Colony by Ron Wolff

Adam Flynn is the only human ever born on Mars. After seventeen years of isolation with only a handful of scientists for company, the arrival of new colonists is a dream come true-until that dream becomes a nightmare.

Beneath the planet's barren surface, something ancient stirs. Something hungry.

When an alien swarm ravages the colony, Adam finds himself leading a band of teenage survivors in a desperate battle against an enemy that doesn't just kill-it can think, plan, and burrow its way into human minds.

This adrenaline-fueled sci-fi thriller weaves heart-stopping horror into a story of survival, found family, first love, and the true meaning of home-even when home wants to kill you.

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Set against the hostile, crimson backdrop of Mars, The Colony is a gripping sci-fi horror that delivers both pulse-pounding action and surprising emotional depth. At its heart is Adam Flynn - the only human ever born on the red planet - whose quiet, contained existence is shattered when a new wave of colonists arrives…and brings something terrifying with them.

What begins as a hopeful shift toward community and possibility swiftly descends into chaos. A relentless alien swarm emerges from beneath the Martian surface, and the book’s pace shifts into high gear, balancing survival horror with themes of identity, belonging, and courage in the face of annihilation. Wolff creates an atmosphere thick with dread, using the isolation of space and the claustrophobic tunnels beneath the colony to maximum effect. The horror is smart as well as scary: the alien threat isn’t just physical - it’s psychological. It learns. It adapts. And worst of all, it can manipulate the minds of its victims.

Adam’s journey is the emotional anchor to the chaos. He’s a compelling protagonist: awkward, smart, unsure of himself, and entirely believable as a seventeen-year-old who's never seen Earth. Watching him forge bonds with the other teens - especially as they’re forced to step into leadership roles no one asked for - gives the book its emotional punch. The found-family dynamic is a standout here, and it brings a layer of warmth and hope that balances the more harrowing moments.

The prose is brisk and cinematic, with action scenes that leap off the page but never lose clarity. And while the horror elements are intense, they’re never gratuitous - Wolff keeps the focus on tension and suspense over gore.

If there’s one critique, it’s that some of the supporting characters could’ve used a little more development early on. But given the survival-focused nature of the story, it’s a minor issue in an otherwise tightly constructed narrative.

Recommendation: Fans of Skyward by Brandon Sanderson or Contagion by Erin Bowman will find a lot to love here—high-stakes sci-fi with strong teen leads and a survivalist edge.

TV/Movie Recommendation: For those drawn to the blend of extraterrestrial horror and tight-knit teen dynamics, The 100 (especially the early seasons) makes an ideal companion watch. Both stories explore what it means to grow up too fast in a world that’s trying to kill you—and whether humanity can hold on to compassion in the midst of crisis.

Colony publishes on the 27th April, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.