I typically love the space horror novels by S.A. Barnes, but this one felt like it was trying to do too much while also attempting to keep the creepy space stuff. I didn't love all the political work background of Katerina, and the stuff with the holograms was super strange to me. I think if I'd had more of the ship full of the cryogenic dead and the something lurking without all the family business news drama, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

New space horror from S.A. Barnes? I’m so here for it! Her previous works have brought us to lost luxury spaceliners and isolated scientific outposts, and the atmosphere and creepy vibes are always on point. I love the concepts this author comes up with and this was no exception. We follow Halley, on the run from interplanetary political scandal, who needs to go into hiding until the worst of it blows over. So when a somewhat shady, but super isolated, job opening for a massive ship carrying the cryogenically frozen bodies of the once ultra wealthy and famous pops up, she jumps on it. The ship was once a popular tourist attraction complete with an EPCOT-esque welcoming presentation and displays for the more prominent “residents”. But now the halls are empty and the decaying ship is closed to the public with flickering, barely functioning systems, and strange noises in the walls. Was that something crawling in hallway on the video feed? Probably just an overactive imagination. This is fine…

I really loved how isolated our protagonist was, in the author’s previous novels our protagonist has been a part of a team, but her being on her own (for the most part..) really upped the creepiness factor. As she does her rounds and notices small details that seem off, unexplainable strange occurrences start to unfold, creating such an eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere. The escalation of what Halley is experiencing and the unraveling of the ship’s secrets make this book utterly unputdownable. I can’t wait to see what S.A. Barnes comes up with next!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

SA Barnes does space horror so well. I have read and loved every one. Autoread author for me. I will enthusiastically recommend this title and look forward to what comes next.

This is my first book by S.A. Barnes but it will not be my last. It’s a bit of a slow burn but Barnes does an absolutely incredible job of building this spooky and tense atmosphere. You’ve got all the makings of an incredible sci-fi horror and when things start to go really, really bad, the tension reaches a fever pitch. If you like your space horror visceral and terrifying, this is the book for you. Thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I've been a fan of the author since I read her first title-Dead Silence- when it first came out. That being the case I was very excited to hear about her latest title Cold Eternity. However, I think I have to list this title as my least favorite of the three. It had some really memorable and unsettling moments but the plot shifts between aliens, political commentary, and a romantic subplot with a hologram I never really understood broke the hold the narrative had on me at unexpected moments.

Halley is on the run due to a political scandal that has put a target on her back. She gets a job on a defunct space barge that houses wealthy “ residents” who have had their bodies cryogenically frozen. There is only one other caretaker on the barge with her, Carl, who is extremely secretive. What could go wrong? Well, Halley starts to see scary things and it goes down hill for her from that point on. Barnes excels at creating a creepy and downright horrifying atmosphere, but Halley was a little too slow on the uptake, if you ask me and plausibility was difficult.

Recommended for die-hard fans of science fiction/ horror.

Just keep on reading...because you will not be disappointed. That is what I would tell prospective readers of this novel. The novel starts off slow, but it is slow for a reason with the world building, the main character, her background/ backstory, why she is running away, etc. Then why she accepts this job and is this job what she thinks it is. The author makes this whole descriptive world with this character and even Karl, then her parents, and people she even talks about...or to. Just so much thought, as if she had gotten into some of their heads (more of the main characters) and lived a bit in their shoes.

It is just so much detail and yes, things did drag on a bit. Like it starts off very interesting, then it slows down for a while about 30-40 percent through, but towards that 70 percent mark, dang...did things really pick up. Nothing like I would had expected at all. The ending will surely not disappoint. It also serves as a life lesson, without spoiling the book...there is just no cheating death.

Hats off to Barnes for doing it once again, she's written a wonderfully spooky space horror novel, and this time I was honestly kept in suspense for basically the entirety of the book. I can legitimately say that I didn't really see where this book was going, and for someone who reads as much as I do that was really refreshing. I think the best thing here is to go into this book blind, although with the semi-generic space horror synopsis you do get there's enough vagueness that I would honestly be surprised if anyone manages to guess all of the twists here. Barnes does an excellent job writing the eeriness that comes with an isolated job, as well as the general creepiness of space. Without giving too much away I also think her main character was a refreshing choice, because at her core she's not an overly heroic Ellen Ripley or the like, she's just a regular woman trying to survive a crappy turn of events in her life and a potentially deadly job posting (and aren't we all, at some point). The only thing that didn't make this a complete 5+ star read was the odd secrecy our main character has about keeping the circumstances of her self-imposed exile from the reader. It doesn't seem overly necessary and almost becomes somewhat built up, so that when everything is finally revealed it feels almost like a let down. But that's really just a small nit-pick. Barnes kills it with the atmosphere and creepy elements of this story, and I can't wait for it to come out so I can push it on anyone who even remotely seems interested in the space horror subgenre. I'll be happily penning a shelf talker in the next few weeks, and will eagerly be hand selling this to anyone who will listen (and probably even some people who won't). I certainly will be eagerly awaiting whatever Barnes comes up with for her next read, and will be happily adding this to my collection in an effort to do my part so that she can continue writing more novels like this one.

A huge thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read "Cold Eternity" as an eARC.

I'm just going to go right ahead and say that I have found a new go-to author for sci-fi horror with S.A. Barnes. Horror and sci-fi have been the genres I have read relentlessly for my entire life, always on the look out for new authors to curb my appetite, and I am ashamed I hadn't hit on Barnes earlier. I already have Barnes' two previous books added to my collection as a result of "Cold Eternity".

Halley is on the run. Her privileged life destroyed by a political scandal. Going underground, she ends up with a job aboard a barely functioning, veritable derelict of a craft that slowly trawls the space around the colonies of the solar system; a craft manned by a single mechanic/engineer who needs to spend all his time in the engine room keeping the failing ship together and filled with dozens of century old bodies held in cryostasis. But within hours of arriving aboard the craft, while learning her caretaker duties, Halley sees something that just can't be, and the more she investigates, the more frightening discoveries she makes.

"Cold Eternity" is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout. With the perfect balance of gore and dread, with psychological and physical horror, Barnes has crafted a story that will keep any reader entertained and guessing right to the very end.

My Rating: ⭐️3.5⭐️

In S.A. Barnes’s new novel, we follow Halley Zwick, a whistleblower who is on the run from a political scandal, forced to seek illegal employment on Elysian Fields, a derelict spaceship built to store the cryogenically preserved bodies of wealthy early space colonists. As the eerie atmosphere and isolation take a toll on Halley, she realizes she may be trapped in a far more dangerous situation than the one she is running from.

The start of this book pulled me in quickly and I was in love with Barnes’s world building. I typically struggle to fully appreciate sci-fi novels, but I found Cold Eternity to be well crafted and easy to grasp. The premise of this book is everything I wanted in a sci-fi horror book, and I really enjoyed the slow burn of the horror mystery that developed throughout the narrative. The atmospheric setting and prolonged tension were all very well done. I also loved Halley as a main character. She felt flawed and realistic, and I loved her desire to want to do the right thing as often as possible.

As the book continued though, I found it focusing more on the political turmoil the main character was running from vs focusing on the horror elements I was craving. It felt repetitive with the constant return to the scandal and MC’s backstory, and even with the wordy explanations, I am still a bit confused about what fully happened. The AI friendship in the book felt contrived, and I struggled to believe a connection could be formed the way it was. The ending felt rushed, and ultimately, I was left wanting more horror elements.

Overall, I am a bit disappointed with this book. While I loved the premise and the writing, I was really hoping this would scratch my sci-fi horror craving, but unfortunately, it missed the mark for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for granting me access to the eARC of this book for my honest review.

I was surprised to find out that Barnes isn't also a screenwriter because this would make a superb movie/series with enough cinematic scares and action to keep people on the edge of their seats. I imagine it's hard to write horror because so much of the effectiveness is based on getting the audience to really envision it, but Barnes did a great job making very scary and horrifying scenes spring off the page. Our heroine is accepting a shady deal to man the button on a freighter that theoretically houses the cryogenically frozen bodies of many people, but are they really frozen? Will the reasons for her secrecy catch up to her? There were so many strings to pull and I feel like they all got tugged on equally, with the reasons behind the ship being better than I imagined, but also nothing I would have guessed at in a million years. This is a great read for anyone who loves horror or a different take on the space genre.

Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes is a dark, thrilling horror novel. Our heroine, "Halley", is well-formed with strong opinions and a capable attitude that makes her someone we want to root for. The mystery behind the story is compelling and the creature is deliciously grotesque. I've enjoyed all of Barnes' novels thus far, and this one is just as fulfilling!

"Cold Eternity" by S.A. Barnes is a gripping space horror novel that masterfully blends psychological tension with visceral scares. The story follows Halley, a former government official fleeing a political scandal, who seeks refuge aboard a derelict space barge filled with cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth's wealthy elite. As she navigates the ship's eerie corridors, unsettling noises and haunting visions blur the lines between reality and hallucination, leading Halley to question her own sanity.

Barnes excels in crafting a claustrophobic atmosphere reminiscent of classic haunted house tales, but set in the isolating expanse of space. The novel delves into themes of corporate corruption and the ethical dilemmas of whistleblowing, adding depth to the chilling narrative.

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I read my first S.A. Barnes book last year (Ghost Station) and enjoyed it well enough, even though I found it to be more atmospheric than scary or even tense. Ever since seeing "Alien" when I was far too young, I have been a bit obsessed with space horror. The video game "Dead Silence" and the movie "Event Horizon" are also faves of mine, so I was down to give Barnes another go. I'm happy to say that this book was definitely creepier and more of what I am looking for in a space horror book.

The novel follows Halley, a fugitive trying to escape a political scandal that has put a target on her back. Desperate to disappear, she accepts a job on an abandoned space barge that holds the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth's wealthiest citizens. The program was initially set up to allow people to freeze themselves before they died so that one day when medical advancements had made it possible, they could reawaken, be cured of what ailed them, and live even longer. These efforts have long since been abandoned, leaving the ship as nothing more than a floating tomb in the middle of space. But soon after her arrival, Halley begins to sense that something else might be happening on the ship. Strange noises keep her on edge, and, worst of all, she starts to see figures moving, crawling, and slinking in the shadows. This is made all the more terrifying when you realize that Halley is floating out in the middle of space with nowhere to run if/when things get dangerous (and they do - fairly quickly).

Barnes does a fantastic job of building a creepy and often disturbing atmosphere. From the moment Halley steps aboard the ship, there's an overwhelming sense of isolation and dread. The descriptions of the cryogenically frozen bodies are haunting. I wouldn't want to be stuck in a morgue with my feet firmly planted on Earth for five minutes, so I certainly would be on the edge of completely losing my shit if I were stuck on a spaceship in the middle of nowhere with a ship full of frozen people. Add in the threat that something might be lurking within, and it ups the creepiness even more.

Halley is a well-developed protagonist. She's resourceful, tough, and deeply flawed, making her an interesting character to follow. I appreciated that she wasn't just reacting to the horror around her - she was actively trying to solve the mystery while also dealing with her own inner demons.

I also felt the pacing was much stronger in this book. Unlike "Ghost Station", which leaned heavily on a slow-burning mystery, this novel hits the ground running. There's a constant feeling of tension and unease, and once things start happening, they don't stop. The horror elements are well-executed, relying more on psychological fear and paranoia rather than outright gore and it works really well. There's a strong feeling of helplessness as Halley tries to figure out what's going on while floating in the middle of nowhere.

The biggest drawback of the novel, in my opinion, was the ending. After such a strong buildup, the resolution felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped. It's not that the reveal was disappointing - on the contrary, I really enjoyed the way Barnes tied everything together - but I wanted more time spent exploring the ramifications of the final events. It felt like the book was racing toward the finish line instead of letting the conclusion breathe.

I read this book in both print and audiobook format, and I have to give credit to Amara Jasper's narration. She did a fantastic job capturing the tension and fear in Halley's voice, and her ability to differentiate characters made the story easy to follow. Her pacing and delivery enhanced the creepiness, making the audiobook a great option for those who enjoy a more immersive horror experience.

Overall, I found this to be an engaging and atmospheric sci-fi horror novel that delivers on its eerie premise. The setting is fantastic, the tension is palpable, and the mystery unfolds at the perfect pace. While the ending could have been fleshed out more, it didn't ruin the experience for me. This is the kind of book that's perfect for anyone who enjoys the idea of being trapped in deep space with an unseen horror lurking nearby. It's a solid read for horror and sci-fi fans alike.

I think this may be my favorite S.A. Barnes book yet! This was so creepy and claustrophobic. Barnes writes amazing space horror.

All I can say is read this if you want to be creeped out by a museum of cryogenic rich and famous with all of their possessions, glitchy holographic performers who scream deadly messages in your face, or if you vibe with that desolate, lost out in space isolation... you will not regret it!

S.A. Barnes is one of those authors who's an automatic read for me. I loved Dead Silence but not so much Ghost Station. I was worried I wouldn't like Cold Eternity, but I think I might like it even better than Dead Silence...

10/10, no notes. Can't wait to see what S.A. Barnes writes next!!

(I also received and reviewed the audiobook version of Cold Eternity)

I love all things space horror, but this authors previous two books fell a little flat for me. Not so much as to where I wouldn’t try this one out, though. I’m glad I did! It wasn’t as gruesome as I’d have hoped, but it definitely kept my attention much better. The creativity of Barnes’ mind is unmatched. Yet it’s written in such a way that I can visually picture this otherworldly atmosphere and the creatures within it. I like how we have a pretty minimal cast of characters. It keeps the eeriness and loneliness of the situation in the forefront of the readers mind. Cold Eternity delves into some themes of the cost of immortality as well as the corruption of the political world, and I ate it up. The weird romantic tension I sensed threw me off but it wasn’t a huge point of contention.

I just…god, these books are all so good. Barnes KNOWS what she’s doing, and she does it so so well. Cold Eternity feels more isolated and sadder maybe than I expected; the protagonist is alone for a lot of this novel, and the core connection/relationship in this one actually WRECKED ME. It’s insanely tough to write a book with so few characters, where so much is happening inside the mind/experience of just one person bopping around on their own, and Barnes truly knocked it out of the park. Never once did I feel like it slowed down to a degree it didn’t NEED to.

I also really appreciated the exploration of what it means to do good in a system too large to effectively change on your own, and a lot of the larger worldbuilding and themes felt insanely relevant to the here and now.

I thought the plot and pacing were both very solid, the tension and spooky levels were HIGH, despite it being such an introspective book, and I loved Halley and the other sympathetic character. I’ll be thinking about the tragedy of that plot line for a LONG time, I think.

Of course this book is going on my list of recommendations for sci-fi horror. Barnes and Starling are my top recommendations these days and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Oof - this one really missed the mark for me, which is surprising because I'm usually a big fan of Barnes's books. She does a great job crafting interesting characters that feel believable and easy to relate to. Her books are packed with dramatic tension, eerie settings, and all the gross and creepy details a space horror reader could want. While this book delivered on the tension and the creep factor, everything else fell somewhat flat.

I liked our main character to start, but there wasn't much to her beyond the surface level. Her backstory felt contrived and hamfisted - almost as if the author drafted a cool story idea then remembered at the last minute that her character needed an origin story. Maybe other readers will have a different experience, but I found it messy and difficult to follow.

I also wasn't a fan of the big reveal. Instead of the shocking "omg!" moment I expected I ended up with more of a "wait... what?" moment. Just like the struggles with character development, this felt like the author started with a cool premise then didn't quite know how to tie it all together in the end.

But for all my struggles with execution, there's no denying that I had fun reading this book. The pacing moved forward at a solid rate and I was always eager to see what happened next. The tension was top tier and I definitely had a few moments where I wanted to switch to another book for a bit because I was getting creeped out. So even if the complete package was a bit of a flop for me, I still consider myself a Barnes fan and will absolutely check out whatever she writes next.

Special thanks to Tor for an ARC in exchange for review.

4.5 stars.

COLD ETERNITY, the latest Space/Horror novel from author S.A. Barnes, is my favorite one yet!
"Halley" is lying low until an interplanetary political scandal cools off. This isn't as easy as it sounds, as everything is electronically monitored in this future. She is able to find what seems like the perfect location--the Elysian Fields; a ship carrying the cryogenically frozen bodies of the wealthiest people, wishing to defy death by "returning" when technology was sufficiently advanced to cure whatever ailed them. After about two centuries, most other ships that tried to capitalize on this venture went out of business, but somehow, the original started up by Zale Winfield was still out there.

Through a very sketchy "interview", Halley is brought aboard the ship--surrounded by frozen capsules of people who will likely never be resuscitated--and is tasked with making meaningless "rounds", pressing a "check in" button every few hours. The perfect place for someone who doesn't want to be found to hide out.

Except that she begins seeing things she can't explain...things that defy logic.

We learn about Halley's past throughout the novel--piece by piece as part of the whole, instead of one giant info dump. Even events from her childhood that had an effect on her situation, to an extent. I feel this was very well integrated, and helps the reader get to understand her motivations and beliefs. The story had some fantastic scenes that I did not see coming, and once begun, the pacing picked up dramatically.

Overall, I honestly loved the ideas in this story, the world building, and the other sub-genres of horror that were included. My only reason for the half-star deduction in my rating was the ending--everything was wrapped up too quickly, and with all of the issues taking place, I felt that more time should have been spent there.

Recommended.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers. All opinions are uniquely my own.*