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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 26, 2016
2.5 stars - Going by GR ratings, 2 stars = "It was OK" and 3 stars = "I liked it". For the most part I liked it and I would have rounded up to 3 stars, but the issues mentioned below, along with the fact that I struggled to get through the entire first third, brought down the rating.
I've never read anything by this author or in this series before, but "Darkness Eternal" is listed as a standalone. It was fine reading it without any prior knowledge of the series, as I picked everything up relatively easily, but perhaps I would have liked it more if I had read the earlier stories? They are referenced as legends in this one, which was quite nice.
This story is mainly focused around two young men, best friends Connor and Vince, going through Cadet training to become "peacekeepers" of the underground Refuge Inc facility, which is where people live since some sort of asteroid collision has made the earth's surface unlivable. However, very quickly you realise that everything is not quite as it seems and everything Connor and Vince thought they knew is turned completely on its head with a few revelations - leaving them to step up, relying on each other, to do something to make things right.
I think I should point out that there were quite a few things about this that I didn't realise until starting to read, that if I had known beforehand, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. So I think perhaps if these things don't really bother you, then you may fare much better with this book. One thing to note was that from having a quick glance through other books in this series, they appeared to be written about adult MCs - but Connor and Vince are 21 & 22 - and they seemed even younger, with something of a YA feel to the whole thing. I also don't really like reading about worlds where homosexuality is actually against the law - it's just personal preference that unless it's historical I prefer not to read about worlds where peoples' rights have regressed rather than advanced. Unfortunately it's completely against the rules/law here (along with promiscuity and pregnancy), with some sort of 'behavioural conversion therapy' hinted at for violations. (Although ). So unfortunately, whilst I acknowledge that this was probably necessary for the world rule structure being set up (I guess to show rights being taken away in different ways), I was immediately not keen on these aspects.
The premise itself was actually pretty cool - imaginative and interesting. I liked the idea behind the Refuge and the Alpha & Beta (fighting skills & intelligence) pairings for training, although this area wasn't particularly well explored. I also liked the general idea for the plot - there was quite a lot to like in the overall story concept. However, I had a bit of trouble getting into it and felt that a lot of areas needed to be more developed.
I struggled with the rating, as different parts of the book felt very different in style to me. For instance I REALLY struggled with the entire first third of the book. It was incredibly slow, with a lot of information for the set-up and I have to admit that if I hadn't promised to read and review this, I would probably have DNF'd very early on - the writing was just not working for me. To add to my issues with the first third, Connor acts infatuated/obsessed with Vince - although I'm sure it's supposed to be, it really doesn't feel mutual, so it just comes across as pushy and desperate. There's also a lot of repetition of Vince's "golden orbs" and "striking eyes" (literally about 5 or 6 references to his eyes are made in the first few pages) and Connor moons about like a lovesick kid. He also continually talks about puns and reading double meanings into things that just feels ... awkward - something just missed the mark for me here. As the story continues, this whole vibe disappears, but it didn't set things up well for me.
I don't know if I just got used to the writing or if it changed, but after the first third, the action really starts, its far more interesting and the writing doesn't seem to have these flaws as noticeably. So despite some remaining issues with the editing, it was a far smoother read for me after this and I was able to get through the remaining story quite happily.
A suggestion would be that this needs a FAR more thorough edit for typos, spelling errors and grammar. I came across a few sentences like: "She didn't say nothing other than..." or "I swear I have no problem retaliating against you for what you done to me in that bathroom."
But there were also continuity issues, such as a couple of instances with things that just don't add up from scene to scene, such as when Connor talks about the strange smell of someone but he has a gas mask on so how could he smell anything?
Overall I did enjoy elements of this and it was a pretty good idea for a story, but the execution itself needed some work. The first third was really heavy going, but once past this and onto the action, it was quite entertaining.
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.*
I've never read anything by this author or in this series before, but "Darkness Eternal" is listed as a standalone. It was fine reading it without any prior knowledge of the series, as I picked everything up relatively easily, but perhaps I would have liked it more if I had read the earlier stories? They are referenced as legends in this one, which was quite nice.
This story is mainly focused around two young men, best friends Connor and Vince, going through Cadet training to become "peacekeepers" of the underground Refuge Inc facility, which is where people live since some sort of asteroid collision has made the earth's surface unlivable. However, very quickly you realise that everything is not quite as it seems and everything Connor and Vince thought they knew is turned completely on its head with a few revelations - leaving them to step up, relying on each other, to do something to make things right.
I think I should point out that there were quite a few things about this that I didn't realise until starting to read, that if I had known beforehand, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. So I think perhaps if these things don't really bother you, then you may fare much better with this book. One thing to note was that from having a quick glance through other books in this series, they appeared to be written about adult MCs - but Connor and Vince are 21 & 22 - and they seemed even younger, with something of a YA feel to the whole thing. I also don't really like reading about worlds where homosexuality is actually against the law - it's just personal preference that unless it's historical I prefer not to read about worlds where peoples' rights have regressed rather than advanced. Unfortunately it's completely against the rules/law here (along with promiscuity and pregnancy), with some sort of 'behavioural conversion therapy' hinted at for violations. (Although ). So unfortunately, whilst I acknowledge that this was probably necessary for the world rule structure being set up (I guess to show rights being taken away in different ways), I was immediately not keen on these aspects.
The premise itself was actually pretty cool - imaginative and interesting. I liked the idea behind the Refuge and the Alpha & Beta (fighting skills & intelligence) pairings for training, although this area wasn't particularly well explored. I also liked the general idea for the plot - there was quite a lot to like in the overall story concept. However, I had a bit of trouble getting into it and felt that a lot of areas needed to be more developed.
I struggled with the rating, as different parts of the book felt very different in style to me. For instance I REALLY struggled with the entire first third of the book. It was incredibly slow, with a lot of information for the set-up and I have to admit that if I hadn't promised to read and review this, I would probably have DNF'd very early on - the writing was just not working for me. To add to my issues with the first third, Connor acts infatuated/obsessed with Vince - although I'm sure it's supposed to be, it really doesn't feel mutual, so it just comes across as pushy and desperate. There's also a lot of repetition of Vince's "golden orbs" and "striking eyes" (literally about 5 or 6 references to his eyes are made in the first few pages) and Connor moons about like a lovesick kid. He also continually talks about puns and reading double meanings into things that just feels ... awkward - something just missed the mark for me here. As the story continues, this whole vibe disappears, but it didn't set things up well for me.
I don't know if I just got used to the writing or if it changed, but after the first third, the action really starts, its far more interesting and the writing doesn't seem to have these flaws as noticeably. So despite some remaining issues with the editing, it was a far smoother read for me after this and I was able to get through the remaining story quite happily.
A suggestion would be that this needs a FAR more thorough edit for typos, spelling errors and grammar. I came across a few sentences like: "She didn't say nothing other than..." or "I swear I have no problem retaliating against you for what you done to me in that bathroom."
But there were also continuity issues, such as a couple of instances with things that just don't add up from scene to scene, such as when Connor talks about the strange smell of someone but he has a gas mask on so how could he smell anything?
Overall I did enjoy elements of this and it was a pretty good idea for a story, but the execution itself needed some work. The first third was really heavy going, but once past this and onto the action, it was quite entertaining.
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.*
July 9, 2016
Hmm... I didn't hate it , neither did I love it.
I understood the premise going in, but the actual story was a bit all over the place.
I didn't get a bead on Vince, apart from the fact that he was Randolph's son , had anger issues and sort of loved/liked Connor?
I didn't also get a bead on Connor as well. He was supposed to be a genius but half the time he seemed confused about things I'd already inferred and made rush decisions frequently.
Other character development wasn't any good and the writing was a bit choppy at some parts.
I found the ending unsatisfactory as it just cut off. Not in a cliff hanger sort of way, that, I would've understood,but it just...ended.Leaving a lot of loose ends. Sigh.
Needless to say, I will not be picking up the next book in the series.
• Free copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review •
I understood the premise going in, but the actual story was a bit all over the place.
I didn't get a bead on Vince, apart from the fact that he was Randolph's son , had anger issues and sort of loved/liked Connor?
I didn't also get a bead on Connor as well. He was supposed to be a genius but half the time he seemed confused about things I'd already inferred and made rush decisions frequently.
Other character development wasn't any good and the writing was a bit choppy at some parts.
I found the ending unsatisfactory as it just cut off. Not in a cliff hanger sort of way, that, I would've understood,but it just...ended.Leaving a lot of loose ends. Sigh.
Needless to say, I will not be picking up the next book in the series.
• Free copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review •
May 5, 2016
Story provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review as part of the M/M Group DBML program.
A hundred years after life on earth became uninhabitable, the survivors on Earth live in round underground cities created by Refuge, Inc. Cadets Connor Nicols and Vince Moore are training to become part of the protective detail. Connor and Vince have known each other forever. Partners in training, Vince is the alpha member, the fighter, the aggressor, and Connor the beta, the thinker, the planner. Connor has always felt attracted to Vince, something they lightly explored as kids, but that ended and despite Connor’s conflicting feelings, Vince treats him as a friend and is happy to flirt with the females. The beginning of the story introduces us to the two men, their background, and situation, and introduces us to Connor’s father, Dr. Randolph the man who runs the facility, and Tamara, another cadet training with Connor and Vince.
The story assumes you haven’t read or remembered the other stories and does a good job of world building while simultaneously moving the plot. Little things are dropped here and there that bring you in without taking over the narrative. Connor and Vince’s world is very narrow. Everyone has their place and with that order everyone is safe from the deadly outside. Connor lost his parents years ago, his father died on a mission outside the refuge and his conflicts with Vince and lack of parental guidance show through. Connor doesn’t always know what to do and when your best friend is also the source of his conflict it leaves him few places to go.
All of this is “before”. As the blurb suggests, after the cadets are called to help with an emergency, Connor, Vince, and Tamara get on the wrong side and find everything they knew is a lie. This is the “after”. And it proceeded in ways I didn’t expect but very much enjoyed.
As their world crashes around them, the intimate moments between the characters, Vince and Connor, Connor and Tamara, Connor and others I won’t spoil, were particularly moving. The problems at Refuge, Inc affect the two men very personally yet they stay true to themselves as they work to find a solution. Vince and Connor come to terms with how they feel about each other and the author did a great job having them realistically function with that knowledge and with injuries they sustained.
As for Tamara. I don’t know why she was put into the mix, but it enriched the story. Tamara isn’t what she seems either and kudos to the author for creating such a well portrayed woman in this story. She ended up being one of my favorite characters.
The issues in Rufuge, Inc. have been brewing for over a decade yet the story showed why having Connor, Vince, and Tamara there made all the difference in solving the problem. The end clash, which was a bit rushed, could not have happened without them, and because of them, worked out exactly as it needed to.
Like a good dystopian story, the main conflict is resolved but the world isn’t sunshine and rainbows. They still have a tough row to hoe and the ambiguity with the bad guy of the story was disappointing on one hand yet still fit the tone of the story.
Some have mentioned the story felt more YA despite Connor and Vince being in their early 20s. That didn’t bother me. They live in a very sexually restrictive environment where same sex relationships are forbidden and fertility forcibly controlled. The fact Connor and Vince didn’t hump like bunnies felt true to their characters and living environment. I preferred the more PG intimate moments.
Finally, having read books 1-3 I enjoyed small glimpses back to the old couple. Makes me curious what they would think if they knew how history viewed them.
There were niggles her and there throughout the story but nothing that sucked me out or got in the way of my enjoyment.
A hundred years after life on earth became uninhabitable, the survivors on Earth live in round underground cities created by Refuge, Inc. Cadets Connor Nicols and Vince Moore are training to become part of the protective detail. Connor and Vince have known each other forever. Partners in training, Vince is the alpha member, the fighter, the aggressor, and Connor the beta, the thinker, the planner. Connor has always felt attracted to Vince, something they lightly explored as kids, but that ended and despite Connor’s conflicting feelings, Vince treats him as a friend and is happy to flirt with the females. The beginning of the story introduces us to the two men, their background, and situation, and introduces us to Connor’s father, Dr. Randolph the man who runs the facility, and Tamara, another cadet training with Connor and Vince.
The story assumes you haven’t read or remembered the other stories and does a good job of world building while simultaneously moving the plot. Little things are dropped here and there that bring you in without taking over the narrative. Connor and Vince’s world is very narrow. Everyone has their place and with that order everyone is safe from the deadly outside. Connor lost his parents years ago, his father died on a mission outside the refuge and his conflicts with Vince and lack of parental guidance show through. Connor doesn’t always know what to do and when your best friend is also the source of his conflict it leaves him few places to go.
All of this is “before”. As the blurb suggests, after the cadets are called to help with an emergency, Connor, Vince, and Tamara get on the wrong side and find everything they knew is a lie. This is the “after”. And it proceeded in ways I didn’t expect but very much enjoyed.
As their world crashes around them, the intimate moments between the characters, Vince and Connor, Connor and Tamara, Connor and others I won’t spoil, were particularly moving. The problems at Refuge, Inc affect the two men very personally yet they stay true to themselves as they work to find a solution. Vince and Connor come to terms with how they feel about each other and the author did a great job having them realistically function with that knowledge and with injuries they sustained.
As for Tamara. I don’t know why she was put into the mix, but it enriched the story. Tamara isn’t what she seems either and kudos to the author for creating such a well portrayed woman in this story. She ended up being one of my favorite characters.
The issues in Rufuge, Inc. have been brewing for over a decade yet the story showed why having Connor, Vince, and Tamara there made all the difference in solving the problem. The end clash, which was a bit rushed, could not have happened without them, and because of them, worked out exactly as it needed to.
Like a good dystopian story, the main conflict is resolved but the world isn’t sunshine and rainbows. They still have a tough row to hoe and the ambiguity with the bad guy of the story was disappointing on one hand yet still fit the tone of the story.
Some have mentioned the story felt more YA despite Connor and Vince being in their early 20s. That didn’t bother me. They live in a very sexually restrictive environment where same sex relationships are forbidden and fertility forcibly controlled. The fact Connor and Vince didn’t hump like bunnies felt true to their characters and living environment. I preferred the more PG intimate moments.
Finally, having read books 1-3 I enjoyed small glimpses back to the old couple. Makes me curious what they would think if they knew how history viewed them.
There were niggles her and there throughout the story but nothing that sucked me out or got in the way of my enjoyment.
January 17, 2020
Darkness Eternal is #5 in the Refuge Inc. series by Leslie Lee Sanders, but is written as a standalone book in the Refuge Inc. universe.
Cadets Connor Nicols and Vincent Moore are training partners in the lower hemi of a huge underground structure built to protect people from a cataclysmic asteroid impact a century prior. The upper 10 floors of the structure have been blocked off for the past 15 years, supposedly due to a toxin leak from the poisonous atmosphere above.
Vincent’s father, Dr. Randolph, is the leader of the lower structure and has created a society similar to Huxley’s Brave New World where the medication eX-lement is pumped into the water supply to prevent pregnancies and disease. There are few family units, children are rarely born and homosexuality is outlawed. Connor has loved Vince since they were children, but knows this is an impossible situation in their world.
One night, the cadets are awakened by alarms – the top floor of their hemi has been infiltrated by the toxin. Vince goes to the top floor, against orders, and Connor and their fellow cadet Tamara follow. What they find is like nothing they could have imagined — their entire worldview is scattered.
I was captivated by the plot of Darkness Eternal and the dystopian world that Leslie Lee Sanders created. The story was compelling and really interesting. The relationship between Connor and Vince is very subdued and other than a few kisses and touches is non-existent. The book is a bit slow in the beginning, as we learn about the Refuge Inc. world, and there were some unnecessary characters, but the story hits its stride in the second half. I felt the ending was too hurried, however, and a bit convoluted and the very ending was a “wait, what?” for me.
If you are reading this story for the sci-fi post-apocalyptic aspect, I think you’ll find this book very interesting. But, if you are looking for a steamy M/M romance in a sci-fi setting, you may be disappointed by the young adult / non-physical aspect of this book.
I received an ARC from the author, via GayBook Reviews, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Cadets Connor Nicols and Vincent Moore are training partners in the lower hemi of a huge underground structure built to protect people from a cataclysmic asteroid impact a century prior. The upper 10 floors of the structure have been blocked off for the past 15 years, supposedly due to a toxin leak from the poisonous atmosphere above.
Vincent’s father, Dr. Randolph, is the leader of the lower structure and has created a society similar to Huxley’s Brave New World where the medication eX-lement is pumped into the water supply to prevent pregnancies and disease. There are few family units, children are rarely born and homosexuality is outlawed. Connor has loved Vince since they were children, but knows this is an impossible situation in their world.
One night, the cadets are awakened by alarms – the top floor of their hemi has been infiltrated by the toxin. Vince goes to the top floor, against orders, and Connor and their fellow cadet Tamara follow. What they find is like nothing they could have imagined — their entire worldview is scattered.
I was captivated by the plot of Darkness Eternal and the dystopian world that Leslie Lee Sanders created. The story was compelling and really interesting. The relationship between Connor and Vince is very subdued and other than a few kisses and touches is non-existent. The book is a bit slow in the beginning, as we learn about the Refuge Inc. world, and there were some unnecessary characters, but the story hits its stride in the second half. I felt the ending was too hurried, however, and a bit convoluted and the very ending was a “wait, what?” for me.
If you are reading this story for the sci-fi post-apocalyptic aspect, I think you’ll find this book very interesting. But, if you are looking for a steamy M/M romance in a sci-fi setting, you may be disappointed by the young adult / non-physical aspect of this book.
I received an ARC from the author, via GayBook Reviews, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
July 31, 2016
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. It's part of a series, so I was a little nervous that I wouldn't understand anything going on. To my surprise I found that I didn't need to read any other books in the series and in fact the story grabbed me right away. I thought the book had terrific pacing and the story moved along nicely. Different kinds of tension were at play in the story, and I particularly enjoyed the (gay) sexual tension between the main characters!
This book is a great example of what readers miss out on if they're not reading indie authors. It was honestly written better than some other more mainstream, popular stuff I've read this year. Plus it's nice to read gay characters that aren't stereotyped or tokenized. I thought the romance was done well and it felt "real" to me. If you're looking for a fast, enjoyable read I definitely recommend this book. I'm now a fan of Leslie's writing and will be checking out her other stuff!
This book is a great example of what readers miss out on if they're not reading indie authors. It was honestly written better than some other more mainstream, popular stuff I've read this year. Plus it's nice to read gay characters that aren't stereotyped or tokenized. I thought the romance was done well and it felt "real" to me. If you're looking for a fast, enjoyable read I definitely recommend this book. I'm now a fan of Leslie's writing and will be checking out her other stuff!
February 27, 2016
I thought this was closer to 3.5 stars.
My disclaimer – I did not realize this was part of a series and I have not read any of the previous books. I can assure you that yes, this can definitely be read as a standalone. I had no problems understanding the setting, the background, or the characters.
Enter the world of Refuge, Inc. An underground facility, almost its own city, cut off from the surface. The purpose? Survival. And Dr. Randolph is in charge of ensuring the survival and well-being of the people under his care.
Dr. Randolph has been training a group of cadets to ensure the continued safety of the people in a confined space – a small police force basically. The Cadets work in pairs and Cadet Connor is paired with Dr. Randolph’s son, Cadet Vince. Connor has harbored strong feelings for Vince for years, but in Refuge, Inc, homosexual relations are illegal because a same-sex pairing will not ensure the continuation of the population.
Connor struggles between his desire for Vince and keeping his feelings hidden. He thinks Vince feels the same, but Vince, ever struggling to keep his father proud of him, has been pushing Connor away. Then the unthinkable happens and Connor, Vince and another cadet called Tamara find themselves on the wrong side of a police action gone wrong and are trapped in the uninhabitable parts of the facility.
And then the truth comes to light…
I enjoyed this with some caveats:
• Setting – I liked the idea of the underground refuges to protect people from the ravages of the asteroid. And this is where perhaps having read the first books would have helped? I wanted to know how and when these were built. But that’s my scifi geek coming out.
• I struggled to get a sense of Dr. Randolph’s motivations and why he felt his leadership was threatened. Especially when it started 15 years earlier. For example how he came to be in charge of Refuge, Inc.
• The climatic conclusion, the final battle and resolution so to came across as rushed. I think this could have been developed a bit more.
• This read somewhat like a YA Dystopian book, despite the fact that our main characters are supposed to be about 25 years old. That was a bit disconcerting.
The somewhat unrequited love between Connor and Vince was sweet. I appreciated the pace of the relationship when it became apparent they were no longer under the thumb of Dr. Randolph and the rules of Refuge, Inc. It wasn’t a rip clothes off, fly into bed for hours of hot sloppy sex scenario, it was a beautiful yet somewhat tentative exploration of long held feelings. Perfect, in my opinion.
Ultimately, an enjoyable m/m scifi romance read where I found the world building interesting, the ending a bit rushed, and the relationship development quite good.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
Copy of book was provided by the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
My disclaimer – I did not realize this was part of a series and I have not read any of the previous books. I can assure you that yes, this can definitely be read as a standalone. I had no problems understanding the setting, the background, or the characters.
Enter the world of Refuge, Inc. An underground facility, almost its own city, cut off from the surface. The purpose? Survival. And Dr. Randolph is in charge of ensuring the survival and well-being of the people under his care.
Dr. Randolph has been training a group of cadets to ensure the continued safety of the people in a confined space – a small police force basically. The Cadets work in pairs and Cadet Connor is paired with Dr. Randolph’s son, Cadet Vince. Connor has harbored strong feelings for Vince for years, but in Refuge, Inc, homosexual relations are illegal because a same-sex pairing will not ensure the continuation of the population.
Connor struggles between his desire for Vince and keeping his feelings hidden. He thinks Vince feels the same, but Vince, ever struggling to keep his father proud of him, has been pushing Connor away. Then the unthinkable happens and Connor, Vince and another cadet called Tamara find themselves on the wrong side of a police action gone wrong and are trapped in the uninhabitable parts of the facility.
And then the truth comes to light…
I enjoyed this with some caveats:
• Setting – I liked the idea of the underground refuges to protect people from the ravages of the asteroid. And this is where perhaps having read the first books would have helped? I wanted to know how and when these were built. But that’s my scifi geek coming out.
• I struggled to get a sense of Dr. Randolph’s motivations and why he felt his leadership was threatened. Especially when it started 15 years earlier. For example how he came to be in charge of Refuge, Inc.
• The climatic conclusion, the final battle and resolution so to came across as rushed. I think this could have been developed a bit more.
• This read somewhat like a YA Dystopian book, despite the fact that our main characters are supposed to be about 25 years old. That was a bit disconcerting.
The somewhat unrequited love between Connor and Vince was sweet. I appreciated the pace of the relationship when it became apparent they were no longer under the thumb of Dr. Randolph and the rules of Refuge, Inc. It wasn’t a rip clothes off, fly into bed for hours of hot sloppy sex scenario, it was a beautiful yet somewhat tentative exploration of long held feelings. Perfect, in my opinion.
Ultimately, an enjoyable m/m scifi romance read where I found the world building interesting, the ending a bit rushed, and the relationship development quite good.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
Copy of book was provided by the author for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
October 12, 2016
this is the fifth book in the series and its just as good as the rest in series a great read recommended
April 12, 2016
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
While this was an easy book to get through, I find myself still struggling to get an adequate description of the book down on paper. Based on the description, this story had a lot going for it: post apocalyptic society, a danger to their survival requiring immediate action and friends with the possibility of becoming more. Things were naturally more complicated than they first appeared with laws against homosexual relationships keeping Connor and Vince apart and, more troubling, lies upon lies concealing the truth about almost everything they’ve ever known.
I liked the premise of the book and I’m ALWAYS up for a good apocalypse read but despite my initial gung ho attitude about the story I found myself coming away with a kind of…meh feeling about it. The story was very easy to read and while the start of the book is a little on the slow side, it picks up and is easy to fall into once the initial necessary information dump is concluded. I liked the characters I had the chance to get to know and found myself empathizing with Connor in his struggle against the law and his attraction to Vince but I wish I’d been able to see more depth in more than just a handful of people. I think my main problem with the book was that it all just seemed too easy. Yes, there was a big problem that needed resolution but when I think of post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian society reads, I expect more struggle before the ending, whether that ending is good or bad. There also wasn’t much in the way of a relationship between Connor and Vince and, honestly, while I would’ve been thrilled to see one, it was almost worse to get the hints and small glimpses without any kind of meaningful follow through.
The book wasn’t bad, it really wasn’t, but it also didn’t quite live up to my expectations and I came away feeling slightly disappointed. It was a decent read but I don’t figure this will be more than a one time read for me.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/04/0...
While this was an easy book to get through, I find myself still struggling to get an adequate description of the book down on paper. Based on the description, this story had a lot going for it: post apocalyptic society, a danger to their survival requiring immediate action and friends with the possibility of becoming more. Things were naturally more complicated than they first appeared with laws against homosexual relationships keeping Connor and Vince apart and, more troubling, lies upon lies concealing the truth about almost everything they’ve ever known.
I liked the premise of the book and I’m ALWAYS up for a good apocalypse read but despite my initial gung ho attitude about the story I found myself coming away with a kind of…meh feeling about it. The story was very easy to read and while the start of the book is a little on the slow side, it picks up and is easy to fall into once the initial necessary information dump is concluded. I liked the characters I had the chance to get to know and found myself empathizing with Connor in his struggle against the law and his attraction to Vince but I wish I’d been able to see more depth in more than just a handful of people. I think my main problem with the book was that it all just seemed too easy. Yes, there was a big problem that needed resolution but when I think of post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian society reads, I expect more struggle before the ending, whether that ending is good or bad. There also wasn’t much in the way of a relationship between Connor and Vince and, honestly, while I would’ve been thrilled to see one, it was almost worse to get the hints and small glimpses without any kind of meaningful follow through.
The book wasn’t bad, it really wasn’t, but it also didn’t quite live up to my expectations and I came away feeling slightly disappointed. It was a decent read but I don’t figure this will be more than a one time read for me.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/04/0...
July 4, 2016
Review:
*** I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. ***
*When I realized that this was the fifth book in the Refuge Inc. series, I was a little concerned, but Darkness Eternal does read well as a standalone.*
Years ago, after an asteroid collision made Earth’s topside unlivable, survivors moved underground into the Refuge Inc. safe houses and created their cities there. Darkness Eternal focuses on best friends Connor and Vince as they work their way through Cadet training as partners. Vince is an alpha, the brawn, and Connor a beta, the brains.
Connor, the younger of the two men, has looked up to his best friend and spent a long time loving him secretly. Unfortunately, homosexuality is against the law underground. It’s deemed promiscuous and therefore unsafe. Because Vince’s father holds a position of power over the peacekeepers, Vince continually pushes Connor away. Until he doesn’t anymore.
One level ten is breached and chaos ensues. The men are forced to make a harrowing decision between following orders or listening to their hearts.
Okay, so I’ve read a ton of books about post-apocalyptic underground cities, and while I love the idea, they always seem to fall short somehow. This book was the opposite. I fell instantly for Sander’s world and the characters she has created.
I loved the dichotomy between Connor and Vince and their longtime friendship. I loved the playful banter and the serious undertones to their relationship. Everything about it was great.
Sanders’ writing style is beautiful. She instantly sucked me into her writing and I found myself unable to put the book down. Once the action starts, it doesn’t stop, so readers are left on the edge of their seat, waiting eagerly to see what happens next.
I loved this book, and while I’m sad that I read it before the others, I’m definitely going to go back and read the previous four books. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of science fiction, dystopia, and post-apocalyptic genres.
*** I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. ***
*When I realized that this was the fifth book in the Refuge Inc. series, I was a little concerned, but Darkness Eternal does read well as a standalone.*
Years ago, after an asteroid collision made Earth’s topside unlivable, survivors moved underground into the Refuge Inc. safe houses and created their cities there. Darkness Eternal focuses on best friends Connor and Vince as they work their way through Cadet training as partners. Vince is an alpha, the brawn, and Connor a beta, the brains.
Connor, the younger of the two men, has looked up to his best friend and spent a long time loving him secretly. Unfortunately, homosexuality is against the law underground. It’s deemed promiscuous and therefore unsafe. Because Vince’s father holds a position of power over the peacekeepers, Vince continually pushes Connor away. Until he doesn’t anymore.
One level ten is breached and chaos ensues. The men are forced to make a harrowing decision between following orders or listening to their hearts.
Okay, so I’ve read a ton of books about post-apocalyptic underground cities, and while I love the idea, they always seem to fall short somehow. This book was the opposite. I fell instantly for Sander’s world and the characters she has created.
I loved the dichotomy between Connor and Vince and their longtime friendship. I loved the playful banter and the serious undertones to their relationship. Everything about it was great.
Sanders’ writing style is beautiful. She instantly sucked me into her writing and I found myself unable to put the book down. Once the action starts, it doesn’t stop, so readers are left on the edge of their seat, waiting eagerly to see what happens next.
I loved this book, and while I’m sad that I read it before the others, I’m definitely going to go back and read the previous four books. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of science fiction, dystopia, and post-apocalyptic genres.
April 26, 2016
A free copy of this story was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This story can be read as a standalone but I think it might be better to read it in order or at least give the other books a read after. I didn't read books 1-3 yet so can't be sure it'll have any impact on what happened in hierarchy or how it implemented what occurred in the book or in Resurfaced (book 4) . I, however assume it does from what I read in this book. I do know that book 4 ties in nicely with the discoveries in book 5.
Connor Nichols has just advance to beta in his training, best friend/fellow cadet, Vincent (Vince) Moore is happy for him but a bit envious. Readers can easily see that Connor is in love with Vince, who is fighting so hard not to give into his feelings. There relationship is a bit tense from all the pent up want. When they're called into to help in an emergency to help seal off the infected and prevent toxin contamination from spreading further into the facility, the two readily jumps in. When Vince runs off into danger, Connor can't help but follow out of worry and love for his friend. In doing so he also drags another cadet, Tamara Arnold, into the mix. When the three find themselves trapped on the floor that is supposedly contaminated by toxins they decide to lay low and wait for a rescue team. However, what finds them and the truth they discover will rock them all to the core.
It was easy to get pulled in and caught up in the story. I had only read Resurfaced so I wasn't sure of what to expect from this book. Connor and Vince's relationship dynamic, the truth about the upper hemi and Randolph's role served for a well developed action pack story with betrayal, politics and romance.
This story can be read as a standalone but I think it might be better to read it in order or at least give the other books a read after. I didn't read books 1-3 yet so can't be sure it'll have any impact on what happened in hierarchy or how it implemented what occurred in the book or in Resurfaced (book 4) . I, however assume it does from what I read in this book. I do know that book 4 ties in nicely with the discoveries in book 5.
Connor Nichols has just advance to beta in his training, best friend/fellow cadet, Vincent (Vince) Moore is happy for him but a bit envious. Readers can easily see that Connor is in love with Vince, who is fighting so hard not to give into his feelings. There relationship is a bit tense from all the pent up want. When they're called into to help in an emergency to help seal off the infected and prevent toxin contamination from spreading further into the facility, the two readily jumps in. When Vince runs off into danger, Connor can't help but follow out of worry and love for his friend. In doing so he also drags another cadet, Tamara Arnold, into the mix. When the three find themselves trapped on the floor that is supposedly contaminated by toxins they decide to lay low and wait for a rescue team. However, what finds them and the truth they discover will rock them all to the core.
It was easy to get pulled in and caught up in the story. I had only read Resurfaced so I wasn't sure of what to expect from this book. Connor and Vince's relationship dynamic, the truth about the upper hemi and Randolph's role served for a well developed action pack story with betrayal, politics and romance.
December 4, 2016
Original review on Molly Lolly
Four stars!
This story was so good! It’s the first book by Ms. Sanders I’ve read before so I want to read more now. The details that went into this story were so effortless that I forgot a few times I wasn’t locked in a sphere below the surface fighting for my life. The characters were so rich and realistic I want to meet them. Vince and Connor are such an amazing team together.
I really enjoyed seeing Vince and Connor try to dance around each other and their feelings at first. Living wth those feelings that are completely against the rules and punishable in their society. I loved how they realized their feelings as things around them changed and how those changes effected how their feelings would be perceived. Their slow build to allowing their feelings, accepting their feelings and embracing them finally was wonderful.
The story arc with how things aren’t really what they seem was fascinating! I so didn’t expect some of the revelations along the way and definitely found myself shouting out “NO WAY!” at the most inopportune moments. The way everything was interconnected was so wonderfully done.
I really hope there will be more stories in this world. I want to see how Dr. Randolph redeems himself. I want to see Vince and Connor be allowed to openly express their love. And I would love to see how the life of everyone in the sphere continues as they make more discoveries. I will gladly read more stories set in this world.
Four stars!
This story was so good! It’s the first book by Ms. Sanders I’ve read before so I want to read more now. The details that went into this story were so effortless that I forgot a few times I wasn’t locked in a sphere below the surface fighting for my life. The characters were so rich and realistic I want to meet them. Vince and Connor are such an amazing team together.
I really enjoyed seeing Vince and Connor try to dance around each other and their feelings at first. Living wth those feelings that are completely against the rules and punishable in their society. I loved how they realized their feelings as things around them changed and how those changes effected how their feelings would be perceived. Their slow build to allowing their feelings, accepting their feelings and embracing them finally was wonderful.
The story arc with how things aren’t really what they seem was fascinating! I so didn’t expect some of the revelations along the way and definitely found myself shouting out “NO WAY!” at the most inopportune moments. The way everything was interconnected was so wonderfully done.
I really hope there will be more stories in this world. I want to see how Dr. Randolph redeems himself. I want to see Vince and Connor be allowed to openly express their love. And I would love to see how the life of everyone in the sphere continues as they make more discoveries. I will gladly read more stories set in this world.
May 10, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest,impartial review through the "Don't Buy My Love" program through the M/M group at Good Reads.
The book blurb is self explanatory...
First, I have to say the words: post-apocalyptic/dystopian with M/M romance drew me immediately into this book. I love this genre and there are not that many with M/M romance. We have two MC's: Connor and Vincent living underground in a spherical facility after the earth was hit with an asteroid that left the above ground toxic to humans. This reminds me of all the episodes of Star Trek,( old and new)I watched and the books I read. This is a very entertaining read. I read this in one sitting because I was sucked into this world of Ms. Sanders. I was not aware that this was the last book in a 5 part series. I did not find I missed anything by not reading them. We have politics, betrayal of the worst kind and romance. Connor and Vincent are cadets in this sexually repressed society where births are non-existent and same sex relationships are expressly forbidden. This is a problem for Connor; not so with Vincent, he is walking the fence. They are trained for disasters or problems that might occur in this underground utopia. Naturally, one occurs and the book takes off from there by the 2nd or 3rd chapter. This is a very entertaining read. I love how Leslie Sanders writes: her world building, sentence structure and her verbiage flowed effortlessly. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting an exciting read.
The book blurb is self explanatory...
First, I have to say the words: post-apocalyptic/dystopian with M/M romance drew me immediately into this book. I love this genre and there are not that many with M/M romance. We have two MC's: Connor and Vincent living underground in a spherical facility after the earth was hit with an asteroid that left the above ground toxic to humans. This reminds me of all the episodes of Star Trek,( old and new)I watched and the books I read. This is a very entertaining read. I read this in one sitting because I was sucked into this world of Ms. Sanders. I was not aware that this was the last book in a 5 part series. I did not find I missed anything by not reading them. We have politics, betrayal of the worst kind and romance. Connor and Vincent are cadets in this sexually repressed society where births are non-existent and same sex relationships are expressly forbidden. This is a problem for Connor; not so with Vincent, he is walking the fence. They are trained for disasters or problems that might occur in this underground utopia. Naturally, one occurs and the book takes off from there by the 2nd or 3rd chapter. This is a very entertaining read. I love how Leslie Sanders writes: her world building, sentence structure and her verbiage flowed effortlessly. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting an exciting read.
March 1, 2016
One hundred years after the first Asteroid hit causing the worldto go into a state of Chaos and find shelter at the mysterious Refuge Inc. !5 years later it hit again leaving the earth fiilled with deadly toxic gases.
Inside Refuge Inc., there was also a breach in the upper hemisphere causing many to die and the rest to survive in the lower half. There are many rules enforced, and no one is allowed to have children until they can find a place to start over. Then there is a breach on level Ten, the top floor, and chaos ensues unlocking many mysteries and lies.
Science fiction isn't one of my favorite genres, but I do enjoy a well-written post-apocalyptic story now and again. I have followed this series from the beginning and loved it. I have waited for this one for a very long time and wasn’t disappointed. I love interesting characters, and there was many of them. I also liked that there was a frequent mention of the first books and Adam and Elliot.
There is a bit more romance in this book, and I really liked that.
If you like Science Fiction, Post-apocalypse, futuristic stories, a good romance and a happy for now ending this is for you.
Even though this is a book 5 it stands alone just fine.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Inside Refuge Inc., there was also a breach in the upper hemisphere causing many to die and the rest to survive in the lower half. There are many rules enforced, and no one is allowed to have children until they can find a place to start over. Then there is a breach on level Ten, the top floor, and chaos ensues unlocking many mysteries and lies.
Science fiction isn't one of my favorite genres, but I do enjoy a well-written post-apocalyptic story now and again. I have followed this series from the beginning and loved it. I have waited for this one for a very long time and wasn’t disappointed. I love interesting characters, and there was many of them. I also liked that there was a frequent mention of the first books and Adam and Elliot.
There is a bit more romance in this book, and I really liked that.
If you like Science Fiction, Post-apocalypse, futuristic stories, a good romance and a happy for now ending this is for you.
Even though this is a book 5 it stands alone just fine.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
August 30, 2016
I have to say I didn't even realize this story was in a series until I sat down to write my review. It was a very good stand alone story that didn't feel like anything was left out without having read the other books in the series.
This is a world that is after Earth as we know it has been destroyed. I absolutely loved the world that the author created. It was believable and intriguing.
The relationship between the two main characters was touching. They had a romance that was exploitative in their youth, but stopped however, their friendship was able to continue to thrive until Connor can't hold it in anymore. While I normally don't care for the tease of two characters never actually getting down to the dirty.. this actually worked and I liked that they were so tentative with each other and taking each step deeper into their relationship.
The drama that we get from the story come from the facility itself and the leadership within. While I wouldn't have minded more information about how things came to be the way they were, it wasn't hard to go with the story as it was written. I thought it was extremely creative the way the 'bad guys' were handled.
In the end I want to go back and start with the first book since this story was so well written.
I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
This is a world that is after Earth as we know it has been destroyed. I absolutely loved the world that the author created. It was believable and intriguing.
The relationship between the two main characters was touching. They had a romance that was exploitative in their youth, but stopped however, their friendship was able to continue to thrive until Connor can't hold it in anymore. While I normally don't care for the tease of two characters never actually getting down to the dirty.. this actually worked and I liked that they were so tentative with each other and taking each step deeper into their relationship.
The drama that we get from the story come from the facility itself and the leadership within. While I wouldn't have minded more information about how things came to be the way they were, it wasn't hard to go with the story as it was written. I thought it was extremely creative the way the 'bad guys' were handled.
In the end I want to go back and start with the first book since this story was so well written.
I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
Read
March 2, 2016
I’m pleased to announce the release of Darkness Eternal, the fifth installment of the Refuge Inc. series.
I began writing Darkness Eternal in early 2014. It’s taken two years to come to fruition because I like to think the timing needed to be right. It was necessary for me to further develop my storytelling and writing skills during those two years in order to best represent Connor and Vince’s story. Finally, I'm pleased. You will be too.
In Darkness Eternal—a standalone in the GLBT, post-apocalyptic, dystopian Refuge Inc. series—surviving is unlike anything anyone has ever encountered in regard to Refuge Inc. Connor and Vince discovers that the hard way, while exposing life-changing secrets and establishing a strong male-male connection fans grown to love about the series.
So dig in and brace yourself as we survive the post-apocalypse for the fifth time.
Happy reading!
Grab my copy!
May 9, 2016
I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
First, I didn't even realize that this book was part of a series. Now that I've finished this one, I'm excited to go back and read the rest of them. I enjoyed reading about Connor and Vince. They are young men in their early twenties living in a contained artificial world after the Earth's atmosphere filled with toxins. The society is very sexually repressed and in particular, same-sex relationships are forbidden. Connor is in love with Vince, which is obviously a problem.
I really liked the world that this story is set in. It made for an exciting story aside from the romance. The boys are in the process of training for the worst, and all of sudden, the worst case scenario happens when a breach on one of the levels occurs. Vince jumps right into the action and Connor is left with no choice but do his best to protect him.
First, I didn't even realize that this book was part of a series. Now that I've finished this one, I'm excited to go back and read the rest of them. I enjoyed reading about Connor and Vince. They are young men in their early twenties living in a contained artificial world after the Earth's atmosphere filled with toxins. The society is very sexually repressed and in particular, same-sex relationships are forbidden. Connor is in love with Vince, which is obviously a problem.
I really liked the world that this story is set in. It made for an exciting story aside from the romance. The boys are in the process of training for the worst, and all of sudden, the worst case scenario happens when a breach on one of the levels occurs. Vince jumps right into the action and Connor is left with no choice but do his best to protect him.
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