This is a prequel novel that can stand on its own. A ship finds a planet with a huge, constructed hole on the surface that emits a sound on one frequency every 10 seconds. Four members of the team go down to walk to the edge of the hole since they can’t land due to EMP field that keeps going off with the sound. The four go down are picked due to specialties but they certainly don’t work well as a team. As they travel there are mishaps, and you find out more about their backgrounds and the constant noise and problem wear on them. The main POV character had joined the mission to run away from the grief of his wife’s death and eventually you find out how she died. This isn’t a happy novel with a warm and fuzzy ending. This is a bit bleak and taut story about social dynamics more than about maybe finding info on a new race of aliens. The audio narration on this is great and the extra sound effects with the superior narration kept me completely engaged in this book.

I'm sad to see that someone's work is being judged by the cover art. This review has nothing to do with the cover and only to do with the author's work within.

This was an adventurous read full of colourful characters from all different walks of life. It was challenging and emotional as a small crew sets off into the unknown on what could be a lethal adventure. Meeting, for the first time, another being and uncertain of the consequences. Full of charged situations, this was definitely a book to keep you on your toes!

This was an eerie read, but draws upon so much curiosity. I love a good story that makes you want to research and learn more: what is Fractal Noise?

This audiobook was done so well, with all the special effects, it felt so lifelike. I felt as though I was actually watching this all play out before my eyes. I felt like I was there. Between the writing and the audio, this was a beautiful mix together.

I received this as an audio galley to listen to for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me access.
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Upon seeing that there was another story set in the Fractalverse, I knew I needed to read it! After all, the book and audio for To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (TSIASOS) was just amazing.
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Unfortunately this one left me wanting more. The hole story just felt like an entire lead up where not much really happens. Fractal Noise is more of an extension of the universe versus an add on/prequel to TSIASOS.
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If you are to read this book, I would highly suggest the audio as there are fun special effects that really bring this story to life. This added with Paolini’s world building that we are familiar with, was enough to keep me invested.
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3.5 Stars Rounded Up.

I think this novel would be best read BEFORE To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. I think having reading that one first... this one just didn't hit the right way. I was expecting to run into old friends or get connections or for something to click. And it just never did.

Is this novel suspenseful? Absolutely. Is this novel 100% going to get under your skin and take over your mind? Absolutely. Does the audiobook have thuds that mimic the noises in the novel that will drive you insane? Absolutely. Will you love this novel's ending? Absolutely not. In fact, you'll positively hate the ending. I did. I think I actually threw my phone at the end of the audiobook because I got no closure and I needed it. It that was intended, then I think this novel did a bang up job at writing an ending that readers will loathe.

I think that's why this novel hit different. It doesn't have a satisfying ending. Like... I spent 9+ hours listening to this book... for that... I am entirely sure that Paolini did it intentionally and I don't know if I will forgive him for the gaping hole he has left in my imagination. (Pun intended - when you read it, you'll know).

If you like sci-fi and you want a book to ponder the ways in which you loathe humanity, society, people and unsatisfying endings... this will do a bang up job at messing up your reading bliss.

*In all honesty, you probably should read it. Just for the torment.

A great additional book to this universe that Paolini has slowly started to craft! It was great! Hopefully we shall see more from him in the near future.

*3.25 stars*

This was unsettling and tense from the start. It had a great premise to set up a science fiction thriller. However it turned out to be a long discussion of loss, grief, and alien theology.

I read this without having read To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, so I don’t know how connected or similar they are; I do still plan on reading it. This was also my first time reading anything written by Paolini and I did enjoy his style of writing so I’m excited to read other book by him. I enjoyed this but it did feel a little slow at points. The slowness of the journey in between the high tension moments of argument built up to a rather unsatisfying end. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a slice of life about confronting grief set in an intriguing space setting that you will never get to learn about in full.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my

As a huge science fiction fan myself, I was thoroughly surprised with how much I enjoyed Fractal Noise. Specifically because the Christopher Paolini that we all know and love from the inheritance cycle went from Fantasy straight into wholly sci-fi. I really enjoyed the audiobook version that I was so kindly approved for on NetGalley. I can't express the joy I felt being approved and I had very high hopes for this book and Paolini delivered on all fronts. I am going to follow this up with To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. I can't wait to report back on how the two feed off one another.

I went into listening to Fractal Noise with high hopes after listening to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. While this is much different than the first, Fractal Noise did not at all disappoint. This book is a journey. While To Sleep is more of an action packed adventure with first contact themes, Fractal Noise is more a journey of self discovery and growth with a side of space. It is set on an alien planet and its central journey is a walk to see an unknown potentially alien artifact. Space and sci fi lovers will definitely enjoy it, but it is also a deep dive into the character's minds. Mostly we follow Alex, who is depressed and struggling after the death of his wife. On first starting to listen, I was afraid that I would not really like Alex as a character, but he grew on me pretty quickly. We also get glimpses into the other members of the exploration team as their journey wears on them.

Just as with To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, Jennifer Hale's narration was fantastic and really felt like it added to the book. Overall, I liked To Sleep a little bit better, but this was a really good read and I will definitely be adding any future Fractalverse books to my TBR list immediately.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job, my only complaint is the audio effect of the radio static made it harder to catch the few words that did make it through and would have been easily read on the page.
I read To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars 2 years ago so maybe it has been too long but I was hoping for more Easter eggs to connect the two and all I got was similar technology.
Fractal Noise also left me with way more questions than answers than I usually like for a prequel.

I went into this book thinking it was a direct prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. I think, for that reason, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would’ve if I had gone in with no preconceived ideas. As a whole the story is really good. It focusses on grief, and what it means to loose someone close to you - specifically the love of your life. Of course there is first contact, we do see a little more in the universe Paolini created, but I think it’s all secondary to the story of the main characters grief. We see the five stages of grief and watch as the character goes from not having anything to live for to wanting to go on this exploration because it’s what Lilia would’ve done. I really liked the way his grief was discussed & portrayed. I think if Paolini decided to write more stand alone novels in the Fractalverse it would be fantastic. There are so many stories to tell and directions he could go - From life on colonies to Exploring new areas like Fractal Noise did to so much more. I truly hope Paolini does write more in this universe.

I think Paolini tries to do too much with this book, but he does great overall.

A group of astronauts find an alien artifact they are aggressively unprepared to investigate. But they try anyway, because humans are like that sometimes. A group of four drop to the planet to research and investigate. The main character is haunted by the ghost of his dead wife and that haunting will affect all of them.

The overall structure is great, the story builds slowly so we get to know our characters enough to guess at their motivations and their secrets. Politics and bureaucracy play pivotal plot points, which is a fun sentence to say and also an honest look at how humanity works.

I LOVE that some secrets aren't concluded; life is mostly unsolved mysteries, humans researching alien machines would definitely end with more questions than answers, and Paolini doesn't try to solve everything. But the mysteries are believable and reasonable and I love them. Aliens do alien things, who expects a human to understand everything?

I say he tries too much because too many themes overlap. Characters arguing religion vs. atheism, Camus' Question of Suicide, the question of when is violence appropriate, all great questions that just fight for attention. The questions aren't forced, everything flows naturally, but an eleven-course meal is still a lot of food and everything can't be a focus. Paolini gets away with a lot because his writing is character-focused and his characters are great, so this criticism isn't a deal breaker.

The only other real criticism I have is the audiobook. It gets dangerously close to the "Movie-in-Your-Mind" I can't stand, but it does so artfully. A plot point is a broadcast by the aliens, a blast of radio waves into space every few seconds. The sound is constant, never-ending, unavoidable, and the stress introduces stress and psychosis. The audiobook choses to play this sound, which I imagine is written in the book. With the plot making this sound so important, and the role it plays, I think this is a good decision. It could have easily been cheesy or tacky, but I think everything is well produced and the singular sound effect adds a little something-something. If there had been other sound effects, the impact of the Boom! would have been lost.

Sci-Fi leaning heavily into horror, highly recommend.

While I'm familiar with Paolini's work, I probably wouldn't have picked this up had it not been for the controversy over it's cover. Well... the story isn't generated by AI and reads really well. I think fans of Paolini and the Fractalverse. I enjoyed the tension and the atmosphere in this one, as well as the story. I thought the audio worked well for the book as well. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one!

Bleak. Intense. Grueling. Any and all of these would be worthy one word reviews for Christopher Paolini’s Fractal Noise. Now you might be looking at those words and ask yourself ‘if that’s how you’d describe it…is it worth reading?’ Well, let me add another word: engaging. Yes, Fractal Noise is quite engaging, especially in audio form. The story of the crew of a deep space vessel deciding to attempt an investigation of an alien anomaly hooked me from the start. The story is nothing like these movies and yet at times bits and pieces of it made me think off Alien, The Martian, and even Event Horizon. Alien (not because of any vicious alien action but rather the early parts of the movie when the crew argues over money and whether to take on the extra mission). The Martian for the sheer intense struggle to survive in a harsh environment. And Event Horizon for the feeling of a slow decent into madness. The audio is exceptionally well done, extra effects such as static and reverb are used to really sell the idea of the astronauts having difficulty maintaining communication during their journey, as well as the occasional ‘crashing’ sound from the anomaly the astronauts are having do endure during their journey. Jennifer Hale does an excellent job with the narration, I especially enjoyed her portrayal of Pushkin. When you wish you could reached through your headphones and slap a character you know the narrator has done a fantastic job. I’d like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audio version of Fractal Noise.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RT78UR4KTWRXN/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Fractal Noise gives us a lot of drama, anticipation, and frustration. I would love to have been sucked into this one... to be devouring the pages, searching for clues of the main character's past, trying to figure out the mystery of the strange extraterrestrial landscape... It just didn't happen. The characters were not engaging. Needless drama sprouted from every angle. Arguments erupted over trivial things. I understand how these things could arise from intense situations, but I didn't feel like the scenes were set for such things. I feel like better build-up could have been established instead of "conflict out of nowhere." However, if the reader were to be truly engaged in the story, it left him/her wanting to know more. They will be dying to read the next book!!!

I enjoyed this audiobook. It was really well done and put together. The booms in the book were a great addition I felt like. The story was good, and it kept me interested to see how it turned out. Twists and turns were good. My only complaint really is the scope of the story. Knowing it is a precursor to his other book, it makes sense. But felt like it lacked a little something with the narrow story scope.

***3.5 Stars***

Overall,
This was not necessarily what I was expecting as a follow up for "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars". It was not bad just different. The length is much shorter to its predecessor as well. The first 40 % was a bit slower then I like and it took a bit for me to get through that. Once past that mark it was a smooth good ride. I still really enjoy this universe and will definitely be continuing with what comes next.

Audio,
The audio narrator was good, and did a great job personifying the characters.

Recommendation,
This is not a sequel to the first book in the series. It is a short (less then 300 pages) prequal. Know that going in.

***Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the Audio Arc of this book in exchange for a free and honest review***

“The spot wasn’t a spot. It was a hole. A perfectly circular hole. …. If the hole was an artificial structure, it would be the first concrete proof of intelligent, self-aware aliens. Oh, there had been rumors and hints, … but never anything substantial. Never anything obvious.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Fractal Noise: A Fractalverse Novel’ by Christopher Paolini. It is narrated by Jennifer Hale

Twenty-three years before the events of ‘To Sleep in a Sea of Stars’, the survey ship Adamura discovers an anomaly on the planet Talos VII. It is a vast circular pit, with dimensions so perfect that it could only have been the result of conscious design.

A decision is made to send a small team to investigate the anomaly. The hope is to discover who built the hole and why. Yet their mission will take them on a hazardous trek to the very edge of existence.

Alex Crichton is the ship’s resident xenobiologist though for him it’s a means to pay the bills. He’s no idealist and has no dreams of discovering sentient aliens or learning deep secrets of the universe. Now he is confronted by a First Contact situation. Indeed, ultimately none of them is prepared for what they will encounter.

I found this a solid blend of hard science fiction, action, philosophical ideas, and well realised characters. Again, there were some echoes of ‘Alien’ given the theme of a small crew of a space vessel looking into an anomaly on a far-flung planet and encountering the unexpected. 

With respect to the audiobook, after her excellent reading of ‘To Sleep in a Sea of Stars’ I was pleased that Jennifer Hale returned as narrator for this prequel. She has a clear, rich voice that was very easy to listen to. Hale is a Canadian singer-songwriter and also composed the melody for a song within the novel.

Indeed, the original music and sound effects utilised in the audiobook edition brought an extra dimension to my experience of the novel. I was pleased that the final tracks of the audiobook also contained the novel’s appendixes including a timeline.

Christopher Paolini stepped in to provide the afterword and acknowledgements. He gave an account of a powerful disturbing dream that he had in 2011. Based on its imagery he had written ‘Fractal Noise’ as a short story in 2013 though had set it aside to research and write ‘To Sleep in a Sea of Stars’. He eventually returned to the story - revised and expanded it to create this modest length prequel.

I did feel a little disadvantaged not to have access to the text edition as it was quite a complex story though I expect that in due course I will purchase it for my library.

Overall, I found’Fractal Noise’ an engaging work of science fiction and a welcome addition to Christopher Paolini’s Fractalverse.

This book takes you on one crazy, intense ride. We're talking Alex and the Adamura crew stumbling upon a mysterious hole on an alien planet emitting this weird fractal pattern. Paolini really knows how to tackle those deep themes of human exploration and the search for meaning in the vastness of the universe. The way he describes the grueling travel and the toll it takes on the characters, it's like you're right there with them, feeling every step. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what's gonna happen next. Let's give a shoutout to Jennifer Hale, the narrator of the audiobook. Her delivery was on point! The way she nailed the tones and inflections for each character, it was like a whole cast of talented actors. Trust me, the audiobook experience was next-level immersive.

You know that quote about looking into the abyss and the abyss looking back? This is that in space.

I really did not know what to expect from this book. While technically a prequel to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (which I remember little about), Fractal Noise works very well on its own as dark and introspective science fiction.

I was not surprised to learn that Fractal Noise was originally a short story in that it has a fairly narrow scope and lack of action for a tale of planetary exploration. The characters are not particularly likable, including the main POV character who is processing recent emotional trauma, and parts of the story drag. However, the cast of characters lend themselves to interesting discussions and about faith, human nature, and humanity’s role in the universe.

While parts of the story were slow, this became an addictive read that I finished in one day. Paolini does an excellent job of gradually increasing tension as the group gets closer to closer to the “Anomaly” so that this survival story inches closer and closer to psychological and actual horror. The sound effects in the audiobook enhanced the feelings of dread and agitation, and Jennifer Hale’s narration included singing!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!