Cousins From a Distant Sun is a sci-fi novel by Tamar Myers and published by Severn House. It is due for release on the 5th of May 2026. This review is intended to be free of spoilers, but none of us are perfect. Consider yourself warned! I was provided with a review copy by the publishers. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb
An archaeologist is drawn into a mission to save a mysterious community of supernatural beings hiding deep within the Andes in this humorous, offbeat novel.
Archaeologist Ruth Baker is in Peru for a new dig, but discovers more than she bargained for—a secret community of giant supernatural beings hiding in the mountains.
The Wanami were originally kidnapped from Earth by aliens thousands of years ago to work on planet Qoom. Eventually they were shipped back and lived happily alongside the Inca civilization—until they were forced to take refuge in the treasure-filled caves beneath the Incan monuments they helped to build.
Now, a new threat has emerged—and Ruth is the only thing that stands between them and real extinction! Can she persuade the outside world to help ensure their survival, or will the human lust for gold cause her efforts to backfire spectacularly?
A rollicking adventure perfect for fans of quirky, fun science fiction from Riley August and Becky Chambers.
Review
The concept does a lot of heavy lifting in Cousins From a Distant Sun. Archaeology in the Peruvian Andes, a hidden race of giant beings tied to Incan history, alien abduction lore woven into ancient myth… it’s the kind of pitch that practically begs to be devoured. And to the book’s credit, the worldbuilding around the Wanami is often the most vivid and engaging part of the experience. When Tamar Myers leans into the strangeness of their history, the story sparks with imagination.
But the execution never quite matches the promise.
The biggest stumbling block is the protagonist, Ruth Baker. On paper, she’s exactly the kind of character who should anchor a story like this: a sharp, driven archaeologist with a stubborn streak. In practice, she’s abrasive in ways that make her difficult to root for. Her internal monologue leans heavily on snark, judgement, and a surprising fixation on other people’s bodies and smells; choices that quickly become repetitive and, at times, uncomfortable. A character can be flawed, prickly, or difficult and still compelling; here, the balance never quite lands.
The tone is another point of friction. Marketed as adult sci‑fi with a quirky, cosy edge, the book often reads much younger, not in content, but in voice. The humour skews dated, the dialogue can feel simplistic, and the emotional beats rarely deepen beyond surface level. Several scenes that seem designed to be whimsical instead come across as oddly juvenile, creating a mismatch between expectation and delivery.
Structurally, the novel struggles with pacing. The early chapters move briskly, but the momentum stalls during a long, textbook‑style exposition dump about the Wanami’s past. It’s rich material, but delivered in a way that halts the narrative rather than enriching it. Then, just as the story seems ready to build toward something big, the ending arrives abruptly; rushed, anticlimactic, and missing the emotional payoff the setup seems to promise. Key events happen off‑page, and the final chapters feel more like a fade‑out than a conclusion.
And yet, there are some definite bright spots. The Peruvian setting is atmospheric and refreshing. The Wanami lore is imaginative and occasionally gripping. Some readers will enjoy the cosy, low‑stakes vibe and the tongue‑in‑cheek humour. There’s a version of this story, perhaps shorter, tighter, or aimed at a younger audience, that could absolutely shine.
As it stands, Cousins From a Distant Sun is a novel with a fantastic hook and flashes of charm, but one that never fully finds its footing. Readers new to sci‑fi or those looking for something light and quirky may enjoy the ride. More seasoned genre readers will likely come away wishing the book had trusted its own potential a little more.
Rating: 2/5