A review by ristretto
The Only Safe Place Left Is the Dark by Warren Wagner

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow! What can I say? This book destroyed me. The Only Place Left is the Dark may be short in length but it is incredibly impactful. Wagner brings a fresh and compelling take on the zombie genre. Exploring the plague of HIV/AIDS alongside a new virus that turns its victims into “the afflicted” is quite clever. The afflicted themselves are terrifying and haunting as they retain full consciousness of what they are doing. Alongside the incredible tension are the emotional moments. I found myself crying as I read. This novella was brutal, haunting, and devastating, but it also offers reflective moments of hope and is also quite beautiful. When I finished it, at first I wished it had been longer. But thinking about it more I came to the conclusion that the length was by design to emphasize the short time we might have  in this world.

This is a must read for someone looking for a fresh take on the zombie genre. Wagner is definitely an up and coming writer to watch and I’m excited for what they will write in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for a copy of this book.