Thanks to NetGalley and Nathan Gibson for the early digital ARC.

I first read Gibson's book, The Missing Heart, and fell in love with it. So I was excited to see a new book come out and whew! What a book it is! To go from murder/mystery to full-fledged science fiction...I don't know how he was able to do it. The technicalities in this book boggle the mind. It was definitely thanks to the diagrams located at the back of the ARC that I was able to orient my self between the two space stations. However, it in no way detracts from the story! Kael and Solen are truly a love story for the future. Seemingly two worlds apart, they come together to beat the odds in the most death-defying way only to discover secrets (some fresh and others millennia old) that will change the course of what's left of humanity. As grippingly gritty as the story is, the softness of their discovery of each other warms even the coldest of hearts. And this is only Book 1! Truly a book that showcases the resiliency of the human race and that all-encompassing force that drives us...love!

This book was one of the best I've read. I absolutely loved the world building and the fact that their identities were just folded in to the narrative and the interpersonal dynamics were the focus of the story instead. The change in perspectives between characters gave great insight into their thoughts and the differences in their inner monologues shone through in the narratives.

Simply fantastic. 10/10

I absolutely ate up and adored every second of this read and it was an honor to be given access to an ARC.

I was apprehensive at first because even from the description, I knew it was going to be a massive undertaking. In order to pull it off, it would require so much world building and strong characters to pull us through... I got both of those things and then some. I will absolutely be looking forward to the next installment in The Miracle series and I'm going to be singing the praises of this one for a long time!!

If you enjoyed Project Hail Mary, or even wished it had some higher stakes and more fiction for your science, this one is for you. But I also think there is something here for just about everyone, not just PHM readers. When this book eventually reaches the public and takes it by storm, let it be known that I called it!

My only gripe (and it's a small, tiny one) is that the aging system is a little confusing. Kael explains he is about to be a year younger than his sister, who he is five years older than, because the nature of his work means he ages slower. How do they know this?? Especially when he is described as APPEARING older than he is (again because of his work), one would expect they think they age faster? Even if they don't actually? I don't know. It's a bit confusing. But doesn't detract from anything honestly.

One last thing, from the bit of looking into this that I have done, it doesn't appear that physical copies will be made for this? I truly hope that isn't the case because I personally would love to have it physically on my shelf.

All in all, if you like sci-fi and queer reads that are incredibly clever and well written, you'll love this one.

Two space stations in orbit, both dependent on one another... but their time separated has left both with incorrect perspectives of one another. The Architects and the Spherewalkers are from different worlds, different leadership, and different understandings regarding their purpose.
If you enjoy the themes of space station life, economic class divides, political intrigue and conspiracy, and love/connection crossing class lines.. you'll like this book!
There are a good amount of unanswered questions in this, but I think it will be worth the wait for the eventual sequel/sequels.
There is a small amount of spice, and it's very well done.

When privileged governor's son Solen and working-class technician Kael are thrown onto the hazardous outer surface of a massive star-sized machine, they are forced to communicate using gestures and touch due to incompatible suits.

As only my second sci-fi book after Project Hail Mary, I found this incredibly gripping. The high-stakes environment caught my attention right from the first chapter. The unique communication barrier between the main characters builds wonderful tension. Highly recommended!

What a thoroughly entertaining journey into the far reaches of speculative science fiction!

After the Stars Died presents a rather fascinating premise: humanity surviving in the shadow of a black hole, with civilisation divided between two enormous stations, each representing a very different side of society. It is an imaginative setting, and one that I found particularly enjoyable to explore.

The world-building is undoubtedly the highlight for me. Gibson has created an intriguing universe, with questions of class, inequality, survival and human connection woven into the fabric of the story. This is space opera at its heart, more concerned with the grand ideas, the society and the people inhabiting this extraordinary setting than with the technical minutiae of hard science fiction.

The pacing does occasionally lose a little momentum, and there are passages that could have benefited from a firmer editorial hand. However, the sheer ambition of the setting and the underlying concepts kept me interested. I was perhaps more captivated by the wider science-fiction elements than by the central romance, but that is very much a matter of personal preference.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read. An imaginative premise, an intriguing universe and a story that left me wanting to return for another adventure. I shall certainly be keeping an eye out for the next instalment!

ARC provided by NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I really liked this book and am very excited for the rest of the series. It felt so unique, but also so inspired by other tv shows/books in a really special way. Truly, I listened to the Silo soundtrack as I read After The Stars Died. The core mystery of the lost knowledge and ancestors really evoked Silo and Hugh Howey. To be clear, I liked the similarities a lot! All sci fi is interconnected and After The Stars Died still felt super unique, as I said.

4.5 stars

This was a fun ride. I am not a huge sci-fi reader so was a little out of my element but found it to be enjoyable. There’s always that element of suspense with our two main characters trying to get out of a situation. I liked difference between Kael and Solen and how that reflects the differences between Meridian and Threshold. The relationship was a tad bit rushed, which is not unique to this book, but never liked the trope of we just met now I’ll do anything for you. The setting/plot could sometimes be confusing but I think that’s more my lack of sci-fi than the books fault. It was still very enjoyable and interesting.

After the Stars Died is an imaginative and engaging journey into a fascinating sci-fi universe. The concept of humanity surviving around a black hole, divided between two very different societies, makes for an intriguing setting, and I particularly enjoyed the themes of class, inequality, survival and rebellion.

The world-building is a real strength, creating a vivid backdrop for Solen and Kael's story. Their unexpected connection adds an interesting emotional dimension.

Overall, a thought-provoking and enjoyable read with an imaginative premise and plenty to capture the imagination.