Penumbra by H.R. Graves follows Revalina Clark, a former CERN physicist living alone in Geneva, as she watches unexplained disturbances spread across the world, from power failures to ruptures in the sky. Years earlier, she detected anomalous readings during particle collider experiments overseen by Martin Gillette, and resigned when her warnings were ignored. As global systems collapse and non-human entities emerge to retrieve specific objects from the environment, Revalina sees the events align with data she recorded long ago. Refusing evacuation through the Exodus Mission, she stays in the city to document what is happening. After contact with a cult that claims her work revealed hidden boundaries of existence, Revalina travels through a disintegrating Geneva alongside Samuel, tracing the structure behind the breaches, while the familiar world is systematically dismantled.

Penumbra: The Unmaking of Earth by H.R. Graves is a supremely intelligent, speculative, and truly methodical account of planetary collapse. Revalina is a solid female lead in a genre that is painfully devoid of them, and she is so easy to root for as we watch, alongside her, the consequences of ignored warnings and institutional denial as reality itself begins to fail. The writing is free of jargon, and Graves uses a clean, straightforward style. I feel that this approach reinforces the book’s central premise that witnessing and recording become the final human functions once intervention is no longer possible. The extra-terrestrial/non-human scavenger entities come across as textured and alive, especially in otherwise ordinary settings, like removing a library book and a floss pick from a pharmacy. Overall, readers interested in classic speculative fiction with a contemporary nod will love this book. Recommended.

Penumbra: The Unmaking of Earth by H.R. Graves is an intriguing science fiction drama that follows Dr. Revalina Clark, a physicist who works at the CERN Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. After noticing unusual results from the experiments she ran with Dr. Gillette at the lab, Revalina warned him and ended up resigning from her post. Their work was not just theoretical anymore; they were poking into the membrane of existence and tampering with reality. Despite the warnings, the lab continued experimenting under Dr. Gillette’s guidance, and the sky began to split. Giant entities emerged from between the cracks, and when they came down, they began to scavenge for unique items. There was public panic and lawlessness, and mysterious cultists called the Witnesses emerged. Revalina’s husband, Thomas, asked her to join him on the Exodus, a ship leaving Earth, but she refused out of guilt and instead joined Samuel, one of the cultists, to witness the unraveling of the world.

Penumbra: The Unmaking of Earth is a unique story inspired by the real events involving CERN scientists who were accused of attempting to open gateways to hidden dimensions. It makes readers think about the dangers of tampering with reality. H.R. Graves has included apocalyptic and cosmic horror, but also hopeful themes about human resilience and the unexpected peace at the end of everything. Revalina is not just witnessing an end; she is also having revelations that make her realize that there is more to existence than what she knew. I loved the suspense because it kept me wondering what was going to happen next. The author has divided the book into acts and does a great job of revealing things gradually in each section. The vivid descriptions made me think of Inception and the Doctor Strange movies that have space and matter bending and twisting into unusual shapes. I truly enjoyed this story and hope to read more about these characters as their journey has just begun.

Revalina Clark had her misgivings about the entire project she and her colleagues were carrying out at the CERN facility in Geneva from the moment she noticed tiny anomalies triggering at odd times while their particle Collider was running. Now it's too late for regrets as she tries to make her way through the wreckage of a dying planet. Many may believe these disturbing times are a temporary phase, and others may see her as the prophetess who foretold this doomed situation. The industrious scientist knows that what will follow the disaster she and her colleagues have wrought on the planet will be infinitely worse than anyone can imagine. Follow Revalina in her quest to survive the last days of the earth in H.R. Graves's Penumbra: The Unmaking of Earth.

H.R. Graves reimagines a potential extinction-level event in Penumbra. Subtle flashbacks explain Revalina's origin story, making it easier for readers to appreciate the magnitude of her predicament. The narrative style balances form with function, giving equal attention to the descriptions of the creatures ravaging the planet and the unique methods by which they achieve their goal. The dialogue has a scientific tone, with Revalina's soliloquy doing a splendid job of simplifying the planet's breakdown for her young companion and readers alike. The most impressive aspect of Penumbra is how Graves fluidly blends scientific and religious themes in the narrative, accurately depicting the popular saying that science, under certain conditions, is indistinguishable from magic. The author does a splendid job of wrapping this thrilling narrative in a delivery that flows like poetry from start to finish.

Penumbra: The Unmaking of Earth by H.R. Graves is an apocalyptic drama about the breaking of reality. For Dr. Revalina Clark, doing collider experiments at CERN with Dr. Martin Gillette was a dream come true. However, when she started detecting ripples and anomalies in reality, she knew that something was not right about what they were doing. After leaving, Revalina starts hearing global reports about distortions in reality and seeing fractures in the sky. Gillette denies the existence of the abnormalities, but when giant creatures start appearing in the sky, and unearthly entities begin to breach the membrane, the end becomes unavoidable. Revalina receives a letter from a group called the Witnesses, inviting her to record the unmaking of Earth, which she had begun in the CERN lab. Even after receiving an offer to leave Earth, Revalina decides to stay, but what she thinks is the end might just be the beginning of something new.

The Unmaking of Earth is the first book in the Penumbra series, and it sets the stage for an intriguing adventure that will make you wonder about the limits of reality and the possibility of other dimensions. H.R. Graves’ writing is mind-blowing, with shocking scenes that will transport you into the book’s world. If you have ever wondered about the end of the world, this story will surpass your expectations. The narrative captures the unnatural feeling in the air, the indescribable shapes that form around Revalina, and the chaos that takes over. Elements like the end of TV and radio transmissions and the rise of cultist groups were a great addition, as they added another layer of chaos to the whole story. They also show humanity's attempt to find meaning in the distraction and the desperation to hold on to reality. This is a thought-provoking story with a gripping and realistic plot. It is really an awesome read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys apocalyptic novels exploring the bounds of reality and other dimensions.