AM Johnson enters the world of dystopia romance with Into Elysium. This is a slow burn lower angst romance. In a horrible new normal, can two young men find someone worth risking everything for?
From the blurb:
Eben had one job at Elysium—keep the barrier wall lit at all costs. As a Dusk Guard, he was safe from the war raging across the country, from the rebels, and the new world. He was safe from the laws that would see him dead if they knew his one secret. But after being called inside Elysium to watch over one of the rebel prisoners, every wall he’d created to protect himself comes crashing down.
Cale never thought he’d survive the virus that turned the world dark and threw his country into chaos. He never thought his last days would be drawn out inside a cell in one of the most notorious prisons in the west.
Elysium was a place for the dead.
But in the pitch of night, the one person he’d thought he couldn’t trust becomes his savior and so much more.
Into Elysium is a M/M, Dystopian, Hurt/Comfort Romance Novella/Pre-quel with heart, hope, and a touch of suspense.
Molly Otto's review:
The beginning to the end of civilization as we know it. Eben, a guard not by choice for the Elysium prison, is sent to torment Cole, a young man sentenced to death. However, fate interferes, and these two on opposite sides of the wall learn to trust and give each other hope for a future where they can be free and together.
When things go crazy, Eben knows he must save Cole along with himself. Together, they must find the other side of this neverending battle and start anew. They land in a camp where, for once, they are treated as equals. AM does a beautiful job in world building where you feel this could really happen in our not so distant future. I hope to see more from this universe. Enough was left as open-ended hope for more.
SNik's review:
Novella. Dystopian. Prisoner/guard. Hurt/comfort. Slow burn. Dual POV. Heed content warnings.
Eben was once a prisoner but now helps guard one of the prisons for a militia he doesn’t believe in, and that would kill him if they knew he liked men. When he starts a tentative friendship with a young prisoner near his age he further questions whether he wants to be a bystander, and maybe he and Cale can escape together.
A pretty good world build considering it's not a long story, we certainly get a feel for how the world is operating after a horrible virus and society collapses. And, Cale and Eben’s quick feelings are understandable when any moment may be their last, they cling beautifully to each other and gather strength from each other as they allow their feelings to grow. I really enjoyed this story, I liked the characters, and appreciated their hard decisions and struggle to survive while being open and vulnerable with another. Looking forward to more from this universe.
This novella was amazing. Eben and Cale were so vulnerable. So much heartbreak was going on around them but somehow they were able to find love. It was desperate and fast but so sweet. I can't wait to see what else happens in this world and who we will get to meet next. Very well done.
Into Elysium is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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