Book Review: What Remains in the Wilderness by B. R. Goodwin
Oh my goodness, you guys!!! I can’t even! **waves face dramatically** 😭😩😆This book! The author reached out to me on Instagram to see if I’d like to read the book for review, and after checking out the excerpt on her website, I was hooked! So I eagerly told her yes, I’d love to read it, and I am so glad I did!!
When Vala’s family is deemed a threat to society by the government, her life is dramatically shifted from that of a normal seventeen-year-old girl, to a life on the run. Along with a small group of friends, she embarks on a journey to find her captured brother and learns to trust the one who has seemingly led her through the wilderness all along.
This book, while pretty short at less than 200 pages, packs a huge punch! I really could not believe all that the author managed to fit into the story! But she did it in such a way that it didn’t feel overly rushed or like I was being cheated out of more of the story. The chapters are short and fast paced and I found myself eagerly moving on to each subsequent chapter, wanting to know what would happen next. Honestly, I would have read the whole thing in a day, had I had enough uninterrupted time to do so!
I don’t typically gravitate toward the dystopian genre, but this book really sucked me in from the first page. I instantly connected with Vala and needed to know more about why her and her family/friends were considered threats to the government and what would happen to them all. The adventure Vala and her friends go on is exciting and leaves you on the edge of your seat, but it’s also heartbreaking and a bit chilling. The truth is, Vala’s reality could be ours one day and this book made me think about what I would do if I were in her place. Would I really stand up for my faith no matter the cost? How would I feel if I were on the run for my life, having to leave behind everything I’ve ever known?
But for all the sad and dark circumstances in the story, there is plenty of light too, including a sweet romance that I loved soooo much! Luca! **sigh** 😌 He’s everything a YA romance hero should be!
A bit of forewarning… there is a doozy of a cliffhanger at the end! I literally had to message the author right away and share my reaction with her LOL. But don’t let that scare you away from reading this awesome book! Book two is on the way, and hopefully not too far away! **crosses fingers**
I feel like I’ve found a hidden gem in this book and this author! 🥰💎 If you love YA fiction, especially of the dystopian variety, then READ. THIS. BOOK! It’s the perfect quick weekend read and you’re sure to love it! 5/5 Stars!
**I received a copy of this book from the author for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!**