A review by inkdrinkers
The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

How do you describe a book that you know will inevitably become a classic?

This is a true science fiction masterpiece. The ending gives the same rush of emotion as classics like "The Lottery" or "The Most Dangerous Game." The plot and execution was lofty, but it absolutely nailed it. Everyone should read this, digest it, and then go for a walk outside and take in the sheer magnitude of what this story accomplished.

I loved this. I loved the characters. The formatting was a little difficult to get used to, but it pays off tenfold in the end and is the only way this story could be told. Please go into this blind, don't look up a single thing if you can.

This is a truly magnificent book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Vomit, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, and Chronic illness

Gore content is less than a horror movie, on par with a thriller. Contains mentions of bodies and death. Vomit is described. Sexual content is steamy and fade to black but discussion is had about it. Violence might be scary and was akin to assault. Moderate triggers: Abandonment is a huge plot point. Blood and chronic illness are mentioned throughout as byproducts of being in space and exposed to radiation. Death is both seen on page and mentioned off. Death of a parent is off page but discussed. Gaslighting is done by a side character and is a catalyst for the plot. Grief is openly discussed and worked through. Medical content is included throughout as the characters become ill and need aid.