‘This claustrophobic, horror-leaning tour de drive is strongly suggested for fans of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation and Andy Weir’s The Martian.’ — Publishers Regular (starred review)

***

A thrilling, atmospheric debut using the intensive travel of The Martian and Gravity as well as the creeping dread of Annihilation, when a caver on the foreign planet sees herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival.

When Gyre Cost lied her way into this expedition, she about The Luminous Deceased: A Book thought she’d be mapping mineral deposits, which her biggest problems will be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought that the extra fat paycheck-enough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her mother-meant she’d get a skilled surface team, monitoring her fit and environment, keeping her secure. Keeping her sane.

Rather, she got Em.

Em sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyre’s body with medicines or withholding critical details to “make certain the smooth procedure” of her expedition. Em understands about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash-and a lash. And Em has secrets, too .

As Gyre descends, little inconsistencies-missing supplies, unpredicted adjustments in the path, and, worst of all, shifts in Em’s motivations-drive her out of her depths. Lost and disoriented, Gyre discovers her feeling of control offering way to paranoia and anger. On her behalf own with this inexplicable, deadly place, surrounded by darkness as well as the unidentified, Gyre must overcome more than just the dangerous landscape as well as the Tunneler which phone calls underground its home if she really wants to make it out alive-she must confront the spirits in her very own head.

But how come she can’t tremble the feeling she’s being followed?