Cobalt Lungs

by B.A. Bellec

Station Eleven meets The Road with the psychological containment and systems tension of Silo.

A deadly airborne spore has transformed the world into a collapsing maze of quarantines, sealed cities, and desperate survivors struggling to adapt. In the ruins of Vancouver, musician Maddy fights to hold onto her humanity inside an overcrowded refugee shelter while scientist Ethan isolates himself nearby, deep underground in a self-sustaining silo where routine has replaced emotion. As society fractures and survival becomes increasingly brutal, the two are pulled toward each other in ways neither of them fully understands. Atmospheric, intimate, and emotionally charged, Cobalt Lungs is a post-apocalyptic story about isolation, survival, and the dangerous hope that can still burn at the end of the world.

Genres: Amazon

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2026

About the author

B.A. Bellec is an award-winning author. His debut novel, Someone's Story, was a coming of age tale and it went on to win multiple honors including the Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Young Adult Book of the Year. For his second novel, Pulse, he changed it up and wrote a dystopian sci-fi horror thriller. That novel became an IAN (Independent Author Network) Horror Book of the Year Finalist continuing Bellec's trend of writing high-level stories. His third novel was a direct sequel to Pulse and released in late 2023. In 2026, he released Cobalt Lungs, which is like combining all his prior work into a new story. He also produces music to go with his books. Check out his YouTube channel for more content: https://www.youtube.com/c/babellecspr...

You can also find him on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ba_bellec/

Bellec resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba with his wife and dog. He spends those chilly winter days writing!

Reviews

[Jamie]

written with ai

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs by B.A. Bellec is post-apocalyptic science fiction. The story opens with twenty-four-year-old Madison Rossi (Maddy) moving cautiously through the forest of Vancouver Island. Cobalt spores linger in the air like invisible traps. She calculates every breath she takes because even that can be a risk. The landscape is silent and stripped of birds, animals, and the sounds of normal life. She encounters evidence of the devastating consequences of a single mistake. The blue filaments slowly shift toward her and are very unsettling, almost as if the environment and these spores are observing her. She comes across a man’s body, and beneath his fractured visor is nothing but blue fibrous growth. This tense opening alone immediately throws readers into a world where survival depends on precision, awareness, and a battle against an environmental threat that can be both beautiful and deadly.

I love how Bellec shifts the story from the present collapse to how things were before. Readers get to see Maddy practicing her music in high school and living a normal life. But the subtle disruptions are already present. She notices them around her, in the delayed seconds between her fingers and the keys on the piano, and in how people around her are delayed. Her father, Pops, is already preparing her for whatever this change is as soon as she gets home. Bellec has done a great job in building the sense of dread in the opening chapters. Readers can’t help but know that something is coming. What makes the beginning scenes even more eerie is what Pops says to Maddy, “If the air changes, you cover your mouth and nose tight.” I was already on edge just reading these words.

Not only did Bellec do a great job giving readers the backstory, but he also painted a vivid world around Vancouver. I could imagine the thirty-story glass condo and the SkyTrain that connected Vancouver to Langley. It felt as if I was living there. One of the scenes that really drew me into wanting to know more was when Pops made the decision for his family to move. There is a whole SkyTrain scene with everyone showing different versions of their desperation, from the surgical masks to the strips from a t-shirt covering one person’s head. The dread never lets up, and that is what makes the story feel like true science fiction.

The plot moves continuously forward, and the pacing is lockstep with it. It reminded me of how some people responded to the pandemic. People are talking about it: the symptoms, how many people have already died, and where it’s spread already. It feels so mysterious and scary. Imagine having to be careful about how you breathe. Bellec really poked at the senses of his readers with this ominous particle storyline.

I appreciated how Bellec took time with this narrative. Nothing is rushed, but the eeriness was there from the very beginning. The transitions between time jumps were done smoothly. The supporting cast was just as strong. When characters Ethan and Dr. Ruiz are introduced, things become even more unsettling. For example, when they had to make a decision about a child in the observation chamber, I held my breath for the duration of that conversation. That shows just how effective Bellec’s writing is and the effect these scenes have on its readers. This scene is also one of many powerful ones because Ethan is forced to confront the moral consequences of the systems he works within. Dr. Ruiz is his important moral counterbalance.

The world-building deserves recognition. I especially loved some of the scenes Bellec painted when Ethan leaves Sanctum, a controlled environment, and he notices changes as he goes through the tunnel. The air changes. The drafts carry a metallic dampness. Then he’s handed a gas mask. Bellec demonstrates the ability to make a setting feel as important as the character. His writing style is very descriptive and cinematic. The way some characters are acutely aware of the atmosphere, as in every sound and movement, brings readers into the entire experience. The sensory details are some of the best I have read in a while.

Overall, I was impressed with Cobalt Lungs. The title grabbed me even before I got into the pages. Then the scenes grabbed me, and I could not stop reading. Readers looking for something more fast-paced may find this a tad too slow for them. But this is deliberate, for those who can appreciate a post-apocalyptic science fiction tale that takes time to immerse readers. It is character-driven and environmental as well. What impressed me most about Cobalt Lungs is that it never becomes just another survival story. Beneath the spores, quarantines, and collapsing infrastructure is a thoughtful exploration of grief, resilience, morality, and connection. The novel questions how humanity survives disaster and what aspects of humanity are worth preserving when everything else is falling apart.

Readers who enjoyed Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven will likely appreciate the focus on music, memory, and human connection in the midst of a society collapsing. It also reminds me a little bit of Hugh Howey’s Silo for the hidden systems and controlled environments, as well as individuals who question the structure that governs their lives. Bellec successfully blends all of these elements in a story that is thought-provoking and engaging.

[Mercy Presh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs by B.A. Bellec is a deeply atmospheric post-apocalyptic science fiction story that turns the simple act of breathing into a terrifying gamble. Set in a collapsing, contaminated future around Vancouver, the world has been upended by deadly, beautiful blue airborne spores that turn people's lungs blue and kill them. Instead of focusing on standard, high-action survival tropes, the book excels at exploring the psychological weight of isolation and structural confinement. Bellec crafts a world where the weather and the air itself become a lurking, unpredictable antagonist, capturing an eerie sense of environmental dread that feels incredibly grounded and intimate.

What makes this novel stand out professionally is Bellec’s unique storytelling style, which favors quick, dialogue-heavy pacing over long, dry descriptions. It is a slow-burn narrative that values deep character development, making it feel more like a lived emotional experience than a quick thriller. For an even more immersive experience, the author also created a real-world scientific appendix and a companion concept music album to go along with the book. It is a highly memorable, thought-provoking read that will appeal to anyone who loves slow, character-driven dystopian fiction where the atmosphere is just as important as the plot.

​However, a critic must also look at where the book takes risks that might not work for everyone. The parallel structures of Maddy's chaotic, claustrophobic life inside a converted stadium concession stand versus Ethan’s completely sterile, emotionless isolation in an underground silo create a brilliant thematic contrast about systemic control versus raw survival. The critique here is that it is a deliberate, slow-burn narrative that values character trauma, environmental atmosphere, and moral dilemmas far more than a rapid, action-packed plot. Readers looking for a fast-paced thriller might find the transitions and heavy focus on character grief and routine a bit slow, but for those who appreciate deep worldbuilding, the payoff of their paths colliding is incredibly rewarding.

If you look at Cobalt Lungs purely through a critic's lens, its greatest strength is how it flips the script on traditional, explosive "end-of-the-world" action. B.A. Bellec structures the novel around a quiet, suffocating dread where the air itself—clogged with beautiful but lethal blue spores—acts as the main villain. Instead of focusing on flashy monster battles or over-the-top survival shootouts, the book acts as an intense psychological study of how humans react when forced into physical and emotional boxes. By utilizing short, fast-moving paragraphs and leaning heavily on raw dialogue rather than page-long descriptions, Bellec successfully creates a pacing that mimics a gasping breath, keeping the tension tight without exhausting the reader.

​Ultimately, Cobalt Lungs is a highly successful piece of speculative fiction because it refuses to just be "another pandemic story." Bellec uses very smart, grounded tech details—like color-coded wristbands managing social hierarchy and pressure-sealed breathing environments—to make the crumbling infrastructure of Vancouver feel terrifyingly real. What seals the deal is the author's multimedia ambition, wrapping the entire book in a real-world concept album that anchors the musical soul of Maddy's character. It is a thoughtful, eerie, and immersive critique of how much of our humanity we are willing to sacrifice just to keep breathing.

[cha · Rating 3 out of 5]

“We altered the inputs. This is the output.”

Cobalt Lungs, ironically, is a breath of fresh air. Bellec perfectly showcased the most horrible nature of a man in the presence of control, desperation, and the lack thereof through a well-established post-apocalyptic world, with a touch of eventual affinity between Maddy and Ethan.

It is easy enough to get lost in. The storyline progresses with ease as the narrative slowly helps build a solid base on Maddy's and Ethan’s characters and a strong foundation for the plot. The narrative jumps from the pre-pandemic life of Maddy and Ethan to an almost desolate world several years after. Starting with Maddy, it dives into how she struggles against systematic injustice within Rogers Arena and how she slowly lost herself in exchange for keeping her mother and nonna in check. Then, it showcased snippets of the danger airborne spores possessed, the uncertain hope “The Lottery” injects, and the impending doom that awaits those who took refuge in the Arena. Several chapters later, in part two, Bellec introduces us to Ethan. Starting with his research, the break-out, and how he started working for Sanctum. However, his ideals stood in contrast to Durider’s vision, which pushed him to leave Sanctum, with, of course, the help of the mysterious “Shadow”. Then, he got into Silo, where his life dissolved into a mechanical routine.

I have to say, the story is gripping, especially with the shadow and the sanctum in play. I also love how the author built Ethan, specifically his mechanical thought process, and how it added depth to his character, though in the expanse of his emotions. However, in terms of formatting, the amount of “Not because, but because” completely ruined the narrative. I lost count, but I sure read at least two to three sentences with the same sentence structure each chapter. In addition, while fragmented writing sure helped build emotional intensity, it also resulted in clunky and monotonous prose, which made it difficult to connect with both Maddy and Ethan due to the lack of proper sentence structure, particularly in dealing with the characters’ emotions. Not that the story dug into the characters’ inner struggles, though—there was hardly any mention of the characters’ emotions to begin with, not even through their respective monologues. I also found conversation between characters awkward to picture in mind because most of the dialogues were no more than two sentences and were often one word.

Overall, it pains me to give it a three, but while the concept is fairly good and interesting, I had to also take into consideration the entire structure of the story. Some paragraphs were well-written, but some were also overly done, and the use of fragment writing was sometimes misplaced. Above everything else, however, Cobalt Lungs is a must-read post-apocalypse story, and Bellec deserves huge appreciation for writing a timely and well-crafted work of fiction that holds the readers just fine until the end.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs is an intimate post-apocalyptic novel built around a frightening idea: the air itself has become hostile. Cobalt spores have transformed ordinary rain, forests, and even breathing into sources of danger, leaving survivors dependent on masks, filtration systems, and tightly controlled shelters. B.A. Bellec gives this catastrophe a distinctly Canadian setting, moving through Langley, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Victoria while turning familiar places such as Rogers Arena into convincing monuments to a vanished way of life. The result is a world that feels both eerily recognizable and thoroughly changed.

At the center of the story is Maddy, a gifted pianist whose life narrows from music and family dreams to the daily demands of survival. Her relationship with music gives the novel its emotional rhythm, especially as songs become a way to hold grief, memory, and hope when ordinary language can’t carry enough. Ethan, a scientist driven to understand the cobalt organism, offers a compelling counterpoint. Where Maddy feels the world through sound and instinct, Ethan approaches it through systems, data, and control. Watching these two guarded people learn to understand one another gives the book its warmest and most human passages.

Bellec is especially good at finding tension in quiet details. A delayed breath, a damaged filter, a shift in air pressure, or a faint blue shimmer can become more unnerving than a loud action sequence. The novel’s different timelines gradually reveal how Maddy and Ethan were shaped by the collapse, while its larger conflict explores what happens when scientific ambition, corporate power, and the basic human need for safety become tangled together. Even as the scale expands, the story remains grounded in personal choices, family bonds, sacrifice, and the question of what makes survival worth pursuing.

There’s real tenderness beneath the novel’s cobalt haze. Cobalt Lungs is a story about making room for love, art, and a future after loss has changed the shape of everything. Its scientific mystery gives the plot momentum, its atmosphere gives the book a memorable identity, and its characters give the ending its emotional weight. Cobalt Lungs turns every breath into suspense and every song into proof that hope can survive even the most poisoned world, and it is a perfect read for fans of both romance and dystopian science fiction.

[martyn benny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs is an immersive and emotionally powerful post-apocalyptic novel that proves the end of the world is as much about preserving hope as it is surviving catastrophe. B.A. Bellec crafts a haunting vision of a society shattered by an airborne spore, but what lingers long after the final page is the deeply human story unfolding beneath the devastation.

Rather than relying solely on action or spectacle, the novel focuses on the psychological consequences of prolonged isolation, fear, and uncertainty. Maddy's struggle to maintain compassion inside an overcrowded refugee shelter contrasts beautifully with Ethan's carefully controlled existence within his underground silo. Their parallel journeys explore two very different approaches to survival, raising compelling questions about what it truly means to remain human when the world has collapsed.

The atmosphere is one of the book's greatest strengths. Bellec creates a vivid, unsettling landscape where quarantines, abandoned cities, and fragile communities feel frighteningly believable. Every setting contributes to the growing sense of tension while reinforcing the emotional isolation experienced by the characters.

The character development is equally impressive. Maddy and Ethan are not simply survivors—they are complex individuals wrestling with grief, loneliness, resilience, and the possibility of connection. Their evolving relationship provides a welcome thread of warmth without diminishing the harsh realities surrounding them.

Fans of thoughtful speculative fiction will appreciate how Cobalt Lungs balances intimate character moments with larger questions about society, resilience, sacrifice, and hope. It delivers both suspense and emotional depth, making it far more than a conventional post-apocalyptic thriller.

For readers who enjoy atmospheric dystopian fiction, character-driven science fiction, and emotionally resonant survival stories, Cobalt Lungs is an unforgettable novel that reminds us that even in humanity's darkest hours, hope can still find a way to breathe.

[Phil Bolos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs by B.A. Bellec is part thriller and part comment on the state of our world wrapped up inside of a dystopian setting. A spore has become deadly to humans and has spread throughout the world. Most of the people who remain live in tightly monitored and secure safe zones, but they also live under tight rules and controls that take away much of our humanity. In the middle of this is Maddy who has had to leave her life as a musician behind. Also caught in this web is a scientist named Ethan who buries himself in his work to try and bring the world back to some form of normalcy. The two will find themselves drawn towards each other for a variety of reasons, but neither of them expect to find each other in the middle of all the chaos. At the heart of this novel we can find many of the fears and anxieties we all faced during the COVID epidemic. The isolation wore people down, and the news of more deaths always dragged us down. While this is a fictional setting, the author uses our own experiences to increase the tension in the novel and create characters that we feel we recognize and believe in.

[A Cannady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerily realistic, "Cobalt Lungs" is a post-apocalyptic story that makes you start to wonder if it could really happen. Our protagonists are Maddy and Ethan, two completely different people thrown together in the worst of circumstances. Maddy is a victim of an airborne spore that destroys a person's humanity, but she refuses to let it win. Ethan is a scientist determined to save the world. For years, Maddy and her family live in an arena with thousands of other people trying stay away from the particles. Eventually, though, it's only Maddy, and when she doesn't win The Lottery taking people to survive in Sanctum, she's offered another choice: stay in the Shadows, and try to outlive the contagion with Ethan and the others hiding out. It's a well-built story you'll want to keep reading without putting it down.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read for Apocalypse Fans...

Cobalt Lungs hits that sweet spot between quiet devastation and slow-burn connection. Bellec builds a Vancouver gutted by an airborne spore, then splits the story between two survivors coping in opposite ways. Maddy clings to music and fragments of self inside a packed shelter, while Ethan buries himself in underground routines that keep feeling at bay. Their eventual pull toward each other feels earned rather than forced.

What makes this one stick is the atmosphere. The prose stays intimate even when the world around it is falling apart, and the tension between survival instinct and human need never lets up. Fans of bleak, character driven apocalypse fiction will find a lot to love here.

[Rajiva Ranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cobalt Lungs" written by B. A. Bellec is a gripping story which balances skillfully suspense and emotional depth. The author creates a world where survival is as much about preserving humanity as it is about enduring physical hardship. Maddy clings to music and fragments of self inside a packed shelter, while Ethan buries himself in underground activities, without any feeling for anybody. However their eventual pull towards each other could not be avoided. Having compelling characters and an atmospheric narrative, the story explores resilience, isolation, and hope in the face of overwhelming uncertainty. Fans of bleak character driven apocalypse fiction will love this novel.

[Quirru · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of post-pandemic devastation and how to survive it

The story in this book is about an airborne spore that has devastated the world, leaving cities closed, many under quarantine, and everything in ruins. The story centers on Maddy and Ethan, two very different characters: she's a musician, and he's a scientist. They live completely opposite lives, and suddenly, life and circumstances bring them together. The story unfolds through their perspectives—a tale of resilience, physical strength, and survival —not only physical but also spiritual—in the faith to salvage what remains of humanity after the devastation.

[Payal Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This intense story has the power to shake you up while also providing hope in a post apocalyptic world where survival is hanging by a thread and blue is ready to consume everyone and everything. While the major part of the story surrounds the life of the heroine, her struggles and her abuse, as she tries to get the best care for her family, the real drama comes when the two protagonists meet and all the hardships that they had suffered surface as resource with the ability to revive anything.

[Nancy Retallick, Ph.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your average pandemic
At first, this story reminded me of the COVID pandemic, but on steroids. I figured I knew where it was headed, but I was wrong. The deeper I got into the book, the more it surprised me. The tension builds steadily, and I never knew who to trust or what would happen next. I enjoy books that keep me guessing instead of making everything predictable, and this one did exactly that. If you like thrillers with conspiracy, science, and a few unexpected twists, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs is a gripping post-apocalyptic novel that skillfully balances suspense with emotional depth. B.A. Bellec creates a hauntingly immersive world where survival is as much about preserving humanity as it is about enduring physical hardship. Through compelling characters and an atmospheric narrative, the story explores resilience, isolation, and hope in the face of overwhelming uncertainty. A captivating read for fans of thoughtful dystopian fiction.

[Lindsay DeRollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cobalt Lungs" is a thrilling post-apocalyptic story that's full of suspense and raw emotion. It really digs into Maddy's struggle in the refugee shelter and Ethan's lonely, isolated life underground. The worldbuilding is rich, and the relatable characters and their connections with each other kept me turning the pages. I like how this story wasn't just about surviving the end of the world, but also about hope, connection, and maintaining your values. Highly recommend.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clever and surprising dystopian thriller. From the first few chapters, I found myself wondering about the significance of the colour blue, and I wanted to understand what had happened in the version of society I was reading about.

Maddy was a character who spoke to me, especially through her love of music. I enjoyed following Ethan's narrative too, and wondered if the two narratives were connected in some way.

My favourite thing about this was the suspense and uncertainty, it was a gripping page turner of a thriller. It was also very easy to read in one sitting. If you enjoy dystopian thrillers, you'll find a great story in these two hundred or so pages.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is an airborne spore that has effectively wrecked the world.  Many cities are sealed, and everyone quarantines where they can to try and avoid contact with this rising plague. The story focuses on Ethan, a scientist, and Maddy, a musician. They come into each other’s orbits and try to rely on each other to maintain their sanity. This end-of-the-world scenario feels very plausible, and this book is tense, entertaining, and frightening all at once.   

[May G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!

I liked the way the author develops the main characters, showing two very different perspectives on the same disaster: one struggling to survive amid the chaos, and the other facing loneliness in an underground shelter. That combination makes the story feel intimate and full of tension. The setting is very well constructed and maintains a constant sense of danger, while the pacing manages to balance the action with more reflective moments.

[Michele Klawitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book creates a haunting world that's easy to picture and difficult to forget. The contrast between Maddy and Ethan adds depth to the story, while the steady sense of tension keeps the pages turning. A compelling read for anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction with strong character development.

[DianaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs pulled me in fast and didn't let go. Bellec builds a dark, believable post-pandemic world, but it's Maddy and Ethan's slow, aching pull toward each other that makes it unforgettable. Lots of claustrophobic underground bunkers and chaotic refugee shelters, but also quiet moments of tenderness. It balances dread and hope beautifully. My favorite kind of story.

[John Awah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of post-apocalyptic novels, but this one spends just as much time exploring the emotional cost of surviving as it does the world itself.

Also,the atmosphere is incredible. I could almost picture the silence, the empty spaces, and the constant uncertainty hanging over every decision. I would recommend this character-driven dystopian fiction with a haunting, reflective tone.

[Silent T Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spawning out of an unexplored idea from his "Pulse" series - comes B.A. Bellec's COBALT LUNGS!

This is an intimate novel with lots of intriguing themes! The style of writing is meticulously sharp, precise and to the point.

You can tell right away this is a personal story - and that's what makes it an enjoyable read!

[Irene Petrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG , B.A.Bellec’s best piece of writing thus far. I was caught up in the story immediately and finished reading it in two days. I loved the development of the characters in the story. Any chance to make a movie? You have accompanying songs already. Living in the area where Cobalt Blue is set in was fun as well. Well done. I look forward to reading your future works.

[B.A. Bellec · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's me the author. If you don't know this about me, all my books feature music, and this one went a step further. I wrote an entire album!

Check it out on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ypc_...

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobalt Lungs creates a bleak world without losing sight of the people trying to survive in it. The setting is immersive, and the slow-building connection between the main characters adds an emotional layer to the story. It kept me interested from beginning to end.

[Ale AG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narrative

I like reading post apocalyptic novels for the suspense, but this one surprised me because the biggest impact didn't come from the danger. It came from the quiet moments. The loneliness, the uncertainty, the small acts of kindness...
The author has a writing style that's calm and immersive and this is what I really liked from the book. The plot was very well created and developed.

[Robyn Janssens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!
Hope you will write sequel.

[Sendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I was drawn to the striking cobalt blue and yellow cover. Then the emotional pull starts followed by the curiosity and desire to know what happens next. It is an easy read with a good flow that gets you hooked right to the end and then leaves you wondering can there still be HOPE!! Well Done Bryan