The Line Between was the first in this series, and it was a great read. A viral pandemic. Is it bioterrorism? It was a thrilling ride up to the very end. So how does A Single Light stand up? Usually the sequels can get a bit boring, but not the case. It was very entertaining. It isn't a zombie book, but rather an outbreak/dystopian novel. I highly recommended it. Tosca Lee has a way of moving the story along, yet at the same time giving the reader enough backstory to make it interesting while still keeping the action, excitement and urgency of the moment.

Tosca Lee knows how to captivate readers right from the first line—which in this case is “I miss ice cream.” I mean, way to strike right at your readers’ hearts, right? Well, hold on, because the revelations keep coming. This story picks up shortly after The Line Between left off—that is, two weeks after Winter, Chase, and sixty-one others have taken refuge in an underground silo that’s been sealed by a time lock. For six months. Even under normal circumstances, having sixty-plus people confined to an underground silo for six months would be a recipe for tension, but in Tosca Lee’s hands, you know to brace yourself for a whole lot more than that.

What transpires in this story, amidst the kinds of revelations and suspense that keeps you glued to the pages, is an exploration of the way in which times of uncertainty and crisis illuminate both the worst and the best of human nature. More, that the worst situations provide the greatest opportunity to discover the best of human nature. As Francis Bacon said, “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” It’s a particularly powerful realisation for Wynter, who was raised in a cult that shunned the outside world for the evil it held.

I must confess, I was bracing myself for a final revelation to knock me sideways at the end, but that didn’t eventuate. Instead, the story brought Wynter’s personal journey full circle in a way that’s layered with deeper meanings I’m still teasing out. It’s a great read for the action and suspense alone, but I love that it’s prompted some philosophical musings too!

Wynter Roth and Chase Miller have been sealed off from the world in an underground silo for six months, with sixty other people.
Shielded from the chaotic world above, as they develop a vaccine for the deadly mutant flu that is decimating the population.
When they finally come out, their leader Noah and his comrades are gone and there is no sign of a treatment vaccination.
Wynter is still a fugitive, wanted on a bogus murder charge. She and Chase, her ex-military boyfriend, must go on a hunt for antibiotics to try and save the life of her good friend Julie, gravely injured in an accident while underground.
As they search for the medicine, they also look for explanations. What happened to the materials Wynter risked her life to deliver, that would enable a vaccine to be created?
This action packed thriller kept me enthralled. The nonstop tension mounts as they race to find answers.
An exciting story, full of suspense!
Thank you to Howard Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

"Rage and grief are twins you birth at once. With gnashed teeth and high, tight keens. Until there's nothing but pain and stupor."

Wow. And I had thought The Line Between (book 1) had been intense, action-filled, and terrifying (in a good, suspenseful thriller kind of way). This second book, A Single Light, tops the first. Really. How does Tosca Lee do it? I'm not sure. But, man, this book will keep you bouncing on the edge of your toes, anticipating.....waiting.....for the next bend in the plot that will take the story in a direction you never saw coming. It should be read only after the first book though. This book picks up right where the first book ended and the overarching plot is too rich in details and complex to be able to understand by reading the second book in the series as a stand alone.

The narrative is flawless as the obsessive-compulsive Wynter speaks in first person present tense (thus allowing so many surprises and twists in the plot) in an apocalyptic world where a dementia-inducing prion has merged with a flu-like virus to decimate the US. Chase, her protector and boyfriend, and Wynter traverse towns and cities in search of medication for their sick and dying friend and they witness heart-breaking acts of self-sacrifice and love but also unthinkable acts of raging sin, evil, and darkness. Despite their brokenness, regretful pasts, and current failures, the love between Wynter and Chase does light their way. Though they despair and feel that "this life - in this world- is too hard. Too filled with pain. And too far gone. The lights that made it worth saving blinking out like stars," they cling onto the small hope that they would see their loved ones again and that hope keeps them reaching for the next rung in the ladder to climb up. This is a thriller that you won't be able to put down. The intensity in the plot mounts steadily each chapter until the very end, and even then, I'm sure you'll be waiting for something else to happen to turn the plot upside down again. If you enjoy a fast-paced, brilliantly crafted suspense thriller, this is a must-read book for 2019.

I received a copy of the book from Howard Books and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

An excellent follow-up to book one

I enjoyed book one in this series THE LIGHT BETWEEN but wanted more about the pandemic spreading across the country. Well, book two delivers.

Wynter, Chase and Truly have found shelter (along with others from book one) in an underground silo with sixty other people in Nebraska. It has been prepared to keep its occupants safe for six months as the flu-borne pandemic rages above ground.

But at the end of six months, they climb out of the silo to desolation and they must test themselves to the utmost to save themselves and the ones they love.

This is a great post-apocalyptic series. I enjoy the characters (especially after they got out of the cult featured in book one). There's lots of action, surprises and one new character I dearly loved.

I recommend this book (along with book one) to readers of post-apocalyptic thrillers, thrillers about pandemics and anyone that enjoys a well-written story.

I received this book from Howard Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I loved The Line Between, the first book in this series, and have been so anxious for the sequel. Something like what happens in this series could feasibly happen in real life. It's not out of the realm of possibilities. It's not far fetched, at all. So, at times, it made for a scary read, but it was, also, utterly compelling. An action packed, never ending thrill ride that I could not put down.

There were so many twists and turns and stunning revelations that I didn't see coming. Some that left me gasping for breath and having to set my Kindle down for a minute to recover. Seriously, parts of this book gave me a near panic attack. Imagining that this could actually happen. Wondering what I would do in the same situation. How would I react? It was terrifying to think about, but absolutely entertaining to read.

A Single Light could probably be read and enjoyed without having read The Line Between first, but I'd still recommend going in order. There's a lot of backstory I wouldn't want you to miss out on. Not to mention all the excitement.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

An excellent follow up to The Line Between, Tosca Lee has taken well developed characters that we followed closely and given them a new set of drawbacks to conquer. The world is dying. The plans made by the small settlement that has been locked away from the rest of the world for 6 months are not working. I've been reading many "after the end" dystopian books lately but none have had the impact that A Single Light held throughout the story. The characters faced each new challenge head on and moved forward, all the while protecting their own tiny group. You will want to read this book in a single setting, so plan accordingly.

I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this thrilling sequel to The Line Between, Tosca Lee continues to astound readers with her gut-wrenching plot twists, complicated romance, and amazing suspense. At the beginning of this book, our protagonist Wynter and her dreamy love interest Chase have just been sealed off from the rest of the world in Noah’s nuclear bomb-shelter silo with 60 other people, Julie, Lauren, and Truly included. Still wanted for murder and potential terrorism, Wynter must continue to hide her identity even now. Maybe once the silo opens up in 6 months, she can run away with Chase and Truly and live happily ever after. But even that dream is dashed as tensions rise in the silo, and Julie is gravely injured. After the silo opens up, Chase and Wynter must traverse ghost towns, sick and desperate humans alike, and even a corrupt, mafia-like governance system in order to find the IV medications that Julie needs before time runs out. Can she survive–not only physically intact, but mentally?

I read The Line Between a few months ago, and I was completely amazed by the quality of Tosca Lee’s work. Here is my 5 Star review of that first book in this series. Everything that I said in that review is also true of this second novel. It upended my cozy view of reality, and instead brought the apocalypse to my front step. Immediately, I felt connected to Wynter and her plight, her naivete simply making me yearn to protect her even more. The characters drew me in, the romance was so frustratingly suspenseful, and I absolutely could not wait to find out the ending to the book. But even more so, I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to continue learning about the characters’ lives and this new world that they had created.

I went into reading the first book with absolutely no expectations–I had never heard of Tosca Lee or her word before, and I was somewhat apathetic about this modern-day thriller. At the time I was much more interested in medieval fantasies (as I will probably also be… They hold a special place in my heart!) But for this second book, I went into it with my expectations through the roof. I was so hyped to continue Wynter’s story that I forgot to check my enthusiasm, and it thus remained uncontained… And yet, Lee met all of those expectations and more!

One of the biggest things that I enjoyed about this specific book was the sucker-punch plot twists. I never knew what direction the plot was going… And even if I thought I had a pretty good idea, it would completely pull the rug out from under me. I’m not proud to admit that I found myself screaming and crying at my kindle multiple times… There was just so much that happened that I wished could have been different, and yet it made the story that much more powerful.

My emotions were a wreck after reading. Not only from the plot twists, but also from Chase and Wynter’s relationship. We ended The Line Between with them happily ever after, climbing into the silo with Truly a nice addition to their newly made family. It seemed like everything was finally going right between them. And yet, at the start of the sequel, their relationship is strained and awkward. Perhaps the fact that they barely knew each other became much more of an issue as the adrenaline of running for their lives waned. Regardless of what it was, the romance was changed, and not for the better. My heart ached for the two to recover that happy place we ended the first book with.

Speaking of emotions, my nerves were fried. EVERY page was dripping with suspense, and it made it extremely difficult not to skim and jump ahead. I practically could NOT wait to find out what was going to happen! I caught myself several times scanning the page and then swiping to the next because I was that anxious and scared about what was about to happen. The suspense was killer! I don’t know that I’ve ever been so jittery as I was reading that book. It was incredibly fast-paced, making the suspense all the more taut. I was absolutely wired while reading, and I ended up devouring the book in 2 consecutive days.

I also really enjoyed the witty humor scattered throughout the novel as a break from the rest of the powerful emotions coursing through my body. The humor was so well-placed that I never sunk too deeply into my anxiety or fear of what was going to happen to my beloved characters, and I actually laughed out loud a few times! The perfect comedic release.

I absolutely recommend this two-book series by Tosca Lee. It is simply phenomenal. I don’t think my review does it justice in the slightest, but if you ever want to talk about it, I will gush my heart out to you. Probably in a ceaseless ramble, because that is just how much I loved this book, and how much my emotions were compromised. I can’t stop to make cognizant sentences! Anyways, if you are a fan of dystopias, psychological thrillers, even romance, I would highly recommend this book. Even if those are not your typical genres, give The Line Between a try! I think the themes and characterizations really speak to a wider, more general audience than the traditional thriller readers.

I read dystopian fiction sparingly because, well, it paints a dark and grim picture.
But Ms. Lee pulls the reader right into the story with characters who came to life on the page. I came to care for them immediately, feeling first the anxiety of time in the silo, then the despair at their discovery once they emerged.
The world Ms. Lee paints is vivid and frightening, and all too realistic. The situations Wynter and Chase encounter, terrifying and seemingly hopeless.
But in the midst of the ravaged landscape, hope. That Wynter fought her way through one obstacle and hurdle after another, that Chase stayed with her, for the sake of even the chance to save their friend’s life—that’s a vivid image of John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
This is a fantastic, gripping story, a fight for survival. A story of truly a light in the darkness.

ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.


#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, A Single Light, Tosca Lee, A Line Between

Fans of Tosca Lee’s writing will have to clear their calendar of everything to devour A Single Light! This is Thriller writing at its best!
It has been six months since Wynter Roth and Chase went underground to stay safe from the disease ravaging the country. Along with the sixty others underground, they wait for the day the door will be opened by Noah and the rest that are supposed to be waiting above ground to meet them. When messages from above stop coming months before they are supposed to be released, the fate of the world starts to seem grimmer than any of them could have imagined. As release day draws near, Wynter is eager to leave in order to find medicine for her very sick friend, Julie. As the doors open, Chase and Wynter find themselves in a world far worse off than they could have imagined. The vaccine they expected to be manufactured and passed around the country is nowhere in sight and those that survived are turning on each other in order to survive the war zones the cities have become. With each passing hour, Wynter finds herself losing hope that she can help her friend or if any of them can survive in this new world.
For me, topping The Line Between was going to be something almost impossible to do. Tosca knocked that first book out of the park. The characters and storyline grabbed me and wouldn’t let go, making me ache for more of this incredible story. By the time I got my hands on A Single Light, I had to pace myself, so I didn’t devour it too quickly. The story picks up where the first left off, Wynter and Chase in the silo waiting with the others for the day they can emerge into society. Instead of chapters, Lee uses days and hours as chapter headings and to show the passage of time. Instead of letting the time in the silo pass slowly and lose readers in the process, she skips over large portions of this time and gets to the really great twists and turns. There is so much embodied in the pages of this novel: fear, hope, love, deep longing to belong and help those we care about. Each emotion Wynter feels jumps off the page at me and griped me tightly. The connection between Wynter and Chase and how they came to be together is so well written and took me by surprise at times. If you are reading this and looking for a chance to put it down you will be disappointed, this is the kind of book that can be devoured in one sitting. I am wishing for time to go back and read it again and again. Tosca Lee has become one of the very best thriller writers in my opinion and readers can look forward to a fantastic story every time they pick up one of her books. At one point I thought I knew what was going to happen with the ending, but Lee took it in a slightly different direction, which was perfect for this story. I am trying to come up with something negative to say and am at a loss. I recommend this book to fans of Lee’s writing and those looking for an amazing story to pull them in and never let go. However, I would recommend reading The Line Between first.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Single Light is a wild ride. Simply thrilling from the first page. The pace starts fast and doesn't let up until the last page. I lost count of the number of times I was holding my breath anxious to know that Wynter and Chase were safe.

This sequel starts almost 6 months since the we last saw our two heroes, Wynter and Chase. They, along with 60 or so others, have been locked away in an underground silo waiting out the devastation caused by an airborne virus that has crippled America. They hope when the door to the silo opens the world will have returned to some semblance of order, a vaccine having been developed and distributed to save those who survived.

The silo door opens and to their shock and horror things on the surface have got worse, not better. And now they too must discover how to survive when everything needed for survival is in critical short supply. And the crazies have taken over their small part of the world.

At times I thought I was reading an episode of The Walking Dead (minus the zombies) as Wynter and Chase's small world has become survival of the fittest and mercy is in short supply when another's life is at stake.

Tosca Lee is at her best keeping the reader breathless, on the edge of their seats with unpredictable turns every second page. Wynter and Chase are tremendous characters and there is a cast of minor characters that are engaging and well developed. Special mention to Otto. Oh my ... he is simply adorable.

This will make great TV and I do hope it won't be long before we see it on the box. It will be thrill-a-minute viewing.

Congratulations, Tosca. Superb writing.

Thank you to Howard Books, Tosca Lee and NetGalley for an Advanced Digital Copy with no expectation of a positive review.

What a thrill ride! In “A Single Light” Tosca Lee served up another gripping tale. I read the first book in the series “The Line Between” in a single afternoon, forsaking all other tasks. I didn’t have that luxury this time. It was quite difficult to focus on other things while my mind was wondering what would happen next to Wynter Roth! Highly recommend to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction.

I finished most of this book in a day. A Single Light picks up right where The Line Between left off, with 63 people living in a silo together until it opens up to a better world. Only, things don't go according to plan. It doesn't slow down from the start. Tosca kept me guessing the whole time. And crying. And honestly, I had a hard time sleeping last night because I was still a little on edge.

Go grab this book fast, because it's a good one.

This book is so incredible! The characters feel like friends, the plot keeps you in your feet, and the ending is incredibly touching! I love this book. Do yourself a favor by buying this book.

A Single Light (Howard Books), by Tosca Lee, is the follow up to The Line Between (click the link to see that review). The Line Between had me at the first paragraph, seeing as it was the best opening paragraph I've ever read. In A Single Light we meet Wynter Roth again who in the first book escaped an apocalyptic cult to enter a world in which the apocalypse seems imminent. She has the answer to save the human kind and is unfortunately the worlds most wanted "criminal."
In the opening of this new novel Wynter is sealed in an underground bunker/silo in which the strangers she is stuck there with do NOT know the important part she played in the events that led them all to their current situation nor that she knows any more information than they do. The strangers seem to be cooperating and thriving in the underground silo until one person decides he's going to force the door open and then the system malfunctions. People get hurt. People die. They've lost all contact with the little they still had of the outside world and have no clue what dangers might be lurking. Nothing is stable anymore. Wynter had come into the silo with 3 people she cares about. One of the is now gravely injured and depends on antibiotics they do not have in the bunker to live. Another of the three is found out the have been not the protagonist that we knew them to be but the ANTAGONIST!! AND MY MIND WAS BLOWN!! I couldn't stop now!
Wynter decides to venture into the world to find out what happened and to find the vital medicine that will save her friend. They quickly find a mute young man (insert new favorite character) in a world where it is not safe to be different. He adds humor and warmth to a fast paced action packed story and I only wish I got to read about him more.
Tosca Lee is a brilliant story teller and no two books are ever the same. I highly recommend reading this book, but I do recommend reading the other book first so your mind can be blown by the gut punches she places in this one as well.

Gold star to you if you can recommend another series/or stand alone that has that cult feel to it. I've read my fair share of apocolyptic but not cult stories.

A Single Light is released in just over 1 hour! September 17, 2019.

A copy of this book was provided to me for review by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Tosca, as always, for selecting me as part of your street team!

A Single Light picks up right where The Line Between left us. In Tosca Lee's trademark style she ramps up the story creating tension, action, and desperation. All of which keeps the reader holding their breath and hanging on for dear life. At least this reader.

I love series books for loads of reasons of which are getting to spend more time with favored character's getting to know them better and having a lot of questions answered. Which Ms. Lee does very well in this second book.

For me, the scary thing about these two books is that everything that happens is something I could see happening in our world today. Tosca Lee definitely has her finger on the pulse of our crazy world to create not only a realistic story as well as a real world the story takes place in.

I'm speaking about four months early, but I can see this book being on my end of the year top reads list. I highly recommend this book and series!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher in association with Tosca Lee's street team. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tosca Lee and her team behind her, have honored me again. The team sent me an advanced reader copy through NetGalley of “A Single Light,” and I want to take a moment to thank everyone involved for their generosity; it means a lot to receive such a treat.

“A Single Light” is the sequel to “The Line Between” that I reviewed earlier this year. The story is a dystopian fiction set in the not-too-distant future. Readers have a real sense of what happens to people pushed to the brink of discomfort and chaos, and how they deal with it. Tosca spoiled me like an eight-year-old locked in a toy store, with a sequel that is worthy of the initial outing in this series.

I am heading into my first impressions I have for “A Single Light.” the great news is that it grabs you as the first book does. I found that the recap of the previous book perfectly executed. Sometimes when you get to the second book, there is this giant info dump that explains what the first book was about, in case you missed reading it. I always have felt info dump summaries on previous books are a pain. The point of the first book is to read it. Thankfully Tosca fully embraces that and manages to blend in this beautiful way to briefly summarize the first book, in some well-worked and straightforward exposition for the continuation. Additionally, she adds in color of characters and setting that are the foundation of this story and had me hooked immediately.

As I often am asked, “Do I need to read the first book to understand the second,” and the answer is, no. But that said, why? The series is outstanding, and though both books could be one-off books on their own, I can say it’s better when you read them in order.

I am heading into the critiquing portion of my review, and I start in the category of “Story Structure, Foundation, and Presentation.” In this case, my specific nit-pick is from “Story Structure,” and it has to do with “asked” versus “said.” I’m not a reviewer who picks on an author for using “said” for declarative statements, and I don’t think that should take away from a book. I am, however, someone who will notice if a character is asking a question, and the writer puts the words “Said” after the characters name. If someone asks a problem, it should be “Steven asked” or if they say something, it should be “Steven said” and not the reverse. I found several examples, especially in the second act, where dialogue had questions asked, and the character was declaring them not asking them.

Now I move into the portion of the review where I let you all know what I truly enjoyed about “A Single Light.” In my category of “Story Structure, Foundation, and Presentation,” I am going from the “Foundation” portion of my category, and I’m happy with how the pacing and tension move in the book. The book proceeds to many locations with the character but never does a reader feel dizzy from the changes where scenes take place. Though much is going on and it is intense, the good news is that it’s paced well enough to maximize the tension and release that come with the story. I am so pleased with how well the story laid out because I loved that new characters were introduced and given proper care to the narrative. Tosca gave every one of them attention even when some characters weren’t around for a long time or moved to another area. This foundation work that Tosca did in the story was wonderful because of how much work she put into it. The reader can feel everything in the immersion due to the richness of the background and world we are transported to.

My next glowing praise goes to the “Whole Story” category, and that is explicitly in both the overall series story and the whole story of “A Single Light.” Tosca did a fantastic job creating a book that is self-encapsulated with the narrative and story structure. It reads as five acts, and in the five acts, every bit of it has the proper beginning, middle and ending. Transitions merge well, and the secondary story is thrilling in the horror of the circumstances at the end. But, there is more to this glowing praise, because Tosca also kept the main structure of her overall series story going as well. Things that were important in the first book still are essential in the second book. The overall story felt a continuation that made it more of the middle act or perhaps second act in what is to come. I felt the ending was gripping, both to this second encapsulated story, and the overall story. If the series stops here, I’m satisfied as a reader that I read a great tale. If however, the series continues, as I hope it does, I will be ready for more later. It’s rare to read series stories that can do what Tosca did, and I think it needs to be called out.

Next, I want to take a moment to bask in the beauty that is the Kindle edition of “A Single Light.” Unlike “The Thin Line” where I was hitting “Story Structure, Foundation, and Presentation” due to the issues with the spacing, that was not the case here. Paragraph spacing on Kindle on default was beautiful to read. The margins are perfect, the spelling and grammar are excellent, and the overall presentation with the actual text is exceptional. My praise here is a change from the critique I found in "The Thin Line," as I mentioned, and I am happy to see it. I love books that do not hurt my eyes with eyestrain or large walls of text, and this one did not hurt my eyes.

My last significant praise goes to character growth. I never felt that any character was forgotten or secondary. Though we meet new characters and say goodbye to others, the overall story takes these characters to new perspectives and places they had been. We learn a lot about how each character handles stress and can see the growth of even background characters as well as the primary ones. Tosca took us on a journey not only of places, but people, and we learn so much about how people handle unimaginable challenges. Everyone is different, and every character has a moment. I especially loved that the very stoic secretary character from the last book, even she was given a bump of some growth, and I was happy to see it.

Overall, “A Single Light” is a beautiful story, that takes us through some horrible scenarios and gives us an idea that anyone can change. People can become who they are in any situation, and it is in diversity; we can see who is or is not up for the challenge. I enjoyed this book, and if you love dystopian fiction, you likely will too.

Score

Upon all of my scoring and work here, I’m giving “A Single Light” a score of 95/100 which is a Five Star Review on Goodreads and Amazon. Pick this up on September 17, 2019. It is worth it, and the hype is real!

Now THAT'S how you do a sequel. "The Line Between" proved that Tosca Lee was a master of intrigue, character building, and story-telling. If the world she built of the Enclave and the cult, then the apocalyptic epidemic that runs rampant over the country, then I don't even know what kind of stories you might enjoy. But with "A Single Light" she upped the ante.

Wynter is a fugitive, locked away from the disease, hiding for her life.... But even that doesn't keep Wynter safe. Every turn of the page brings a new surprise, a new battle to be won, and Lee doesn't shy away from difficult choices an author must make in this type of book.

This sequel proved that Tosca Lee is prolific at page-turning action, emotional depth and edge of the seat (or bed...depending on where you are reading) cliffhangers. I literally could not stop reading.

And don't get me started on the creepy factor. The only time I was willing to put the book down was when the lights were out, all was still in my home, and the only thing making noise were the trees outside, the creaking of our home's foundation, and the pounding of my heart as Wynter walked into yet another disturbing situation. One chapter pushed my imagination over its wild limits and I had to close the book before being so freaked out that I required a light!! But the next morning, I immediately picked the book back up until I finished! Too good to not recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this thrilling book. My opinions are my own.

Welcome to the sequel to The Line Between. It’ll be an exhilarating ride!

Back in January, I had the opportunity to read and review the latest novel by Tosca Lee. I absolutely loved it, but there was one problem: I wanted to know the rest of the story, because I knew there had to be more. Was the world going to end or not? What a relief to learn there would be a sequel!

If you’ve not read The Line Between previously, you need to. A Single Light starts approximately 14 days after the events of the earlier novel. Lee presumes the reader is familiar with that book because there is little backstory included in the narrative. Given that it had been several months since I’d read A Single Light, I opted to re-read the final pages to refresh my memory.

What can I say that isn’t a spoiler? The first quarter of the book takes place in an underground silo where Wynter and her fellow prisoners (?) must survive for six months. There’s plenty of tension as emotions simmer and eventually boil over. With so many different personalities there’s bound to be trouble, and Wynter is unsure who she can really trust.

The rest of the plot takes place after the door to the bunker opens. If you’ve seen The Walking Dead, you’ll find plenty of common elements. There are the infected, the quarantined, ravaged communities, and communities controlled by groups with their own agendas. It’s a dog eat dog world, kill or be killed, and Wynter must navigate all of it. The reader stays with Wynter throughout; you’ll know everything she knows and nothing that she doesn’t.

When you read A Single Light, you’ll smile, you’ll gasp, you’ll cry, and you’ll question. Maybe like me, you'll feast on it in one sitting. Maybe you’ll be like me and be completely blindsided by the ending.

Tosca Lee has written a variety of novels. Two have been optioned for television. She’s written novels based on Biblical characters such as Eve and Judas Iscariot, but her books don’t tend to fit into the Christian fiction category. Still, there was one line near the end that struck me. At first, I wasn’t sure what it meant and why it got to me like it did. But it stayed with me, and I thought about it, and I loved it even more. Yes, I read an advance copy. But I hope to goodness it stays in the finished product because it’s that good.

“I realize that every time I ever met God, I was nowhere safe.”

Disclaimer: I received an electronic Advance, Corrected Reader’s Proof of this book from the publisher and author. I was not required to write a review, and the words above are my own.

After reading, and loving, the first book in this series, I was excited when I saw the second one would be out soon, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I’ve read a few other apocalyptic books, in this case defined as extremely bad future events, and this is by far the best of the bunch! I can actually imagine, with so many new diseases popping up all the time, that something like this could actually come to pass. Perhaps that just makes this book a bit scarier.

I loved the character development, and liked so many of the characters in the story, especially Wynter, Chase, and Noah (I could go on) that I felt on edge for them as they encountered pulse-pounding situations; a few of the ones I came to care for, died along the way. Tell me Tosca: do your eyes fill, as mine do, when much loved characters die in your story? Is it difficult to eliminate them?

The scenes were so vividly described that I could visualize the total destruction of so much of the land. Of course, there were bad guys, who surfaced when things got really bad, and basically pushed their way into positions of power running roughshod over everyone around them. These power-hungry villains were so true to life, I felt as if people like that would try to take over in real life under similar circumstances.

This series is definitely five star all the way.