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A review by incipientdreamer
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
5.0
5 STARS!!
An underrated masterpiece ❤. I had so many thoughts and feelings the moment I finished this book. I was simply in awe of what I had read. I wanted to scream about this book to everyone I met and wanted to tear my hair out in frustration over why this book and Eliot Schrefer are not more popular.
This review will be anything but coherent, because I have the hardest time writing my thoughts down for books that I absolutely loved. Be prepared for a mess of rambling and emotions :). Also, the less you know about the plot beforehand, the more you will enjoy this book because it's something that can easily be spoiled.
Firstly, I did not expect this to be so dark. This is a sad book. If you are okay with reading about your soulmate dying in your arms (which you shouldn't be, but hey), while you contemplate your own mortality, and you can read that without spiraling into a month-long depression spell, then you should read this. Otherwise, check out the trigger warnings first. Going in, I thought this would be a cute fluffy adventure story about gays in space. Spoiler alert: This was not. I am so pissed over how mismarketed this was. The Darkness Outside Us tackles heavy themes: grief, what it means to be alive, humanity and what it requires of us, the horror of solitude, and the mortality of man. It was such a poignant and moving book. If you don't suffer an existential crisis reading this, then there is something wrong with you.
The mystery was so well done, I was confused for so long about what was going on. Creepy and unsettling it made me requestion my dream of going to space. The concept of isolation was the main boogeyman. After the pandemic and the lockdown, Ambrose's need for human companionship was eerily relatable.
The characterization was beautifully done. I loved reading about both characters, but Ambrose was an especially wonderful narrator. Kodiak and Ambrose's relationship has become my new favorite fictional book couple. They were the kind of lovers to grow old together.
An achingly beautiful yet haunting story about what it means to be alive, and the importance of companionship. Light years from home, each other is all they have. While this was a very very VERY sad book, and I am an emotional mess after finishing it, I would recommend it to everyone and anyone.
Initial Thoughts:
Simply beautiful ❤ fans of Song of Achilles, this one is for you.
Insanity used to be a stranger that lived on the other side of the world. Now it's moved next door. It's only a matter of time until it becomes shipmate, lover, self.
An underrated masterpiece ❤. I had so many thoughts and feelings the moment I finished this book. I was simply in awe of what I had read. I wanted to scream about this book to everyone I met and wanted to tear my hair out in frustration over why this book and Eliot Schrefer are not more popular.
This review will be anything but coherent, because I have the hardest time writing my thoughts down for books that I absolutely loved. Be prepared for a mess of rambling and emotions :). Also, the less you know about the plot beforehand, the more you will enjoy this book because it's something that can easily be spoiled.
Firstly, I did not expect this to be so dark. This is a sad book. If you are okay with reading about your soulmate dying in your arms (which you shouldn't be, but hey), while you contemplate your own mortality, and you can read that without spiraling into a month-long depression spell, then you should read this. Otherwise, check out the trigger warnings first. Going in, I thought this would be a cute fluffy adventure story about gays in space. Spoiler alert: This was not. I am so pissed over how mismarketed this was. The Darkness Outside Us tackles heavy themes: grief, what it means to be alive, humanity and what it requires of us, the horror of solitude, and the mortality of man. It was such a poignant and moving book. If you don't suffer an existential crisis reading this, then there is something wrong with you.
The mystery was so well done, I was confused for so long about what was going on. Creepy and unsettling it made me requestion my dream of going to space. The concept of isolation was the main boogeyman. After the pandemic and the lockdown, Ambrose's need for human companionship was eerily relatable.
The characterization was beautifully done. I loved reading about both characters, but Ambrose was an especially wonderful narrator. Kodiak and Ambrose's relationship has become my new favorite fictional book couple. They were the kind of lovers to grow old together.
An achingly beautiful yet haunting story about what it means to be alive, and the importance of companionship. Light years from home, each other is all they have. While this was a very very VERY sad book, and I am an emotional mess after finishing it, I would recommend it to everyone and anyone.
Initial Thoughts:
Simply beautiful ❤ fans of Song of Achilles, this one is for you.