3.5 Stars

Perfect for fans of Alien and Mimic. This book gets going real quick. Atmospheric and the description of the horror was great. I really liked the narrator as well. She had the perfect tone throughout.

I can't wait to grab a copy of this book to add to my collection. If you like this then definitely check out Dead Silence and Ghost Station.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my arc in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Halley is on the run from her involvement in an interplanetary political scandal, trying to keep her head down and avoid notice. She decides the best way to do this is to apply for an isolated job on a massive spaceship that stores the cryogenically frozen bodies of Earth's wealthiest citizens. While she settles in, she begins to feel like not all is quite right. It's not long before she realizes she's been drawn into a situation even more dangerous than what she was running from, and now her only goal is to survive.

This was a solid work of light sci-fi horror. I loved the concept, and the author did an excellent job incorporating a strong atmosphere, eerie happenings, and leaning into the isolation. However, this was a slow burn. Really slow. To the point where those aspects started to lose their strength and many things got more repetitive and less compelling And I expected more from the ending based on how long it took to get there, almost like it was missing some punch.

I wanted a bit more from the protagonist. She was written well enough to not detract from the work, but was missing some depth and wasn't easy to connect with. I think this was partially due to how repetitive her thoughts were and how little her personality/characterization came into play.

Overall this was a decent lighter sci-fi horror that I enjoyed overall. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

S.A. Barnes once again proves her mastery of atmospheric space horror with "Cold Eternity." The novel immediately immerses the reader in a chilling and eerie setting aboard the Elysian Fields, a spaceship carrying a silent cargo of cryogenically frozen bodies. The protagonist, Halley, fleeing a troubled past, finds herself isolated with the unsettling task of routine maintenance, punctuated by strange noises and unsettling visions. Barnes expertly crafts a sense of creeping dread and claustrophobia, making the reader feel Halley's growing unease and the palpable tension of her solitary existence on the seemingly deserted vessel.

The strength of "Cold Eternity" lies in its slow-burn approach, allowing the atmosphere and suspense to build gradually. While some readers might find the initial pace deliberate, it serves to deepen the understanding of Halley's character and the unsettling environment of the Elysian Fields. The descriptions are vivid, painting a picture of a decaying grandeur and the inherent creepiness of a ship filled with dormant figures. The narrative effectively blurs the line between reality and Halley's sleep-deprived paranoia, keeping the reader guessing about the true nature of the disturbances she experiences.

Overall, "Cold Eternity" is a compelling addition to the space horror genre and another solid offering from S.A. Barnes. While some reviewers noted a familiar pattern in the author's storytelling and a less impactful climax for some, the majority praise the expertly crafted atmosphere, the compelling protagonist, and the pervasive sense of dread. This book is highly recommended for fans of slow-burn horror and those who enjoy a chilling, isolated setting with a touch of the uncanny.

I really enjoyed this one, but the audiobook was hard to get through because of how political parts of the story are. I get that the author is setting up the characters back story and it all made sense, but following it on audio is hard. The narrator was great through. The story in itself is pretty interesting and there are definitely some parts that had me either tense or grossed out. It’s not my favorite from this author but it is still a great addition to space horror.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the copy of this ARC. This is out now!

In the book Cold Eternity, author S.A. Barnes writes about Halley who is embroiled in an interplanetary political scandal. Laying low and trying to avoid people, she takes the perfect job – working on a space barge where cryogenically frozen famous and rich people have been stored until they figure out how to revive them. But is this job what it seems? And is the only other person on the space barge really who they seem to be? And is she losing her mind or really seeing things? And has she stumbled into a more dangerous situation than the one she is running from? This was a good fast-paced story that kept you wondering what was happening. I would recommend this book. The audio-book narration was very good. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cold Eternity is the latest release from S.A. Barnes, author of Dead Silence and Ghost Station. I always look forward to Barnes new books and this one did not disappoint. This is another Space Horror novel and features a compelling protagonist, Halley, who after taking a remote assignment on an abandoned space barge, discovers there's more danger in the job than she could've ever anticipated.

In the very beginning, this was giving me light-Artemis vibes. I think mostly because Halley, the way we meet her and the things she was thinking about at that time, were reminiscent of Jazz, the MC in Artemis. You can tell that Halley is girl with a complicated past, who is trying her best to stay clear of it. I liked how the author filled that in for us over time, and I truly became attached to Halley and her well-being over the course of the story.

She takes the job on Elysian Fields, a giant space barge housing a now defunct cryo program, thinking the remoteness and isolation will help her to avoid the things she's trying to avoid. Unfortunately, life on the floating crypt isn't as harmless as she thought it would be. Constant disturbing noises, and mysterious moving figures, haunt Halley's days and nights. She finds it impossible to sleep, impossible to rest her nerve-rattled brain.

Karl, the only other human worker aboard, is just as puzzling as everything else about the Elysian Fields. Halley's thoughts race and ramble as she tries to make sense of her new surroundings. It's during this time that the Reader may begin to question how well they can rely on their narrator. Learning about the Elysium Fields, its past, Halley's connection to it and its present iteration was so compelling. Barnes does the horrors of future tech so well, and this story is absolutely terrifying if you think about it for too long...

S.A. Barnes has really made a name for herself in the SF-Horror space. She does such an incredible job creating an ominous atmosphere in each one of her stories, as well as well-developed main characters.

I feel like some Readers may avoid, or be intimidated by SciFi stories, as they feel like they may be too science-heavy, or too high-concept, for them to understand, or be pulled in by. And while I can understand that inclination with many SF-books, I would urge you, if this is you, to give S.A. Barnes's work a try. She makes her stories accessible to all types of Readers, whether you are a big-SF fan or not, I think you'll easily be pulled in by her work and find it enjoyable.

This story, in particular, is well within our range of current understanding as tech rapidly progresses around us every day. I could absolutely picture a world where a situation like this becomes a reality. Stories of futuristic tech always get under my skin. I just find it genuinely frightening to think about. All the ways such developments could go wildly wrong. Reading about it, in fun works of fiction like this, provide me with a safe place to explore such concepts, and honestly, it does help lessen some anxiety around these topics for me.

That may sound silly, but it is one of the reasons I so enjoy this type of story, and S.A. Barnes is my absolute go-to author for gripping, realistic, futuristic SF-Horror. This had a lot of unsettling moments, with a great creepy atmosphere throughout. Towards the end it did have some moments where it started to feel a little muddled for me, but overall, it was a great reading experience.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I'll be anticipating whatever Barnes releases next!!!

☄️COLD ETERNITY☄️ by @authorstaceykade is a claustrophobic encounter on a defunct spacefaring ship that will have you gagging with terror. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publishers, @tornightfire and @macmillanaudio for the ARCs and the finished copy.

🛸🛸🛸

Hailey is escaping her past and takes a seemingly cush if boring job on board the Elysian Fields, a former hospital ship shut down to the public for decades. When things start to go bump in the night and she feels as though she is being watched, she starts to have second thoughts but can't very well quit with nowhere else to turn. Unable to help her curiosity, she explores parts of the ship not meant for her and delves into the history of the mysterious family who owned the ship which leads her to uncover some seriously weird shit! And then she finds out her employer knows she is not who she says she is...

While I was not as enamored with the character of Hailey as I was with Ophelia of GHOST STATION, l think I liked the horror reveal/creature feature aspect of this one even more which was SUPER CREEPY. It is unexpected and absolutely crazy cray and I loved it. If you like locked room horror mysteries, this one just happens to be set on a docked spaceship. Space is scary and I am here for all the thrills!

This book comes out TOMORROW and you should pick it up for some deep space thrills and chills!

This is the second book I've read/listened to by S.A. Barnes and she definitely has a recognizable style. She built an atmospheric and very creepy location. I like the tension that's built up over time and that stupid button gave me anxiety. It's written very well and in my head, it ran like a movie. My one issue with this book is the same issue I had with Dead Silence, that being the ending. For me personally, it just wasn't as fulfilling as I had hoped. With all that said, it's a killer story with an awesome creep factor and if you like sci-fi horror, you'll probably like this one too.

As for the audiobook, Amara Jasper did a fantastic job narrating this book.

Cold Eternity is exactly what I’ve come to expect from S.A. Barnes’s sci-fi horror novels—and I eagerly look forward to it every time. This one delivers in spades when it comes to the eerie atmosphere and creep factor. From start to finish, the book had me on edge, conjuring up the feeling of being alone in a dark, unsettling place. You know that sense when the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and your heart rate quickens as you nervously glance around every corner? Yeah, Cold Eternity brings that feeling front and center.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book’s vibe had me thinking of Alien: Romulus to a certain degree—that perfect blend of claustrophobic suspense with a terrifying, unseen threat lurking just out of reach. I loved how the plot twisted and turned in ways I couldn’t have predicted, leaving me genuinely creeped out. Amara Jasper does an amazing job of placing us inside the protagonist’s mind, feeling every ounce of Halley’s confusion, fear, and desire for answers, all while simultaneously wanting to flee from the unknown entity haunting her.

Amara Jasper’s narration in Cold Eternity was absolutely top-notch and played a huge role in making the audiobook such an immersive experience. Her voice perfectly matches the eerie, tense atmosphere of the story, adding layers of intensity that elevated the suspense. From the very beginning, she sets the tone, making you feel Halley’s anxiety and uncertainty as she navigates this terrifying unknown.

Additionally, Jasper’s tone and pacing are masterful in how she builds suspense. She gives you just enough time to linger in the silence of the unknown before hitting you with the next spine-tingling moment, making every sound and shift in the narrative feel even more palpable. Her voice also nails the occasional moments of dread—where Halley feels trapped and isolated—immediately pulling the listener deeper into the atmosphere.

The intensity of Cold Eternity ranks right up there with Dead Silence, and I have to say this one’s coming in as a very close second for me in Barnes collection. If you loved the audiobook for Dead Silence, you’re going to want to dive into Cold Eternity as well—Amara Jasper has the perfect knack for building suspense and delivering a thrilling, spine-chilling experience.

Thank you @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted eARC/ALC of COLD ETERNITY!

I’m not sure how exactly S.A Barnes does it but she’s able to build these accessible sci-fi worlds that make sense to non-space nerds like me and then create horrifying scenarios that make me absolutely never want to set foot in space. Her heroines are a bit unreliable like the thriller heroines of the early aughts.

Our MC Halley is on the run and hiding from an interplanetary political scandal when she finds the perfect job and place for her to lay low… a basically abandoned ship full of wealthy people who were all cryogenically frozen over 100 years ago…. So a ship full of bodies. Not creepy at all. Nope.

The setting was perfect. The FMC was understandably exhausted (she had to push a button every 3 hours or bad things would happen) as any parent of a newborn will attest to. Things start to go bump in the night. I was completely freaked out when her interactions with the AI holograms of the ship owner’s long dead children started getting weird. I was so sure that this was going to beat out DEAD SILENCE in my space horror top spot.

And then there was a reveal towards the end that I just had a hard time with. I wish the author had chosen a different plot twist/reveal because it kind of took me out of the book. There was a scene at the end that made me a bit teary and broke my heart a little.

So DEAD SILENCE remains solidly in my top spot but if you are a space horror fan, this one is definitely worth checking out!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7457482317
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIRbaZRPR4d/

This book was perfectly atmospheric and spooky! SA really knows how to make you feel like you are right there along side these characters. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book waiting to see what would happen next. This was one of my favorite FMCs she’s written and seeing her motivation and her story progress was so much fun. Such a good one!!!

I really love how Barnes writes space horror and manages to use the sci-fi elements as tension building horror devices. This one was eerie and atmospheric like her previous ones, and the novel structure and the twist is also similar. This one worked for me better than Ghost Station and I found it comparable to Dead Silence. I thought Amara Jasper’s narration complemented the atmospheric vibes well.

I was fortunate enough to receive and devour an advanced audiobook narrated by Amara Jasper.
Once again, Barnes has delivered another bingeable, space, horror novel. Cold Eternity is a slow burn, psychological, scifi mystery. Barnes really knows how to mash up a medley of genres, flesh out her characters, and then dump them into eerily, isolated environments. Jasper embodied Halley in all her paranoia, creating a believably unsettled yet strong mc. With this combo, I was easily hooked. And no horror novel is complete without the creepy, gross, icky bits... and lest we forget the horrors of a political and tech driven climate that mirrors our own.
#autobuyauthor

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook!

S. A. Barnes does space horror better than anyone else! The isolation coupled with the secrets kept me guessing and suspecting everything. Then there are the random sounds and the things she may or may not have heard. Is it just the old ship making noises or is it some entity out to get her? Is she imagining it all? I loved it!
The only gripe I have with it is that the ending went on a little more than I would have liked. It all made sense and wasn't bad. I think I just didn't want to know all of that. But it was only a few minutes of the audiobook, so it is picky that the last little bit bothered me.

April 8 update: TikTok post.
A strong, single woman on the run alone, political intrigue, and an eerie, antique cryogenic ship full of the bodies of privileged people.
Cold Eternity filled my craving for Space Horror. Parts of the book are terrific. It's got a tough yet vulnerable heroine in a tight spot, suspense, action, squelchy scenes, and some unhinged concepts.
From the creepy cover through the first two thirds of the novel, the weird situation and chilling setting gripped me. I enjoyed the antique cryogenic ship and its 'residents'. Isolation, questioning reality, and multiple threats rachet up the tension.
The last third went off the rails. By the final 25%, I tried to treat it like an old movie and ignore the strained plot and unbelievable actions. Most readers might not notice the kinds of things that jolt me out of suspended disbelief. S. A. Barnes has many fans and will no doubt win new readers with this book. She created some nightmarish scenes that will stick with me.
Overall, it was entertaining and fast-paced. The talented narrator enhanced the suspense and performed the wide range of emotions beautifully. The book has worthwhile themes, and The FMC is brave. I gave it 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for the excellent audio performance and production values.
I strongly recommended the audiobook, particularly for seasoned Science Fiction, Thriller, and Horror readers. I'd listen to another book by Barnes.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio for the ALC for consideration. These opinions are solely my own. I'll add a TikTok link soon.

"Death smells you."

Absolutely phenomenal! No one does creepy, isolated space horror like S.A. Barnes!

Right from the start, the audiobook pulled me in. This main character, Halley, is clearly in hiding and/or on the run. She's hoping for a job - one with no skills needed and a bit under the radar. It's out on a ship full of the bodies of those who were cryogenically frozen - waiting for a point in time when they can be unfrozen and (possibly) live forever. Or, at least, live again. In its current state, this ship is old - and is no longer the tourist destination it once was when it was first out in the space. She's there to hit a button and prove someone is there, protecting those that are frozen, watching over loved ones.

But once Halley arrives for her new job, it's jarring. The ship creeks, thumps and hums. She starts having terrible dreams and then not sleeping much. She keeps seeing things - old holograms, phantom bodies, things crawling. Is it the lighting? The sounds? Is she losing it?

I loved the mystery to it all. I never knew what to believe. I loved that Halley had been here before, in the tourist hay day, and could remember the times the ship was in better shape. Aleyk was an addition I didn't anticipate but absolutely loved. The horrors honestly were so creepy and frightening. The arm out of the mouth, the breathing, the clacking of nails on the floor - all things that added just such an amazing level of detailed horror and kept me freaked out while needing to know more. The conclusion was so satisfying and well-crafted. I absolutely loved this one! Highly recommend the audio - it was nice to have 2 narrators to break out the voices and really help draw the reader in!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the #gifted book & Macmillan.audio #partner for the audio via NetGalley narrated by Amara Jasper who lent the perfect voice for this space horror!
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The story drew me in right away with Halley escaping her past with a false name and accepting a very obscure job at the Elysian Fields from a shady man, Carl - in spite of the fact that she gets a warning that every person Carl hires disappears.

Elysian Fields is a remote ship that holds cryogenically frozen bodies, and from the beginning of her job, Halley sees and hears things as if the bodies are not frozen, which intrigued me as a reader to find out if the bodies are dead people trying to make it back alive some day or they’re living people trapped in confined spaces as punishment. Or are some supernatural beings involved? Everything is clearly explained as the story unfolds towards explosive final chapters.

The history of the ship’s founder, Zale Winfield, and how Elysian Fields came into place as it is today, was fascinating and you’re can’t help but parallel it with the current state of cryopreservation and AI.

I mostly listened to the book in audio format and I have to say audiobook is the way to go with this book. Amara Jasper’s voice brings out all the eeriness, intrigue, isolation and fear that Halley experiences throughout the story. Her voice as creepy Carl is also immaculate.

Book: 4.5 stars (rounded down to 4 on Goodreads)
Audiobook: 5 stars

Hiding from an interplanetary scandal, Halley finds a black market job on a space barge that is home to a defunct cryo storage facility. The program was created by a tech trillionaire, Zale Winfeld and holds and AI hologram program of his children. Halley soon learns she may be in more danger here than she was on the run.

This was a really fun and creepy read! It nicely balances horror with science fiction and mystery. Halley has a very interesting back story that we learn as the story progresses. We also follow the mystery of what happened to the Winfeld family. I stayed engaged with the story the whole time. There are some really great action moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend the audiobook. Amara Jasper did a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

S.A. Barnes does it again! This was an amazing sci-fi horror just like Barnes other amazing works. I will say this wasn't my favorite of her books but that doesn't diminish how amazing this book was. I still really enjoyed this book and the dark mystery that you are trying to solve ad the book moves. I also enjoyed the sort of romance/relationship that bloomed in this book. I usually hate romance in a book like this but Barnes did such an amazing job making it a part of the story without it taking over or feeling like a last minute addition just for popularity. I couldn't put this book down and I will continue to read everything Barnes writing!

S. A. Barnes writes sci-fi horror better than anyone else in the biz!
Halley takes a job aboard the Elysian Fields because she needs to get away from her life for a bit. It’s the perfect job for someone in her position. Just her, the maintenance man Karl and all the dead bodies. Well, not technically dead. The Elysian Fields is a ship full of cryogenically frozen bodies. Halley toured it as a child and the memories have followed her into adulthood. The job is easy though. Do the rounds and push button every 3 hours. The problem with having to be somewhere every 3 hours though is it really messes with your sleep. So when Halley starts hearing weird sounds and seeing really scary things she thinks it must be because she’s sleep deprived…..or is she?
Another nail biter from S. A. Barnes. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. It was creepy and spooky, trapped on a ship is just the worst place to be when all hell breaks loose.
I thought the ending wrapped things up nicely. I’ve seen other commenters saying it was abrupt but I thought it was rather poignant and completed the story well.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Amara Jasper. She did a fantastic job and really brought the story to life. I highly recommend this as an audiobook!
Thank you to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review.