Halcyon Nightmares

The Halcyon System, Book 1

By: Aest Belequa

Narrated by: Jessica Threet

The truth's a thin line. Claire's about to cross it.

Claire Pendleton has seen the thin spots between dimensions since she was five, when another reality merged into her family's apartment. That night, eldritch horrors flooded into her bedroom and murdered her mom while she watched. No one believes her, but she knows the truth. It doesn't matter what her perfect sister and deadbeat dad say about a "traffic accident." Claire knows what happened that night ten years ago, the cover-up that followed—and all about Vancouver Island's other thin places.

When one of those spots opens during her sister's graduation, Claire finds herself trapped at the epicenter of an ongoing global apocalypse. The boundaries between her reality and thousands of others are collapsing, and Claire keeps hearing voices and seeing strange messages—both a friendly artificial intelligence with unknown motivations and a mysterious system that's granting her skills, knowledge, and a bond with a powerful anomalous weapon.

After a shadowy intergovernmental agency takes an interest in her and her bond, Claire is thrown into a fight for survival in secret laboratories below Victoria's streets, across its neighborhoods, and even other worlds. She'll have to battle unknowable horrors, answer impossible questions, and reckon with powers beyond her understanding to discover the truth about the apocalypse, find ways to save her loved ones, and learn who—and what—she's becoming.

The Halcyon System is inspired by the SCP Foundation, Stray Cat Strut, and portal break LitRPGs like Solo Leveling, with a slower, more mysterious vibe. With over 800,000 views on Royal Road, Halcyon Nightmares is now available on Audible, Kindle, and paperback!

©2025 Aest Belequa (P)2025 Podium Audio

Good but a little misleading

I was annoyed due to this book being compared to Stray Cat Strut which is a series I have a lot of love for. Otherwise it was an interesting dystopian romp. Ms Threet was engaging and entertaining as always.

Amazing New Series!

This was an incredible start to a series, especially given how different it is from the other series. This book gave me MASSIVE Thundamoo vibes, which, at the very least, I, personally, love.

Can't wait for book 2!

A unique take on the genre

The story and characters were very enjoyable. Strong young heroine lead. The performance by Jessica Threet was well executed, she has so much range it adds to the immersion.

bad/not good/awful

take the worst from SCP and stray cats. finds a way to be worse I expected better from the authors previous works but I am disappointed