Review: Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston

I received this book via the publisher Tundra Books. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston
Published by Tundra Books on 2025-05-27
Age Range: 14+
Length: 304 pages
Reviewing eARC from the publisher Tundra Books
Rating:
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2025, 2025 New Release Challenge

Alien meets the Titanic in this tense YA science fiction horror series by #1 New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston.

Celeste knows every inch of this ship. She's proud of her work as apprentice engineer. And as the maiden voyage of the Titan launches, she's optimistic for the promises of this new journey from Earth to Mars — this new life.

Dominic arrives at his suite where his valet is busy unpacking his things. His chest is tight, already feeling anxious inside his dad's precious new ship. Once it launches, he's trapped, inside the ship and inside the life his father has chosen for him — a life that will leave his dreams of art school behind.

Discovered under melted ice caps, ancient aliens have been brought onto the Titan as well, and stored in display cases for the entertainment of the passengers . . . until an act of sabotage releases them into the ship, with zero discrimination for class, decks or human life . . .

My favorite read of 2025 to date! Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston is a blend of sci-fi and horror set aboard a spaceship traveling to Mars. Celeste Sparrow is an engineer on Titan, a first-of-its-kind spaceship that will make the trip from Earth to Mars in one week. She’s proud of her work and cautiously optimistic about the life she’s been promised. Dominic is the son of one of the co-creators of Titan. He has high hopes for Mars, hopes to get out from underneath his parents’ thumb, hopes to live a life that is his own. But there is something on the ship with them, something put there intentionally, something none of them could predict.

I really, really liked everything about this book. Celeste is a Rupt kid, one of a few that survived a devastating earthquake that left thousands dead. She’s worked her whole life to not be indentured to the government. To work on Titan is a dream come true. She can leave Earth behind and start fresh on Mars. She can work on the ship coming back and forth and save money while doing it. The possibilities are endless. Her goals are simple. She wants to live her life freely and away from the eyes of the public who will always view her as one of the lucky few.

Dominic is also a Rupt kid, but he was luckier than most as he was adopted a few weeks after the disaster. He has no ties to his home, no memories of happened, but an intense curiosity to know. While his life has been more comfortable than most, he lives in the shadow of his parents’ respective careers. His mom, who works in government, has used his backstory as leverage for her campaigns for years, making him speak at conventions and fundraisers. His dad is just disappointed that Dominic doesn’t want anything to do with the family business, instead opting to be an artist. I like Dominic. He’s kind, a bit naive, and noble when he wants to be.

The entire book takes place aboard the Titan. It starts with passengers boarding, and the excitement and thrills begin soon after. Dominic’s father has been working on a secret project for the ship. On their first night of the voyage, the passengers and a select few of the crew (Celeste and her friends included) are witness to the project’s unveiling: a museum of aliens. Dr. Ripley, an ethnobiologist, uncovered them in a bit of melting permafrost, and they’ve been staged here in a museum setting. Most of the passengers are rightly frightened, but what’s the harm? They’ve been frozen for thousands of years, clearly dead, right?

When the blurb described this book as a cross between Titanic and Aliens, I was hesitantly excited. I love sci-fi horror, and I love learning about all things Titanic. This is one of the most accurate descriptions/comparisons I’ve ever seen for a book. Societal differences are explored through Celeste the engineer and Dominic a wealthy passenger. The thrills of a ship going down. AND the horror/mystery that are the aliens brought on board.

Overall, I loved every word of Titan of the Stars. My only complaint is that it was too short. I could have read another hundred pages and been happy. I loved seeing how Celeste and Dominic work together, the horror of the aliens, and all the unknowns. The book does end without needing a sequel, but it is left open should the author want to revisit (and PLEASE do). I highly recommend this one to fans of sci-fi and horror.

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