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Salvation Day
A lethal virus is awoken on an abandoned spaceship in this incredibly fast-paced, claustrophobic thriller.
They thought the ship would be their salvation.
Zahra knew every detail of the plan. House of Wisdom , a massive exploration vessel, had been abandoned by the government of Earth a decade earlier, when a deadly virus broke out and killed everyone on board in a matter of hours. But now it could belong to her people if they were bold enough to take it. All they needed to do was kidnap Jaswinder Bhattacharya—the sole survivor of the tragedy, and the last person whose genetic signature would allow entry to the spaceship.
But what Zahra and her crew could not know was what waited for them on the ship—a terrifying secret buried by the government. A threat to all of humanity that lay sleeping alongside the orbiting dead.
And then they woke it up.
They thought the ship would be their salvation.
Zahra knew every detail of the plan. House of Wisdom , a massive exploration vessel, had been abandoned by the government of Earth a decade earlier, when a deadly virus broke out and killed everyone on board in a matter of hours. But now it could belong to her people if they were bold enough to take it. All they needed to do was kidnap Jaswinder Bhattacharya—the sole survivor of the tragedy, and the last person whose genetic signature would allow entry to the spaceship.
But what Zahra and her crew could not know was what waited for them on the ship—a terrifying secret buried by the government. A threat to all of humanity that lay sleeping alongside the orbiting dead.
And then they woke it up.
311 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
231 people are currently reading
10174 people want to read
About the author
Kali Wallace
32 books627 followersKali Wallace studied geology and geophysics before she decided she enjoyed inventing imaginary worlds as much as she liked researching the real one. Her short fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, F&SF, Asimov's, Lightspeed Magazine, and Tor.com. She is the author of the dark, fantastical teen novels Shallow Graves (2016) and The Memory Trees (2017), as well as the middle grade fantasy adventure City of Islands (2018). Her first novel for adults, the sci fi horror SALVATION DAY, is forthcoming from Berkley. She lives in southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
May 23, 2020
Many thanks to Berkely for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Instead of writing a full review, I'm going to make gif-review because my depression and OCD are being b*tchy. Sooo...
On the first page:
When I met the characters:
When they entered the spaceship:
When sh*t started happening:
(Like seriously, every night I read this before bed, it was hard to fall asleep because of was buzzing with the thrill of a food book)
When all was revealed:
That's all I have. to be honest, I'm truly ashamed of how awful this review is and I
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February 23, 2022
Zahra and her people are tired of being treated like criminals and living in the wastelands of the desert. The group called, "The Family" plan to take over the spaceship called The House of Wisdom. The ship has been abandoned and off limits for over 10 years after 498 crew members died from a deadly virus, with one survivor, 12-year-old Jaswinder Bhattacharya. Now all grown up, he is heading to the moon to study with other students. That is, until Zahra and her crew hijack their shuttle and take the students' hostage. Jaswinder finds himself back on the ship of horrors, his worst nightmare. Everyone will soon learn there was no virus. Something more deadly is loose on the ship, and it needs hosts to survive.
Well, that was terrifying. Wallace created one eerie atmosphere. I had no idea what was going to happen next. I loved the two main characters and was holding my breath hoping they would survive. Wonderfully written. Recommend!
Well, that was terrifying. Wallace created one eerie atmosphere. I had no idea what was going to happen next. I loved the two main characters and was holding my breath hoping they would survive. Wonderfully written. Recommend!
June 30, 2023
The Thing meets Space Sweepers meets Event Horizon—add in a dash of found family, an anti-heroine, and a light sprinkle of LGBT romance and you’ve got Salvation Day.
I love all of the above so of course I was going to enjoy this fast-paced scifi horror/thriller novel.
I love all of the above so of course I was going to enjoy this fast-paced scifi horror/thriller novel.
July 9, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm going to be completely honest here... I was ambivalent about this one when I accepted the ARC. I put off reading it, fiddlefarted around, avoiding it. But I'm so glad I finally picked it up! Once I got sucked in, I couldn't put it down! I read huge chunks every sitting!
It's an almost-horror sci-fi thriller novel, set in space, on an abandoned spacecraft... haunted in a science fiction technical kinda way. The pacing is fast, but not so fast that it blows past the story. You get depth and developed characters, but it never sits down or goes so slow that you get bored.
I won't say more about the plot, because spoilers, but I definitely recommend this book to readers of sci-fi/space thrillers who like a little bit of potential horror mixed in. It wasn't really horror, but horror-adjacent, as I never found any of it SCARY. But it was on the cusp of being something terrifying, so that added stress really set a darker, higher stakes tone for the book.
Overall, I really liked it. 4 stars!
I'm going to be completely honest here... I was ambivalent about this one when I accepted the ARC. I put off reading it, fiddlefarted around, avoiding it. But I'm so glad I finally picked it up! Once I got sucked in, I couldn't put it down! I read huge chunks every sitting!
It's an almost-horror sci-fi thriller novel, set in space, on an abandoned spacecraft... haunted in a science fiction technical kinda way. The pacing is fast, but not so fast that it blows past the story. You get depth and developed characters, but it never sits down or goes so slow that you get bored.
I won't say more about the plot, because spoilers, but I definitely recommend this book to readers of sci-fi/space thrillers who like a little bit of potential horror mixed in. It wasn't really horror, but horror-adjacent, as I never found any of it SCARY. But it was on the cusp of being something terrifying, so that added stress really set a darker, higher stakes tone for the book.
Overall, I really liked it. 4 stars!
June 9, 2021
When a person dies there are seconds when the heart still squeezes, not yet knowing it is time to stop. Human bodies are messy, imperfect things, a tangle of crossed signals and incomplete messages. Blood pumped into microgravity behaves oddly, like a living thing, unbound and restless, drifting, cooling. Never falling.
Project TBR can't knock it out of the park every time. Shallow Graves remains one of my favourite books (though I'm due a reread), but Salvation Day just didn't hit me at the same level.
I think part of the problem is there was just a bit too much going on for the timeline. Most of this book takes place in a single day, with the odd jump back in time for the original disaster aboard the abandoned spaceship it takes place on. We've got two points of view, on opposing sides, a cult storyline, the more imminent hazards aboard the spaceship, betrayal and even a romantic sideline. Honestly though, none of it is bad - it just felt rushed, and I wish it had been either streamlined or the novel expanded, because there was a lot there to like! When it was all trying to cram in to a shorter space, though, none of it quite got to the place I felt it was trying to go.
As a result I was a bit disconnected from both the book and the characters, though obviously still able to finish the book - thus the three stars, because not super invested and feeling like all the storylines where just a few too many, I read the whole thing. There might have been less tension as a result, but Kali Wallace can really write; there's also a nicely diverse range of characters a good balance of viewpoints that led to some more interesting shades of grey in the good guys/bad guys of society setup.
Project TBR can't knock it out of the park every time. Shallow Graves remains one of my favourite books (though I'm due a reread), but Salvation Day just didn't hit me at the same level.
I think part of the problem is there was just a bit too much going on for the timeline. Most of this book takes place in a single day, with the odd jump back in time for the original disaster aboard the abandoned spaceship it takes place on. We've got two points of view, on opposing sides, a cult storyline, the more imminent hazards aboard the spaceship, betrayal and even a romantic sideline. Honestly though, none of it is bad - it just felt rushed, and I wish it had been either streamlined or the novel expanded, because there was a lot there to like! When it was all trying to cram in to a shorter space, though, none of it quite got to the place I felt it was trying to go.
As a result I was a bit disconnected from both the book and the characters, though obviously still able to finish the book - thus the three stars, because not super invested and feeling like all the storylines where just a few too many, I read the whole thing. There might have been less tension as a result, but Kali Wallace can really write; there's also a nicely diverse range of characters a good balance of viewpoints that led to some more interesting shades of grey in the good guys/bad guys of society setup.
July 21, 2019
4 of 5 star at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/07/18/...
After reading the description for Salvation Day, I thought I had a good idea of what I was in for: a futuristic sci-fi horror, with an outbreak scenario, maybe even possibly some crossover into zombie territory. I think I was picturing something like Dead Space in my mind. Well, what the book actually turned out to be was something quite different, though the story still ended up being a thrilling and cinematic experience.
Around a decade ago, the space exploration vessel House of Wisdom became abandoned after a deadly infectious virus was released on board, killing everyone on the ship. The sole survivor was a boy, Jaswinder Bhattacharya, the son of a very prominent family in the political and scientific community. Subsequently adopted by his aunt, Jas spent the next ten years pretending he could not remember what happened on the House of Wisdom and has tried to keep a low profile ever since. Meanwhile, the spaceship, which has become massive tomb, is left drifting in space guarded by drone missiles that would destroy anything that dared approach.
Now older, Jas is about to embark on his first journey back into space since the incident, along with a small group of his friends and fellow students. But unbeknownst to him, he is the key to a plan hatched up by a cult who want to use his genetic signature to bypass the security measures guarding House of Wisdom, which they mean to transform into a new home for their people. Zahra is one of the members of this cult, acting upon the orders of their leader Adam. She and her team were supposed to hijack Jas’ shuttle and kidnap the young man, forcing him to help them access the ship. No one was supposed to get hurt, or at least that was Zahra’s original understanding. But not long after they took over of the shuttle, everything started going wrong. Not surprisingly, when they reach the House of Wisdom, they also find bodies. However, what Zahra finds disturbing is not the presence of the dead, but the way that they died, which does not appear consistent with what was reported by the government. She and her team had been inoculated against the virus that supposedly killed everyone, but the threat they are faced with is something else entirely.
The story is told via two main perspectives—Zahra and Jas. Kali Wallace does a fantastic job balancing their POVs, giving readers enough background into her characters’ lives so we can sympathize with them and understand what drives them. Despite them being very different and having conflicting motives, I felt connected to both protagonists. It’s hard to say whose chapters I enjoyed following more, as I thought their lives were equally fascinating to read about. And once Zahra and Jas realized that they would be better off working together to survive, that’s when the character development and relationship dynamics grew even more intriguing.
As I said before, the way the story is presented is also very cinematic, and there were certain scenes that made me feel like I was watching a movie. Periodically, bits and pieces of conversation and reports from the House of Wisdom passengers’ last moments are also injected into the narrative, heightening the tensions and spooky atmosphere aboard the derelict ship. In addition, the world-building helps set Salvation Day apart from other sci-fi offerings that feature similar themes. The politics of this world are complex, involving a complete restructuring of the society following an apocalyptic event. Spawned in the aftermath of the collapse are a number of different government factions, resistance organizations, displaced refugees and other outsider groups like cults and extremist movements. All these opposing forces have created uncertain conditions and unique challenges in people’s lives.
Then there are the more pressing, immediate threats facing our characters once they make it aboard the House of Wisdom. Hidden agendas, betrayals, and secrets help keep the plot engaging, as if the dangers around them and the possibility of being infected with a deadly parasite weren’t enough. I honestly didn’t expect much from this book beyond the virus angle, but as the story gradually expanded in scope, I was drawn into a plot that was way more nuanced than I had originally thought, and I ended up being quite satisfied with the crux and conclusion.
At the end of the day, I would recommend Salvation Day if you enjoy sci-fi thrillers with a touch of horror, and I thought Kali Wallace did an especially good job at the creating an atmosphere of suspense and claustrophobia! Glad I took the chance on this one.
After reading the description for Salvation Day, I thought I had a good idea of what I was in for: a futuristic sci-fi horror, with an outbreak scenario, maybe even possibly some crossover into zombie territory. I think I was picturing something like Dead Space in my mind. Well, what the book actually turned out to be was something quite different, though the story still ended up being a thrilling and cinematic experience.
Around a decade ago, the space exploration vessel House of Wisdom became abandoned after a deadly infectious virus was released on board, killing everyone on the ship. The sole survivor was a boy, Jaswinder Bhattacharya, the son of a very prominent family in the political and scientific community. Subsequently adopted by his aunt, Jas spent the next ten years pretending he could not remember what happened on the House of Wisdom and has tried to keep a low profile ever since. Meanwhile, the spaceship, which has become massive tomb, is left drifting in space guarded by drone missiles that would destroy anything that dared approach.
Now older, Jas is about to embark on his first journey back into space since the incident, along with a small group of his friends and fellow students. But unbeknownst to him, he is the key to a plan hatched up by a cult who want to use his genetic signature to bypass the security measures guarding House of Wisdom, which they mean to transform into a new home for their people. Zahra is one of the members of this cult, acting upon the orders of their leader Adam. She and her team were supposed to hijack Jas’ shuttle and kidnap the young man, forcing him to help them access the ship. No one was supposed to get hurt, or at least that was Zahra’s original understanding. But not long after they took over of the shuttle, everything started going wrong. Not surprisingly, when they reach the House of Wisdom, they also find bodies. However, what Zahra finds disturbing is not the presence of the dead, but the way that they died, which does not appear consistent with what was reported by the government. She and her team had been inoculated against the virus that supposedly killed everyone, but the threat they are faced with is something else entirely.
The story is told via two main perspectives—Zahra and Jas. Kali Wallace does a fantastic job balancing their POVs, giving readers enough background into her characters’ lives so we can sympathize with them and understand what drives them. Despite them being very different and having conflicting motives, I felt connected to both protagonists. It’s hard to say whose chapters I enjoyed following more, as I thought their lives were equally fascinating to read about. And once Zahra and Jas realized that they would be better off working together to survive, that’s when the character development and relationship dynamics grew even more intriguing.
As I said before, the way the story is presented is also very cinematic, and there were certain scenes that made me feel like I was watching a movie. Periodically, bits and pieces of conversation and reports from the House of Wisdom passengers’ last moments are also injected into the narrative, heightening the tensions and spooky atmosphere aboard the derelict ship. In addition, the world-building helps set Salvation Day apart from other sci-fi offerings that feature similar themes. The politics of this world are complex, involving a complete restructuring of the society following an apocalyptic event. Spawned in the aftermath of the collapse are a number of different government factions, resistance organizations, displaced refugees and other outsider groups like cults and extremist movements. All these opposing forces have created uncertain conditions and unique challenges in people’s lives.
Then there are the more pressing, immediate threats facing our characters once they make it aboard the House of Wisdom. Hidden agendas, betrayals, and secrets help keep the plot engaging, as if the dangers around them and the possibility of being infected with a deadly parasite weren’t enough. I honestly didn’t expect much from this book beyond the virus angle, but as the story gradually expanded in scope, I was drawn into a plot that was way more nuanced than I had originally thought, and I ended up being quite satisfied with the crux and conclusion.
At the end of the day, I would recommend Salvation Day if you enjoy sci-fi thrillers with a touch of horror, and I thought Kali Wallace did an especially good job at the creating an atmosphere of suspense and claustrophobia! Glad I took the chance on this one.
March 1, 2024
Updated:
The more I think about it, the more I was unhappy with this story. I can’t help but think how much I *could* have loved it if things had been portrayed a bit differently. The way everyone reacted was cartoonish to me idk. Still don’t recommend the audiobook for sure, but I think this is just a case where I should’ve DNFd because the story just wasn’t for me.
Kinda corny, but once I stopped taking it seriously I had fun with it!
I don’t think the audiobook helped my reading experience, so I definitely recommend checking out the physical or e-book copy. There are three narrators; one was great (but didn’t have a lot of lines), one was okay, one was terrible.
The more I think about it, the more I was unhappy with this story. I can’t help but think how much I *could* have loved it if things had been portrayed a bit differently. The way everyone reacted was cartoonish to me idk. Still don’t recommend the audiobook for sure, but I think this is just a case where I should’ve DNFd because the story just wasn’t for me.
Kinda corny, but once I stopped taking it seriously I had fun with it!
I don’t think the audiobook helped my reading experience, so I definitely recommend checking out the physical or e-book copy. There are three narrators; one was great (but didn’t have a lot of lines), one was okay, one was terrible.
October 15, 2021
A horror story that never really gets horrific enough, I never really connected with the book.
The virus/threat feels underplayed, and things roll out pretty much as you'd expect.
I appreciated the political colouring, but didn't need the last chapter that really hammered it home.
The virus/threat feels underplayed, and things roll out pretty much as you'd expect.
I appreciated the political colouring, but didn't need the last chapter that really hammered it home.
October 12, 2019
Salvation Day starts with a bang, with a small group of outlaws abducting a passenger transport vehicle that is delivering students to their internships on the moon. Their goal is to use the students as hostages to buy them time to hack their way past the security net of a derelict ship called House of Wisdom, steal the ship, and sail off into the galaxy to find a new home where the Council's rule does not reach.
The problem? House of Wisdom is derelict because an unknown virus killed every last crew member 10 years ago.
Our two MCs are Zahra and Jas. Zahra is a member of the outlaw group. Jas is one of the hostages, and the only surviving member of the House of Wisdom incident. I liked the contrast between the two characters and how the author tied them together. They are on two opposing sides and yet have shared many of the same struggles and pains for many similar reasons. I won't spoil Zahra's back story, but she has ties to House of Wisdom too, and while she is there to help her people, she has personal reasons for being there also.
The setting is very well done. It reminded me a lot of The Last Astronaut, and the movie Sphere. It's not surprising at all, but it's such an important element to stories like this. It sets the tone for the whole book. Imagine dark spaces, dead gardens, freezing cold, low-level red emergency lights. Wallace doesn't waste pages and paragraphs writing about it (the book is only about 300 pages long) but gives the reader just enough to take the image and run.
Despite the initial fast pace, I did feel like the pacing continuously winds down as we near the end of the book. There came a point where I understood almost exactly how the book would end, and some of the tension was lost. Compounding the problem, what you see is sort of what you get. There were some opportunities to layer in outside threats over the internal threat of the virus, and I never really had the sense of impending doom coming down on the MCs from all sides like I wanted.
That being said, I think Wallace's characterization was very well done. These aren't the sort of characters I'll look back on with fondness- I don't feel any personal sort of connection to them. Regardless of how innocent or guilty they were, I cared about them. Their arcs were wonderful and each went through sufficient development, changing as the story progressed. I do think it was the characters more than the action that drove me forward, which isn't exactly what I'd expect from a sci-fi thriller.
I also sincerely appreciated how in that final chapter, Wallace managed to make the story so very relevant to today's political climate. Some of those final paragraphs really got me thinking about how, for all our progress, no matter how much things change, some things really just stay the same. That level of thoughtfulness wasn't what I expected in this type of book, and I loved it.
I did have one issue with the ending, and I'm going to choose my words very carefully here so as not to put others off. It's not vague and it's not a non-ending, but I was really annoyed when the author posed a question in the last 20 pages that she then proceeded not to answer.
It wasn't as if this particular question was overly complex. It doesn't seem a large enough question to be setting up a sequel. I wouldn't call this ending bad- it just felt lazy. An epilogue could have fixed it, and in fairness to the book, the copy I read was an ARC (won in a giveaway, thank you Berkley!) so maybe the epilogue was added to the final version. You know how most fairy tales close with a "And they all lived happily ever after"? I don't need all my books to end happily ever after, I just need them to end. Wallace gave us enough food for thought to keep me thinking about the book after it ended without needing to leave me wondering about post-book events.
Overall, this is a quick little read that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.
The problem? House of Wisdom is derelict because an unknown virus killed every last crew member 10 years ago.
Our two MCs are Zahra and Jas. Zahra is a member of the outlaw group. Jas is one of the hostages, and the only surviving member of the House of Wisdom incident. I liked the contrast between the two characters and how the author tied them together. They are on two opposing sides and yet have shared many of the same struggles and pains for many similar reasons. I won't spoil Zahra's back story, but she has ties to House of Wisdom too, and while she is there to help her people, she has personal reasons for being there also.
The setting is very well done. It reminded me a lot of The Last Astronaut, and the movie Sphere. It's not surprising at all, but it's such an important element to stories like this. It sets the tone for the whole book. Imagine dark spaces, dead gardens, freezing cold, low-level red emergency lights. Wallace doesn't waste pages and paragraphs writing about it (the book is only about 300 pages long) but gives the reader just enough to take the image and run.
Despite the initial fast pace, I did feel like the pacing continuously winds down as we near the end of the book. There came a point where I understood almost exactly how the book would end, and some of the tension was lost. Compounding the problem, what you see is sort of what you get. There were some opportunities to layer in outside threats over the internal threat of the virus, and I never really had the sense of impending doom coming down on the MCs from all sides like I wanted.
That being said, I think Wallace's characterization was very well done. These aren't the sort of characters I'll look back on with fondness- I don't feel any personal sort of connection to them. Regardless of how innocent or guilty they were, I cared about them. Their arcs were wonderful and each went through sufficient development, changing as the story progressed. I do think it was the characters more than the action that drove me forward, which isn't exactly what I'd expect from a sci-fi thriller.
I also sincerely appreciated how in that final chapter, Wallace managed to make the story so very relevant to today's political climate. Some of those final paragraphs really got me thinking about how, for all our progress, no matter how much things change, some things really just stay the same. That level of thoughtfulness wasn't what I expected in this type of book, and I loved it.
I did have one issue with the ending, and I'm going to choose my words very carefully here so as not to put others off. It's not vague and it's not a non-ending, but I was really annoyed when the author posed a question in the last 20 pages that she then proceeded not to answer.
It wasn't as if this particular question was overly complex. It doesn't seem a large enough question to be setting up a sequel. I wouldn't call this ending bad- it just felt lazy. An epilogue could have fixed it, and in fairness to the book, the copy I read was an ARC (won in a giveaway, thank you Berkley!) so maybe the epilogue was added to the final version. You know how most fairy tales close with a "And they all lived happily ever after"? I don't need all my books to end happily ever after, I just need them to end. Wallace gave us enough food for thought to keep me thinking about the book after it ended without needing to leave me wondering about post-book events.
Overall, this is a quick little read that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.
August 28, 2021
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Salvation Day is yet another book whose good idea/premise is hampered by its poor execution. As the title suggest, much of this novel takes place in one day...this timeline alone makes for a rather restrictive narrative. The story and its characters too are hindered by the fact that most of the events narrated by our respective protagonist take place on the same day. Because of this the scope of this book is quite limited and what had the potential to be an interesting world is narrowed down, so much so that we never truly get the bigger picture of this speculative future.
The range of emotions shows by the various characters is also limited by this one-day setting. They feel different variations of panic and fear, which soon grew tiresome and never allowed for us to see these characters as something other than panicked and not in control of their circumstances.
The story also takes its time to define its setting, that is of providing a solid world-building. Although I am certainly not a fan of 'info-dumps', this novel would have benefited from a clearer depiction of its universe as well as the dynamics between this future society.
Overall I found that this book didn't know what it wanted to be. A story of a rebellion or of a cult or a story in the vein of Event Horizon with dynamics a la Panic Room.
The two narrators blended with one another, which didn't really make them all that believable as they technically grew up in very differentiating environments and should not share the same vocabulary and or way of thinking.
Perhaps those who haven't read much speculative fiction might be able to enjoy this more than I did.
Salvation Day is yet another book whose good idea/premise is hampered by its poor execution. As the title suggest, much of this novel takes place in one day...this timeline alone makes for a rather restrictive narrative. The story and its characters too are hindered by the fact that most of the events narrated by our respective protagonist take place on the same day. Because of this the scope of this book is quite limited and what had the potential to be an interesting world is narrowed down, so much so that we never truly get the bigger picture of this speculative future.
The range of emotions shows by the various characters is also limited by this one-day setting. They feel different variations of panic and fear, which soon grew tiresome and never allowed for us to see these characters as something other than panicked and not in control of their circumstances.
The story also takes its time to define its setting, that is of providing a solid world-building. Although I am certainly not a fan of 'info-dumps', this novel would have benefited from a clearer depiction of its universe as well as the dynamics between this future society.
Overall I found that this book didn't know what it wanted to be. A story of a rebellion or of a cult or a story in the vein of Event Horizon with dynamics a la Panic Room.
The two narrators blended with one another, which didn't really make them all that believable as they technically grew up in very differentiating environments and should not share the same vocabulary and or way of thinking.
Perhaps those who haven't read much speculative fiction might be able to enjoy this more than I did.
March 19, 2019
After purchasing my tickets for Comicon, I got an email. Would I be interested in a free book, and would I agree to come to a Book Club meeting at the con? Ummm, would I like to breathe oxygen? Heck yeah!
I waited, "patiently," and two weeks before con, it arrived! A happy little package with this book and some assorted materials:
I was deep in the middle of a PKD nominee, but I cracked this open and looked up again four hours later. So, readable? Definitely.
While this book deals with two opposing groups, it boils down to two main characters, united by a tragedy from their childhood: the mysterious and bad deaths of a space craft full of people. The ship, abandoned and untouched, now a mass grave and always a mystery, soon becomes more. To some, it's hope. To others, it's terror.
At first I felt there were a LOT of similarities to the first Expanse book, to say why would be spoilers. And while I think there were definitely influences, the plot and characters moved beyond and became fully its own story. We have the female lead: terrorist? someone bucking the system just trying to find freedom for her people? broken daughter trying to clear her father's name? And the male: brilliant hero trying to save HIS people? traumatized son trying to find answers? the only person who knows what truly happened up there? They both ended up more by the time it was done. And extra special points for them NOT hooking up. This is not a YA book, for sure.
I liked the blending of horror and science fiction, and the characters (for the most part) seemed very fleshed out in their actions and motivations. The only part that seemed a miss was the portrayal of the cult leader. 1) TRIGGERED from my very conservative upbringing, there's no way any sane person would buy that megalomaniac crap, right? 2) by the time we meet him, sh!t is going down and we get a very maniacal one-dimensional character which made me wonder how he got so many people to follow him.
Anyway, it ended up being a lot better than I anticipated, and listening to everyone discuss at the Book Club was super fun. Also fun? The bag of swag I got at the end, woot!
I waited, "patiently," and two weeks before con, it arrived! A happy little package with this book and some assorted materials:
I was deep in the middle of a PKD nominee, but I cracked this open and looked up again four hours later. So, readable? Definitely.
While this book deals with two opposing groups, it boils down to two main characters, united by a tragedy from their childhood: the mysterious and bad deaths of a space craft full of people. The ship, abandoned and untouched, now a mass grave and always a mystery, soon becomes more. To some, it's hope. To others, it's terror.
At first I felt there were a LOT of similarities to the first Expanse book, to say why would be spoilers. And while I think there were definitely influences, the plot and characters moved beyond and became fully its own story. We have the female lead: terrorist? someone bucking the system just trying to find freedom for her people? broken daughter trying to clear her father's name? And the male: brilliant hero trying to save HIS people? traumatized son trying to find answers? the only person who knows what truly happened up there? They both ended up more by the time it was done. And extra special points for them NOT hooking up. This is not a YA book, for sure.
I liked the blending of horror and science fiction, and the characters (for the most part) seemed very fleshed out in their actions and motivations. The only part that seemed a miss was the portrayal of the cult leader. 1) TRIGGERED from my very conservative upbringing, there's no way any sane person would buy that megalomaniac crap, right? 2) by the time we meet him, sh!t is going down and we get a very maniacal one-dimensional character which made me wonder how he got so many people to follow him.
Anyway, it ended up being a lot better than I anticipated, and listening to everyone discuss at the Book Club was super fun. Also fun? The bag of swag I got at the end, woot!
December 30, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys! I have been meaning to read some of Kali Wallace’s work for quite some time but always seem to forget to do so. Then I was reminded of this book’s existence from Mogsy @ thebibliosanctum’s awesome review which led me to this fun read. She said:
Aye, ye heard it correctly, an abandoned derelict ship filled with dead bodies . . . in space! This read was certainly spooky. The book starts with a group from a fringe colony taking a passenger vessel hostage with the goal of stealing a massive abandoned generation ship. The generation ship’s crew was previously killed in a viral outbreak where there was only one survivor. But when the kidnappers get to the ship, the dead bodies’ cause of death doesn’t seem to match the official story.
Of course that be all ye get from me because of spoilers. The story is told from the perspective of two people, the original virus survivor, Jas, and one of the kidnappers, Zahara. I actually thought the back-and-forth between the two helped add to the suspense and mystery of the plot. With each shift, the reader is given new pieces of the current puzzle and also insight into the past. And there is no romance here. Hooray!
The world-building is what sets this apart from other sci-fi tales. The story is nuanced with conflicting politics from multiple factions, problems with intrapersonal relationships, and atmospheric ship details. This was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting. The couple chapters of what happened politically at the very end weren’t completely to me taste but overall this was a fantastic read that I highly recommend. Arrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
the way the story is presented is also very cinematic, and there were certain scenes that made me feel like I was watching a movie. Periodically, bits and pieces of conversation and reports from the House of Wisdom passengers’ last moments are also injected into the narrative, heightening the tensions and spooky atmosphere aboard the derelict ship. In addition, the world-building helps set Salvation Day apart from other sci-fi offerings that feature similar themes.
Aye, ye heard it correctly, an abandoned derelict ship filled with dead bodies . . . in space! This read was certainly spooky. The book starts with a group from a fringe colony taking a passenger vessel hostage with the goal of stealing a massive abandoned generation ship. The generation ship’s crew was previously killed in a viral outbreak where there was only one survivor. But when the kidnappers get to the ship, the dead bodies’ cause of death doesn’t seem to match the official story.
Of course that be all ye get from me because of spoilers. The story is told from the perspective of two people, the original virus survivor, Jas, and one of the kidnappers, Zahara. I actually thought the back-and-forth between the two helped add to the suspense and mystery of the plot. With each shift, the reader is given new pieces of the current puzzle and also insight into the past. And there is no romance here. Hooray!
The world-building is what sets this apart from other sci-fi tales. The story is nuanced with conflicting politics from multiple factions, problems with intrapersonal relationships, and atmospheric ship details. This was a quick read that I devoured in one sitting. The couple chapters of what happened politically at the very end weren’t completely to me taste but overall this was a fantastic read that I highly recommend. Arrrr!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
July 29, 2021
Now that I am done, I can finally go read friends reviews because I am not sure myself what I think about this book.
Like Shrek and onions, there were layers to Salvation Day. It starts out as almost a heist story. A group of people are capturing a shuttle for a somewhat unknown purpose. The story continues with sudden reveals adding more and more.....layers (seriously need to find another word).
Salvation Day is a mix of mystery, horror and sci-fi with some well developed and believable characters. It all worked for me except the very end. I found many of the ship scenes super creepy. Hints at the ultimate mystery were around but I was fully engaged trying to figure it out and I completely bought into several of the main characters, their motivations and ultimate decisions.
The end lost me but not so much to affect the 4 star rating. I will now go find out where it went wrong for others.
Like Shrek and onions, there were layers to Salvation Day. It starts out as almost a heist story. A group of people are capturing a shuttle for a somewhat unknown purpose. The story continues with sudden reveals adding more and more.....layers (seriously need to find another word).
Salvation Day is a mix of mystery, horror and sci-fi with some well developed and believable characters. It all worked for me except the very end. I found many of the ship scenes super creepy. Hints at the ultimate mystery were around but I was fully engaged trying to figure it out and I completely bought into several of the main characters, their motivations and ultimate decisions.
The end lost me but not so much to affect the 4 star rating. I will now go find out where it went wrong for others.
Want to read
August 14, 2019set aside @ 23%
I really want to read this soon, buuuut I've been at 23% for over a month so I'm setting it aside for now.
I really want to read this soon, buuuut I've been at 23% for over a month so I'm setting it aside for now.
July 23, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .
This was such a high energy, eerie adventure through space. Our main characters, Zahra and Jaswinder, had incredibly differing motivations for everything that happened, and it was easy to relate to both of their stances, though as the reader, it's clear to see that Zahra is being manipulated. Zahra is a member of what basically amounts to a cult which operates under the guise of "helping/saving" (don't they all?) Jas has absolutely no plans to throw himself into any sort of conflict, but when your ship is taken hostage... well, we do what we must to survive.
And that is the crux of it: these people are all trying to survive, but there is so much that they don't know. Obviously a good portion of the book is devoted to uncovering the myriad of things that have been shoved under the rug, things that neither character was ever aware of. And ultimately, there are a lot of questions about who they can and can't trust.
It's such an action-packed book (it would make an incredible movie, by the way, someone should get on that) that you definitely won't be bored as you try to figure out what our main characters will discover next. The entire vibe of the book really nails an eerie, creepy ambiance that fits perfectly with the world the author created. My one qualm was that I didn't feel as much of a connection with the characters as I would have liked too. The side characters especially felt a bit disposable. But overall, the plot and the unfurling secrets and discoveries were intense enough to keep me well entertained!
Bottom Line: Definitely a plot driven novel, the action and mystery kept me on the edge of my seat.
This was such a high energy, eerie adventure through space. Our main characters, Zahra and Jaswinder, had incredibly differing motivations for everything that happened, and it was easy to relate to both of their stances, though as the reader, it's clear to see that Zahra is being manipulated. Zahra is a member of what basically amounts to a cult which operates under the guise of "helping/saving" (don't they all?) Jas has absolutely no plans to throw himself into any sort of conflict, but when your ship is taken hostage... well, we do what we must to survive.
And that is the crux of it: these people are all trying to survive, but there is so much that they don't know. Obviously a good portion of the book is devoted to uncovering the myriad of things that have been shoved under the rug, things that neither character was ever aware of. And ultimately, there are a lot of questions about who they can and can't trust.
It's such an action-packed book (it would make an incredible movie, by the way, someone should get on that) that you definitely won't be bored as you try to figure out what our main characters will discover next. The entire vibe of the book really nails an eerie, creepy ambiance that fits perfectly with the world the author created. My one qualm was that I didn't feel as much of a connection with the characters as I would have liked too. The side characters especially felt a bit disposable. But overall, the plot and the unfurling secrets and discoveries were intense enough to keep me well entertained!
Bottom Line: Definitely a plot driven novel, the action and mystery kept me on the edge of my seat.
June 22, 2019
In compliance with FTC guidelines------I received this book free from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The content of this review is not influenced by that fact. The feelings expressed are solely mine. I sincerely appreciate the chance to read and review this book.
It pains me to give this book a 2.5 star rating (2 recorded) but when measuring my thoughts against recent 3 star reads it doesn't match up. I really wanted to like this book and be lost in this future world. It just didn't happen! The writing was not the issue entirely. Somewhere though it just went of course for me. I think the book was entirely too long for the story the author tried to tell. She probably could have wrapped it up in under 200 pages. There was too much filler and unfortunately that filler was not overly interesting or vital to the story. I also had no feelings whatsoever for any of the characters, good of bad. They were just there, nothing else. I also disliked the constant use of f-bombs throughout and coming from every character and for any reason. I'm certainly no prude and have been known to swear like a sailor in the very, very rare occasion when circumstances warrant. However, the use in this book felt off and not authentic. Bottom line it did nothing to add to building characters or plot forwarding so it was a detractor at best and a total turn off of the story at worst.
2*(2.5)/4.04*
It pains me to give this book a 2.5 star rating (2 recorded) but when measuring my thoughts against recent 3 star reads it doesn't match up. I really wanted to like this book and be lost in this future world. It just didn't happen! The writing was not the issue entirely. Somewhere though it just went of course for me. I think the book was entirely too long for the story the author tried to tell. She probably could have wrapped it up in under 200 pages. There was too much filler and unfortunately that filler was not overly interesting or vital to the story. I also had no feelings whatsoever for any of the characters, good of bad. They were just there, nothing else. I also disliked the constant use of f-bombs throughout and coming from every character and for any reason. I'm certainly no prude and have been known to swear like a sailor in the very, very rare occasion when circumstances warrant. However, the use in this book felt off and not authentic. Bottom line it did nothing to add to building characters or plot forwarding so it was a detractor at best and a total turn off of the story at worst.
2*(2.5)/4.04*
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December 12, 2021
Earlier this year, both ten months and a decade ago, I read Dead Space and loved it. So I was determined to read some of Wallace's backlist titles, and was not disappointed in Salvation Day, although it does tread some very familiar waters (I'm also reading the soon to be released Dead Space by SA Barnes, which has many similarities to Salvation).
There's a lost ship. A mysterious plague that killed everyone aboard. And a group of people going to it to take it as their own. This time, the group is a part of a cult of the Family, a group of separationists and rejected peoples from the government who want to create a home of their own unbound by the rules of the oppressors. And they have hostages: young children of the leaders of government, and the lone survivor of the initial tragedy.
Overall, this was a thrill ride throughout the entire time. From the initial hijacking of the shuttle, to the journey onto House of Wisdom to the subsequent breaking down of literally everything, and the past's continued ability to haunt and hold up the present.
No spoilers other than that, but I will say that it was really entertaining to read, and I really liked the two leads of Zahra and Jas, and the very hard choices they had to make and stay true to their beliefs, even as those beliefs and understandings changed and shifted around them.
There's a lost ship. A mysterious plague that killed everyone aboard. And a group of people going to it to take it as their own. This time, the group is a part of a cult of the Family, a group of separationists and rejected peoples from the government who want to create a home of their own unbound by the rules of the oppressors. And they have hostages: young children of the leaders of government, and the lone survivor of the initial tragedy.
Overall, this was a thrill ride throughout the entire time. From the initial hijacking of the shuttle, to the journey onto House of Wisdom to the subsequent breaking down of literally everything, and the past's continued ability to haunt and hold up the present.
No spoilers other than that, but I will say that it was really entertaining to read, and I really liked the two leads of Zahra and Jas, and the very hard choices they had to make and stay true to their beliefs, even as those beliefs and understandings changed and shifted around them.
December 21, 2024
*4.5/5
so good. unreal good. I could not look away.
full review on my YouTube channel, ProblemsOfABookNerd!
so good. unreal good. I could not look away.
full review on my YouTube channel, ProblemsOfABookNerd!
May 12, 2021
A group of young.. for lack of a better word ..terrorists, hijack a student shuttle in an attempt to take hostage of a VIP student as a means to gain access to a huge starship for their family to create a home in.
Right off the bat we have so many names, and spaceship names and political party names that I was almost put off trying to keep everything straight in my head. I stuck with it and I am glad I did, this was an exciting sci-fi horror, with lots going on.
Our main pseudo terrorist is Zahra and her father was blamed for starting a deadly outbreak on the aforementioned "huge starship" and killing all but one of its inhabitants, Jaswinder who is now the focus of the hostage situation. Zahra now belongs to a group called The Family and herself and younger siblings seem beholden to the family's leader Adam. This smacks of a cult, but poor Zahra gets to about the 65% marker before she even starts to question this bananas mission.
The huge starship is called House of Wisdom and it is littered with bodies of the previous crew that were to have succumbed to the virus, but some bodies are torn to shreds and it turns out the virus was not what it seemed and is definitely still alive and well.
How's that for a horror setting?
So we have gunman, student hostages, a deadly virus and a crazy cult leader all in space.
Also lots of explosions!
The wrap up I felt dragged and kind of doubled down of the message of the book. But still great read!
Right off the bat we have so many names, and spaceship names and political party names that I was almost put off trying to keep everything straight in my head. I stuck with it and I am glad I did, this was an exciting sci-fi horror, with lots going on.
Our main pseudo terrorist is Zahra and her father was blamed for starting a deadly outbreak on the aforementioned "huge starship" and killing all but one of its inhabitants, Jaswinder who is now the focus of the hostage situation. Zahra now belongs to a group called The Family and herself and younger siblings seem beholden to the family's leader Adam. This smacks of a cult, but poor Zahra gets to about the 65% marker before she even starts to question this bananas mission.
The huge starship is called House of Wisdom and it is littered with bodies of the previous crew that were to have succumbed to the virus, but some bodies are torn to shreds and it turns out the virus was not what it seemed and is definitely still alive and well.
How's that for a horror setting?
So we have gunman, student hostages, a deadly virus and a crazy cult leader all in space.
Also lots of explosions!
The wrap up I felt dragged and kind of doubled down of the message of the book. But still great read!
January 14, 2024
This is a fast-paced, intense and absolutely fantastic sci-fi horror/thriller. I couldn't stop reading and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I truly cared for the characters and felt a major attachment to the story. I hope Kali Wallace writes another adult sci-fi book sometime in the future.
March 22, 2021
2+ stars. SciFi/horror. People doing Really Stupid Things on a creepy-ish deserted spaceship. It's the kind of story where it's fun to guess who will die next. Some gore, but I wouldn't call it stomach-churning.
May 14, 2023
I’d have done a bit more work on this and it wouldn’t have been so boring. Could have used more details, more feelings, more of everything really. I thought this was going to be a horror or at very least thrilling but it was meh.
August 6, 2019
Are we sure this wasn’t ya? If a love triangle was thrown in it would be.
I didn’t care a fig about the characters. The world building was non existent.
But space! And twists.
I didn’t care a fig about the characters. The world building was non existent.
But space! And twists.
July 26, 2023
Wow. I must stay, as much as I loved the premise of this book and was very hyped for it, I definitely loved it more than I thought I was going to!
I love space, I love horror... So when I see some space horror? I am IN!
I will admit, when it first started, there was way too many people to keep up with, and all the name drops and history of their current world drops, it was very overwhelming, but once you get into it more, the more easier it was to keep up and understand it. Also, it may be just me, but bloody hell, he chapters were long. I am definitely a shorter chapter kinda girlie.
But other than that, I really enjoyed the story. It kept me engaged, it kept me asking questions, it kept me at the edge of my seat. The horror is this was so well written and done right, that is was creepy and just, wow... Amazing. Also, a cute queer romance subplot, that I adored.
A very solid read, a good time all round, and I would definitely recommend to any little space horror lovers!
I love space, I love horror... So when I see some space horror? I am IN!
I will admit, when it first started, there was way too many people to keep up with, and all the name drops and history of their current world drops, it was very overwhelming, but once you get into it more, the more easier it was to keep up and understand it. Also, it may be just me, but bloody hell, he chapters were long. I am definitely a shorter chapter kinda girlie.
But other than that, I really enjoyed the story. It kept me engaged, it kept me asking questions, it kept me at the edge of my seat. The horror is this was so well written and done right, that is was creepy and just, wow... Amazing. Also, a cute queer romance subplot, that I adored.
A very solid read, a good time all round, and I would definitely recommend to any little space horror lovers!
July 25, 2021
Please consider viewing this review on my blog: https://ohnobooks.wordpress.com/2021/...
cw // death of a loved one, death of a parent, blood, violence, gore, description of injuries, terrorism
In the past few months, I’ve been obsessed with horror books, so after reading the synopsis of this one, I had to give it a chance.
I think we can all agree that being in a hostage situation where nobody can help you is scary in itself, but having a mysterious virus (that you thought was over years ago) suddenly infecting people around you, and making them violent is straight-up terrifying. Well… That is exactly what the book will deliver.
We view the story through two point of views, from the complete opposite sides. We have Zahra who is commander of the team of the terrorist group and Jas who is one of the hostages. Both of them have a personal link to the ship, so we get to know more details about the past. This combination of viewpoints also makes up a very interesting story because it allows the reader to view the situation fully and helps the reader piece together the information on House of Wisdom, the spaceship that the group is after.
One if the most notable thing about this book was definitely the atmosphere. The vibe really reminded me of the video game: Prey. Maybe it was the fact that they are locked in this spaceship with nowhere to run, or maybe it was the mountains of corpses laying everywhere, but it was for sure really scary and helped to make the whole situation more anxious.
The world setting is reflective in a way since it lets you see how after the Earth become unliveable, the rich fled, but refused to give help to many families and people. And what happens if they don’t help the ones in need? Of course, they will turn to someone who promises help and protection. This aspect of the story makes you understand where the people from the terrorist group are coming from, and at some point, you can’t even blame them for being angry at the system. But even with this new hope they have, there are always bad people, especially in power who will see someone’s hurt as an opportunity to play god. Therefore I think the story also holds up a crooked mirror that shows the true nature of power and the people wielding it.
I think you should definitely read this book if you are in the mood for something spooky. It’s really fast-paced and easy to read, so even if you are not a big fan of sci-fi, the action scenes will make sure that you are always on the edge of your seat.
cw // death of a loved one, death of a parent, blood, violence, gore, description of injuries, terrorism
In the past few months, I’ve been obsessed with horror books, so after reading the synopsis of this one, I had to give it a chance.
I think we can all agree that being in a hostage situation where nobody can help you is scary in itself, but having a mysterious virus (that you thought was over years ago) suddenly infecting people around you, and making them violent is straight-up terrifying. Well… That is exactly what the book will deliver.
We view the story through two point of views, from the complete opposite sides. We have Zahra who is commander of the team of the terrorist group and Jas who is one of the hostages. Both of them have a personal link to the ship, so we get to know more details about the past. This combination of viewpoints also makes up a very interesting story because it allows the reader to view the situation fully and helps the reader piece together the information on House of Wisdom, the spaceship that the group is after.
One if the most notable thing about this book was definitely the atmosphere. The vibe really reminded me of the video game: Prey. Maybe it was the fact that they are locked in this spaceship with nowhere to run, or maybe it was the mountains of corpses laying everywhere, but it was for sure really scary and helped to make the whole situation more anxious.
The world setting is reflective in a way since it lets you see how after the Earth become unliveable, the rich fled, but refused to give help to many families and people. And what happens if they don’t help the ones in need? Of course, they will turn to someone who promises help and protection. This aspect of the story makes you understand where the people from the terrorist group are coming from, and at some point, you can’t even blame them for being angry at the system. But even with this new hope they have, there are always bad people, especially in power who will see someone’s hurt as an opportunity to play god. Therefore I think the story also holds up a crooked mirror that shows the true nature of power and the people wielding it.
I think you should definitely read this book if you are in the mood for something spooky. It’s really fast-paced and easy to read, so even if you are not a big fan of sci-fi, the action scenes will make sure that you are always on the edge of your seat.
April 14, 2019
For those who like to journey into the future to the stars and beyond, Kali Wallace has a science fiction tale filled with mystery, intrigue and the possible final demise of humanity, SALVATION DAY.
After almost completely destroying Earth’s ability to maintain life, ships were sent out to explore other avenues of survival, but one exploration vessel became a tomb for its inhabitants, killed by a deadly virus, now condemned to space as so much flotsam. Now one group will discover the truth about that virus and learn the secrets buried by the government. For some it will bring redemption, for others it will bring death, but no one ever said the truth was always pretty…
High octane action, emotionally charged characters and a mission never meant to succeed, who will survive the House of Wisdom’s horrors?
I do love a good science fiction drama, one that unveils some of the possibilities in the future and the seemingly endless ability of humanity for destruction and deceit in the face of complete annihilation. I also love heroes who will do the right thing at any cost.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!
Publisher: Berkley (July 9, 2019)
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-fi Thriller
Print Length: 320 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
After almost completely destroying Earth’s ability to maintain life, ships were sent out to explore other avenues of survival, but one exploration vessel became a tomb for its inhabitants, killed by a deadly virus, now condemned to space as so much flotsam. Now one group will discover the truth about that virus and learn the secrets buried by the government. For some it will bring redemption, for others it will bring death, but no one ever said the truth was always pretty…
High octane action, emotionally charged characters and a mission never meant to succeed, who will survive the House of Wisdom’s horrors?
I do love a good science fiction drama, one that unveils some of the possibilities in the future and the seemingly endless ability of humanity for destruction and deceit in the face of complete annihilation. I also love heroes who will do the right thing at any cost.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!
Publisher: Berkley (July 9, 2019)
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-fi Thriller
Print Length: 320 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 10, 2019
**received an ARC for the Penguin Reader Panel at ECCC 2019**
I could see that this book could be really good to a certain kind of reader. It's really not in my wheelhouse, so I enjoyed it, but don't think it's anything amazing.
Positives:
The plot of this book was enjoyable with lots of twists and turns. Very satisfying resolution.
Fast paced. I actually got through this really quickly, which is hard for me lately.
The writing is very cinematic. This is the kind of book that would make a great movie.
Negatives:
I felt like the plot drove the characters. No one seemed to be making their own decisions but just being driven to them.
The characters were pretty flat. Everyone had one motivating idea.
A little randomly preachy at the end.
I wanted more world building. I didn't get a good picture of what the councils were until the very end of the book. The secrets were so fragile that they couldn't stand up to having the reader have information.
The title - I'm not sure it's justified. I mean they stopped the menace, but Salvation implies something very permanent and lasting.
I could see that this book could be really good to a certain kind of reader. It's really not in my wheelhouse, so I enjoyed it, but don't think it's anything amazing.
Positives:
The plot of this book was enjoyable with lots of twists and turns. Very satisfying resolution.
Fast paced. I actually got through this really quickly, which is hard for me lately.
The writing is very cinematic. This is the kind of book that would make a great movie.
Negatives:
I felt like the plot drove the characters. No one seemed to be making their own decisions but just being driven to them.
The characters were pretty flat. Everyone had one motivating idea.
A little randomly preachy at the end.
I wanted more world building. I didn't get a good picture of what the councils were until the very end of the book. The secrets were so fragile that they couldn't stand up to having the reader have information.
The title - I'm not sure it's justified. I mean they stopped the menace, but Salvation implies something very permanent and lasting.
March 21, 2024
It’ll be lame reviews for a while because I’ve broken my arm/shoulder but I didn’t want to not write my thoughts about this one. I enjoyed Salvation Day massively. It was terrifying and the ending was just what I wanted it to be. Almost a five-star read, but it ends as a four-and-a-half for me.
I don’t think I have read horror sci-fi before (Paradise-1?), but this really took the cake.
An alleged human-made virus has killed everyone onboard the science ship House of Wisdom which, amongst other things, is investigating the first probe sent back from one of the many generational ships lost in space. There is only one survivor, a kid. Flash forward to the start of this book, a group of rebels have taken a ship hostage (with this kid, now an adult, amongst the hostages) and they are going to break into House of Wisdom. Here’s the thing - the virus that killed everyone isn’t exactly what they think it was and… it’s still there.
I was hooked on the story from the get-go. At no point did I feel anything was off and no questions were left unanswered. World-building was just enough to get the story going. The characters felt developed enough to feel for them (but not to love them, maybe). There is a strong cult element in this book that I do think could have been more fleshed out with world-building (speaking broadly, you live in the Council or you are sent to a desert…? Living in the Council or details about the desert aren’t there). All in all, this book could have used 50-100 more pages.
The only thing I wish I would’ve known more of was… ‘it’, but considering the end of the book, maybe it’s not worth wondering about it. I did want to know… ‘who’ made it and ‘why’ it was going where it was going.
I don’t think I have read horror sci-fi before (Paradise-1?), but this really took the cake.
An alleged human-made virus has killed everyone onboard the science ship House of Wisdom which, amongst other things, is investigating the first probe sent back from one of the many generational ships lost in space. There is only one survivor, a kid. Flash forward to the start of this book, a group of rebels have taken a ship hostage (with this kid, now an adult, amongst the hostages) and they are going to break into House of Wisdom. Here’s the thing - the virus that killed everyone isn’t exactly what they think it was and… it’s still there.
I was hooked on the story from the get-go. At no point did I feel anything was off and no questions were left unanswered. World-building was just enough to get the story going. The characters felt developed enough to feel for them (but not to love them, maybe). There is a strong cult element in this book that I do think could have been more fleshed out with world-building (speaking broadly, you live in the Council or you are sent to a desert…? Living in the Council or details about the desert aren’t there). All in all, this book could have used 50-100 more pages.
The only thing I wish I would’ve known more of was… ‘it’, but considering the end of the book, maybe it’s not worth wondering about it. I did want to know… ‘who’ made it and ‘why’ it was going where it was going.
October 4, 2020
This was an incredible Sci-Fi/Horror that fans of Aliens and Event Horizon should greatly enjoy. In a dystopian future, after a great cataclysm Earth has rebuilt, but many live among the stars and planets while half of the planet remains home to lesser castes. Over 10 years ago, the largest space craft designed in the modern era fell prey to a disaster killing all aboard except for one. Now, n cult-like enclave from the wastelands plans to kidnap that lone survivor and take control of the great ship so they can fly off to live their own lives among the stars. But when they arrive at the craft they find the truth about what happened all those years ago, and that truth has re-awoken.
Much like the films I mentioned above, a group arrives at a derelict ship with plans and expectations to determine what happened and restore its functionality. And soon after arrival, the casualties begin and everything is thrown off kilter. Several times the story threw in plot twists that were totally unexpected and ramped up the tension and the action more and more. It took a bit to get into the book at first, but the steady build up and surprises made it more enjoyable the farther it went along. While at times the social commentary was little heavy handed, it nonetheless was telling about the times we live in now and warns of where we don't want to end up.
Much like the films I mentioned above, a group arrives at a derelict ship with plans and expectations to determine what happened and restore its functionality. And soon after arrival, the casualties begin and everything is thrown off kilter. Several times the story threw in plot twists that were totally unexpected and ramped up the tension and the action more and more. It took a bit to get into the book at first, but the steady build up and surprises made it more enjoyable the farther it went along. While at times the social commentary was little heavy handed, it nonetheless was telling about the times we live in now and warns of where we don't want to end up.
July 19, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4 because Jas 🥰
I'm placing this in the Successful buddy reads with Steph pile. While I preferred Jas' point of view 100 times more than Zahra's I still enjoyed the story line the entire time. I was also completely satisfied with the way it all turned out.
I'm placing this in the Successful buddy reads with Steph pile. While I preferred Jas' point of view 100 times more than Zahra's I still enjoyed the story line the entire time. I was also completely satisfied with the way it all turned out.
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