Literary Titan
It was early on a Monday morning at 4 am that I had gone through over one third of the book in one night. This book quickly became one of the best reads I have gone through in the past 3 months. A Single Light begins with around 60 odd people forced to take shelter in a time vault due to the outbreak of a virulent epidemic. A runaway named Wynter and a former soldier turned bounty hunter, Chase are at the heart of the story. Both appear to be an unmatched pair as they have their own motivations and secrets. For the people in the vault, the only source of comfort and connection with the outside is periodic transmissions from Noah, the person who brings hope to the individuals. But all of a sudden, the link goes dark, causing to lose their composure. And when the time vault door opens all of a sudden, it begins a whole new set of unknown dangers to the group, stressed for many months. Infected animals, ghostly town, and people driven to the brink of anarchy. The support systems have failed, all semblance of order and law lying bare. What do you do? That’s where we find the characters in the story. The story is intense and riveting as is the description of the dynamics at play between the different characters in a confined space. The notes that the story touches are really fundamental, fear, loss, joy but the presentation is remarkably somber and in line as to the way the plot is weaved. I really liked the way the author describes the gritty and raw emotions at play which I have seen only in a very few authors. The best thing is that the author does not try to bend the story in a way that seems disjointed. It is a skill that is honed by working at the craft for many sleepless nights and long hours. Though the story may not have political beliefs one may have, I wholeheartedly agree with what the author has penned about the need to break down the walls and be more exclusive. Normally a stickler for neat wrapped endings, I love the way the story concluded. I can’t wait for the next book.
2 people found this review helpful
Caitlin Emfinger
Friends, take note; this is how you do a sequel. 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.
2 people found this review helpful
Fiction Aficionado
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! I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
3 people found this review helpful