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reads_vicariously 's review for:

Hell on Mars by J.Z. Foster, Justin M. Woodward
5.0

Basically this book blends together the best parts of Doom, The Thing, Aliens, Event Horizon, Dead Space, and Stranger Things (all of which I love so much). Maybe I should knock off points for copying some, but I was just having too much FUN to care! Really though it manages to still stand alone as it’s own exciting entity, full of exhilarating action sequences, grotesque monsters, and great character development.

I love sci-if action/horror in general, but it’s that last point that really stood out to me (although these monsters are freaky!). I really appreciate how much I cared for this cast of characters. They felt fully realized, even the minor ones, and there’s some fantastic banter between them (the kind that can come across as cheesy in movies often, but here it’s done very well).

This book is the definition of a page-turner, and I tore through it in one sitting. Thankfully it’s just book one in a full series called Reality Bleed, and this dynamic duo of authors just released book five! Now excuse me while I stare anxiously into the void until I can read the next book.