Poetic
Was a huge fan of We Begin at the End, so I couldn’t wait to read All the Colors of the Dark. I hadn’t realized what an undertaking it would be, clocking in at 608 pages. I can’t say it was a fast read, but it was such an engrossing read that I didn’t mind the length.
At the start of the book, it’s 1975. A man attempts to kidnap a teenage girl and a young teenager intervenes. He ends up being taken instead. It’s a story of the have and the have nots, the obsessed, hope and despair. But mostly, it’s about what we will do for those we love.
The plot is character driven, with each of the three main characters driven by their own hopes and demons. Saint is being raised by her grandmother. Her only friend is Patch, a poor one eyed boy who believes himself a pirate. When Patch saves Misty, the daughter of one of the town’s wealthiest families, Misty becomes obsessed with him and sees him as her savior. All three of them are damaged by the events. I was totally engrossed in their lives and where things would end up for each of them. But I also loved Sammy and Charlotte. His exploits and her language were priceless.
The writing is beautiful, poetic really, and I found myself highlighting multiple passages. It’s a fine line between a book that is philosophical and one that tries to cram philosophy down your throat. This is the former. Every time I put the book down, I found myself still thinking about it. And I loved the ending which brought a few tears to my eyes. Another reviewer (thanks Adrian) mentioned the fairy tale feel of the book and I totally get it. There’s a bit of a magic realism feel to Patch’s early art and his search for Grace.
My thanks to Netgalley and Crown Book for an advance copy of this book.
(11/23/25)
