*I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I didn’t really know exactly what to expect going into Residuum. DB Rook was sending out ARCs, and after having read two of his short stories, I knew I’d be a fool to pass it up. A brief blurb and the briefest knowledge of Rook’s writing chops were all I needed. And let me just say, this book does not disappoint.
Residuum is the abomination formed when a lab disaster erupts, fusing Terminator and Black Mirror into an eldritch nightmare, all seen through the bleary haze of, I don’t know… Time Bandits?
Woah… wait… what? Yeah, sure, I’m gonna stand by that. And it is WILD! What starts off as a futuristic tale of dystopian terror suddenly turns into a romping space adventure told over the vast, bleak backdrop of said dystopian wasteland. It’s dark, it’s funny, it’s action-packed, and it’s even heartwarming.
A mother and daughter are on the run, in a grueling race for survival with the murderous black bots nipping at their heels. A ragtag band of scavengers sail through space, picking through the aftermath of a black bot culling for scraps and upgrades. But what secrets shall unfold? What truths will be revealed? Are flip flops the best footwear for such an occupation?
This is the sort of book that, were it not for a towering TBR, I kinda just wanted to start reading again as soon as I was done. It was SO good, I just didn’t want it to end!
DB Rook’s character work once again shines, quickly creating a cast of characters that feel like people you know. People you hope against all odds will come out on top. His way of mingling the dark settings and plots, the unfortunate characters, and just the right amount of sardonic, snarky humor that perfectly balances out an otherwise pretty damn grim situation.
This novella is a treasure, and everyone should check it out. And you can tell that to the massive fucking telepathic spiders…
Residuum releases on June 27th, so go pre-order it now!
You can do so here: https://mybook.to/ResiduumDBRook
Check out DB Rook’s site here: https://dbrookbooks.com/
