Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review

So I don’t feel like the blurb was accurate in terms of priming my expectations for the book. That being said I ended up beyond loving it anyway.

I understood what was happening even though nothing felt explained literally, and yet I am at a complete loss as how to explain it someone else? But I will be telling everyone to read this, especially because it almost made me cry which is a hell of a feat.

This was a really good short story. The concept of swapping out memories, good or bad, it’s so interesting. I like the examples of what could happen that were given in this book it was unique concept and well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

A thought-provoking allegory for navigating through life and finding oneself. Sublime work of show, don't tell.

Rated 4.75 stars.

An adult reimagining of Alice in Wonderland set in the vastness of space. Our unnamed protagonist navigates a labyrinthine space station, where every room opens the door to a new, surreal adventure. The story is well-paced, blending cosmic wonder with poignant moments of heart.

This tiny novella started like a fever dream but quickly revealed itself to be a beautifully written insight into the human condition - namely, the anxieties we harbor deepest and struggle with the most - as well as the benefits of overcoming them. I enjoyed how the author creatively framed the fact that, while scary, negative situations can be neutralized by problem solving and making your own way even if it involves failure or creative work arounds. The space theme and being able to tap into different worlds was fun, creative, and inspiring. The use of an unnamed protagonist added to the sense that this book could be about anyone - including the reader.

Personally, I was also charmed by my favorite characters - the sassy tulip and the sentient light.

Would definitely recommend to someone looking for a short but impactful read!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial for the read in exchange for an honest review.

This was mind-blowingly beautiful. This story had me confused in the best way. I really didn’t understand much until I got to the final chapter and everything fell into place. The writing style was descriptive and easy, and I got through this read pretty quickly.

I love the description/disclaimer for the Space Station. While everything was disorienting and constantly shifting, I didn’t struggle to picture the setting of each sphere our MC was in. As I started to realize what was happening - what our MC was experiencing - I started putting my own interpretations and emotions on the events. I found the final chapter (the bow that ties it all together) to be really fascinating and it made me wish I could enter and re-enter the Space Station.

Thank you to NetGalley and K.R. Gadeken for this eARC! I’m definitely interested in reading her other work!

Each chapter, you are following the main character as they travel through different spheres on the space station. Each of these spheres contain a different experience for this main character to enjoy, or not enjoy.

The writing of this novella was absolutely wonderful and so very descriptive. I found myself getting lost in each chapter.

“From the destruction of the old came new life and opportunities, yet everything was still made of the same base elements.”

I adored this novella so very much. It just perfectly encapsulated the feeling that everything would be okay and always work out in the end, even if it’s not how you first pictured it.

(My thanks to BooksGoSocial for an eARC via NetGalley.)

This isn't a novella you read- it's a story you experience.

In SPACE STATION, we follow the narrator as they explore a space station that offers many different experiences, from a supernova to environments that don't make sense. It feels like a reflection on life and a suggestion for direction all at once, and it remains beautiful all throughout the entire novella.

"I got Lost on a journey to the center of a planet, but I made it back before the dinosaurs could eat me."

The events and experiences in SPACE STATION make no sense and absolute sense all at once. The writing is beautiful, which gives a dreamlike atmosphere to the entire novella. It was often caught up in the description of each sphere as the writing was so descriptive and so beautiful that each environment was perfectly described. I lingered in a few of the short chapters because I wanted to remain in the experience.

"Even if I couldn’t control everything, I could still try, and perhaps that was the meaning of existence."

I really feel like SPACE STATION would be an excellent book for a book club or anyone wanting to discuss the novella. I think there are many ways people can receive this book, whether its an allegory for life, mental health, or even religion. It left me with hope- hope for the world, hope for how I exist in it, and hope for how I can navigate the future. This was my first experience reading K.R. Gadeken, but it will not be my last.

What an interesting little fever dream! It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland meets the Oculus game Red Matter. Space Station by K.R. Gadeken feels like a surreal, disorienting trip through a fragmented reality, blending eerie isolation with a sense of wonder.

This made for a really interesting read. I picked it up expecting a light, easy read, and in some ways, that is what this was. In others, it really makes you think.

The imagery in this book is beautiful and I was really impressed by just how different every one of the spheres was. Each one was really wonderfully described, and I enjoyed how much the tone shifted, both between spheres, and also within individual spheres.

The character's journey, and grappling with the realisations that some things will never make you happy, some things (like the Perfects) are not what they seem, and sometimes radical change feels like the apocalypse was very well-handled.

Sometimes, we just all need to have the bravery to set the world on fire!

Thank you NetGalley for a free digital ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Another book this year for me that was more an experience than a story. I had no clue what I was getting into but I loved the cover so much I took a dive. This novella takes you through life lessons in the form of AI/simulated experiences on a space station.

I highly enjoyed the journey we went on with our main character. It was fun, enjoyable, and thought provoking. I just wish there was more. More of what I’m not sure but it feels as if a piece was missing.

Again thank you to NetGalley for the free digital ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this novella and the message that it gave. The writing is so beautiful and descriptive with how people think which was relatable. I loved the experiences the main character went through because they hit home for me. I highly recommend this novella and I definitely want to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc copy of this novella!

Space Station is a fascinating and thought-provoking read that explores big ideas in a unique and immersive way. The story pulled me in with its intriguing concept and kept me engaged as it unfolded. I really enjoyed the themes it tackled and the way it made me think beyond the pages. While it has a slower pace at times, the depth of the narrative made it well worth the read. A great book for those who love speculative fiction with substance!

4 stars

This book is such a surreal trip! I like the brevity of it overall; the writer hasn't drawn out any sections in weird or boring ways. Each chapter is a short story in the strange journey through the Space Station - each new area completely different in scope, appearance, smell, experience. But I think each of the experiences has to happen specifically for you/the narrator to learn something. Are you learning about yourself? Are you learning about how and why you ended up here? The jarring nature of not knowing what's going on is bizarre but your own mind's unbalance works well for the story. And just when I thought I was getting a handle on what was going on, the story pretty much ended! This book has been crouching in my subconscious for several days now as I try to untangle what I read; it's definitely not a trip for everyone, but if you enjoy being a little off-kilter through most of a book then give this one a try. It's short on length but not on personality.

Thanks to NetGalley, author K.R. Gadaken, and BooksGoSocial for giving me access to a digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

Space Station is a fever dream about a character who goes to a space resort made up of self-contained spheres. The spheres each contain their own mini wonderland acid trips that dive into the human psyche and help explore insecurities, anxieties, and the human condition. To try and explain it feels futile. The book carefully captures the weirdness and strangeness of entering into a contract proposed by the disclaimer.

“* Needs are subjective and not always based on reality. Guests may obtain new perspectives, uncover emotional trauma, or develop a better outlook on life.

† Experiences may lead to altered brain chemistry, physical changes in the brain, a distortion of reality, and irrational fears. Please warn your loved ones ahead of time that you might return to them a fundamentally different person.††

†† We also advise guests to warn their loved ones that they may decide not to return. We offer generous packages for our residents that wish to remain on the Space Station indefinitely.

‡ Once on the space station, you must remain there until your journey is complete. Failure to do so may cause temporal incursions, brain damage, or fatality. The Space Station does not claim fault for any galactic or personal injuries incurred during your visit.”

The main thing you’re not allowed to do? Stop the process. Its first-person perspective serves to envelop the reader into the journey. The protagonist remains nameless, and the baggage they carry is undefined. If you buy into it, Space Station takes you on the journey. It is written stylistically to emulate a lucid dream and feels very reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. If you ever wanted to attend a therapy-themed amusement park, this might be for you.

The functional exploration of the protagonist’s mind is a bit messy. Although the writing is very evocative and pretty, it can be hard to follow, and I found myself rereading sections repeatedly to pull away the core messaging. But, the theming and setting of the story is really fun (I love the feeling of walking from sphere to sphere and was always excited to see what was behind the next door. I am a sucker for any story that feels like it transports the protagonist to a surreal city of dreams where nothing is what it seems.

Gadeken’s writing fits well with the themes she explores. No grand ideas are explored here, and the book is not subtle about what it’s digging into. The opening chapters mirror the Garden of Eden, a sort of state of innocence. Since this is a place to experience emotional and psychological change, it casts you out into the maze and collection of spheres that constitute the space station. You wander its halls, encountering rooms that hold secrets and, on the surface, indecipherable oddities. Gadeken writes with a light hand regarding the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings. They come through sparingly, allowing the sights, sounds, and experiences to speak to the reader and allow them to interact with them on their own terms. The prose enables the weirdness to feel natural, even if it’s still out of place for everyday contemporary life

I don’t have a lot more to say about Space Station as it feels like a deeply personal read that is hard to pin down. The book is light, and some might even say it’s cozy, despite my trepidation around that term. You’ll get out of it what you put into it, which I think is true for most books, but it feels extra pertinent to point out here. Space Station doesn’t overstay its welcome and is crystal clear in its priorities. The result of all of this is a quirky short book that left me feeling refreshed, even if it didn’t change my life. Space Station is fun and did a great job encapsulating what I want when I crack open a novella. Its experimental vibes and the fascinating setting were a nice break from our current reality. Change can be hard, and while the world will change without you, you still have the choice to make changes within yourself. Structures exist and will push you around, but you still have some agency. Seize it.