Haunting Skies

by Christian Kang Bachini, Israel Rivera (Illustrator)

A Simon & Schuster audiobook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every listener.

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction

404 pages, Hardcover

Published July 8, 2026

About the author

Christian Kang Bachini is a filmmaker turned novelist who writes cinematic horror with the pace and scale of a blockbuster. After twelve years working in action cinema across the Far East as a Mandarin-speaking actor, martial artist, and action director, he returned to his first passions—writing and horror—to create bold genre stories combining supernatural terror, science-fiction spectacle, apocalyptic action, and dark humor.

His debut novel, Haunting Skies, launches a saga in which alien invaders discover that humanity may not be the most terrifying force on Earth. The story continues in Haunting Skies Part 2: Holy Mother(ship) of God.

Christian also wrote and directed the award-winning horror short film Escalation. When he is not writing or working on set, he trains martial arts, spends time in nature, and continues his lifelong attempt to befriend every animal he meets.

Reviews

[SueCooks]

As Stephen Hiller once said in Independence Day, "Look, I really don't think they flew 90 billion light years to come down here and start a fight, get all rowdy..."
Well, y'all go right on thinking that Sugar Buns, because the devil is in the details when disturbingly horrifying aliens come to town, with all the swagger of creatures from "The Mist."
And Satan? He'll definitely be kicking ass and taking names when it comes to intruders trying to work his room...So hold on to your racehorses, Regan. And hold Satan's beer.
Thanks to Christian Kang Bachini and #NetGalley, I've been salivating over an ARC copy of this delicious tour de monster of a novel (and sometime soon, I read on Variety, a motion picture) that is like a Halloween candy bag full of horror references from pop culture that will make you stop your grinnin' and drop your linen!
Now you know I love a book if I can't shaddup about it and such was the case with my husband, who I was trying to describe how whack-a-doodle one of the monsters was and he said "It sounds like a cross between the blob and the Thing. (Turned the page and?) Bingo. ("It's like the Thing had sex with the fucking blob..." Father Kang blurted.) Let's just make sure we are talking the John Carpenter/ Kurt Russell one.
And I will also argue to the end that Kang is (to me) more like Cooper Howard's "Ghoul" from Fallout, especially where his sense of humor lies.
Good stuff. I am ready for part two this Halloween.
#HauntingSkies

[Christine Rains]

Father Kang is an Italian gunslinger, street fighter, and the last exorcist on Earth. The human population has nearly been decimated by cruel aliens who are abducting them. People have fought back, but they lost. Claire and Derek have been hiding out in the mountains with their daughter, Elisa. Unfortunately aliens aren't the only things to fear. Elisa is possessed by a demon, and Father Kang has a plan how to use her against the aliens.

Aliens vs. Demons. It seems ridiculous, but it works well. This is the first book in this sci-fi horror series. It's weird, in your face, and outrageous. No punches are pulled. There is a lot of fast action and body gore. This isn't for the squeamish. Father Kang is possibly insane and has the skill of a level 20 character, but not everything goes right. Claire and Derek are a normal middle aged couple who bicker but love each other very much. Their daughter's demon doesn't make an appearance until we're past the halfway mark, but it's frighteningly marvelous. It ends on a cliffhanger, and it literally feels like you're left hanging by the tips of your fingers.

[READERSBEWARE]

Haunting Skies by Christian Kang Bachini — 5 ⭐️

Haunting Skies is the kind of horror/sci-fi insanity that feels like someone threw The Exorcist, an alien invasion movie, and an absolutely unhinged midnight horror flick into a blender—and somehow made it work. The premise alone had me sold: aliens have invaded Earth, demons are involved, humanity is basically screwed, and the last exorcist standing has to fight back. This book doesn’t waste time trying to be safe or predictable. It goes straight for the throat with possession, blood, violence, monsters, and enough WTF moments to keep me turning pages.

What really hooked me was the horror. This isn’t just aliens shooting things in the sky; there’s a nasty supernatural edge running through the entire story that gives the book a much darker atmosphere. The demonic elements bring some seriously disturbing imagery, while the action keeps the pace moving like a horror movie on fast-forward. And then there’s Father Kang—an absolute badass of an exorcist who feels perfectly suited for this nightmare. The combination of brutal horror, ridiculous action, and dark humor shouldn’t work nearly as well as it does, but that’s exactly what made this one so damn entertaining for me.

Haunting Skies was a freaking blast. It’s bloody, bizarre, violent, creepy, and completely unapologetic about what it wants to be. I went into this expecting an alien invasion with some horror sprinkled on top, but what I got was a full-on supernatural bloodbath with demons, possession, aliens, and enough insanity to make my horror-loving ass very happy. This is the kind of book I want when I’m looking for something that doesn’t play it safe and isn’t afraid to get weird. Five stars from READERSBEWARE—if you want your horror served with aliens, demons, gore, and absolute chaos, get your ass into the Haunting Skies.

READERSBEWARE RATING: 5 ⭐️🩸👽😈

[Kenna Saadeh]

This is totally my kind of book, so I figured I'd enjoy it, but I did not expect it to be this much fun. It was such a wild ride from start to finish. Christian Kang Bachini somehow throws together aliens, demonic possession, exorcisms, horror, action, comedy, and even some heart...and it actually works.

The characters are what really made this book for me. Father Kang, the last exorcist alive on Earth, is hands down one of the coolest, craziest characters I've read in a long time. The whole time I was reading, I kept picturing him as a younger Johnny Depp. I know everyone pictures characters differently, but that's who I saw, and it made every scene even more entertaining. He's wild, sarcastic, offensive in the best way, and completely unforgettable.

I also wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I did. The humor is so well placed that it never takes away from the horror or the action. It just makes everything even better. Somehow, this book balances horror, sci-fi, action, and comedy without feeling like it's trying too hard or cramming too much in.

This was such a fun, original read, and honestly, it felt like watching an over-the-top action movie in my head. If you're into horror with memorable characters, nonstop action, and a story that's completely off the rails in the best possible way, definitely give this one a read.

Christian Kang Bachini absolutely crushed it with this one. Now, excuse me while I impatiently wait for Book 2 because I NEED to know what happens next.

[Ben]

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not a reader of alien invasion books, but I do enjoy books that deal with the occult and this book delivered.

The final few chapters were all gravy. The swapping between the floor above with Lucifer and the floor below with Father Kang was very well done and played out exactly as it should have. Despite the extraterrestrials' ranking on the Kardeshev scale as likely being a Type 3 civilization, they were about as effective as lint in thwarting any of Lucifer's tricks. Moreover, it would not mater what type of supercivilization it was—nor their civilization type or level—they are still bound by laws of a universe that was created by an entity that is uncreated, exists necessarily and is pure actuality. And this entity's most revered (at a point) fallen son is what they are dealing with.

I refer to him as Lucifer and not Satan because there is a line in the book where he says "Fallen, but not forgotten."

Can't wait to read the sequel.

[Jesse Able]

The Exorcist meets Marvel! A cinematic, laugh-out-loud thrill ride

If you are looking for a debut novel that completely breaks the mold, Haunting Skies is an absolute must-read. The concept is entirely unique and incredibly fresh, masterfully blending demonic possession with an alien invasion. It truly feels like The Exorcist meets a blockbuster Marvel movie. Reading it is exactly like experiencing a high-budget, action-packed blockbuster right on paper!

Every single character is perfectly fleshed out and gets their moment to shine. Father Kang as the last exorcist alive on the planet is a fantastic case study! He is so out there I don’t even think there is any other movie or book character he can be compared to. Imagine Bruce Lee merged with a dirty cowboy out of a Sergio Leone film. Then there’s Shannon, probably my favorite of all—a badass, superheroine-style character who has been kidnapped by the evil aliens—watching her fire-starter abilities get enhanced into a supercharged, Carrie White-style force of nature is thrilling. She absolutely steals the show.

Just a quick warning for readers with weak stomachs: the book is gory at times and gets incredibly intense, so you may want to look out for some heavy scenes. However, the blood is never useless. Each hard-to-read scene is completely central to the main plot and drives the story forward.

Even with the massive stakes and terrifying alien-demonic threats, the story never loses its sense of fun. The comedy is brilliantly timed and had me laughing out loud, yet it manages to be totally inoffensive. It’s so refreshing to read a book that perfectly balances epic sci-fi horror with great humor and incredible heart. Highly recommended and now waiting for part 2!

[Jennifer Loschiavo]

This was the most fun and unexpected book i have read all year. The cover leaves a lot for interpretation as does the title. Book description vague. And it’s like that for a reason. And it works. So much imagination and creativity went into this. So refreshing to see theres still authors out there like this.

[Michael]

Such a great book! I got to read this in advance before it was up for sale and for that I feel so lucky! I love scary books and it's always nice when there's some humor thrown in there. This has the perfect combination of both. I really hope many people will get the pleasure of reading this. I've never written a review on any other books before but I really felt like this one needed to have one. I hope people will read this and give this book a read. You won't be disappointed! I can't wait to read part 2!

[Julia Kowal]

I absolutely love this book. It's grotesque horror mixed with funny B-movie characters and situations. The book never have a chance to stop for whining break that is so rare nowadays. I also love wholesome classic movies references everywhere. No matter how horrible is the situation is characters will always make it funny somehow. It is so surreal and fever dream, but on the other hand it has wholesome plot and story, every character and situation have its reasons.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacy Smith]

The premise of the novel was enough to make me curious, albeit kind of afraid as it was mixing so many different genres at once and it was also a debut from a new writer and I had no idea how all of those elements were going to fit together without becoming a mess. But the idea of demons versus aliens was enough to convince me to give it a shot.
The first thing that surprised me was the tone. This is a very dark and often grotesque story, but it is also much funnier than I expected. It took me a few chapters to adjust because the humor sometimes appears in the middle of situations that are genuinely horrifying. Once I understood the rhythm of the book, however, I started to appreciate it. The comedy does not erase the danger or turn the characters into jokes. Instead, it often feels like the way frightened or exhausted people might actually speak when everything around them has become impossible. So one thing I really appreciated in the writing is that it feels real, not like modern day movies or books where people speak in absolutely unrealistic ways and use words I never heard any person use in real life. So kudos for that to the author.
The story also moves between several characters and situations rather than following only one traditional hero. At first, I wondered whether there were going to be too many people to keep track of, but the different perspectives gradually begin to connect. Some characters are trying to survive, some are trying to protect their families, and others are making decisions that may save people or make everything much worse. Nobody seems completely in control, including the characters who believe they understand what is happening.
The book contains a lot of violence, body horror, religious imagery, and bizarre alien experimentation, so it will probably be too much for readers who prefer restrained horror. Some scenes are deliberately excessive but they never move in camp territory. There are also moments when the story introduces so many ideas at once that I had to slow down and make sure I understood what was happening. Still, I would rather read something that takes too many chances than something predictable, and this book certainly does not lack imagination.
I finished the book feeling as though I had read something genuinely unusual. It is violent, strange, funny, occasionally overwhelming, and much more heartfelt than its outrageous premise initially suggests. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy possession stories, apocalyptic horror, alien science fiction, and books that are not afraid to become completely unhinged.
A very memorable read.

[Ivy Peterson]

I’m always searching for the perfect summer beach read—something that captures the excitement of the blockbuster movies I love watching in theaters. Haunting Skies delivered exactly that. It feels like a huge, wonderfully chaotic sci-fi horror blockbuster brought to life on the page.
The novel is fast-paced, funny, heartwarming, and brutal in places. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to lose yourself in, with sharp dialogue and characters who feel like real people. The banter between Kang and the possessed girl’s parents is especially entertaining and always feels natural.
The Devil was my favorite character. Seeing an ancient supernatural being awaken aboard an alien spacecraft and encounter things even he doesn’t understand is a brilliant twist. He’s evil, hilarious, and endlessly entertaining.
Strange, violent, imaginative, and packed with blockbuster energy, Haunting Skies also hints at a much larger universe. With the sequel arriving in October, I’m already excited to see where the series goes next.
One of my favorite books of 2026 and one of the most entertaining beach reads I’ve had in years.

[Jeanette Rivera]

I was a bit worried about starting Haunting Skies because it seemed such an odd mix of genres. How do you combine demons and aliens and make it work? But wow, did this book deliver. It’s a total roller coaster, so if you are looking for something that gives you time to absorb the story or relax while getting to know the characters you can forget about it. From the beginning we are thrown right into the action, tossed inside a speeding truck as the main family flees a horde of alien chasers.
Then we meet this guy named Father Kang who is more dangerous and crazy than the aliens themselves and then we are abducted into one of the alien's ships. A crazy priest, parents who have no idea what's happening and a woman who is possessed by the Devil. WTF doesn't even begin to describe what happens next. The novel is very well written and the interior illustrations are gorgeous. The artist did a fantastic job in matching the tone of the novel.

[Sharon]

Pleasant Surprise!
I like demonic possession movies and books, but I have never been big into science fiction. A friend suggested I should try this book, telling me it was a new spin on an exorcism story (which we both generally feel have been getting very stale). I was pretty skeptical going in, I mean, at the end of the day how many more things can be said about exorcists and demons lore? Apparently, a lot more - now I know. The author is probably a bit out of his mind, and the novel really goes over the top in terms of action and big set pieces; at times I almost felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book - and I say this in the most positive way. It's hard to give more info about the story itself as it takes so many twists and turns it's easy to run into spoilers. To summarize, you have this family that is trying to survive the alien apocalypse and are so unlucky that their daughter gets possessed by a demonic entity while hiding in a cabin in the woods. They put their trust into a crazy Italian exorcist that has a very crazy plan and wants to make a deal with the demon living inside the girl to fight in alliance against the aliens. The highlight is probably the aliens experimenting on the young woman. Imagine a classic scene of the demon awakening like in The Exorcist but the victims are not family and a couple of priests, but a vicious alien species. Absolutely nuts in the best of ways. Looking forward to book two!!

[Doug Roddy]

Liked it, didn't love it.

Fantastic premise, some laughs, and good world building (took a while to get to). Zany, over the top non-stop action and gore, and flat characters more like cartoons than people seemed to make the book more shallow than it could have been. I was left wanting more depth to the world, characters, etc. I'm 50/50 on reading part 2 when it comes out.

[Chance]

exorcist magic you away

Some story’s are fables to teach a lesson, some to inspire people, but this is work of art is what late night syfy channel movie are made of an why you will be come addict for every word in it.