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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I hated the Tubes. I didn’t like knowing there was only one little air lock between me and asphyxiation.
Honestly, it has been a long time since I’ve last sobbed over a book. And a sci-fi book at that. A fantastically well written sci-fi story. Why did it take me so long to discover this?
I have no words because I’m in utter disbelief and shock at how much I love everything about this story. Even the really fucked up, uncomfortable moments. There’s turmoil, pain, hope, comfort and love. It deserves all the high praise it has received and I’ll be reading more from this author, without a doubt.
I’ll just leave one more quote here from our amazing protagonist:
I wanted to sleep, but I didn’t. I lay there and stared out at the big black. And it turns out that you don’t have to be as brave or arrogant as a Hawk pilot to look at it and not be scared. It turns out that you can feel so fucking miserable that even the thought of asphyxiation doesn’t seem so bad.
Honestly, it has been a long time since I’ve last sobbed over a book. And a sci-fi book at that. A fantastically well written sci-fi story. Why did it take me so long to discover this?
I have no words because I’m in utter disbelief and shock at how much I love everything about this story. Even the really fucked up, uncomfortable moments. There’s turmoil, pain, hope, comfort and love. It deserves all the high praise it has received and I’ll be reading more from this author, without a doubt.
I’ll just leave one more quote here from our amazing protagonist:
I wanted to sleep, but I didn’t. I lay there and stared out at the big black. And it turns out that you don’t have to be as brave or arrogant as a Hawk pilot to look at it and not be scared. It turns out that you can feel so fucking miserable that even the thought of asphyxiation doesn’t seem so bad.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Ooft lads, this is darker than I was expecting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape
I really enjoyed this book - the sci-fi was easy to read and most importantly I loved the characters. I will mention that I did much prefer the second book to this one, but a story has got to start somewhere.
*4.5* Loved just as much on a re-read. Such a different experience reading vs listening to the audiobook. I picked up much more this second time around.
*****
"And then I realized that I was wrong…that every mixed up, fucked up, piece of my life that had ever stuck in my memory, my subconscious, or my dreams, was part of his life now as well."
What would you do as an enlisted man, when your superior tells you to step forward, face the giant upside down scarab holding a capsule, and touch it?
This is a sci-fi, MM, futuristic, original and unique, violent-yet-beautiful, an introspective space journey. Character driven, and feels dystopian from the brief descriptions of what's happened to Earth. TW: physical abuse and rape.
At 19, Brady is a bit of an anti-hero. He's not brimming with bravery or confidence, he grew up in extreme poverty, quitting school at the age of 12, to raise his baby sister. He's a scrapper, stealing and fighting for survival. He is conscripted into the military at 16, where he learns he hates outer space, and he hates the military. He is physically assaulted (off-page but describes the damage) yet he's determined to do his best, sending home every paycheck for his sisters care. He is befriended by the doctor on the ship, who sees the 'real him' under all his defenses, and helps him begin training to become a medic.
Cameron is the poster child for the military. No but really, he's actually on all their posters. Good looking, an officer, and from a wealthy family. At the age of 22, he's taken captive by an alien entity known only as the faceless. It's been four years now, and he is assumed dead, when he shows up with a message for humanity.
The relationship between these two men starts off quite unique. As much as I loved their interactions, I didn't really feel a real connection between the two men until the very end. Mostly because they were together for survival reasons. So it felt Stockholm-like with their affection. While there was only a seven year age difference between these two, the age-gap felt larger with Brady's inexperience.
I was his heartbeat. I was his fucking universe. Now I was, but soon I wouldn't be. I would miss that, miss being important. I would miss having someone.
Because this story is character driven, and because of particular circumstances, these men are constantly together. The steam is very steamy, and I appreciated how kind and gentle Cam was around Brady's inexperience.
Kai-Ren is a formidable enemy. He sees humans as insignificant, possibly as we see ants. Somewhat a nuisance, a slight annoyance, and easily wiped out. Huge props to the narrator, Chris Chambers, for making the voice of Kai-Ren chillingly creepy. Cam-rennnnnn *shivers*
The story isn't perfect, and it did leave me with some questions, mostly the enlisted men's violence towards each other (why??). Also, considering the abuse both of these men had survived, I didn't quite understand why there wasn't a ship psychologist heavily invested in helping them to recover. Have they done away with mental health care in the future?
Overall, I loved the intelligence behind this story, and the way it's told. I've already downloaded the second and can't wait to get back into this universe.
*****
"And then I realized that I was wrong…that every mixed up, fucked up, piece of my life that had ever stuck in my memory, my subconscious, or my dreams, was part of his life now as well."
What would you do as an enlisted man, when your superior tells you to step forward, face the giant upside down scarab holding a capsule, and touch it?
This is a sci-fi, MM, futuristic, original and unique, violent-yet-beautiful, an introspective space journey. Character driven, and feels dystopian from the brief descriptions of what's happened to Earth. TW: physical abuse and rape.
At 19, Brady is a bit of an anti-hero. He's not brimming with bravery or confidence, he grew up in extreme poverty, quitting school at the age of 12, to raise his baby sister. He's a scrapper, stealing and fighting for survival. He is conscripted into the military at 16, where he learns he hates outer space, and he hates the military. He is physically assaulted (off-page but describes the damage) yet he's determined to do his best, sending home every paycheck for his sisters care. He is befriended by the doctor on the ship, who sees the 'real him' under all his defenses, and helps him begin training to become a medic.
Cameron is the poster child for the military. No but really, he's actually on all their posters. Good looking, an officer, and from a wealthy family. At the age of 22, he's taken captive by an alien entity known only as the faceless. It's been four years now, and he is assumed dead, when he shows up with a message for humanity.
The relationship between these two men starts off quite unique. As much as I loved their interactions, I didn't really feel a real connection between the two men until the very end. Mostly because they were together for survival reasons. So it felt Stockholm-like with their affection. While there was only a seven year age difference between these two, the age-gap felt larger with Brady's inexperience.
I was his heartbeat. I was his fucking universe. Now I was, but soon I wouldn't be. I would miss that, miss being important. I would miss having someone.
Because this story is character driven, and because of particular circumstances, these men are constantly together. The steam is very steamy, and I appreciated how kind and gentle Cam was around Brady's inexperience.
Kai-Ren is a formidable enemy. He sees humans as insignificant, possibly as we see ants. Somewhat a nuisance, a slight annoyance, and easily wiped out. Huge props to the narrator, Chris Chambers, for making the voice of Kai-Ren chillingly creepy. Cam-rennnnnn *shivers*
The story isn't perfect, and it did leave me with some questions, mostly the enlisted men's violence towards each other (why??). Also, considering the abuse both of these men had survived, I didn't quite understand why there wasn't a ship psychologist heavily invested in helping them to recover. Have they done away with mental health care in the future?
Overall, I loved the intelligence behind this story, and the way it's told. I've already downloaded the second and can't wait to get back into this universe.
The best piece of sci-fi perfection I've read in forever. Literally flawless.
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Toxic, trashy fun.
2 guys, linked by alien
tech, fuck, grieve, go home.
2 guys, linked by alien
tech, fuck, grieve, go home.
I kind of liked this one even though I am not big into Sci-Fi.
Brady Garrett was almost done training to be a medic. He was a recruit, conscripted into an army formed to defend earth from alien invaders. One day, he was called in to assist the Head Medic with a medical decision pertaining to an officer.
See Lt Cameron Rushton had been returned to earth, after four years of being presumed dead, suspended in a liquid in a pod.
Brady kept touching and messing with pod, and somehow Brady and Cameron's heart impulses became linked. they had to be in constant touch with the other or Cameron would flatline. The other downside was that they became telepathic with each other, they could hear each other's thoughts, experience their dreams etc. Can you say NO PRIVACY!!!!!!
Cameron was sent to warn earth that the Aliens, nicknamed The Faceless, were coming. They wanted Earth to sign a peace treaty or the faceless would attack. This message causes panic, and the Earth forces have to decide if Cameron is really a messager, or now a traitor used to inflitrate the armed forces.
In addition, Brady and Cameron are experiencing physical attraction to each other, which comprises Brady's loyalties. Brady has to be careful because he has a family to take care of, specifically his little sister Lucy. What is he willing to give up?
Whose side is Cameron really on and what is his real mission? Where will it leave his relationship with Brady?
If you like Sci-Fi, you will like this one. The writing is pretty good, and I was really interested to see the "new" Cameron as I knew his four years changed who he was. I also wanted to see how Brady would handle his new feelings as it conflicts with his responsibilities. It was entertaining.
Brady Garrett was almost done training to be a medic. He was a recruit, conscripted into an army formed to defend earth from alien invaders. One day, he was called in to assist the Head Medic with a medical decision pertaining to an officer.
See Lt Cameron Rushton had been returned to earth, after four years of being presumed dead, suspended in a liquid in a pod.
Brady kept touching and messing with pod, and somehow Brady and Cameron's heart impulses became linked. they had to be in constant touch with the other or Cameron would flatline. The other downside was that they became telepathic with each other, they could hear each other's thoughts, experience their dreams etc. Can you say NO PRIVACY!!!!!!
Cameron was sent to warn earth that the Aliens, nicknamed The Faceless, were coming. They wanted Earth to sign a peace treaty or the faceless would attack. This message causes panic, and the Earth forces have to decide if Cameron is really a messager, or now a traitor used to inflitrate the armed forces.
In addition, Brady and Cameron are experiencing physical attraction to each other, which comprises Brady's loyalties. Brady has to be careful because he has a family to take care of, specifically his little sister Lucy. What is he willing to give up?
Whose side is Cameron really on and what is his real mission? Where will it leave his relationship with Brady?
If you like Sci-Fi, you will like this one. The writing is pretty good, and I was really interested to see the "new" Cameron as I knew his four years changed who he was. I also wanted to see how Brady would handle his new feelings as it conflicts with his responsibilities. It was entertaining.