Reviewed by JustJen
Title: Trasmundo: Escape
Author: Varian Krylov
Series: Trasmundo #1
Heroes: Luka/Tarik
Genre: MM Dystopian
Length: 236 Pages
Publisher: Varian Krylov
Release Date: August 6, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Strange, quiet Luka doesn’t live in this world; long ago he took refuge in his art, escaping into surreal mindscapes inspired by his favorite painters. In the beautifully monstrous realms of his imagination, he is safe from the pain of his losses: his family, his friends, his hope.
Until war breaks out, and he is forced to flee the only home he’s known since he was thirteen.
Captured by an enemy soldier, young Luka is marched across brutal terrain, toward a fate known only by the bearded menace holding him prisoner. Quick with a knife, tireless and strong, Tarik guards the purpose of his mission as he takes Luka deeper and deeper into enemy territory.
When the soldier discovers the painful secret he has been hiding since childhood, Luka fears he is about to endure a new kind of cruelty, worse than being abandoned, ostracized or beaten. Or is it possible the soldier holding Luka prisoner is the one person who isn’t afraid of the truth behind Luka’s silence and lies?
Review: This story started out a little slow for me. The first 25% is filled with a lot of words, vivid descriptions and foreign names that almost had me giving up. But, I’m so glad I didn’t, because once things got moving and the dialog picked up, I was riveted.
Poor sweet Luka has had it rough. He lives in a world where his people are looked down upon and persecuted for seemingly no reason at all. Made to wear an armband to show who he is and living in fear every day of being shipped off to a camp, makes for a very timid Luka. In addition, he was sent away at a young age by his family for painting images of other boys and being caught and told on by people he thought were friends. In a nutshell, he has grown up believing thoughts of other men are disgusting and evil, he has little education, but he does have an amazing talent for art, though that backfires on him more than once.
It isn’t until he meets Tarik that things really take a turn for him. Tarik basically saves him, but believing he is a traiter and enemy soldier when Tarik finds him, he is not very caring or gentle with Luka. As the two journey together towards freedom, their friendship and trust grows. I absolutely loved these guys together once they started exploring more than a friendship. It is a slow start and takes some kid gloves to help Luka get past his hangups, but Tarik is just the man for the job.
This is a very edgy, gritty story with bad human beings and a grim outlook. I loved being on the journey with these two and was pulling for them every step of the way. I was on the edge of my seat more than once as they faced the various obstacles along the way and was definitely not ready for the story to end where it did. I can’t wait to see how these guys make out and really look forward to their next book.
Overall Impression: I loved it
*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*
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