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Planet Slaughter: A Space Horror Novel
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2026
What happens when you combine a fucking legend aka Daniel Volpe and the elite Wicked House Publishing? You get a masterpiece called Planet Slaughter. Listen, I already know I’m biased af, but dear god, King Volpe created an absolute BANGER here. I have to applaud him for not only taking a leap with a publisher, but for being able write one of the best sci-fi horror books I’ve ever read! The full on dread I felt when we first landed on Planet Slaughter was giving me straight up tunnel vision. Not only are you unable to go home, but you’re unable to stay on your home PLANET. Can you even imagine? Then to be tossed into The Brickhouse? Absolutely the fuck NOT. That fight legit had me clenchin’ EVERYTHING 😂 This story had some really good pacing and story development throughout, but once we hit chapter 19 (which was creepy as fuck), I knew shit was about to hit the fan, brother. I was NOT expecting to feel claustrophobic as all hell on this either. I felt MYSELF struggling for breath as if I was the one with the mask in Violet Hell. And the abominations? Downright grotesque in my mind. I would love to see some character art of them in the future *hint hint 👀*. But anywho, thanks for reading my absolute shit show of a review. Now go support one of the best goddamn authors of all time OR ELSE 👊🏼
I can’t even begin to thank Andrew Najberg enough over at Wicked House for letting me arc read this one! I hope yall are ready for the chaos 😈
I can’t even begin to thank Andrew Najberg enough over at Wicked House for letting me arc read this one! I hope yall are ready for the chaos 😈
September 1, 2026
Well, it's not news that Daniel Volpe knows how to tell a riveting and exciting story, but his incredible skill as a sci-fi horror author, as is evident with this book, really caught me off guard! His passion for the genre is obvious, a fact I would never suspect either from his extreme horror stories or his impressive forays into (outrageously) dark fantasy.
Set almost wholly in a prison planet, long after Earth itself has been destroyed by human folly, "Planet Slaughter" unfolds as an action-heavy, gory SF adventure - with sweet body horror, Die Hard heroics, and a terrifying army of monsters dismembering people left and right! It starts with an intense rivalry among three siblings over the crime empire of their late father, but once that's sorted (brutally, of course), the story turns into prison drama (reminiscent of the tensions in Oz, the old TV series set in a fictional men's prison), with strong Alien³ vibes (the one where Ripley crash-lands in a maximum security prison - though it should be noted that there are hardly any women in this book; and unless I missed it, I don't know what happens to women criminals).
A story with such a detailed world-building and interesting, larger-than-life characters was a joy to read. I also enjoyed the way the book kept hinting at a deeper darkness, promising a complex background story for the monstrosities responsible for the most disturbing scenes in the book. I'd love to see what Volpe might do were he to return to this world, and expand on it somewhat. Either way, I do hope he puts out another treat like this one!
Set almost wholly in a prison planet, long after Earth itself has been destroyed by human folly, "Planet Slaughter" unfolds as an action-heavy, gory SF adventure - with sweet body horror, Die Hard heroics, and a terrifying army of monsters dismembering people left and right! It starts with an intense rivalry among three siblings over the crime empire of their late father, but once that's sorted (brutally, of course), the story turns into prison drama (reminiscent of the tensions in Oz, the old TV series set in a fictional men's prison), with strong Alien³ vibes (the one where Ripley crash-lands in a maximum security prison - though it should be noted that there are hardly any women in this book; and unless I missed it, I don't know what happens to women criminals).
A story with such a detailed world-building and interesting, larger-than-life characters was a joy to read. I also enjoyed the way the book kept hinting at a deeper darkness, promising a complex background story for the monstrosities responsible for the most disturbing scenes in the book. I'd love to see what Volpe might do were he to return to this world, and expand on it somewhat. Either way, I do hope he puts out another treat like this one!
September 1, 2026
Planet Slaughter
By Daniel Volpe
Available from Wicked House
Earth is destroyed, and humans inhabit the planet Alteria. Crime on Alteria is punished with the utmost severity, with imprisonment on FD 215, also known as Planet Slaughter. Few, if any, prisoners ever make it off FD 215. If the mines don’t kill you, your fellow prisoners, guards, or the flora/fauna on the planet will.
Criminals that don’t make it to Planet Slaughter are unofficially disposed by organizations on Alteria, such as the Yuust family. Helmar Yuust was next in line to inherit his family’s business. Upon his father’s death, his seat is usurped, and he finds himself sent to Planet Slaughter for murder he did not commit. However, he discovers a far more deadly predator deep within the most dangerous mine: Violet Hell.
“Survival was key, and sometimes you had to look in the strangest of places to make sure you made it out alive.”
I sit here and write this review with the dopiest smile on my face…because this book was SO GOOD. This space horror was such a gem. I thought it’d take me a solid week to finish, but I got it done in a few days because it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
By Daniel Volpe
Available from Wicked House
Earth is destroyed, and humans inhabit the planet Alteria. Crime on Alteria is punished with the utmost severity, with imprisonment on FD 215, also known as Planet Slaughter. Few, if any, prisoners ever make it off FD 215. If the mines don’t kill you, your fellow prisoners, guards, or the flora/fauna on the planet will.
Criminals that don’t make it to Planet Slaughter are unofficially disposed by organizations on Alteria, such as the Yuust family. Helmar Yuust was next in line to inherit his family’s business. Upon his father’s death, his seat is usurped, and he finds himself sent to Planet Slaughter for murder he did not commit. However, he discovers a far more deadly predator deep within the most dangerous mine: Violet Hell.
“Survival was key, and sometimes you had to look in the strangest of places to make sure you made it out alive.”
I sit here and write this review with the dopiest smile on my face…because this book was SO GOOD. This space horror was such a gem. I thought it’d take me a solid week to finish, but I got it done in a few days because it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Title: Planet Slaughter
Author: Daniel Volpe
Release date: 9/1/26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
After his father’s death, Helmar assumes control of the Yuust crime family. Framed by his sister for a serious crime, Helmar is convicted and sent to Planet Slaughter, a notoriously brutal penal colony. In the prison, Helmar must navigate corrupt and sadistic guards, lethal prison gangs, and hazardous mining operations. The real threat though lies in the planet’s core where an ancient supernatural entity is awakened. In a fight for survival, Helmar must navigate the brutal prison conditions and the cosmic horror hunting people from the outside.
This is my first book from Volpe and I loved it. At the start of the story, he does a great job showing, rather than telling, what the characters and the family power struggle are like. Despite being “bad guys,” I quickly grew attached to the MC and supporting character. Helmar has a strong arc and by the end of the story, I was wishing for more.
Volpe does a great job vividly showing what life is like for the prisoners on Planet Slaughter. Nobody is safe and the chapters are written to achieve maximum anxiety and/or dread (depending on where you are at in the book). The story is fast paced, the pacing well controlled, and the horror quite terrifying. The cosmic/supernatural entity is new, creative, and gives a fresh spin on the subgenre. I’m not usually a fan of sci-fi but, Volpe does a great job blending this genre with horror.
Author: Daniel Volpe
Release date: 9/1/26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
After his father’s death, Helmar assumes control of the Yuust crime family. Framed by his sister for a serious crime, Helmar is convicted and sent to Planet Slaughter, a notoriously brutal penal colony. In the prison, Helmar must navigate corrupt and sadistic guards, lethal prison gangs, and hazardous mining operations. The real threat though lies in the planet’s core where an ancient supernatural entity is awakened. In a fight for survival, Helmar must navigate the brutal prison conditions and the cosmic horror hunting people from the outside.
This is my first book from Volpe and I loved it. At the start of the story, he does a great job showing, rather than telling, what the characters and the family power struggle are like. Despite being “bad guys,” I quickly grew attached to the MC and supporting character. Helmar has a strong arc and by the end of the story, I was wishing for more.
Volpe does a great job vividly showing what life is like for the prisoners on Planet Slaughter. Nobody is safe and the chapters are written to achieve maximum anxiety and/or dread (depending on where you are at in the book). The story is fast paced, the pacing well controlled, and the horror quite terrifying. The cosmic/supernatural entity is new, creative, and gives a fresh spin on the subgenre. I’m not usually a fan of sci-fi but, Volpe does a great job blending this genre with horror.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book feels like a wild combination of Game of Thrones, Venom, and Doom! What starts as a simple family rivalry quickly spirals completely out of control when one of them takes things too far, resulting in death and another being sentenced to imprisonment on Planet Slaughter—which is every bit as horrifying as the name suggests.
The conditions are brutal, the work is even worse, and just when you think things can’t possibly get any darker, the prisoners uncover something far more terrifying than anyone could have imagined while working in the mines.
This is a gore-filled, blood-soaked nightmare packed with violence, horror, and nonstop suspense. The story keeps you captivated as you wait to see just how bad things can get. If you’re looking for a brutal sci-fi horror story with plenty of blood and mayhem, this one definitely delivers!
The conditions are brutal, the work is even worse, and just when you think things can’t possibly get any darker, the prisoners uncover something far more terrifying than anyone could have imagined while working in the mines.
This is a gore-filled, blood-soaked nightmare packed with violence, horror, and nonstop suspense. The story keeps you captivated as you wait to see just how bad things can get. If you’re looking for a brutal sci-fi horror story with plenty of blood and mayhem, this one definitely delivers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2026
Come Join the Slaughter
Flavors of The Thing, Aliens, and a metric eff-ton of Cronenberg levels of body horror mix very well in Daniel Volpe's latest horror novel. Earth? Gone. Alteria? Humanity's supposed new utopia. FD 215? A wastrel planet used as humanity's only prison, better known as Planet Slaughter, but the true horror is what lies beneath its surface. After Helmar is betrayed and framed, he finds himself torn from a comfy world of privilege to one of hard labor and exploitation because, even in the future, some things never change.
The deeper into Planet Slaughter Volpe takes the reader, the greater the horror becomes, and by the third act I was hooked as the novel culminates in action-packed pandemonium. The story is tight, well written, and relentless.
Another banger from Volpe and Aethon Wicked House Publishing.
Flavors of The Thing, Aliens, and a metric eff-ton of Cronenberg levels of body horror mix very well in Daniel Volpe's latest horror novel. Earth? Gone. Alteria? Humanity's supposed new utopia. FD 215? A wastrel planet used as humanity's only prison, better known as Planet Slaughter, but the true horror is what lies beneath its surface. After Helmar is betrayed and framed, he finds himself torn from a comfy world of privilege to one of hard labor and exploitation because, even in the future, some things never change.
The deeper into Planet Slaughter Volpe takes the reader, the greater the horror becomes, and by the third act I was hooked as the novel culminates in action-packed pandemonium. The story is tight, well written, and relentless.
Another banger from Volpe and Aethon Wicked House Publishing.
Review of advance copy
Wowwwww. Firstly, thank you to the author for allowing me to ARC read planet slaughter! Soon as I saw a friend post their review for this book, I immediately knew I’d love it. It gave me alien & the thing vibes! I did pretty much go in blind and didn’t know much about the overall story, and it took a different turn to what I was expecting (in a good way) and I just couldn’t tear my eyes away from it. The creatures were absolute abominations and reminded me of the mutated creatures in the thing. It also reminded me of alien 3 because the criminals were sent to another planet which literally happens in this book and I LOVED the concept! Can’t wait to read more work by this author & highly recommend if you’re after a sci-fi horror!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews