Ratings12
Average rating4.3
A spine-tingling standalone novel by bestselling author TJ Klune—a supernatural road-trip thriller featuring an extraordinary young girl and her two unlikely protectors on the run from cultists and the government.
There's nothing more human than a broken heart.
In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his only brother wants nothing to do with him, and he's been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington, DC.
With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family's summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon, to try and find some sense of direction. The cabin should be empty. It's not.
Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary ten-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Artemis, who isn't exactly as she appears.
Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible. Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.
Reviews with the most likes.
I went into this book blind but I'm a huge fan of Klune's writing so I knew I'd at least like that aspect of it, but I think not knowing what the story was about added to the excitement to continue reading. I'm not a huge reader of science fiction, especially alien stuff, but this book ended up being more about the characters themselves rather than the sci-fi aspects. It took a weird turn with the cult stuff in the second half but it makes it more interesting than them just being on the road/on the run for the whole story. The ending was kind of a cop-out, I'd have liked more details about what exactly happened between Art and the other ET beings rather than just a fade to white/curtains close kind of transition to months or years later but at least we got a bit of explanation and a HEA, though it also ends on a somewhat ambiguous tone and there's no plans for a sequel.
Overall, definitely a recommend for fans of sci-fi romances and I'd recommend Klune's writing to anyone.
In my mind I know this can be no more than a 4 star book. The story is good, but not amazing, but in my heart it was 5 star enjoyment so that's that.