David's Reviews > The Brightness Between Us

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*