Absolutely brilliant. The Darkness Outside Us is a pulse-pounding thriller, engrossing science fiction epic, and heartfelt meditation on love all at once.
"Yes, The Darkness Outside Us is utterly inventive and relentlessly page-turning. And yes, Ambrose and Kodiak are seriously the hottest couple in space. But even more, this is an insightful, tender, and profound story, about the weight of history, and the power of transformation and true love."
"Schrefer masterfully evokes and maintains suspense that keeps the pages turning briskly while still taking the time to limn the two boys’ touching, moving relationship. If all of this is space opera, readers will want an encore. Bravo."
Booklist (starred review)
Fiercely imaginative and desperately real, The Darkness Outside Us explores the wild expanses of the human heart. This book is a triumph.”
"The Darkness Outside Us is equal parts terrifying, tender, and thrilling. I loved every word of this sharp, thoughtful look at the world we live in and the ones beyond."
"Schrefer does an excellent job of developing and humanizing his characters before throwing them into the swift waters of a sci-fi plot with its truly shocking and satisfying twist. Readers are sure to root for these lovable characters’ survival."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
05/10/2021
In this sexy space odyssey by Schrefer (The Popper Penguin Rescue ) set in 2472, Earth’s two remaining—and warring—countries, Dimokratía and Fédération, mount a mission to rescue Fédération’s Minerva Cusk, who sends a distress signal after being sent to colonize one of Saturn’s moons. The progeny of a corporate figurehead mother and Alexander the Great’s “reconstructed sperm,” 17-year- old Ambrose, who has “molten bronze” skin, is dedicated to rescuing his sister. Upon awakening in the Coordinated Endeavor ’s infirmary, however, he learns that he’s been in a coma following a launch accident—and that he’s sharing the ship with a Dimokrat- ían spacefarer named Kodiak Celius, an orphan with olive skin. Wary of each other at first, the two slowly join forces as they complete the surveillance-obsessed Operating System’s log of tasks, notice strange things about the ship’s cargo, and together enjoy manicotti en route to falling in love. Against a backdrop of speculative fiction tropes and Cold War–like identity politics, Schrefer’s immersive novel combines the build of mysteries and the tension of romance, slowly unfurling an iterative story about love and attraction, destiny, and connection. Ages 13–up. Agent: Richard Pine, InkWell Management. (June)
"Schrefer masterfully evokes and maintains suspense that keeps the pages turning briskly while still taking the time to limn the two boys’ touching, moving relationship. If all of this is space opera, readers will want an encore. Bravo." — Booklist (starred review)
"3, 2, 1…blastoff for mystery, adventure, and queer intergalactic bodice-ripping." — Kirkus Reviews
"[A] sexy space odyssey. Schrefer’s immersive novel combines the build of mysteries and the tension of romance, slowly unfurling an iterative story about love and attraction, destiny, and connection. " — Publishers Weekly
"Schrefer does an excellent job of developing and humanizing his characters before throwing them into the swift waters of a sci-fi plot with its truly shocking and satisfying twist. Readers are sure to root for these lovable characters’ survival." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"This deep-space survival story, with a strong gay romance and notes of horror, will appeal to fans of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s Illuminae ." — School Library Journal
"Yes, The Darkness Outside Us is utterly inventive and relentlessly page-turning. And yes, Ambrose and Kodiak are seriously the hottest couple in space. But even more, this is an insightful, tender, and profound story, about the weight of history, and the power of transformation and true love." — Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist and author of A Heart in a Body in the World
“Fiercely imaginative and desperately real, The Darkness Outside Us explores the wild expanses of the human heart. This book is a triumph.” — Elana K. Arnold, author of Damsel, a Printz Honor Book
"The Darkness Outside Us is equal parts terrifying, tender, and thrilling. I loved every word of this sharp, thoughtful look at the world we live in and the ones beyond." — Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of Little & Lion
“Absolutely brilliant. The Darkness Outside Us is a pulse-pounding thriller, engrossing science fiction epic, and heartfelt meditation on love all at once.” — Malinda Lo, Author of Ash
Well researched and emotionally rich.
Mez’s Magic is packed with as many jokes as fast-paced fight scenes. And Schrefer has created a stock of memorable characters—including Gogi, a monkey with self-esteem issues; Rumi, a delightfully urbane tree frog; and a manic, pixie-dream bat named Lima.
New York Times Book Review
PRAISE FOR MEZ’S MAGIC: “Unlike anything I’ve read. Eliot Schrefer has mined the richness and depths of his setting to find a deeper magic, immersing us in a world that is at once complex, dangerous, beautiful, and ultimately demanding of our protection. A thrilling start to an exceptional new series.
This is a book that combines skillful interpretation of orangutan character, the cruelty inherent in keeping apes as pets, and the plight of the wild orangutans. Eliot has created unforgettable characters in Raja, the orphaned ape and his human ‘brother,’ John. Moving, fascinating and eye opening.
05/01/2021
Gr 9 Up— This deep-space survival story, with a strong gay romance and notes of horror, will appeal to fans of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's Illuminae . Ambrose wakes up on a ship with no memory of the launch. He knows he was selected to pilot the rescue mission to save his sister, who tripped her emergency beacon on Saturn's moon Titan. He has no memory of the Fédération teaming up with their enemies to send two spacefarers on the mission. With no contact from Earth, bronze-skinned Ambrose, 17, and Kodiak, 18, with olive-toned skin, work their way into a détente and then to something more. They realize the spaceship's operating system is not being honest with them—not about their missing memories or about their mission. Ambrose's dry humor and confidence create a page-turning narrative that carries readers through its slower moments. Schrefer uses the cyclical nature of the plot to turn tables, amplifying fears and piling on the impossibilities, ultimately pulling together a satisfying—if not explosive—climax. Schrefer balances the romance of the novel (Ambrose is pansexual and Kodiak is attracted to men) with the intricate science behind space travel and survival. Readers may find that much of Ambrose's humor, which carries the novel pre-climax, disappears and the ending is less satisfying for its absence. A content warning for self-harm and suicide is applicable, though the romance remains intact. VERDICT A secondary general purchase, though recommended anywhere voracious sci-fi readers can be found. Readers who like accurate science in their fiction will not be disappointed.—Emmy Neal, Lake Forest Lib., IL
Narrator James Fouhey takes listeners on a futuristic space adventure with a twist. Awakening with memory loss on a mission to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, Ambrose expects to be the only spacefarer on board his ship. He is shocked to discover the presence of Kodiak, who is from the enemy country of Democratia. Fouhey captures Ambrose’s smooth-talking persona and Kodiak’s rumbling reluctance as the pair work together to discover the secrets being kept from them by their ship’s AI. Fouhey expertly delivers the rising tension as the two young spacefarers face questions about life and their place in the universe. Full of plot twists that will keep readers on their toes, this fun, scary, and romantic story will capture the hearts of sci-fi fans. H.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Narrator James Fouhey takes listeners on a futuristic space adventure with a twist. Awakening with memory loss on a mission to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, Ambrose expects to be the only spacefarer on board his ship. He is shocked to discover the presence of Kodiak, who is from the enemy country of Democratia. Fouhey captures Ambrose’s smooth-talking persona and Kodiak’s rumbling reluctance as the pair work together to discover the secrets being kept from them by their ship’s AI. Fouhey expertly delivers the rising tension as the two young spacefarers face questions about life and their place in the universe. Full of plot twists that will keep readers on their toes, this fun, scary, and romantic story will capture the hearts of sci-fi fans. H.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
2021-03-31
Ambrose Cusk of Fédération (think United States circa 2470) is the elegant, golden offspring of Alexander the Great’s DNA and an emotionally distant mother. Kodiak Celius of Dimokratía (think Russia) is a brawny orphan-turned-cadet. The two 17-year-olds are paired on a mission to find Ambrose’s long-lost sister, Minerva, who disappeared while attempting to colonize Titan. Her distress beacon has mysteriously been activated years later. The socially, physically, and emotionally opposite boys are slowly unified by their need to understand their fuzzy, pre-mission memories; to combat an omnipresent, self-serving OS (remember HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey ?); and to get to the bottom of why there’s a vacuum-sealed supply of their own cloned bodies hidden on the ship. This Groundhog Day –type loop features complex worldbuilding in terms of space, time, light, and sound. What’s not complex are base human wants and needs like manicotti, making out, and memories. Ambrose and Kodiak realize that mutual affection is a way to validate one’s existence; that human connection is essential even if you’re determined to be a loner; and that even with the same memories and experiences, our choices in love and life can be completely, wonderfully different if we have a chance to do them again. And again. And again. Main characters are implied White.
3, 2, 1…blastoff for mystery, adventure, and queer intergalactic bodice-ripping. (Science fiction. 14-18)
