Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy read for Out of the Dark by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz starting on September 7, 2024.
Out of the Dark

Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Folks said Yes to 1/month schedule--and to taking a break for Nov/Dec. So far! We'll see when we hit #4 if we actually want to pause...

Once-a-Month schedule:
1. Orphan X (June 7) [Link]
Short: Buy a Bullet
2. The Nowhere Man (July 7) [Link]
3. Hellbent (Aug 7) [Link]
Short: The Intern

4. Out of the Dark (Sept 7)

--2025--
5. Into the Fire (Jan 7) [link]
Short: The List
6. Prodigal Son (Feb 7) [link]
7. Dark Horse (Mar 7) [link]
8. The Last Orphan (Apr 7) [link]
Short: The Recital
9. Lone Wolf (May 7) [link]
10. Nemesis (Jun 7) [link]

audiobook: no library/subscription copies.
ebook: 1-4 on KU

For me it will depend on the level of cliffhangerness whether we pause lol

Ann-Marie wrote: "For me it will depend on the level of cliffhangerness whether we pause lol"

Yeah... I figured that would be the case. ^^

I just commented on that in one of the other threads, I think book 2...

I'll be here for September.

I'm also glad we'll be taking a quick break for October & November. I try to read mostly horror & gothic around that time.

Thanks to whoever decided on the schedule!!

Started this, through ch 17 and (view spoiler)[Evan's warning to the president was so freaking awesome, hate that guy and he deserves a terrible death. And now Orphan A is in the mix, released on the president's order so he can try to kill Evan? Like that is going to happen. I do worry that Orphan A may track him down and put Mia & Peter at risk but honestly then Evan would have to cut all ties and that is not something I think is likely to happen. And I am so looking forward to Evan just murdering those assholes that are torturing Trevon, killing his family because he didn't follow instructions, like he was capable of doing what his co-worker asked.

So in conclusion I am very much looking forward to all of the murdering Evan will no doubt do in this book lol (hide spoiler)]

Through ch 53 and (view spoiler)[what is Evan doing????? He had the president right there!!!!! I mean would he have to kill some innocents? Yes but it wouldn't be nearly as many as the president has killed! Candy coming in for the assist too?!?!?!?! I actually loved that. And poor Trevon, that poor kid, all of my heart! I have a little over an hour left, if things play out then Orphan A will meet his quite timely demise shortly, so here for that lol (hide spoiler)]

Finished and loved it so much <3 (view spoiler)[Evan ends up getting the president and in the best way possible, his own vices ended up doing him in and his past nefarious deeds were exposed, loved all of that. Orphan A is gone too, good riddance! Trevon is safe and his sister is back so he is not alone. There is the Mia/Peter situation but seems to me that Evan is embracing what he is so not sure how that will play out, her getting so mad at him for basically saving the woman & child from that abuser without actually hurting him seemed to me to be the best scenario but I tend to be cold-hearted lol (hide spoiler)]

We are picking up again in December?

I'll likely start this in the next week. I'm still down for starting up again in December!

@Ann-Marie: I have your number on sympathetic/tragic characters :D

Same as mine, really...

Started this this morning, since someone else had been reading it already, and I've been looking forward to this one...

The delay on continuing the series until December also makes it easier for me to try and continue re-reading, altho book 4 was the one I was most looking forward to re-reading...

I had a bunch to say about your comments while reading, but also didn't want to spoil Evan's genius :D

I’ll start this one in about a week also. Trying to catch up on too many things!

Timelord Iain wrote: "@Ann-Marie: I have your number on sympathetic/tragic characters :D"

I mean the folks Evan helps are generally in terrible situations but (view spoiler)[Trevon was particularly bad, to take his immediate family and credibly threaten to take the one remaining person he has? Meanwhile I forgot to mention how much I loved how Evan took those assholes out. Why don't you call that number....LOVED IT <3 (hide spoiler)]

Read this towards the beginning of the month. So fricken satisfying! Totally agree with Ann-Marie, loved it and how (view spoiler)[ mastermind-y Evan's plan to ultimately kill the president was. Just so devious and perfect lol

I can kind of understand why Mia was mad at Evan for what he did stopping that guy, but at the same time, come on woman, what do you want him to do, let the bastard kill/abuse his family?? Jeez..

Also loved how he set up the scumbags who killed Trevon's family to trigger his trap.. So ballsy :DD (hide spoiler)]

Read this last week and really enjoyed it. But OMG the heartstrings!! (view spoiler)[I felt so bad for Trevon!! I wanted to reach into the book and strangle those bad guys! And them trying to say "I was just doing my job" well you quit that kind of job if you expect to use that excuse!

I found it especially poignant because I saw myself in Trevon in a lot of ways... navigating social norms is hard enough without your whole family getting murdered on top of it all!

So yeah, them all getting spattered was very satisfying. And then icing on the cake was watching the President paranoia himself to death. A toast! (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Read this last week and really enjoyed it. But OMG the heartstrings!! ..."

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Read this towards the beginning of the month. So fricken satisfying! Totally agree with Ann-Marie, loved it and how ..."

I was so happy to see how his story played out and the death and destruction Evan handed out <3

I’m just up to ch21 now, but 4 books in and (view spoiler)[ I’ve not wanted someone to get Evan’s help more than I want that for Trevon! (hide spoiler)]

Terry wrote: "I’m just up to ch21 now, but 4 books in and [spoilers removed]"

He has everyone's heart I think <3

Terry wrote: "I’m just up to ch21 now, but 4 books in and [spoilers removed]"

Absolutely agree! I need revenge for him!

Just started this and everything with Tayvon (the autistic guy?) is breaking my heart.

Finished and loved it. Glad things worked out for Trevon. Hate Mia as usual. So fun to read and really looking forward to the next one.

Oh, and did actually like Candy in this one. There were no blow job references so that was nice.

So, should I assume that we're picking up again in December and folks are OK with the break, or do folks want to keep going ASAP?

I am good for December but if you started in November I will join in. Pretty sure this will not be cozy though lol

LOL Not cozy in content... but cozy in the fun and comeuppance satisfaction they give... Two responses for December so I'll go for that unless I hear otherwise.

I feel like December is starting to look hairy... busiest December in recent memory for me...

Between all the cozy plans (some people are planning to read whole trilogies like Scholomance), all the unpausing series, starting series, and Stormlight Archive #5 and other tomes...

Things usually don't get this hectic till January...

Timelord Iain wrote: "I feel like December is starting to look hairy... busiest December in recent memory for me...

Between all the cozy plans (some people are planning to read whole trilogies like Scholomance), all th..."

Schlomance is so worth it <3

Also I have not done my December line-up yet and now I am scared.....

A scholomance reread is tempting..

Tonari no Emily wrote: "A scholomance reread is tempting.."

Do it!!!!!

I might! I didn't reread last year so its not fresh for sure :)

OK, I know I am late to the party, but I needed to say something. I am through Ch. 24. I loved books 1 and 2, I was ok with book 3, but here he is doing something totally unfair to me!!! Trevon !!!!! How can he do this! I just started crying and can't stop! He is absolutely breaking my heart! 💔 This is just so.... horrible! I want to go on a murderous rampage and kill everyone! And that is on top of Orphan A, the f@#$ing president and his aid! And Evan (view spoiler)[ obviously is having his heart broken by Travon also, because he just returned to his room to stay with him until he falls asleep... I am an absolute mess! I am barely typing, because of the tears! F@#k!!! (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "OK, I know I am late to the party, but I needed to say something. I am through Ch. 24. I loved books 1 and 2, I was ok with book 3, but here he is doing something totally unfair to me!!! Trevon !!!..."

Same! That poor baby!

Choko wrote: "OK, I know I am late to the party, but I needed to say something. I am through Ch. 24. I loved books 1 and 2, I was ok with book 3, but here he is doing something totally unfair to me!!! Trevon !!!..."

Definitely my reaction as well!

I read all of your comments and I see we all were ready to start a war to protect poor Travon! I am so happy you guys exist! You have no idea how much I had to stand up for my Jack who is like Trevon, only now he is much older. I love him with all my heart and have no idea what I will do with myself when he is gone... But he is that type of pure soul and doesn't understand social cues at all.. Thinking of him having to be on his own like that young man was, gives me panic attacks....

This was the best book in the series so far! Loved that we saw the girl from the previous book and Candy as well:) This was good!!!

Choko wrote: "I read all of your comments and I see we all were ready to start a war to protect poor Travon! I am so happy you guys exist! You have no idea how much I had to stand up for my Jack who is like Trev..."

I was totally thinking of your Jack while reading about Trevon... I feel like I should have left a content warning for you... Thank goodness Evan was there for him... (view spoiler)[and after everything that Trevon went through, his resilience and ability to find ways to cope was so inspiring... All the heartstrings for him. (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "I read all of your comments and I see we all were ready to start a war to protect poor Travon! I am so happy you guys exist! You have no idea how much I had to stand up for my Jack who is like Trev..."

Your connection to the story makes it hit even harder, like I knew Evan would come through but I still was like OMG Evan BETTER come through as I was reading!

Yeah nothing could make the situation "right" but Evan did a helluva job!

Exactly, to everything you guys said!!! ❤️

Are we good to continue December 7th?… or January 7th?…

❤️Choko! I cried for Trevon too. My son is not neurodivergent but he has such a tender heart. Last night he couldn’t sleep because he was crying so hard for Petey who is the cat villain in the kids Dogman books. I was perplexed by this. Wesley loves cats but really? Then he told me that when Petey was a kitten his dad left and when he was a teenager his mom died and it just broke his heart. He could not be consoled and I had to hold him for about two hours while he cried.

I’d rather restart in January.

Either is fine with me

Either works for me as well :)

Are we doing December or January? I can put in the requests, lmk what is preferred :)

Since the only one who had a preference said January, I say lets be nice and make it January lol

January

Okay will put in the requests this weekend!

January is fine!

Felina, ooooohhhhh!!! Give your son extra hugs from us!!! He sounds like a wonderful kid!!!!!

January is fine!

Extra hugs to your son Felina! Ditto Choko, he sounds like a wonderful kid.