Thank you so much Tor Nightfire, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies at the chance to review it honestly.

If you want to survive, you must not look at the face of eyes of other people because one look can kill. Riley hasn’t seen another human face in so long but she has a new neighbor and an overwhelming need for human contact. Her new neighbor, Ellis, makes her feel safe in a world where other people can mean a gruesome death, but now her reality is starting to slip…

Your Shadow Half Remains sheds a whole new light on the saying “if looks could kill”. Coming in at 176 pages, this book is small but mighty. I absolutely love how obscure and spine chilling this story is. It’s a fast and creepy read that can be easily devoured in one sitting and it absolutely was! Not only is this story phenomenal but the cover is stunning. Your Shadow Half Remains is out 2/6/24!

Happy reading!

I was so excited for this book and it left me feeling nothing. It was like being dropped in to a horror movie at some random point, you don't know what is going on and never learn and then you witness something disturbing. I can appreciate how this story was told, but it didn't do anything for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

I wish I'd understood this book because I feel like it was a me problem? But maybe it was the way the author narrated it instead of a professional narrator. It felt like it lacked the more cinematic experience because of that. Their voice was just very flat the entire time and really took away from the experience that audiobooks typically give. I think that really prevented me from getting into it more.

I will say that the premise was fascinating and the whole plot was overall really intriguing. The mystery of it and the way that it's resolved were things that I definitely didn't expect and I really appreciated the way it tied everything together and gave you more than you bargained for.

Overall, it's an interesting read, I just wish I'd read it myself because of the audio experience (or lack thereof).

I had not heard of Sunny Moraine or of this book, and now I wonder if I’ve found a new fave. I stumbled upon this book and was drawn in by the cover. I chose to read it on a whim — mostly because it was short and so, if I didn’t enjoy it, at least it wouldn’t be a total drag.

And WOW! It is full of tension, it’s super dark, and it made me question my own experience of reading it. For some people, that’s all they need to know to stay away, but I ate it up!

Your Shadow Half Remains takes place during a pandemic with a… twisted kind of impact. The synopsis shares more than I will here, because I think I benefitted from not knowing much. I got to fully sit with the questions, fears, and concerns Riley was posing of herself and of the world, without the info we’re “supposed” to know going in. I’ll say that this particular pandemmy makes for a lonely experience. And one that had Riley constantly questioning her own sanity.

That questioning impacted me more than I thought. In addition to trying to figure out if Riley was seeing things, hearing things, imagining things, I found myself constantly rewinding the audiobook to make sure I heard something right — that I, too, was following the thread of reality. I kept repeating some version of, “Wait, what just happened?! For real, though?!” to myself over and over again. And I LOVED that! I loved being so impacted.

Also, it must be said that there is some stunning writing in this. I don’t often have the experience of finishing a book and 1) instantly wanting to re-read it, or 2) wanting a physical copy asap. Yet, I felt both of those things here.

3.5 rounded up
Unusual story with eerie undertones. I absolutely loved the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

I saw a fellow FanFiAddict reviewer post this one and saw the Josh Malerman’s Bird Box comparison. So I was incredibly excited to start it when I was approved through NetGalley for the audiobook. The narration by the author is pretty perfect honestly.

This story has many threads that can be drawn to the Covid pandemic, however, it is taken a step further in almost every aspect, so as to be it’s own thing. (Don’t worry Covid novel haters, it’s really not one!).

It is however, featuring a mysterious virus that seemingly turns normal, everyday humans, into angry, murderous versions of who they once were. Women, men, and children of all varieties fall victim to the virus. Wives, husbands, sons and daughters. Moms and dads. Coworkers and strangers. All they seem to know is that it spreads through eye contact. It has broken down society in every form.

I will say the audiobook version says, “The Last of Us meets Bird Box,” which maybe they meant the violence of TLOU, but it made me think (fungal-)zombies instead, which this is not. And although Bird Box is most definitely a good comparison, I didn’t find this one to hit its stride in the same way BB does with suspenseful-ness. However this one is a novella, not a full length novel.

Riley has survived. She lives in a somewhat secluded area, ordering what she needs, and always has it set to contactless delivery. Even though these are becoming less and less frequent, so far she’s made do, for years. But when a new neighbor, Ellis, introduces himself, her entire world has to shift. He wants to be friends, he doesn’t stay away, and seemingly worst of all, he makes her comfortable.

As their relationship and their visits continue, Riley finds herself unraveling—spiraling as she has to wonder just what it would be like to look. The more tempting it gets, the more unhinged she becomes. This was a good examination of isolation, especially when it hinges on the unknown and fear. Personally a 4/5*

I received a copy of this Audiobook from NetGallery with the approval from Macmillan Audio. This is my honest review of the Audiobook "Your Shadow Half Remains" by Sunny Moraine, Narrated by Sunny Moraine.

There is a Plague that prevents people from looking at or being in close contact with one another. We all have been there. Covid wasn't that far off for us all to remember vividly how it effected us. But what if Covid could trigger an animalistic rage to murder those you love most just by looking into their eyes?
This is where we find the FMC. She is haunted by the plague and how it has effected her life personally. The book is in 3rd person POV. I have to say, that was the only thing I was not a big fan of. Of course, that is just a personal preference. I however loved the story that was being told. I listen best at 1.25-1.5 speed and I find thrillers at those rates get my heart pumping much more than the average listening rate. Sunny Moraine did a wonderful job depicting her FMC and how isolating it was to be alive in this world of to be with others will get you killed. I feel this book must a wonderful to read in physical form as well since the story telling is so well done.
I would recommend this audiobook or novel to any fans of thrillers or boarder-line realistic horror since the isolation that was spoken of can resonate so well with all of us who have lived though the last Plague.

The eerie atomsphere of this dystopia is solid and tangible. The narrating leaves you wondering throughout the read on what is real and adored that. The uneasy natural and confusion kicked the tension up.

It is difficult to put in to words how elements of this story felt manic/intense. The author captured paranoia well.

Went into this with no assumptions and I am thankful. It was my first 5 star of the year and I will be adding a physical copy to my collection.

Additional note: That ending. Like damn.

Holy wow. Ok, this audiobook blew me away. Read by the author, it's absolutely fantastic. I am a huge dystopian fiction fan and this book ranks in the top books I've ever read. It gave me huge old school Stephen King vibes. Highly recommend.

This was a pretty solid example of an unreliable narrator done well - but not pushed quite hard enough. I really enjoyed the book, it’s very quick, and can be read in one sitting - which I’d probably recommend because the narrative is a bit winding and you may lose track of things if you put it down and pick it back up later.

My favorite moments were when Riley provided multiple possible outcomes and kept the reader guessing about which one she chose. I wish this was pushed a little further into the entire story, I would have liked almost every moment to be as gripping and raw.

There were a lot of parallels, some clear and some veiled, to the pandemic and its implications for mental health, isolation, and the social good - but I liked that it wasn’t overly prescriptive. All in all I enjoyed the story, especially in audio.

First and foremost I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Your Shadow Half Remains is a beautifully written introspection on isolation in the face of a deadly pandemic that has devastated society as a whole. In this world, the simple act of making eye contact with another human being means certain death to all involved. We follow Riley as she fights an internal battle. Should she build walls or build a connection with her mysterious new neighbor, Ellis, in the face of all that has happened and is happening around her?

I found Riley and Ellis both very compelling characters to follow. I really enjoyed and was disturbed by the inner workings of Riley’s brain as she navigated complete isolation and its effect on her sanity over the course of this novella. Having access to her thoughts as she explains how the world becomes this dystopian shell of the world we know today really helps the reader connect with Riley and the things she has experienced since the moment everything changed. Her distrust of Ellis paired with her desperation to connect with another human after years of being all on her own was visceral and left me with a lot to think about long after the book was over.

The author did a fantastic job building up intrigue and tension from very early on in the audio version through their narration. Because a large portion of this book is Riley laying out her thoughts and memories and dissecting them, it is important to have a narrator who connects with the character and can bring them to life. Who better to do that than the author themselves? A stellar performance, both in characterization and delivery of story building elements. I found this to be a very enjoyable audio experience.


4.5 well deserved stars

Shown through the lens of girlhood, a “pandemic” of human violence takes over the world in “Your Shadow Half Remains.” We see the toll that time and disuse takes on the world around the main character. A bold take on the viability of disillusionment, this novel is the story of a girl trying to trust amid paranoia and insanity. This is the story of her descent into that insanity and into a love that brings the hope of survival.

Thank you Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio for my free ARC of Your Shadow Half Remains by Sunny Moraine — available Feb 6!

Read this if you:
🧟 want to take a quick trip to an unsettling dystopian future
🐦‍⬛ ever had an urge to just smash something
🎬 appreciate a perfect ending

It's the future, and human eye contact will literally cause you to go into an insane death-rage. We all have days like that, right? But really, you can't look at anyone's face now if you want to survive in this new world. A new neighbor moves in down the street, and Riley is compelled (despite herself) to seek out contact with him, having spent such a long time in isolation. As their bond deepens, Riley starts hallucinating and wondering if she's losing contact with reality altogether...

AHHHH okay this was a great little read. It is creepy and unsettling in the best way possible, and it has what I consider to be an absolutely perfect ending. For such a short book, I grew rather attached to Riley, and I love that the audio version of this is narrated by the author. It is an excellent and fast read, so snap it up next time you're looking for a bit of dystopian horror!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am so throughly creeped out, unsettled, and disturbed. This was compared to The Last Of Us and Bird Box, and it absolutely delivered.

Riley’s world is horrifying. People are losing their minds and brutally killing others, and themselves. What is causing this? By looking into each other’s eyes. CHILLS. This absolutely freaked me out to the point that I had to turn off the audiobook (which was brilliantly narrated by the author), because I couldn’t handle the graphic images.

Friends, this is not for the faint of heart. This is an absolutely demented story and the ending left me wanting so much more. So sad that’s how it ended, but I see the artistic value in it, and I give a lot of props to this author. To pack that much of a punch in such a short book AND narrate it like a pro? Bravo 👏🏻

Thank you Macmillan audio, NetGalley, and Tor Nightfire for this ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This publishes on 2/6/24!

TW: Suicide, violence, isolation
What is the darkest type of story, and why is it isolation stories? There is something about reading a story about isolation that really gets to me. The quickest way to get me in the mindset of a main character is to base the whole book on the characters not being able to interact in some way. This is my nightmare.
Sunny Moraine masterfully writes about Riley meeting her new neighbor. Only problem is there’s something happening to people, where eye contact is extremely dangerous. She is craving the connection to another person; she’s becoming more and more willing to risk everything for it.

After an apocalyptic event where making eye contact causes people to enter a deadly rage, Riley is alone. She has gone quite a while without seeing another human face, and while her isolated existence keeps her safe, it is also causing her to lose track of time and crave connection with a world that no longer exists.

But Riley is alone, and she is safe, and she is content in her new and isolated existence, for the most part. At least until Ellis moves in down the road. Even though the apocalypse has taught Riley that being alone is the only way to guarantee survival, Ellis makes her feel safe. As the two grow closer, Riley finds it harder and harder to fight her deepest desires - to LOOK.

Your Shadow Half Remains is a quieter novella, a more internal conflict than the apocalypse setting might have you believe. The comp titles of The Last of Us and Bird Box do this story an injustice in a way; while the type of apocalypse is similar to those mentioned, this is not an action heavy story. There are no zombie chase scenes, no perilous journey through a wasteland, Riley is just trying to survive in a world that is trying to chug along despite it all. As the pages turn and Riley becomes unraveled, the sense of slow dread the reader feels ramps up alongside her. Trigger warnings for gore here; both real and imagined as Riley contemplates the world around her and what happens when eye contact can turn you into a monster intent on killing others around you.

A well-paced and creeping horror novella, I will absolutely be picking up more from Moraine in the future!

Sunny Moraine is not only a good storyteller through words, but the spoken medium as well - their narration fit Riley’s narrative perfectly for such an internal book (Riley is alone, and narrates internally for a large section of this novella). Like Xe Sands, Moraine is a narrator that has perfected storytelling at 1x speed with inflection and emphasis on syntax. This is a story that works really well in an audiobook format!

Your Shadow Half Remains
by Sunny Moraine

Read by the author this audio edition has a heightened depth to the recitation.
This apocalyptic horror shows the loss of human connection can twist anyone's mind. A new infection isolates humanity more than ever. Unlike covid their is no rhyme or variant to connect the afflicted to their actions. The psychological affects of isolation is prominent in literature and research. Exploiting this the author gives us a very horrific future.

Your Shadow Half Remains is a queer, dystopian horror/suspense novella that feels viscerally rooted in what it was like to live through the early days of the COVID pandemic. Even though what's happening in the novel is far more extreme, the specific feelings and human reactions are incredibly similar and I was taken right back to the first few months in New York City where everyone was terrified and lonely and we didn't really know what was going on or how it spread. That could be cathartic for some readers and triggering for others, so be aware.

In this rendition though, people are losing their minds and becoming violent towards anyone around them before dying themselves. And as far as anyone can tell, it spreads through eye contact. Riley has somehow managed to survive, all alone in her suburban home having seen no one for longer than she can remember. When a new neighbor appears- a woman, and Riley descends into a disturbing blend of paranoia and attraction.

I think this novella is very successful at what it's trying to do and makes me want to read more from the author. I do recommend it if you can deal with the subject matter. Note that there are scenes of disturbing violence and body horror. The audio narration is excellent. I received an audio review copy of this book from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC. I enjoyed the concept, but it did not grab my attention like I was hoping. It is a quick listen, and I did like that the author narrated their story. It is dystopian, with some reference to covid throughout. If you like books that read like a fever dream, give this a chance.
3.5 stars

An enticing horror novella in which the line between real danger and psychosis blur.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!