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Wayfarer: AV494
Kerys Loring hopes an expedition to a distant alien ruin will make her career―assuming she lives long enough to still have one.
Her last team made a significant find, but her bosses took all the recognition and grant money. When Avasar Biotechnology appeals to her unique combination of experience and desperation, she jumps at the chance, even if it means leaving her little brother behind for a three-year trip.
At least she’ll be thousands of light-years away from her abusive ex.
Within minutes of arrival, her excitement shatters at the sight of her ex already there. Clinging to the hope his position with botanical sciences will keep him away from her team, she forces herself to continue.
On her first day in the ruins, she makes a profound discovery… but something goes terribly wrong.
Her domineering ex soon becomes the least of her problems as an unstoppable alien threat plunges Wayfarer Outpost into chaos. Trapped in an isolated facility with death stalking every corridor, Kerys finds herself up against an even more insidious threat than ancient aliens: the truth.
Her last team made a significant find, but her bosses took all the recognition and grant money. When Avasar Biotechnology appeals to her unique combination of experience and desperation, she jumps at the chance, even if it means leaving her little brother behind for a three-year trip.
At least she’ll be thousands of light-years away from her abusive ex.
Within minutes of arrival, her excitement shatters at the sight of her ex already there. Clinging to the hope his position with botanical sciences will keep him away from her team, she forces herself to continue.
On her first day in the ruins, she makes a profound discovery… but something goes terribly wrong.
Her domineering ex soon becomes the least of her problems as an unstoppable alien threat plunges Wayfarer Outpost into chaos. Trapped in an isolated facility with death stalking every corridor, Kerys finds herself up against an even more insidious threat than ancient aliens: the truth.
Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2018
47 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
192 books266 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 15, 2018
Wayfarer: AV494 by Matthew S. Cox is an awesome book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary.
As all of Matthew S. Cox's books are, this was awesome! It has a distant planet with an artifact that proved life. There is corporate greed, suspense, great sci-fi, a female lead, never boring, and I couldn't tear myself away from it! A real page turner! Very creepy and exciting! I loved it! So many twists and turns, I guessed wrong so many times. Another winner by one of my favorite writers!
As all of Matthew S. Cox's books are, this was awesome! It has a distant planet with an artifact that proved life. There is corporate greed, suspense, great sci-fi, a female lead, never boring, and I couldn't tear myself away from it! A real page turner! Very creepy and exciting! I loved it! So many twists and turns, I guessed wrong so many times. Another winner by one of my favorite writers!
April 10, 2018
Wayfarer: AV494 by Matthew S. Cox is the story of Kerys Loring, hurtled thousands of light years from earth, far from her young brother Jaden and all the troubles of her past (or so she thinks), in search of biological life - aliens - in remote corners of the universe. After awaking in the cryogenic pod she'd been asleep in for nearly three years, she's met by a team of military doctors, scientists, researchers, and Avasar Biotech crew who are all there with the same goal in mind: to evaluate and assess suspected signs of nonhuman civilization. Kerys's job is to study material remains left behind, but much like the life she left back on earth, it soon becomes apparent once back on the Wayfarer Outpost that the next six months are going to be a living hell, as everyone around her succumbs to an inexplicable mix of violence and insanity that's unleashed itself within the confined space.
Wayfarer: AV494 by Matthew S. Cox is an absolute whirlwind of intrigue, heart-thumping scares, and adventure. With writing that makes you feel as if you're right there, Cox creates an environment that takes readers straight into the middle of nowhere. The descriptions of sights, sounds, and smells are vivid, with the world-building of a location even as as restrictive as the Wayfarer Outpost being fleshed-out in near perfect dimension. I think what I enjoyed the most, aside from its unique and gripping story line, was the natural, believable narrative. For a sci-fi horror story, the dialogue feels authentic. I found Wayfarer to be an exhilarating read, blowing my expectations far into deep space.
Review written by Please Pass the Books for Readers' Favorite.
Wayfarer: AV494 by Matthew S. Cox is an absolute whirlwind of intrigue, heart-thumping scares, and adventure. With writing that makes you feel as if you're right there, Cox creates an environment that takes readers straight into the middle of nowhere. The descriptions of sights, sounds, and smells are vivid, with the world-building of a location even as as restrictive as the Wayfarer Outpost being fleshed-out in near perfect dimension. I think what I enjoyed the most, aside from its unique and gripping story line, was the natural, believable narrative. For a sci-fi horror story, the dialogue feels authentic. I found Wayfarer to be an exhilarating read, blowing my expectations far into deep space.
Review written by Please Pass the Books for Readers' Favorite.
May 14, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis:
Kerys Loring hopes an expedition to a distant alien ruin will make her career―assuming she lives long enough to still have one.
Her last team made a significant find, but her bosses took all the recognition and grant money. When Avasar Biotechnology appeals to her unique combination of experience and desperation, she jumps at the chance, even if it means leaving her little brother behind for a three-year trip.
At least she’ll be thousands of light-years away from her abusive ex.
Within minutes of arrival, her excitement shatters at the sight of her ex already there. Clinging to the hope his position with botanical sciences will keep him away from her team, she forces herself to continue.
On her first day in the ruins, she makes a profound discovery… but something goes terribly wrong.
Her domineering ex soon becomes the least of her problems as an unstoppable alien threat plunges Wayfarer Outpost into chaos. Trapped in an isolated facility with death stalking every corridor, Kerys finds herself up against an even more insidious threat than ancient aliens: the truth.
My Review:
When I saw the cover for this book, I knew I had to read it. Its really nice to look at, kind of mysterious and exciting all at the same time. The description really topped it off for me, I knew I had to read it. I've loved every book I've read from the author so far, and I couldn't wait to start this one. I'm really glad I got the chance to read it.
The story begins with pain, darkness, and a strange beeping. Kerys is in stasis. She has been for a few years, while her and her team travel to a planet far from their own, to work at the outpost Wayfarer: AV494. A medical worker wakes her up and helps her out. They're in the middle of nowhere, and the planet they're going down to, AV494, is a planet that doesn't have a safe atmosphere for humans, and they suspect a non-human civilization is down on the ground in the form of ruins. She's basically an archeologist, just one that discovers aliens. When her and her team finally reach the base, the last person she ever expected to see is there, her abusive ex boyfriend Will, doing what he does best.
When Kerys finally gets around to exploring the ruins, she realizes that they are strikingly similar to the ones that she's previously explored in her last mission. She opens a secret door using a keyboard she finds. Will isn't happy that she's here with him, still calling her his girlfriend, even though they broke up years ago, and he takes every chance he can to tell her that she shouldn't be here, in that weird abusive boyfriend way of his. He breaks into her room at night. Everyone seems to be on her side though, and they're happy to help get him away from her. She wakes up one day to notice that every single person in the base, except for her, is completely hostile. They snap at each other, start fights, and things start to get dangerous, while eventually the base is put in a lockdown.
This book was a slow burn, but in no way was it a slow story. It was exciting and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The characters seemed lifelike, they really reacted to things the way that anyone would, and I loved the setting they were in. I couldn't put it down once I started it, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it. I absolutely loved it, and I definitely recommend you check it out.
Here's a link to the authors Twitter, and another link to the book on Amazon.
https://twitter.com/mscox_fiction
https://www.amazon.ca/Wayfarer-AV494-...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Kerys Loring hopes an expedition to a distant alien ruin will make her career―assuming she lives long enough to still have one.
Her last team made a significant find, but her bosses took all the recognition and grant money. When Avasar Biotechnology appeals to her unique combination of experience and desperation, she jumps at the chance, even if it means leaving her little brother behind for a three-year trip.
At least she’ll be thousands of light-years away from her abusive ex.
Within minutes of arrival, her excitement shatters at the sight of her ex already there. Clinging to the hope his position with botanical sciences will keep him away from her team, she forces herself to continue.
On her first day in the ruins, she makes a profound discovery… but something goes terribly wrong.
Her domineering ex soon becomes the least of her problems as an unstoppable alien threat plunges Wayfarer Outpost into chaos. Trapped in an isolated facility with death stalking every corridor, Kerys finds herself up against an even more insidious threat than ancient aliens: the truth.
My Review:
When I saw the cover for this book, I knew I had to read it. Its really nice to look at, kind of mysterious and exciting all at the same time. The description really topped it off for me, I knew I had to read it. I've loved every book I've read from the author so far, and I couldn't wait to start this one. I'm really glad I got the chance to read it.
The story begins with pain, darkness, and a strange beeping. Kerys is in stasis. She has been for a few years, while her and her team travel to a planet far from their own, to work at the outpost Wayfarer: AV494. A medical worker wakes her up and helps her out. They're in the middle of nowhere, and the planet they're going down to, AV494, is a planet that doesn't have a safe atmosphere for humans, and they suspect a non-human civilization is down on the ground in the form of ruins. She's basically an archeologist, just one that discovers aliens. When her and her team finally reach the base, the last person she ever expected to see is there, her abusive ex boyfriend Will, doing what he does best.
When Kerys finally gets around to exploring the ruins, she realizes that they are strikingly similar to the ones that she's previously explored in her last mission. She opens a secret door using a keyboard she finds. Will isn't happy that she's here with him, still calling her his girlfriend, even though they broke up years ago, and he takes every chance he can to tell her that she shouldn't be here, in that weird abusive boyfriend way of his. He breaks into her room at night. Everyone seems to be on her side though, and they're happy to help get him away from her. She wakes up one day to notice that every single person in the base, except for her, is completely hostile. They snap at each other, start fights, and things start to get dangerous, while eventually the base is put in a lockdown.
This book was a slow burn, but in no way was it a slow story. It was exciting and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The characters seemed lifelike, they really reacted to things the way that anyone would, and I loved the setting they were in. I couldn't put it down once I started it, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it. I absolutely loved it, and I definitely recommend you check it out.
Here's a link to the authors Twitter, and another link to the book on Amazon.
https://twitter.com/mscox_fiction
https://www.amazon.ca/Wayfarer-AV494-...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
April 10, 2018
Kerys wanted to leave everything behind. Her career wasn’t going well and she was just getting over a bad relationship with a man named Will. What better way to get a new start then to take a three-year trip to Wayfarer Outpost which is situated on another planet. Kerys new job is to spend 6 months exploring ancient alien relics. The problem is that Will is a botanist and is already on the planet working.
While Will is outside working, Kerys goes along with an expedition into the alien ruins and discovers something deadly. Now everyone is trapped in the Wayfarer Outpost with an alien threat and no chance for escape.
Wayfarer AV494 by Matthew S. Cox is a Science Fiction novel with elements of horror. What drew me to this book was the idea of a woman trying to escape her crazy ex-boyfriend and then getting trapped with him in a life or death situation. The idea of being at the mercy of an alien threat in space has been done many times in books and movies but I figured the relationship would add an original spin to the story. Much to my surprise I thought the connection between the two characters was the worst part of the book.
My problem with Kerys was that she came across as whiny and incompetent. She complains constantly, she’s responsible for a crew mate getting injured early in the book and she is always saying how much she misses her brother when it was her choice to leave him. Will on the other hand came across as so crazy in this story that I wondered how he would have gotten chosen to do this job in the first place. Another problem I had with the story was how we get hints to some problems that Will is creating and even though Kerys has evidence of this she never tells anyone which made me think that this character isn’t to bright. Despite how I felt about these two characters there was still plenty to like about this book.
I loved all the supporting characters in this story and I loved how the science behind Wayfarer Outpost is explained. I also enjoyed how the alien ruins were described and hearing the characters discus what they thought this alien civilization was like when it had living creatures. The first part of the story is fascinating with the scientific explanations while the second half is good because the book turns into a horror novel in space.
With the exception of hoping that Will and Kerys would die right away, I really enjoyed this book. A lot of depth goes into explaining how everything works and hearing about the science made you feel like this could all happen in the future. Then we have the second half which becomes a gore fest where anything goes. Whether you love science fiction or horror you will find something to love about Wayfarer AV494.
While Will is outside working, Kerys goes along with an expedition into the alien ruins and discovers something deadly. Now everyone is trapped in the Wayfarer Outpost with an alien threat and no chance for escape.
Wayfarer AV494 by Matthew S. Cox is a Science Fiction novel with elements of horror. What drew me to this book was the idea of a woman trying to escape her crazy ex-boyfriend and then getting trapped with him in a life or death situation. The idea of being at the mercy of an alien threat in space has been done many times in books and movies but I figured the relationship would add an original spin to the story. Much to my surprise I thought the connection between the two characters was the worst part of the book.
My problem with Kerys was that she came across as whiny and incompetent. She complains constantly, she’s responsible for a crew mate getting injured early in the book and she is always saying how much she misses her brother when it was her choice to leave him. Will on the other hand came across as so crazy in this story that I wondered how he would have gotten chosen to do this job in the first place. Another problem I had with the story was how we get hints to some problems that Will is creating and even though Kerys has evidence of this she never tells anyone which made me think that this character isn’t to bright. Despite how I felt about these two characters there was still plenty to like about this book.
I loved all the supporting characters in this story and I loved how the science behind Wayfarer Outpost is explained. I also enjoyed how the alien ruins were described and hearing the characters discus what they thought this alien civilization was like when it had living creatures. The first part of the story is fascinating with the scientific explanations while the second half is good because the book turns into a horror novel in space.
With the exception of hoping that Will and Kerys would die right away, I really enjoyed this book. A lot of depth goes into explaining how everything works and hearing about the science made you feel like this could all happen in the future. Then we have the second half which becomes a gore fest where anything goes. Whether you love science fiction or horror you will find something to love about Wayfarer AV494.
May 4, 2018
Whoa...an action packed space thriller
I've kind of been on a Matthew Cox readathon over the last few days. I just discovered his books and enjoy his style of writing very much. What I appreciate the most, I think, is how unique each storyline has been.
This book takes us to outer space. Kerys Loring wakes up after being in stasis almost three years, just arriving at planet AV494 and the Wayfarer Outpost. She has signed on as a xenoarchaeologist and will be studying ruins that have been found on the planet - ruins that definitely indicate another intelligent life form. She will be studying the ruins alongside others for at least six months.
What she doesn't expect to find is her ex-boyfriend who was controlling and abusive and stalked her for months after she broke up with him.
This is another fast-paced action packed book by author Cox. Kerys is a strong female protagonist and this author has a talent for writing believable female characters.
Kerys starts making friend among the different expedition members and starts making some exciting discoveries at the alien ruins. But then terrible events start to spiral out of her control and she wonders whether she will ever make it back to Earth and her younger brother.
I highly recommend this book to science fiction enthusiasts or anyone that likes an exciting gore-filled thriller.
I've kind of been on a Matthew Cox readathon over the last few days. I just discovered his books and enjoy his style of writing very much. What I appreciate the most, I think, is how unique each storyline has been.
This book takes us to outer space. Kerys Loring wakes up after being in stasis almost three years, just arriving at planet AV494 and the Wayfarer Outpost. She has signed on as a xenoarchaeologist and will be studying ruins that have been found on the planet - ruins that definitely indicate another intelligent life form. She will be studying the ruins alongside others for at least six months.
What she doesn't expect to find is her ex-boyfriend who was controlling and abusive and stalked her for months after she broke up with him.
This is another fast-paced action packed book by author Cox. Kerys is a strong female protagonist and this author has a talent for writing believable female characters.
Kerys starts making friend among the different expedition members and starts making some exciting discoveries at the alien ruins. But then terrible events start to spiral out of her control and she wonders whether she will ever make it back to Earth and her younger brother.
I highly recommend this book to science fiction enthusiasts or anyone that likes an exciting gore-filled thriller.
April 19, 2018
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
This book was... insane. I haven't been that 'on the edge of my seat' in quite a while. If you like foreign planet/space thrillers, then this one's for you.
In Wayfarer, Kerys Loring jumps headfirst for the opportunity to explore an alien ruin on a foreign planet. Once there, however, she is shocked to discover that her ex is also stationed on the planet, an issue that takes the backseat when an extreme unknown alien threat takes over and plunges the base in chaos.
Wayfarer was a little slow at the outset and I wasn't sure if it was going to pick up enough to keep me fully interested. I'm here to tell you not to worry about that because boy, does it pick up! I loved the basic premise of simply exploring a new planet for potential alien life and that is what initially hooked me. And then, for lack of a better phrase, the shit hit the fan and things went crazy. I had no idea what was going to happen in this book and I don't want to tell you anything about it other than to say things get dark... and stay dark.
One thing that I didn't love about being caught so unawares was how blindsided I was to the immense violence and gore that occurred throughout the events of this book. I don't usually have a problem with violence and gore (I mean, I love grimdark books), but this was just so unexpected for me and done in such a real and relevant way that it really shocked me and sort of threw me for a loop. If you're okay with some violence then you'll be fine, but if you're really sensitive to violence then you might want to consider that before picking this one up.
I'm not sure how much else I can really say about the plot without giving away anything important, so I'm going to jump into talking about some of the characters and the writing. Our main character is Kerys, a young woman who is beyond thrilled to have an opportunity to be a part of history and explore this new planet and newly discovered alien activity. Kerys is, overall, a very bright and interesting character, but I found it hard to connect with her at times. This doesn't really pose as a huge issue for me because I don't always need to connect with a character, but I just felt like some of her actions were a bit odd at times. For being as bright as she was said to be, I found her lack of common sense and lack of inquisitiveness about questionable things a bit annoying. There were certain things that I was surprised she didn't question more and that she brushed off too quickly and I found myself wanting to yell at Kerys on more than one occasion for different things she did or didn't do. Despite this, I was still very much captivated by her strength and determination; she has learned not to sit back and let things happen to her, but instead sticks up for herself and tries to be a stronger person everyday.
There was a decent variety of supporting characters in this book as well, though I never really felt like I got to know any of them very well so I don't really have all that much to say about them. One of the other prominent characters in this book is Kerys' ex-boyfriend, Will, someone she was horrified to find already on the base at the planet due to a previous abusive relationship and not-so-great break-up back on earth. I'll be honest an say that I did have my misgivings that this ex-boyfriend aspect would overtake the book in a negative way, but it actually didn't and instead ended up taking a very interesting turn. I felt the other characters were oddly interested in their past relationship (no one usually cares that much), but it didn't bother me too much. I wish I had known the other characters a bit more so I could separate who was who more easily, but they still added some great personality to the story.
The writing itself was pretty well done an captured the horror and suspense of the situation on the base. The only issues I had were with the dialogue itself, which just sometimes felt a bit stilted and awkward. Some of the responses and conversations people would have just felt a little bit off and pulled me slightly out of the action of story a little as well.
Overall, occasional issues with the writing and pacing aside, I definitely enjoyed reading this crazy and unpredictable book and have settled on four stars, rounded up from 3.75. If you like thrillers and space and a gripping story, then definitely pick up Wayfarer.
This book was... insane. I haven't been that 'on the edge of my seat' in quite a while. If you like foreign planet/space thrillers, then this one's for you.
In Wayfarer, Kerys Loring jumps headfirst for the opportunity to explore an alien ruin on a foreign planet. Once there, however, she is shocked to discover that her ex is also stationed on the planet, an issue that takes the backseat when an extreme unknown alien threat takes over and plunges the base in chaos.
Wayfarer was a little slow at the outset and I wasn't sure if it was going to pick up enough to keep me fully interested. I'm here to tell you not to worry about that because boy, does it pick up! I loved the basic premise of simply exploring a new planet for potential alien life and that is what initially hooked me. And then, for lack of a better phrase, the shit hit the fan and things went crazy. I had no idea what was going to happen in this book and I don't want to tell you anything about it other than to say things get dark... and stay dark.
One thing that I didn't love about being caught so unawares was how blindsided I was to the immense violence and gore that occurred throughout the events of this book. I don't usually have a problem with violence and gore (I mean, I love grimdark books), but this was just so unexpected for me and done in such a real and relevant way that it really shocked me and sort of threw me for a loop. If you're okay with some violence then you'll be fine, but if you're really sensitive to violence then you might want to consider that before picking this one up.
I'm not sure how much else I can really say about the plot without giving away anything important, so I'm going to jump into talking about some of the characters and the writing. Our main character is Kerys, a young woman who is beyond thrilled to have an opportunity to be a part of history and explore this new planet and newly discovered alien activity. Kerys is, overall, a very bright and interesting character, but I found it hard to connect with her at times. This doesn't really pose as a huge issue for me because I don't always need to connect with a character, but I just felt like some of her actions were a bit odd at times. For being as bright as she was said to be, I found her lack of common sense and lack of inquisitiveness about questionable things a bit annoying. There were certain things that I was surprised she didn't question more and that she brushed off too quickly and I found myself wanting to yell at Kerys on more than one occasion for different things she did or didn't do. Despite this, I was still very much captivated by her strength and determination; she has learned not to sit back and let things happen to her, but instead sticks up for herself and tries to be a stronger person everyday.
There was a decent variety of supporting characters in this book as well, though I never really felt like I got to know any of them very well so I don't really have all that much to say about them. One of the other prominent characters in this book is Kerys' ex-boyfriend, Will, someone she was horrified to find already on the base at the planet due to a previous abusive relationship and not-so-great break-up back on earth. I'll be honest an say that I did have my misgivings that this ex-boyfriend aspect would overtake the book in a negative way, but it actually didn't and instead ended up taking a very interesting turn. I felt the other characters were oddly interested in their past relationship (no one usually cares that much), but it didn't bother me too much. I wish I had known the other characters a bit more so I could separate who was who more easily, but they still added some great personality to the story.
The writing itself was pretty well done an captured the horror and suspense of the situation on the base. The only issues I had were with the dialogue itself, which just sometimes felt a bit stilted and awkward. Some of the responses and conversations people would have just felt a little bit off and pulled me slightly out of the action of story a little as well.
Overall, occasional issues with the writing and pacing aside, I definitely enjoyed reading this crazy and unpredictable book and have settled on four stars, rounded up from 3.75. If you like thrillers and space and a gripping story, then definitely pick up Wayfarer.
April 21, 2018
An expedition to planet AV-494 could make Kerys Loring’s career, especially after her bosses took all the credit on the last one. She’s desperate enough to be cheap and experienced enough to know what she’s looking for. She’s everything Avasar Biotechnology is looking for. It’s clear they were right to hire her when she quickly makes a fantastic discovery, one that could change everything. A discovery that does change everything, seemingly unleashing a curse upon the station and driving everyone in it to violence. Kerys will have to find the truth if she wants to survive, though even then it might not be enough.
Wayfarer: AV494 is a solid piece of sci-fi with awesome character work. Matthew S. Cox did a really good job with his setting and, more than just that, with making the station feel both familiar and new. Wayfarer: AV494 is also very much a zombie story and hits a lot of notes familiar to that brand of horror.
That’s actually where my only minor qualms with the book come from. The characters surrounding Kerys are legitimately enjoyable, so seeing them succumb to the hate plague infecting the station is jarring and wrong and it works so fantastically. But then there’s the point where background characters start dropping like flies and these well built, likeable characters are part of that. It got to a point where I kind of stopped caring for a bit because it seemed so completely hopeless. There were a couple of spots of hope along the way and I know that sort of hopelessness is kind of a hallmark of this particular sub-genre, but it did get a little tiring.
Past that I really liked the way the characters, Kerys’ abusive ex aside, were handled. The other xenoarchaeologists Kerys works with, the various military personnel she works with, and Annapurna, the head of the xenobotany team, all wind up with solid if brief characterization that leaves them feeling very human. The way the xenoarchaeology team talks to each other as they work, the joking and such, feels organic. Some of the best work with the infection early on came from them because they were themselves, just a little wrong, where as the unnamed back ground characters were just suddenly ready to fight any and everyone. Which brings up the abusive ex, Will, since we’re shown his behavior through how he acts towards Kerys, most of his positive attributes are more informed than anything. He isn’t really played off of anyone, which makes him feel less solidly a character rather than others with less over all page time but more interactions outside of just Kerys and how she reacts to them. I’m entirely sure that this was on purpose, but it did wind up feeling a bit overdone and made it somewhat difficult to believe that other characters would be as taken with him as Kerys thinks they could be.
The setting works really well here, leaving our protagonist trapped while everyone around her goes mad. If she leaves, then she has a vastly limited air supply and nowhere to go that would be any help. The station itself is nearly a character, starting clean and orderly and well run before devolving into messes and murders and the chaos of people falling apart. The weather outside builds as Kerys’ emotions run high, leaving the station feeling somehow even less safe. Places that are briefly seen towards the beginning get a second run through after the infection sets in, showing how the stations inhabitants affect their surroundings. The changes in some of these areas a just as startling as the changes in the people living in them and it’s fantastic.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. There were a couple of things that lost me a little, but nothing really big. I could have done with a little less hopelessness at times, but I would definitely read another book by Matthew S. Cox. So, yeah, Wayfarer: AV494 gets a four out of five.
Review was originally posted to Lauren's Bookshelf. A copy of Wayfarer: AV494 was provided to me by Curiosity Quill Press for fair review.
Wayfarer: AV494 is a solid piece of sci-fi with awesome character work. Matthew S. Cox did a really good job with his setting and, more than just that, with making the station feel both familiar and new. Wayfarer: AV494 is also very much a zombie story and hits a lot of notes familiar to that brand of horror.
That’s actually where my only minor qualms with the book come from. The characters surrounding Kerys are legitimately enjoyable, so seeing them succumb to the hate plague infecting the station is jarring and wrong and it works so fantastically. But then there’s the point where background characters start dropping like flies and these well built, likeable characters are part of that. It got to a point where I kind of stopped caring for a bit because it seemed so completely hopeless. There were a couple of spots of hope along the way and I know that sort of hopelessness is kind of a hallmark of this particular sub-genre, but it did get a little tiring.
Past that I really liked the way the characters, Kerys’ abusive ex aside, were handled. The other xenoarchaeologists Kerys works with, the various military personnel she works with, and Annapurna, the head of the xenobotany team, all wind up with solid if brief characterization that leaves them feeling very human. The way the xenoarchaeology team talks to each other as they work, the joking and such, feels organic. Some of the best work with the infection early on came from them because they were themselves, just a little wrong, where as the unnamed back ground characters were just suddenly ready to fight any and everyone. Which brings up the abusive ex, Will, since we’re shown his behavior through how he acts towards Kerys, most of his positive attributes are more informed than anything. He isn’t really played off of anyone, which makes him feel less solidly a character rather than others with less over all page time but more interactions outside of just Kerys and how she reacts to them. I’m entirely sure that this was on purpose, but it did wind up feeling a bit overdone and made it somewhat difficult to believe that other characters would be as taken with him as Kerys thinks they could be.
The setting works really well here, leaving our protagonist trapped while everyone around her goes mad. If she leaves, then she has a vastly limited air supply and nowhere to go that would be any help. The station itself is nearly a character, starting clean and orderly and well run before devolving into messes and murders and the chaos of people falling apart. The weather outside builds as Kerys’ emotions run high, leaving the station feeling somehow even less safe. Places that are briefly seen towards the beginning get a second run through after the infection sets in, showing how the stations inhabitants affect their surroundings. The changes in some of these areas a just as startling as the changes in the people living in them and it’s fantastic.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. There were a couple of things that lost me a little, but nothing really big. I could have done with a little less hopelessness at times, but I would definitely read another book by Matthew S. Cox. So, yeah, Wayfarer: AV494 gets a four out of five.
Review was originally posted to Lauren's Bookshelf. A copy of Wayfarer: AV494 was provided to me by Curiosity Quill Press for fair review.
March 19, 2018
Phew, an intense, dramatic page turner from start to finish, this tale of obsession on a distant planet takes a turn for the dark and gory and is only the better for it. When Kerys makes the tough decision to leave her family and the earth behind to go on an archaeological expedition on a distant plant, she never dreamed that she would bump into her creepy and stalker ex boyfriend. Determined to make the best of an awkward situation she throws herself into her work and makes some startling and dangerous discoveries. When she starts to notice people on the outpost are starting to behave out of character and become increasingly aggressive and paranoid, she begins to fear for her life, and it soon appears she may well be right.
At first I worried that this would turn out to be a romantic melodrama set in space, but it really became a lot more, action packed and tense as we follow Kerys in her encounters with her fellow crew. and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages turning. Kerys is a well developed and interesting character, I thought it was particularly good that despite only getting brief descriptions of her previous life with Will, she clearly is demonstrating many characteristics of a victim of abuse, but is still clearly a strong ,smart and determined woman. The pacing throughout is excellent, and there is a real sense of claustrophobia as well as a creeping tension as the book races to its dramatic conclusion.
At first I worried that this would turn out to be a romantic melodrama set in space, but it really became a lot more, action packed and tense as we follow Kerys in her encounters with her fellow crew. and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages turning. Kerys is a well developed and interesting character, I thought it was particularly good that despite only getting brief descriptions of her previous life with Will, she clearly is demonstrating many characteristics of a victim of abuse, but is still clearly a strong ,smart and determined woman. The pacing throughout is excellent, and there is a real sense of claustrophobia as well as a creeping tension as the book races to its dramatic conclusion.
September 29, 2018
To me, this was a very enjoyable story. The characters were well modeled including a clear view of almost all main characters as well as secondary ones.
This is the type of story I find most fulfilling. The idea of Aliens out in our galaxy plays and the effort which i hope will come in real life; not in my lifetime.
My advice: read it!
This is the type of story I find most fulfilling. The idea of Aliens out in our galaxy plays and the effort which i hope will come in real life; not in my lifetime.
My advice: read it!
January 15, 2019
Awesome reading.
I loved the whole book. The writing was original and smooth. Felt like I was there. Will read anything you write.
I loved the whole book. The writing was original and smooth. Felt like I was there. Will read anything you write.
October 3, 2019
Survival at it's most extreme circumstances.
I can't imagine fighting my way out of this. Against unbearable odds and advisory's. The evil humanity is capable never seems to end. Regardless of our accomplishments. There always is someone sneaking, cheating, or stealing. So very sad.
I can't imagine fighting my way out of this. Against unbearable odds and advisory's. The evil humanity is capable never seems to end. Regardless of our accomplishments. There always is someone sneaking, cheating, or stealing. So very sad.
March 8, 2018
To see my full review of this title, visit my book blog, So Few Books, at: https://sofewbooks.blogspot.com/2018/...!
Wow! This book was nothing like what I thought it would be! From start to finish it pretty much surprised me at every turn...
There were many peripheral characters who we didn't learn much about and of whom I had a hard time keeping track. But Kerys and the central band of players in her immediate orbit were fairly well-developed, believable, and most were somewhat endearing.
The book was a bit too bloody and gory for my personal taste. And I definitely do not recommend reading it if you are adverse to such things...
There were a few points that really pushed my willing suspension of disbelief to the limit...
Otherwise, however, it was a creative story, with lots of action and intrigue, that really held my interest and drove me to keep reading so I could find out what would happen next. I definitely recommend it for fans of Sci-Fi and mild Horror.
I received a free eBook of this title from the author and NetGalley and have willingly provided an honest review.
Wow! This book was nothing like what I thought it would be! From start to finish it pretty much surprised me at every turn...
There were many peripheral characters who we didn't learn much about and of whom I had a hard time keeping track. But Kerys and the central band of players in her immediate orbit were fairly well-developed, believable, and most were somewhat endearing.
The book was a bit too bloody and gory for my personal taste. And I definitely do not recommend reading it if you are adverse to such things...
There were a few points that really pushed my willing suspension of disbelief to the limit...
Otherwise, however, it was a creative story, with lots of action and intrigue, that really held my interest and drove me to keep reading so I could find out what would happen next. I definitely recommend it for fans of Sci-Fi and mild Horror.
I received a free eBook of this title from the author and NetGalley and have willingly provided an honest review.
March 7, 2025
Kerys Lore is on the adventure of her life, she is on her way to an alien ruin on a distant planet. This could make her career finding this ruin When they land on the planet and start hunting around the ruin. Things go down hill fast when she sees her ex there and after finding a profound discovery on her first day. Things start to go down hill and now she is fighting for her life where people are going crazy and dying and a sinister ex stalking her around the dome. Will she survive what is happening and get home safely.
Oh my gosh the cast of characters in this book are so well written. Kerys is one of those characters that is strong and honestly has an ax to grind with the company that she use to work for. She is a fighter and when push comes to shove she will fight who or what ever comes at her. But there are moments where Kerys comes off whiny and you kind of want to shake her. Will is her ex and a botanist that is already working on the far away planet. He is well what can you say about a stalker . Not much but he just gives off such a creep factor and when you really get to know him and watch him with the others, you really just want to punch him. We get to meet a varied members of the group each of them has an attitude that will either get them killed or survive. Each character is well crafted and complex. You will love to hate some of them and cheer for the others .
This is one of those books that gives you all the feels. It seems like it is a cross between Aliens and Martian . The characters are well written and complex and you want them to come out alright . The author has constructed a well crafted story full of intrigue, conspiracy and lots of action that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are moments that you feel that you are right in the middle of the action and there are a few places where you will be reading and then get a scare. This is a great book for those who love sci fi and horror .So if you want a good book to get lost in for a weekend check it out .It won't disappoint you .
Oh my gosh the cast of characters in this book are so well written. Kerys is one of those characters that is strong and honestly has an ax to grind with the company that she use to work for. She is a fighter and when push comes to shove she will fight who or what ever comes at her. But there are moments where Kerys comes off whiny and you kind of want to shake her. Will is her ex and a botanist that is already working on the far away planet. He is well what can you say about a stalker . Not much but he just gives off such a creep factor and when you really get to know him and watch him with the others, you really just want to punch him. We get to meet a varied members of the group each of them has an attitude that will either get them killed or survive. Each character is well crafted and complex. You will love to hate some of them and cheer for the others .
This is one of those books that gives you all the feels. It seems like it is a cross between Aliens and Martian . The characters are well written and complex and you want them to come out alright . The author has constructed a well crafted story full of intrigue, conspiracy and lots of action that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are moments that you feel that you are right in the middle of the action and there are a few places where you will be reading and then get a scare. This is a great book for those who love sci fi and horror .So if you want a good book to get lost in for a weekend check it out .It won't disappoint you .
January 14, 2019
WAYFARER: AV494
AV494 is a good read, not as tense with action I thought. A microbe is found which was purposely let out of containment by a double agent, my words for lack of this traitorous individual.....can't give away names here. Anyway, the stations personnel become irrational, schizophrenic and out for blood. Two people are left alive, one is the person who released the microbe, and two a women who has been stalked for years by the scientist who released the deadly microbe on AV494, but she's been given a antidote, without her knowledge, so he can have her again. The ending is actually quite good and more exciting than the whole book.
AV494 is a good read, not as tense with action I thought. A microbe is found which was purposely let out of containment by a double agent, my words for lack of this traitorous individual.....can't give away names here. Anyway, the stations personnel become irrational, schizophrenic and out for blood. Two people are left alive, one is the person who released the microbe, and two a women who has been stalked for years by the scientist who released the deadly microbe on AV494, but she's been given a antidote, without her knowledge, so he can have her again. The ending is actually quite good and more exciting than the whole book.
May 9, 2022
would make a good movie.
A xenoarcheologist makes a 3 year trip to a distant planet only to find her abusive ex is one of the staff already there. If the manipulative ex wasn’t enough, the alien ruins she was sent to document may actually be housing something much more sinister. With survival at stake, some mysteries are never solved. I am glad Matthew deviated from the standard trope with this edition. Would love a follow up story.
A xenoarcheologist makes a 3 year trip to a distant planet only to find her abusive ex is one of the staff already there. If the manipulative ex wasn’t enough, the alien ruins she was sent to document may actually be housing something much more sinister. With survival at stake, some mysteries are never solved. I am glad Matthew deviated from the standard trope with this edition. Would love a follow up story.
March 9, 2025
Let me just say, Matthew Cox writes incredible stories, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The thought of being stuck so far away from home, on a foreign planet just makes one imagination go wild,.and this Author brings out all the creepy and scary things that can happen! This is a must, Must read!!!!
March 10, 2025
3/3.5
A thrilling sci-fi story that reminded me of a movie. I enjoyed the overall story. It was about a discovery of a lifetime on a different alien planet and of course things go wrong.
The story was thrilling and kept me entertained the whole way through. I enjoyed the little twists here and there as well.
A thrilling sci-fi story that reminded me of a movie. I enjoyed the overall story. It was about a discovery of a lifetime on a different alien planet and of course things go wrong.
The story was thrilling and kept me entertained the whole way through. I enjoyed the little twists here and there as well.
January 6, 2019
Not impressed. Tried to be scary like Alien but, never came close. Watched this young lady go from a sniveling wimp to a real tough guy. Still all in all I finished it and that alone was worth the four stars.
March 9, 2019
A decent story that could have been made so much better by not having some of the main characters acting so damn stupidly! I feel quite cheated, because the potential to be great was obviously there.
October 14, 2023
On A Planet Far Away
•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••
This is a stand alone novel. I can't wait to read more by this author!
Kerys is a xenoarchaeologist about to start the job of her dreams. It almost seems too good to be true. After getting screwed out of credit for her work on her last job she is more than ready for the challenge. So what it takes over three years in cryo to get to the new job's planet... This will make her career! She is a bit sad she will miss at least six years of her little brother's childhood and he will be over 16 the very earliest she could see him next. That's probably her only regret until she sees her psycho stalker exboyfriend when she finally makes it planetside... How is she going to handle seeing him constantly? Is this why he finally left her alone? Is he still obsessed? How can her luck be this bad? At least her co-workers all seem to be nice enough. Should she give up and go back home? It will be over six months before she even has the chance. What is going to go wrong next?
***This book is suitable for adult readers who enjoy futuristic scifi thriller adventures without romance and steeped in horror :)
•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••
This is a stand alone novel. I can't wait to read more by this author!
Kerys is a xenoarchaeologist about to start the job of her dreams. It almost seems too good to be true. After getting screwed out of credit for her work on her last job she is more than ready for the challenge. So what it takes over three years in cryo to get to the new job's planet... This will make her career! She is a bit sad she will miss at least six years of her little brother's childhood and he will be over 16 the very earliest she could see him next. That's probably her only regret until she sees her psycho stalker exboyfriend when she finally makes it planetside... How is she going to handle seeing him constantly? Is this why he finally left her alone? Is he still obsessed? How can her luck be this bad? At least her co-workers all seem to be nice enough. Should she give up and go back home? It will be over six months before she even has the chance. What is going to go wrong next?
***This book is suitable for adult readers who enjoy futuristic scifi thriller adventures without romance and steeped in horror :)
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