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A review by citrus_seasalt
The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schrefer
4.0
A solid sequel, but it didn’t quite have the same impact as the first book. The twists weren’t as batshit, for starters. I think some of the chapters towards the end were a little too heavy with their allusions and references to the first book, and instead of them feeling like these full-circle emotional moments, they just felt tired. Like another Goodreads reviewer, I also lamented the lack of an older Kodiak and Ambrose POV: while the past timeline was an interesting way to psychoanalyze the characters, and Sheep was an adorable companion, I didn’t like having to relive the same development and maturity the two had in “The Darkness Outside Us”. Though, I do also understand keeping the focus on Yarrow and Owl to stick with the YA demographic. (Also in the words of that specific reviewer— “Unwarranted, but understandable.”) At least a couple of chapters, maybe in that last present-day portion where we flip-flop POVs, could’ve had that??
Still, I found Owl and Yarrow’s isolated lives, their desperation, and their existentialism around how to be human when they have no other role models besides their family, to be compelling. (But I liked Owl’s POV slightly more.) I just really wanted to know the inner workings of older Ambrose and Kodiak, since they have a lot of (sorta) unspoken questions about not just how to raise their kids but also the ethics of this fledgling civilization, and, like, how much of their kids’ worries are they aware of or do they think about? What about being the only model for romantic love that Yarrow and Owl will see in their lifetime?? What about the inherent grief in having Owl literally be made of the same genetic material as Ambrose’s sister??
As for the past timeline, while it was still very interesting, and all the events culminated in a predictable but still devastating end, I didn’t find the “newly introduced” (in quotations, because they’ve been mentioned before) characters to be that compelling. Seeing more of Sri was cool, though. Devon became a little annoying to me, only because the nuance in his character seemed to be lost after a certain plot twist.
Like its predecessor, though, I did enjoy the scientific aspects. Although this entire story is obviously a work of fiction, there’s still a commitment to making the science seem realistic, which is pretty rare for me to see in sci-fi. It’s smart, and a breath of fresh air.
It was also very interesting to see how OS shifted as a character in this book?? They were still blunt, and terrifying, but not as violent. (With the exception of one scene.) I think seeing their banter(?) with the kids was one of the highlights of the book.
Overall, this was a tense, but enjoyable, read. I completely understand if someone who read the first book only wants to stick with that one, though. It works as a standalone, and the writing of “The Brightness Between Us” doesn’t mesh with everyone.
Still, I found Owl and Yarrow’s isolated lives, their desperation, and their existentialism around how to be human when they have no other role models besides their family, to be compelling. (But I liked Owl’s POV slightly more.) I just really wanted to know the inner workings of older Ambrose and Kodiak, since they have a lot of (sorta) unspoken questions about not just how to raise their kids but also the ethics of this fledgling civilization, and, like, how much of their kids’ worries are they aware of or do they think about? What about being the only model for romantic love that Yarrow and Owl will see in their lifetime?? What about the inherent grief in having Owl literally be made of the same genetic material as Ambrose’s sister??
As for the past timeline, while it was still very interesting, and all the events culminated in a predictable but still devastating end, I didn’t find the “newly introduced” (in quotations, because they’ve been mentioned before) characters to be that compelling. Seeing more of Sri was cool, though. Devon became a little annoying to me, only because the nuance in his character seemed to be lost after a certain plot twist.
Like its predecessor, though, I did enjoy the scientific aspects. Although this entire story is obviously a work of fiction, there’s still a commitment to making the science seem realistic, which is pretty rare for me to see in sci-fi. It’s smart, and a breath of fresh air.
It was also very interesting to see how OS shifted as a character in this book?? They were still blunt, and terrifying, but not as violent. (With the exception of one scene.) I think seeing their banter(?) with the kids was one of the highlights of the book.
Overall, this was a tense, but enjoyable, read. I completely understand if someone who read the first book only wants to stick with that one, though. It works as a standalone, and the writing of “The Brightness Between Us” doesn’t mesh with everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, War