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A review by screamdogreads
The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown
3.0
"Driving through Fort Collins now feels so different. Eerier somehow. Buildings are burned and there are bullet holes in windows and the sides of disabled trucks. As we head farther into the town, the truck's headlights drift over bloodstained asphalt. "
The Only Light Left Burning sees us return to the apocalypse ravaged wasteland that we left behind in All That's Left in the World. A world overrun by zombies, and now with many more factions vying for power, and of course the continuation of Andrew and Jamie's relationship. A lot goes on in this novel, it's, actually a ton, there's so many themes and plot points blended together to create this heartbreaking, edge of your seat story. It's the kind of tale that will worm its way beneath your skin and give you goosebumps, of course, it's YA, and it reads... Very YA, so it's not all that terrifying. But, since this novel has some real charm, the younger feel to the read is never an issue.
Typically, sequels are never as good as the first novel and, sadly, that is the case here also. It's still a great sequel however, and is still wildly enjoyable, just not as much as the first book. First and foremost, The Only Light Left Burning is a teen drama, and a zombie novel second. It's still fantastically compelling though, still soul-shattering and absolutely brilliant. It's the kind of novel that never offers you a chance to breathe, constantly barraging you with the next wave of action, which actually makes the reading experience go by very quickly. It's a story of constant conflict and chaos, with plenty of murder and a giant cast of characters which lead to this novel feeling so very alive - it's bustling and busy and so very beautifully described.
The Only Light Left Burning sees us return to the apocalypse ravaged wasteland that we left behind in All That's Left in the World. A world overrun by zombies, and now with many more factions vying for power, and of course the continuation of Andrew and Jamie's relationship. A lot goes on in this novel, it's, actually a ton, there's so many themes and plot points blended together to create this heartbreaking, edge of your seat story. It's the kind of tale that will worm its way beneath your skin and give you goosebumps, of course, it's YA, and it reads... Very YA, so it's not all that terrifying. But, since this novel has some real charm, the younger feel to the read is never an issue.
Typically, sequels are never as good as the first novel and, sadly, that is the case here also. It's still a great sequel however, and is still wildly enjoyable, just not as much as the first book. First and foremost, The Only Light Left Burning is a teen drama, and a zombie novel second. It's still fantastically compelling though, still soul-shattering and absolutely brilliant. It's the kind of novel that never offers you a chance to breathe, constantly barraging you with the next wave of action, which actually makes the reading experience go by very quickly. It's a story of constant conflict and chaos, with plenty of murder and a giant cast of characters which lead to this novel feeling so very alive - it's bustling and busy and so very beautifully described.
"More than anything, I'm joking because I don't want to say that the pain is so awful and so relentless that sometimes - despite everything we've survived - I'm not scared of dying anymore. Dying would at least mean no more pain. Now, what scares me the most is the pain not going away. What if it stays hovering at a nine out of ten for my whole life and I become a nasty, miserable person because of it?"
YA isn't really something I read a whole lot of anymore, and when I do, it's from a carefully curated selection, so it's no real surprise to say that this novel impressed me. Returning to a world I loved so much before was exceedingly good fun. All your usual fanfare is present here, decaying towns, dwindling supplies, zombies, relationship drama, heartbreak and death all around but in a way it feels enjoyable and exciting and so very fresh. It picks up especially around the latter half of the book, while it's never really slow, when the second half starts, it refuses to be stopped.
"It wasn't until the apocalypse that I realized exactly how many stars were out there. With zero light pollution left in the world, it's pretty awesome. Awesome meaning evoking awe, not plain old cool. That's a word that should be reclaimed in the apocalypse."