Science Fiction – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Hunger

Title: Hunger
Author: Nihaarika Negi, Joe Bocaroda, José Villarrubia
Genre: Graphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction
Publisher: The Lab Press
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 28, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In 1896 Bombay under British rule, famine-stricken mutant Izna embraces her monstrous nature to seek revenge against oppressive forces.

In 1896 Bombay, under British rule, a concentration camp holds IZNA, a plague-infected and famine-stricken being. Mutated through medical experiments, she, along with others, becomes a mutant. British officers invite famine photographer William Wallace Hooper to document the mutants, unaware he’s controlled by a shape-shifting vampire called Pisach. The Pisach infects prey with insatiable hunger, while Hooper bonds with Izna amidst rulers’ games with famine slaves.

Unbeknownst, Izna descends from women embracing monsters. Discovering Hooper’s role in her mother’s death, she wishes to become a monster herself. Transformed into a half-human, half-mutant, half-beast, she embraces her hunger, consuming oppressors and drenching her land in blood. This infinite hunger mirrors trauma’s generational and cultural impact, forging an inseparable link between oppressed and oppressor. The graphic novel blends True Blood, Kill Bill, and Spiral Into Horror, delving into hunger’s exploration of trauma’s pervasive influence.

Review:

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. It’s about experiments that were performed in a concentration camp in India in 1896. The experiments turned many subjects into mutants who were further experimented on. The illustrations were at times gruesome, but that suited the horrific subject matter. This would be a great graphic novel for a book club or other literary discussions.

Hunger is a powerful graphic novel!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign.

Content warnings: body horror, famine

Have you read Hunger? What did you think of it?

Review: Super Science, Vol. 1

Title: Super Science, Vol. 1
Author: N. Alessandro K., Perker
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: The Lab Press
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world where imagination becomes reality, a global phenomenon grants ordinary people extraordinary scientific powers.

Super Science is a sci-fi/comedy about a world where the limits of human imagination have become real. For five days the entire sky over twelve spots across the globe turn amethyst purple. The inexplicable result was in each location, professional engineers and scientists, as well as tinkers, amateur inventors, and high school science teachers were able to create scientific and engineering breakthroughs in ways far surpassing the world’s top scientific institutions. Our story starts three years later in Los Angeles, where a breed of actual superheroes and super villains are emerging.

Dealing with this new phenomenon is LAPD’s new “Mad Scientist Division.” Our two main characters are the no-nonsense Sergeant Esmerelda Villanueva and her idealistic young partner, Officer Jack Mantle. Other main characters are manipulative industrialist Burt Montague, and his bold lab assistant Felicia Bari; perpetually unlucky Karen Katz, a former biology teacher who has turned herself into a human-cat hybrid; Esmerelda’s son Gabe, who might be the smartest teenager on the planet; and finally, nefarious super villain Dr. Cornelius Otherland, and his nemesis, bumbling superhero Gas Giant.

This mind-bending graphic novel from THE LAB ships in a gold-foil stamped cloth slipcase.

Review:

In this graphic novel, scientists have discovered how to give themselves scientific super powers. Many of them use their powers for evil, rather than good. However, it’s difficult for law enforcement to figure out how to keep the peace. I liked the vibrant illustrations and the colorful cast of characters!

Super Science, Vol. 1 is a great start to a graphic novel series!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, violence

Have you read Super Science, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: The Quantum Revelations

Title: The Quantum Revelations
Author: Stuart Heinrich
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Endless Tree Books, LLC
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

This book explores advanced scientific and deep philosophical concepts through the narrative structure of a mystery/thriller. No particular science background is required of the reader.

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic climate crisis and quickly spiraling out of control into a dystopian nightmare. As everything collapses around them, two scientists struggle for relevance in their quest to build the world’s first practical quantum computer. They discover so much more: a mystery of physics that goes deeper than they could have ever imagined…

Review:

This book is a thriller about scientific and religious discoveries. There were a lot of technical scientific discussions, so readers who have an interest in science and physics would probably enjoy this book. There were many relevant themes to today, such as global warming, AI, and the high cost of living.

The Quantum Revelations is a creepy dystopian thriller.

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, fire, suicide

Have you read The Quantum Revelations? What did you think of it?

Review: Taming the Perilous Skies

Title: Taming the Perilous Skies
Author: Phil Marshall
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 12, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Anti-gravity could never fail. Until it does.

In the year 2076, humanity’s reliance on Brian Medlock’s anti-gravity technology, powered by Medlock’s unified Theory of Persistence, has brought forth a utopian society. Roads have vanished; energy flows from the very particles around us; and the world thrives under the guidance of a physics-based framework called The Fabric, a theory uniting quantum mechanics and gravity … and possibly divine order.

But on an otherwise ordinary morning, the impossible happens: aerial vehicles worldwide begin plummeting from the sky. Panic spreads. Caught in the catastrophe is Jack Woods – a mild-mannered bureaucrat, single father, and reluctant hero. When Jack’s young son is airborne at the moment of the disaster, Jack is thrust into a race against collapsing infrastructures, hostile government factions, and clashes of faith. Meanwhile, Olivia Martorana, leader of Transportation Technology, uncovers clues pointing toward a secret experiment that may have tampered with the Fabric itself.

As the quantum encryption grid destabilizes, the truth emerges: someone has been using Medlock’s theory to peer into the future – and possibly rewrite it.

Taming the Perilous Skies is a fast-paced hard science fiction thriller that weaves scientific discovery, aerial disaster, philosophical stakes, and deep moral dilemmas into a gripping story of survival and hope. As Jack, Olivia, and Medlock confront questions of free will, faith, and the ethics of technological power, they’re forced to navigate a world where quantum physics, divine prophecy, and political corruption collide.

With a cast of vivid, often wryly flamboyant characters, and a tone that moves effortlessly between suspense, heartbreak, and scientific wonder, Taming the Perilous Skies is perfect for fans of Andy Weir, Dan Brown, and Arrival (Ted Chiang). This is science fiction at its sharpest – smart, subversive, and, at times, disturbingly prophetic.

Review:

This story is an intense sci-fi story set in the year 2076. Everyone travels in aerials in the sky, however, one day they all stop moving at the same time. Then they start falling from the sky. There were scientific and religious implications behind the tragic incident on that day. This story was intense and thrilling, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Taming the Perilous Skies is a thrilling sci-fi novel!

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, death of parent, suicide

Have you read Taming the Perilous Skies? What did you think of it?

Review: Essentials, Vol. 1

Title: Essentials, Vol. 1
Author: Luke Arnold, Chris Wyatt
Genre: Graphic Novel, Horror, Science Fiction
Publisher: The Lab Press
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

In a post-apocalyptic world torn apart by the madness of a warping reality, shotgun-wielding scientist Harris Pax and his two extra-dimensional, non-corporeal alien sidekicks (manifesting as a walking corpse and a toy robot) are humanity’s only hope for survival.

In ESSENTIALS, mathematician Harris Pax predicted the end of the world but failed to prevent it. Now he’s living alone in a bunker and his niece’s favorite toys have started talking to him. The good news? He’s not the world’s sole survivor. The bad news? The other survivors are trapped in alternate realities — imprisoned in imagined worlds full of zombies, robots, mythical creatures, and chaos. And now Harris Pax and an unlikely ally must travel the country on a quest to restore reality, save humanity, and defeat his new interdimensional nemesis: Snuggles. Written by Luke Arnold (star of Black Sails; writer, The Fetch Phillips novels) and Chris “Doc” Wyatt (producer, Napoleon Dynamite; writer, Ninjago). This debut graphic novel from THE LAB ships in a gold-foil stamped cloth slipcase!

Review:

This graphic novel had The Last of Us vibes which I loved! There was some horror mixed with sci-fi. It was exciting and fast paced, so it was hard to put down. This special edition had a beautiful cloth slipcover. It ended on a big cliffhanger so I’m excited to see what happens next!

Essentials, Vol. 1 is a great graphic novel!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death, death of parent, death of child, body horror

Have you read Essentials, Vol. 1? What did you think of it?

Review: Archipelago (The Herb Society Mysteries #2)

Title: Archipelago (The Herb Society Mysteries #2)
Author: E. William Podojil
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Science Fiction
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Following a tragic event, The Herb Society, along with Lukas and Taylor are unwittingly pulled into Baptiste’s twisted plan to not only find a lost continent but unlock the secrets to a precious material that is only found near an archipelago he believes to be the remainder of this sunken world. Baptiste knows this material is more precious than all the gold in the world and he has big plans for it. When The Herb Society discovers Pierre Baptiste’s nefarious agenda, they unlock a global conspiracy led by the world’s rich and powerful that would completely alter civilization to their advantage for generations to come. Now The Herb Society ladies, Lukas, Taylor, Tory and her boyfriend, Pepe are thrust into the plot and must fight the forces of nature and evil to save mankind from an unimaginable future. But will they be able to stop Pierre and his clever friends from initiating the countdown to an apocalypse?

Review:

This story had a bunch of twists and turns. The direction of the story kept changing, from what I thought would be a crime thriller to a story with some science fiction and fantasy. The science aspects were interesting, but it seemed a little far fetched at times. The story was fast paced and intense, which kept me excited to read it!

Archipelago is a fast paced thriller.

Thank you The Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death, gun violence, heart attack, tsunami, earthquake

Other books in the series:

The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries #1)

Have you read Archipelago? What did you think of it?

Review: Hive (Madders of Time #1)

Title: Hive (Madders of Time #1)
Author: D.L. Orton
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Rocky Mountain Press
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if saving the future meant rewriting the past?

In a dying world overrun by microdrones, humanity’s last survivors cling to life inside the Eden-17 biodome. Isabelle Sanborn knows her time is running out, but one desperate plan might give humanity a second chance. With the help of Madders, an enigmatic AI built from the memories of a brilliant physicist, Isabelle sends Diego Nadales—the love of her life—35 years into the past. His mission? To change the course of history and prevent their world’s collapse.

When Diego arrives in the vibrant yet fragile Main Timeline, he’s forced to confront ghosts of the past, including a younger, ambitious version of Isabelle. As he battles to shape a better future, Diego must navigate a delicate web of relationships and events without destroying the very fabric of time.

Brimming with suspense, heart-pounding action, and a poignant love story that transcends time, Madders of Time – Book One is a breathtaking science fiction adventure. Award-winning author DL Orton weaves a tale that explores sacrifice, resilience, and the timeless power of love.

Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Dark Matter will find themselves captivated by this unforgettable journey through parallel worlds and intertwining destinies.

The clock is ticking. Can love survive the collapse of time itself?

Prepare to lose yourself in the first installment of the Madders of Time series—a story that will keep you turning pages and leave you hungry for more.

Review:

This is a great sci-fi thriller! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I didn’t want the story to end. I liked that each chapter had a small image of the character who was the POV of the chapter on the first page. It changed depending on the age of the character too. It was a nice detail that made it easier to imagine the characters’ appearances. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book in the series!

Hive is a suspenseful sci-fi thriller!

Thank you Bookinfluencers for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death, bomb, terrorist attack, cancer, stillbirth, divorce

Have you read Hive? What did you think of it?

Review: Fable for the End of the World

Title: Fable for the End of the World
Author: Ava Reid
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, LGBTQ
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: BookSparks
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this standalone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything.

By encouraging massive accumulations of debt from its underclass, a single corporation, Caerus, controls all aspects of society.

Inesa lives with her brother in a half-sunken town where they scrape by running a taxidermy shop. Unbeknownst to Inesa, their cruel and indolent mother has accrued an enormous debt—enough to qualify one of her children for Caerus’s livestreamed assassination spectacle: the Lamb’s Gauntlet.

Melinoë is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. The product of neural reconditioning and physiological alteration, she is a living weapon, known for her cold brutality and deadly beauty. She has never failed to assassinate one of her marks.

When Inesa learns that her mother has offered her as a sacrifice, at first she despairs—the Gauntlet is always a bloodbath for the impoverished debtors. But she’s had years of practice surviving in the apocalyptic wastes, and with the help of her hunter brother, she might stand a chance of staying alive.

For Melinoë, this is a game she can’t afford to lose. Despite her reputation for mercilessness, she is haunted by painful flashbacks. After her last Gauntlet, where she broke down on livestream, she desperately needs redemption.

As Mel pursues Inesa across the wasteland, both girls begin to question everything: Inesa wonders if there’s more to life than survival, while Mel wonders if she’s capable of more than killing.

And both wonder if, against all odds, they might be falling in love.

Review:

This book was such an intense and emotional story. There was tension between every character, mostly because they were fighting to survive. This dystopian world doesn’t seem that far from our future reality now, with the way things are changing. I wasn’t sure how the story would end because there were so many possible outcomes and most of them were tragic. I would love to revisit these characters in another book one day to see what happens next!

Fable for the End of the World is a thrilling dystopian read!

Thank you BookSparks for sending me a copy of this book as part of the Winter Reading Challenge!

Content warnings: death, animal death, suicide, fire, gun violence, knife violence

Have you read Fable for the End of the World? What did you think of it?

Review: Stars, Hide Your Fires

Title: Stars, Hide Your Fires
Author: Jessica Mary Best
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, LGBTQ
Publisher: Quirk Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 11, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A wanted thief. A murdered emperor. A killer loose on the station. A gripping YA mystery set in space.

As an expert thief from a minor moon, Cass knows a good mark when she sees one. The emperor’s ball is her chance to steal a fortune for herself, her ailing father, and her scrappy crew of thieves and market vendors.

Her plan is simple:

1. Hitch a ride to the planet of Ouris, the dazzling heart of the empire.
2. Sneak onto the imperial palace station to attend the emperor’s ball.
3. Steal from the rich, the royal, and the insufferable.

But on the station, things quickly go awry. When the emperor is found dead, everyone in the palace is a suspect—and someone is setting Cass up to take the fall. To clear her name, Cass must work with an unlikely ally: a gorgeous and mysterious rebel with her own reasons for being on the station. Together, they unravel a secret that could change the fate of the empire.

Review:

Cass is a thief who decides to go to the Emperor’s ball on another planet to steal a fortune for her sick father and her group of friends. However, when she gets there, instead of announcing the Emperor’s heir, they announce that the Emperor is dead. Someone plants a murder weapon on Cass, and she must join up with a resistance movement to prove she’s innocent.

This is a great sci-fi heist story. Cass was a good thief, but she was realistic because she made mistakes which other thieves caught. There were unexpected twists throughout the story. However I did correctly guess who the real murderer was, but I enjoyed reading the end of the story.

Stars, Hide Your Fires is a great YA sci-fi story!

Thank you Quirk Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent

Have you read Stars, Hide Your Fires? What did you think of it?

Review: HoverGirls

Title: HoverGirls
Author: Geneva Bowers
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 6, 2024
Rating: ★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The web comic sensation about magical girls by acclaimed illustrator Geneva Bowers, now in a beautiful print edition, featuring an expanded storyline and revised art!

Jalissa and Kim Vasquez are cousins who move to the city of Los Aguaceros together. Kim dreams of becoming a famous model and fashion designer, while Jalissa is just trying to hold herself together after a breakdown the year before.

When a curious incident on the beach leaves them with supernatural powers and monsters start attacking the city, Kim decides that using their powers to stop them is the perfect way for them to become famous. But being heroes isn’t as easy as it seems–and Los Aquaceros is in more danger than they imagine.

This beautifully illustrated and hilarious YA graphic novel began as a web comic and quickly became a WEBTOON sensation. This print edition features an expanded story and updated art, offering something for new and old fans alike!

Review:

Jalissa and Kim Vasquez are cousins who move to the city of Los Aguaceros together to start new lives. Kim wants to be a famous fashion designer and model, while Jalissa wants to escape her problems at home. An incident on the beach leaves them with magic powers and strange fish-like monsters in the city. Kim decides the way to get famous is to defeat these monsters and save the city. However, there is something out of this world behind the cause of their powers and the monsters, which they must defeat to survive.

This story had a lot of potential. I loved the vibrant illustrations. Kim and Jalissa had opposite personalities. Kim was excited and eager but forgetful. Jalissa kept to herself and seemed angry most of the time. I didn’t feel a connection to either of the characters because they both had unlikeable traits.

Unfortunately HoverGirls wasn’t for me.

Thank you Bloomsbury for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read HoverGirls? What did you think of it?