"That's what you do in the darkness."
"And you never know in the darkness who is holding the light."
Survival is never pretty, it's always brutal, sad but inspiring. Nonie is young, in a world where the water rose and has eaten a lot of the land. The water is not good - it's
…more full of bacteria, hard pieces, and disease. Nonie lives in a somewhat safe building - an old museum - that her family fled to as the waters rose. It's kept them safe, with heavy doors, small windows, and big gates. Nonie has lived here and felt a kind of safety without light or running electricity but with a great gift - the ability to sense when the weather changes and storms or rain are coming.
But the large storm that makes them lose their safety in the museum isn't one that Nonie senses with enough time to help them save needed resources. Medicine, food, even safe water - all gone in the midst of their fast flee from the home they know. Now they are outside, looking for a safe place to land - but in survival, not everywhere is safe.
This was such a compelling story. I started as an e-book and flipped to audio. The narrator did such a great job of reminding you the main character is still very young and yet, injected the perfect amount of emotion into all their harrowing moments. It's a sad, hopeful story - one that pits us against our fellow humans but also animals and nature. But what an amazing thing, to survive and live.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. (less)
.png)