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Skinwrapper
Una sola parola instilla la paura persino nei cuori degli equipaggi più esperti…
A bordo dell’astronave mercantile Blue Whale, la giornata di una ragazza inizia come al solito: manda messaggi alle amiche mentre le sue genitrici discutono durante la colazione. Poi, con uno schiocco disgustoso, la tranquillità domestica va in frantumi.
Una sola parola si diffonde dal sistema di allarme…
Le rotte di navigazione della galassia sono infestate da una banda di corsare. Malate terminali di ogni tipo di morbo, devono stare a gravità zero per sopravvivere. Hanno anche bisogno di un costante afflusso di sangue fresco e di organi, così le loro vittime diventano anche involontarie donatrici. Sono così spietate, così violente, che il loro stesso nome è diventato sinonimo di terrore.
Una sola parola che fa gelare il sangue, persino nel freddo glaciale dello spazio…
La ragazzina si ritrova sola, smarrita e intrappolata a bordo della nave che considerava casa, pregando che non diventi anche la sua tomba. Sta per scoprire che nell’universo non c’è niente di peggio che essere preda delle Skinwrapper.
Questa novella prequel ti spinge a rientrare nel mondo del capolavoro fantascienza/horror The Hematophages (Daily Dead).
A bordo dell’astronave mercantile Blue Whale, la giornata di una ragazza inizia come al solito: manda messaggi alle amiche mentre le sue genitrici discutono durante la colazione. Poi, con uno schiocco disgustoso, la tranquillità domestica va in frantumi.
Una sola parola si diffonde dal sistema di allarme…
Le rotte di navigazione della galassia sono infestate da una banda di corsare. Malate terminali di ogni tipo di morbo, devono stare a gravità zero per sopravvivere. Hanno anche bisogno di un costante afflusso di sangue fresco e di organi, così le loro vittime diventano anche involontarie donatrici. Sono così spietate, così violente, che il loro stesso nome è diventato sinonimo di terrore.
Una sola parola che fa gelare il sangue, persino nel freddo glaciale dello spazio…
La ragazzina si ritrova sola, smarrita e intrappolata a bordo della nave che considerava casa, pregando che non diventi anche la sua tomba. Sta per scoprire che nell’universo non c’è niente di peggio che essere preda delle Skinwrapper.
Questa novella prequel ti spinge a rientrare nel mondo del capolavoro fantascienza/horror The Hematophages (Daily Dead).
40 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2019
11 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Kozeniewski
46 books437 followersStephen Kozeniewski (pronounced "causin' ooze key") is a Splatterpunk Award-winning author and two-time World Horror Grossout Contest champion. His published work has also been nominated for the Voice Arts and Indie Horror Book Awards, among other honors. He lives in Pennsylvania with his fiancée and their two cats above a fanciful balloon studio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 30, 2019
Skinwrapper is a novella that also acts as a prequel to the space horror novel The Hematophages and can be read as a standalone. As a novella, Skinwrapper is an excellent sci-fi thriller and nicely sets up the story to follow.
Skinwrapper is a story of a young girl, set in the distant future and aboard a space freighter. What begins as a normal day soon descends into chaos with an emergency warning. Soon, a gang of dreaded pirates attacks the ship and starts taking the crew prisoner.
The novella is short, but a nice blend of horror and science fiction. The idea of pirates attacking ships, not just for cargo to pillage organs, is terrifying in itself but the writer has built upon the concept to create a really tense story (if you are a Firefly or Mass Effect fan, you will feel the connection even more). As a warning, the story has quite a few gory scenes but they act to move the story forward.
This is a horror story much like Stephen King’s horror stories. The unique setting, the tense atmosphere and all of it narrated by the central character with a hint of dark humor. The fast-paced tale is brutal and tense, with enough twists and turns.
The story starts abruptly and it could have done with a bit of background. Even the ending is sudden, but the twist, in the end, more than makes up for it. The ending will make you wonder, how the story will move forward in the sequel.
Overall, Skinwrapper is an original and exciting Sci-Fi thriller. If you are a fan of sci-fi and horror, This story is just right for you. As a prequel, it’s an effective backstory to one of the Skinwrapper pirate characters from The Hematophages.
Many thanks to the author Stephen Kozeniewski for the ARC.
Skinwrapper is a story of a young girl, set in the distant future and aboard a space freighter. What begins as a normal day soon descends into chaos with an emergency warning. Soon, a gang of dreaded pirates attacks the ship and starts taking the crew prisoner.
The novella is short, but a nice blend of horror and science fiction. The idea of pirates attacking ships, not just for cargo to pillage organs, is terrifying in itself but the writer has built upon the concept to create a really tense story (if you are a Firefly or Mass Effect fan, you will feel the connection even more). As a warning, the story has quite a few gory scenes but they act to move the story forward.
This is a horror story much like Stephen King’s horror stories. The unique setting, the tense atmosphere and all of it narrated by the central character with a hint of dark humor. The fast-paced tale is brutal and tense, with enough twists and turns.
The story starts abruptly and it could have done with a bit of background. Even the ending is sudden, but the twist, in the end, more than makes up for it. The ending will make you wonder, how the story will move forward in the sequel.
Overall, Skinwrapper is an original and exciting Sci-Fi thriller. If you are a fan of sci-fi and horror, This story is just right for you. As a prequel, it’s an effective backstory to one of the Skinwrapper pirate characters from The Hematophages.
Many thanks to the author Stephen Kozeniewski for the ARC.
November 19, 2019
Science-Fiction stories have been rocking my boat this year and SKINWRAPPER is no exception!
A teenager is starting yet another day listening to her parents calmly argue while she is busy texting her best friend. Then, in only one second, her entire life changes forever. Her family's ship is attacked by Skinwrappers, (which vaguely reminded me of the Reavers from that show Firefly), and her only mission now is to keep herself alive. Will she accomplish that? You'll have to read this to find out!
Even though I read and loved Kozeniewski's BRAINEATER JONES, I haven't yet had a chance to get back to his work. At the time I was offered a digital ARC of this book, I didn't realize it was a companion piece to THE HEMATOPHAGES. That said, I didn't feel lost and this was perfectly fine as a stand alone novella.
I felt for the protagonist and I felt that the tension regarding her situation was an honest, human portrayal. In this world of Kozeniewski's creation, health care is so expensive that hardly anyone can afford to go to the doctor, never mind being able to afford treatment. He has taken an issue important to so many Americans, (and maybe all human beings?), and then set it down in outer space. (I may be viewing this incorrectly, not having read the other book, but this is my take on his world as of this moment.)
As I said above, I've only read two of his books so far, and even though SKINWRAPPERS was novella length, I think he has improved his skill as a writer and as a world-builder. Now I need to get to reading THE HEMATOPHAGES!
Recommended, especially to readers of dark science fiction!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2rUIqVH
*Thanks to the author for the e-book of this novella in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
A teenager is starting yet another day listening to her parents calmly argue while she is busy texting her best friend. Then, in only one second, her entire life changes forever. Her family's ship is attacked by Skinwrappers, (which vaguely reminded me of the Reavers from that show Firefly), and her only mission now is to keep herself alive. Will she accomplish that? You'll have to read this to find out!
Even though I read and loved Kozeniewski's BRAINEATER JONES, I haven't yet had a chance to get back to his work. At the time I was offered a digital ARC of this book, I didn't realize it was a companion piece to THE HEMATOPHAGES. That said, I didn't feel lost and this was perfectly fine as a stand alone novella.
I felt for the protagonist and I felt that the tension regarding her situation was an honest, human portrayal. In this world of Kozeniewski's creation, health care is so expensive that hardly anyone can afford to go to the doctor, never mind being able to afford treatment. He has taken an issue important to so many Americans, (and maybe all human beings?), and then set it down in outer space. (I may be viewing this incorrectly, not having read the other book, but this is my take on his world as of this moment.)
As I said above, I've only read two of his books so far, and even though SKINWRAPPERS was novella length, I think he has improved his skill as a writer and as a world-builder. Now I need to get to reading THE HEMATOPHAGES!
Recommended, especially to readers of dark science fiction!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2rUIqVH
*Thanks to the author for the e-book of this novella in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
October 26, 2019
This is an excellent companion piece to Hematophages by this author but can be read as a stand-alone. But here's the deal: This was a solid 4 star read throughout but the last word of the story bumped it up to 4.5 and made me cheer out loud, and I only was able to cheer because I had read Hematophages first. Doesn't take away from its own awesomeness but the last word zing had a little extra pop because of it. Now, If Hematophages was sci-fi/horror than Skinwrapper is sci-fi/thriller. This book is more about tension than the gore and violence, it still has both of those, it's just not as frenzied of a read. As a result I ended up enjoying this slightly more than I did Hematophages. I have only read these two books by him and I don't know if it is that he is a more mature writer at this time but this seemed like a more polished book as well, a little more engaging. The ideas and imagination on display are stellar and I really hope there is more written in this shared universe because many of the concepts could be explored much more deeply and there are enough types of augmented humans, aliens, and other species to populate many more pages. A fun quick read from someone I need to read much more from. 4.5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book to review by the author but that in no way, shape, or form impacted my opinion.
I was given a copy of this book to review by the author but that in no way, shape, or form impacted my opinion.
January 20, 2020
3 Stars!
Thank you to Sinister Grin Press and the author for helping our Night Worms Review Team get plenty of copies for our Book Party!
I've said it before but Science-Fiction is a hard sell for me. Typically, extensive world-building, space travel, and unfamiliar settings/creatures are too much of a stretch for my tastes so I usually avoid Sci-Fi altogether. However, Sci-Fi/Horror hybrids still manage to catch my attention, as this one did.
This is a prequel to a book called, HEMATOPHAGES, but can be read as a standalone novella. SKINWRAPPER does not waste time. A slick 80 pages of high-octane, action-fueled space opera involving a young girl living on a space freighter with her parents. The ship is attacked by pirates called, SKINWRAPPERS who steal blood and organs.
Pretty terrifying. Just the name alone, SKINWRAPPERS is enough to evoke shudders.
The storytelling here is accessible for readers like me who are not seasoned Sci-Fi fans. There are a few brief introductions of some advanced technological "contraptions" (for lack of a better term) where I was a little confused as to their function but I just kept going and they eventually explain themselves (looking at you, 'glowing orb that acts like a pet').
I think the temptation here would be for readers to demand more substance and length to this story because not everything is extensively fleshed out but to be honest, I might not read a novel-length horror/Sci-Fi so this was the perfect size for me--a compact, dark, brutal story set in deep-space with an intelligent female protagonist trying to survive formidable, savage enemies.
3 stars simply because I like Science Fiction but I find it a rare thing to fall in love with it. Space is not my Jam.
I will definitely read more Kozeniewski and possibly go back for HEMATOPHAGES.
Thank you to Sinister Grin Press and the author for helping our Night Worms Review Team get plenty of copies for our Book Party!
I've said it before but Science-Fiction is a hard sell for me. Typically, extensive world-building, space travel, and unfamiliar settings/creatures are too much of a stretch for my tastes so I usually avoid Sci-Fi altogether. However, Sci-Fi/Horror hybrids still manage to catch my attention, as this one did.
This is a prequel to a book called, HEMATOPHAGES, but can be read as a standalone novella. SKINWRAPPER does not waste time. A slick 80 pages of high-octane, action-fueled space opera involving a young girl living on a space freighter with her parents. The ship is attacked by pirates called, SKINWRAPPERS who steal blood and organs.
Pretty terrifying. Just the name alone, SKINWRAPPERS is enough to evoke shudders.
The storytelling here is accessible for readers like me who are not seasoned Sci-Fi fans. There are a few brief introductions of some advanced technological "contraptions" (for lack of a better term) where I was a little confused as to their function but I just kept going and they eventually explain themselves (looking at you, 'glowing orb that acts like a pet').
I think the temptation here would be for readers to demand more substance and length to this story because not everything is extensively fleshed out but to be honest, I might not read a novel-length horror/Sci-Fi so this was the perfect size for me--a compact, dark, brutal story set in deep-space with an intelligent female protagonist trying to survive formidable, savage enemies.
3 stars simply because I like Science Fiction but I find it a rare thing to fall in love with it. Space is not my Jam.
I will definitely read more Kozeniewski and possibly go back for HEMATOPHAGES.
January 23, 2020
When the Night Worms organize a book party, you don’t miss it!
Stephen Kozenieski’s SKINWRAPPER is a novella that is written as a prequel to THE HEMATOPHAGES. And although you can read it as a standalone, I will be sure to pick up the next book. It’s an atmospheric, taut, riveting, and bloody good time of a tiny, little book.
We follow a young female protagonist who is left alone on a spacecraft and to her own devices. What she needs to avoid are the brutal, dreadful, SKINWRAPPERS.
This novella is an excellent mix of science fiction and horror that kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it to readers who are looking to try out this horror, hybrid sub-genre as it doesn’t get crazy complicated with terminology. My only qualm is when I finished, it left me wanting more! SKINWRAPPER is a dark, fast-paced, and terrifying book ★★★½
Thank you to the Night Worms and Sinister Grin Press for my free copy.
Stephen Kozenieski’s SKINWRAPPER is a novella that is written as a prequel to THE HEMATOPHAGES. And although you can read it as a standalone, I will be sure to pick up the next book. It’s an atmospheric, taut, riveting, and bloody good time of a tiny, little book.
We follow a young female protagonist who is left alone on a spacecraft and to her own devices. What she needs to avoid are the brutal, dreadful, SKINWRAPPERS.
This novella is an excellent mix of science fiction and horror that kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend it to readers who are looking to try out this horror, hybrid sub-genre as it doesn’t get crazy complicated with terminology. My only qualm is when I finished, it left me wanting more! SKINWRAPPER is a dark, fast-paced, and terrifying book ★★★½
Thank you to the Night Worms and Sinister Grin Press for my free copy.
July 4, 2022
Super fun novella, very intriguing concept. Definitely recommend!
January 23, 2020
The Night Worms blog group is having another book party, and SKINWRAPPER is our current selection. This science fiction/horror novella is a prequel to the novel THE HEMATOPHAGES. The novella was actually written after the novel, and can be read as a stand alone story, but I immediately bought the novel after finishing it. This story is right up my alley.
I can already get a sense from my fellow readers that the reviews for this one are going to be very mixed. I also know that some people will want more background for the characters in this story, but I don't necessarily agree. While I certainly would not be opposed to this being a longer work, I don't think you need a lot of information for the story to be effective. I'm actually going to argue that the story is more compelling because you are dropped into the middle of the character's lives. We don't know a lot about the main character, and so we don't know how she will react. That built a lot of the tension for me. You don't necessarily need a lot of background on a character to relate to the threat of death. And this one gave me just enough to want to go back to this world in THE HEMATOPHAGES.
The book opens with a teenage girl listening to the characteristic banter between her two mothers. The family lives on a freighter spaceship called Blue Whale, and in a single shocking moment all three of their lives are suddenly changed forever. Then alarms begin to sound across the ship. The worst is suspected, and the girl is told to lock herself into their apartment and hide if anyone tries to open the door. Skinwrappers have boarded the ship.
The Skinwrappers are merciless space pirates that reminded me a lot of the Reavers from Firefly. These pirates are looking for cargo, but they also take the blood and organs of everyone they encounter. The girl knows there is little in the universe that is more terrifying than a Skinwrapper, and so her frantic mind uses a technique that employs the voice of her friend to guide her to safety. This may not work for some readers, but I could easily imagine a frantic teenager's brain employing this device in order to survive.
There are some tense and claustrophobic moments, and tons of blood and gore in this one. The Skinwrappers have no remorse or mercy. I also found it interesting that there are no men in this story, and would like to know Kozeniewski's reasoning for that. SKINWRAPPER offers just enough story to make me super interested in the world of THE HEMATOPHAGES. It's all killer and no filler, and I really enjoyed it.
I can already get a sense from my fellow readers that the reviews for this one are going to be very mixed. I also know that some people will want more background for the characters in this story, but I don't necessarily agree. While I certainly would not be opposed to this being a longer work, I don't think you need a lot of information for the story to be effective. I'm actually going to argue that the story is more compelling because you are dropped into the middle of the character's lives. We don't know a lot about the main character, and so we don't know how she will react. That built a lot of the tension for me. You don't necessarily need a lot of background on a character to relate to the threat of death. And this one gave me just enough to want to go back to this world in THE HEMATOPHAGES.
The book opens with a teenage girl listening to the characteristic banter between her two mothers. The family lives on a freighter spaceship called Blue Whale, and in a single shocking moment all three of their lives are suddenly changed forever. Then alarms begin to sound across the ship. The worst is suspected, and the girl is told to lock herself into their apartment and hide if anyone tries to open the door. Skinwrappers have boarded the ship.
The Skinwrappers are merciless space pirates that reminded me a lot of the Reavers from Firefly. These pirates are looking for cargo, but they also take the blood and organs of everyone they encounter. The girl knows there is little in the universe that is more terrifying than a Skinwrapper, and so her frantic mind uses a technique that employs the voice of her friend to guide her to safety. This may not work for some readers, but I could easily imagine a frantic teenager's brain employing this device in order to survive.
There are some tense and claustrophobic moments, and tons of blood and gore in this one. The Skinwrappers have no remorse or mercy. I also found it interesting that there are no men in this story, and would like to know Kozeniewski's reasoning for that. SKINWRAPPER offers just enough story to make me super interested in the world of THE HEMATOPHAGES. It's all killer and no filler, and I really enjoyed it.
December 31, 2019
I enjoyed this novella a lot. It kept me on the edge of my seat and made me want to read The Hematophages to find out more about the Skinwrappers, which I did immediately after finishing it.
*I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
*I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 2, 2022
SKINWRAPPER, by Stephen Kozeniewsi is a cosmic horror novella that addresses some real-life issues, in an extreme way. Ironically, despite a band of outer space "pirates", taking over ships for the harvesting of organs and blood, there was a part of me that felt bad for them due to the circumstances that led them to this extreme.
The social commentary here was something that I couldn't ignore, and it made it that much more intense, when you find yourself sympathizing with BOTH sides.
An excellent first read, for me, from this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work in the future.
Recommended.
The social commentary here was something that I couldn't ignore, and it made it that much more intense, when you find yourself sympathizing with BOTH sides.
An excellent first read, for me, from this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work in the future.
Recommended.
June 27, 2022
3 1/2 stars, rounded up, because that's how rounding is supposed to work.
Skinwrappers are killer space pirates, scouring the ink for transport ships to pillage all sorts of booty, including body parts, which they harvest with bloody, laser-wielding skill. And this sweet novella, which was graciously offered by the author to Horror Aficionados for their July read, is a zero-g thrill ride that stars a teenager trying to escape a raid on her ship. I enjoyed the creativity in this, and understand that it's an introduction to The Hematophages, which will be featured on my bookshelf very soon.
There were, of course, a couple of things that I didn't quite gel with me. Our young protagonist's age - 17 or 18 - doesn't seem to fit her maturity level and behaviors at the beginning of the book, where I could have sworn she was a bratty child of 12 or 13. Ignorance of coffee due to space faring but a familiarity with tulips seemed odd. But of course, in the grand scheme of floating gallons of congealing blood in zero gravity, these minor discrepancies pale in the eyeless face of the victims of the organ-hijacking skinwrappers.
Skinwrappers are killer space pirates, scouring the ink for transport ships to pillage all sorts of booty, including body parts, which they harvest with bloody, laser-wielding skill. And this sweet novella, which was graciously offered by the author to Horror Aficionados for their July read, is a zero-g thrill ride that stars a teenager trying to escape a raid on her ship. I enjoyed the creativity in this, and understand that it's an introduction to The Hematophages, which will be featured on my bookshelf very soon.
There were, of course, a couple of things that I didn't quite gel with me. Our young protagonist's age - 17 or 18 - doesn't seem to fit her maturity level and behaviors at the beginning of the book, where I could have sworn she was a bratty child of 12 or 13. Ignorance of coffee due to space faring but a familiarity with tulips seemed odd. But of course, in the grand scheme of floating gallons of congealing blood in zero gravity, these minor discrepancies pale in the eyeless face of the victims of the organ-hijacking skinwrappers.
September 8, 2019
Fantastico! Un must da leggere dopo Ematophages dello stesso autore, come piccolo spin off dal finale col botto!
July 4, 2022
Although I am not much of a science fiction fan, I enjoyed this novella. I understand this book was a written as a prequel, but it worked well as a stand-alone. An isolated setting mixed with bloodthirsty creatures can only lead to a terrifyingly fun-filled read. 4 stars
February 21, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads!
Another Night Worms book party happened recently, and I know I've said this before, but I'm so glad to be a part of the team! These book parties are so much fun, and I love seeing all the different reactions and ratings from some of the bookworms whose opinions I value most in the community!
I didn't know much about this one going in, as I typically prefer not to read much about a book before reading it. I did see a lot of comments in our group chat, and started it right away 'cause everything I heard sounded great! And wow, what a ride! This is a super short little novella, but it makes a big impact by not holding back in terms of action and excitement going on.
When starting, you're put immediately into the main character's life. We're privy to the conversations she hears, we learn about her family - all in just a couple of short pages. From there, we're thrown right in to a horrific tragedy, and the subsequent chaos and bloodshed that ensues from a group of Firefly's Reaver-esque murderers taking over. I loved the Dead Space vibes I got from some of the scenes - scary stuff in space is absolutely terrifying to me, folks!
I really enjoyed this for what it was: a short, fast, action-packed sci-fi horror thrill ride. I wouldn't say there was a whole lot of character development or that the plot was completely original, but I enjoyed the time I spent reading the pages, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout.
I will admit that I may have enjoyed this a bit more as a fully fleshed out novel rather than a novella where we're thrown in, given little detail other than what's happening in the moment, and then having that end while being left wanting to know more. On the plus side to that, this is actually a prequel novella to a book called THE HEMATOPHAGES, which I assume expands more on the universe created here - and I've already added it to my wishlist, 'cause based on this alone, I absolutely want to check it out!
Overall, if you're a fan of horror sci-fi, check this one out. It's quick, gritty, and accessible even if you're not a huge science fiction nerd!
Big thanks to the Night Worms & Sinister Grin Press for the book in exchange for a review!
Etsy | Twitter | Bookstagram | Instagram
Another Night Worms book party happened recently, and I know I've said this before, but I'm so glad to be a part of the team! These book parties are so much fun, and I love seeing all the different reactions and ratings from some of the bookworms whose opinions I value most in the community!
I didn't know much about this one going in, as I typically prefer not to read much about a book before reading it. I did see a lot of comments in our group chat, and started it right away 'cause everything I heard sounded great! And wow, what a ride! This is a super short little novella, but it makes a big impact by not holding back in terms of action and excitement going on.
When starting, you're put immediately into the main character's life. We're privy to the conversations she hears, we learn about her family - all in just a couple of short pages. From there, we're thrown right in to a horrific tragedy, and the subsequent chaos and bloodshed that ensues from a group of Firefly's Reaver-esque murderers taking over. I loved the Dead Space vibes I got from some of the scenes - scary stuff in space is absolutely terrifying to me, folks!
I really enjoyed this for what it was: a short, fast, action-packed sci-fi horror thrill ride. I wouldn't say there was a whole lot of character development or that the plot was completely original, but I enjoyed the time I spent reading the pages, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout.
I will admit that I may have enjoyed this a bit more as a fully fleshed out novel rather than a novella where we're thrown in, given little detail other than what's happening in the moment, and then having that end while being left wanting to know more. On the plus side to that, this is actually a prequel novella to a book called THE HEMATOPHAGES, which I assume expands more on the universe created here - and I've already added it to my wishlist, 'cause based on this alone, I absolutely want to check it out!
Overall, if you're a fan of horror sci-fi, check this one out. It's quick, gritty, and accessible even if you're not a huge science fiction nerd!
Big thanks to the Night Worms & Sinister Grin Press for the book in exchange for a review!
Etsy | Twitter | Bookstagram | Instagram
January 28, 2020
4.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
Skinwrapper begins aboard the vessel Blue Whale somewhere in the middle of deep space. Our protagonist, a 17-year-old girl, converses with her two mothers in their living quarters and within the first three pages, murderous space pirates, known as skinwrappers, board the vessel and all hell breaks loose.
That’s right, space pirates.
That is all the synopsis you will get from me and really, do you need anything else? Space pirates! This novella is only 73 pages long, so if I give you more, I would be spoiling something. What I will tell you, is that even for a short story, Kozeniewski does not waste any time diving right into it. I was surprised by the first turn of events and had to read the third page of the book a second time, just to make sure I was reading it correctly.
This is the first piece of fiction I have read from this author and it will not be the last. He has knack for taking a situation and giving you as much detail as possible to make it feel like you could actually be there. Our protagonist doesn’t pull out some extremely wild space ninja moves to evade these villains, she acts like a rational person would and avoids them as much as possible. Normally, this would make for an extremely boring story. However, that wasn’t the case here. The author makes you feel how terrifying taking the best possible route can actually be even without being the action hero. He doesn’t tell you how scared the character is, he shows you through small motions and movements. This was really important for me while reading this story. Often in fiction I find that fear is an emotion that is implied. Kozeniewski shows us, by turning seconds into hours and letting the progtanist’s thoughts runaway from herself.
The concept of even being in deep space is interesting and terrifying enough but, tack on horror to the end of that and you have the perfect recipe for a fantastic chilling tale.
Skinwrapper begins aboard the vessel Blue Whale somewhere in the middle of deep space. Our protagonist, a 17-year-old girl, converses with her two mothers in their living quarters and within the first three pages, murderous space pirates, known as skinwrappers, board the vessel and all hell breaks loose.
That’s right, space pirates.
That is all the synopsis you will get from me and really, do you need anything else? Space pirates! This novella is only 73 pages long, so if I give you more, I would be spoiling something. What I will tell you, is that even for a short story, Kozeniewski does not waste any time diving right into it. I was surprised by the first turn of events and had to read the third page of the book a second time, just to make sure I was reading it correctly.
This is the first piece of fiction I have read from this author and it will not be the last. He has knack for taking a situation and giving you as much detail as possible to make it feel like you could actually be there. Our protagonist doesn’t pull out some extremely wild space ninja moves to evade these villains, she acts like a rational person would and avoids them as much as possible. Normally, this would make for an extremely boring story. However, that wasn’t the case here. The author makes you feel how terrifying taking the best possible route can actually be even without being the action hero. He doesn’t tell you how scared the character is, he shows you through small motions and movements. This was really important for me while reading this story. Often in fiction I find that fear is an emotion that is implied. Kozeniewski shows us, by turning seconds into hours and letting the progtanist’s thoughts runaway from herself.
The concept of even being in deep space is interesting and terrifying enough but, tack on horror to the end of that and you have the perfect recipe for a fantastic chilling tale.
January 24, 2020
What a fun little novella this was. This is sci-fi horror at its finest.
Now give me a minute while I go and buy THE HEMATOPHAGES...
Ok, I'm back now. This was such a nice surprise being that I went into this novella blind. I absolutely love a good sci-fi horror, I would even venture to say that it is one of my favorite sub-genres of horror, and this definitely did not disappoint.
SKINWRAPPER is a prequel novella to The Hematophages. It gives you a little glimpse into what or who the Skinwrappers are and what they do. Think of them like a gang of ruthless pirates. In their wake there is nothing but blood, guts and gore. With that being said, this little glimpse left me hungry for more of this world. Eager to see where the characters and this world of space horror go.
Thank you so much to Sinister Grin Press and also to Night Worms for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. Night Worms book parties are the best!
Now give me a minute while I go and buy THE HEMATOPHAGES...
Ok, I'm back now. This was such a nice surprise being that I went into this novella blind. I absolutely love a good sci-fi horror, I would even venture to say that it is one of my favorite sub-genres of horror, and this definitely did not disappoint.
SKINWRAPPER is a prequel novella to The Hematophages. It gives you a little glimpse into what or who the Skinwrappers are and what they do. Think of them like a gang of ruthless pirates. In their wake there is nothing but blood, guts and gore. With that being said, this little glimpse left me hungry for more of this world. Eager to see where the characters and this world of space horror go.
Thank you so much to Sinister Grin Press and also to Night Worms for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. Night Worms book parties are the best!
January 23, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
‘Skinwrapper’ is my first go with anything Kozeniewski has written, but it certainly won’t be my last. I went into this very blind, only knowing that it works as a prequel novella to his release ‘The Hematophages.’
The story begins with a bang – throwing us into the world where the inhabitants live on a ship in outer space. From there, an attack occurs and the ‘skinwrappers’ arrive.
The novella runs along at a breakneck pace, which made it a bit difficult for me to digest why the main character doesn’t really do anything. Early on we get a line that says they wouldn’t hide as that would be certain death – but then that’s just what happens.
I liked the science fiction bent and the gore was great, descriptive moments that really painted a great picture.
One of my biggest fears growing up – why? Couldn’t tell you! – was that I would be somehow lost in space, floating away from my ship, watching my oxygen and battery levels diminish the further and further away I travelled.
Parts of ‘Skinwrapper’ gave me that claustrophobic feeling I used to get when I would have those nightmares, those moments of – hurry up and get away from the damaged area.
I do feel like I would have enjoyed more of this book is I’d have already read ‘The Hematophages.’ There is some random lingo that is used that I think may relate back to that book and the few destination locations mentioned throughout, I’m to believe they are probably discussed in ‘The Hematophages.’
Overall, I had a fun time, if not a bit of a jumbled read. I’ll keep my tabs on if I want to dive into ‘The Hematophages,’ but if you’re a previous fan of Kozeniewski’s and have read ‘The Hematophages,’ I have a feeling you’re in for a treat with this prequel.
‘Skinwrapper’ is my first go with anything Kozeniewski has written, but it certainly won’t be my last. I went into this very blind, only knowing that it works as a prequel novella to his release ‘The Hematophages.’
The story begins with a bang – throwing us into the world where the inhabitants live on a ship in outer space. From there, an attack occurs and the ‘skinwrappers’ arrive.
The novella runs along at a breakneck pace, which made it a bit difficult for me to digest why the main character doesn’t really do anything. Early on we get a line that says they wouldn’t hide as that would be certain death – but then that’s just what happens.
I liked the science fiction bent and the gore was great, descriptive moments that really painted a great picture.
One of my biggest fears growing up – why? Couldn’t tell you! – was that I would be somehow lost in space, floating away from my ship, watching my oxygen and battery levels diminish the further and further away I travelled.
Parts of ‘Skinwrapper’ gave me that claustrophobic feeling I used to get when I would have those nightmares, those moments of – hurry up and get away from the damaged area.
I do feel like I would have enjoyed more of this book is I’d have already read ‘The Hematophages.’ There is some random lingo that is used that I think may relate back to that book and the few destination locations mentioned throughout, I’m to believe they are probably discussed in ‘The Hematophages.’
Overall, I had a fun time, if not a bit of a jumbled read. I’ll keep my tabs on if I want to dive into ‘The Hematophages,’ but if you’re a previous fan of Kozeniewski’s and have read ‘The Hematophages,’ I have a feeling you’re in for a treat with this prequel.
October 12, 2020
REAVERS! I've read things the wrong way around I think, as I think I should have read The Hematophages first. Ah well, *shrugs*, I guess on to that one next then!
Great, grisly quick read! I believe this is an homage to the reavers from Firefly (the word reaver is used once in the text), and it's awesome.
Great, grisly quick read! I believe this is an homage to the reavers from Firefly (the word reaver is used once in the text), and it's awesome.
July 19, 2022
This short novella is dark, stark and dystopian. Kozeniewski pares things down to the horrific essentials and creates a compelling and lightning-fast read. He certainly knows how to build suspense and maintain it. If you are prone to biting your fingernails during moments of stress or anxiety, then please wear gloves while reading this.
I'm fascinated by the world-building here, and wish there were more of it as well as more specifics and explanations. Still, the story holds your attention and keeps you turning pages despite the lack of certain details.
This definitely feels like a section of a longer work. The Goodreads summary describes this as a prequel, while the author's acknowledgment in the back text refers to it as a sequel of sorts to a longer novel, The Hemotophages. Guess I may have to read that to learn more.
I'm fascinated by the world-building here, and wish there were more of it as well as more specifics and explanations. Still, the story holds your attention and keeps you turning pages despite the lack of certain details.
This definitely feels like a section of a longer work. The Goodreads summary describes this as a prequel, while the author's acknowledgment in the back text refers to it as a sequel of sorts to a longer novel, The Hemotophages. Guess I may have to read that to learn more.
April 11, 2020
Skinwrapper by Stephen Kozeniewski is a short tale about survival out in space. It’s a tale that plunges you right into the action without any delay and doesn’t let up. This novella is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
I picked up Skinwrapper after reading Esther’s review over on BiteIntoBooks.
Let’s dive in!
Holy cow… So. When the tale begins, we see a teenage girl talking with her two moms. Suddenly, there’s a pop. At first, it seems like there may have been an accident, but when the teenager calls it in, she learns that their biggest fear is happening. Skinwrappers are on the ship.
From there, it’s an all out mission for survival. But can our main character go undetected? Or will she be torn apart like anyone else that crosses paths with the intruders?
MY GOODNESS. This book started with just an everyday kind of conversation, and then boom! Suddenly we’re right in the middle of the suspense and terror!
You really felt for the main character and wanted her to survive! I loved that we saw everything from her perspective and heard all of her internal thoughts. It was really interesting to see her thoughts of panic, her thoughts to try to combat that panic, as well as a voice in her head that was guiding her which seemed to be from her friend, who was light years away.
Our main characters fear of enclosed spaces when she ended up in one really got me sweating! What a scene that was!
I loved that this book gave you just enough information to understand the main characters fears, but you still didn’t really know what was going on fully. We did learn small bits of information here and there as the story progressed, but I don’t think I ever fully understood the grand scope of things. I have so many questions! Why are they in space? What is the ship like? What is their overall world like?!
BUT. Not fully understanding made this one even more intriguing and more creepy to me.
My Favorite Passage
There’s shouting in the background. An then I hear it. That one, profane, almost taboo word that can strike a chill in the heart of even the saltiest ink surfer alive.
“…skinwrapper…”
My Final Thoughts
I would definitely recommend picking this one up! It’s a quick read. It’s so suspenseful and filled with body horror. If those things are up your alley, you will love this!
I picked up Skinwrapper after reading Esther’s review over on BiteIntoBooks.
Let’s dive in!
Holy cow… So. When the tale begins, we see a teenage girl talking with her two moms. Suddenly, there’s a pop. At first, it seems like there may have been an accident, but when the teenager calls it in, she learns that their biggest fear is happening. Skinwrappers are on the ship.
From there, it’s an all out mission for survival. But can our main character go undetected? Or will she be torn apart like anyone else that crosses paths with the intruders?
MY GOODNESS. This book started with just an everyday kind of conversation, and then boom! Suddenly we’re right in the middle of the suspense and terror!
You really felt for the main character and wanted her to survive! I loved that we saw everything from her perspective and heard all of her internal thoughts. It was really interesting to see her thoughts of panic, her thoughts to try to combat that panic, as well as a voice in her head that was guiding her which seemed to be from her friend, who was light years away.
Our main characters fear of enclosed spaces when she ended up in one really got me sweating! What a scene that was!
I loved that this book gave you just enough information to understand the main characters fears, but you still didn’t really know what was going on fully. We did learn small bits of information here and there as the story progressed, but I don’t think I ever fully understood the grand scope of things. I have so many questions! Why are they in space? What is the ship like? What is their overall world like?!
BUT. Not fully understanding made this one even more intriguing and more creepy to me.
My Favorite Passage
There’s shouting in the background. An then I hear it. That one, profane, almost taboo word that can strike a chill in the heart of even the saltiest ink surfer alive.
“…skinwrapper…”
My Final Thoughts
I would definitely recommend picking this one up! It’s a quick read. It’s so suspenseful and filled with body horror. If those things are up your alley, you will love this!
September 11, 2019
If you are a fan of the bad guys known as Reavers, from the beloved show Firefly, then a Skinwrapper may be the next best thing. The Skinwrappers from this story share a lot in common with the Reavers of that story.
This story branches off from Kozeniewski’s novel The Hematophages, a totally different and darker world from Firefly, but still just as awesome.
In an hour you can whip through this tale that keeps you sucked in to the very end. Everything Kozeniewski writes is original, imaginative, often creepy and always edgy. Skinwrapper is no exception. I never know where the story is going because every development is fresh and unforeseen.
There are many good storytellers in existence, but the great are hard to come by. Kozeniewski is a great, and with each new story he creates, his footprint grows bigger in the literary world of horror and science fiction. It is only a matter of time before Kozeniewski is a household name.
If you have never read anything by Kozeniewski, why not take a chance on this?
This story branches off from Kozeniewski’s novel The Hematophages, a totally different and darker world from Firefly, but still just as awesome.
In an hour you can whip through this tale that keeps you sucked in to the very end. Everything Kozeniewski writes is original, imaginative, often creepy and always edgy. Skinwrapper is no exception. I never know where the story is going because every development is fresh and unforeseen.
There are many good storytellers in existence, but the great are hard to come by. Kozeniewski is a great, and with each new story he creates, his footprint grows bigger in the literary world of horror and science fiction. It is only a matter of time before Kozeniewski is a household name.
If you have never read anything by Kozeniewski, why not take a chance on this?
January 26, 2020
Skinwrapper is a fun, quick, creepy space-horror novella that throws you right into the action as soon as you start reading. It kind of has blended vibes of Dead Space and Firefly, especially when it comes to the Skinwrappers themselves. This book had a lot of great imagery and I can only imagine walking around and seeing chunks of body parts or pools of blood floating in the air due to the gravity or lack thereof. I really loved being in the head of our protagonist because she assesses the situation pretty genuinely and how I might expect to act in the same level of peril. I loved the conversation and banter between the Skinwrappers and they sound totally merciless and powerful.
3.5 rounded up to a 4 for Goodreads! Thanks to Sinister Grin Press for a copy!
3.5 rounded up to a 4 for Goodreads! Thanks to Sinister Grin Press for a copy!
September 25, 2019
SKINWRAPPER is a sci-fi horror novella, that can be read as a prequel to the excellent novel HEMATOPHAGES or as simply a stand-alone work. The fast-paced tale is brutal and tense, immediately dropping you into the action. As much as this book is about spaceships and pirates, it’s also about inequality and capitalism. And also gross stuff. Highly recommend.
May 19, 2021
Review to come.
January 27, 2020
Thank you to Night Worms and Sinister Grin Press for making another Night Worms Book Party a success! Also a special thank you to our author, Stephen Kozeniewski for being a good sport as the team read through his novella!
I’m not one to gravitate to sci-fi often in books, but to me it is easily the most comfortable pairing with horror and here is no exception and why I should read it more often! This books gravitational pull was amazing!! This novella packs an incredible punch and leaves you wanting more! Which is fitting as it is a prequel to THE HEMATOPHAGES; which is now a must read for me!
I was pleasantly surprised with how female empowering this book is. Despite our main character being 17 years young, she is light years ahead and our author handles that balance with grace. I didn’t find myself particularly interested in her survival until I became a part of it! You will truly be captivated by the intensity this novella creates as we await her fate at the hands of the terrifying Skinwrappers.
I’m leaving out many elements of this books plot as to not spoil the absolute genuine, pleasant surprises. From its narrative, characters as well as the world created for you. The keen descriptions help to set our orbital scene and despite the books size, I did find myself vested in these characters and this gritty world. The suspense is white-knuckle till the very end!
I’m not one to gravitate to sci-fi often in books, but to me it is easily the most comfortable pairing with horror and here is no exception and why I should read it more often! This books gravitational pull was amazing!! This novella packs an incredible punch and leaves you wanting more! Which is fitting as it is a prequel to THE HEMATOPHAGES; which is now a must read for me!
I was pleasantly surprised with how female empowering this book is. Despite our main character being 17 years young, she is light years ahead and our author handles that balance with grace. I didn’t find myself particularly interested in her survival until I became a part of it! You will truly be captivated by the intensity this novella creates as we await her fate at the hands of the terrifying Skinwrappers.
I’m leaving out many elements of this books plot as to not spoil the absolute genuine, pleasant surprises. From its narrative, characters as well as the world created for you. The keen descriptions help to set our orbital scene and despite the books size, I did find myself vested in these characters and this gritty world. The suspense is white-knuckle till the very end!
January 20, 2020
A prequel to The Hematophages, this can be read as a standalone. In 80 short pages, this abruptly starts and finishes as the Skinwrappers pirate a vessel and a girl does her best to hide until she can't hide anymore. I appreciate and love sci-fi horror. Maybe because this was such a short read, I didn't ever get connected or felt much of the "world build" happening within the story itself. Things happen quickly and can be a tiny bit confusing in certain parts. The ending was nothing original and I turned that last page really not feeling one way or the other about this read.
Despite the above, I am a bit curious as to where the story would now go and would not be opposed to reading The Hematophages as I think the fuller novel may work better for me personally as a reader. Good concept, some fantastic gore. Alas, it just didn't *quite* work for me.
Despite the above, I am a bit curious as to where the story would now go and would not be opposed to reading The Hematophages as I think the fuller novel may work better for me personally as a reader. Good concept, some fantastic gore. Alas, it just didn't *quite* work for me.
January 27, 2020
A cargo ship is hijacked by a band of cancerous space pirates called Skinwrappers and the main character tries to escape with her life while the rest of the crew are skinned alive. This book was provided to me by Sinister Grin Press and Night Worms for a book party. Before I started reading horror almost exclusively, I read a lot of sci-fi, so reading this book felt like visiting an old friend. An old friend that has globules of blood floating around.
I enjoyed this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. We don't know the name of our protagonist but her internal dialogue is well done and the sense of danger is real. As she hides from the Skinwrappers and certain death she's hit with problem after problem. The author does a good job conveying the sense of claustrophobia and kept the tension going for the entire story. I wasn't aware of this author or the sequel to this book, Hematophages, but after reading this book, I will be picking that one up. I need more cancer-ridden space pirates in my life.
I enjoyed this book and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. We don't know the name of our protagonist but her internal dialogue is well done and the sense of danger is real. As she hides from the Skinwrappers and certain death she's hit with problem after problem. The author does a good job conveying the sense of claustrophobia and kept the tension going for the entire story. I wasn't aware of this author or the sequel to this book, Hematophages, but after reading this book, I will be picking that one up. I need more cancer-ridden space pirates in my life.
July 10, 2022
This is a little prequel novella to the author's book The Hematophages.
I think I ought to have read this actually AFTER the novel and it would've had more impact? I imagine the reveal of the name of the main character in this novella would've had more impact that way.
However it was really fun to read and I'm definitely going to be reading The Hematophages. The world building presented just within this novella is enough to hook me and I want to learn more about this 'world'.
I think I ought to have read this actually AFTER the novel and it would've had more impact? I imagine the reveal of the name of the main character in this novella would've had more impact that way.
However it was really fun to read and I'm definitely going to be reading The Hematophages. The world building presented just within this novella is enough to hook me and I want to learn more about this 'world'.
November 7, 2022
This splatterpunk sci-fi space horror is a prequel to Kozeniewski’s novel, The Hematophages, but can be read as a standalone. It’s a perfectly normal day for our protagonist until her ship is boarded by a band of skinless, murderous space pirates. It’s tense, fun, violent, and scary. Need I say more?
July 3, 2022
A very compelling read - short, terse, unrelenting, vividly real. Maybe one or two speed wobbles on first reading in establishing context, but I've no doubt that would be sorted out on closer inspection. Rolling in the Deep meets Nightflyers.
October 19, 2019
My two favorite genres are Science Fiction and Horror so when I first heard about The Hematophages I was stoked. The Hematophages is a blend of horror and science fiction. Kozeniewski had been most well known for his zombie detective bizarro novel Brain-eater Jones. The Hematophages is clearly Aliens worship and that is OK because it was awesome. Without standard tropes, it is a space vampire novel that was overflowing with ideas. I had it as a 'Dick like suggestion' on an episode of the Dickheads podcast and reviewed that novel here.
I said: "The Hematophages is one of the best books I have read so far this year. It is bold and weird science fiction that feels old school and insane at the same time. It is bizarro, dark sci-fi and horror in equal measure. A super neat book that I am glad I picked up. It is a little bit a parallel of Aliens, A reversal of Carpenter's The Thing (paranoia with all women) and with a world-building that reminded me of Neal Asher's The Skinner. That is a good mix."
Why have I spent so much time talking about that book? Well, Skinwrapper is a prequel and expansion of one of the coolest ideas found in The Hematophages was Cancer-ridden mutant mummy-like pirates that are forced to live in Zero-G called Skinwrappers.
Yes you read all that that correctly. The chaaracters in the first book that introduced the Skinwrappers was so powerful that I thought they deserved their own book. They only had one chapter in the first book. So thank you Mister Kozeniewski because you delivered more texture to a universe I already enjoyed. Now a 81 page novella is fun but I still could have lived with a whole novel with this story, in this universe. I didn't read the back cover and went in spoiler free and I suggest you do that. I hope I sold you on the bat-shit crazy bizarro space opera that has tons of ideas per page. Both books are super recommended. Anyhoo Spoiler warning has been given.
So this book is a prequel and gives an effective back story to one of the Skinwrapper pirate characters from The Hematophages. SK uses vivid description and characterization to make this world feel lived in. I think the story benefits from the first book but I suppose it could stand on it's own. The descriptions of the Skinwrappers and their lives are pretty powerful. It is funny because I thought this was almost a perfect novella. Almost, except for two things, the major problem is it was painful realizing that I only had 60 pages left as soon as I was totally invested. Damn you Kozeniewski I am going to end up reading The Hematophages again. The other complaint is silly and might just be me but for some reason, a character described herself as falling on her butt, and later the word butt was used and it just kinda amused me and took out of the story for a moment. I know that is a silly complaint after reading such a neat book.
Alright Kozeniewski you are hereby ordered to write a dozen more books in this universe. I am a fan.
I said: "The Hematophages is one of the best books I have read so far this year. It is bold and weird science fiction that feels old school and insane at the same time. It is bizarro, dark sci-fi and horror in equal measure. A super neat book that I am glad I picked up. It is a little bit a parallel of Aliens, A reversal of Carpenter's The Thing (paranoia with all women) and with a world-building that reminded me of Neal Asher's The Skinner. That is a good mix."
Why have I spent so much time talking about that book? Well, Skinwrapper is a prequel and expansion of one of the coolest ideas found in The Hematophages was Cancer-ridden mutant mummy-like pirates that are forced to live in Zero-G called Skinwrappers.
Yes you read all that that correctly. The chaaracters in the first book that introduced the Skinwrappers was so powerful that I thought they deserved their own book. They only had one chapter in the first book. So thank you Mister Kozeniewski because you delivered more texture to a universe I already enjoyed. Now a 81 page novella is fun but I still could have lived with a whole novel with this story, in this universe. I didn't read the back cover and went in spoiler free and I suggest you do that. I hope I sold you on the bat-shit crazy bizarro space opera that has tons of ideas per page. Both books are super recommended. Anyhoo Spoiler warning has been given.
So this book is a prequel and gives an effective back story to one of the Skinwrapper pirate characters from The Hematophages. SK uses vivid description and characterization to make this world feel lived in. I think the story benefits from the first book but I suppose it could stand on it's own. The descriptions of the Skinwrappers and their lives are pretty powerful. It is funny because I thought this was almost a perfect novella. Almost, except for two things, the major problem is it was painful realizing that I only had 60 pages left as soon as I was totally invested. Damn you Kozeniewski I am going to end up reading The Hematophages again. The other complaint is silly and might just be me but for some reason, a character described herself as falling on her butt, and later the word butt was used and it just kinda amused me and took out of the story for a moment. I know that is a silly complaint after reading such a neat book.
Alright Kozeniewski you are hereby ordered to write a dozen more books in this universe. I am a fan.
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