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The Darkness Outside Us #2
The Brightness Between Us
In this sequel to The Darkness Outside Us, a Stonewall Honor Book, New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer delivers another ambitious, genre-bending novel and epic love story that spans thousands of years and the far reaches of the galaxy.
Seventeen years have gone by since the Coordinated Endeavor crashed on a distant exoplanet. Ambrose Cusk and Kodiak Celius are now the devoted parents of two teenage children, Owl and Yarrow, in a hardscrabble frontier home. Though life on Minerva is full of danger, the family’s bond is enough to make it all worth it—until they learn that the biggest threat to their survival might come from within.
More than thirty thousand years in the past, Ambrose wakes on Earth to find that his mission to save his sister was a ruse. His mother betrayed him, and the truth of her plan—to send twenty clones of him to continue human civilization thousands of light-years away—sets Ambrose spiraling. When he discovers that another spacefarer is suffering his same fate, he will have to decide whether to risk crossing a world at war to reach him.
Separated by time and space, a young family and two strangers learn that their lives are intimately intertwined. They race to uncover the unexpected connections that might save them all . . . and perhaps humanity as well.
Seventeen years have gone by since the Coordinated Endeavor crashed on a distant exoplanet. Ambrose Cusk and Kodiak Celius are now the devoted parents of two teenage children, Owl and Yarrow, in a hardscrabble frontier home. Though life on Minerva is full of danger, the family’s bond is enough to make it all worth it—until they learn that the biggest threat to their survival might come from within.
More than thirty thousand years in the past, Ambrose wakes on Earth to find that his mission to save his sister was a ruse. His mother betrayed him, and the truth of her plan—to send twenty clones of him to continue human civilization thousands of light-years away—sets Ambrose spiraling. When he discovers that another spacefarer is suffering his same fate, he will have to decide whether to risk crossing a world at war to reach him.
Separated by time and space, a young family and two strangers learn that their lives are intimately intertwined. They race to uncover the unexpected connections that might save them all . . . and perhaps humanity as well.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2024
About the author
Eliot Schrefer
38 books1,328 followersELIOT SCHREFER is a New York Times-bestselling author, and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. In naming him an Editor’s Choice, the New York Times has called his work “dazzling… big-hearted.” He is also the author of two novels for adults and four other novels for children and young adults. His books have been named to the NPR “best of the year” list, the ALA best fiction list for young adults, and the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best.” His work has also been selected to the Amelia Bloomer List, recognizing best feminist books for young readers, and he has been a finalist for the Walden Award and won the Green Earth Book Award and Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. He lives in New York City, where he reviews books for USAToday.
Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.
Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
July 30, 2024
did eliot schrefer wake up one day and think "i did not sufficiently emotionally devastate the world" or
post read: eliot turn on your location i just want to talk
post read: eliot turn on your location i just want to talk
May 5, 2024
[5 stars but I might be a teensy bit biased.]
I know THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE US didn't exactly scream out for a sequel. Sequels are risky: for every ALIENS there's also a GREASE 2 out there. I told myself that I wouldn’t continue the story of Ambrose and Kodiak unless I came up with a story concept that could stand up to the first book on its own, that wasn’t simply “Day 2” of the storyline. For two years, that good-enough story idea didn’t come, so I told my editor a sequel wasn't going to happen.
In the meantime, I spent a lot of time on this site. I know the general advice is that writers shouldn’t read their reader reviews. I think that’s good advice, I really do. I GIVE that advice. I didn’t take it, though, and found myself reading every single review I could find of TDOU, even the scathing ones... and I actually got a lot out of the experience. If you left a review for that book, I've read it. I chuckled when someone said the real horror in the novel was that there was no moisturizer on the ship. I got a nice little “mission accomplished” feeling when someone said that the book was like the movie Interstellar—if it came out as queer and then pushed them down the stairs.
We writers know the book we’ve written, but it’s hard to know the book that gets read. Marinating in your responses to TDOU helped me figure out what the novel was about from the reader’s end. I let my subconscious bubble away, and one day it provided a story idea that wouldn't let me go, and I knew I'd be writing it.
There’s a moment in TDOU when Ambrose decides that “intimacy is the only shield against insanity. Intimacy, not knowledge. Intimacy, not power.” This book very much takes that idea as its launching point. How does humankind survive itself—and should we? I think the answer to the second part of that question is (a complicated) yes . . . and it’s hard to imagine a version of that answer that doesn’t have intimacy and family and love threaded all the way through it.
Thank you for coming back into this world. I can’t wait to know what you think.
Yours truly,
Eliot
I know THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE US didn't exactly scream out for a sequel. Sequels are risky: for every ALIENS there's also a GREASE 2 out there. I told myself that I wouldn’t continue the story of Ambrose and Kodiak unless I came up with a story concept that could stand up to the first book on its own, that wasn’t simply “Day 2” of the storyline. For two years, that good-enough story idea didn’t come, so I told my editor a sequel wasn't going to happen.
In the meantime, I spent a lot of time on this site. I know the general advice is that writers shouldn’t read their reader reviews. I think that’s good advice, I really do. I GIVE that advice. I didn’t take it, though, and found myself reading every single review I could find of TDOU, even the scathing ones... and I actually got a lot out of the experience. If you left a review for that book, I've read it. I chuckled when someone said the real horror in the novel was that there was no moisturizer on the ship. I got a nice little “mission accomplished” feeling when someone said that the book was like the movie Interstellar—if it came out as queer and then pushed them down the stairs.
We writers know the book we’ve written, but it’s hard to know the book that gets read. Marinating in your responses to TDOU helped me figure out what the novel was about from the reader’s end. I let my subconscious bubble away, and one day it provided a story idea that wouldn't let me go, and I knew I'd be writing it.
There’s a moment in TDOU when Ambrose decides that “intimacy is the only shield against insanity. Intimacy, not knowledge. Intimacy, not power.” This book very much takes that idea as its launching point. How does humankind survive itself—and should we? I think the answer to the second part of that question is (a complicated) yes . . . and it’s hard to imagine a version of that answer that doesn’t have intimacy and family and love threaded all the way through it.
Thank you for coming back into this world. I can’t wait to know what you think.
Yours truly,
Eliot
October 26, 2024
How easily I pushed that five star button …
Intimacy is the only shield against insanity.
Ambrose Cusk
I often have difficulties getting into a highly anticipated read. My eyes want to roam over the pages in just a few seconds to get to the next page, scared they won’t deliver what I’m hoping for. At the same time, I don’t want to read further because I’m too afraid the story will be over too soon. Starting a highly anticipated book can be a challenge.
So, I was a mess while reading Owl’s POV in part 1. I only calmed down when I met Ambrose in part 2. Oh, sweet Ambrose. So lost and constantly in search of intimacy. And then suddenly, I was with Yarrow, and my heart broke. Kodiak mended it a little, but then I got back to Owl, and my fragile heart fell into a million pieces again.
Somewhere along the road, a thought entered my mind. I didn’t think anything when I read the blurb—or the author’s note. But, burrowing myself more and more in this book, my comparison to Cloud Cuckoo Land in my review of The Darkness Outside Us sparked up in my head. People separated by time and space. And then it clicked. IT CLICKED. Eliot, did my review ignite a spark in your brain to write this sequel??? Because … because … Owl and the guns firing at …and even Cuckoo in the sky. Are those Easter Eggs? Or maybe this is me trying to prove my own theory.
Back to the story because it is again a brilliant masterpiece. Don’t expect as many plot twists as the prequel has. Instead, this book leans far more on the first quote in this review (from The Darkness Outside Us):
Intimacy is the only shield against insanity.
The Brightness Between Us made me laugh, made me cry, and made me laugh-cry. It’s about humanity in all its forms. About surviving as human beings in a world that’s decaying. About surviving in a new world with only a few people around. But most of all this story is about loneliness, (found) family, grief, and the human connections we seek, to live on. So, even though this is a Sci-Fi book, it’s deeply human.
Now I need that movie ASAP. Or a third book. Or preferably both.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, HarperCollins International, for this ARC. I was so happy you let me read this sequel early. You definitely made my day!
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Intimacy is the only shield against insanity.
Ambrose Cusk
I often have difficulties getting into a highly anticipated read. My eyes want to roam over the pages in just a few seconds to get to the next page, scared they won’t deliver what I’m hoping for. At the same time, I don’t want to read further because I’m too afraid the story will be over too soon. Starting a highly anticipated book can be a challenge.
So, I was a mess while reading Owl’s POV in part 1. I only calmed down when I met Ambrose in part 2. Oh, sweet Ambrose. So lost and constantly in search of intimacy. And then suddenly, I was with Yarrow, and my heart broke. Kodiak mended it a little, but then I got back to Owl, and my fragile heart fell into a million pieces again.
Somewhere along the road, a thought entered my mind. I didn’t think anything when I read the blurb—or the author’s note. But, burrowing myself more and more in this book, my comparison to Cloud Cuckoo Land in my review of The Darkness Outside Us sparked up in my head. People separated by time and space. And then it clicked. IT CLICKED. Eliot, did my review ignite a spark in your brain to write this sequel??? Because … because … Owl and the guns firing at …and even Cuckoo in the sky. Are those Easter Eggs? Or maybe this is me trying to prove my own theory.
Back to the story because it is again a brilliant masterpiece. Don’t expect as many plot twists as the prequel has. Instead, this book leans far more on the first quote in this review (from The Darkness Outside Us):
Intimacy is the only shield against insanity.
The Brightness Between Us made me laugh, made me cry, and made me laugh-cry. It’s about humanity in all its forms. About surviving as human beings in a world that’s decaying. About surviving in a new world with only a few people around. But most of all this story is about loneliness, (found) family, grief, and the human connections we seek, to live on. So, even though this is a Sci-Fi book, it’s deeply human.
Now I need that movie ASAP. Or a third book. Or preferably both.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, HarperCollins International, for this ARC. I was so happy you let me read this sequel early. You definitely made my day!
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Want to read
May 16, 2024Crying screaming and throwing up over that cover reveal. Please do not talk to me for 3-5 business weeks so I can process.
September 21, 2024
E-ARC generously provided by HarperCollins Children's Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
4.5 stars. Harrowing, a bit tragic, but ultimately about hope, family, and humanity's ability to persevere in even the most unlikely of circumstances, The Brightness Between Us is a brilliant sequel to a sci-fi duology that I will absolutely be revisiting in the future.
4.5 stars. Harrowing, a bit tragic, but ultimately about hope, family, and humanity's ability to persevere in even the most unlikely of circumstances, The Brightness Between Us is a brilliant sequel to a sci-fi duology that I will absolutely be revisiting in the future.
November 5, 2024
“I will live in these current moments as fully as possible. Then I will be gone. Ambrose will be gone. . .It arrives. The brightness between us.”
i was beyond excited to finally get my hands on this considering Darkness was one of my top 5 reads of last year and while i enjoyed this book, it sadly didn’t elicit any strong emotions in me as i was hoping :/
THE PLOT
the book has a decent pacing with multiple povs with two new characters but it’s less engaging than Darkness. the story is told in shifting timelines which slowed things down considerably. definitely a lot less action packed too with more emphasis on the politicking and technical aspects. there’s a general sense of unease in the beginning chapters that made me curious to know what would happen next. it almost feels like i’m reading an extended epilogue or prequel novella of sorts. i strongly believe that the previous book should’ve been a standalone but i’m not complaining because i love the characters dearly and didn’t mind reading this one even though nothing too crazy happened.
THE CHARACTERS
ambrose as always was sunshine in human form. he was the life of the party and the optimist in the family. i liked that he was the glue that kept everyone together and voice of reason. i enjoyed his witty personality in both books and was happy to know that not much had changed about him.
kodiak was my favourite character in the book and duology as a whole. there are so many different facets to him and i enjoyed watching them get peeled off one by one. he’s a very multidimensional character and underneath that tough persona he’s just a softie who wants to vulnerable about his feelings.
owl was childish and overly optimistic at times but she’s a kid so i suppose that’s to be expected. her POV was very joyful and honest. it highkey felt like i was reading an autobiography or a journal rather than chapters in a book. by the end of the book though her personality felt more developed.
yarrow who is another new character that we get introduced to had a rather dark POV and his thoughts bordered on lunacy which a total shift from the previous narratives of other characters. after we learn why he’s that way, it’s easy warming up to him.
FINAL THOUGHTS
overall, Brightness is a cozy sci fi read with low stakes that didn’t quite live up to my expectations but i still had a fun time being back in the world. if you loved ambrose and kodiak from book 1 then you’ll find this sequel heartwarming because it’s 90% character driven. with that said, i wouldn’t mind a third instalment in the series so long as the story doesn’t get watered down any further.
![Profile Image for Kati *☆･ﾟ [a bit distracted atm].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1725834613i/144158876._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 6, 2024
4.5***** stars
Tell me whatever you want but I don’t believe we’ve seen the last of this family yet.
Buckle up people for when young Kodiak and Ambrose on earth are trying to save their other selfs and their assumed family 30 000 years in the future while in said future young son Yarrow battles dark thoughts and young daughter Owl the Dads for freedom to explore their home planet.
A lot of topics were handled here, at times tragic and heartbreaking but with a lot of human grace, kindness and love, fascinatingly wrapped up in this captivating sequel that comes once again with a fantastic audio version.
***************
Book 1 - The Darkness Outside Us - 4.75 stars
Book 2 - The Brightness Between Us - 4.5 stars
--- pre-read note ---
MY AUDIO JUST GOT DELIVERED!! LET'S GOOOHOOOO. 😍
Tell me whatever you want but I don’t believe we’ve seen the last of this family yet.
Buckle up people for when young Kodiak and Ambrose on earth are trying to save their other selfs and their assumed family 30 000 years in the future while in said future young son Yarrow battles dark thoughts and young daughter Owl the Dads for freedom to explore their home planet.
A lot of topics were handled here, at times tragic and heartbreaking but with a lot of human grace, kindness and love, fascinatingly wrapped up in this captivating sequel that comes once again with a fantastic audio version.
***************
Book 1 - The Darkness Outside Us - 4.75 stars
Book 2 - The Brightness Between Us - 4.5 stars
--- pre-read note ---
MY AUDIO JUST GOT DELIVERED!! LET'S GOOOHOOOO. 😍
September 12, 2024
I can’t believe I got an arc for this. I’m at peak existence.
THE PREMISE: mysteries, now and then time jumps, and lots of impending doom.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Multi-pov. This book is a family affair. I love Owl
- *It’s always you, in every lifetime*
- World building that’s so catastrophically good, every other science fiction writer should just sit down
- I had to put this down for a few days because it made me so anxious [affectionate]
- The in-text title reveal nearly had me crying in a hotel room at 10pm
- Somehow Eliot’s writing has gotten even better
I loved this. I would also now like a third book, please and thank you.
5⭐️ No 🌶️
THE PREMISE: mysteries, now and then time jumps, and lots of impending doom.
TROPES & VIBES:
- Multi-pov. This book is a family affair. I love Owl
- *It’s always you, in every lifetime*
- World building that’s so catastrophically good, every other science fiction writer should just sit down
- I had to put this down for a few days because it made me so anxious [affectionate]
- The in-text title reveal nearly had me crying in a hotel room at 10pm
- Somehow Eliot’s writing has gotten even better
I loved this. I would also now like a third book, please and thank you.
5⭐️ No 🌶️
July 18, 2024
If The Darkness Outside Us was a sci-fi thriller romance, then The Brightness Between Us is a sci-fi (pre)apocalyptic novel that's both dystopian and hopeful 🌌🚀🌎
(spoilers for the prequel TDOU, no spoilers beyond the blurb for TBBU!)
"We’re all alone on this patch of soil, on this planet, solar system, galaxy. The universe is so enormous, all around me, that I keep shrinking the more that I think about the scale of it."
The Brightness Between Us is about humanity, intimacy, family, survival, power, and colonialism. Which sounds a lot like TDOU but this is notably different - mainly it's not a romance and there are less twists. Additionally, there are several POVs and settings that we switch between throughout the book.
Brightness is also focused on identity, socialization (or lack thereof), and family during the Minerva parts which are told through the children's POVs. Where in the prequel, Ambrose and Kodiak were tasked with carrying on humanity, that torch is gradually being passed to their children who've never known life on Earth, or any life besides on a likely desolate planet.
Meanwhile, back on Earth 30K years prior, we meet the original Ambrose and Kodiak as they're finding out their clones were sent into space, not on a rescue mission, but to colonize a new planet. The two have very different reactions to this news but still have to figure out whether they want anything to do with each other amidst chaotic conditions.
"Somewhere out there, maybe right now, millions of years away, in the void of space, a version of me is being woken up next to a version of him, these two beings who are intimately connected and nothing alike."
Brightness is an amazing book! TDOU is one of my fave reads so I had high expectations for this one, and Eliot Schrefer did a great job exploring his ideas of "how does humankind survive itself? - and should we?"! The book had me both crying and laughing, and I loved being back with Kodiak and Ambrose. I highly recommend rereading TDOU before reading Brightness as remembering the events of the first book is a bonus.
While the book is fantastic, there are a few things I wish we'd gotten a bit more of. I would've loved Kodiak's and Ambrose's POVs on Minerva as I really wanted to reconnect with them and not just see them through their children's eyes. I did love finally getting Kodiak's POV on Earth but I would've also loved some of Ambrose's thoughts while they were together. It's only wishful thinking though because I love these boys so much, and I can never get enough of them ❤️
Speaking of possibly wishful thinking, while Brightness felt complete, the story itself is definitely not over. Brightness certainly laid the groundwork for more exploration of humanity, identity, and survival on Minerva with the Celius-Cusk family and I, for one, would absolutely love another book in this series!
The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schrefer // ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Thanks to HarperCollins International, and Edelweiss for the ARC. The Brightness Between Us is out October 1
(spoilers for the prequel TDOU, no spoilers beyond the blurb for TBBU!)
"We’re all alone on this patch of soil, on this planet, solar system, galaxy. The universe is so enormous, all around me, that I keep shrinking the more that I think about the scale of it."
The Brightness Between Us is about humanity, intimacy, family, survival, power, and colonialism. Which sounds a lot like TDOU but this is notably different - mainly it's not a romance and there are less twists. Additionally, there are several POVs and settings that we switch between throughout the book.
Brightness is also focused on identity, socialization (or lack thereof), and family during the Minerva parts which are told through the children's POVs. Where in the prequel, Ambrose and Kodiak were tasked with carrying on humanity, that torch is gradually being passed to their children who've never known life on Earth, or any life besides on a likely desolate planet.
Meanwhile, back on Earth 30K years prior, we meet the original Ambrose and Kodiak as they're finding out their clones were sent into space, not on a rescue mission, but to colonize a new planet. The two have very different reactions to this news but still have to figure out whether they want anything to do with each other amidst chaotic conditions.
"Somewhere out there, maybe right now, millions of years away, in the void of space, a version of me is being woken up next to a version of him, these two beings who are intimately connected and nothing alike."
Brightness is an amazing book! TDOU is one of my fave reads so I had high expectations for this one, and Eliot Schrefer did a great job exploring his ideas of "how does humankind survive itself? - and should we?"! The book had me both crying and laughing, and I loved being back with Kodiak and Ambrose. I highly recommend rereading TDOU before reading Brightness as remembering the events of the first book is a bonus.
While the book is fantastic, there are a few things I wish we'd gotten a bit more of. I would've loved Kodiak's and Ambrose's POVs on Minerva as I really wanted to reconnect with them and not just see them through their children's eyes. I did love finally getting Kodiak's POV on Earth but I would've also loved some of Ambrose's thoughts while they were together. It's only wishful thinking though because I love these boys so much, and I can never get enough of them ❤️
Speaking of possibly wishful thinking, while Brightness felt complete, the story itself is definitely not over. Brightness certainly laid the groundwork for more exploration of humanity, identity, and survival on Minerva with the Celius-Cusk family and I, for one, would absolutely love another book in this series!
The Brightness Between Us by Eliot Schrefer // ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Thanks to HarperCollins International, and Edelweiss for the ARC. The Brightness Between Us is out October 1
October 20, 2024
they found each other in every universe……
While this book isn’t as mysterious, scary, grand and gut-punching as book 1, I still really enjoyed it! I liked seeing the stories from the different timelines converging, and I loved seeing that glimpse of Earth (something that left me really curious ever since book 1).
My favourite section was for sure OG Ambrose and Kodiak’s story (although I have to say that that use of the title at the end of this section was absolutely DIABOLICAL).
Definitely a great sequel. I wish we got to see more of these characters, though! I want to see Yarrow getting better, and Owl exploring Minerva!!! 🥺
(20/10/2024)
----------------
WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THIS WAS HAPPENING???!?!!??!!??!?!?!
(18/01/2024)
While this book isn’t as mysterious, scary, grand and gut-punching as book 1, I still really enjoyed it! I liked seeing the stories from the different timelines converging, and I loved seeing that glimpse of Earth (something that left me really curious ever since book 1).
My favourite section was for sure OG Ambrose and Kodiak’s story (although I have to say that that use of the title at the end of this section was absolutely DIABOLICAL).
Definitely a great sequel. I wish we got to see more of these characters, though! I want to see Yarrow getting better, and Owl exploring Minerva!!! 🥺
(20/10/2024)
----------------
WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME THIS WAS HAPPENING???!?!!??!!??!?!?!
(18/01/2024)
September 10, 2024
The Brightness Between Us is the sequel to The Darkness Outside Us, and I am enamoured. As usual, I finished the book at an ungodly hour at 1am last night, tears flowing down my face as I was rapt with all the emotions. It’s easy for me to say that I absolutely loved it and is very worthy of a 5 star rating.
The story itself feels like the perfect continuation of the first book, building on the blocks we already established, whilst also providing a fresh, exhilarating, intriguing, and exciting storyline that also interweaves with the first book. It’s so very well done and I applaud Eliot on his ability to have created a sequel that achieves this. It’s not easy for a sequel to do just as well, so I think all of the elements he had were the perfect combination.
I really enjoy Eliot's writing, he makes the story so consumable, making you hungry for more. I think the pacing is medium, and really picks up near the end, which is where you want it because it just elevates your emotions and reactions to what's happening.
I won’t say much else as I don’t want to spoil and the book itself comes out in three weeks time (October 1), but it’s one that I think fans of the first book will absolutely eat up.
The story itself feels like the perfect continuation of the first book, building on the blocks we already established, whilst also providing a fresh, exhilarating, intriguing, and exciting storyline that also interweaves with the first book. It’s so very well done and I applaud Eliot on his ability to have created a sequel that achieves this. It’s not easy for a sequel to do just as well, so I think all of the elements he had were the perfect combination.
I really enjoy Eliot's writing, he makes the story so consumable, making you hungry for more. I think the pacing is medium, and really picks up near the end, which is where you want it because it just elevates your emotions and reactions to what's happening.
I won’t say much else as I don’t want to spoil and the book itself comes out in three weeks time (October 1), but it’s one that I think fans of the first book will absolutely eat up.
October 5, 2024
DON'T MIND ME I'LL JUST BE SOBBING IN THE CORNER TRYING TO GET OVER THIS BOOK 😭
If The Darkness Outside Us was like getting hit by a car, then The Brightness Between Us was like having the car that hit you back up and try again. Just to be clear, Eliot Schrefer is driving the car. I say this with love, please, Eliot, shift into drive again and make it third time's a charm because I'm going to need book three to round out my destruction.
Joking aside, I cannot say enough good things about this book 💙💙💙 I always try to manage my expectations for sequels, especially for books near and dear to me, because it's hard to recapture that first book magic, but TBBU far exceeded anything I could have hoped for and more. I went into TBBU having no preconceived notions about what I thought the plot would be because after having read TDOU, I knew better. Now, having read it, I can say with confidence that had I tried, I would have been laughably wrong about all of it. Just like with TDOU, TBBU pulled the rug out from under me when I least expected it 🤯
There's not a lot that can be said about the plot without giving too much away, so I won't delve into any specifics aside from one thing below under the spoiler tag. BUT! It is THE SPOILER of them all. Do not click unless you've read the book because it will 100% ruin the twist for you.
What I can say is that feelings of love and family are woven throughout the entire book. We get to see sides of Ambrose and Kodiak I never expected. The story is presented in a unique way that has the reader jumping between past and present and shifting between POVs. I was completely caught up in the story in a way that had me wanting to race through it as fast as possible while also never wanting it to end. I love these characters so much I wasn't ready to let them go. I already loved Ambrose and Kodiak, but Owl and Yarrow quickly stole places in my heart. I loved everything we were given in TBBU, but I was left wanting so much more. I need book three like I need air to breathe 🥹
If The Darkness Outside Us was like getting hit by a car, then The Brightness Between Us was like having the car that hit you back up and try again. Just to be clear, Eliot Schrefer is driving the car. I say this with love, please, Eliot, shift into drive again and make it third time's a charm because I'm going to need book three to round out my destruction.
Joking aside, I cannot say enough good things about this book 💙💙💙 I always try to manage my expectations for sequels, especially for books near and dear to me, because it's hard to recapture that first book magic, but TBBU far exceeded anything I could have hoped for and more. I went into TBBU having no preconceived notions about what I thought the plot would be because after having read TDOU, I knew better. Now, having read it, I can say with confidence that had I tried, I would have been laughably wrong about all of it. Just like with TDOU, TBBU pulled the rug out from under me when I least expected it 🤯
There's not a lot that can be said about the plot without giving too much away, so I won't delve into any specifics aside from one thing below under the spoiler tag. BUT! It is THE SPOILER of them all. Do not click unless you've read the book because it will 100% ruin the twist for you.
What I can say is that feelings of love and family are woven throughout the entire book. We get to see sides of Ambrose and Kodiak I never expected. The story is presented in a unique way that has the reader jumping between past and present and shifting between POVs. I was completely caught up in the story in a way that had me wanting to race through it as fast as possible while also never wanting it to end. I love these characters so much I wasn't ready to let them go. I already loved Ambrose and Kodiak, but Owl and Yarrow quickly stole places in my heart. I loved everything we were given in TBBU, but I was left wanting so much more. I need book three like I need air to breathe 🥹
Want to read
January 18, 2024So scared because the Darkness Outside Us was perfect and didn't need a sequel??
August 5, 2024
4.5! Guess I'll just go stare at a wall for all of eternity!
October 14, 2024
Putting this before reviews on a few of my recent reads:
Depression been stealing my energy to read like I did before but trying to be easier on myself (in this case, I got to spend more time with characters I loved so still all good).
------
Not much to say except this was an excellent sequel/prequel to the first book.
This one has a different pace than the first one and it feels shorter despite the fact it's not.. and also more.. far reaching I think is the right phrase.
I was unsure at first when I saw the Kodiak and Ambrose weren't narrating the present parts but once I got used to Owl and Yarrow, I was swept right along with it all :).
Despite knowing the outcome in the past Timeline, still felt myself hoping for a different outcome:(.
The storyline end on a bittersweet answer hopeful notes (not telling which is which) .
I'm hoping we get another book or novella with everyone... sad to say goodbye to these people 🫂.
There's a handful of revelations in the book and... whoah was my main reaction. I could see why the people in question though they were right and justified while also shaking my head.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 :)
Excited for the adaptation being made of the first book 📖 .
Depression been stealing my energy to read like I did before but trying to be easier on myself (in this case, I got to spend more time with characters I loved so still all good).
------
Not much to say except this was an excellent sequel/prequel to the first book.
This one has a different pace than the first one and it feels shorter despite the fact it's not.. and also more.. far reaching I think is the right phrase.
I was unsure at first when I saw the Kodiak and Ambrose weren't narrating the present parts but once I got used to Owl and Yarrow, I was swept right along with it all :).
Despite knowing the outcome in the past Timeline, still felt myself hoping for a different outcome:(.
The storyline end on a bittersweet answer hopeful notes (not telling which is which) .
I'm hoping we get another book or novella with everyone... sad to say goodbye to these people 🫂.
There's a handful of revelations in the book and... whoah was my main reaction. I could see why the people in question though they were right and justified while also shaking my head.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 :)
Excited for the adaptation being made of the first book 📖 .
November 7, 2024
This is another great book by Schrefer. I actually think you might be able to read this book-2 in the series prior to book-1, as I reflect. Each book stands alone very well. While this one takes Ambrose and Kodiak further into their future, there are back-story chapters that tell of their past.
There are fewer intimacy-scenes in this book vs the The Darkness Outside Us, yet enough description to let your mind fill in the blanks. The book can remain unchallenged on a high school shelf.
I currently have my hands down the pants of the president of the Student Union for a Better Earth.
They are crucial to the plot as well.
The brightness between us.
We have Ambrose (Dad) and Kodiak (Father) as the parents of a 15 year old daughter Owl, and a turning-16 year old son Yarrow. They are both helpful with exploring and scientific research. Things are not as right as they wish on their new planet/home. It has been influenced by events in the long-distance past. The POV alternates nicely in both past/present and through each character, matching perfectly with the developing story-line.
Son Yarrow has his 16th birthday party and is learning pearls of wisdom.
Yarrow: What was it that Dad once said? Intimacy is the only shield against insanity.
Bigger philosophical questions arise as more is discovered about Earth in the past.
Maybe humanity is a scourge, and ought to be stopped, which means Satittarion Bb should fail. We should fail.
I like the words on young-Ambrose's chest on Earth: Labels are the Root of Violence. He is unquestionably 'out'.
This remains a Sci Fi story, similar to the way I think we were all surprised with how Book-1 (Darkness Outside Us) stayed Sci Fi. Its just very cool to have some queer characters. It is great to read words like these in a Sci Fi novel:
"Stop," I whisper, pushing a sodden branch back and forth, back and forth, with my foot. Part of me is angry at the effeminacy of what Ambrose is saying. Part of me feels it's mean for him to compare me to a piece of meat. And part of me want to coil around Ambrose as he says these words of desire, ask him to repeat them while I purr like a cat.
I had some tears in this book. I am extremely satisfied with how this story resolved. While this book ENDS, there is still room if Schrefer wants to keep running with this series. There are zygotes/embryos to incubate and grow up. Being genetically different, they can surely 'interact'. ;)
Solid 5*
There are fewer intimacy-scenes in this book vs the The Darkness Outside Us, yet enough description to let your mind fill in the blanks. The book can remain unchallenged on a high school shelf.
I currently have my hands down the pants of the president of the Student Union for a Better Earth.
They are crucial to the plot as well.
The brightness between us.
We have Ambrose (Dad) and Kodiak (Father) as the parents of a 15 year old daughter Owl, and a turning-16 year old son Yarrow. They are both helpful with exploring and scientific research. Things are not as right as they wish on their new planet/home. It has been influenced by events in the long-distance past. The POV alternates nicely in both past/present and through each character, matching perfectly with the developing story-line.
Son Yarrow has his 16th birthday party and is learning pearls of wisdom.
Yarrow: What was it that Dad once said? Intimacy is the only shield against insanity.
Bigger philosophical questions arise as more is discovered about Earth in the past.
Maybe humanity is a scourge, and ought to be stopped, which means Satittarion Bb should fail. We should fail.
I like the words on young-Ambrose's chest on Earth: Labels are the Root of Violence. He is unquestionably 'out'.
This remains a Sci Fi story, similar to the way I think we were all surprised with how Book-1 (Darkness Outside Us) stayed Sci Fi. Its just very cool to have some queer characters. It is great to read words like these in a Sci Fi novel:
"Stop," I whisper, pushing a sodden branch back and forth, back and forth, with my foot. Part of me is angry at the effeminacy of what Ambrose is saying. Part of me feels it's mean for him to compare me to a piece of meat. And part of me want to coil around Ambrose as he says these words of desire, ask him to repeat them while I purr like a cat.
I had some tears in this book. I am extremely satisfied with how this story resolved. While this book ENDS, there is still room if Schrefer wants to keep running with this series. There are zygotes/embryos to incubate and grow up. Being genetically different, they can surely 'interact'. ;)
Solid 5*
October 2, 2024
this was SO good, it's so rare that a sequel completely elevates its predecessor. (especially when its predecessor didn't even need a sequel and stood on its own.)
I already liked book 1, but I absolutely loved this. The characters felt so fleshed out and the relationships felt real and complex (which was actually the only thing I thought was missing from the first book).
never getting over this. omg the emotions. I need 3-5 business days for the adrenaline to leave my body.
I already liked book 1, but I absolutely loved this. The characters felt so fleshed out and the relationships felt real and complex (which was actually the only thing I thought was missing from the first book).
never getting over this. omg the emotions. I need 3-5 business days for the adrenaline to leave my body.
October 20, 2024
someone needs to lock up eliot schrefer for his crimes against my emotional wellbeing.
Want to read
February 13, 2024the author did a cover reveal yesterday, and looking at them just fills me to the brim with emotions i don’t have the energy to parse. our boys all scruffy & grown up! but you know, the title structure may necessitate a third book like The Love Inside Us or The Heart Within Us to complete the trifecta… you never know 😉 (me bartering within an inch of my life through a misty-eyed lens)
October 12, 2024
The Darkness Outside Us was my favorite read last year and is high up on my list of favorite books. This sequel did not disappoint. I finished it last night and today I find myself thinking about the last few chapters and feeling emotional. The first book stayed with me for quite a few days after I finished it too—always the sign of a good book in my opinion. Very very easily a five star read.
September 26, 2024
i’m gonna need a moment, my god.
cover review:
i’m going to need another 1-3 months to process that cover reveal. pls respect my time
cover review:
i’m going to need another 1-3 months to process that cover reveal. pls respect my time
September 29, 2024
4
This isn't totally what I expected, but I do appreciate the extra context and the extra Ambrose & Kodiak content Post-Mission!
*Review to come*
Pre-review comments below
SEQUEL????? ARE YOU BEING REAL PLEASE DO NOT LIE TO ME RN
Update I GOT AN ARC LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This isn't totally what I expected, but I do appreciate the extra context and the extra Ambrose & Kodiak content Post-Mission!
*Review to come*
Pre-review comments below
SEQUEL????? ARE YOU BEING REAL PLEASE DO NOT LIE TO ME RN
Update I GOT AN ARC LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Want to read
September 11, 2024You're telling me one the most exhilarating space-opera, sci-fi romances out there is getting a sequel............ AND IN LESS THAN A MONTH??
I was banking on The Darkness Outside Us getting a movie deal with how incredibly immersive and heart-pounding every scene felt, but a sequel after that hopeful ending? I'm beyond excited. Schrefer please let my boys be happy after all they've been through 🙏
I was banking on The Darkness Outside Us getting a movie deal with how incredibly immersive and heart-pounding every scene felt, but a sequel after that hopeful ending? I'm beyond excited. Schrefer please let my boys be happy after all they've been through 🙏
November 2, 2024
I’m so easy to manipulate. There’s an abandoned animal that becomes a pet/family? Five stars.
But seriously, I loved this sequel to one of my favourite books of all time. The first hundred or so pages were hard to get into, as the POV was a new character who was a little bratty. But after that I was fully hooked and raced through the story.
Expect emotional devastation going in.
***
A sequel to The Darkness Outside Us?!? Ahhhhhh!
But seriously, I loved this sequel to one of my favourite books of all time. The first hundred or so pages were hard to get into, as the POV was a new character who was a little bratty. But after that I was fully hooked and raced through the story.
Expect emotional devastation going in.
***
A sequel to The Darkness Outside Us?!? Ahhhhhh!
October 28, 2024
The Darkness Outside Us is one of my favorite books, so I was both excited and nervous when the sequel was announced. TDOU is a book that, in my opinion, very much stood on its own, so I was worried a sequel might undermine the original book and my feelings toward it. It wouldn't be the first time an unnecessary sequel ruined one of my favorite books. With that being said, I can confidently say TBBU enhanced the original story and made me love TDOU even more.
As both a prequel and a sequel, we got more insight into how the original Ambrose and Kodiak felt when they learned the true nature of their mission, as well as how 30,000 years in the future the clones of Ambrose and Kodiak, as well as their children, are faring on Minerva.
In the past, Ambrose and Kodiak are understandably struggling. Ambrose with his mother's betrayal and with accepting, once again, his sister's death. Kodiak with the knowledge that the mission he trained for his entire life isn't what he thought it was. For both of them, with the knowledge of the suffering their clones will endure in the future all for the sake of saving humankind. Kodiak is able to find some peace with it, but Ambrose spirals out, ultimately making a choice that will affect everyone on Earth, as well as a version of himself and his family 30,000 years in the future.
In the present, their daughter Owl is eager to explore their new home to better prepare for possible disasters in the future while their son Yarrow yearns to learn more about where they came from, all of which Ambrose and Kodiak are hesitant to indulge in after everything they've lost. Unbeknownst to all of them, major threats are on the horizon, threatening to destroy them and everything they've built.
Though I wouldn't say TBBU kept me on the edge of my seat quite as much as TDOU did, the switching between past and present definitely kept me hooked and I ended up finishing the book in about 2 days. With that being said, the dual storytelling is ultimately what also made me knock off a star from my overall rating.
I think the "prequel" and the "sequel" portions of this book very easily could have been made into their own full length, separate books. There was so much going on in each portion that combining them and confining each story into roughly 200 pages just wasn't enough in my opinion. The bones of each story was amazing, and I think it deserved more exploration and fleshing out. The fast paced storytelling of each timeline made everything feel a bit too rushed for my liking.
In the past, Ambrose's feelings of betrayal led him to make a rash decision that would ultimately turn the people against both governments at a time where they were already on the brink of war. Considering his mental state at the time, it's understandable that he would go down such a path, but in the months long time skip between his POV and Kodiak's, I wish we could have seen more of how he felt about his choices once the initial anger faded, as well as how much actual impact the reveal to the public had on the war. I especially wish we had gotten more insight into how he felt once he realized his actions allowed Devon to sabotage the zygotes that were supposed to be the future of humanity. It would have been really interesting to see more of Ambrose and Kodiak's reaction to this reveal, and wrestle with the question of whether colonizing another planet after destroying their own was morally right. As for Kodiak, when we finally get to his POV, he's a relatively different person than who we met in TDOU after months of coming to terms with the true mission reveal. Again, I wish we could have seen more of how he got from point A to point B, and how that character development led to the decisions he made once meeting Ambrose.
In the present, I would have loved to have gotten more of Ambrose and Kodiak in general. We got bits and pieces through the eyes of their children, but I wanted so much more. I wish we had gotten to see more of how they had changed since we last saw them, how they felt about being parents, about how losing multiple children affected them, how they struggled to decide if it was better to tell their children humanity's past mistakes in hopes of a different, better future or to give them a clean slate. I wish we could have seen more of how Owl felt about being the clone of Minerva, as well as the knowledge that she would never have a partner the way her parents do. I wish we could have seen the virus take slower control of Yarrow's mind. I wish we could have seen more of how they all felt about the impending comet, as well as the knowledge they had been sabotaged from the beginning. Just like with the "prequel" portion, I just wanted more.
As I said, the bones of each story was perfect, and that's why I ultimately wanted more of each. Regardless, I still think this continuation gave even more depth to the original story, and I am overall glad it was written even if I wish a few things had been done differently.
As both a prequel and a sequel, we got more insight into how the original Ambrose and Kodiak felt when they learned the true nature of their mission, as well as how 30,000 years in the future the clones of Ambrose and Kodiak, as well as their children, are faring on Minerva.
In the past, Ambrose and Kodiak are understandably struggling. Ambrose with his mother's betrayal and with accepting, once again, his sister's death. Kodiak with the knowledge that the mission he trained for his entire life isn't what he thought it was. For both of them, with the knowledge of the suffering their clones will endure in the future all for the sake of saving humankind. Kodiak is able to find some peace with it, but Ambrose spirals out, ultimately making a choice that will affect everyone on Earth, as well as a version of himself and his family 30,000 years in the future.
In the present, their daughter Owl is eager to explore their new home to better prepare for possible disasters in the future while their son Yarrow yearns to learn more about where they came from, all of which Ambrose and Kodiak are hesitant to indulge in after everything they've lost. Unbeknownst to all of them, major threats are on the horizon, threatening to destroy them and everything they've built.
Though I wouldn't say TBBU kept me on the edge of my seat quite as much as TDOU did, the switching between past and present definitely kept me hooked and I ended up finishing the book in about 2 days. With that being said, the dual storytelling is ultimately what also made me knock off a star from my overall rating.
I think the "prequel" and the "sequel" portions of this book very easily could have been made into their own full length, separate books. There was so much going on in each portion that combining them and confining each story into roughly 200 pages just wasn't enough in my opinion. The bones of each story was amazing, and I think it deserved more exploration and fleshing out. The fast paced storytelling of each timeline made everything feel a bit too rushed for my liking.
In the past, Ambrose's feelings of betrayal led him to make a rash decision that would ultimately turn the people against both governments at a time where they were already on the brink of war. Considering his mental state at the time, it's understandable that he would go down such a path, but in the months long time skip between his POV and Kodiak's, I wish we could have seen more of how he felt about his choices once the initial anger faded, as well as how much actual impact the reveal to the public had on the war. I especially wish we had gotten more insight into how he felt once he realized his actions allowed Devon to sabotage the zygotes that were supposed to be the future of humanity. It would have been really interesting to see more of Ambrose and Kodiak's reaction to this reveal, and wrestle with the question of whether colonizing another planet after destroying their own was morally right. As for Kodiak, when we finally get to his POV, he's a relatively different person than who we met in TDOU after months of coming to terms with the true mission reveal. Again, I wish we could have seen more of how he got from point A to point B, and how that character development led to the decisions he made once meeting Ambrose.
In the present, I would have loved to have gotten more of Ambrose and Kodiak in general. We got bits and pieces through the eyes of their children, but I wanted so much more. I wish we had gotten to see more of how they had changed since we last saw them, how they felt about being parents, about how losing multiple children affected them, how they struggled to decide if it was better to tell their children humanity's past mistakes in hopes of a different, better future or to give them a clean slate. I wish we could have seen more of how Owl felt about being the clone of Minerva, as well as the knowledge that she would never have a partner the way her parents do. I wish we could have seen the virus take slower control of Yarrow's mind. I wish we could have seen more of how they all felt about the impending comet, as well as the knowledge they had been sabotaged from the beginning. Just like with the "prequel" portion, I just wanted more.
As I said, the bones of each story was perfect, and that's why I ultimately wanted more of each. Regardless, I still think this continuation gave even more depth to the original story, and I am overall glad it was written even if I wish a few things had been done differently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2024
"It arrived. The brightness between us."
Koadiak and Ambrose saving their future family!?!? Good god!!! Had me crying in the Walmart parking lot! 😭 in every lifetime. they were together 🥺 I loved this.
Koadiak and Ambrose are thriving on Minerva with their 2 children. Sadly, out of all the embryos in the gestational pod, only 2 survived.
Weird things start happening to their son Yarrow after his 16th birthday.
What's going on!!??
We're sent back to earth for our answers.. all I'm gonna say is...
Fuck Devin Mogaba😡
Koadiak and Ambrose saving their future family!?!? Good god!!! Had me crying in the Walmart parking lot! 😭 in every lifetime. they were together 🥺 I loved this.
Koadiak and Ambrose are thriving on Minerva with their 2 children. Sadly, out of all the embryos in the gestational pod, only 2 survived.
Weird things start happening to their son Yarrow after his 16th birthday.
What's going on!!??
We're sent back to earth for our answers.. all I'm gonna say is...
Fuck Devin Mogaba😡
October 5, 2024
This prequel/sequel failed in comparison to the first book. It was interesting getting to know, Ambrose, Kodiak, and their two kids, and seeing how they’ve progressed since landing. It started a little slow, but I thought some drama would happen. Then when it turned it into a prequel, I was very confused. The flashback parts of the book showing a younger Ambrose and Kodiak were totally unnecessary. It just made the book drag on. And then to make a “surprising” villain out of a random side character seemed ridiculous. I felt the author could’ve come up with better reasons for the difficulties and challenges Ambrose and Kodiak face building a New World.
The first book blew me away with its twist and turns and lovable characters. I think it would’ve been better left as a standalone.
*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***
The first book blew me away with its twist and turns and lovable characters. I think it would’ve been better left as a standalone.
*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***
October 22, 2024
This book did not hit quite as perfectly as book one but I can't give it anything less than five stars.
I was completely captivated, I cried (multiple times - Eliot is pure evil I swear), and I would literally die for Kodiak and Ambrose.
Who wants to start a petition for a book that is all rainbows and sunshine for these two!? Because damn.
I was completely captivated, I cried (multiple times - Eliot is pure evil I swear), and I would literally die for Kodiak and Ambrose.
Who wants to start a petition for a book that is all rainbows and sunshine for these two!? Because damn.
Want to read
June 2, 2024FOR REAL??
October 9, 2024
“Two men and a sheep.” 🥲
I was on the fence between a four and five, but the last half of this book was a ride.
I was on the fence between a four and five, but the last half of this book was a ride.
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