Salvaged

Madeleine Roux

Save:

Who Would Like This Book:

If you're into claustrophobic sci-fi thrillers with a dose of body horror, found family, and a compelling (but flawed) female lead, "Salvaged" is right up your alley. Madeleine Roux crafts a tense setting - think "Alien" meets "The Thing" - and delivers an atmospheric tale of survival, resilience, and secrets. Fans of psychological horror, strong world-building, and character-driven narratives will find a lot to love. Even if you typically lean more fantasy than sci-fi, this standalone novel is a great way to dip your toes into the genre. Plus, the shipboard mystery and splashes of romance give it even more appeal.

Who May Not Like This Book:

This book might not click for everyone: some readers found the multiple POVs and frequent flashbacks made the story feel less cohesive, and felt the pacing could become bogged down at times. If you're looking for hard sci-fi or a tightly plotted action spectacle, you might find "Salvaged" a bit slow, with too much focus on characters' inner trauma and not enough on the alien threat. The ending also left some feeling unsatisfied or wanting more closure. If body horror isn’t your thing, you might want to steer clear.

A gripping, atmospheric space horror with a flawed but relatable heroine and a dash of romance - great for fans of character-driven sci-fi, but the pacing and structure may not suit everyone.

About:

Madeleine Roux's 'Salvaged' is a gripping sci-fi novel following Rosalyn Devar, a salvager tasked with cleaning up dead spaceships. As she embarks on her latest mission, she discovers that not all crew members are deceased and encounters a mysterious alien fungus taking over the ship. The book weaves a tale of psychological horror, trauma, and survival, as Rosalyn battles against an alien influence and unravels a murder mystery onboard the vessel.

The plot of 'Salvaged' is filled with scientific discovery, human minds resisting alien control, secrets, betrayal, and a race against time to prevent the spread of a dangerous entity named Mother. The worldbuilding is rich, depicting a future Earth in turmoil and a crew of diverse characters on a perilous mission in space. Roux's writing style keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending elements of horror and mystery into a thrilling narrative that explores themes of resilience and inner strength.

Characters:

The characters are varied and complex, with Rosalyn as a relatable protagonist and a crew that presents a mix of personalities, motivations, and emotional struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The prose combines intensity and psychological horror, utilizing multiple perspectives and flashbacks, although it occasionally suffers from awkward dialogue.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Rosalyn Devar, a once-brilliant bioengineer, who discovers an alien fungus while working as a janitor on a salvaged spaceship. She must confront both the alien threat and her personal trauma.

Setting:

The setting features outer space environments with derelict ships amidst an ecological disaster on Earth, creating a tense and isolating atmosphere.

Pacing:

Pacing is mostly fast and intense, filled with urgent encounters, but some parts, especially the ending, are perceived as drawn-out.

She shifted her boots out of the reddish muck, swallowing hard as her feet suctioned to the floor. The job got more familiar but not easier. Never easier. And this was way beyond skin slippage, this w...

Notes:

The protagonist, Rosalyn Devar, is a brilliant bioengineer who ends up working as a janitor in space.

Rosalyn has a traumatic past, including an attack by a coworker which her father ignored.

The story includes elements of horror, mystery, and sci-fi with an alien fungus as a central theme.

The narrative is told from multiple points of view, adding depth but also complexity to the story.

Rosalyn's character is relatable and genuine, dealing with her past while navigating a terrifying situation.

The book has a mix of intense encounters and darker themes, with moments of hope.

The worldbuilding includes the backdrop of Earth facing evacuation due to environmental disasters.

Characters in the story include scientists and a captain, each with distinct roles and personalities.

The pacing is fast, and the plot involves betrayal, secrets, and a struggle against alien influence.

The book explores themes of trauma and personal struggle through Rosalyn's journey.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include trauma from assault, dead bodies, body horror, and violence.

From The Publisher:

A WOMAN ON THE RUN. A CAPTAIN ADRIFT IN SPACE. ONE OF THEM IS INFECTED WITH AN ALIEN PARASITE.

In this dark science fiction thriller, a young woman must confront her past so the human race will have a future.

Rosalyn Devar is on the run from her famous family, the bioengineering job she's come to hate, and her messed-up life. She's run all the way to outer space, where she's taken a position as a "space janitor," cleaning up ill-fated research expeditions. But no matter how far she goes, Rosalyn can't escape herself. After too many mistakes on the job, she's given one last chance: take care of salvaging the Brigantine, a research vessel that has gone dark, with all crew aboard thought dead.

But the Brigantine's crew are very much alive-if not entirely human. Now Rosalyn is trapped on board, alone with a crew infected by a mysterious parasitic alien. The captain, Edison Aries, seems to still maintain some control over himself and the crew, but he won't be able to keep fighting much longer. Rosalyn and Edison must find a way to stop the parasite's onslaught...or it may take over the entire human race.

October 2019

•

368 pages

Ratings (2)

Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (15):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (12)
Not Interested (1)

1 comment(s)

vayshkarell

It Was OK

1 day

This book was… fine? It had some interesting ideas and the characters were enjoyable enough, but the book greatly suffers from being FAR too predictable. I could see the “twist” coming miles away. And while being able to predict a twist isn’t inherently bad, this one is so obvious that it ruined any suspense and left me bored waiting for them to reveal what i already knew what was going on.

What can you read after
Salvaged?

See the list (70 books)

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.