Shadow on the Sun by Gabriel Seda
3.65 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs

The mask. With the ability to conceal our identity, it is powerful. For those seeking to hide, a useful tool. In this novella by Gabriel Seda, an entire cult-like town worships the mask.

Down, down, down I descend. Never-ending twisting and winding until I reach a room filled with important documents. What is this even doing here? Has mask-wearing been around since the beginning of time? I look at the wall, simply intrigued by the paintings of legendary persons donning masks. As I begin to ascend back up the stairs, I am overtaken by a power willing me over to a coffin-like structure within the room. In a dreamlike state, I see all the painful events in my past come forth in my visions. Landing on the ground of a place blanketed in white light, a hand reaches forth. He beckons me closer and shows me my own very mask.

Readers are led by a man named Rey. The sun is exploding, and in 72 hours, the planet will soon come to an end. Rey’s protective nature and leadership skills have everyone in the community wearing a mask. The mask shields. It provides the wearer with protection from fear. Much like a drug, the town walks around under the umbrella of suppression. Has Rey gotten it wrong, though? His wife, List, wants the old Rey back, the one with feelings and emotions. Proving a point, List wears her own mask and shows Rey what it looks like to not have any substance behind it. Their relationship encapsulates all of the townfolk's difficulty in dealing with the pain and emotions real life might bring. The question remains: would you rather dull those terrible feelings if it also meant you could never experience the beauty of life?

A poignant story is being told here. Perhaps those with depression, for example, can relate to having their own “mask” of sorts in the form of prescription medicine. At what point do we dull our own personalities in dealing with life so much that we aren’t able to truly be ourselves anymore? This question has come up in my own household on various occasions. There are only complex answers available, as I am sure there would be advocates on both sides of the fence.

With much being left to self-interpretation, I found the ending to be uplifting. One that offers hope for those who might be afraid to cope with hardship. Standing together with people we love is a gift, one that Gabriel Seda pleasantly reminded me of in times of despair.

Recommended!

Many thanks to Victory Editing Net-Galley Co-op for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I picked this up just randomly having no idea what to expect but loved the cover. I was pleasantly surprised, this shorter novel packs a lot into one and is quite interesting from the start. It's really a story about love, family and taking care of one another but it's told within the horror genre which is the most impactful in my opinion. I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of Shadow on the Sun by Gabriel Seda.

Shadow on the Sun has an intriguing premise with a unique and haunting concept—the mask. In this story, an entire town clings to masks, which conceal identity and emotions, creating a compelling allegory that reminded me of the ways people dull themselves with drugs or coping mechanisms. The town’s leader, Rey, encourages everyone to wear masks to shield themselves from fear, while his wife, List, challenges him to reclaim authenticity and feeling. The narrative explores deep questions about pain, emotional suppression, and the balance between self-protection and truly living.

While the story is thought-provoking and the themes are strong, I felt the writing could have used a bit more polish. The novella sometimes feels caught between a short story and a longer narrative, which leaves some areas less tightly focused than I would have liked. Despite this, the ending is uplifting and offers hope, emphasizing the power of love, connection, and facing hardship together.

Overall, Shadow on the Sun is a poignant and imaginative read, with rich allegorical elements and emotional depth. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy speculative horror that also encourages reflection on human nature, emotions, and resilience.