Aliens

Titan of the Stars (Titan of the Stars #1) / E.K. Johnston

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Titan of the Stars (Titan of the Stars #1)
By: E.K. Johnston
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Number of Pages: 304
Published: May 27, 2025
Publisher: Tundra Books
Dates Read: July 1, 2026 - July 7, 2026
Format: Hardcover          ISBN: 9781774884089

Celeste knows every inch of the Titan, she’s proud of her work as an apprentice engineer, and as the space ship’s maiden voyage launches, she’s optimistic for the new journey from Earth to Mars.

Dominic is already anxious inside his dad’s precious ship – once it’s launched into space, he’s trapped, both inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him, a life without art school, which is what he’s always dreamed of.

Ancient aliens discovered under melted ice caps have also been brought on to the Titan and stored in display cases for the passengers to view… until an event releases them onto the ship.

So I got this as a read for LibraryThing, and then life got in the way, a separation happened, and a move, so I got really behind. But, I finally got around to reading it when I had a week off from all the things and I loved it (and kind of excited that I did wait so long, because now I don’t have to wait so long for the sequel that’s coming out here the first week of September)!

The pacing is fast and the text quite subversive while reading – I could really see the ins and outs of the ship through Celese’s eyes. I’m not the biggest horror fan and though this has a few bloody scenes, I didn’t find anything too crazy that would stop me from reading.

Overall, if you like the movie Aliens mixed with the setting of Titanic (the ship itself, not with the iceberg), I believe you’ll find great interest in this read. This is a fast paced, space, sci-fi horror with queer inclusion included. You may just want to pick up both books when you grab this one!

*Thank you LibraryThing and Tundra Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Bones Beneath My Skin / TJ Klune

/ Alisha Helms / 1 Comment 
The Bone Beneath My Skin
By: TJ Klune
Genre: Science Fiction
Number of Pages: 416
Published: February 4, 2025 (1st Published October 26, 2018)
Publisher: Tor Books
Dates Read: January 4, 2025 - January 16, 2025
Format: Paperback / ARC

In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he lost his journalist job in Washington DC. The only thing he has left is his dad’s old truck, and the family’s empty summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon. So he decides to go there to be alone – except, the cabin isn’t empty. A big gruff of a man named Alex is there. And with him is a young girl, who’s not really young, but oh is she extraordinary. She calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.

It becomes clear to Nate that he has two choices. One is to wallow in the memories of his past and drown. Two is the fight for a future he never thought possible. Because it wasn’t by chance Nate met this duo in his cabin, he doesn’t really believe is fate or destiny either – but they’re special, and Nate will do what it takes to keep them free.

Oh I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book! As always, I was not disappointed by anything TJ Klune writes; there’s found family, gayness, witty humor, and this time, bacon (all the bacon), conspiracy theories, and running from bad men!

I don’t know how Klune is able to write such realistic, multilayered characters that always end up stealing pieces of my heart and never letting it go, but he does so every single time. The little found family of Nate, Alex, and Art will live on forever in my head by the phrase, “How would Art experience this?” when going through life.

This book is more science fiction over Klune’s usual (recent) releases of fantasy, and there is a small spice scene, but I wouldn’t classify this as a sole romance. There’s more focus on the found family portion as well as Nate coming to terms with his past.

Overall, this is a wonderful, thrilling, fast pace, page turner filled with a blend of the supernatural and of the human experience that is a must-read for all.

*Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review