Otherworldly by Dwain Worrell

First Line:

The trick to beating sensory deprivation tanks is to cling on to a sense of loneliness, the feeling of inner amputation—that isolation, hold on to that.

Summary:

Cleo Xavier, astronaut and explorer, is an expert at navigating loneliness and isolation.

That makes her the perfect person to join a 5 person crew of astronauts tasked with testing if Orbis Alius can be terraformed.

Except Orbis Alius is nothing like they imagined. Filled with abnormal weather patterns and horrors unimaginable, their mission quickly becomes a fight for survival.

My Review: NO SPOILERS

First off, such a dope concept! As someone terrified of space, this sent chills up my spine.

A little predictable in the beginning? Yes.

A total mess at the end (in a good way)? Absolutely.

Cleo was a very cool character to follow. She's not overly amicable, but also not a complete asshole. I was rooting for her to find a way out, and it was interesting to see how she processed anything new she was seeing.

That ending had me staring at the last words, wondering wtf I just read, and I LOVED IT! Suspenseful horror about traversing another planet without knowing what you'll find!

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Favorite Quote(s):

They tell her that a nocturnal mind is a mind hung backward, and unfolding the brain makes her dream inside out.

The acned sky appeared to stare back at her.

Page Count

271 Pages

Date Finished:

March 23rd 2026

Book Genre:

Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventurous, Dark, Tense, Medium-Paced, Mental Health, Fantasy, Addiction