Synopsis:
After an asteroid strikes Earth, a series of violent earthquakes destroy secluded Phoenix and leave survivor Elliot struggling to stay focused in the bleak aftermath. And then he meets fellow survivor Adam. Together, the two search for reliable shelter and other survivors while distant murky clouds fast approach. Their hunt for shelter leads them down an alternate path when they find spray painted symbols directing them to a mysterious place: Refuge Inc.
As ominous clouds slowly shut off all light to their devastated world, they are forced to come to terms with their pasts and their growing attraction for each other.
Neither thought their pasts and personal crises would affect their ability to endure the horrors they're forced to live through. Neither thought they would be drawn so close to one another in the aftermath of an unimaginable catastrophe. By working together, can they continue to survive? Or will the mystery of Refuge Inc. cause diverse expectations and lead them to decisions that further threaten their lives?
Stephany's Thoughts:
After reading the synopsis on the back, I was lead to believe there was an actual storyline. The premise was good, it even had the potential to be great. However, incomplete and stereotypical characters, rushed storyline, and grammatical errors plagued every page. The main character, Elliot, is an overly stereotyped gay man wearing a "made with pride" t-shirt with rainbow colored letters and consistently lusting over his fellow survivor's penis. Adam, Elliot’s companion, is the overly cautious, never left the closet, gay man. The character personalities alone push the gay rights back decades. However uncomfortably initiated (or in one case completely out of the blue), the love scenes are lustfully and emotionally written. One scene specifically shows the depth of what they share. The storyline unfortunately was very rushed. I would even go as far as to say the author wished to focus mainly on sex. The characters could not stop to rest in a post-apocalyptic world without attacking each other. The dialogue is sadly childish and petty. It focuses mostly on how hesitant Adam is to show his feelings after living most of his life as straight. Also, Elliot cannot have a single thought outside of sex. If there was more of a focus on developing a storyline and the emotional as well as physical connection between Elliot and Adam, I might be more excited to finally learn what Refuge Inc. consists of in book two. However, as of now, I don’t think I will do more than consider reading the sequel.
Stephany gives Before the Darkness by Leslie Lee Sanders: 2/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://leslieleesanders.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslieleesandersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeslieLSanders
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116372267521783824470/posts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/517547.Leslie_Lee_Sanders
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Neither Stephany nor I were compensated in any way for this review.
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