Reviews - The Light Pirate

2.72k reviews for:

An apocalyptic climate change novel with a strangely hopeful ending. As Florida is devastated by worse and worse hurricanes, a baby girl is born amidst family tragedy and grows up a survivor with a magical gift. This novel is imperfect at parts - for example, the section titles and breaks didn't resonate, and several characters seem like thinly sketched charicatures - but also so many parts were heartwrenching and scarily realistic - the slow systemic collapse, Wanda's loneliness, the looting and chaos after disaster. I particularly loved the setting in my home state, the descriptions of Kirby and Lucas' work as linemen, and the conclusion that humans can and will adapt to circumstances. This reminded me of 'Where the Crawdads Sing' in its gorgeous depictions of wildlife and of 'Station Eleven' in the community bonds and beauty that can be found even after the end.

GU Book Club, September 2023.

birdykinsreads's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

The Light Pirate by @lilybrooksdalton
Purchased myself ✅

I did not expect to love this as much as I did, but from the very first page I was completely hooked.

Told with bold and emotional writing, Lily Brooks-Dalton unfolds a story of watery endtimes that’s laced through with just the right amount of magical realism to keep things contemplative but not too fantastical.

We follow Wanda as she’s born in the hurricane that marks the beginning of a true climate catastrophe and comes of age in the care of her electrician dad and brother who are doing everything in their power to maintain a grid at its breaking point. Where we go from there, is a bounce through the coming years and revealing how we got there in flashback.

I really loved Phyllis, the survivalist/prepper biologist that takes Wanda under her wing and the quiet queer romance drifting in the undercurrent. Although the first half of this book was exceptional in its tense atmosphere, I think the quieter second half was just as fascinating in its imagining of what our world might become as the lights go out and the water comes in.

Truly such an engaging surprise of a book to end the year with, if this has been lingering on your tbr I urge you to bring it to the top!! Thanks for the buddy read @jeatherhanereads and @jcgalligan —I wouldn’t have picked this up without you!! And now I’m looking forward to more Water World themed books. After the Flood is next on my list!

jen_forbus's review against another edition

4.0

Intense dystopian plot that evokes a lot of thought about our environment and how prepared humans are for the world they're driving toward. The plot drives this novel. The audiobook narration is good. There is nothing especially distinctive that makes it stand out, but is well-read and doesn't get in the way of the story.

lindsaychryssis's review against another edition

5.0

Frighteningly believable telling of a future world we cannot fathom but is in some ways inevitable. This story was beautifully told, tender, honest and deeply engulfing. I don’t expect I’ll stop thinking about it anytime soon. The relationships, the characters, the everyday experiences alongside the heartbreak and life changing moments. Our desire as a species to belong. To be with one another. Our fear and selfishness - trust and despair. It’s all here, this book is a special one.

tgsalsman's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 really. Interesting look at what a future could be if sea levels rise and society takes some big shifts. I love magical realism, and really could have done with more about the lights and Wanda and the essence of that connection. Overall well written and sad and compelling.

bethjojo15's review against another edition

5.0

This book was phenomenal! Although it is technically a dystopian story, I wonder how far in the future the premise is. It speaks a lot of fast changes and I think we are already seeing some of the foreshadowing of this story.