Gael is on the run! He has displeased one of the ruling families on his home planet Zhemosen and having been forced by them to assassinate someone, he knows his time will be up if he doesn’t run. Gael actually couldn’t kill the target and it looks as if he will be killed instead if he doesn’t escape. But escape from Zhemosen is basically impossible if you are poor and Gael is very poor and struggling to survive.

Desperately, Gael seeks help from one of his few friends who suggests that the best way off the planet is to go to one of the far colonies in space as a companion for a lonely farmer. This is a difficult option but Gael realises that it is better than torture and a painful death and at least he can choose his potential partner. When Gael sees Bram on the partner matching website he decides to go for it and end up fleeing to Bram on the far planet of Alkirak and so his adventure begins.

Life on Alkirak is a new start for Gael but he is surprised when he arrives to find he is accompanied by a shadow from his past. Nevertheless life with Bram begins and Gael slowly develops feelings for this quiet, sturdy and brave farmer. Unfortunately he doesn’t realise that his dark past is following behind and may threaten all the new hope he has in Bran and Alkirak.

This was a very enjoyable story. I don’t read a lot of science fiction but this story manages to combine both sci-fi and romance in a way that will appeal to readers of both. The descriptions of the planet whisk the reader far away to a planet which is strange and unfriendly, and sparse but which provides freedom for Gael. The love that develops between Bram and Gael is slow developing and beautifully described.

Although I was sent an arc I also listened to the audiobook and the narration was superb. All the characters have a distinct voice and this brought the story alive in my imagination. This is my second Kelly Jensen book and I will definitely be reading more. She has a way of writing that captures the beauty and reality of a romance and the story telling really pulled me in. It is simply very interesting with some moments of tension which add to richness of the storytelling. The characters are well developed too. This is simply an all round great book.

Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

To See the Sun takes the “mail-order-spouse” trope and pairs it will the difficult homesteading conditions of the American Old West by setting the story on a newly livable mining planet called Alkirak. In the ten years since Abraham “Bram” Bauer retired from mining for the Muedini Corporation, he has become a colonist on their planet Alkirak and built a home and farm that he loves. While proud of his farm and content with his life, Bram has come to crave a family to share it with. After a year of searching for candidates for a companion contract, he comes across Gael Sonnen’s profile, and is immediately intrigued by the shyness and earnestness he sees in Gael’s eyes.

Gael has lived his entire life in the undercity of the planet Zhemosen. Cut off from the sun and prosperity of the planet above, he has struggled since childhood to care for and protect his younger brother, all the while dreaming of saving enough money for them to escape the lower districts and finally see the sun. Trapped into service by his brother’s actions and debts, Gael is forced to take a job he is ill-equipped to handle, and when it goes sideways, he uses the companion service as a way off the planet. However, his attempt to leave his old life behind isn’t entirely successful, and both Bram and Gael are smacked in the face with unexpected complications, reassessing expectations and the reality that building a life with a complete stranger isn’t as cut and dry as they thought it would be.

While Bram and Gael’s romance is very slow-burn, the pacing is right for their situation and for the characters, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship unfold. Although the MCs lived very different lives before they met, they have much in common by way of personalities and ideals. Both are relatively shy, hardworking men who like taking care of others, value home and family and are content with a simple life. Their courtship is filled with easy silences, tentative touches and the shared joy of working the land and being a family. The one constant hiccup with them as a couple is that Gael and Bram don’t establish an equal footing in the relationship, and that Bram seems oblivious to the power dynamics that keep Gael from settling in and being completely comfortable. At the end of the day, Bram holds all the power; the farm belongs to him and if their relationship fails, Gael is out the door. However, this never seems to occur to Bram; he is disappointed by Gael’s inability to think of the farm as his home but never offers Gael reassurances to that effect. So even when their relationship becomes more, those shaky foundations are still there, and are on painful display whenever Gael feels he’s stepped out of line. However, this insecurity between them does play a fundamental role in their development as a couple and the plot, so while unfortunate, it’s not without merit.

As engaging as Bram and Gael are as they build their family, the worldbuilding is equally so. Zhemosen and Gael’s experiences growing up there are very different than Bram’s experience with the planets he was born on/explored, and you can see how the different environments play a role in shaping the characters’ lives, behaviors and even their colloquialisms. I also enjoyed that while the main focus of the book was the budding friendship and romance between the MCs, that being in space wasn’t just a throwaway concept to make the book seem different. Not only is Alkirak described, but everything about the planet is important to the atmosphere and development of the story—from how the town works to the life Bram leads to major plot points. As someone who enjoys sci-fi, I appreciated the attention to detail and the excellent incorporation of the setting into the story. All in all, this is a charmingly sweet romance in a captivating sci-fi package.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This is one of the most original Sci-Fi concepts I can remember. Bram and Gael’s galaxy caught my imagination and I loved the details of Bram’s life on Alkirak. Bram and Gael’s romance plays out against a slightly terrifying dystopian future. The story is probably more romance than Sci-Fi but the interplay between the two genres works well.

The relationship between Bram and Gael develops at a painfully slow pace. The lack of communication is frustrating, and I never quite believed in the chemistry between them. From the start (Gael is an intergalactic mail order groom), the relationship is one of convenience for Bram and desperation for Gael. And I’m not sure they ever quite move past their utilitarian beginnings.

While I really love the unusual world the author builds for us, I feel like much more world building was needed to really help me fully understand Gael and Aavi’s life before Alkirak. And Bram’s mining past. And the politics on Alkirak. And the communication and transportation systems in the galaxy. So many elements are introduced in this book and not fully explored. This feels like part of a series and I did have to check that I hadn’t missed a previous book.

I’m trying to sort out in my head if I really can classify To See the Sun as a SFR. It takes place in space but there isn’t a whole lot of technology to go with it. You know, really it doesn’t matter because I freaking loved it!

Gael has been running from one desperate situation to another. His current one has gotten him way over in his head and all he wants to do is escape. With help of a friend he finds a way to escape his life by becoming mail-order husband. On the unforgiving world of Alkirak, Bram’s life is harsh and lonely. All he wants is a friend, a companion to share his days (and nights) with so he posts an ad. When Gael answers the ad little did he know what was in for him at far end of the galaxy Whoa!

I was a little off-balance when I started reading the book. It was not quite what I expected to read. Wait, what? I wasn’t expecting that initial impression of Gael. That first chapter left me wondering what did I sign up for. Luckily, I pushed on and found first impression can be very deceiving because I just adored Gael. Life has not been kind to him, and while I’m thinking becoming a mail-order husband is crazy, I certainly understand his motives. Well, NOW I do. Equally, I can understand Bram’s motives. Back end of the galaxy, without much chance of finding someone to share your life with, get yourself mail-order husband. What could possible go wrong with that?!

So, what sold me on this story? Well, frankly everything. The author has done a spectacular job building everything. From world building to Gael and Bram’s relationship and their separate backgrounds, there is a nice steady pace. No rushing into anything, which makes for easy absorption. I just couldn’t help falling in love with Bram, Gael…and Aavi. Now there’s a surprise no one anticipated. Gigglesnorts! It’s not to say there aren’t any very tense or emotional moments because there are those. It’s just nice to have a book have a steady build-up that allows me to enjoy it as I take it all in.

To See the Sun is my first book by author Kelly Jensen and I have to say, I have really enjoyed what I have read. looking at her other titles, my interests has been piqued. This book as well as Ms. Jensen are going on my rec list for ‘so you’re looking for something to read…try this’


I received this book from The JeepDiva with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine

reviewed by Jac

Science fiction is not my go to genre, especially if the story has something to do with space, however, To See the Sun's premise intrigued me; it's not too often that there's a M/M romance that's something else than contemporary. I'm extremely happy that I picked this one up! To See the Sun is a beautiful read, with a right mix of quiet moments and nail biting action. It's character driven, but there's a plot there too and interesting side characters.

Speaking of characters, I could easily identify with both Bram and Gael; Bram, who's quiet, strong and confident, and Gael, who's a survivor and tough in so many ways. Both so different but dreaming same kind of dreams; Bram to have a quiet life with someone to spend it, and Gael just wants to connect and something to go smoothly for once. Their tentative companionship is beautiful, from the tender and fragile feelings to deepening relationship. Absolutely captivating and hard to put down - I almost lost sleep for multiple nights because I didn't want to stop reading.

I have nothing to critique or anything bad to say, I simply love To See the Sun. It's a great M/M romance, which I can recommend to everyone who needs a little bit tender romance and pulsing action. There's barren space frontier with all kinds of experimental farming, mining and small frontier community. There's strong and complex characters, and there's even a bad guy who's not antagonist just for the sake of it - there's reason behind everyone's actions. I already praised how I could identify with the main characters, but there's also young and determined Aavi and saloon running Maya and her brother and mayor, Orfeo.

I highly recommend this one, it certainly surprised me in a very positive way.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I don't normally do sci-fi type books, but I fell in love with the blurb and decided to give it a chance.

Bram and Gael couldn't be more different. Gael wants out of his undercity life. The life that hurt him over and over again. Bram is a miner turned farmer on one of the outer planets. He's lonely and wants a family so badly.

When Bram and Gael agree to a contract, neither knows what to expect. The attraction they feel is instant, but they both get more than they bargained for when they finally meet face to face.

There's a little bit of danger surrounding Gael's past and my heart went out to him because all he wanted was a new start.

I read this book in a few hours and I really enjoyed every second of it. Bram and Gael are two well written characters. The world that Kelly Jensen created is done well and it felt real at times. I kind of never wanted Bram and Gael's story to end because it felt like they were just getting started.

I really liked this sci-fi romance.

The novel may be set in the future in the far reaches of settled space, but the story is an analogue of mail-order bride romances set in the Old West. Needing to escape from the clutches of the criminal organization he’s reluctantly been working for, Gael answers an advertisement for a companion to join a homesteader on a distant planet. The ad was placed by Bram, a miner turned farmer, who hopes that companionship will turn into something deeper, finally giving him the family he craves. The budding romance between the two lonely men is complicated by a young stowaway slave who follows Gael on his journey and by the darkness of Gael’s nightmarish past.

In sci-fi romances, the worldbuilding can sometimes be ignored in favor of the love story, but that’s not the case here. The author takes the time to develop a detailed description of the planet where the story is based, so it’s not just a simple Earth-analogue. That attention to detail made the story come alive in the way that a more generic setting wouldn’t. Add to that two very likeable main characters and a slow-burn romance that is very appropriate to the situation in which they find themselves, and you’ve got a recipe for a very good romance novel.

I’ve only read one other book by Kelly Jensen, but based on how much I enjoyed this one, I’m going to have to track down some of her others and give them a try. I think I’ve been missing out.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I've ready several books by this author and have enjoyed every single one. She has a wonderful ability to write about people who you truly like and whose story you want to follow. They are good people, in trying circumstances, who are worthy of giving and receiving a deep relationship. And although I was initially drawn to the sci fi aspects, it's really the wonderful people and warm romance that bring me back.

Story: Bram survives in a harsh environment as a homesteader - mining a distant planet for subsistence. Gael, meanwhile, survives in the mean streets of the undercity of a city-planet, trying to be a decent person but always drawn into the worst society has to offer in the underground. When a lonely Bram advertises for help and companionship, Gael jumps at the chance to run from a difficult situation. For him, it is a chance to finally see the sun.

Jensen's Chaos Station is a beloved series for me and I eagerly look forward to every new book she publishes. The quality is always there - from solid writing to great characterization. I especially like that any 'bad' guys aren't mustache twirlers but instead tend to be complicated or conflicted individuals who make poor choices.

With To See The Sun, there is a lot of build up before we get our main characters together. That helps to establish their situations and get to know our protagonists and their antagonists better. It also means that this isn't just a romance - that world building and story development are given full attention. And I've seen it written in other reviews but yes, these books really are perfect for those worried about the sci fi aspect - it's about the people but in different situations that all ring familiar.

In all, I will always look for books by Kelly Jensen or Jen Burke. I know I will get characters who are grounded, nuanced, yet at heart good people. It makes for wonderful reads that always make me glad I took the time at the end. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I really loved this author's Chaos Station series (which if you haven't read you should) so I was excited to try this new stand alone book of hers. The story starts off with a bit of action as Gael finds himself in a seriously bad situation and has to make a major change to gain control of his life. He's desperate when he answers Bram's ad and doesn't expect more than a bit of safety and a fresh start. What he finds is a kind man and a chance at a life he never dreamed he could have.

One of things I enjoyed the most about this book was the pacing of the story. There are a few dramatic events to keep the plot moving along but it's mostly a sweet and quiet story. Another strong point was fantastic character development. Both of the main characters are shy and lonely and all they really want is to have a quiet, happy life. Watching them work together to build this was so touching. They start with a tentative friendship but as they get to know each other they start to fall in love. It was a perfect slow burn romance with a nice bit of hurt/comfort.

Sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed with sci-fi stories because the world building is too much for my brain. It was perfect here. There was enough to let me imagine the unique planet of Alkirak but not so much I got overwhelmed with the details. The author creates a unique planet and paints such detailed imagery that the reader can feel both Bram's isolation on this remote planet and his love and pride for his home.

The ending was just perfect and made even my Grinch heart get filled with all of the feelz. I was so happy for these two and the family they build together.

We're about half way through the year and I'm already starting to think about which books are going to make my "Best Of" list and chances are high this book will make that list. This is one I strongly recommend.

Cover: This cover was done by Garrett Leigh and I like it a lot. It is perfect for the story and captures the vibe of the story perfectly.

To See the Sun is a SF m/m romance, set almost entirely on the remote and hostile planet of Alkirak. Bram is an ex-miner turned farmer, leading a quiet life on his own land claim. Gael is an interstellar runaway from the dystopian megacity on the planet of Zhemosen, barely more than a kid, fleeing a life that’s set to destroy him. Bram’s looking for a companion to share his days with. In Bram, Gael sees a way out.
There’s a lot to like about this novel. Jensen’s worldbuilding is thorough, and Alkirak—a planet too hot to survive on except for in the crevasses that mar the surface—really feels like a frontier in the style of the history of the American west or Australasia.
The power differential between Gael and Bram is something I would have really liked to have seen explored more. From the point at which Gael arrives on Alkirak, a destitute fugitive with only the clothes he’s standing up in, he relies on Bram for everything. Bram provides him food and a roof over his head, and doesn’t seem to really need a lot in exchange. Gael’s life is in Bram’s pocket.
There are moments seen from each of their perspectives which drive this home. When they argue, in Bram’s eyes he just needs to apologise for being an ass. For Gael, his entire world is upended and he could be headed back to Zhemosen to face death. There’s no indication that Bram recognises what he holds over Gael’s head in these moments.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen Gael learning to stand on his own two feet. His self-effacement and his need to please are totally believable for a character with his backstory, and made my heart hurt a little. But to get me totally onboard with Bram and Gael’s romance, I’d need to see Gael learning how to be a person in his own right before learning how that person can love someone else.
None of this is to say that Bram, as a character, isn’t bloody adorable. If Bram weren’t as kind or as patient as he is, this romance would have gone nowhere for me. But because Bram is a sweetheart, I was desperately rooting for their happiness all the way through.
Jensen builds such a tender and precarious romance that my blood pressure could scarcely take it. In fact, some of my favourite scenes are the quietest—learning to live on Bram’s farm together, getting used to one another’s habits, moments of domesticity. In these moments, Jensen’s story really shines.
If you’re into the frontier setting; if you’re into the bear/twink dynamic; if you’re into sweet, gentle romance: this book is worth your time.

I'm not the hugest fan of science fiction, but I really enjoyed this story set on Alkirak, an inhospitable half-terraformed planet with deep crevasses and poison mists. Bram is a "former miner turned farmer who [writes] poetry in his spare time" and longs for "the possibility of a family. Children. He wanted to share his life with another man. Someone quiet like him. Someone who wanted the same things."

Gael lives a hard-scrabble existence on Zhemosen, a garden planet for the wealthy, but where the poor live in the undercity with "dark streets, bitter air, and water that tasted like sweat." Gael is running away from his life and his past and a one-year contract on Alkirak seems like an answer to his prayers. But Gael unknowingly has a stow-away with him, and soon Bram finds himself with his new "mail order" companion and a girl who introduces herself as Aavi, Gael's (non-existent) sister.

What follows is a sweet love story that gently unfolds as Gael learns to trust and depend on Bram and his steady and gentle soul. Aavi and Bram and Gael slowly become a family, and there is a delicious slow-burn between Bram and Gael as they bond together as friends and lovers. Their's is a romance that grows sweeter with time and Jensen's writing and pacing is so well done. The pacing of the entire tale feels just right, as there is an interesting amount of world-building balanced with a subplot of Gael and Aavi's pasts catching up with them and the ending is simply perfect. I loved the depth of character development, especially of Aavi and Maia, and the world-building is so well-done. 4 stars for "To See the Sun."

"I never considered color before you, Whether gray, amber, purple, or blue. Dust was dust and sky was sky, I never thought to question why. Now here you are, with all you bring, Color and brightness, and a meaning to every thing. I didn’t really see the world before you came, Now all of it sings an echo of your name."

Will add link with review posts.

Favorite Quote:
"I want to show you everything. One day, I'm going to show you everything."

This is probably one of the most low-key science fiction romances I've ever read. I anticipated a whole lot of angsty conflict after reading the first chapter, but.. there really wasn't too much.

The first time readers are introduced to Gael he is trying to talk himself into committing a murder. Before he can convince himself to pull the trigger, someone else does the deed for him. Which leaves him running from not only the man who just blew a guy's head off, but also from his employers who sent him to complete the mission. The only way off the hell hole of a planet he resides on and out away from the people looking for him is to accept a contract off world as a companion to a lonely miner.

The first time readers meet Abraham Bauer, better known as Bram, he is down in the dredges of his claim, trying to figure out how the size of the seam he just discovered. A retired foreman with Muedini Corporation, now he mines his own claim and farms his leased land. He's built himself a nice homestead, but he's lonely and wants to find a nice man and maybe start a family someday. Which is why he goes looking for love on the holo terminal and sees Gael for the first time.

Gael is running from a shitty life on a planet where the poor are basically owned by powerful families. Slavery and child labor are legal and the only way out is to become someone else and run to another planet. He takes Bram up on his contract thinking he was finally getting at chance at a different kind of life. Bram is ready for a partner to share his life and farm with. This could be something good for both of them.

Their relationship is slow, and steady, and the getting to know you is romantic. Bram is gruff, but tender. Gael wants so much to be accepted and wanted. I liked how these two fit together, different strengths, different vulnerabilities, but they fit together like puzzle pieces. I also appreciated how Bram was determined to not in any way pressure Gael into a sexual side to their relationship. By the time they finally fell into each other I was convinced that it was the exact right time for it to happen. There are some complications... a stowaway that pops up at the beginning, Gael's past, Bram's reservations, and the unforgiving harsh environment. But these two really want that chance at a new life together.

The science fiction aspects were done very well, and it was very easy to follow along and understand the world building. The stark, desolate surroundings leant a certain tension to the storyline, even as Bram and Gael's relationship built slowly, but steadily. Very nicely done and I would definitely recommend.

To See the Sun

Kelly Jensen, 2018


New Release! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review.


Premise: Outer colonies are the rough frontier, which might be why Bram never seems to meet anyone special. That is, until he sees Gael's profile on the interstellar matchmaking service. Gael would do anything to leave his planet; he knows it's foolish to also hope for love.



I've been dipping further into romance and romance-adjacent books of late, so I I thought I'd give this LGBT sci-fi romance with the pretty cover a try. And the verdict is... it's fine.


It's good even. Enjoyable, well-written, two main characters who fit around each other's quirks and grow to care for each other. The complications of the sci-fi setting are decently described and fun.



But, it's also a trope-riddled cliche from top to bottom. We've got your mail-order bride, your fake relationship to escape possible slavery, your instant found family, your fake relationship that turns into a real relationship, your city-planet of endless corruption, your past sexual trauma that a character has to overcome, your dual perspectives that mean the reader knows the characters' relationship would be fine if they would just talk to each other, your space is really just the wild west with different shading, your unreasonably jealous ex for a villain...


None of these are bad. They're all fairly well-handled. But all together, it's a bit much for me. There just wasn't anything new. The sci-fi skin allowed for a few environmental hazards and an sexually flexible society, but it didn't feel different enough from the westerns it was mimicking. I liked the characters, but I didn't have any reason to love them.


3 Stars - A Good Book

What a treat to read a sci-fi romance by Kelly Jensen again! As a loyal fan of her Chaos Station series (written with co-author Jenn Burke), I didn't realize how much I'd been missing sci-fi related romances until diving into this one. It's a new world (well multiple worlds) in this mail order groom type story, like a Western but set on planets that are harsh and lonely and require desperation and strength to survive. For Gael, escape is the name of the game when he applies for the 'position' with Bram on an outerworld mining colony. From the start their relationship is cautious and tentative, with unexpected complications that can tie them together or drive them apart. The worldbuilding is excellent and inventive, and while I might not want to live in any of these places, I'd be happy to call these characters friends. It's a slow burn romance, with some latter half sexy times and emotional connection. Action and adventure has a place too, with some dramatic plot twists that make the end a real page turner. There's a happy ending for this couple and it's going on my re-read shelf!

To See the Sun is the story of two men, one lonely minder turned farmer and one runaway "criminal", falling in love on a distant planet. The love story truly is beautiful. It takes a long time to build up to actual intimacy and I enjoyed the slow build a lot. The world-building is great as well, I could imagine this remote planet very well and the whole eco-system of it seemed realistic and believable.

If you're worried this story might be too sci-fi for you, don't be. At the core it is 100% a romance novel. It builds the world around it, but in the core it's about Bram and Gael finding their happily ever after.

While I really enjoyed this book and got into the romance a lot, the ending was a bit much for me. I usually don't read romance novels, and I'm more one for bitter sweet endings and not complete happy-ends, but I will ignore my personal preferences here for now. It got a bit too dramatic sometimes, but that is just the way these novels role and I never felt like it actually annoyed me. It just helped raise the stakes a bit.

Overall this is a very sweet and tender love-story, with quite some steamy bits, and a well thought out sci-fi setting, that I would recommend to anyone who is into romance novels. It's a quick read with lots of und and emotional ups and downs and definitely a lovely one for the summer.

Gael had never seen the sun, living in an underground city his whole life. Because of his brothers debt (he has to pay it even though his brother is dead), he agrees to kill someone and fails. In failing, a small act of kindness would come back and bite him. His only options are to indenture himself or become a sort of mail order groom. Going across the galaxy he hoped to get away from his problems.

Abraham (Bram) is a farmer in a colony on an inhospitable planet. His farm is doing well, he might of just found a mineral that will make him rich, or at least improve his life. He's lonely and though he could spend time with almost any miner, he wants someone to call his own.

When Gael came to Bram’s world he was disappointed. Instead of sun and stars, he got dark crevasses, dust and poison air. But he also got a sister and a good man to love.

This was a sweet, very slow burn, love story. World building was well done. The despair of the undercity, the colors in the crevasses and the cave Bram calls home were vividly real. Nice story.

I thought this was really lovely. There wasn't a lot of action, most of the tension being either in someone's fear something might happen or in the two men tiptoeing around getting to know one another, but it was nice. Jensen's writing is beautiful and there was a happy ending for all, except the baddies (who predominantly remained faceless).

I did side-eye the gendered representation of the men though. I don't mean to suggest all men have to be giant paragons of masculinity, but in the face of jokes about Gael being purchased as Bram's "wife," the fact that he's the physically smaller of the two and excelled at cooking, cleaning and sewing (and genre-wise, came with a kid and was the one that needed to be rescued) almost made him feel uncomfortably misgendered.

I suspect that Jensen gave him some of these same qualities in an attempt to show that a man can still be a man even if he's not ringing each coded 'male' bell. Which just goes to show the thin line authors walk, trying to avoid being stereotypical in one direction only to have someone say they're being stereotypical in another.

At least Jensen was scrupulous about consent, both spoken and unspoken, even when one partner didn't initially understand that the other was protecting him in this regard (or that he needed it). She broke convention in not only allowing the smaller man to 'top,' but even addressing the ridiculous trope that it's always the bigger man that does.

I also appreciate that both men were a little older, Bram being almost 50 and Gael 29. Plus, Bram was just one of the most lovable leads I've read in a while. So were Geal and Aavi, but Bram stole the show for me. All in all, I really loved this. I don't hand out a lot of 5-stars, but To See the Sun deserves one.

3 1/2 Stars, this was an enjoyable book there was much about the story that I enjoyed; the slow burn, the unique story I liked what the author was trying to do with the world building. For me I found it confusing, I could. It quite grasp the concept the author was trying to portray. Although I liked the MC’s I felt something was missing.

To See the Sun is a wonderfully romantic story. It's a slow building romance set far into the future on planets that seem harsh and uninviting but still offer something beautiful.

I don't often read books in this genre and that is because often these stories are just not quite my taste. This is one of them.
I love the romance. The two protagonists - Gael and Bram - take a while to get to know each other and their moments together are written so beautifully and emotionally and I really liked these parts of the book.

It's the rest that just wasn't my thing. The parts about mining and the colony Gael and Bram live in were long and full of technical terms and it didn't really feel like it should take up so much of the story.
The story itself was relatively predictable and as much as I loved Gael, I just couldn't get Bram, somehow.

I was astounded by how well the trauma and grief and abuse of the past were described and which effects this has on the love story. Certainly one of the best parts of this book.

I'm sure a lot of people will love this more than I did but while it was an enjoyable and cute story for me, To See the Sun wasn't quite what I had hoped it'd be.

I received a free copy through netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

To See the Sun was such a beautiful romantic story. It's about two people finding each other, but it's also a story about hope, about finding your sun, about finding your home. And about someone who has been through so much bad stuff and still finds a place to shine. It's one of the best books I read so far this year.

Ever since I first heard about this book I knew I had to read it and with every additional piece of information I got I only got more convinced that this was a book for me. So ofcourse when I eventually got accepted on netgalley and had the book I suddenly started to hope my high expectations hadn't set me up for disapointing. But it didn't, this book was exactly a book for me and while it wasn't full what I had expected, I mean that in the best possible way. It was refreshing. and the story was so good I just wanted to keep reading.

To See the Sun is a science fiction romance unlike any other I've read before. It takes the mail order bride theme and puts it in space with a twist. It's totally refreshing and at the same time it's a very down to earth story about normal people leaving normal lives, finding that type of extraordinary love. I also liked how it had a twist petty early on in the story and I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I did.

To See the Sun starts with Gael's point of view, in the dark shady city he lives in about to do something horrifying. I immediately liked Gael because even tough he lives in such a bad place there is still a spark of good in him and even with what he's been through he still has that bit of light and hope and goodness. I felt so bad for him for his situation and what he's been through. I do feel like that start was very important as it shows were he came from and without understanding that the rest of the book wouldn't have been so powerful. And I loved seeing how he came from such a bad place and been through difficult things, but then over the course of this book slowly changed and found his place on the other side of the galaxy.

The book is told from dual point of views from both Gael and Bram's point of view. I also liked Bram from the start, he was this quiet miner turned farmer who was lonely and deciding to try ordering a mail order husband. I also liked how patient he was in almost everything. And also how patient and caring he was with Gael.

The first part of the story is the set-up and I was excited to see what happened when these two met. I liked how they were a bit awkward and got to know each other first. In fact the romance is a pretty slow burn, which I liked and totally fit these characters and their background.

While I liked both characters and how they interacted, it did take me some time to fully feel their romance and attraction to each other. I think that's mainly because at first Gael comes across as very young and down/ damaged. And Bram more like he takes care of him. But once Gael starts adjusting to his new life and opens up to Bram about the demons of his past, I felt they grew closer and I really felt their connection then. Oh and the epilogue is awesome, romantic and sweet.

The story deals with some heavy/ dark topics, but only touches upon them lightly. The dark parts are about Gael and Aavi's past and what happened on Zhemsosen. But that's mostly in the past and the book more deals with how they're recovering from that and how their past has shaped them. The overall tone of the book stays pretty light and sweet. Although it also has a little bit of steam later on in the book.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how down to earth and realistic and normal it is. Yes it takes place on another planet, but everything from the world building to the living condition to the characters all felt thought out and realistic. And while they have some things to deal with it that might not too be too common, they still felt like very normal people. It wasn't as epic of big scale and I really appreciated the small scope of this book. It worked for this story to have the focus be on the characters and their home here on Alkirak.

I also loved the world building. While there isn't much we learn about the galaxy that's okay, there's enough to understand the story and as I mentioned before the scope of the story is pretty small. And most of the actual world building or about the planet Alkirak. I really liked how the author made the planet came alive and how I was vividly able to imagine how everything looked like and how people lived on this harsh planet.

There were dangers like the toxic mist and how they couldn't breath outside the little pocket of atmosphere they created. The people live in crevasses in the landscape. But barely anyone lives here at all, it really is a frontier planet and besides one town and a mining operation there isn't much here. And that's also what made it so interesting to read about. The focus really is on the main characters as they rarely see other people.

At first I found the small cave system that Bram called his home to be claustrophobic when i imaged how it looked like, but eventually the whole thing turned into cozy and homey in my head and I am not even sure how that happened. It was so fun to read about this little piece of land Bram made his own and where the build his home. I also liked reading about his farm and the animals he kept and how he was able to make things grow here.

To summarize: To See the Sun is a beautiful story about romance, hope and finding someone to share your life with. It was down to earth and dangerous and romantic and realistic. I had a hard time putting it down as I wanted to know how the story continues. I liked both Gael and Bram. I did had a bit of trouble feeling their romance at first, but I liked how it slowly build and how realistic it felt and even how they where a bit awkward at first. Once they grow closer and Gale opens up to Bram about his past I really started to feel their romance. And the epilogue is so sweet and romantic. There are also some great side characters like Maia and Aavi. I loved the world building how it's set on this harsh and unforgiving planet, but life still finds a way. To See the Sun is a very unique and refreshing take on the science fiction romance genre and one of the best books I read this year so far.