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Memory's Gate: A Pax Terminus Novella
Semprys has one job: break into an ancient fortress-prison, steal a few relics from under the nose of the Vigil, and pay the debt threatening her brother's life. When everything goes wrong and she's trapped in the ruins beneath the prison, she discovers that the relics are more than she thought, the prison guards aren't her only enemies, and the price of escape might be higher than she can bear. A grimdark fantasy novella about the weight of grief, the cost of magic, and what we owe the dead.
Memory's Gate is a prequel novella to the events of Splinters of Heaven, Book 1 of Pax Terminus.
Memory's Gate is a prequel novella to the events of Splinters of Heaven, Book 1 of Pax Terminus.
- GenresFantasy
106 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Theo Tsirigotis
2 books14 followersTheo Tsirigotis is the author of the Pax Terminus series.
Before that, he served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and as a Green Beret captain. He now lives in Austin, Texas.
Splinters of Heaven is his debut novel. Find out more, see upcoming work, and get a free prequel novella (coming 1 July 2026) at https://www.theotsirigotis.com.
Before that, he served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and as a Green Beret captain. He now lives in Austin, Texas.
Splinters of Heaven is his debut novel. Find out more, see upcoming work, and get a free prequel novella (coming 1 July 2026) at https://www.theotsirigotis.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Memory's Gate is a riveting dark fantasy novella that serves as a powerful introduction to Splinters of Heaven and the Pax Terminus series.
Down-on-her-luck Semprys is tasked with retrieving priceless artifacts from an ancient fortress by an unforgiving crime boss. If she fails, he'll not only kill her, but her brother, who he has hostage. So she assembles a semi-trustworthy gang of thieves, mercenaries, and disgraced scholars to infiltrate the fortress and steal these relics. Things start to go wrong immediately, and what unfolds is downright fascinating.
Theo's writing is full of classic grimdark wit, not unlike Joe Abercrombie with equally sardonic and poignant reflections upon the nature of friendship, honor, betrayal, and life itself. The characters are also strongly characterized and quite sympathetic, particularly Semprys. Each brings their own agenda to the job, as well as their own ethics, morals, scruples, or an entire lack thereof in some cases. Their interactions are layered and sharp, their betrayals and redemptions believable, and their fates equally cruel and poetic. It all just works, and it's because Theo understands how people work, and that insight gives his characters, and the writing in general, a real sense of life.
The world is reminiscent of ancient Greece, yet the worldbuilding doesn’t rely on the Greek pantheon as its backbone, instead evoking the overall “feel” of ancient Greece with a dark, apocalyptic twist. The names, architecture, and sinister metaphysical lens through which the mythology is explored all help to create that type of setting without a single reference to Zeus, Hades, or any obvious parallels.
I was also impressed with the level of consequence in the story. Nothing upsets me more than a story that paints itself as grimdark but is just a standard fantasy story with more violence/sex/profanity and none of the actual weight or consequence. Let me assure you that that is NOT the case here. Bad things happen for specific reasons, or sometimes no reason at all. The characters never get bailed out undeservedly, and the enemies never pull their punches. It’s great to see an author who is willing to let cause and effect play out naturally.
That unwillingness to break immersion, paired with the sharp prose and strong characterization in a unique and atmospheric setting makes Memory’s Gate a must-read for anyone who likes their fantasy dark and uncompromising.
Down-on-her-luck Semprys is tasked with retrieving priceless artifacts from an ancient fortress by an unforgiving crime boss. If she fails, he'll not only kill her, but her brother, who he has hostage. So she assembles a semi-trustworthy gang of thieves, mercenaries, and disgraced scholars to infiltrate the fortress and steal these relics. Things start to go wrong immediately, and what unfolds is downright fascinating.
Theo's writing is full of classic grimdark wit, not unlike Joe Abercrombie with equally sardonic and poignant reflections upon the nature of friendship, honor, betrayal, and life itself. The characters are also strongly characterized and quite sympathetic, particularly Semprys. Each brings their own agenda to the job, as well as their own ethics, morals, scruples, or an entire lack thereof in some cases. Their interactions are layered and sharp, their betrayals and redemptions believable, and their fates equally cruel and poetic. It all just works, and it's because Theo understands how people work, and that insight gives his characters, and the writing in general, a real sense of life.
The world is reminiscent of ancient Greece, yet the worldbuilding doesn’t rely on the Greek pantheon as its backbone, instead evoking the overall “feel” of ancient Greece with a dark, apocalyptic twist. The names, architecture, and sinister metaphysical lens through which the mythology is explored all help to create that type of setting without a single reference to Zeus, Hades, or any obvious parallels.
I was also impressed with the level of consequence in the story. Nothing upsets me more than a story that paints itself as grimdark but is just a standard fantasy story with more violence/sex/profanity and none of the actual weight or consequence. Let me assure you that that is NOT the case here. Bad things happen for specific reasons, or sometimes no reason at all. The characters never get bailed out undeservedly, and the enemies never pull their punches. It’s great to see an author who is willing to let cause and effect play out naturally.
That unwillingness to break immersion, paired with the sharp prose and strong characterization in a unique and atmospheric setting makes Memory’s Gate a must-read for anyone who likes their fantasy dark and uncompromising.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Memory’s Gate is a tense and unforgiving journey through the world of Pax Terminus.
That being said, I really liked it.
Memory’s Gate follows Semprys and her crew as they seek out a stash of valuable relics. That’s all I’ll say for now.
Tsirigotis’ voice really works here. One moment it borders on poetic with its descriptions, and the next it’s crass with a touch of humor. It balances those two extremes exceptionally well, and the contrast adds a lot to the grimdark atmosphere.
The world is one of the most unique I’ve encountered. Although it’s a novella, the glimpses we get of the setting are fascinating. I’m eager to learn more about the Riftgates, the Fallen, the Ironborn, and the Flamewardens. There are so many compelling ideas packed into these pages. This also features one of the coolest weapons I’ve come across in fantasy. There are shades of Warhammer 40,000 here, which was an instant selling point for me. Plenty of novels chase that aesthetic, but very few capture it this successfully. This is a harsh, oppressive world, and the reader feels that in its cramped hallways, sewer tunnels, and ancient ruins.
The plot itself is fairly straightforward, but that simplicity gives the reader room to settle into the world without feeling overwhelmed. It’s honestly impressive how much story Tsirigotis fits into roughly 160 pages. The characters feel distinct, the threats are tangible, and the stakes carry real weight.
My biggest criticism is how much time is spent in Semprys’ head. There’s a lot of action throughout the novella, but I occasionally felt pulled out of those moments by her internal monologue. We spend so much time with her guilt, regret, and fear that it can overshadow the events unfolding around her. Her internal conflict is central to the story, and it absolutely deserves attention, but in a novella with limited page space, some of those introspective passages felt a little long-winded. I’ve read plenty of books with the opposite problem, where the action comes at the expense of meaningful character work. In that sense, this is a much better issue to have, but it’s still something I noticed.
Overall, Memory’s Gate is a fantastic story and an excellent introduction to the world of Pax Terminus. Theo Tsirigotis has built a setting that immediately left me wanting more, and this novella made me even more excited to read Splinters of Heaven.
That being said, I really liked it.
Memory’s Gate follows Semprys and her crew as they seek out a stash of valuable relics. That’s all I’ll say for now.
Tsirigotis’ voice really works here. One moment it borders on poetic with its descriptions, and the next it’s crass with a touch of humor. It balances those two extremes exceptionally well, and the contrast adds a lot to the grimdark atmosphere.
The world is one of the most unique I’ve encountered. Although it’s a novella, the glimpses we get of the setting are fascinating. I’m eager to learn more about the Riftgates, the Fallen, the Ironborn, and the Flamewardens. There are so many compelling ideas packed into these pages. This also features one of the coolest weapons I’ve come across in fantasy. There are shades of Warhammer 40,000 here, which was an instant selling point for me. Plenty of novels chase that aesthetic, but very few capture it this successfully. This is a harsh, oppressive world, and the reader feels that in its cramped hallways, sewer tunnels, and ancient ruins.
The plot itself is fairly straightforward, but that simplicity gives the reader room to settle into the world without feeling overwhelmed. It’s honestly impressive how much story Tsirigotis fits into roughly 160 pages. The characters feel distinct, the threats are tangible, and the stakes carry real weight.
My biggest criticism is how much time is spent in Semprys’ head. There’s a lot of action throughout the novella, but I occasionally felt pulled out of those moments by her internal monologue. We spend so much time with her guilt, regret, and fear that it can overshadow the events unfolding around her. Her internal conflict is central to the story, and it absolutely deserves attention, but in a novella with limited page space, some of those introspective passages felt a little long-winded. I’ve read plenty of books with the opposite problem, where the action comes at the expense of meaningful character work. In that sense, this is a much better issue to have, but it’s still something I noticed.
Overall, Memory’s Gate is a fantastic story and an excellent introduction to the world of Pax Terminus. Theo Tsirigotis has built a setting that immediately left me wanting more, and this novella made me even more excited to read Splinters of Heaven.
July 2, 2026
Full disclosure: I read Splinters of Heaven first, so walking into Memory's Gate, the terminology was already familiar. The Rift, the Stained, the Vigil, animachina — I had the map. And even with that advantage, the first thirty pages still had me a little turned around.
Because Tsirigotis doesn't just drop you into this world — he drops you into a heist already in motion, with a crew of characters who all know each other better than you do, and absolutely no interest in slowing down to catch you up. There's no onramp. No prologue. No hand-holding. You're just… in it.
If you haven't read Splinters of Heaven yet, read that first. And if you have — push through those first thirty pages. Because once the pieces start clicking, this thing grabs you and doesn't let go.
Semprys is the reason. She's profane, self-aware, and running on equal parts stubbornness and denial, and her interior voice is the best thing in the book — equal parts dark humor and buried grief, all of it moving too fast to stop and examine itself. Which is exactly the point.
There's a scene where she's drowning — acceptance, peace, panic, resignation, defiance, back to peace, and then a kick to the ribs and shitty reality again — that covers more emotional ground in two pages than most books manage in two chapters. That scene alone is worth the price of admission.
The plot is chaotic and unapologetic about it. A heist, a rebellion, an earthquake, ancient monsters, a psychopathic imperial official, and a cosmological reckoning all in the same terrible night. It outruns you sometimes. But the chaos is the point — this is a story about a woman who never stops moving because stopping means thinking, and thinking means feeling, and feeling means acknowledging things she's not ready to face.
Tsirigotis doesn't give you heroes or villains. He gives you people with reasons, and then he puts them under enough pressure to show you exactly who they are underneath the reasons. That's harder to do than it sounds.
A grimdark novella that earns every dark beat. Come for the heist, stay for the drowning scene.
Because Tsirigotis doesn't just drop you into this world — he drops you into a heist already in motion, with a crew of characters who all know each other better than you do, and absolutely no interest in slowing down to catch you up. There's no onramp. No prologue. No hand-holding. You're just… in it.
If you haven't read Splinters of Heaven yet, read that first. And if you have — push through those first thirty pages. Because once the pieces start clicking, this thing grabs you and doesn't let go.
Semprys is the reason. She's profane, self-aware, and running on equal parts stubbornness and denial, and her interior voice is the best thing in the book — equal parts dark humor and buried grief, all of it moving too fast to stop and examine itself. Which is exactly the point.
There's a scene where she's drowning — acceptance, peace, panic, resignation, defiance, back to peace, and then a kick to the ribs and shitty reality again — that covers more emotional ground in two pages than most books manage in two chapters. That scene alone is worth the price of admission.
The plot is chaotic and unapologetic about it. A heist, a rebellion, an earthquake, ancient monsters, a psychopathic imperial official, and a cosmological reckoning all in the same terrible night. It outruns you sometimes. But the chaos is the point — this is a story about a woman who never stops moving because stopping means thinking, and thinking means feeling, and feeling means acknowledging things she's not ready to face.
Tsirigotis doesn't give you heroes or villains. He gives you people with reasons, and then he puts them under enough pressure to show you exactly who they are underneath the reasons. That's harder to do than it sounds.
A grimdark novella that earns every dark beat. Come for the heist, stay for the drowning scene.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy.
Memory's Gate takes place before the events of Splinters of Heaven during a heist of ancient artifacts led by Semprys. As other reviewers noted, though this is a prequel, it is best to read Splinters of Heaven to understand the full context in which this book takes place.
The story is fast paced and packs a lot of action into a relatively short amount of time. It drops you into the midst of the heist where Semprys and her rag tag crew are infiltrating Bal Maru to steal powerful ancient artifacts from the Vigil to pay back a debt that will release her brother from the grip of crime lord Only-Two.
As the crew journeys deeper into Bal Maru they begin to realize that their heist is occurring in the midst of earth-shattering events. With no choice but to continue forward, the crew is forced to reckon with enemies ancient and new.
The characters in this novella are extremely well developed despite the limited number of pages. There is a clear understanding of everyone's motivations and you really get a sense of the world these folks live in through their banter.
My one wish is that some of the elements of the overarching lore were explained a little bit more, because I couldn't entirely remember what they were from reading SoH months ago. For example, I couldn't remember weather the flamewardens were stained or not, and who the Fallen exactly were. It wouldve made the ending much more impactful if we got a refresh of who these key characters are and what they mean for the over arching world building.
Overall, Memory's Gate is a fun, fast-paced, and enjoyable ride through the world of SoH and I appreciated having another POV of this immensely built world.
Memory's Gate takes place before the events of Splinters of Heaven during a heist of ancient artifacts led by Semprys. As other reviewers noted, though this is a prequel, it is best to read Splinters of Heaven to understand the full context in which this book takes place.
The story is fast paced and packs a lot of action into a relatively short amount of time. It drops you into the midst of the heist where Semprys and her rag tag crew are infiltrating Bal Maru to steal powerful ancient artifacts from the Vigil to pay back a debt that will release her brother from the grip of crime lord Only-Two.
As the crew journeys deeper into Bal Maru they begin to realize that their heist is occurring in the midst of earth-shattering events. With no choice but to continue forward, the crew is forced to reckon with enemies ancient and new.
The characters in this novella are extremely well developed despite the limited number of pages. There is a clear understanding of everyone's motivations and you really get a sense of the world these folks live in through their banter.
My one wish is that some of the elements of the overarching lore were explained a little bit more, because I couldn't entirely remember what they were from reading SoH months ago. For example, I couldn't remember weather the flamewardens were stained or not, and who the Fallen exactly were. It wouldve made the ending much more impactful if we got a refresh of who these key characters are and what they mean for the over arching world building.
Overall, Memory's Gate is a fun, fast-paced, and enjoyable ride through the world of SoH and I appreciated having another POV of this immensely built world.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A short, dark, punchy novella that perfectly compliments the first book in the series. The bulk of the story unfolds in the subterranean labyrinth of a complex of old ruins, and every single sentence dripped with claustrophobia and impending doom.
There's a scene in the first book, Splinters of Heaven, where the main characters are trapped in the dark underground, pursued by unholy creatures, and the entire sequence just ticked every box for me because of how well done the horror element was.
This whole novella is that sequence: absolute perfection.
I'm a huge fan of the "ragtag bunch of misfits" trope, and MC Semprys's crew, with whom she's trying to steal relics on behalf of a violent crime lord, played up to this dysfunctional dynamic brilliantly. Their banter, traded insults, and bitter arguments reminded me a lot of Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold (my favourite book ever, btw).
I was impressed by how well-crafted each member of the crew was, considering how short this novella is. We're given an accomplished sense of their character motivations, whether it be Semprys wanting to save her brother from the crime lord she's working for, mage Grateful wanting to get a bit of cold, hard revenge, or twins Raklin and Karlin wanting to get a few boastful adventures under their belt.
Overall, a wonderful bit of bite-sized grimdark that makes me keenly look forward to what's coming from this world next.
Thanks to the author for the ARC :)
There's a scene in the first book, Splinters of Heaven, where the main characters are trapped in the dark underground, pursued by unholy creatures, and the entire sequence just ticked every box for me because of how well done the horror element was.
This whole novella is that sequence: absolute perfection.
I'm a huge fan of the "ragtag bunch of misfits" trope, and MC Semprys's crew, with whom she's trying to steal relics on behalf of a violent crime lord, played up to this dysfunctional dynamic brilliantly. Their banter, traded insults, and bitter arguments reminded me a lot of Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold (my favourite book ever, btw).
I was impressed by how well-crafted each member of the crew was, considering how short this novella is. We're given an accomplished sense of their character motivations, whether it be Semprys wanting to save her brother from the crime lord she's working for, mage Grateful wanting to get a bit of cold, hard revenge, or twins Raklin and Karlin wanting to get a few boastful adventures under their belt.
Overall, a wonderful bit of bite-sized grimdark that makes me keenly look forward to what's coming from this world next.
Thanks to the author for the ARC :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Memory’s Gate is a grimdark fantasy novella that serves as a prequel to Splinters of Heaven, and an excellent excuse to return to the world of Pax Terminus.
Semprys sets out on a desperate mission to rescue her brother, forced into an unlikely alliance to recover ancient relics for a ruthless figure holding him captive. Along the way, the story immerses us in a dark world shaped by ancient prophecies, forgotten powers, and an almost arcane sense of history, with subtle Roman inspired influences that make the setting even more compelling.
Despite its short length, the novella never feels rushed. The pace steadily builds through action, betrayal, and survival as the characters venture into dangerous ruins hiding far more than they expect. I was surprised by how quickly I became attached to Semprys; in so few pages, her desperation, sacrifice, and determination feel completely genuine. The supporting cast is equally compelling, with each character driven by their own motives, making every alliance feel fragile and every decision carry real consequences.
My favourite part was the ending. If anything, my only complaint is that I wanted more. As a companion to Splinters of Heaven, Memory’s Gate expands the world beautifully while telling a satisfying story of its own, and it left me even more excited to return to Pax Terminus in the next installment.
✨✨✨✨ (4/5)
Semprys sets out on a desperate mission to rescue her brother, forced into an unlikely alliance to recover ancient relics for a ruthless figure holding him captive. Along the way, the story immerses us in a dark world shaped by ancient prophecies, forgotten powers, and an almost arcane sense of history, with subtle Roman inspired influences that make the setting even more compelling.
Despite its short length, the novella never feels rushed. The pace steadily builds through action, betrayal, and survival as the characters venture into dangerous ruins hiding far more than they expect. I was surprised by how quickly I became attached to Semprys; in so few pages, her desperation, sacrifice, and determination feel completely genuine. The supporting cast is equally compelling, with each character driven by their own motives, making every alliance feel fragile and every decision carry real consequences.
My favourite part was the ending. If anything, my only complaint is that I wanted more. As a companion to Splinters of Heaven, Memory’s Gate expands the world beautifully while telling a satisfying story of its own, and it left me even more excited to return to Pax Terminus in the next installment.
✨✨✨✨ (4/5)
June 24, 2026
This is a prequel novella to Splinters of Heaven, which came out earlier this year. That book gave me shades of Joe Abercrombie’s writing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book continues that vibe with new characters, bloody action, and some great horror-tinged moments.
Right out of the gate, we’re thrown in with Semprys and her dubious group of miscreants as they’re on a heist to steal some ancient relics and save her brother. The novella wastes no time getting right into the thick of it and introducing us to these characters. Even with only about 100 pages to work with, Theo is able to flesh out and give each character a distinct voice. The banter between characters is top-notch stuff.
Semprys is great as our lead, but the character I most gravitated towards was Grateful, an ex-slave and a Stained—someone who is able to pull power from the Rift and unleash destruction. He has his own reasons to be along for the heist, and I quite enjoyed reading all of his scenes.
It wouldn’t be much of a story if things didn’t go wrong, and boy, do they go wrong! This is a brutal, dark story, and it doesn’t let up for one minute. The action is raw and bloody, the characters are put through the wringer, and the underground horrors echo some of my favorite parts of Splinters of Heaven. No one leaves this story unmarked, you just have to buckle in and embrace the darkness.
Overall, this was another banger by Theo, and it has further cemented him not only as an auto-buy author for me but also a master of grimdark fantasy 🔥
*If you plan on picking this novella up, even though it’s a prequel, I would highly recommend reading Splinters first, so you have a base-level understanding of the world and the systems in play.
Right out of the gate, we’re thrown in with Semprys and her dubious group of miscreants as they’re on a heist to steal some ancient relics and save her brother. The novella wastes no time getting right into the thick of it and introducing us to these characters. Even with only about 100 pages to work with, Theo is able to flesh out and give each character a distinct voice. The banter between characters is top-notch stuff.
Semprys is great as our lead, but the character I most gravitated towards was Grateful, an ex-slave and a Stained—someone who is able to pull power from the Rift and unleash destruction. He has his own reasons to be along for the heist, and I quite enjoyed reading all of his scenes.
It wouldn’t be much of a story if things didn’t go wrong, and boy, do they go wrong! This is a brutal, dark story, and it doesn’t let up for one minute. The action is raw and bloody, the characters are put through the wringer, and the underground horrors echo some of my favorite parts of Splinters of Heaven. No one leaves this story unmarked, you just have to buckle in and embrace the darkness.
Overall, this was another banger by Theo, and it has further cemented him not only as an auto-buy author for me but also a master of grimdark fantasy 🔥
*If you plan on picking this novella up, even though it’s a prequel, I would highly recommend reading Splinters first, so you have a base-level understanding of the world and the systems in play.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one is a bit harder to pin down. It’s contemplative yet quick-paced—the perfect heist novella for a rainy afternoon in the world of the Pax Terminus series, dripping with all that signature necro-industrial flavor. Rift gates, cruelty, extortion, profanity, and plain bad luck… there’s a surprising amount packed into these ~100 pages, and it’s all fascinating. Theo clearly has a strong grasp of combat, danger, and tension, and as usual, even the best-laid plans go gloriously awry. The resulting chaos is excellent. Though this is a prequel, I’d recommend reading the first book, Splinters of Heaven, beforehand to get the most out of it. And yes, I absolutely love the title. Simple, but so powerful!
4.00 / 5.00
4.00 / 5.00
July 6, 2026
Deep underground comes a story as dark as Splinters of Heaven. In this novella, we’re introduced to a new cast of characters, with main character Semprys fighting not only the demons lurking underground but also the darkness within her own mind. As she leads the group deeper into the subterranean labyrinth, more and more is revealed about her world and the real motives of those around her.
This novella reads fast and builds momentum all the way to the end. It explores the cyclical nature of the world and the choices that can alter history itself.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, dark fantasy novella, this is absolutely worth reading!
This novella reads fast and builds momentum all the way to the end. It explores the cyclical nature of the world and the choices that can alter history itself.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, dark fantasy novella, this is absolutely worth reading!
July 23, 2026
An exceptional grimdark novella that takes you back to the world of Pax Terminus. Splinters of Heaven has been a favourite read this year and this is pretty close behind.
The story starts with being thrown into a heist that is taking place and things soon happen and everything goes awry.
Even though it is a novella, it keeps up the pace & delivers just as much as Splinters of Heaven. I enjoy the writing style. The action and the 'grimdark' aspects feel right rather than forced into the story to make it fit.
Another great read and I can't wait for more!
4.5 stars rounded up.
The story starts with being thrown into a heist that is taking place and things soon happen and everything goes awry.
Even though it is a novella, it keeps up the pace & delivers just as much as Splinters of Heaven. I enjoy the writing style. The action and the 'grimdark' aspects feel right rather than forced into the story to make it fit.
Another great read and I can't wait for more!
4.5 stars rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
This book throws you right i to the stry and brings you back to the dark world of book one in the series. This is a novella that you can read in one sitting. It will capture you. The chaos that ensures will not let you put the book down.
The world is dark, cruel and there is profanity. It feels like a good addition to the series, but I recommend reading book one first. This way you will come back to a beloved world.
I recived an ARC by the author.
The world is dark, cruel and there is profanity. It feels like a good addition to the series, but I recommend reading book one first. This way you will come back to a beloved world.
I recived an ARC by the author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brb gotta go grab my copy of Splinters of Heaven…
Overall an intriguing read! Reading this prequel first felt like I was dropped right into the middle of a well built world. It might’ve been a little disorienting at first, but as I read on I caught up and enjoyed the adventure. For that reason (and from other people’s reviews) I’d say read Splinters of Heaven first. Either way, I loved the banter between characters and well thought out scenes. 👏🏻👏🏻
Overall an intriguing read! Reading this prequel first felt like I was dropped right into the middle of a well built world. It might’ve been a little disorienting at first, but as I read on I caught up and enjoyed the adventure. For that reason (and from other people’s reviews) I’d say read Splinters of Heaven first. Either way, I loved the banter between characters and well thought out scenes. 👏🏻👏🏻
June 6, 2026
Very interesting story, this novella has peaked my interest about book one. I can’t wait to understand more about the lore of this world. At the start it seemed it was going to be a more lighthearted heist type story but I was pleasantly surprised at how dark and brutal things got.
ARC Netgalley Review
ARC Netgalley Review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance copy from NetGalley.
Memory's Gate drops you in a story already in progress, which I liked. It was darker than I thought it was going to be but that didn't change how much I enjoyed it. It made me interested in and want to read the book it's a prequel for, Splinters of Heaven.
I definitely recommend it.
Memory's Gate drops you in a story already in progress, which I liked. It was darker than I thought it was going to be but that didn't change how much I enjoyed it. It made me interested in and want to read the book it's a prequel for, Splinters of Heaven.
I definitely recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The character development was very good for a novella. It made me want to read past the ending. Thankfully this is a prequel to a new series so I
will be able to dig further into this world and these characters. It starts out like you think you know where it's going and then gets dark and twisty. I look forward to reading the Pax Terminus Series.
I received an eARC from NetGalley.
will be able to dig further into this world and these characters. It starts out like you think you know where it's going and then gets dark and twisty. I look forward to reading the Pax Terminus Series.
I received an eARC from NetGalley.
July 14, 2026
This is a great grimdark novella. It's a quick read at only about 100 pages, and gives you a great taste of Theo's writing style. This introduces us to the Splinters of Heaven and Pax Terminus as well. I think this heavily gripped my heart and kept me going through the stages of grief here. (This is how I normally react to a greatly written grimdark btw LOL)
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