""This claustrophobic, horror-leaning tour de force is highly recommended for fans of Jeff VanderMeerâs Annihilation and Andy Weirâs The Martian."" -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
***
A thrilling, atmospheric debut with the intensive drive of The Martian and Gravity and the creeping dread of Annihilation, in which a caver on a foreign planet finds herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival.
When Gyre Price lied her way into this expedition, she thought sheâd be mapping mineral deposits, and that her biggest problems would be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought that the fat paycheckâenough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her motherâmeant sheâd get a skilled surface team, monitoring her suit and environment, keeping her safe. Keeping her sane.
Instead, she got Em.
Em sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyreâs body with drugs or withholding critical information to âensure the smooth operationâ of her expedition. Em knows all about Gyreâs falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leashâand a lash. And Em has secrets, too . . .
As Gyre descends, little inconsistenciesâmissing supplies, unexpected changes in the route, and, worst of all, shifts in Emâs motivationsâdrive her out of her depths. Lost and disoriented, Gyre finds her sense of control giving way to paranoia and anger. On her own in this mysterious, deadly place, surrounded by darkness and the unknown, Gyre must overcome more than just the dangerous terrain and the Tunneler which calls underground its home if she wants to make it out aliveâshe must confront the ghosts in her own head.
But how come she canât shake the feeling sheâs being followed?