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A review by betweentheshelves
The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Andrew and Jamie have finally made it to the Florida Keys after a long, treacherous journey to get there. However, safety doesn't seem to last when you're living in a post-apocalyptic world. Andrew is happy to settle down with the new family they've found, but Jamie is anxious for them to head out on their own. After everything the two of them have experienced, he's not ready to trust people yet.
But when a hurricane hits the Keys, their new home is destroyed. Followed by a betrayal they weren't expecting, Jamie and Andrew are forced to head out to find new shelter. But will their relationship survive another dangerous journey?
Thanks to Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown to review! All That's Left In the World was a favorite of mine from 2022, so I was excited to get to see Andrew and Jamie again. Plus, it gave Brown the opportunity to expand on this post-apocalyptic world he created.
From the beginning, this book will have you stressed. Just when Jamie and Andrew think that they're safe, things start to take a turn for the worse. They honestly can't catch a break in this book. Throughout, you can see the toll that it takes on their relationship, all of the trauma and constant running. They want to do normal teenage relationship things, but that's hard to do when you're constantly running for your life.
We get to see a new cast of characters in this book as well. Rocky Horror was probably my favorite; he was someone both Jamie and Andrew felt like they could turn to. If you like the found family trope, this book definitely has an excellent one. They all form a strong bond as they're just trying to survive in this new world.
In addition to the relationship conflict between Andrew and Jamie, they both have their own things going on as well. Getting to see both of their perspectives fleshes both of them out really well, and gives overall more perspective to the story.
All in all, this is a great extension of the first book that will definitely keep you on your toes the entire time.
But when a hurricane hits the Keys, their new home is destroyed. Followed by a betrayal they weren't expecting, Jamie and Andrew are forced to head out to find new shelter. But will their relationship survive another dangerous journey?
Thanks to Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown to review! All That's Left In the World was a favorite of mine from 2022, so I was excited to get to see Andrew and Jamie again. Plus, it gave Brown the opportunity to expand on this post-apocalyptic world he created.
From the beginning, this book will have you stressed. Just when Jamie and Andrew think that they're safe, things start to take a turn for the worse. They honestly can't catch a break in this book. Throughout, you can see the toll that it takes on their relationship, all of the trauma and constant running. They want to do normal teenage relationship things, but that's hard to do when you're constantly running for your life.
We get to see a new cast of characters in this book as well. Rocky Horror was probably my favorite; he was someone both Jamie and Andrew felt like they could turn to. If you like the found family trope, this book definitely has an excellent one. They all form a strong bond as they're just trying to survive in this new world.
In addition to the relationship conflict between Andrew and Jamie, they both have their own things going on as well. Getting to see both of their perspectives fleshes both of them out really well, and gives overall more perspective to the story.
All in all, this is a great extension of the first book that will definitely keep you on your toes the entire time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Child death
Minor: Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Bullying