The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer was a brilliant book told from the perspective of a 17 year old Ambrose Cusk. In an amazing enemies to lovers story, Schrefer captures the feeling of loneliness and the struggles of both family and romantic love. The book had an encaptivating plotline, and I read it in one sitting- I couldn't put it down. Plot twists after plot twists were entwined with incredible characterization and arcs. None of the chapters were slow, and even the beginning was fast paced and to the point. I really enjoyed reading this book, which was kind of surprising since I don't even like sci-fi that much. The Darkness Outside Us is not at all your typical space story, and it really brought a different angle to the topic. Another interesting thing is that in this book, you only really meet two characters. There are mentions of family, and some dialogue, but it’s all through Ambrose’s eyes. One of my favorite things about this book was how it brutally called out the twenty first century's issues with society and identity. It was one of the more realistic futures, where it wasn’t dystopian but it wasn’t utopian either. The social hierarchy was still there, and it briefly mentioned there being more World Wars. This book is a futuristic sci-fi romance, and I'd describe it as what would happen if you put Alex and Henry (from Red White & Royal Blue by Casey Mcquiston) into the Lunar Chronicles universe (a series by Marissa Meyer.)
About This Book
Two boys, alone in space.
After the first settler on Titan trips her distress signal, neither remaining country on Earth can afford to scramble a rescue of its own, and so two sworn enemies are installed in the same spaceship.
Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor, with no memory of a launch. There’s more that doesn’t add up: Evidence indicates strangers have been on board, the ship’s operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeed—not when he’s rescuing his own sister.
In order to survive the ship’s secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust one another… especially once they discover what they are truly up against. Love might be the only way to survive.
