hiba's Reviews > The Darkness Outside Us

3.75/5

one of the most original and unexpected stories i've read in a while - i really enjoyed the breakneck sci-fi mystery plot, the bittersweet and hopeful love story, the shocking revelations, and the absolutely unputdownable second half.

the book does falter in other areas, like the worldbuilding and characters. the worldbuilding didn't make much sense - only two countries are left on earth, one is extremely bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic, etc. while the other is the complete opposite, and that's all we know about them. it's very strange. i also think the character writing could've been stronger. ambrose and kodiak really grew on me but i wish they had more distinct personalities and more natural interactions with each other. i understand the fast-paced plot made this tough but i still wish we could've seen more on-page development of their relationship.

that aside, it's not often you come across a gay young adult book with a truly unpredictable and gripping plot that goes to some quite dark places. i'm glad the author took risks with his story and had an ambitious vision for it. this book does a great job portraying the loneliness and claustrophobia of deep space travel, the horror of being far away from everything you've ever known, the joy of new beginnings, and the freedom that comes with taking control of your own destiny. and of course, how even the most hopeless of situations can be survived if the right person is with you. easily recommended.