Huge thanks to Pan Macmillan, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and NetGalley for this opportunity to read the ARC ahead of release. This was an experience that won't be forgotten, and I can hardly wait for readers to step into this strange, haunting world when the book releases on 12th March 2026.

Every time I pick up an Adrian Tchaikovsky novel, I know I am stepping into a world where imagination is pushed to its wildest edges, and Children of Strife is no exception. This book pulled me in from the very first page, not just because of its premise, but because the author once again manages to blend hard science fiction with deeply human questions of creation, responsibility, and survival.

Set centuries after a renegade terraforming team "played god" on a distant planet, the novel drops us into a mystery that has simmered over generations. What was to be a refuge proved a prison; what was to be a new, teeming world proved something much more dangerous. As someone who loves stories embroidered with ethical dilemmas and cosmic unknowns, I found myself immediately hooked.

Alis is a troubled scientist on a research vessel that was sent to rediscover this outpost. Internal problems and nightmares, which almost feel prophetic, become much more than just character shading-they tie in eerily with the unfolding disaster aboard the ship. It is during those moments when she wakes to find the entire crew missing that tension starts to set in. At once, Alis isn't fighting only her mind but also a horrific reality.

Her two companions on this impossible journey are Cato, the aggressively charismatic mantis shrimp captain-yes, the author has mastered the art of making nonhuman characters unforgettable-and Kern, the ship's AI whose calm rationality provides an unsettling contrast with the chaos around them. The dynamic between this unlikely trio is one of my favourite aspects of the novel; equal parts tense, touching, and darkly humorous.

As Alis and Cato make their way down to the planet below in search of answers, the tone of the narrative shifts into something near claustrophobic. Adrian Tchaikovsky brings this world to life with unsettling beauty: the remnants of ancient science, the eerie silence of a failed utopia, and the question that lingers in the air-what exactly did the terraformers create? The pacing tightens, the atmosphere thickens, and the mystery grows more complex with every chapter.

All I will say, without spoiling anything, is this: the "children" born from that original act of scientific arrogance are unlike anything I have encountered before in sci-fi. They are terrifying and tragic, strangely awe-inspiring. And moral questions about creation, fear, exploitation, and the weight of past sins linger long after turning the final page.

What really surprised me, however, was how personal this story felt despite its massive scale. Alis's emotional journey becomes the core of the novel. Her guilt, her resilience, and her gradual confrontation with the truth make this not just a cosmic mystery, but also a story about healing and accountability. At times, her introspection hit me harder than expected and reminded me that Adrian Tchaikovsky's strength isn't just in worldbuilding, it's in humanity. Children of Strife is bold, atmospheric, and profoundly imaginative. Fans of the author will find plenty to love, and newcomers will discover an unforgettable entry point into his signature blend of science fiction and philosophy. I couldn't put it down, and I'm still thinking about the ending days later.

5 stars as always. I don't know how Adrian Tchaikovsky does this but every book in this series is as good as the previous ones, and I'm now emotionally compromised over a shrimp with PTSD. The book follows some plot lines directly from the 3rd one, which I also appreciate a great deal, and the only alien that truly exists is used in the plot in a really interesting way. Overall I enjoyed this book immensely, and almost didn't want to finish it because that would've meant no more of my favourite universe. I hope there will be further books in the series.