I could root for. Obviously, we get to know the FMC best because it's her POV, but the side characters were all decently fleshed out, especially for their allotted page time.
Being an ARC, there were a few technical errors that confused me and some narrative points that could have been ironed out.
Mini-rant: Near the beginning of the novella, it took me forever to figure out which names belonged to which character because they kept calling each other different things. I thought there was an alternating typo error between "Rhett" and "Brett" only to realize wayyy too far in that they were actually two different characters and both of them are just occasionally referred to by their first names. No idea why it was tripping me up so bad for a minute, but now you know.
All in all, an enjoyable Meg Smitherman-type novella (exactly what I was hoping for!)
I finished it in pretty much one sitting and would 100% be interested to see what else Lowe writes in the future!
I'm also always so impressed by authors who manage to get me to care for characters in such a short period of time. I've got to be honest and say that I wasn't superrrr feeling the romance between the two main leads, but they were both solid characters that I could root for. Obviously, we get to know the FMC best because it's her POV, but the side characters were all decently fleshed out, especially for their allotted page time.
Being an ARC, there were a few technical errors that confused me and some narrative points that could have been ironed out.
Mini-rant: Near the beginning of the novella, it took me forever to figure out which names belonged to which character because they kept calling each other different things. I thought there was an alternating typo error between "Rhett" and "Brett" only to realize wayyy too far in that they were actually two different characters and both of them are just occasionally referred to by their first names. No idea why it was tripping me up so bad for a minute, but now you know.
All in all, an enjoyable Meg Smitherman-type novella (exactly what I was hoping for!)
I finished it in pretty much one sitting and would 100% be interested to see what else Lowe writes in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
This was good! It's a short, fast-paced read that feels like a movie. I think it would have benefitted from being a bit longer, that way we can discover a little more about the characters and their relationships - especially the romance between Ava and Vincent - but that being said, it isn't a dealbreaker by any means.
There's hardly ever a reprieve for these poor characters as the whole book takes place in a matter of days, but I really like that people are competent! Like I said above, it really flows like a movie, including the way that it ends, which I think makes for an enjoyable time, coming from a movie lover.
This was good! It's a short, fast-paced read that feels like a movie. I think it would have benefitted from being a bit longer, that way we can discover a little more about the characters and their relationships - especially the romance between Ava and Vincent - but that being said, it isn't a dealbreaker by any means.
There's hardly ever a reprieve for these poor characters as the whole book takes place in a matter of days, but I really like that people are competent! Like I said above, it really flows like a movie, including the way that it ends, which I think makes for an enjoyable time, coming from a movie lover.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm so honoured ro have read this book as my very first ARC!
This was a horrific and heart filled romp. Each character was recognizable in archetype but still brought their own quirks, i especially love Juno and her anger. And how could you not be angry when you've been literally sent away from your family and all you know to try and unfuck humanity?
And oh Hunt and Ava, how I love you. Were there maybe some moments that made me want to shake Ava and say "ISN'T IT OBVIOUS???" Oh absolutely. But it honestly made her feel human. And young. It reminded me that while yes she's the main character of this SciFi horror, she's also just a person. Who is immensely horned up by her gruff coworker. And that's okay, we love her for it!
The world of Sphaera is fascinating, and I probably could have read 300 more pages of just notes on what exists on the planet. The lack of fauna is so interesting, I need more!!
Overall I love this story, and I'm so excited to see what Raelle Lowe writes next!
This was a horrific and heart filled romp. Each character was recognizable in archetype but still brought their own quirks, i especially love Juno and her anger. And how could you not be angry when you've been literally sent away from your family and all you know to try and unfuck humanity?
And oh Hunt and Ava, how I love you. Were there maybe some moments that made me want to shake Ava and say "ISN'T IT OBVIOUS???" Oh absolutely. But it honestly made her feel human. And young. It reminded me that while yes she's the main character of this SciFi horror, she's also just a person. Who is immensely horned up by her gruff coworker. And that's okay, we love her for it!
The world of Sphaera is fascinating, and I probably could have read 300 more pages of just notes on what exists on the planet. The lack of fauna is so interesting, I need more!!
Overall I love this story, and I'm so excited to see what Raelle Lowe writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beta read, 5 stars!
**edit
I have now Beta and ARC read this novella and it is fantastic!
I truly admire Raelle as a writer, she has such a way with words! She doesn’t overuse or overdue anything, and it just flows so well.
Hunt 🥵 I don’t even want to talk about it, he is hot as helllll
The plot was intense, I am still whirling and reading it a second time helped but also I’m still like wtffff
If you want a Rick Grimes MC, strange planet, weird shit, space, stem, smart FMC… this right here!!
**edit
I have now Beta and ARC read this novella and it is fantastic!
I truly admire Raelle as a writer, she has such a way with words! She doesn’t overuse or overdue anything, and it just flows so well.
Hunt 🥵 I don’t even want to talk about it, he is hot as helllll
The plot was intense, I am still whirling and reading it a second time helped but also I’m still like wtffff
If you want a Rick Grimes MC, strange planet, weird shit, space, stem, smart FMC… this right here!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this. Sphaera was exactly what i was looking for to get out of a reading slump, however, maybe don't start reading it at 2am while its storming outside. No amount of blankies were enough after that first tall grass scene. I scared myself enough that I had to take a week to pick it up again (at noon!) but oh my gods did I love this book.
I received an ARC from the author and this review is 100% honest (okay, so I didn't tell you that I accidently woke my husband up because the lightning and the skin sloughing had me leap out of my OWN skin, but that's ok right?)
I received an ARC from the author and this review is 100% honest (okay, so I didn't tell you that I accidently woke my husband up because the lightning and the skin sloughing had me leap out of my OWN skin, but that's ok right?)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Did I stay up most of the night to finish this in one sitting???
Yes I did.
It was hard not to because I couldn't stop reading!
A crew stranded on a new planet?
The fate of Earth's people relying on their mission?
Zombies?
It gave me the heebie -jeebies AND the warm fuzzies at the same time.
I want to send the biggest thank you to the author for letting me read this ARC. It's such a unique zombie story that I know zombie lovers will get as big of a kick out of it as I did!
Yes I did.
It was hard not to because I couldn't stop reading!
A crew stranded on a new planet?
The fate of Earth's people relying on their mission?
Zombies?
It gave me the heebie -jeebies AND the warm fuzzies at the same time.
I want to send the biggest thank you to the author for letting me read this ARC. It's such a unique zombie story that I know zombie lovers will get as big of a kick out of it as I did!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book reminded me how much I actually do love a zombie book. Raelle Lowe's Sphaera is a fantastic addition to the horrormance genre. It's the perfect blend of horror and scary space stuff with a touch of romance to it. I wasn't necessarily invested in the romance aspect, but I still loved the characters and being on the journey of it all.
Thanks to the author for the advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own.
Thanks to the author for the advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*I received an ARC copy from the author for an honest review.*
After reading Hackett Creek Raelle Lowe became an “auto-buy author” for me. She knocks it out once again with Sphaera. A horrormance that blends eerie ambience with romantic tension, all while there are rabid zombies on the loose. This book is gory but will also have you kicking your feet, going “Ava you canNOT have thoughts that loudly!”
I can’t wait for more twisted stories!
After reading Hackett Creek Raelle Lowe became an “auto-buy author” for me. She knocks it out once again with Sphaera. A horrormance that blends eerie ambience with romantic tension, all while there are rabid zombies on the loose. This book is gory but will also have you kicking your feet, going “Ava you canNOT have thoughts that loudly!”
I can’t wait for more twisted stories!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Whether you have thing for Rick Grimes from the Walking Dead or maybe end verse Dean Winchester… I think you could really get into this book.
The slow burn, flirtatious relationship between the scientist FMC & soldier MMC is chefs kiss!
A nice blend between traditional zombie horror, but with the sci-fi twist of being on an alien planet where they need to determine if it’s a viable solution to save humanity.
🌶️ very light spice
The slow burn, flirtatious relationship between the scientist FMC & soldier MMC is chefs kiss!
A nice blend between traditional zombie horror, but with the sci-fi twist of being on an alien planet where they need to determine if it’s a viable solution to save humanity.
🌶️ very light spice
Review of advance copy received from Author
🧟♂️ I received an ARC from the author so the thoughts are my own 🧟♂️
Where do I begin!!!! I loved Sphaera! TWD is one of my favorite shows and I love anything with zombies. Very short and sweet. Great pallet cleanser. I saw myself in Ava in more ways than one.
Where do I begin!!!! I loved Sphaera! TWD is one of my favorite shows and I love anything with zombies. Very short and sweet. Great pallet cleanser. I saw myself in Ava in more ways than one.
June 18, 2026
Was so good! Love all of Raelle creations so far, fell in love with Hackette Creek (if you haven’t read it, read it!!) and now Sphaera and I’m not really a si-fi type of person. Read it in two days, couldn’t put it down!! Can’t wait for Raelle next story!❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beta read, 5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
Thank you to Raelle Lowe for the arc!
After seeing this book was inspired by The Walking Dead and Annihilation I knew it would be perfect for me.
Even though this is a short book, Raelle manages to world build just that perfect amount. I could really picture it all.
Creepy and eerie feel without the whole book, you can feel how desperate they are to help find a new earth and their desperation comes off the page.
There were parts that we didn't see and I would of loved to have more backstory of it. (dialog between crewmates when they weren't with the main MC)
I finished the book in one sitting as I couldn't go to bed without knowing who and what we were dealing with.
I really enjoyed the creepiness feel within the whole book.
Thank you again to Raelle for the arc!
Thank you to Raelle Lowe for the arc!
After seeing this book was inspired by The Walking Dead and Annihilation I knew it would be perfect for me.
Even though this is a short book, Raelle manages to world build just that perfect amount. I could really picture it all.
Creepy and eerie feel without the whole book, you can feel how desperate they are to help find a new earth and their desperation comes off the page.
There were parts that we didn't see and I would of loved to have more backstory of it. (dialog between crewmates when they weren't with the main MC)
I finished the book in one sitting as I couldn't go to bed without knowing who and what we were dealing with.
I really enjoyed the creepiness feel within the whole book.
Thank you again to Raelle for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I truly had such a great time reading this book! The vision that Raelle had for the crew and the planet was beautifully done, as well as the actual terror and fear of the unknown. It was dark, I actually was very intrigued with the premise of what happened on Earth and what they were there for on Sphaera. I love that the romance isn't full focus, but just there enough to make me giddy. Hunt and Ava were sooooo good together. So fantastic!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
As if the unknowns of space weren’t scary enough, Raelle Lowe’s Sphaera presents us with new dangers to fear in the vastness of space and its uninhabited planets. Mixing a healthy dose of fear with science and romance, this novella firmly cements Raelle Lowe as a new voice in the sci-fi horrormance scene!
From the moment the reader arrives on the ship with it's crew, Raelle crafts a feeling of unease and dread. Filled with action and tension, this is a rapid-fire, fast-paced novella that keeps you engaged and hooked! The unease is well-balanced with the tenderness of romance and the ways that the crew find humour to add a touch of the light to this otherwise horror-filled tale!
Think The Walking Dead meets Annihilation with the addition of love in an unlikely place. Sphaera is sure to enthrall with its story that is equal parts unsettling and tender.
From the moment the reader arrives on the ship with it's crew, Raelle crafts a feeling of unease and dread. Filled with action and tension, this is a rapid-fire, fast-paced novella that keeps you engaged and hooked! The unease is well-balanced with the tenderness of romance and the ways that the crew find humour to add a touch of the light to this otherwise horror-filled tale!
Think The Walking Dead meets Annihilation with the addition of love in an unlikely place. Sphaera is sure to enthrall with its story that is equal parts unsettling and tender.
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