Scan barcode
downtown_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
“With a field of stars behind it, it was a black shape. It was the absence of light. It was a thing carved out of the never-ending night. It was dark space.”
Cameron Rushton is a hero, captured 4 years ago by the alien race known as The Faceless. When he suddenly turns up on Brady Garrett’s space station in an alien stasis pod and the doctors botch his extraction, Brady finds himself as some sort of human battery to keep Cameron alive. They have to touch frequently. In fact, the closer they get physically the stronger Cam becomes.
I found the set up of this book: a post-apoc/dystopia/space war setting where the Earth is ravaged and doing its best to defend itself against an evil alien race, fascinating and it sucked me right in. Partially because Brady’s very conversational, stream of consciousness rambling narration was pretty funny and endearing. But I’m also a sucker for good sci-fi.
I’ll admit I was a bit thrown by this being a gay awakening, and by the forced proximity/intimacy of these two being very dubcon in nature. It threw me off because I didn't expect this to be such a bleak setting. That combined with Cam’s history and position being complicated. He’s keeping secrets and Brady’s glimpses of his time with the aliens are disturbing. So their connection feels a bit unstable and contaminated? There is also a lot of homophobia in this book, internalized as well, and yes the book was written in 2012, and has a very bro military setting but I would hope if we were that far advanced in the future to space travel that gender and sexuality would be less archaic. But I guess that might be very optimistic of me.
Anyway, I loved Garrett, the tone of this book is very stark and melancholy. The suspense gave you a strong sense of impending doom and I could not stop reading. The last 70% was wild, and intense, with some serious space horror elements. I could not put it down and things started to make more sense. Just whoa. What a ride. I’m excited to read where they go in book 2.
Cameron Rushton is a hero, captured 4 years ago by the alien race known as The Faceless. When he suddenly turns up on Brady Garrett’s space station in an alien stasis pod and the doctors botch his extraction, Brady finds himself as some sort of human battery to keep Cameron alive. They have to touch frequently. In fact, the closer they get physically the stronger Cam becomes.
I found the set up of this book: a post-apoc/dystopia/space war setting where the Earth is ravaged and doing its best to defend itself against an evil alien race, fascinating and it sucked me right in. Partially because Brady’s very conversational, stream of consciousness rambling narration was pretty funny and endearing. But I’m also a sucker for good sci-fi.
I’ll admit I was a bit thrown by this being a gay awakening, and by the forced proximity/intimacy of these two being very dubcon in nature. It threw me off because I didn't expect this to be such a bleak setting. That combined with Cam’s history and position being complicated. He’s keeping secrets and Brady’s glimpses of his time with the aliens are disturbing. So their connection feels a bit unstable and contaminated? There is also a lot of homophobia in this book, internalized as well, and yes the book was written in 2012, and has a very bro military setting but I would hope if we were that far advanced in the future to space travel that gender and sexuality would be less archaic. But I guess that might be very optimistic of me.
Anyway, I loved Garrett, the tone of this book is very stark and melancholy. The suspense gave you a strong sense of impending doom and I could not stop reading. The last 70% was wild, and intense, with some serious space horror elements. I could not put it down and things started to make more sense. Just whoa. What a ride. I’m excited to read where they go in book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
smasson13's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Only one bed. Aliens. Gays in space. Need I say more?
Honestly, this book was NOWHERE near what I thought it was going to be like from the blurb. Much more sciencey/almost fantasy like with the aliens 👽. But the writing was good, so I stuck through.
It was also a lot more emotional, dark, and filled with sexual violence than I was expecting.
Good writing, 🌶 scenes, dark themes, and a decent plot (though the end was rushed and kind of randomly wrapped up). Will definitely be reading the next in the series.
Definitely make sure to read TW first!
Additional TW:
Homophobic slurs, Internalized homophobia, Lack of privacy/control due to forced telepathy, non-con/dub-con
Honestly, this book was NOWHERE near what I thought it was going to be like from the blurb. Much more sciencey/almost fantasy like with the aliens 👽. But the writing was good, so I stuck through.
It was also a lot more emotional, dark, and filled with sexual violence than I was expecting.
Good writing, 🌶 scenes, dark themes, and a decent plot (though the end was rushed and kind of randomly wrapped up). Will definitely be reading the next in the series.
Definitely make sure to read TW first!
Additional TW:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Death, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Additional TW: Homophobic slurs Internalized homophobia
More...