Review: Before the Darkness
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 15, 2012
I read this book with Adriana in a buddy read for the MM Romance group at Goodreads.I had found the synopsis to be alluring.  However when I began reading, I became turned off by the long and at times extremely dramatic build up of the plot. Yet I was locked into the buddy read so I  pushed myself to read on. I must say that this book turns around in the second half, picks up speed and ends nicely.The story was labeled both  as a  MM Romance/Erotica and Post Apocalyptic, yet to be honest, the blending of the two genres is not smooth.In fact it seemed at times that there were two separate stories going on in the same book, with the first half primarily focused on the MM Romance/erotica story line and the second half primarily focused on the action adventure of the Post Apocalyptic survival.There is a fair amount of dramatics in this book ranging from arguing, to outright fighting, then to all out guy on guy sex. While at times I found this to be a roll-a-coaster ride of emotions, in the end it all seems to work towards forging a strong connection between the two main characters.As for the characters, I could relate to both characters. They are believable, original, flawed and yet heroic in their own ways.The character of Elliot was deeply insecure, manipulative and highly insensitive at times, but his character does end up showing growth.The character of Adam started off rather brutish and passive- aggressive yet he too show growth as the story  progresses.I feel the author did a great job with the dialogs. While I might not have appreciated what Elliot and Adam were saying to each other and about each other, the conversations were life like. I could mentally `see' the arguments take place and it felt that the words rang true for these characters.I felt the secondary characters added to the story in just the right spots providing the information, help, and humor of an otherwise intense and at time emotionally draining (from the large amount of arguing) scenes.For me, there was too much sex in the beginning of this story. I feel that many of the sex  scenes did not fit with the characters relationship or their situations at the time they took place.As for the world within the book: I feel the book needed more environmental descriptions, as the image of their environment (what they seen, what they heard, where exactly they were) seemed pale for such a rich setting as a post apocalyptic city.There was a decent plot resolution to this book, but it ends with just enough of a tease into the next book in the series to keep me in suspense.When I consider the book as a whole, its weaknesses and its strong points combined, I feel that it balances out to be a good read.I struggled with whether to give this book three or four stars. I decided to give it four stars, because it turned around so nicely with the characters and plot growing to an intense ending, making me want to read more.So do I recommend this book? Yes, I would, yet I would caution my friends and other readers that the story starts off slow, seeming to get way off track before the action adventure gets going.I will likely read the next book in the series.