Wow! This book is haunting in so many ways, and yet hopeful at the same time. A community and a family riddled with heartaches and losses again and again…the ever-present battle to survive in spite of the intensity of hurricanes and storms due to climate change…and the enigmatic and unlikely hero of our story—a tiny baby born in a devastating hurricane who grows to be an incredible force in spite of it all—these pieces are woven together in quite a lovely way, and it is a sobering reminder that our planet is fragile, and the way we exist may need to evolve if we are to survive the challenges ahead. As someone who lives in a coastal community, this story hits close to home, and I hope that it will be impactful to others who may not understand the grave truth about climate change.

A story that crosses genrations of one family , with the inroduction of Wanda who gets her name from the devasting hurricane . This is sad, tramatic , full of loss and devastion . The world is changing every year , every storm. There was some mystery surrounding Wanda but it kind of baffled me , not sure what to make of it . This story would be good for those who like this type of genre .

I read about the upcoming release of The Light Pirate weeks ago and added it right away to my TBR list. I devour dystopian fiction and the book is promoted for readers of Station Eleven and Where the Crawdads Sing, two books that I love. I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of the book, courtesy of NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The Light Pirate did not disappoint!

The book takes place in Florida, sometime in the near future. Climate change has wreaked havoc on the state and around the world. Hurricanes are constant and unforgiving. Kirby and his pregnant wife, Frida, and their two sons are prepared for the worse. But no amount of preparation can help against these catastrophic storms.

The book takes place over several years, starting at Hurricane Wanda and the birth of Kirby and Frida’s baby, Wanda. The first few chapters were intense, and my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. The rest of the story focuses on survival, adaptation and connection. I was unable to put this book down and it has stuck with me for days after I finished reading. I highly recommend this book, particularly for those who care about our environment, climate change and the resiliency of strong women.

In this novel's premise of Climate Change reaching epic proportions, I see the catastrophic weather patterns as much a main character as Wanda, a girl named after a devastating hurricane.

The Earth steadily unleashes storms that rage and reclaim the environment, an attempt to heal from the human trespassers that have plagued both land and sea. As a current resident of Florida, I was curious to explore this very real and possible eventuality, as scary as that is to think about.

Hard lessons, that there is no way to conquer or override the will of Mother Nature, we must simply find new and better ways to survive . . . adapt or die.

While Wanda is a strong, resilient, and hopeful part of this narrative . . . I really wished there had been a bit deeper exploration of her supernatural gifts. Living in a world threatening collapse and dodging many sobering frights, we could all use a bit more magic.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Light Pirate for my unbiased evaluation. 3.5 stars

The book loses its momentum half-way through, and despite to intriguing themes, it never really delivers the kind of connection and th0ught=provoking reactions I expected.

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton was hands down one of the best books I've read in awhile.
Lily has written a raw and wrenching novel.
Utterly brilliant, gorgeously written and extremely hard to put away.
I knew from the beginning I was going to like her writing style and the tone of the book came through instantly.
I really, really enjoyed this book! It was captivating and it hooked me from the very first chapter!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Grand Central Publishing,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

thank you netgalley for this!!
i went into this completely blind, and it did not disappoint.
Wanda is such a fierce force of nature, it was an honor watching the story unfold from her perspective. So many emotions. would recommend.

Thank you to Lily Brooks-Dalton, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book is not a genre I normally read but I loved it. Lily Brooks-Dalton has a way with words that brings the page alive. Reading about the storms and then the water and land taking back what is theirs came to life for me. This book is about the birth and life of Wanda, who was born during hurricane Wanda. You will hate all the characters, then come to love most of them.

I will be suggesting this books to others for sure.

Thanks to Lily Brooks-Dalton, Grand Central Publishing, and Net Galley for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel.

This book is simply extraordinary. The lyrical writing, the inexorable dread of the dystopian setting, the emotional depth of the characters — I could go on and on but bottom line: exceptional and not to be missed. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to read an advance copy! Highly recommend.

'The Light Pirate' was my 43rd book of the year and was by far one of my favorites.

Wanda is a special girl born in the middle of the hurricane in which she's named after, and her path is never an easy one.

There is no specific year given in this story, but it takes place in a future Florida that is slowly (then not-so-slowly) returning to the flooded swampland it once was. Hurricane seasons last longer with each passing year, and temperatures are soaring. While the state is ultimately evacuated and abandoned, Wanda and her family choose to stay in the only home they know and try their best to adapt.

The writing here is beautiful. It's not overdone, yet you don't feel like you're missing anything, either. It's hard to explain, but I really enjoyed how this story was told.

Even though this is a somber tale about a girl who faces so much loss in her life, it's also one of hope and perseverance. I'm so glad I stumbled on this book and gave it a chance. It's definitely going to be one of my top reads for the year. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC. I truly loved this book.

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton is about a family living in Florida. They are all introduced to us before a Hurricane hits and things change real fast.
The author describes high winds and rising water and intense destruction of so much in the path of the hurricane.

A baby is born during this fierce hurricane for which she is named, Wanda. She grows up in a near-future changing Florida. Her father works as linemen, trying to keep the electricity on as climate change brings longer and more intense storms, rising water levels, and the collapse of infrastructure and eventually of society.

I liked the story but lost interest towards the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published December 6, 2022.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story of a woman who grew up on the coast of Florida who suffered immeasurable loss yet still finds beauty and peace in her life.

For those who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing, The Light Pirate is your next 5 star book. The author’s beautiful, purposeful use of words to describe the inhabitable Florida setting she’s created had me hooked from the first page. I felt like I went on this journey with her, physically and emotionally.

Wanda was born during a hurricane that devastates the Florida town of Rudder. As time goes on, people leave Rudder and eventually, so do all municipalities, taking those left behind completely off the grid. A remarkable story about survival and adaptability, Wanda thrives among nature in a way we couldn’t imagine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free e-arc through Netgalley.
I hated all of the characters at the beginning of the book, but pretty soon, it opened up into a whole new world and it was hard for me to put down. A call to warning about global warming that will affect the entire world.

Interesting end-of-the-world premise, but I didn't understand the supernatural element when she touched water. Vague and unexplained.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I love the idea and premise of this book, and thinking through climate change in this way had me interested from the start. The execution was lacking, however, and the characters weren’t developed to a point where I felt a strong connection. The magical element was also unexplained for the most part and detracted from the book through its tentative inclusion. An short and fairly easy read, but not an all time favorite.

A lyrically written story about a coming of age force of nature. Born in and named after a hurricane, Wanda navigates loss, tragedy, and survival. A glimpse into where climate change might take us if we keep leeching from the Earth. With a little bit of magic? science not yet discovered or explained? This story brings together what is left after the storm and how after such heartbreak, there is still hope.

I liked this so much more than I expected! Great character development and interesting twist of events! I’m always on the lookout for a good post-apocalyptic book and this fit right in!

This story is a delightfully full view of a young woman growing up in a rapidly changing environment and finding ways to cope and survive. I couldn't stop reading...straight through to the end. Each reference to static thinking gave a picture of the future. For example, Wanda was born during a hurricane in Flordia near Miami. Her mother died immediately after Wanda was born--no one to help stop the bleeding, no hospitals, no 911 to call for help, and no doctors close enough who couldn't have come anyway due to high water and no roads.
That all sounds very grim but Wanda's ability to survive is riveting. Hopeful is a word I would use to describe her life and perspective.
I highly recommend this book to all young people, it speaks with a positive but real view of the future.

Florida starts being consumed by water so people evacuate. Phyllis is older woman who has prepared for lifestyle changes and takes in young girl Wanda. As years pass, other areas of country are destroyed so there is no longer power, water, communication etc. Survivors live in swamp. Wanda has an aura light within her which makes her unusual. People and nature have to coexist. Good sci-fi read.