What would you do if you knew the end was coming? Would you hunker down somewhere with your loved ones? Would you say “to hell with it” and run around doing whatever you want? Would you finish yourself before the world could do it? Or would you take the opportunity to fulfill a promise you’ve been putting off? That last one is what husbands Don and Rodney decide to do. As a black hole slowly approaches Earth, tearing apart the solar system as it goes, they know that it’s now or never. So they pack up on a cross-country adventure to keep their word to their son before it’s too late.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Tor for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of We Burned So Bright contains some spoilers!]
Everyone deals with the end in their own special way
The end is coming. There’s no stopping it, and there’s no escaping it. Society has known for about a year that the end is coming, and now the countdown is in the final month. Don and Rodney have a very important task they need to finish before the end. They’ve been putting it off for years because they can always “get around to it,” but now they’re out of time. So they pack up their old RV and set off to the West Coast. They made a promise to their son, and they’re going to keep that promise no matter what.
One month should be plenty of time to make the trip from the East Coast to the West Coast of America, even in an old, slightly jankie RV. But Don and Rodney keep running into complications. Some are small, like the family heading to the wilds of Minnesota to hide from the end that they stop and share lunch with. Some are larger, like the girl they brought back to her family ranch.
Every person they meet is just trying to deal with the inevitable end of the world. Some are coping better than others. Some find solace in love and happiness, enjoying what time they have left. Others try to deny what is happening or are looking for a way to avoid the unavoidable. Each is different, offering us a distinct slice of the human psyche. Don and Rodney are the only ones who seem to be on a true mission. They aren’t traveling to escape their fate; they know they’re going to die no matter what, they just want to die knowing they’ve done everything they can for each other and their son. There’s a sad beauty to their story. A story of love, anger, loss, and finally acceptance.
Have a lot of tissues handy when reading We Burned So Bright
We Burned So Bright is a really heavy read. There is some humor in Don and Rodney’s interactions, but that’s not what Klune is aiming for. The entire novel is really sad. First, there’s the whole end of the world thing, which is always pretty sad. But some authors make it exciting or funny. Not Klune. He makes sure to keep you depressed by having interactions with people who are obviously not coping well with the stress. They have either done terrible things or are getting ready to do terrible things. We’re constantly worried that Don and Rodney won’t be able to complete their mission because of their misadventures. And even when they finally have success, it’s swept away in a wall of fire as the world ends. Sure, we’re glad that they cross the finish line, but it’s a very hollow victory thanks to what’s on the other side of the line. And of course, there’s Don and Rodney’s backstory with their son.
Most of it was pretty standard stuff that I saw coming from a mile away. But that doesn’t make it any less sad, just because it’s predictable. In fact, because I was pretty sure I knew what was going on long before it was revealed through the narrative, I felt many of Don and Rodney’s encounters more intensely because I knew what was at stake. I think Klune may have made the backstory a little obvious for exactly that reason. Even though the reveal was slow, you can guess what’s going on and become emotionally invested long before Don and Rodney are ready to admit what’s going on.
A poignant book that’s not for everyone
Some people love to cry, and that’s okay. There are hundreds of books and movies created for exactly that reason. We Burned So Bright is one of those books. Don’t read this book if you’re looking for action, adventure, humor, or romance. This is a book meant to hit you deep inside where it really hurts and leave you broken for days after you finish reading. There is a beauty and a peace that is found at the end of the book, but it’s going to hurt getting there, and the recovery is going to be slow. This kind of gut-punch isn’t for everyone, so if that’s not your cup of tea, I recommend skipping We Burned So Bright. You could always check out Klune’s The Bones Beneath My Skin. That’s more of the action-adventure type story with a little tugging of the heartstrings thrown in for fun. But if you want your heart ripped out, stomped on, and just shredded to pieces, then check out We Burned So Bright, available now!
Rating: 7/10
We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune is available from Tor Publishing.
Learn more about the book at the official website for the title.
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