Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. This book was not for me. The premise intrigued me. Dystopian is really my thing. But I could not get into this. I picked it up would read a bit and feel my attention wandering. I picked it up, got distracted while reading and set it down more than a dozen times. I made it to 30% over the course of 4 weeks and when I just dreaded picking it up again, I knew it was time to call. Based on several other reviews, I believe it will be quite popular with a certain dynamic.

Loss can be random at times or it comes with a measured scope. It writes with a personal script or it encompasses everything in its path. And then it drains you like an open spigot.

Peter Heller is a remarkable writer. He takes on Nature in its purity and then soils it with the heavy footsteps of humanity. Burn is just that. Heller takes us on its journey into the lives of two brother-like figures, Jess and Storey, dedicated friends since childhood. Every year they pack up and join one another on fishing excursions or hunting in the wild. Jess is now living in Colorado and Storey resides in Vermont with his wife and daughters. There's a deep commitment here. That bond will be truly tested as Burn unfolds.

Jess and Storey are pushing the pedal to the metal in northern Maine until an empty gas gauge indicates that it's the end of the road. Both men grab their gear and head for the closest town. It's there that their eyes fall upon something unspeakable. Everything has been leveled and burned out. The eeriness overtakes them. As they push their travels farther, the truth thumbs a ride. Something has happened in this part of the country........something for which the darkest nightmares are made of. And Jess and Storey must make their way to the other side of chaos.

Burn rubs a little close. Peter Heller sees to that. We all ponder the impact of today's reality. Heller has always been noted for his fine-tuned characters facing the crap shoot of the odds that are not always in favor of a positive outcome. And Burn becomes a multi-faceted character study enabled with a flip of time from present to past. This explains and gives light to the personalities and decisions made by his main individuals. But it can easily bog down at times while the intensity is happening now. In any case, the plot moves on like a locomotive barreling in on the unknown and taking us readers clinging to the pages in the process. Good, good stuff, Peter Heller.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Penguin Random House and to the talented Peter Heller for the opportunity.

I always enjoy Peter Heller’s novels and this was no exception. As to be expected, the characters were well developed and the friendship between Jess and Storey was very moving. The setting and conflict was well done and I felt a sense of dread through the entire book. I found myself holding my breath through quite a few scenes. I would have like to know a little bit more at the end. Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the egalley.

I love Peter Heller's books. This one is no outlier. He develops characters extremely well. He also does a great job creating a creeping sense of dread that just permeates the entire book. It was difficult to put this one down. I will say that the ending just sort of happened, and while I have no problem with ambiguous endings, this one felt a little unfinished. But otherwise, another successful outing.

I have enjoyed all of the author's previous books. They are all what I'd call "light dystopian" genre. The stories each take place in a world that hasn't completely collapsed but is close to doing so. This book is no different. It's a fast, easy, but very enjoyable read.

Heller is known to have adventure stories with twists and turns, building up to a big "a-ha!" moment... and Burn was no different.

The world-building was great, the protagonists were relatable (although I couldn't help but categorize Storey as an older guy, I really don't know why).

But the ending????? We spent the entire story wondering how things would end, and all of a sudden at 90% of the way through the story, we kick it into high gear and blast through the end.

I will continue to wait with baited breath for Heller's next masterpiece. This one just didn't pack as hard of a punch as The River did.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for providing early access to this book - a portrait of friendship and resilience with a dystopian backdrop. I enjoyed reading this and look forward to it doing well in bookstores once released.

Peter Heller’s novels, which I’ve read many of, always delve deep into the human experience. From the complexities of male friendship to the raw ache of existential longing, his stories resonate. In his latest, "Burn," these themes shine once more.

Set in rural Maine, "Burn" follows two lifelong friends navigating a world torn apart by violence, searching for meaning in chaos. At first, the echoes of "The Dog Stars" felt too strong, but as the story unfolded, it took on a life of its own. Encounters with a young girl shifted their perspective, revealing hidden truths.

Through their journey, the fate of characters like Jess and Storey intertwines with the broader fate of humanity, reminding us of the importance of unity and the power of hope, themes Heller always handles masterfully.

I’m grateful for the chance to read "Burn" early, thanks to Knopf and NetGalley, and I can't wait to share my thoughts with my audience.

Two old friends, Storey and Jess, get together to hunt several times a year. Storey and Jess are basically brothers. Jess is an only child who grew up spending most of his time at his buddy Storey’s active house. Their friendship is well-detailed and interesting. But I never grew to appreciate either character very much.

The book begins with them being on a moose hunt in Maine. When they come out of the woods, they find towns decimated and have no idea what has happened. The situation creates a tense narrative that keeps the reader guessing. But it goes on for an awful long time. You don’t find out what’s happened until halfway through the book. While I appreciate the tension, it dragged for me.

Heller always does a great job of bringing nature into the story, and this book is no exception. The wilds of Maine come alive during their trek. But I honestly didn’t love it. I found it a slog and really just wanted to be finished. Which is the other big problem – the ending has no resolution. He just ran out of words and quit writing.

I appreciate his talent, and have enjoyed many of his books. But this one didn’t work for me.

Although this dystopian novel is at times harrowing, it is ultimately uplifting in its portrayal of nature, love, and friendship. This ranks as one of my favorit of Heller's novel. I highly reccomend it.

I love so much of his work. This wasn’t my favorite, but it was creative. I always love the depth of his troubled characters.

I enjoyed this story more than I expected. The multiple timelines were done well and never felt confusing. I loved their friendship and learning more about their histories while connecting with them in the present which helped to understand decisions made.

Another great book by Peter. This one is actually my favorite of his books. I enjoyed the Dog Stars as well. He is just a very talented writer. Highly recommend.

Dystopian fiction has been a genre I've enjoyed for decades, but I've been welcoming new scenarios and storylines over the past few years (spurred on by the pandemic and the breakdown of our current world -- politically, environmentally, and socially.)

Reality has been, truly, far stranger than fiction in recent years. Peter Heller has effectively captured a story of two lifelong friends, Jess and Storey, from New Hampshire who have maintained an annual hunting trip in spite of their individual lives/relationships diverging and outside forces growing increasingly unstable. This trip lands them in a remote area of Maine.

The novel follows the two men emerging partway through their trip to discover troubling and, soon to be apparent, dire and deadly circumstances. Without giving away details, the story becomes a survival mission as clues to their situation begin to emerge. It's a tense and compelling read and one I really enjoyed.

There are a few ancillary plotlines that go backward and forward in time which outline the men's families, backgrounds, and situations from which they have emerged and I found that some of this content distracted from the much more interesting and riveting main plot. The story is told from the perspective of Jess and, as a result, is very one-sided in its telling. It was also difficult to fathom how some of the circumstances could have taken place outside of the mens' attention (logistically) BUT even with these minor issues, it was a well-written and very worthwhile read. This is an author that knows the outdoors and proves it repeatedly in his writing. I thank #NetGalley and #Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this book. On shelves 8/13/2024 and absolutely worth reading.

I flew through this 300 page book
Jess and Storey are best friends. They have been deep in the Maine woods, hunting, fishing, and camping for two weeks. When they emerge, the world is a different place. The first town they come to is destroyed. With no way of knowing what caused this catastrophe, they must rely on their wits if they ever want to get home. That is, if they even still have homes.
Told in two timelines, the past and present. The present was my favorite, just because I wanted to know what the heck was going on. It’s a hair raising story, one where I never knew if these men would live or die. Once I discovered what had happened, let’s just say it was a sad look at our current world.
My first read by this author and now I want more.

This was a gripping read from the start. The premise alone is frightening enough, and the story does not disappoint. What makes it even scarier is that it hits so close to home. I can't think of anything more terrifying than being away from loved ones when the world falls apart.

The author's writing style was exemplary - I'd never read any of Peter Heller's works, but now consider myself a fan. The ending was a little too short for me, but overall, the book was a great read.

Peter Heller is one of my favorite authors, so I approached this book with high hopes. Ultimately, it turned out to be a solid 4-star read for me. I appreciated its propulsive nature and the intriguing mystery element. However, there were moments when the narrative seemed to drag, particularly during the segments that revisited the past timeline.

By the time I reached the end, I found myself wishing the book had been longer so that I could gain a deeper understanding of the world it portrayed. Overall, it was an interesting and adventurous read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Peter Heller is one of my go-to's, a writer of perception and skill who always makes me think and often makes me shiver. Such is the case here, particularly given the current divisions in our country. Two best friends who have been off the grid hunting moose in rural interior Maine, exit the woods to find a world of blown bridges, incinerated towns, and entire populations missing. With highly limited access to information, they are flummoxed as to how to proceed, in which direction to go, and even who to trust. What makes this so incredible chilling is the perception that news of the real world indicate that this dystopian vision could become possible, not just the work of imagination.

This is the first book that I picked up by Peter Heller and I was not disappointed! I originally wanted to read it because I liked the description and the cover but this was such a quick read for me. I just wanted to keep reading to see how it would end, definitely had me thinking the whole time. I will have to check out more of his books!

After spending weeks hunting in the remote Maine wilderness, best friends Jess and Storey emerge to find the world as they know it has changed. Secession talk had been running rampant through the state and now bridges and towns have been destroyed with no indication as to who is responsible. Was it the federal government or the Secessionists? People have all but disappeared and there is no news to be found anywhere. When they do finally cross paths with people, the new motto seems to be "Shoot first, ask questions later." Then they made a discovery that completely changes the trajectory of their journey.

The novel alternates between past and present, which worked well. This is a story of lifelong friendship, political divisiveness, and finding your way home. I really enjoyed the bond between Jess and Storey, which is the heart of the story. The book is a well-written, fast-paced, tense ride and sadly, a little too close to possible given the currently political climate. My only complaint was the ending, which I won't spoil. I do hope we'll see a sequel at some point.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.