Cut Off from Sky and Earth: a suspenseful psychological thriller and the strength to carry on from a painful memory

Cut Off from Sky and Earth by Melissa F. Miller is a psychological thriller where feminist fairytale retelling becomes a real-life nightmare. Emily Rose is staying at a remote cabin in order to finish her book, a retelling of a fairytale about a princess and her lady-in-waiting imprisoned in a tower with a modern feminist twist. She has spent years dealing with the trauma from the night she found her roommate brutally murdered. When her husband, Tristan, suggests a writing retreat at an isolated property, she jumps at the chance. When she arrives, Emily meets Alex, a woman with her own secrets, and the two become trapped by a sudden and fierce storm. A series of frightening events begin to happen, Emily and Alex realize someone is watching them and they must work together in order to survive from a very real and dangerous individual hiding in the shadows. 

Interspersed with passages of Emily’s work-in-progress, Cut Off from Sky and Earth is described as “a chilling exploration of the weight of memory, the burden of trauma and the courage it takes to break free,” It is an intense psychological thriller as I rooted for Emily as she is dealing with a very damaging memory and wanted to see her become stronger and grow. The psychological suspense was intense and kept me guessing, while there was some information that was easily “figured out” which I believe was by design as the author is teasing readers like a cat with a piece of string. The work in progress interjected in the action was a bit distracting but I saw the pattern with the fairytale and the events of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I enjoyed the ending. I recommend Cut Off from Sky and Earth.

Cut Off from Sky and Earth is available in paperback, eBook and hardcover 

on September 2, 2025