by Sarah Gailey
First published 2025
Kinsey leads a research team at a remote desert outpost. She chose this job for the isolation it provides from civilian temptations. During a routine probe, her crew unearths a mysterious specimen buried in the sand. Against protocol, Kinsey decides to break quarantine and bring the discovery inside their station. The specimen seems to be searching for warmth and shelter. As days pass, Kinsey's controlled existence starts falling apart. The thing they are studying begins affecting each team member differently. The crew slowly realizes their specimen is not just seeking shelter but actively hunting for a new host. One team member appears to be the ideal candidate for what the creature needs. Kinsey must confront the temptation she thought she had left behind in the outside world.
Genres: science-fiction, horror, adult-fiction, thriller
Vibes: claustrophobic, dark, psychological, suspenseful, tension-filled
Tropes: body-snatching, forced-proximity, isolation-horror, temptation-and-corruption
Setting: Desert Research Outpost
208 pages · Paperback · Tor Nightfire
Content warnings: body-horror, sexual-content