Breakout

The Altayih Chronicles #1

by Alek L. Cristea

Outlaw. Rebel. Thief.

Malek has always dreamed of his own ship, of following in his amma’s footsteps and leading a crew through the stars. Salvage, trade, adventure. The perfect life. There’s only one problem: Malek’s in prison, and nobody leaves Helios alive. But after two years of unfair imprisonment, Malek is getting out, one way or another—and he’s taking his new friends with him.
He has a plan (sort of), but when Malek’s bid for escape collides with the secret agenda of another prisoner—a Shinarian girl in hiding from her people—she presents him with a choice: trust her and finally leave Helios, or get caught in the crossfire alone.

Trystan hates Eden One, a radical colony built upon antiquated ideology and conservative hate. With his father rising in power and his mother cowed, Trystan’s only ally is his uncle, a man who keeps Trystan’s deadly secret safe. Using forbidden alien technology, Trystan’s uncle builds him an android, allowing him to split his consciousness between his real and synthetic bodies. Allowing Trystan a taste of freedom, even if in secret.
But everything on Eden One is twisted, so it should come as no surprise when he stumbles upon the terrible project his uncle is working on, with Trystan’s own father at the helm. If he acts, he could lose everything, but if surviving Eden One has taught him anything, it’s that every revolution begins with a single spark of courage.

Làhn is a thief, and a good one. As a child on Kirillion, he fell through the cracks and wound up in the Guild. Raised by thieves, conmen and mercenaries, Làhn has never met a mark he couldn’t charm. He’s happy in the Guild, with his family, with his best friend, Kode. This is his life, and he’s content with it.
Perhaps that’s because he doesn’t remember before. Before Kode and the Guild. Before Kirillion.
When a job goes wrong and Làhn’s life shatters, his only choice is to look to the past. With little more than fragmented memories and the coordinates tattooed on his wrist, Làhn doesn’t have much to go on. But, with the future in tatters, framed for a crime he didn’t commit, suddenly, his past is all Làhn has.

Together, they must stand against Berik Corp, the shadowy megacorp whose power stretches across the galaxy. If they don’t—everything will fall.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGBT, Queer, M M Romance, Cyberpunk

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2023

About the author

Alek L. Cristea is a trans, gay, witch who writes the queer YA SFF he wanted--and needed--to read when he was a teen.

When not scribbling words he's found reading, playing video games, or engaged with one of his many other hobbies (which he seems to keep accumulating over the years).

Alek has been making worlds up since he can remember, first for his toys to inhabit, and then in his head.

Even now these stories get downloaded (if only) to paper, all that daydreaming takes up an impressive amount of processing power--meaning you can bet he always leaves the laundry in the drum and never folds the bedding. (Cooking though - that never gets forgotten, because that's a magic all its own!)

He lives with his three cats and his not-quite-husband and is desperately attempting to grow more than weeds in their small garden (he manages a decent crop of strawberries each year in spite of everything). At least the bees are entertained.

Reviews

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could sum up Breakout in one word: excellent.

Let's break this down, shall we?

First off, FIREFLY VIBES. If you're a sucker for a good sci-fi western in space with a crew of misfits doing hijinks, Breakout is absolutely the book for you. Trust me.

Second, the CHARACTERS. THE DIVERSITY. I dream of a day when I don't have to talk about how deliciously queer and diverse a book is as a selling point, when every book will be this queer and diverse. But until then, I will scream at the top of my lungs about how GOD DAMN GOOD this representation is.

Trystan is my favorite character by far. The struggles he goes through to be his authentic self, to develop into someone he can be proud of... My lord. His journey had me frequently tearing up and clutching at my chest. BEST BOY, MUST PROTECC.

Breakout is what I'd classify as sci-fi lite, as in, there are no massive paragraphs-long descriptions about science-y things, but the worldbuilding is still easy to understand and approachable. If you're not usually a fan of sci-fi because it's confusing or too science focused for you, you won't feel overwhelmed by Breakout.

Seriously, all in all, I highly recommend everyone read this amazing story. It's a fantastic exploration into the science fiction genre without being unapproachable. And trust me, you won't want to miss the incredible cast of lovable characters!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this book made me remember what I love about reading scifi. It’s been too long since I’ve last read it, and this was such an awesome welcome back to the genre.

The cast is incredibly diverse, but not in a way that feels forced or like a checklist of identities to be crossed off. I absolutely love and adore all of the characters - at least the ones we’re supposed to love anyway (I’d definitely fight Trystan’s dad if I ever came across him though).

I love Trystan, he’s an absolute baby and I just want to give him a better life. The idea of having an AI form that was a gender affirming version of himself was just so interesting, but I definitely was worried on the possible side effects of him needing to split his consciousness and also the possible fallout of carrying on a “double life.” I was Stressed.

Malek gives me slightly grouchy golden retriever vibes, but really, I love his relationship with his crew/friends. I think it’s incredibly realistic and honest to show that sometimes you make mistakes in your friendship or that it’s not always going to be sunshine and rainbows (especially when you’re going to be stuck on a ship with each other for extended periods of time) but ultimately the love and respect are still there.

Làhn is so sweet, and I can’t wait to find out more about his backstory and where he comes from. His friendship with Kode is so lovely. I love their dedication to each other. Also I hope he just gets to rest, I feel like he’s had so much excitement over such a short period of time.

Also the part with the Urelhan destroyer ship? Just top tier. I will not give anything away but I am just so here for a bit of spookiness and mystery in space.

Anyway, to I guess sum everything up, I absolutely fell in love with this story and the characters and this world. I’m incredibly honored to have been given a chance to read it prior to its official release, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.

[Krys' Lil Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever read a book and felt like OMG this book freaking speaks to me! As if the author wrote the book just for you!
Well that’s what BREAKOUT by Alek L. Cristea’s book is to me!
It has it all! The plot, the action, the vibes, the world-building, the tropes and most of all the diversity and representation of each character! It’s the freaking Space Queer book you’ve been searching for! Believe me!
And if you watch Kdramas or Kmovies, this book gives off Space Sweepers vibes, just more better and deliciously queer! If this doesn’t catch your attention yet, then my friend, that rock you choose to live under, is gonna’ get pretty lonely soon!
My two baby faves are Trystan and Lahn! I just wanna’ spend the day with them eating Chinese and surfing the SyFy channel!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charmingly adventurous story...IN SPACE!! 🤩

Breakout is truly such an emotional journey and I adore its focus on the characters, their growth, feelings, and personal ambitions and goals. Breakout follows three beautiful individuals and explores their personal journeys with obtaining their desires and handling their emotions, and how these journeys blend together into a wonderful found family adventure.

What really hooked me in was the raw *emotions* that I so easily resonated with for each of our three MCs. Every conversation, when it wasn't witty and humorous, was thought provoking and so emotionally *deep* it really gets the reader to just stop and *think*.

And those witty and humorous scenes? Along with all that wonderful FLUFFFFF. Urgh it just makes me SMILE ʕ⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴥ⁠ꈍ⁠ʔ

It took a few chapters for me to adjust to this kind of pacing style until I realized that Breakout reads a lot like a TV script! Which I strangely didn't mind for this book~ I feel like it ended up being the perfect pacing method to weave the three journeys together. Especially when it comes to Tryst's POV which was so excellently written! (Tryst was definitely my favourite to read about!) No spoilers here, so you'll have to read Breakout to see what I mean ;3

Thank you so much to Alek for creating this master piece and allowing me to take part in the ARC Crew! 💛 Breakout was the emotional journey I didn't realize I needed and I'm excited for others to fall deeply in love with this book too!

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

You pick up a book, you read a couple of chapters, and you think: "Ah yes, that's the stuff!" Breakout is one of those books. I had a feeling that I would really like it, but it was even better than expected.

Breakout is a fast-paced, action packed space opera with a lot of heart. Excellently written and well executed, a prime example of a page-turner. The representation deserves a medal. It's broader and more inclusive than many others offer without ever forcing it.

This book feels... like home. Different worlds, alien races - yes, they are original, and yet they quickly feel familiar. Largely contributing to this sense of familarity and home is the ensemble of likeable, relatable characters. And I kid you not when I say, there's not a single one I do not like - how did this happen?

There remains only one thing to say: Next volume when? Gimme gimme gimme *grabby hands*

[Leontiy [princeofbookandbone] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breakout is a fast-paced, character-plot driven YA sci-fi that takes the wildness of Firefly and Guardians of the Galaxy and blends it with the tropes and themes of cyberpunk and space opera, taking readers on a journey across the stars in a universe where intergalactic megacorps pull the strings.

Three protagonists lead the way, each facing distinctly different struggles, inside and out.


Malek is ready to take freedom by both hands and build a new life—a new family—following his wrongful imprisonment almost two years ago. He wants a ship, a crew, and he's ready to fight for both in order to follow in his mother's footsteps and become even half the legend she was. Malek's story is about ambition and drive, but it's also the story of wanting to find your place and your people. Of wanting to build something that's yours from the ground up, and to defend it fiercely once you have it. A struggle at the best of times, let alone when facing his own shift from depressive to manic. Malek's struggle with bipolar and subsequent mood swings is written with the careful hand that only a shared experience can bring, and while the topic is present in every inch of Malek and has an impact on his actions and relationships (as it should be; you can't switch bipolar off), it's not the focus of the story or Malek's character arc. It's simply a part of him, just like his prosthetic limbs and ginormous heart.


Láhn's the opposite: he doesn't want change. He's happy on Kirilion, working small cons for the Guild that raised him and enjoying the vibrancy of life in a city that sprawls the whole of a planet, impossible to ever fully explore in one lifetime. But when change does come, Láhn is forced to move with the new pace of his life, or risk getting swallowed up by it. His story is one of not knowing, of being uncertain, and how that's okay. It's okay not to know what you want or who you are or where you're going. As long as you don't stop, and you keep moving forward. This is something Láhn struggles with throughout his story, easily swallowed by guilt and the fear of action and inaction both, but ultimately he accepts that you don't need to know the destination for the journey to start.


Trystan, meanwhile, knows exactly what he wants, but not how to get it. He's trapped: on his bigoted planet, and in his own skin. There's a way out, but only for half of him, and he already knows that's not good enough. But even he could leave, he comes to realise that he wouldn't. Because Eden One needs to change, and if everyone who could make a stand ups and leaves, who will be left? His story is one of both struggle and joy, of mingled gender dysphoria and euphoria. But it's more than that: throughout the book, Trystan begins to realise that he's not alone, that there's power and strength in community, and that a lot of life is about being afraid and doing it anyway.


Knowing what you want. Not knowing what you want. Knowing, but being unsure how to get it. Breakout is about all these things. It's about hope and family and joy, about giving space to the sadness and grief and the struggle of issues such as disability and mental health and gender discrimination, but refusing to allow the dark to eclipse the light. The bad overtake or overshadow the good. It's about trying, about starting, and about finding the courage to do both, in a world that doesn't care whether you do or not.

It's about breaking out—whatever that might mean.

Breakout is warm, funny, deep and exudes energy from the 1st page to the last.

It's a book that sees you, ye of the margins, who (still) rarely gets to be the hero. Space is made for gender, for disability, for MH, and more. There's space for you, too. A home among the stars, where it doesn't matter what the odds are, because all who board the Altayih are family, and family fights together.

It's soft sci-fi, with aliens & staple Sci-Fi Tech™ (neurolinks, jump drives, translator chips, etc). Like sci-fi in TV/movies. No space ship engine primers, promise.

It's a fun romp through space, being gay & doing crime, finding your family when the one you have is gone or won't love you as you are. It's a cyberpunk space opera with a heart of gold, that ends with a ";", ready for the next chapter (no cliffhanger).

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK I’m going to start off by saying, BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT NOW. That's all.

So, Breakout is a sci-fi and I was slightly confused sometimes; however, and I can’t stress this enough, I’m often confused at one point or another when I read a book whose genre I’m not used to, and I rarely, if ever, read sci-fi. That said, in the grand scheme of things, I had no trouble following the storyline, seeing as this is a lighter sci-fi and thus a perfect segue into the genre.

Now, I won’t say much about the plot because what stood out for me was the characters, and oooh darling characters, so warm and so loving. This book has the most diverse cast of characters I think I’ve ever read, and IMO it was done so effortlessly, going from my favourite character, Trystan, being trans, to having characters do sign language as their main means of communication, to the entire group of friends accommodating their autistic (I think? Either way, the accommodations were there, diagnosis or not, as it should be) friend, to a main character having bipolar and physical disabilities, and always, at the end of the day, having the most loving and supporting friends. This book truly shows how meaningful friendships can be, and how platonic love should be celebrated just as much as romantic love. Furthermore, the use of scientific things to accommodate the characters is clever, such as Malek having body parts being made for him, like the prosthetic’s we have in our world, and Trystan being given an android to fall into whose body fits the one he actually is–giving him immense body euphoria to boot. And the existence of translation implants and ways to communicate through the mind, really solving communication issues that would otherwise arise as the characters travel to and from different planets whose mother tongues naturally differ from each other.

Now, to delve deeper into characterisation. As said by Malek, “None of us are weak because we survived.” A quote meant for himself and his crew, though one which I find applies to all characters in this book. I’m going to start with Trystan who, as mentioned, is my favourite character because of his heart, his care, his determination, and his massive bravery and gut, but also because I could see myself a little in him. As someone who’s recently figured out they’re transmasc, I’ve realised how much body dysmorphia I’m experiencing, and how absolutely freeing and breathtakingly joyful it feels to experience body euphoria, something I could truly sense in Trystan as he went through similar experiences with his own body. Trystan made my heart sing. Something that brought me such joy was also him realising he was actually able to make a change and push through his fear, making him into an incredibly brave kid with the purest of hearts–always just wanting everyone to feel their best and be happy. Him being the way he is made his chapters my absolute favourite, and I was always especially happy when the next chapter was going to be from his POV–always excited to see what would happen next.

That is not to say that the other characters aren’t worthy of their chapters because naturally they are! Malek and his group of outlaws fighting with and for each other with all the care and love in the world, simply trying to stay alive and have freedom. This group having Alta, who I also adored, who’s nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns and is a total badass with a knack for repairing ships; Nooma, who wants to do right by everyone but challenges Malek in his way of thinking, much like he does with her, but is at the end of the day always the most loving and supportive friend; Akim, the absolute sweetheart, whose need for accommodations are, as mentioned, always respected and done without question, such as him needing to have his food a certain way and him being allowed to pick a room first to increase his comfort; and Nephanie, the absolute fierce princess (she’s literally a princess), who continuously saves their asses from complete destruction because she’s just that good. In other words, the chosen family trope is strong in this one.

We also follow Làhn and his best friend Kode, where sign language comes as naturally to them as any other way of communicating. Làhn who always tries to do the right thing with enemies all around, hungering for answers to an unknown past with the only clue being a tattoo on his arm. Kode who values their friendship to the extent where she follows him everywhere and risks his life for him, no questions asked. She’s in a sapphic relationship which, like all the queerness in this book (except for when it’s actually a challenge), is natural and effortless, and it's a relationship that doesn’t exclude her best friend in any way. Again, props to this book for lifting the meaning of platonic love.

I also wanted to add that this book has gender neutrality as a default, where there’s no assumption of binaries when referring to other species that aren’t human because, logically, they may have a very different view on gender seeing as the way we view it is a complete social construct. As a nonbinary individual I really appreciated that!

Lastly, the writing. Non-complicated, direct and easy-to-follow, with sprinklings of such hard-hitting and emotional sentences that demanded to be highlighted. Very good language for a YA seeing as it felt realistic–I can see young adults talk the way they do–and no unnecessary, complicated wordings for the text to sound extra pretty, instead the writing was simply there to make the tale understood by the reader which suited the feel of the text perfectly. So good.

I loved it. 4-4,5/5 ☆ — This one just not quite reaching a full 5, but I highly recommend it to every reader out there! ✨️

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want this to end yet when it did inevitable end I was overcome with this happiness that I never want to go away! I will admittedly say I tried to prolong the experience with this book, I savoured it as long as possible (only because I knew I'd get separation anxiety from these characters, and I did) until I couldn't physically put this book down!

My home is the stars

^^How am I supposed to act when characters say things like this - I pledge my undying love for them, that's how!!! Now talking about characters, this whole cast of them is exceptional!! I don't actually think there is a word to describe how amazing they all are. I loved Malek from the start, I got so many Star Lord vibes from him it made my heart happy!!! And then we have Malek's crew made up of Nooma, Alta, Akim and Nephanie and wish they were real - they all made me laugh and feel emotions a lot of authors just can't get me to feel.

What Alek does is gives every single one of his characters a unique voice and you can, well I could hear every single one of them individual - they're not just characters floating around behind the main characters, they're just as equally strong and impactful!

Làhn steam-rolled right into my heart!! I love him so much! I can't wait to see more and learn more haha! I didn't see that twist coming and I gasped out loud, may have scared one of my children but they're used to it!! Also Kode, I love me a hacker!!

Now Trystan....Trystan, Trystan, Trystan.....MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!!!!!! I don't have enough words to tell you how much I love him! I loved his chapters the most despite them being the hardest to read. I love his strength, his will to be himself and to be free! I also loved his friendship with Cat too!!

Time to be the hero I need.

Breakout just felt right, it felt real, more real than other other books in this genre! This book made me feel like I could be apart of a crew, that despite my own illness I could be welcome into a group (I will not cry) this freaking awesome! Breakout felt like acceptance (fuck I'm crying) and as much as I love getting lost in unrealistic fantastical worlds there's something incredible about reading a book that makes you feel seen and those books THIS BOOK does that in every way!!

One last thing, Jakoor is everything!!!

[Nick Vallina (MisterGhostReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a daring escape from a prison on Helios, Malek and his friends and crew Alta, Skim, Nooma (and the Shinarian who tagged along, Nephanie) must seek out their futures now free after two years of imprisonment.

Meanwhile Trystan, on a hate-filled colony called Eden One, which couples intolerance with conservative patriarchal ideology, must navigate life as the daughter of a prominent man while dealing with the fact that they are not, in fact, a girl, and struggling to reconcile this. When Tryst's uncle gives her a chip implant, he is able to split his consciousness between his own body on Eden One and a synthetic male android body.

Even more meanwhile, Làhn, an exceptional thief gets caught up in a pretty big mess when a job he is working goes off plan. With his best friend Kode at his side, the pair must flee their home to avoid being captured...or worse.

Soon enough these three separate stories will intersect and together they must stand against the devious Berik Corp who have impacted each of their lives.

I was really really surprised at how much I loved this book. I don't think it's perfect by any means. There are definitely parts where the grammatical pacing is a bit off or doesn't really flow well but it's really easy to look past that.

These characters are so completely well written and all feel unique and complex. The diversity that Cristea has managed to funnel into this story while still making it feel seamless and not blatant is incredible. Different races, different sexualities, different disabilities (both mental or physical) all share space while not pulling focus from the plot. Sometimes this is hard to achieve and an author's desire to include a lot of diversity comes across as just that: inclusion for inclusion's sake. Everything about the diversity of the crew feels entirely purposeful and enhances the relatability of the characters.

Honestly I was floored by this and think it is criminal that it has so few reviews/ratings on GoodReads. If you enjoy a good space opera I highly recommend this one. I am EAGERLY awaiting the next book in this series!!!

4.5/5 rounded up

Thank you to the author and Pride Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breakout is a queer space opera following three groups of people whose lives will be brought together to fight against one galactic megacorporation. Malek is an outlaw falsely imprisoned on Helios who plans a daring escape with a few fellow prisoners. Tryst is a trans boy raised in a conservative isolationist human-only planet Eden One when is given an android body and he accidentally uncovers a plot of hypocrisy and unethical experimentation. Lahn is a Guild thief, happily settled in his role, when a job goes wrong and he is forced to flee the planet with his best friends and finally uncover the secrets of his unrecalled past. Their seemingly disconnected lives will intersect when they discover that they are all victims of Berik Corp and must work together if they wish to bring it down.

I don’t know if it was marketed as such, but I would consider this book YA (to set your expectations) with its young protagonists, coming-of-age stories, simple language, and short punchy sentences. What the book has got going for it is its diversity with its complete spectrum of racial identities and queerhood. It demonstrates the universal struggles of queer (and non-queer) people and many of the other issues that they can encounter while grounding it with stories of friendship, acceptance, and found family.

The book is also action-packed with a clear direction to where it is going, bringing together three storylines into one plot that sets up a found family of space outlaws as they go on future adventures towards a certain mission that will be the overarching narrative of the series. So this is essentially one drawn out origin story for this motley crew of a spaceship as these three groups escape or “break out” of a prison, an oppressive world, or a comfortable life.

I did have some issues with the book that set it back a bit. It’s really trying to do too much for a relatively short book. It’s got a huge cast with so many characters supporting each of the three protagonists. There was a lot of shifting between perspectives and storylines (they don’t intersect at all until the final third) with short chapters that really doesn’t allow for the building of momentum or tension.

And while I do appreciate the addition of mental health struggles, there was also too much being introduced for all the different characters so there’s not much time to actually have more meaningful discussions for but a few of them. The book also relied heavily on coincidences to line up all the storylines together (I initially thought there would actually be some conflicts between the groups from the different storylines, but it all came together too perfectly).

Breakout is a YA space opera that is inherently queer, thought-provoking, and action-packed but is also taking on too much.

*I received a complementary copy from BookSirens as part of its book tour via Pride Book Tours.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakout was such a fun read, and it really reminded me why I love sci-fi so much. I’ve been reading so much fantasy, magical realism, and realistic fiction/romance lately, and I am so happy that I took some time to really dig into this.

This book is truly the definition of space opera, and it does it so well! There is an absolutely queer cast which I love, but it goes a step further with inclusivity of disability and neurodivergence among its characters. The cast is quite the array of characters, and while they all come from different backgrounds and places in the galaxy, their stories all mesh together really well and show common themes throughout the book.

There are three POVs in this, which I struggled with in the beginning, as I am usually a one or two POV type person, but I actually enjoyed seeing all three perspectives in this.

Malek is our first POV, and he is arguably my favorite perspective to experience (though maybe not my favorite character). He is a troublemaker with a heart of gold stuck in a prison. He works with his co-captives to escape and create a new crew of a ship, taking after his amma.

Trystan is our next POV, and he is close to one of my favorite characters. Truthfully, I struggled a few times with his perspective as he splits his time between android and human bodies, and sometimes it made it difficult to follow, but I just adored his character. He is a closeted trans boy with absolutely terrible parents, and he works to deal with his realities while also working to combat the injustice of his world.

Làhn is the final POV, and while I do like this character and the other characters he brings along, I felt like this character may have been the least developed and lacked as interesting of a storyline for the first three quarters of the book. He gets three or four chapters less than the other two characters, which might play a contributing role in this.

I think there were definitely opportunities in the story overall, as there were so many moving parts and characters to contend with, but I think that a big part of sci-fi is that you have to have willful suspension of disbelief in order for things to work, and if you can succeed in that, I think you can find enjoyment in this story and learn to love the characters and empathize with them during their struggles.

I received an advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ria Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very slightly biased, since I did some copyediting for this book, but holy crap, is it ever a fun read! There's a lot to love about this YA spacefaring adventure. There were so many times where I'd get caught up in just reading the story that I'd have to stop myself and go back several pages and actually do the work I was supposed to do. It had a great mix of action and drama, a very nice mix of diversity, and Cristea didn't fall into the trap a lot of authors do when they deal with a large cast of characters, which is turning them all into pure archetypes or just bodies with a single personality trait (looking at you, Game of Thrones...). I really got a feel for all of the characters, and I liked the subtle things you used to distinguish character POV.

The way the universe felt large but also very well traveled and explored was also fantastic. So many races and peoples get mentioned and yeah, sometimes it's just a name drop without any elaboration, but it was done in such a way that it felt natural, especially with first 1st person POV and present-tense writing, like it was characters actually narrating the experience as they went. (That's something that often throws me off my groove when I read 1st person POV stuff - most writer's stick to the standard past-tense narration, which makes action scenes lose so much of their tension. It's hard to feel like a character is in a life-or-death situation when the story is being told as though it all happened in the past, so you know they must have survived.) A lot clearly went into the planning and drafting of this book, and it shows!

I definitely recommend Breakout to those looking for a fun sci-fi adventure with a strong cast of characters and representation diversity. And I 100% want to read any sequel that comes out in the future.

[Logan (loganslovelylibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent indie book!! Super rad YA queer, diverse sci-fi, which I loved to see. All the main and secondary characters were both queer and diverse in their race, abledness, and/or neurodivergence. Awesome rep.

There are three main characters and they have alternating chapters - I was pleasantly surprised when this worked REALLY well in the beginning, I was equally interested in all of them and it felt very seamless. I do think that they all met a bit late in the book, maybe around the 75% mark? And then a ton of actioned happened very quickly, so I think this book could have been a bit better paced. And I caught a few minor typos/edits (like a missing period, an extra letter, etc). Otherwise, loved it!! Especially if you’re into sci-fi, definitely pick this one up.

🌈Queer rep: 2 gay male main characters, 1 trans ftm main character. Queer, lesbian, nonbinary, and asexual secondary/tertiary characters.

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a YA sci-fi space adventure with a large and DIVERSE cast, and heartwarming in all the right places. A band of misfits just trying to find a place in the universe, and in doing so, find each other—and a whole lot of trouble! Don’t get deterred by the ‘sci-fi’ genre because this book is not super heavy with space jargon or mechanics. Instead it flows well and is very easy to understand.

It is part of a series, but this book does not end in a wild cliffhanger.

Take down the megacorp with Malek! Follow Trystan as he discovers his own strength! And join Láhn on a journey to his past!

Found family
Space shenanigans
Diverse rep (race, sexuality, gender, neuro, etc…)
Multiple POVs
Self Discovery
Karaoke
What more could you want?

And lastly, the dedication seals the deal better than anything I could say:
“To the misfits and the marginalized who have been waiting to see yourselves as heroes, this one is for you!”

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

'To the misfits and the marginalized who have been waiting to see yourselves as heroes, this one is for you!'

- Alek L. Cristea

This fun YA SciFi adventure is one that celebrates the misfits and marginalized. And you will inevitably find yourself lost in between it's pages.

Very well fleshed out characters, with tangible emotions, each with a distinct voice of their own, despite their higher number;

Nicely represented physical disabilities and mental health issues, as integral parts of the characters themselves, without becoming the driving point of the story,

Wonderful queer representation, great wordbuilding and found family of the best kind.
This book has it all and more.

The only reason this isn't a clear-cut five star for me is the pacing. It was off throughout the tale, especially towards the middle.

Apart from that, a damn fine read.

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malek, outlaw.....
Trystan, rebel....
Lahn, thief.....

All have their own fights and troubles but find themselves on Bakula together. 

'Alive. I am alive. I say it out loud , my voice soft . Then louder. I claim it. I stare in my own eyes and own it.'

I absolutely inhaled this book! I started thinking I'd read a few chapters and then do some adulting, but no. Completely sucked in!

There was drama, action and so much rep in this book, it was a joy to behold. There's also nothing better than a found family read and this is that!

I loved all the characters, they just were written in a way that made them so real! I know I shouldn't have a favourite....but I do...Trystan!!!

Can't wait to see what comes next!

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breakout is a queer space adventure that you won't want to miss! 🚀

I quickly fell in love with the characters who drive the story. And I was fully invested in the plot to take down a megacorp. This was such a great start to the series and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Trystan was my favourite since I related so much to his story of being trans in a strict/religious community. Malek and Làhn are also incredible POV characters and I loved getting to know all of them! This book was full of action, found family vibes, and lots of twists and turns. I truly had an amazing time reading it and I recommend it for fans of sci-fi or those just looking for a great story.

Thank you to the author for providing me an eARC copy of this title. My views are entirely my own

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakout is a queer science fiction novel which absolutely rocked.

Riddled with action, adventure, character development, emotion and overall, a vividly painted world.

For me the best thing about this is it wasn't too difficult to understand. Sometimes science fiction can be complicated, but this wasn't. It was fun and flowed nicely. The chapters were not too intense and I found myself reading chunks in one go.

With that, my favourite part would be all the representation. This was refreshing. I reckon this novel is suitable for adults and younger adults. It's entertaining, it's unique, meaningful, and overall, it's a great read.

[Georgina Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off this is one of the most beautiful books I now own, the artwork is just wonderful.

Onto the story, this is such a fun YA sci-fi, it’s full of lots of all different reps, with lovable characters and a perfect found family in space!

The different POVs are interesting and come
together really well, the diverse cast of characters are all starting over on an adventure, with great world building, corporate bad guys and learning who you are, I really enjoyed this book.

It’s written so well and really makes you fall in love with the characters, I didn’t want to put it down.

[leanne ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Alek's novella Cornucopia , my biggest issue was that it was not a full-length novel. Right from then I knew that Alek is a brilliant writer and when he announced his first novel Breakout , I was beyond excited and for good reason. But Alek shattered all those expectations I had pre-conceived and instead gave me an epic sci-fi novel with amazing representation and characters who I want to be friends with. ASAP!

Breakout takes you on a great adventure and at its helm are its three main characters - Malek, Trystan and Làhn. Each of our characters have their own struggles that they are trying to overcome, and shows how they grow as characters. Also I am ready to battle for Trystan. Anyone joining me?

The representation in this book is *chefs kiss* Alek does such a great job in building an inclusive world that is just so beautiful. Basically all the love to Alek for such great representation!

5 rockets to Alek for such a stunning debut novel! I cannot wait to see what else Alek gives us next because this book shows what a stunning career Alek has ahead of him. I'm so proud of you ❤️

Overall, this is such a fantastic debut novel and I am incredibly proud to have been selected to be a part of this journey. While life and adulting got in the way, I am so happy I got to read this stellar of a novel and I cannot thank Alek enough for letting me join in!

And if you love sci-fi, want to see amazing queer representation and support a trans author who is amazing at what he does, then Breakout is the novel for you!

[Shatakshi (Ria) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was an option to give more than 5 stars here because this one really deserves that. It's a 10/5 ⭐ book for me!
This book was simply amazing! A group of outlaws breaking out of prisons to taking down aliean warships, aliens with crazy superpowers to cyborgs and enhanced humans, corrupt governments and organisations controlling the fake scenarios of peace and some misfits forming a team to take them down! Take everything you want in a good scifi novel and make it super queer and you get this masterpiece called BREAKOUT!!!!
Cyberpunk vibes ✅ Great world building ✅ Found family ✅ Characters you fall instantly in love with ✅ Amazing plot line and fight scenes ✅
What more can you want right??
The world building was so complex but so beautifully written that one easily imagine all the planets and cities described in the book and many times I literally had to stop and just take a moment to appreciate author's imagination for all these amazing worlds!
And the characters wow... You can easily relate to all of them and actually feel what they must be going through, even the characters you don't get a pov of are so easy to relate and connect to! It's such a mix of personalities that comes together so well and create the perfect team, each of them facing their own demons.
And I think the best thing I liked was how none of them were portrayed in a way that would make anyone dislike them! Idk how Alek managed it but this is one team I won't be able to choose favorites from because I just love them all so much.
Honestly no matter what words I use it won't do this book justice y'all just need to READ IT!!!!!
I'll be desperately waiting for the next book now! (And rereading this one multiple times till then)

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a bit of a sci-fi kick recently, and Breakout by Alek L. Cristea fit the bill perfectly!⁠

This book is a fantastic start to an adventurous found family story set in space, and I am here for it!⁠

The story follows three main characters as each of their lives changes in a significant way. The narrative is full of resistance, hope, love, and queerness in so many forms.
⁠
I'm excited to see how the adventure continues! 💫⁠

[Donna Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come..

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Breakout" is the first book in this scifi adventure series. It reminded me of guardians of the galaxy and I just loved the diversity. I'm honestly hooked, I can't wait to read more about these characters and their adventures. I care for all of them very much and especially the three main characters, Malek, Lahn and Trystan. They were all so wonderful and relatable, I just want them to be happy. The side characters were also brilliant. This book had it all, great pacing, an interesting plot, well developed characters and beautiful writing. If you enjoy scifi coming of age stories with great representation this book is for you. I can't wait to read the next one. I wish I could start it right away.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hedda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since earth has been destroyed, humans, cyborgs and aliens have to life together in space. But for some it’s harder to get along or call it a home. Not only are aliens and cyborgs seen as a lower race, but at some places old traditions from centuries ago are revived. For Trystan this has been a struggle, as his body or name never felt as his own. At the other end of the galaxy Malek is brewing in escaping the inescapable prison, Helios 2. While on Kirillion, the city as big as a planet, thief Làhn has to flee from his home when a job of his go south.

When somebody tells me a book is a combination between Firefly meets Guardians of the Galaxy, I’m instantly drawn to it. Add to the mix that it’s an indie, queer, found family sci-fi with a space-opera adventure and I’m sold.

And this didn’t disappoint one bit. As Cristea created not an average sci-fi, but a warm, thrilling, diverse and amazing novel set in space. It’s filled with wonderful and vivid images of ships, galaxies, aliens, big city’s, neon planets, trade stations and even scrumptious descriptions of fried street food. It completely drew me into space.

The only minor issue I had was the somewhat inconsistent pacing. It had some major fast paced action scenes, combined with some slower parts of reflection. But it felt a little off in the middle.

But well fleshed out characters with real, tangible emotions made up for that. Cristea didn’t scare away of discussing themes like disability, discrimination, trauma or struggles with finding your own identity. I highly recommend it if you’re into sci-fi or in search for an amazing queer read with wonderful characters.