4+

Mission leader Blake, Kang and our narrator Gold, are aboard the spacecraft Valiant, a one way, no return mission to Mars. They are to establish the first human colony on the red planet, Exiles from planet Earth. However, shortly before landing it becomes apparent there’s a problem. The comms to the bots preparing the landing pod and The Citadel for human arrival have been lost. They land successfully but discover their base partially destroyed and it gets worse than that. One of the three bots – Alex – is missing and the other two have quite a disturbing tale to tell…

This is another creative and immersive novella from Mason Coile, the pseudonym of Andrew Pyper. It’s a good blend of science fiction with psychological horror with the addition of philosophical questioning. It’s creepy, scary, puzzling and requires much ingenuity and bravery from the crew. There’s a tense cat and mouse type situation with a what’s real and what’s not scenario with the difficulties of not knowing who to trust and it becomes terrifying for all. The dynamics fluctuate back-and-forth between the bots and the humans which is really interesting.

It’s very well written and at a good pace. There’s an excellent atmosphere and very good descriptions of the planet which enables the scenes to come alive. You get good glimpses into the characters especially of Gold which becomes very revealing and surprising. I like what the author does with the bots and let’s just say he gives plenty of food for thought here. There’s fear and the claustrophobia of being trapped and there’s dread it seems at every return. The final scene is awesome.

Overall, this is another immersive, engaging and thought provoking read from Mason Coile. I can’t wait to read what he comes up with next.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

After his chilling novel William, Mason Coile continues his horror dive into the psychology of AI robot’s with an unconventional outlook on human kind. The first rule of robots doesn’t apply! On Mars, far from Earth’s safety, screams won’t be heard. For the three strong human team set to start life in a Mars station, preset up by three robots, things go south even before landing. Robot mutant, alien monster or just the hopeless feeling alone in the vastness of space. All could get you killed, and probably will. Thank you to John Murray Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Exiles by Mason Coile is a gripping, high-stakes thriller set on Mars in 2030. The story follows a three-person human crew who arrive on the Red Planet to establish the first colony, only to find that things have gone wrong. Three robots were sent ahead to build the base, but by the time the crew arrived, a third of the base was destroyed, and only two robots remained—each with conflicting stories about what happened.

The mystery slowly unravels as the humans and robots try to uncover the truth behind the destruction, with the robots each offering different explanations. One insists they were attacked by an alien entity, while the other claims the destruction was caused by a malfunction in the third robot, which still roams the Martian desert. This sets up a deadly game of cat and mouse as the characters dig deeper into the horrors of what transpired at the base.

Coile does a fantastic job of building the desolate, forbidding atmosphere of Mars, and the sense of isolation is palpable. The tension is maintained throughout, as we’re slowly introduced to the characters—both human and robot—each with their secrets and agendas. The dynamic between the crew and the robots is fascinating, and the slow reveal of the truth leads to a shocking and gruesome climax.

I enjoyed the pacing and the well-crafted characters. The setting on Mars felt like an essential part of the story, adding an extra layer of dread and urgency. If you enjoy thought-provoking science fiction with a blend of mystery, suspense and a touch of horror, I highly recommend Exiles.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.