Alien: Seventh Circle

De: Philippa Ballantine

Narrado por: Nikki Massoud

As human colonies are obliterated by the dark pathogen and hideous monstrosities proliferate, a family of scavengers find an amnesiac who may hold the secrets to the forces tearing apart the galaxy.

Life amongst the stars is brutal. Human colonies are being obliterated by a dark pathogen launched from mysterious ships, which turns whole populations into hordes of ravenous monsters. And no one knows what happened to the Jackals, the cadre of soldiers hunting down the perpetrators of these atrocities.

When a family of scavengers recover the amnesiac Mae Hendricks amongst the wreckage of an unidentified ship, they bring a world of pain down on themselves and the civilians of Guelph Station. Mae doesn’t know where she is from or her true nature, nor that she is being hunted by vicious adversaries.

Mae’s past could reveal the conspiracy that is tearing the galaxy apart, but may well unleash a tide of snarling terrors....

©2024 Philippa Ballantine (P)2024 Blackstone Publishing

good action.

the book is a bit out of sorts. I don't like how the story is jumbled up in the beginning. also it leaves holes in the story. nor my favorite story but it's okay.

darn good

really a step in the right direction after Vasquez. good compelling story highly recommend

Mae Hendrix gets to shine

I loved the first half of the book. I have so many unanswered questions about the horseshoe ship’s driver and the bishop model we meet. Overall I loved the story and really enjoyed it. The second half seemed to shift gears to a more traditional framework with the expected twists.

Great Listen

I really enjoyed the continuation, engaging and kept me coming back for more. Can't wait for the next one

Decent story

More about synths and what it means to be more human. Some xeno action. Worth a listen.

Well developed characters

Really enjoyed this story and found some character deaths surprisingly emotional. Would recommend to fans of XX121

If your fan, it’s another course

Slow start, but satisfying, can be a a filler for a bigger story. Takes to long to get to the climax. More aliens please

A Little Entertaining Entry in the Expanded Universe

Alien: Seventh Circle is the latest addition to the expanded Alien universe, and while it brings some fresh ideas and explores intriguing territory, it’s not without its rough spots. Written by Philippa Ballantine and Clara Carija, the novel follows Mae Hendricks, a mysterious woman discovered by a family of scavengers in the wreckage of an unidentified ship. With no memory of who she is or how she got there, Mae quickly becomes central to a much larger mystery involving synthetic bodies, experimental pathogens, and corporate cover ups.

The book takes a cerebral approach, building on themes that have long defined the Alien franchise: identity, synthetic consciousness, and the inhumanity of unchecked capitalism. Mae’s journey is less about xenomorphs jumping out of dark corners and more about unraveling a psychological and existential puzzle. This installment leans more toward introspective sci-fi than action horror, which might surprise some readers expecting the usual suspense driven pacing.

That leads into one of the book’s key challenges: the plot can feel like it drags in places. The story is told through a non-linear structure, with flashbacks and dual narratives spanning different versions of Mae across different synthetic bodies and timelines. While this structure is ambitious and thematically appropriate, it can also make the story difficult to follow at times. Some sequences feel repetitive or overly dense, and the pacing suffers because of it. For readers unfamiliar with the deeper Alien lore, this could be a bit disorienting.

Another point worth mentioning is the portrayal of the Aliens themselves. The novel introduces new variants and lifeforms, pushing the biological horror aspect in new directions. That’s exciting in theory, but in practice, the descriptions are sometimes vague or abstract enough that it becomes hard to picture exactly what the characters are up against. The Xenomorph has always been a highly visual and visceral creature, and when its terrifying physicality is dulled by unclear descriptions, some of the tension and dread that the franchise is known for gets lost in translation.

That said, Alien: Seventh Circle still has its strengths. It's clearly written with care and attention to the franchise's mythology. The psychological depth of Mae’s character arc and the exploration of synthetic identity offer something new for fans who enjoy the more philosophical side of the Alien universe. There’s a definite sense that the authors are trying to expand what stories in this world can look like, even if the execution isn’t always as sharp as it could be.

In the end, I’d say this is a decent entry into the Alien canon not one of the most memorable or thrilling, but not a misfire either. It’s a slow-burn with a heavy focus on internal conflict and cerebral sci-fi elements. If you’re a longtime fan of the series and enjoy exploring the more abstract corners of the universe, this might be worth your time. If you’re looking for high-octane horror or easily digestible action, this might not hit the mark.

Final verdict: a 6 out of 10. An interesting concept with thoughtful themes, but a little too slow and convoluted to fully deliver on its potential.

I’m Rae Serbeck, I Read and Review all Books Large and Small!

Great Story

The plot, the whole storyline was engaging. The narrative was was 5 stars and I definitely recommend anyone in the alien universe to listen to this book.

Amazing introduction to new faces.

Amazing introductions and familiar faces. Very little growth from there. Cool alien design introduced, nothing done with it.