Requiem is a horror novel written by John Palisano, published by Flame Tree Press. A proposal that plays well with the mix between cosmic and space horror, with a fascinating storyline that makes the best out of its setting and the impossibility of escaping from it, creating an unnerving and creepily atmospherical experience.

Eden is an artificial satellite the size of a moon, a cemetery where the dead are stored in a way their loved ones can look up and see them; as something has gone wrong, a crew is sent from the Earth to repair it. A musician will be part of this crew, as the company desires to have a new requiem written for Eden as an apology to the families; but once the crew arrives at Eden, things start going sideways. At some point, it won't be a matter of repairing what's broken in Eden, but of seeing if the crew will escape Eden with their lives.

In terms of characterization, it is interesting how each one of the crew has their own set of demons that are being tested by whatever has taken over Eden; when the entity not only moves you in space but also into your own mind, resisting it proves to be a tough task. We might not have enough space to connect with all of them, but Ava and her grief for Roland was one of the highlights of the book.

Eden by itself is a fascinating place; it can be described as an expression of an eternal grief for the loved ones, refusing them to go; space is the perfect setting for horror, as the inability to escape eventually forces the cast to confront the own entity responsible of the chaos.
The pacing can be slow at the start, introducing us to the place and the crew, but once all is unleashed, you don't really have a moment to rest. The pace is sharp but effective.

Requiem doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's overall a great novel if you are looking for a blend between space and cosmic horror; an enjoyable experience for lovers of the genre.