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What happens when the elements take over and the world as we knew it no longer exists? This is an engaging novel about Wanda’s survival in a world that unfortunately might not be too far away.

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Any time someone tries to compare a book to Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven, arguably my favorite novel of all time, I'm going to be skeptical. Lucky for me (and for readers everywhere), on rare occasion my natural cynicism proves not just unwarranted but spectacularly, joyfully, scream-it-from-the-rooftops wrong. That was the case here. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton is magnificent.

Fair warning: it is also devastating, on many levels, at many moments. You get attached, and then in an instant - gone. That said, just like in Station Eleven, "post-apocalypic joy" does exist, and it's even more stunning for being heartbreakingly hard-won. (Here, though, it's after climate destruction, not a global pandemic.)

The writing is beautiful and almost painfully vivid. So many passages struck me, I wound up with pages upon pages of highlights. I won't quote anything in full yet as I know it's an uncorrected proof, but I will say that Lily Brooks-Dalton's metaphors are singularly exquisite.

Speculative fiction is one of my favorite genres. This is one of the most stunning examples of it I've read since, well, Station Eleven. It reminds me of an excerpt of a Dobyns poem I love: "This is where we are in history - to think / the table will remain full; to think the forest will / remain where we have pushed it; to think our bubble of / good fortune will save us from the night". This is one of those books that I wish everyone would read, not because it's exceptional (which it is) but because it's critical. To paraphrase Brooks-Dalton, we all know that what we're doing to our world isn't sustainable - but we've hung our hats on the question of proximity, betting that we'll squeak through a closing drawbridge, that the worst won't come until we're gone. The Light Pirate calls our bluff.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'm so glad this book exists.

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I just reviewed The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. #TheLightPirate

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

The first half of the book was gripping. We learn about a family living in Florida during a Hurricane. The descriptions of the winds and rising water levels were scary and made for a real page-turner.

The book slowed down in the second half, as Wanda (who was born during a Hurricane) is growing up. She starts living with neighbor Phyllis, who is a scientist and survivalist. These early teachings will prove invaluable for Wanda as her small town is all but demolished and everyone has evacuated. It’s a scary depiction of what life will be like after a natural disaster.

While I appreciated the themes of family and survival and climate change, it lost momentum in the second half and I never quite understood Wanda’s “magical power”.

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Just finished this - wow! This is so wonderfully different than anything I have read lately. Such an incredible story of a girl growing up in a very difficult world - one that may actually happen in our lifetime. For me living in the Midwest, we encounter storms and an occasional tornado, so reading about living with the threat of hurricanes was very interesting. The relationships are lovely and heartbreaking. I love the touch of magic in the water.

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What started as a story of a hurricane where one family made a series of bad decisions (it felt like a bad horror film where you yell don't do that to the characters), turned into a fabulous story about a girl born during the hurricane - Wanda. This follows Wanda's life from current day Florida to a Florida that suffers the consequences of climate change. Increased hurricane activity, rising waters, excessive heat all change the terrain of Florida and society and Wanda somehow survives. I really enjoyed this book and could almost see it as a movie or short series. It's a cautionary tale for the effects of climate change wrapped in the story of an amazing young woman.

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This book was a genre-blurring exploration of life. A big part of the story revolved around nature and the effects of climate change, now and into the future. There was also some heart-breaking drama and even a little romance. I especially liked the element of magical realism and how it tied the whole book together.

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In a stunning work of magical realism, Lily Brooks-Dalton delights with this story about loss, family, climate change and survival. The story is told mainly through the perspectives of two generations of women: Frida, who left everything — a promising architecture career in Houston — to be together with line foreman Kirby and his two sons Lucas and Flip in the remote small town of Rudders, Florida; and her daughter Wanda, who is named after the same devastating storm she was born in. Storms pepper the majority of the novel's events, heralding at a future where climate change is left to roam rampant, forever changing the landscape of the world and warning humanity of their hubris.

I did not expect the first section Power to suddenly spiral in the way it did, but it did a great job paving my expectation for the rest of the novel. Here, water is introduced as a violent, all-consuming presence, created by the ocean and unleashed onto the unsuspecting residents of Rudders. Brooks-Dalton's imagery is absolutely striking in its vividness and tone. Each character's reactions to the storm are beautifully characterized and subsequently chronicled in their own way: Kirby's confidence, Frida's fear, Lucas's childish bravado. With Frida's impending birth comes the equivalent loss; the storm takes its dues.

In the second part, Water, the storms have become a far-off memory for Wanda, who escapes to the "Edge" — the eroded parts of Florida's coastline long lost to ever-rising sea levels — in an act of childish rebellion. Upon being tormented by bullies, Wanda's powers awaken for the first time, something she connects about with her survivalist neighbor, Phyllis. At the same time, water levels are rising in Rudders, and many of the residents are fleeing to dryer land and better prospects, leaving behind abandoned homes and businesses and rapidly shrinking class sizes. Water is ultimately at first a story about maturing into adulthood, but quickly becomes a story about the loss of innocence after the same water that Wanda connects to continues to consume everything in her life.

The residents of America continue to cope with the devastation left by climate change by the final section, Here, in a world where Florida itself has ceased to exist, Wanda has matured and understands that nothing, truly, is permanent. The novel chronicles the impact of rising sea levels, devastating fires, and mirrors it with the resilience of the human spirit. I would have liked to see more scenes with Bird Dog here as well as a clearer overview of Wanda's powers, especially because I thought that the romance kind of came out of nowhere, and ultimately I didn't have a super concrete idea of what the implication of the light meant. Brooks-Dalton's description of the After is rich with imagery, and the survivalist themes allow her to truly explore the simple starkness of the human spirit. Even in a land where people are forced to pit against each other for survival, love and family are enduring.

I enjoyed reading the characters' perspectives. I think that Brooks-Dalton truly allows her characters to grow and adapt in response to the circumstances thrusted on them in a believable way, especially Wanda, who we see mature significantly from a precocious kid into an enduring young woman. Brooks-Dalton's writing is is astonishingly beautiful and her story poignant, despite its relatively short length. More importantly, I enjoyed how this novel captured the true impacts of an ongoing problem that many are still refusing to acknowledge — because it doesn't matter if Congress currently believes in climate change or not. Like it or not, the storm takes all.

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

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This is a wonderful book about how climate change will occur and as humans we will have no choice but to adapt. Loved it!

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This is a book about environmental change and how devastating it may be even in our lifetime. I loved how it’s written in 4 sections: Power, Water, Light, Time—each reflecting a main theme. Power—the characters are maintaining the literal power for families who live in Rudder; Water—the water overwhelms; Light—Wanda’s bioluminescene shines; Time—the years have passed for Wanda and Phyllis. That was quite clever and made me consider what my life has been—what has my power (contribution) been; what has overwhelmed me that I have overcome (water); what am I really best at (light); and how will I accept the passage of time? And the book certainly made me think about our future earth. I recommend this book highly, characters are well developed, morally strong, forgiving and loving. Even the writing captured me and I found myself copying sentences, full of light, that inspired. Well worth reading.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

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I read Lily Brooks-Dalton's The Light Pirate courtesy of NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest and object review. I read the novel in two sittings, then sat for a long time in awe of the all-encompassing brilliance of the world which Ms. Brooks-Dalton created. This is a magnificent novel, one that needs to be read and reread by everyone and anyone.

The book is the extraordinary story of one girl's determination to survive the terrors, uncertainties and changes brought about by the end of the world as we know it. The cause. Us. Our inability to manage the climate of our home. We did it, but there is no one to fix it. Wanda's mother dies at childbirth, during a horrific storm. The remaining members of her family are victims of other storms, as the world undergoes drastic environmental changes.
Wanda, and a ferrel cat who adopted the family, are left to fend for themselves in what is left of this brave new world.

There are so many paths the story could take from here, so many themes to explore, so many made-for-TV action plots lying in wait. What is surprising and delightful is that Ms. Brooks-Dalton defies our expectation and ventures out on her own. The novel is transcendent, fresh, optimistic and celebratory.

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This was a really great book! It’s such an interesting (and emotional!!) read. 100% recommend and I will definitely be revisiting it!

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A powerful and emotional tale of changing tides, this book warns of the devastating reality of climate change that looms in our future.

Wanda is named for the devastating hurricane that slammed against the small down of Rudder, Florida, on the day of her birth. The world she came into was a precarious one as weather patterns were intensifying, temperatures were soaring, and sea levels were rising. From birth to childhood to adulthood, Wanda sees society unravel around her. Her life is punctuated by waves of personal loss and environmental violence, but also adventure, transformation, and the perilous beauty of nature.

This is one of those stories that leaves a mark on readers. What's most unsettling is how realistic it feels for our own future. My family is all based down in South Florida, so it really hit close to home!

Seeing nature overtake civilization piece by piece and erasing the life we know today felt so tangible and immersive, and I loved the descriptions of the changing landscape. I do think some of the language was a bit more embellished than what I usually go for, but that contributed to the ambiance as well. I also liked that there was a touch of something – between magic and science – that brought a layer of mysticism into the tale. Overall, this was a really enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to read and review.

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A MUST READ for anyone worried about the extreme effects of global warming, and a good read for anyone living in Florida.Part sci-fi, part apocalyptic genre (think STATION ELEVEN). A world wracked by hurricane after hurricane, floods, destruction of cities and towns( Miami-Dade no longer exists)extreme temperatures allowing activity only at night, culminating in nature returning to its primitive natural self. The main character is Wanda,but her survivalist “ mentor” Phyllis who foresaw all this change (and prepared for it) was just as fascinating for me. The conclusion offers hope for mankind,but in a world far far removed from anything resembling our present existence. I thought it was extremely well written and a “ must read” for believers of man made global warming.

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This is one of the first "cli-fi" (climate fiction) books I've read. It was good! As someone born and raised in Florida, this story felt oddly realistic. I don't really know what the magical realism added to the story, and despite the world pretty much ending, it still never felt like anything "happened".

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This a review of an ARC that I got through Netgalley. Thank you!

First up, I'm a dingdong who didn't realize at first that <i>The Light Pirate</i> is by the same author as <i>Good Morning, Midnight</i>, which I really enjoyed. That realization added another level of enjoyment to the reading experience, let me tell you!

I can definitely see where Brooks-Dalton has stepped up her game; this is overall a much tighter story than <i>Good Morning, Midnight</i> (which was already very good!), full of vibrant characters moving through a capricious, changing world.

I have a lot of climate change related anxiety, so perhaps this wasn't the best book to start at 10:00pm at night, when I should have been sleeping, but who's making good choices in this day and age? It's such an engrossing book from the very first page that even as I felt my anxiety spiking -- Brooks-Dalton does an AMAZING job ramping up the tension in that first section, with a hurricane encroaching on the smaller human dramas -- I couldn't stop reading. I finished this book in under 24, despite working a full day, so that should tell you how hooked I was.

<i>The Light Pirate</i> belongs to a subcategory of apocalyptic fiction that also includes <i>Good Morning, Midnight</i>, <i>Station Eleven</i>, and the Southern Reach trilogy (probably many more, too, but I haven't read them yet!) -- there's a wistfulness within the horror and grief, both for the world that's lost and also for what may come. In <i>The Light Pirate</i>, this comes across most strongly in the main character, Wanda's, constant encounters with loss: her school shuts down, her family fractures; her town is literally eroded around her and every day is a new confrontation with life's fragility.

We really only get a narrow view of the apocalypse unfolding; it's never really clear how badly the rest of the country, or world, is doing, and frankly I don't think that's necessary. The implications and hints are bad enough, and Wanda has enough to do just to survive. No time to worry about what's happening in Iowa, or Boston.

It's a terrifying book, because it all seems so <i>plausible</i>. I know the future isn't yet written, but Brooks-Dalton has created a story that feels like it could be our future, if we don't do everything we can to change it.

This book seems to lie somewhere between science fiction and fantasy; a major plot point could have any number of explanations, and there's no solid answer given in the story. I know that may frustrate some readers, but the mystery adds so much depth to the narrative that I didn't mind it at all. Not to mention that figuring out the <i>why</i> quickly falls to the bottom of the characters' priority lists.

A gorgeous story, beautifully written -- my only quibble is a last-minute relationship that feels like it pops up out of nowhere, but it's not poorly executed, just sudden. Overall, I loved this book, and I can tell it's going to stay with me for a long, long time.

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Wanda is born in the middle of one of Florida's most devastating hurricanes. The world that she is born into is not the world you and I have come to know. The ocean is reclaiming the land. What follows after Wanda's birth is a story of love, loss, survival, and hope.

You know when you read a book and you're sad when it's over because you'd like to spend a little more time with the characters? That's how I felt after reading this. The poetic way this story is written is so captivating and beautiful. I wanted to know how Wanda survived in this new world. I enjoyed every minute of this one.

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

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A superb, beautiful book that whose ideas are as big as it the book itself is big-hearted and thoughtful.

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Astonishing, frightening and beautiful all rolled into one.

The Light Pirate really took me by surprise. It starts with a story of tragedy, and ends in hope- which sounds quite typical of many novels, but this one seems unique as it deftly addresses concerns of "the human condition" and environmental change, intertwining them until they are clearly inseparable.
Wanda, the protagonist, is a unique child, born in one of Florida's many hurricanes. Her birth is surrounded by profound losses. Despite this inauspicious beginning, she grows, and even thrives in a unique, but typical rural Florida community. She has a unique gift, but is not truly aware of its power as she grows. Wanda remains with her survivalist mentor in the community long after her relatives have left- and bears witness to the destruction brought by climate change- unpredictable weather and rising water levels intertwined with the dissolution of modern society. She, and her mentor watch as businesses close, people escape to drier climes, and infrastructure ceases to exist as we currently know it. Eventually it seems she is left alone as Florida returns to wilderness- a dangerous situation, full of reckless survivors, and the savage wild that is Florida. Just as things seem to be too much, Wanda is able to grow beyond her mentor's teaching - designed to keep her safe- and adjust as she has all of her life, creating a new life for not only herself, but also others- sharing her unique gift and authentic self and finding new belonging.
As a Florida resident who has lived here for over a decade, I really enjoyed this book- the author swept me right in with the first page! I appreciated that the happy ending for Wanda was not really a "perfect solution" or even a completely safe one . The conclusion had a realistic feel to it that was satisfying for me as a reader. The character development of the main characters is really full and well done in the first 3 sections of the novel. I enjoyed getting to know Kirby, Lucas, Wanda and Phyllis and seeing them change and grow in unexpected ways. Towards the last section of the novel, I did not feel that I ever "knew" Brie/Bird Dog as well as I wanted to know her. But perhaps that is also part of the message- that Brie, with her mysteries and years of unknown life/thoughts/dreams were ideal in that moment. And I suppose that is all that anyone can ever hope for is a series of moments in time that make sense of a whole that if taken in all at once may be incomprehensible.

If you are at all interested in climate change, women's fiction, futuristic novels or just good writing, I highly recommend putting this one on your pre-orders, and TBR shelf!

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Man, I’m just having great luck with books lately. I loved this. It reminded me if Station Eleven and Where the Crawdad’s Sing were combined. I loved Wanda, and I loved (and maybe am terrified) how this makes me think about how the world will change from global warming. Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this early!

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