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As You Wake, Break the Shell #1
As You Wake, Break the Shell
The stars are waiting for you. We hope you will come find us there.
Told in alternating timelines, As You Wake, Break the Shell is heartfelt and hopeful story from the award-winning writer of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, exploring what it means to be human and what it means to come together.
Life on Fortune is hard. The atmosphere is poisonous, the planet hardly fit for life. But for its inhabitants, it's home.
Pilot Cora suffers from a rare and dangerous condition, brought about by her bond with Colibri, the alien animal she pilots to quarry vital water for the colony. If Cora seeks treatment, she risks losing her license - and her connection to Colibri forever.
Then she meets Signy, a brilliant but reclusive botanist, whose bio-printed medicine is the only thing that can save her. But to do so, Signy must break the rules that govern their lives, risking her livelihood and the other colonists who rely on her for survival.
As Cora and Signy navigate their balance of risk and trust, they are forced to confront what they owe to each other and to their community - and begin to question whether survival is enough . . .
Told in alternating timelines, As You Wake, Break the Shell is heartfelt and hopeful story from the award-winning writer of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, exploring what it means to be human and what it means to come together.
Life on Fortune is hard. The atmosphere is poisonous, the planet hardly fit for life. But for its inhabitants, it's home.
Pilot Cora suffers from a rare and dangerous condition, brought about by her bond with Colibri, the alien animal she pilots to quarry vital water for the colony. If Cora seeks treatment, she risks losing her license - and her connection to Colibri forever.
Then she meets Signy, a brilliant but reclusive botanist, whose bio-printed medicine is the only thing that can save her. But to do so, Signy must break the rules that govern their lives, risking her livelihood and the other colonists who rely on her for survival.
As Cora and Signy navigate their balance of risk and trust, they are forced to confront what they owe to each other and to their community - and begin to question whether survival is enough . . .
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2026
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April 19, 2026Not to be dramatic, but Becky Chambers returning in 2026 might heal planet Earth.
Read
February 23, 2026This is the best news I've heard this year!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HAPPY PUB DAY!!!
This review (and many others) plus essays and booklists are now available on my blog!
The people of Fortune are only one of many colony ships sent off by OCTA with the tools and instructions to establish human civilizations throughout the galaxy, but Fortune is a particularly challenging planet to live on, and even with OCTA technology many have lost hope of ever rejoining the Mothership. Cora is a pilot, steering alien organisms called rorquals that function as spacecrafts for gathering resources. Cora's bond to her rorqual, Colibri, has caused her to develop a degenerative brain condition that she can't seek treatment for without putting Colibri's life at risk. Enter Signy, a plant shop owner who synthesizes medication under the table for people who are otherwise unable to get treatment. Despite their differences, Cora and Signy find a home in one another, even as problems start to pile up, threatening their future.
It's genuinely such a breath of fresh air to be returning to a Becky Chambers book after so many years. The last book of her I read was To Be Taught If Fortunate in 2022, and honestly the Wayfarers series was one of the first things that really got me into sci-fi. I buddy-read Monk & Robot with one of my high school English teachers in junior year, and I've probably gifted A Psalm for the Wild-Built to half a dozen people. Now, I'm a junior in college and it's a joy to be reading a Becky Chambers book again (especially knowing that I get to see her at Powell's in a week)!
As with many of Chambers' other books, As You Wake, Break the Shell is much more character-focused and reflective than a lot of other sci-fi books, and in particularly this one leans more into the romance. I also find that despite the pretty grim realities the characters often face, there's a lot more hope for the future than in other far-future sci-fi books. Fortune poses immense challenges and dangers to the people inhabiting the planet, there is political and social turmoil, and there aren't enough resources to go around—but there are also plant shops and coffee shops and musicians and artists and queer people and murals and hot chocolate and people falling in love. I don't like when sci-fi acts like people will stop being people when faced with challenges. Humans will always do human things like make music and art and drink hot beverages even if they're on another planet sheltering in place from a volcano eruption.
The duel timelines were really lovely and it makes me excited for where this duology is going, since we do get a pretty ambiguous ending. Living ships is one of my favorite niche tropes, as is humans having close relationships with really curious aliens, so I loved Cora and Colibri's dynamic. Cora and Signy are really different people but they have good chemistry and feel like really fleshed out characters. I relate to Signy because I'm also a mildly obsessive work-horse prone to taking on more than I can reasonably handle. I relate to Cora because I am also often afraid of and frustrated by the failings of my own mind and body, and I also cope with it using humor. You've got a lovely cast of side characters, because it wouldn't be a Becky Chambers book without found family. Otto is everything I want to be when I grow up, and Twig is a lot of what I hope to avoid growing into, mostly because I understand her anger and it makes me want to do crazy things too. I cried a lot reading this (to no one's surprise).
This is an excellent return to form for Becky Chambers and I'm hopeful that we'll see more from her soon because she's one of my favorite authors and we need books like this that are heartbreaking but also brimming with hope.
Thank you to Becky Chambers and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
5/3: I GOT AN ARC AND I AM MAKING IT EVERYONE'S PROBLEM
4/23: WE HAVE A COVER FOLKS CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. everyone shut up! NEW BECKY CHAMBERS
This review (and many others) plus essays and booklists are now available on my blog!
"Why do you love, Colibri?
It is necessary?
How so?
It is the only logical response.
To what?
To existence."
The people of Fortune are only one of many colony ships sent off by OCTA with the tools and instructions to establish human civilizations throughout the galaxy, but Fortune is a particularly challenging planet to live on, and even with OCTA technology many have lost hope of ever rejoining the Mothership. Cora is a pilot, steering alien organisms called rorquals that function as spacecrafts for gathering resources. Cora's bond to her rorqual, Colibri, has caused her to develop a degenerative brain condition that she can't seek treatment for without putting Colibri's life at risk. Enter Signy, a plant shop owner who synthesizes medication under the table for people who are otherwise unable to get treatment. Despite their differences, Cora and Signy find a home in one another, even as problems start to pile up, threatening their future.
It's genuinely such a breath of fresh air to be returning to a Becky Chambers book after so many years. The last book of her I read was To Be Taught If Fortunate in 2022, and honestly the Wayfarers series was one of the first things that really got me into sci-fi. I buddy-read Monk & Robot with one of my high school English teachers in junior year, and I've probably gifted A Psalm for the Wild-Built to half a dozen people. Now, I'm a junior in college and it's a joy to be reading a Becky Chambers book again (especially knowing that I get to see her at Powell's in a week)!
As with many of Chambers' other books, As You Wake, Break the Shell is much more character-focused and reflective than a lot of other sci-fi books, and in particularly this one leans more into the romance. I also find that despite the pretty grim realities the characters often face, there's a lot more hope for the future than in other far-future sci-fi books. Fortune poses immense challenges and dangers to the people inhabiting the planet, there is political and social turmoil, and there aren't enough resources to go around—but there are also plant shops and coffee shops and musicians and artists and queer people and murals and hot chocolate and people falling in love. I don't like when sci-fi acts like people will stop being people when faced with challenges. Humans will always do human things like make music and art and drink hot beverages even if they're on another planet sheltering in place from a volcano eruption.
The duel timelines were really lovely and it makes me excited for where this duology is going, since we do get a pretty ambiguous ending. Living ships is one of my favorite niche tropes, as is humans having close relationships with really curious aliens, so I loved Cora and Colibri's dynamic. Cora and Signy are really different people but they have good chemistry and feel like really fleshed out characters. I relate to Signy because I'm also a mildly obsessive work-horse prone to taking on more than I can reasonably handle. I relate to Cora because I am also often afraid of and frustrated by the failings of my own mind and body, and I also cope with it using humor. You've got a lovely cast of side characters, because it wouldn't be a Becky Chambers book without found family. Otto is everything I want to be when I grow up, and Twig is a lot of what I hope to avoid growing into, mostly because I understand her anger and it makes me want to do crazy things too. I cried a lot reading this (to no one's surprise).
This is an excellent return to form for Becky Chambers and I'm hopeful that we'll see more from her soon because she's one of my favorite authors and we need books like this that are heartbreaking but also brimming with hope.
Thank you to Becky Chambers and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
5/3: I GOT AN ARC AND I AM MAKING IT EVERYONE'S PROBLEM
4/23: WE HAVE A COVER FOLKS CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD. everyone shut up! NEW BECKY CHAMBERS
April 12, 2026
Full disclosure, I’ve read and enjoyed all of Becky Chambers’ published works. That being said, As You Wake, Break the Shell is tied for my new favourite, tucked neatly alongside To Be Taught if Fortunate.
The first book in this upcoming duology features lived-in communities, achingly realized characters be they human or alien, and interchanging ripples of hope and struggle, all of which readers can expect when they pick up a Becky Chambers work.
But above all, this book is steeped in love: how we open to it, how we tend it, how we grieve when we lose it, and what we’re willing to do to find it again.
This is such a special novel. I hope it finds its way into the hands of readers because it will make its way into their hearts as well.
Thanks Edelweiss for the ARC.
The first book in this upcoming duology features lived-in communities, achingly realized characters be they human or alien, and interchanging ripples of hope and struggle, all of which readers can expect when they pick up a Becky Chambers work.
But above all, this book is steeped in love: how we open to it, how we tend it, how we grieve when we lose it, and what we’re willing to do to find it again.
This is such a special novel. I hope it finds its way into the hands of readers because it will make its way into their hearts as well.
Thanks Edelweiss for the ARC.
Currently Reading
January 6, 2026I AM SEATED. THE BOOKSTORE EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING ME TO LEAVE BECAUSE "IT'S NOT OCTOBER YET" BUT I'M SIMPLY TOO SEATED!!!!
Want to Read
April 20, 2026new becky chambers hallelujah
September 8, 2026
There is just something inherently beautiful about the way that Becky Chambers is able to capture the interconnected emotions of humans. I find it a rare thing to sit, reading a book and feeling deeply connected to life, my own life, through the story of another.
As You Wake, Break The Shell is a gorgeously real exploration of love. The love that pulses so hard that it’s timeless. That it exists as a fact. To my wife. I hope that we will always have the love that the words in this story convey.
As You Wake, Break The Shell defines what family is. Whether that is family by blood. Family you have found and brought into your world with open, sometimes disgruntled, but always with loving arms. And family that is lost. To my mum who is sadly always lost, and my dad who I’m trying to find love with again, I hope your legacies last in mine and the people who matter to my own life for all time.
As You Wake, Break The Shell is about seeds. It’s about growing as a person, it’s about blooming into the beautiful thing you can be. It’s about a bad season, and coming up against the odds of difficult conditions for optimum growth. But it’s about persevering, and finding the support and comforting hand of the love and the family and the connections you have in life - whether they be new, old, or not-yet-to-exist - to help you bloom.
Some of this story will leave you smiling. Some of it will leave you feeling warm, and full of adoration. Some of it will crack you, hurt and seep into the places you hold your deeper sorrow. But all of this story is worth reading.
I am exceedingly lucky that I was given an ARC of this, so thank you to Becky, and thank you to the publisher. Your writing is beautiful and it resonates with me on a deeply personal level.
5.0/5.0
As You Wake, Break The Shell is a gorgeously real exploration of love. The love that pulses so hard that it’s timeless. That it exists as a fact. To my wife. I hope that we will always have the love that the words in this story convey.
As You Wake, Break The Shell defines what family is. Whether that is family by blood. Family you have found and brought into your world with open, sometimes disgruntled, but always with loving arms. And family that is lost. To my mum who is sadly always lost, and my dad who I’m trying to find love with again, I hope your legacies last in mine and the people who matter to my own life for all time.
As You Wake, Break The Shell is about seeds. It’s about growing as a person, it’s about blooming into the beautiful thing you can be. It’s about a bad season, and coming up against the odds of difficult conditions for optimum growth. But it’s about persevering, and finding the support and comforting hand of the love and the family and the connections you have in life - whether they be new, old, or not-yet-to-exist - to help you bloom.
Some of this story will leave you smiling. Some of it will leave you feeling warm, and full of adoration. Some of it will crack you, hurt and seep into the places you hold your deeper sorrow. But all of this story is worth reading.
I am exceedingly lucky that I was given an ARC of this, so thank you to Becky, and thank you to the publisher. Your writing is beautiful and it resonates with me on a deeply personal level.
5.0/5.0
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Becky Chambers makes my insides go all gooey - like a dissection which leaves you feeling empty, but also filled with possibility. It hurts and heals.
Pilot Cora suffers from a rare and dangerous condition, brought about by her bond with Colibri, the alien animal she pilots. Her remedy is a shop owner and provider of illegal medicine called Signy.
Cora is energetic and full of chatter and loud love of others. Signy is the black cat: she prefers her own company, she is inherently suspicious, and shows her love quietly and rarely.
Like all of Chambers’s books, this is quiet and tender made up of sentient alien species and innocent wonder. The pace is slow and the ‘point’, so to say, is not clear - this is not a plot-driven story with tension.
"Anger is what fuels action," Twig stated in a tone that suggested she’d picked up the phrase elsewhere. "And action is what drives change." "Sure, but jerking off about how many different things you’re mad about isn’t action."
The dual-timeline and fragmented structure did cause some confusion for me as it’s not clear where, when, or who we’re reading from. Especially as speech marks aren’t always used. Maybe this will change with the finished copy, but the arc was not laid out well to aid in following along.
I did not realise this was a planned duology. That ending? EXCUSE ME?!
Overall, if you’re familiar with Chambers, you’ll know to expect a fairly slow and quiet novel that centres on the personal relationships and creating a found family. You’ll know that the plot doesn’t really follow a traditional structure and doesn’t truly build to a climax.
Arc gifted by Hodderscape.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Pilot Cora suffers from a rare and dangerous condition, brought about by her bond with Colibri, the alien animal she pilots. Her remedy is a shop owner and provider of illegal medicine called Signy.
Cora is energetic and full of chatter and loud love of others. Signy is the black cat: she prefers her own company, she is inherently suspicious, and shows her love quietly and rarely.
Like all of Chambers’s books, this is quiet and tender made up of sentient alien species and innocent wonder. The pace is slow and the ‘point’, so to say, is not clear - this is not a plot-driven story with tension.
"Anger is what fuels action," Twig stated in a tone that suggested she’d picked up the phrase elsewhere. "And action is what drives change." "Sure, but jerking off about how many different things you’re mad about isn’t action."
The dual-timeline and fragmented structure did cause some confusion for me as it’s not clear where, when, or who we’re reading from. Especially as speech marks aren’t always used. Maybe this will change with the finished copy, but the arc was not laid out well to aid in following along.
I did not realise this was a planned duology. That ending? EXCUSE ME?!
Overall, if you’re familiar with Chambers, you’ll know to expect a fairly slow and quiet novel that centres on the personal relationships and creating a found family. You’ll know that the plot doesn’t really follow a traditional structure and doesn’t truly build to a climax.
Arc gifted by Hodderscape.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Among the stars, survival is shaped by scarcity, connection is a lifeline and sometimes the biggest questions are found in the smallest moments. My thanks to Hodderscape for the arc of Becky Chambers' As You Wake, Break the Shell, which pairs a dystopian-tinged futuristic setting with an intimate story of love, community and the everyday joys that make life worth living.
Toxic air, limited resources and bioengineered medicinal plants paint a vivid picture of a society where survival comes with difficult compromises. The alien rorquals, telephatically communicating with pilots who guide them through space, are particularly interesting. Chambers challenges ideas around whose needs take priority when resources are scarce, whether our worth can be measured by what we contribute to society and what it means to do more than simply survive highlighting the importance of community, connection and finding joy in the ordinary.
But for all the fascinating scifi world building this is very much a romance first and foremost.
The story is largely devoted to Cora and Signy's relationship. The romance is genuinely heartwarming, brought to life by Chambers' beautiful prose and detailed character work. The dual timeline contrasts the tentative trust and burgeoning affection of a new relationship with the comfort and support of an established one. Full of tenderness and care, it celebrates the joy found in life's smallest moments.
Unfortunately the scifi elements and societal themes never feel fully explored leaving the rorquals and wider implications of this society underutilised.
The dual timeline takes some adjusting to and knowing where the characters end up robs the story of any real tension. Paradoxically, the ending remains unsatisfying leaving the transition between the two timelines and some significant questions unresolved - presumably to be answered in the second half of this duology.
Ultimately the immersive world building and beautiful prose outshine a story that, for me, feels slow and underwhelming. Readers seeking romance, cosy everyday moments and quiet contemplation among the stars may find much to love here.
Toxic air, limited resources and bioengineered medicinal plants paint a vivid picture of a society where survival comes with difficult compromises. The alien rorquals, telephatically communicating with pilots who guide them through space, are particularly interesting. Chambers challenges ideas around whose needs take priority when resources are scarce, whether our worth can be measured by what we contribute to society and what it means to do more than simply survive highlighting the importance of community, connection and finding joy in the ordinary.
But for all the fascinating scifi world building this is very much a romance first and foremost.
The story is largely devoted to Cora and Signy's relationship. The romance is genuinely heartwarming, brought to life by Chambers' beautiful prose and detailed character work. The dual timeline contrasts the tentative trust and burgeoning affection of a new relationship with the comfort and support of an established one. Full of tenderness and care, it celebrates the joy found in life's smallest moments.
Unfortunately the scifi elements and societal themes never feel fully explored leaving the rorquals and wider implications of this society underutilised.
The dual timeline takes some adjusting to and knowing where the characters end up robs the story of any real tension. Paradoxically, the ending remains unsatisfying leaving the transition between the two timelines and some significant questions unresolved - presumably to be answered in the second half of this duology.
Ultimately the immersive world building and beautiful prose outshine a story that, for me, feels slow and underwhelming. Readers seeking romance, cosy everyday moments and quiet contemplation among the stars may find much to love here.
Want to Read
January 7, 2026it’s only 10 months to October she said. it’ll be easy she said.
October 26, 2026
10/25/26
dude, I'm at 40% and tempted to DNF
the time jumps add nothing to the plot or characterization (they're sometimes just a page or two), and are destroying any ounce of tension. a good cozy book can be low stakes, but still have high suspense and tension! also i was expecting a sci fi but it's really just slice-of-life romantic lit fic??
is it gonna get any better?? :(
10/28/26
Spoiler alert: It doesn't get better. Why would these two incredibly brilliant and confident adult women flirt like nervous, bumbling teenagers? Fast forwarding, why does their banter, once they enter a long-term and comfortable marriage, read so corny and awkward? Also, they don't even have very distinct voices, and weak characterization is my pet peeve!!! I'm so sad, because I enjoyed the Monk & Robot series and had been excited for this new release. Disappointed to say it was not worth the wait.
dude, I'm at 40% and tempted to DNF
the time jumps add nothing to the plot or characterization (they're sometimes just a page or two), and are destroying any ounce of tension. a good cozy book can be low stakes, but still have high suspense and tension! also i was expecting a sci fi but it's really just slice-of-life romantic lit fic??
is it gonna get any better?? :(
10/28/26
Spoiler alert: It doesn't get better. Why would these two incredibly brilliant and confident adult women flirt like nervous, bumbling teenagers? Fast forwarding, why does their banter, once they enter a long-term and comfortable marriage, read so corny and awkward? Also, they don't even have very distinct voices, and weak characterization is my pet peeve!!! I'm so sad, because I enjoyed the Monk & Robot series and had been excited for this new release. Disappointed to say it was not worth the wait.
Did Not Finish
October 9, 2026soft dnf @ 30%
this is my first book by the author, so im unsure if this is the case with most of her books. i’m noticing that this reads more literary than sci-fi, which is the exact opposite of what i wanted. i just don’t think i have the patience that this story requires of me right now, so im calling it here & maybe will continue in the future.
—— thanks to NetGalley, the author, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
this is my first book by the author, so im unsure if this is the case with most of her books. i’m noticing that this reads more literary than sci-fi, which is the exact opposite of what i wanted. i just don’t think i have the patience that this story requires of me right now, so im calling it here & maybe will continue in the future.
—— thanks to NetGalley, the author, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
October 16, 2026
Becky Chambers you come back here and let me read the next book right now.
Want to Read
May 15, 2026A new chonker from Becky Chambers AND she's coming to Berlin in July?! At the book shop 5 mins from my place? Yes, please!
Want to Read
January 17, 2026what a thing to know i will be experiencing this kind of joy again in a few months 😭😭
October 19, 2026
Thank you to Harper Voyager for the gifted ebook!
If you are looking for an action-packed sci fi with dramatic battles and conflicts, this is not it. This is a warm hug of a sapphic love story with well-developed characters you can’t help but root for. It’s a story about finding connection, love, and joy in the midst of trying to survive on an inhospitable planet.
Cora pilots one of the huge alien creatures used as transport between settlements; one of the unfortunate side effects of bonding so closely with the massive Rorqual named Colibri is “mindbleed.” She seeks a medicinal remedy from botanist Signy and it’s obvious from the start that they are meant for each other. We watch them fall in love, jumping back and forth in time from the beginning of their relationship to domestic bliss years later.
This is such a quiet and tender story, two characters who find comfort in between the stressors of a planet so toxic that they can’t be exposed to the external air. I loved all the food descriptions (even recipes!) and drops of plant knowledge. There is also so much beautiful interaction between Cora and Colibri; I’m hoping there is more development for Colibri in the next book.
If you are looking for an action-packed sci fi with dramatic battles and conflicts, this is not it. This is a warm hug of a sapphic love story with well-developed characters you can’t help but root for. It’s a story about finding connection, love, and joy in the midst of trying to survive on an inhospitable planet.
Cora pilots one of the huge alien creatures used as transport between settlements; one of the unfortunate side effects of bonding so closely with the massive Rorqual named Colibri is “mindbleed.” She seeks a medicinal remedy from botanist Signy and it’s obvious from the start that they are meant for each other. We watch them fall in love, jumping back and forth in time from the beginning of their relationship to domestic bliss years later.
This is such a quiet and tender story, two characters who find comfort in between the stressors of a planet so toxic that they can’t be exposed to the external air. I loved all the food descriptions (even recipes!) and drops of plant knowledge. There is also so much beautiful interaction between Cora and Colibri; I’m hoping there is more development for Colibri in the next book.
May 15, 2026
I received this book as an eARC on NetGalley.
...Man. I really don't want to write this. Becky Chambers is my favorite author. Her science fiction novels have completely changed how I look at the genre, and have raised my expectations considerably. She's an incredible writer, and I wish I could see how her brain comes up with these sci-fi settings. They're always unique, always interrogating something about humanity, and I always want to know more.
Which is part of why this book just did not work for me.
This is less of a science fiction novel, and more of a literary fiction or even romance one. The vast majority of the page count is dedicated to following the relationship between our two main characters. And much of those scenes could exist without being in a sci-fi setting at all. They have a meetcute, they go on dates, they deal with loss and chronic illness. They see each other at work. They even have a forced proximity moment thanks to a volcano! Not to make it seem like this is a romantic comedy, because it's not. At all. It's very much just an intimate portrayal of two women across their relationship (can't be more specific than that to avoid spoilers).
And that's just not the kind of novel I like reading. I usually avoid books that are focused on the life of a single relationship over a long period of time. I was very much in this for the science fiction, which meant I spent a lot of my time being bored here.
That said, what sci-fi elements there are, have Becky Chambers' quintessential style and tone. The rorqual species is fascinating, and I love the conversations we witness between Cora and Colibri. I also loved the entire idea of Fortune, this failed colony planet that people who've never seen Earth are stuck on. Learning more about this world is the thing that kept me reading.
But because this is not about the sci-fi worldbuilding, I was left disappointed. There is a lot of unexplored ground here because that wasn't the focus or point of the book. I honestly would read more books in this world, even if they too focused on a relationship. That's how much I loved it. I still wouldn't give it more than 3 stars, but I would absolutely read it.
So yeah, this book just wasn't for me. But I think there's a lot to love here. I even think this would be a GREAT recommendation for literary fiction readers looking to get into sci-fi. Or even romance readers who want to dip their toes in. I expect it's gonna be reviewed a lot higher by most of the readers I know.
It's just not for me. So, 3 stars. Becky Chambers is still my favorite author. But they can't all be hits.
...Man. I really don't want to write this. Becky Chambers is my favorite author. Her science fiction novels have completely changed how I look at the genre, and have raised my expectations considerably. She's an incredible writer, and I wish I could see how her brain comes up with these sci-fi settings. They're always unique, always interrogating something about humanity, and I always want to know more.
Which is part of why this book just did not work for me.
This is less of a science fiction novel, and more of a literary fiction or even romance one. The vast majority of the page count is dedicated to following the relationship between our two main characters. And much of those scenes could exist without being in a sci-fi setting at all. They have a meetcute, they go on dates, they deal with loss and chronic illness. They see each other at work. They even have a forced proximity moment thanks to a volcano! Not to make it seem like this is a romantic comedy, because it's not. At all. It's very much just an intimate portrayal of two women across their relationship (can't be more specific than that to avoid spoilers).
And that's just not the kind of novel I like reading. I usually avoid books that are focused on the life of a single relationship over a long period of time. I was very much in this for the science fiction, which meant I spent a lot of my time being bored here.
That said, what sci-fi elements there are, have Becky Chambers' quintessential style and tone. The rorqual species is fascinating, and I love the conversations we witness between Cora and Colibri. I also loved the entire idea of Fortune, this failed colony planet that people who've never seen Earth are stuck on. Learning more about this world is the thing that kept me reading.
But because this is not about the sci-fi worldbuilding, I was left disappointed. There is a lot of unexplored ground here because that wasn't the focus or point of the book. I honestly would read more books in this world, even if they too focused on a relationship. That's how much I loved it. I still wouldn't give it more than 3 stars, but I would absolutely read it.
So yeah, this book just wasn't for me. But I think there's a lot to love here. I even think this would be a GREAT recommendation for literary fiction readers looking to get into sci-fi. Or even romance readers who want to dip their toes in. I expect it's gonna be reviewed a lot higher by most of the readers I know.
It's just not for me. So, 3 stars. Becky Chambers is still my favorite author. But they can't all be hits.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the publisher, and could not open it fast enough. This book is INCREDIBLE. It feels both fresh and familiar as a Becky Chambers book, which is just a stunning combination.
This book follows Cora, a pilot psychically linked to a species similar to space whales--but so much better. The psychic link is slowly eroding Cora's ability to differentiate herself as human, rather than one of these whales, and that misconception can kill her over time. To prevent this, Cora seeks help from Signy, a botanist secretly creating new medicine inside her plant store.
The gorgeous sapphic romance in this book was *everything* to me, and I absolutely devoured it. There's also a chapter where we see how this eroding psychic link affects Cora personally--and guys, my jaw dropped. It's the most incredible example of body dysphoria I've ever read, and that feels so, so needed in this day and age. The world was immersive and extravagant, and the dual timeline was so fun to read.
Yet again, Becky Chambers delivers with a book that is sure to win every award and accolade out there, and rightfully so! 12/10 would recommend, and I cannot WAIT to get a physical copy of this one.
This book follows Cora, a pilot psychically linked to a species similar to space whales--but so much better. The psychic link is slowly eroding Cora's ability to differentiate herself as human, rather than one of these whales, and that misconception can kill her over time. To prevent this, Cora seeks help from Signy, a botanist secretly creating new medicine inside her plant store.
The gorgeous sapphic romance in this book was *everything* to me, and I absolutely devoured it. There's also a chapter where we see how this eroding psychic link affects Cora personally--and guys, my jaw dropped. It's the most incredible example of body dysphoria I've ever read, and that feels so, so needed in this day and age. The world was immersive and extravagant, and the dual timeline was so fun to read.
Yet again, Becky Chambers delivers with a book that is sure to win every award and accolade out there, and rightfully so! 12/10 would recommend, and I cannot WAIT to get a physical copy of this one.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'm convinced that no one understands humanity, emotions and the tangled web of the two quite like Becky Chambers. Each of her books are such beautifully unique insights into human nature and the complexities we all hold within us and As You Wake, Break the Shell is a perfect example of this. It's hopeful, heartbreaking, funny and retrospective. It's both a gentle and epic love story and I loved my time with it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I feel like you either get Chambers or you don’t. And admittedly I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum; but this one? This one worked for me.
I truthfully don’t even know really what to say. It’s both quiet and so loud, it’s fantastical (of the science fiction variety) and very every day mundane in it’s concerns and experiences, and it’s both lovely and heartbreaking, simple and complex, interesting and also.. not.
I went from having fairly mid feelings, more interested than otherwise, but not really feeling all that invested, to.. suddenly being so interested, so invested, and not feeling mid about this whatsoever.
The back and forth timeline, the intermissions, were also the absolute correct way to tell this story. This story of which both so much and so little happens.
I’m looking forward to the finale in this duology even though part of me feels this is a perfectly complete novel. I don’t necessarily need the answers to get us from the end of where things left to where we see them all those years later (see aforementioned dual timelines). But.. I’m not not curious. And more time with these characters? Wouldn’t be mad about that, either.
Speaking of mad, don’t be mad at me for this review where I said absolutely nothing. I feel like the details won’t help or they will distract from what this really is. And I hope, if you visit this world, you enjoy your time there. And maybe come to understand why this review is the way it is.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I truthfully don’t even know really what to say. It’s both quiet and so loud, it’s fantastical (of the science fiction variety) and very every day mundane in it’s concerns and experiences, and it’s both lovely and heartbreaking, simple and complex, interesting and also.. not.
I went from having fairly mid feelings, more interested than otherwise, but not really feeling all that invested, to.. suddenly being so interested, so invested, and not feeling mid about this whatsoever.
The back and forth timeline, the intermissions, were also the absolute correct way to tell this story. This story of which both so much and so little happens.
I’m looking forward to the finale in this duology even though part of me feels this is a perfectly complete novel. I don’t necessarily need the answers to get us from the end of where things left to where we see them all those years later (see aforementioned dual timelines). But.. I’m not not curious. And more time with these characters? Wouldn’t be mad about that, either.
Speaking of mad, don’t be mad at me for this review where I said absolutely nothing. I feel like the details won’t help or they will distract from what this really is. And I hope, if you visit this world, you enjoy your time there. And maybe come to understand why this review is the way it is.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
October 23, 2026
This book was everything I’ve come to expect from Becky Chambers - a beautiful and emotional story of what it is to be human, and the many different faces of love.
The planet Fortune is an earth colony - seeded from an automated mother ship with everything required to make a life of the forbidding resource-scarce planet. That is, with one exception: the technology to return to the mother ship, which is something that each colony needs to learn on its own.
Life is hard on Fortune, but it is home for Cora and Signy. Cora is one of many pilots who fly alien animals, “rorquals”, to nearby moons to quarry water ice for the colony. Signy is a talented botanist who secretly bio-prints medicines for people in her neighbourhood. When Cora starts to suffer from a dangerous condition brought on by her connection to Colibri, her rorqual - a condition that would threaten her livelihood - she turns to Signy for help.
And so starts a gentle, deep and moving love story - not only between Cora and Signy, but amongst their found family, and between Cora and Colibri.
The world building is immaculate, giving an almost visceral sense of the harsh life in the toxic environment of Fortune. But within that, the stories are very human - with lives, loves, friendships and family all playing out in comfortingly familiar ways.
On top of this, we see the human colony through the alien perceptions of Colibri. Becky Chambers shines a light on the conflicts and paradoxes of human life through the lens of this alien interaction (this felt similar to the equally excellent Monk and Robot books). The bond between Cora and Colibri is very strong, and Colibri is voraciously curious about Cora’s life - with Cora’s explanations, and Colibri’s responses, providing satisfying insight.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, although my one gripe is that I didn’t realise that this was the first in a dualology, and finishes mid-story. I can’t wait for the second part!
Thank you #NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton / Hodderscape for the free review copy of #AsYouWakeBreaktheShell without obligation. All opinions are my own.
The planet Fortune is an earth colony - seeded from an automated mother ship with everything required to make a life of the forbidding resource-scarce planet. That is, with one exception: the technology to return to the mother ship, which is something that each colony needs to learn on its own.
Life is hard on Fortune, but it is home for Cora and Signy. Cora is one of many pilots who fly alien animals, “rorquals”, to nearby moons to quarry water ice for the colony. Signy is a talented botanist who secretly bio-prints medicines for people in her neighbourhood. When Cora starts to suffer from a dangerous condition brought on by her connection to Colibri, her rorqual - a condition that would threaten her livelihood - she turns to Signy for help.
And so starts a gentle, deep and moving love story - not only between Cora and Signy, but amongst their found family, and between Cora and Colibri.
The world building is immaculate, giving an almost visceral sense of the harsh life in the toxic environment of Fortune. But within that, the stories are very human - with lives, loves, friendships and family all playing out in comfortingly familiar ways.
On top of this, we see the human colony through the alien perceptions of Colibri. Becky Chambers shines a light on the conflicts and paradoxes of human life through the lens of this alien interaction (this felt similar to the equally excellent Monk and Robot books). The bond between Cora and Colibri is very strong, and Colibri is voraciously curious about Cora’s life - with Cora’s explanations, and Colibri’s responses, providing satisfying insight.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, although my one gripe is that I didn’t realise that this was the first in a dualology, and finishes mid-story. I can’t wait for the second part!
Thank you #NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton / Hodderscape for the free review copy of #AsYouWakeBreaktheShell without obligation. All opinions are my own.
October 14, 2026
Many thanks to Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of As You Wake, Break the Shell.
This delicately crafted, cozy story by the author behind the Monk & Robot series landed softly in my heart; it will be the perfect read for others looking for a balm to combat the hectic and chaotic nature of the world outside our walls. As You Wake is just the first installment in a new sci-fi duology, so there are still many elements of the story still to be revealed, but what is on paper already is a soft and complex approach to a fictional, harsh world filled with vibrant and intricate characters.
As You Wake is perfect for new fans of sci-fi, or for sci-fi curious romance readers - it seemingly occupies a space similar to romantasy for the fantasy genre (romantasci, anyone?) in a way that is not overwhelming or intimidating. It's fairly light on world building, the sci-fi elements in this novel mostly serving as the setting and circumstances that the characters must navigate on a daily basis.
It's no surprise to readers of Becky Chambers' other work that As You Wake is an exploration of all the forms of love that bind life forms. As the stories unfold, the reader is treated to displays of love through friendship, romance, community, and more. An emotional exploration of the power of connection, trust, and devotion, Chambers exquisitely unspools the main plot in the shadows of these relationships in a way that feels beautifully wandering and genuine. While there is a major focus on human connections to one another, I found the beautiful relationship between one of the main characters and her "rorqual," a space animal who she pilots for her job, to be just as deep and complex as that between the people in this story.
The structure of the novel is unique to say the least - told in a dual timeline and jumping back and forth between timelines and planets, Chambers engages unique chapter formats and approaches the world building chapters in a way that feels fresh and engaging. I was absorbed the entire time that I read, barely noticing as 100 or more pages passed in a sitting.
There's so much that is still missing from the story of Cora and Signy (and Colibri!), so I hope that we will be treated to the filling in of some of these blanks in the final installment of this series. I will be awaiting news of the sequel on bated breath!
This delicately crafted, cozy story by the author behind the Monk & Robot series landed softly in my heart; it will be the perfect read for others looking for a balm to combat the hectic and chaotic nature of the world outside our walls. As You Wake is just the first installment in a new sci-fi duology, so there are still many elements of the story still to be revealed, but what is on paper already is a soft and complex approach to a fictional, harsh world filled with vibrant and intricate characters.
As You Wake is perfect for new fans of sci-fi, or for sci-fi curious romance readers - it seemingly occupies a space similar to romantasy for the fantasy genre (romantasci, anyone?) in a way that is not overwhelming or intimidating. It's fairly light on world building, the sci-fi elements in this novel mostly serving as the setting and circumstances that the characters must navigate on a daily basis.
It's no surprise to readers of Becky Chambers' other work that As You Wake is an exploration of all the forms of love that bind life forms. As the stories unfold, the reader is treated to displays of love through friendship, romance, community, and more. An emotional exploration of the power of connection, trust, and devotion, Chambers exquisitely unspools the main plot in the shadows of these relationships in a way that feels beautifully wandering and genuine. While there is a major focus on human connections to one another, I found the beautiful relationship between one of the main characters and her "rorqual," a space animal who she pilots for her job, to be just as deep and complex as that between the people in this story.
The structure of the novel is unique to say the least - told in a dual timeline and jumping back and forth between timelines and planets, Chambers engages unique chapter formats and approaches the world building chapters in a way that feels fresh and engaging. I was absorbed the entire time that I read, barely noticing as 100 or more pages passed in a sitting.
There's so much that is still missing from the story of Cora and Signy (and Colibri!), so I hope that we will be treated to the filling in of some of these blanks in the final installment of this series. I will be awaiting news of the sequel on bated breath!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bored out of my mind by 20%, and going through other reviews convinced me it wasn't going to get better.
This is very Literary Fiction - meandering, introspective, fairly plot-less. The prose is lovely (of course it is, it's Becky Chambers!) but everything else about this book feels very disjointed. I think it's trying to be cosy, but the setting is unbelievably bleak; the characters should be incredibly interesting (one is a pilot for some kind of alien creature humans use to ship stuff around space, and the other keeps a plant shop so she can grow illegal meds for people) but instead they were very one-note; the dual timelines undermined each other. There was a lot of, using many sentences to say absolutely nothing, in very Lit Fic fashion.
The dual timelines in particular really annoyed me; we're following these characters as they meet and fall into a romance, but that alternates with seeing them decades later in their idyllic marriage. The later completely undermines any tension from the former, because we already know everything's going to end well - even more bluntly than we usually do, with Cosy SFF. And the idyllic future timeline - nothing was happening in it. We had (admittedly very short) chapters of them making tea for each other! Having a sweet, lazy morning together! That's not a STORY.
Chambers has never seemed to have difficulties before with the fact that cosy-anything needs low stakes but high tension, but that's a big part of the problem here, imo. The Wayfarer books all had actual plot, actual sources of tension, actual forward momentum. This doesn't.
I loved the alien creature one of our characters was a pilot for, but we were seeing very little of it, and many other reviews mention that that never changes, it always remains very background. Which means there's nothing for me to stick around for.
Lovely writing, but no story and definitely not enough aliens!
This is very Literary Fiction - meandering, introspective, fairly plot-less. The prose is lovely (of course it is, it's Becky Chambers!) but everything else about this book feels very disjointed. I think it's trying to be cosy, but the setting is unbelievably bleak; the characters should be incredibly interesting (one is a pilot for some kind of alien creature humans use to ship stuff around space, and the other keeps a plant shop so she can grow illegal meds for people) but instead they were very one-note; the dual timelines undermined each other. There was a lot of, using many sentences to say absolutely nothing, in very Lit Fic fashion.
The dual timelines in particular really annoyed me; we're following these characters as they meet and fall into a romance, but that alternates with seeing them decades later in their idyllic marriage. The later completely undermines any tension from the former, because we already know everything's going to end well - even more bluntly than we usually do, with Cosy SFF. And the idyllic future timeline - nothing was happening in it. We had (admittedly very short) chapters of them making tea for each other! Having a sweet, lazy morning together! That's not a STORY.
Chambers has never seemed to have difficulties before with the fact that cosy-anything needs low stakes but high tension, but that's a big part of the problem here, imo. The Wayfarer books all had actual plot, actual sources of tension, actual forward momentum. This doesn't.
I loved the alien creature one of our characters was a pilot for, but we were seeing very little of it, and many other reviews mention that that never changes, it always remains very background. Which means there's nothing for me to stick around for.
Lovely writing, but no story and definitely not enough aliens!
October 14, 2026
A very soft sci-fi sapphic romance with alien lifeforms, inhospitable planets, found family, and a ton of plants. Knocking off 0.5* because I didn’t realize this is just the first part of a duology and now I’m gonna have to wait 3 years to find out what happens to [redacted].
I always like Chambers’ books.
I always like Chambers’ books.
August 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC! (Seriously thank you, I’m so excited I got to read this!!)
I’m biased. I love Becky Chambers, her books are always so comforting. This one has a unique story structure, characters who became my friends over the course of the story, and just felt relevant to life in my mid-thirties where there’s a lot of thought about grief and relationships with the world around me. It was cosy, yet the stakes felt high, and I really appreciated the world she built. Eagerly awaiting the second book of this duology already!
I’m biased. I love Becky Chambers, her books are always so comforting. This one has a unique story structure, characters who became my friends over the course of the story, and just felt relevant to life in my mid-thirties where there’s a lot of thought about grief and relationships with the world around me. It was cosy, yet the stakes felt high, and I really appreciated the world she built. Eagerly awaiting the second book of this duology already!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was very kindly given an audio e-ARC via Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio.
This is going to be a duology. I cannot fathom how that will work, considering there isn't enough material in this one book, let alone enough to fill two. I've read several Becky Chambers books in the past and always entered them knowing that I'd spend the first 100 pages or so deeply confused. But when that feeling of confusion didn't abate as I continued past the 100 page mark, I knew something was up.
Continuing her brand of emotional / human-feeling science fiction books, 'As You Wake, Break The Shell' follows the relationship between Cora and Signy, told in a strange dual timeline between when they met and some point in the future, when they've clearly fallen in love and built a life together. We're left to parcel out details in-between as to how they got to that point. Beneath endless pages of conversations about plants and world-building that feels like wading through treacle, there is a brief glimpse of a storyline. Cora is unwell and believes Signy can grow the plant that can help her. By 60% of the way through, this plot line has not advanced much beyond 'I'll grow the plant for you and then we have to wait'.
I found this very difficult reading. Not because of the subject matter, but because of the aimlessness of the narrative. Even on audio, listening at a quicker speed, the story is slow and unfocused, jumping wildly between its two timelines and not giving the reader nearly enough time to acclimatise in each one. Some chapters are bizarrely short, while others drag on for pages and pages, giving us very little story to work with. A conversation between two characters can go on for twenty minutes and add little to the overall narrative. I'm not sure whether this was a fault of the audiobook, but when they were together, I found Signy and Cora difficult to fully distinguish as characters. They talk and sometimes, things happen, but it doesn't really matter, because they can just keep talking.
There's an emotion to this book that I just did not connect with and I think that's the underlying issue here. Not necessarily that it's badly constructed. If you're a literary fiction reader and you like the slow burning unfurl of characters dealing with abstract emotions like love and grief and loneliness, then I think you'll find an unlikely favourite in this book. But the more I read, the more bored I became. The meandering style of writing got on my nerves and I don't believe this book justified its page length. It's all very nice. It should be interesting, just based on its initial set-up, but it just isn't.
The audiobook has an immersive quality to it with additional SFX and multiple narrators. The narrators were okay, but the peppiness of them both added to that lack of distinction between the two female leads. There is also a third narrator - an omniscient voice, potentially male - who is not credited, but was a little unsettling to listen to (in a good way). It could be one of the two narrators with distortion, but I'm not certain.
'As You Wake, Break The Shell' is available now.
This is going to be a duology. I cannot fathom how that will work, considering there isn't enough material in this one book, let alone enough to fill two. I've read several Becky Chambers books in the past and always entered them knowing that I'd spend the first 100 pages or so deeply confused. But when that feeling of confusion didn't abate as I continued past the 100 page mark, I knew something was up.
Continuing her brand of emotional / human-feeling science fiction books, 'As You Wake, Break The Shell' follows the relationship between Cora and Signy, told in a strange dual timeline between when they met and some point in the future, when they've clearly fallen in love and built a life together. We're left to parcel out details in-between as to how they got to that point. Beneath endless pages of conversations about plants and world-building that feels like wading through treacle, there is a brief glimpse of a storyline. Cora is unwell and believes Signy can grow the plant that can help her. By 60% of the way through, this plot line has not advanced much beyond 'I'll grow the plant for you and then we have to wait'.
I found this very difficult reading. Not because of the subject matter, but because of the aimlessness of the narrative. Even on audio, listening at a quicker speed, the story is slow and unfocused, jumping wildly between its two timelines and not giving the reader nearly enough time to acclimatise in each one. Some chapters are bizarrely short, while others drag on for pages and pages, giving us very little story to work with. A conversation between two characters can go on for twenty minutes and add little to the overall narrative. I'm not sure whether this was a fault of the audiobook, but when they were together, I found Signy and Cora difficult to fully distinguish as characters. They talk and sometimes, things happen, but it doesn't really matter, because they can just keep talking.
There's an emotion to this book that I just did not connect with and I think that's the underlying issue here. Not necessarily that it's badly constructed. If you're a literary fiction reader and you like the slow burning unfurl of characters dealing with abstract emotions like love and grief and loneliness, then I think you'll find an unlikely favourite in this book. But the more I read, the more bored I became. The meandering style of writing got on my nerves and I don't believe this book justified its page length. It's all very nice. It should be interesting, just based on its initial set-up, but it just isn't.
The audiobook has an immersive quality to it with additional SFX and multiple narrators. The narrators were okay, but the peppiness of them both added to that lack of distinction between the two female leads. There is also a third narrator - an omniscient voice, potentially male - who is not credited, but was a little unsettling to listen to (in a good way). It could be one of the two narrators with distortion, but I'm not certain.
'As You Wake, Break The Shell' is available now.
October 29, 2026
man becky chambers just gets what love and community and human connections mean. there's always something so comforting about her writing, even when it deals with tough subjects like loss and grief. i enjoyed pretty much everything about this story, from signy and cora's relationship to a human city surviving on a hostile planet to an alien animal species.
also that kinda cliffhanger ending?? i need the sequel asap.
also that kinda cliffhanger ending?? i need the sequel asap.
May 11, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
I want to start this review by saying that, like every other Becky Chambers book so far, this story felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It made me laugh and it made me cry, but the warm blanket it wrapped around me let me cherish this very personal story throughout all of its 400+ pages.
We follow Signy and Cora‘s intertwining story on the planet Fortune. A resource-scarce planet whose atmosphere is hostile and generally does not provide many comforts. There we get to meet Signy - who is independent, a bit anti-social and who likes plants and facts, and Cora - who seems to love life and who gets to experience the universe in such a unique way by being a rorqual pilot. They meet through necessity because Cora needs a medicine that Signy might just be able to provide. And as they meet and get to know each other, we in turn get to know and fall in love with them.
The story incorporates two different timelines, which I soon came to love because of the stability and reassurance that the future-POV provided me in knowing, roughly, what future awaited Signy and Cora. Becky Chambers is a genius at writing books revolving around very up-close and personal stories and the relationships she builds are beautiful. Like so many of her books, this story is not about action scenes and propelling the plot forward through drama, but instead focuses on building relationships, about understanding the characters, getting to know and falling in love with them and their life, and about cherishing the quiet and profound moments.
If you already know and love Chambers‘ other books: yes, this is definitely for you. And if you don‘t: don‘t expect an action packed story, expect an alien planet but furthermore, expect very human struggles, relationships and emotions, doubts and hopes and hurt and love, and the beautiful writing that wraps you in a nice, warm hug.
I want to start this review by saying that, like every other Becky Chambers book so far, this story felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It made me laugh and it made me cry, but the warm blanket it wrapped around me let me cherish this very personal story throughout all of its 400+ pages.
We follow Signy and Cora‘s intertwining story on the planet Fortune. A resource-scarce planet whose atmosphere is hostile and generally does not provide many comforts. There we get to meet Signy - who is independent, a bit anti-social and who likes plants and facts, and Cora - who seems to love life and who gets to experience the universe in such a unique way by being a rorqual pilot. They meet through necessity because Cora needs a medicine that Signy might just be able to provide. And as they meet and get to know each other, we in turn get to know and fall in love with them.
The story incorporates two different timelines, which I soon came to love because of the stability and reassurance that the future-POV provided me in knowing, roughly, what future awaited Signy and Cora. Becky Chambers is a genius at writing books revolving around very up-close and personal stories and the relationships she builds are beautiful. Like so many of her books, this story is not about action scenes and propelling the plot forward through drama, but instead focuses on building relationships, about understanding the characters, getting to know and falling in love with them and their life, and about cherishing the quiet and profound moments.
If you already know and love Chambers‘ other books: yes, this is definitely for you. And if you don‘t: don‘t expect an action packed story, expect an alien planet but furthermore, expect very human struggles, relationships and emotions, doubts and hopes and hurt and love, and the beautiful writing that wraps you in a nice, warm hug.
July 16, 2026
I was lucky enough to win an advanced copy in a Goodreads giveaway, and I dropped everything to read it the moment it arrived. The structure of this book is neat, and it
plays with a few different things that were visually interesting. There is an occasional stream of consciousness type of writing for emotional moments that felt very effective in conveying the characters’ feelings. The characters are fully lovable. The only bummer is that the wait for the next book will feel so long! I must know what happens to my girls next!
plays with a few different things that were visually interesting. There is an occasional stream of consciousness type of writing for emotional moments that felt very effective in conveying the characters’ feelings. The characters are fully lovable. The only bummer is that the wait for the next book will feel so long! I must know what happens to my girls next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was sooo excited to read Becky Chambers' newest adult sci-fi novel! I adore her writing style, and her stories are always so cozy and heartwarming, even when not everything is all rosy.
As You Wake, Break the Shell takes place in space across two timelines - a past one on a planet colonised by humans and with difficult life conditions, and a present one where the protagonists live elsewhere in space. Cora is a pilot whose bond with her rorqual, Colibri, an alien creature she works alongside, is putting her health and career at risk, while Signy is a botanist secretly developing medicine to help those who cannot access the treatment they need. When their paths cross, the two women find themselves navigating difficult choices about trust, love, and what they're willing to risk for each other and their beliefs.
As always, I could never tire of Becky Chambers' writing style. She brings worlds and characters to life so vividly, with prose that is an absolute pleasure to get lost in, and I could happily read her writing forever. The protagonists of this newest novel were such a lovely pair... both so deeply caring and showing it in their very different ways, one through her healing work and the other through the incredible level of trust and commitment she shares with her sort-of-bonded rorqual (a space animal!).
I loved learning about their relationships with their neighbours across both timelines, and especially their heartwarming time with Otto and all the little details of how Cora learns to cook. Those quieter moments of everyday life are something Becky Chambers does so beautifully, making even the smallest interactions feel meaningful. And the relationship between Cora and her rorqual Colibri was just wonderful to read about - full of honesty, trust, and love. I've found myself thinking about the phrase "you're of my love" ever since, because I adore that way of expressing just how much someone means to you.
I rated this 4.25 stars rather than 5, though, because I found the switches between the two timelines and POVs a little too frequent for my liking. Changing perspectives every few pages kept pulling me out of the story a bit more than I would have liked, and I sometimes wished I could spend a little longer with the characters in one moment before jumping to another.
I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven sci-fi, deeply caring relationships, precious found family dynamics and interesting space colonies. Can't wait to find out how the story continues!
As You Wake, Break the Shell takes place in space across two timelines - a past one on a planet colonised by humans and with difficult life conditions, and a present one where the protagonists live elsewhere in space. Cora is a pilot whose bond with her rorqual, Colibri, an alien creature she works alongside, is putting her health and career at risk, while Signy is a botanist secretly developing medicine to help those who cannot access the treatment they need. When their paths cross, the two women find themselves navigating difficult choices about trust, love, and what they're willing to risk for each other and their beliefs.
As always, I could never tire of Becky Chambers' writing style. She brings worlds and characters to life so vividly, with prose that is an absolute pleasure to get lost in, and I could happily read her writing forever. The protagonists of this newest novel were such a lovely pair... both so deeply caring and showing it in their very different ways, one through her healing work and the other through the incredible level of trust and commitment she shares with her sort-of-bonded rorqual (a space animal!).
I loved learning about their relationships with their neighbours across both timelines, and especially their heartwarming time with Otto and all the little details of how Cora learns to cook. Those quieter moments of everyday life are something Becky Chambers does so beautifully, making even the smallest interactions feel meaningful. And the relationship between Cora and her rorqual Colibri was just wonderful to read about - full of honesty, trust, and love. I've found myself thinking about the phrase "you're of my love" ever since, because I adore that way of expressing just how much someone means to you.
I rated this 4.25 stars rather than 5, though, because I found the switches between the two timelines and POVs a little too frequent for my liking. Changing perspectives every few pages kept pulling me out of the story a bit more than I would have liked, and I sometimes wished I could spend a little longer with the characters in one moment before jumping to another.
I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven sci-fi, deeply caring relationships, precious found family dynamics and interesting space colonies. Can't wait to find out how the story continues!
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