Rating: 4.72 out of 5
Omg, I just finished reading The Earth Trap and I am literally vibrating with excitement right now? I didn't think I would get this invested in a sci-fi story about trash picking in space, but here we are. The whole concept of humanity living in the Solar System after Earth collapsed is such a cool setting, but it's the main character, Jimi Phoenix, who really stole the show for me.
Jimi is honestly such a mood. He is a "vulture" - which sounds gross but is actually super dangerous and cool - and watching him navigate the ruins of the past in Chapter 1 - Garbage Pick Up was surprisingly intense. You expect him to just find some scrap metal, but the atmosphere is so heavy and creepy. You can tell he is lonely but trying to survive, and I just wanted to give him a hug.
The suspense in this novel is actually insane. In Chapter 2 - Cornered, I was scrolling so fast I almost dropped my phone. The way the author describes the feeling of being trapped - like, literally, hence the title - gave me major anxiety. It felt like the walls of the spaceship were closing in on me. And then Chapter 4 - Flying Out? The relief! But also the adrenaline? Perfection.
But can we talk about Chapter 5 - A Lesson in Time? I was not ready for that emotional deep dive. The title sounded boring, like a history class, but it was actually so heartbreaking. It completely changed how I saw the "Earth" part of the story. It wasn't just a dead planet anymore; it was a memory that hurt.
I know the formatting in the raw file was a little messy - big blocks of text and stuff - but honestly, you stop noticing it after like two pages because the voice is so strong. Kraychek has this way of writing that feels super casual but hits you right in the feels when you least expect it.
If you like stories about lonely boys in space, high-stakes survival, and secrets that might destroy the world (again), you have to read this. It is messy, it is loud, and it is totally addictive. 4.72/5 stars because Jimi Phoenix deserves the world, or at least a better spaceship.
