In the spring of 1995, Nate Cartwright has lost everything: his parents are dead, his older brother wants nothing to do with him, and he’s been fired from his job as a journalist in Washington DC. With nothing left to lose, he returns to his family’s summer cabin outside the small mountain town of Roseland, Oregon to try and find some sense of direction.The cabin should be empty.It’s not.Inside … empty.
It’s not.
Inside is a man named Alex. And with him is an extraordinary little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader.
Artemis, who isn’t exactly as she appears.
Soon it becomes clear that Nate must make a choice: let himself drown in the memories of his past, or fight for a future he never thought possible.
Because the girl is special. And forces are descending upon them who want nothing more than to control her.
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I adore this author and this was everything I’ve come to expect from his writing. It was engaging, well paced, excellent character development, and I story I won’t soon forget. Artemis Darth Vadar stole the show and her quirky personality and witt will be something I remember for a long time.
I found myself unable to put this book down once I started it! The story was intriguing and engaging, leaving little clues as it progressed. The era in which the story takes place was done really well and made it easy to visualize. I didn’t want it to end.
I’m just waiting for the day where a T.J. Klune book doesn’t take my breath away. This book captivated my attention on page 1 and never really let me go.
Nate Cartwright feels lost and directionless. When his parents die, they leave him a cabin they used to go to in the summers in Oregon. He expects to stay there and reflect on his life is going. He doesn’t expect to find a man and little girl squatting in the cabin.
I can’t really say anything about the plot without some major spoilers. I will say that this story is filled with twists and turns, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It’s everything you want in a sci-fi book.
The romance is very much secondary here, but I honestly didn’t care. I thought Nate and Alex were such complex characters on their own that even if there was no romance I would have been just as invested. I loved them so much. They were filled with so many emotions. If you’ve read a book by Klune, you know how realistic his characters could be. They were both filled with grief, loss, love, hope. I adored them.
Artemis Darth Vader is… honestly the only word I can come up with is fucking delightful. She’s wonderful and scary and brilliant, I love her with all my heart.
This story is about grief and family and love. It’s magical and emotional just like Klune’s other stories. Fans of the found family trope will devour this.
This book…wow. I should know by now that if it’s a TJ Klune book, I’m going to love it and be blown away by the sheer brilliance and creativeness in the writing. This book was no exception. It was PHENOMENAL! It had action and laughs and surprises and so much freaking emotion…again. It was wonderful.
It also has an incredibly moving romance that develops that’s such a small part of the overall story, but so powerful. JUST WOW!!
I listened to this book on audio and HIGHLY RECOMMEND it that way if you enjoy audiobooks!
O.M.G. This book is awesome, beyond awesome. Artemis is the best old soul in a young body ever. Nate’s life is messed up. Mostly his own fault. It’s Alex I like most. Strong silent type, used and worn down by the system. The Government are quite rightly the bad guys and get just what they deserve. This trio make such an incredible compelling team. It’s a one sit read. Tj has done it again. All the stars!
It’s rare I get excited about upcoming books. Not until they are out and I can read a chapter or two in the previews or read reviews. This one, I’ve read the blurb. I’ve read the premise and the teasers from TJ, and couldn’t hit the preorder button fast enough. Into the River I Drown, which is based in the same town, is one of my absolute favorite books and knowing we’ll get a glimpse at some of my favorite characters pre that story didn’t hurt.