This was just okay. Some of the book felt like it was trying to hard to be gripping and that made it feel unnatural.
The writing was basic and the characters felt underwhelming to me.

This was such a fun book! I had no idea what to expect going in but happy to report that I really enjoyed it and can highly recommend.

I had previously enjoyed Christopher Hawkins horror novel – Downpour, so I was excited to receive the ARC for his latest sci-fi – I Contain Multitudes.

Trina Bell wakes up in a new reality every morning – the world shifting around her and people forgetting her. Until one day, she meets a librarian who remembers who she is – can she break the cycle?

The premise for this book is unusual – every day, the world around Trina resets, and it isn’t just the people that change, but the entire world - skipping backwards and forwards in time and also introducing parallel worlds. This kept the story engaging and the pace high throughout. Trina is our anchor in the story, and we hold on to her as we progress through the worlds she inhabits - Hawkins ensures that she feels real and believable throughout.

The book starts to pick up the pace as Trina and librarian Colin move through the realities together, being chased by a mysterious doctor and the shadows. There’s a lot of action in these sequences and I raced ahead to work out what was happening and how all the various threads would come together. The ending blew me away – I was not expecting it at all, and it instantly made it a five star read for me (but no spoilers, I’m afraid!).

Overall, I Contain Multitudes is engaging and unusual sci-fi with a fantastic plot progression. Thank you to NetGalley & Coronis Publishing for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A truly wonderful book that was so unique. Trying to keep up as the world turned and on my having one person to count on left me craving the next page and the next chapter.. It got a little slow in parts but overall so different from anything I've read.

I love creative novels with an unusual premise, and Christopher Hawkins delivered again!

This story is fast paced, and I enjoyed the unpredictability of the Turnings. Trina has to start over in a new world pretty often and you are right there with her, feeling her desperation and solitude. But these new worlds contain echoes of the previous ones, and you can feel the intensity of the shifts increasing. I enjoyed the mystery of the plot and trying to understand what was happening to Trina. When the answer is finally revealed, it felt right to me and was a satisfying conclusion.

I read "Downpour" by Christopher Hawkins and loved it so it's not surprising I also loved this one. He creates stories that tug at you insistently without sacrificing the depth of the characters. I will definitely be looking out for more of his work in the future!

I am grateful to Christopher Hawkins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

The book throws you right into the story. We meet Trina Bell, who's living in a world where approximately each day (?), there is a "turning" and the world completely changes. Instead of coins, money becomes slips of paper. She went to sleep in a dingy hotel, but wakes up in a nice hotel. She was at a cafe but now is at a coffee house, things like that. Whomever she met in the prior world, doesn't remember her in this world. She's not sure what's happening to cause each turning and why she's the only one to remember them. And, of course, she's being chased by these mysterious shadow people.

During one of these situations, she meets Colin, an old librarian who's the only one who remembers her. At this point, I was getting serious "Addie LaRue" vibes. However, this story takes a turn and becomes completely different.

From there, the story ramps up as Trina tries to figure out what's going on and how to get out of these loops. The final ending was not what I was expecting and, similar to how "Downpour" ended, really stays with you. I don't want to give anything away, but it was not what I expected at all.

Towards the middle, the story felt like it was dragging. I had to force myself to pick up the book, but then once I did, I would read later into the night than I meant to.

Overall, a great and unexpected story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

Un roman de science-fiction avec des éléments d'horreur… ou un roman d'horreur et de deuil avec des éléments de science-fiction… peu importe la façon dont vous la regardez, cette histoire vous saisit dès le début par son mystère, vous entraînant dans l'action sauvage et les créatures de l'ombre terrifiantes. et vous garde les pieds sur terre avec son fondement émotionnel de regret et de chagrin.

I went into this book expecting a confusionary beginning, based on some reviews I had read online, but it wasn’t so for me: the story begins with a high paced rhythm as the protagonist, Trina, seems to unexplicably jump different realities, forgotten by everyone she meets in previous worlds, all not so much different than one another. That is until someone actually remembers her, and she’s not alone anymore in her quest to find an explanation as to what and why is happening to her.
I’m usually not fond of sci-fi stories that end up with a “rational” explanation, turning the paranormal elements into tricks of the mind, but the key topic in this book hit me emotionally, making the reading experience engaging and me wanting to know more.
The particle accelerator thing left me confused as to “where does this come from” when I finished the book, but overall it was well constructed, well written, and I’ll definitely recommend it to anyone who likes multiverses, sci-fi doing what it does best (mingling with the reality of humanity), and a good cry at the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**"I Contain Multitudes" by Christopher Hawkins** is a gripping exploration of identity, the human experience, and the complexity of relationships, all framed within a unique narrative. The book follows a protagonist navigating through personal struggles, messy friendships, and a world that seems to be constantly shifting. With elements of fantasy and intrigue, Hawkins invites readers into a world of emotional depth where nothing is quite as it seems. The themes of self-discovery, inner conflict, and the need for connection resonate throughout the story.

The pacing of the novel is solid, steadily drawing the reader into the unfolding mystery. Hawkins skillfully builds tension, balancing moments of introspection with action and suspense. The characters are rich and layered, with complex dynamics between them that keep the story engaging. Themes of identity and navigating life’s struggles are explored in a way that feels both relatable and profound. The exploration of human relationships, especially messy friendships and the search for personal clarity, is compelling and relatable.

While the novel is engaging and thought-provoking, there are moments where the story feels slightly abstract, which might not resonate with all readers. The twists and turns in the narrative are interesting, though some may find certain aspects predictable by the end. Nonetheless, *I Contain Multitudes* leaves you pondering deeper questions about life and self, making it a compelling read with a unique approach.

**Rating:** ★★★★ (4/5)

*I Contain Multitudes* is an enjoyable, thoughtful read, blending fantasy with deeply human themes. Though a bit abstract at times, the story’s exploration of identity, relationships, and self-discovery make it a rewarding experience for readers who enjoy reflective, multi-layered narratives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Coronis Publishing for an eArc in exchange for a honest, unbiased review!

Writing a novel that is set in a multiverse is not easy but Hawkins manages this very nicely. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to other fans of sci-fi. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Coronis Publishing for the e-ARC of I Contain Multitudes!
4 / 5 ⭐
Multiverse thrillers are normally not my genre, but I found I Contain Multitudes to be very digestible and engaging. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and I would read more by Hawkins in the future.

Wow! What a way to start off my 2025 reading adventure. I absolutely loved this mind-bending sci-fi thriller and was totally immersed in the story from the very first page.

Synopsis:

Trina is experiencing the Turning and never wakes up in the same world twice. No one remembers her and in each world, she faces new dangers. She meets a librarian named Colin and is shocked when he remembers their conversation after a Turning. Trina is hopeful that maybe he is the key to figuring out what is happening and how she can get back to her own reality. An encounter with a cruel doctor leads Trina to believe that she might be the cause of all this madness and she starts to question herself. Trina must look deep inside herself to find the courage to move forward before she is lost in the multiverse.

My Thoughts:

Everything about this book is phenomenal: the writing, the narrative and the characters. Christopher Hawkins's writing flows from the pages and creates such a deep atmosphere for the story. The worlds created in this book are imaginative and unlike anything I have ever read before. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. I was anxious, claustrophobic (especially in the water scenes), infuriated, heartbroken and delighted. I cried while reading the last five chapters. With 50 pages left, I found myself reading slower and slower both to absorb every word but also because I didn't want to leave Trina.

You absolutely need to read this book!

This was another really enthralling read from Christopher Hawkins, an author who has proven he knows how to bring the action to multiple genres. I had previously devoured Hawkins' nature-horror book, Downpour, and was very excited to read his next book seeing as it was branching into another one of my favorite genres, sci-fi. Hawkins' does not disappoint!

This is a very quick, delightful read about Trina Bell- a woman whose world changes around her each day and who has never had an interaction with someone who remembered her. The changing of worlds daily was the most fascinating element of this book today. We are introduced to one world early on where Trina wakes up in a hotel room and finds money she does not even understand. What starts as small changes in a mostly-recognizable world turn into big changes as each day goes by. Early on in the book, Trina meets and older man who DOES remember her and their interaction, even though her world shifted mid-conversation. This is really where the action takes off and Trina finally has an ally to help her sort out what exactly is happening to her and how to fix it.

There are some twists and turns, including a truly mean yet confused antagonist and an ending I did not at all expect. The only complain I had about this book was that I wanted more depth- more about each character, and more about the ending. This was such a complex novel that it could have easily been double the length and just as enthralling, but perhaps at the expense of Hawkins' addictive, break-neck pace. Because of this, I would give in 4.5 stars and I am rounding up to 5 stars. I would recommend this book for lovers of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ARC! This is definitely a book that sci-fi readers should get when it comes out on April 30th of 2025!

Wonderful book that jumps semi-genres without being too obvious. The plot twist was well designed and the characters were compelling and interesting. Really enjoyed this novel and recommend it to all.

I don't read a lot of science fiction, as I prefer it on the big or small screen. But this book appealed to me, as a woman seems to traverse different worlds/dimensions. Each one is unique and interesting and begs to be explored further, and yet she's on the run and can't stay too long in one spot. And the tension builds as does my wonder at what direction we're really headed. Not many books surprise me anymore, but this one got me pretty good, with an ending I only grasped near the end. Great characters, action and heart. Highly recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley and @hawkinswrites for the ARC of "I Contain Multitudes".

Hunted through an ever-shifting patchwork of worlds, one woman must rediscover her own past to restore reality before it's too late.

This has to be one of the most unique stories that I have read in recent memory. FMC Trina is trapped in an endlessly shifting reality where she is stalked by mysterious figures.
Her reality shifts from a desert wasteland to steampunk Victorian city, where she's the only one that knows what is going on.
Think something like Quantum Leap mixed with creatures from Stranger Things.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but there were a few parts where I audibly gasped.
All I can say is go and get this book.

4.5/5 Rounded down.

I had the opportunity to ARC read Christopher Hawkins book Downpour and I loved it, so when I saw that he had another out on Netgalley I jumped at the opportunity.

I can honestly say I am so glad that I did.

Where Downpour leans heavily towards horror and suspense, I Contain Multitudes leans into science fiction.

This one wastes no time getting into the thick of it. Normally, I prefer a bit of a back story, but the synopsis really does an excellent job of getting you started. The book jumps right into the fray and although it's jarring at first it really helps put you in the shoes of our protagonist, Trina Bell, as she is thrown into these alternate worlds over and over again completely helpless to it.

I really think I love this so much because it reminds me of the Zack Snyder film, Sucker Punch and I won't go into any more detail as to why because honestly, it could give too much away.

The only other thing I want to talk about is the title. I Contain Multitudes although has a literal meaning in the way to jumping through multiple universes, once you read the full book it has such a deeper and more emotional meaning, and I love that.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

I went through three distinct phases while reading this story. I loved it, I didn't like it, and I loved it again. I thought the concept was great, and it was presented well. I bought the story immediately, and was invested right away. Then the middle third arrived, and I was less than thrilled. No real reason, I just was a little restless. By the last part, things kicked in again and I was back into it again.

This is the second book I've read from the author -- I've quite enjoyed both of them.

I'd like to thank the author for making this available to me to review.

4.5/5⭐, rounded up

A scifi novel with elements of horror… or a grief-horror novel with scifi elements… regardless of how you look at it, this story grabs you right from the start with its mystery, pulling you in with the wild action and terrifying shadow creatures, and keeps you grounded with its emotional foundation of regret and grief.

It's a wild story of a woman skipping through a chaotic and unnerving multiverse existence without any knowledge of why or how to make it stop. Every time Trina Bell wakes up something is different, but she is always the same. As she is involuntarily pulled through the Turnings of reality, the dissolution of order begins to accelerate, and her attempt to decipher the meaning of her circumstances becomes desperate. She is haunted by images she can’t piece together, flashes of maybe memories that she doesn’t trust to be real… because everything can be taken away in the space of a couple of heartbeats…

“…memory isn’t a permanent thing, like you’re taking it out of a box and looking at it and putting it back just like you found it. Every time we remember something, it’s like we’re putting it back together again. Sometimes we add things.”


Hawkins manages to create an unnerving world that pulls you into the urgency, futility, and frustration of Trina, as she tries to make a difference, knowing that it will all be different somehow but without any idea of just what those differences will look like for her. Underlying this harrowing existence she’s carrying an unidentifiable grief that she’s unable to place in her memories. As things spiral further into chaos and destruction she’s forced to confront what haunts her very existence as the world literally falls apart around her.

Thank you Christopher Hawkins, Netgalley and Coronis Publishing for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed "Downpour" so I was eager to give this new novel a go. The Sci Fi elements were impressive and there was plenty of mystery and suspense. The world changing was interesting in itself, but as the story moved forward, it became more and more evident that there was not a simple reason for the changes, but something deeper, with an emotional impact for the main character and the reader alike.

It was easy to like the main character and have empathy for her and the author created just the right amount of importance to side characters, considering their respective roles in the story as a whole.

If you love Sci Fi but need something with heart and soul, this is for you.