Cover Image: Outre

Outre

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Member Reviews

Outre by D. J. Adamson is part of a trilogy that is set in the 1980’s. There are many events that took place in a town that has everyone asking many questions. The biggest one of all was could it be aliens? The story is from a 15 yr old Jack Cahill and his friends. It starts with a tornado and then adds missing women, animals mutated and people dead. The story definitely is slow to pick up interest but I held on and and I am glad I did. You will be asking yourself if you believe in aliens when you finish the book.

Thank you netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed reading this, the characters were great and I enjoyed the world-building in the book. I liked the use of different perspective.

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Outre has been sitting on my Netgalley shelf for a while. It’s a short, fun book about a potential alien invasion and I shot through it once I started.

When I say short, I mean short. This was one of the quickest read I’ve had this year at less than 200 pages long. Sometimes that’s just what you need though – especially when trying to catch up on your Goodreads challenge. I read it in a day. Any longer, and I’m not certain it would have held my attention, but the pacing worked and I got swept up in this short ride about whether or not aliens were invading.

Jake is a normal teenage boy. Like a couple of his friends, he believes there’s a chance that aliens exist. When a couple of mysterious deaths rock his small hometown, Jake doesn’t realise his investigations may lead to something bigger. Deaths lead to cattle mutilation and, ultimately, a storm devastates their community, flattening every house but one – Jake’s.

With his mum and sister missing (abducted, if Jake’s eyes weren’t playing tricks on him) and his dad seriously injured, Jake and his friends soon realise there is something much bigger going on. A cover up – but who knows what, and what exactly is being covered up?

Jake is a fun main character. He’s your average fifteen-year-old boy, ready to believe he is an adult and can explain all the mysterious events. The adults are being too practical – don’t they realise all of the signs point to invaders from another planet? He has no idea what is going on and realises he is in over his head, but with his family in danger, he won’t rest. He tries not to drag his friends into it but even aliens can’t rip apart a teenage bond and they are with him until the end.

Their conviction there were aliens made for an enjoyable introduction. But I must admit – I got caught up. The length means the pacing is consistent and the tension increases as the boys realise there is something much bigger than theories going on. A hunt and a chase through a dark wood makes for a nice climax and you genuinely start to worry about what will happen to them.

There are no answers in this book apart from the idea that yes, aliens may have invaded. The ending hints towards answers, but then finishes rather abruptly without offering any closure, just a cliff-hanger setting it up for book two. It was an intriguing ending, but I would have liked a resolution to at least one part of the book rather than left feeling the entire thing is just a set up for the next one.

As mentioned, if this book was longer, it wouldn’t have held me. But it worked for its length and the subject matter and was an entertaining read even if not one to take too seriously. If you’re looking for a bit of fun, then give it a go.

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Great novel, highly recommend for those who enjoy the genre. Will be recommending for immediate purchase.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Slow at first, picks up speed and then......no spoilers but I can wait to read the next instalment.

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I enjoyed this book, it was a pleasure to read . A quick read; but kept me interested the through the whole book , it was a little scary and sad

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This book started out slow but soon sucked me in. I really like the storyline and can't wait to read the next book!

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Outre by D.J Anderson.
A good read but found it slow. But still read it. The story was ok but I just couldn't get into it. 4*.

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I received a free copy of Outre for an honest review from Net Galley. Buckle up and hold on! What an amazing ride. While outre does start of a bit slow, it quickly grabs you and holds on. You are let wanting more and more. I am so ready for the next book in the trilogy. Set in 1989, you get see how a young 15 year old boy tries to grapple with what has happened in his home state. Was it truly an "act of nature" or something worse? Who can you believe? How do you know you are right? Very compelling and excellent storytelling. My daughter is now reading this as well. Thank you for such a great recommendation!

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Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a nice 80's coming of age tale. It starts out slow but picks up and makes you die to know what happens next. I usually don't like sci-fi books, but this had a different feel. Highly recommended. Now I have to read the other two books.

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