It’s been a decade since Bret Anthony Johnston made his striking debut with Remember Me Like This, a novel I once hailed as a rare gem. Despite the time that has passed, his talent remains undiminished, perhaps even refined.

His latest work, We Burn Daylight, is a gripping tale loosely based on the real-life events of the 1993 Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas. Admittedly, my recollection of the incident was hazy at best—something about a religious leader predicting the apocalypse, a raid led by Janet Reno, a prolonged standoff, and the devastating fire that claimed many lives.

But my limited knowledge didn’t detract from the experience, as this book is a fictionalized account, allowing Johnston to craft his own narrative. The story revolves around two 14-year-olds, Roy, the sheriff’s son, and Jaye, a reluctant resident of the compound, caught in the early stirrings of first love as the siege unfolds.

Johnston structures the novel into four sections, each aligning with one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The white horse, symbolizing conquest; the black horse, representing war; the red horse, associated with famine; and the pale horse, a harbinger of death. Throughout, the narrative is interwoven with modern-day podcast transcripts featuring fictional characters.

At the center of the story is Perry Cullen, also known as “The Lamb,” who embodies a messianic figure—or perhaps its darker opposite, depending on interpretation. Despite his role, Cullen is portrayed as unremarkably ordinary—a Bible-quoting figure whose appeal lies in his ability to make others feel they belong. Yet, it’s Roy and Jaye who captivate the reader, illustrating how pure, youthful love holds the potential to transcend even the darkest of circumstances.

Ultimately, bloodlines, rituals, or religious fanaticism offer little in the grand scheme of things. The real forces that save us from the flames of destruction are justice, compassion, and, above all, love. Cullen and his ilk may strut and fret, but they are mere shadows, destined to fade. What endures is grace and the redemptive power of human connection.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book and am grateful to Random House for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

We Burn Daylight was a step outside my normal reading material. I was intrigued by the ideas of a cult and young love. The short chapters with alternating timelines kept the story moving at a good pace and kept my attention. The writing was of good quality and the characters were well developed. I'm glad I read this and will look out for other books from this author.

The fact that this is based on a true story is absolutely WILD to me. I don't love historical fiction always, but I love culty books, and wow this story blew me away. It's a slow burn, but give it time, you won't be disappointed.

Such a good story. An homage to Romeo and Juliet set in Texas. It does bring back memories of the Waco tragedy but supposedly it on based on that. This is my first book by this author and I’m going to read his debut . He’s a great storyteller. It’s slow going but picks up halfway and stays that way until the end. Highly recommend.4⭐️

This is a fictional account of the Waco, TX fiasco from the 1990s. It pretty much had me at "Waco" since I'm already kind of fascinated by that whole saga.
The main protagonist is a teenage boy living in town, who meets and falls for a girl living on the compound with her mom. Oh yeah, and his dad is the sheriff.
It was interesting to read about what might have been different perspectives of people involved in the situation, whether directly or indirectly.
I thought it jumped the shark a little bit towards the end, but eh, whatever. It was still good.

We Burn Daylight immerses readers in a gripping tale inspired by the real-life events surrounding the siege of the Branch Davidian compound. Set against the backdrop of religious extremism, this novel deftly combines love, danger, and faith.

Pros:
Emotional Sophistication: Johnston masterfully portrays the complexities of young love amidst chaos. Jaye and Roy’s relationship feels genuine and poignant.
Tension-Building: The alternating viewpoints between Jaye and Roy heighten the rising tension. We’re drawn into their lives, rooting for their survival.
Vivid Setting: The rugged Texas countryside serves as a vivid backdrop, evoking both beauty and danger.

Cons:
Narrative Pacing: While the story grips us, there are moments when the narrative spins its wheels, especially during the intense gunfights.
Predictable Outcome: Given the Romeo and Juliet framework, the tragic climax becomes somewhat expected.

Beyond pacing issues, the novel’s predictability slightly diminishes its impact. However, the emotional depth and evocative storytelling make We Burn Daylight a compelling read.

Interesting novel, the writing was well done and the topic has not been overdone. I learned more about the Waco Massacre and I liked how you got both sides of the story a little bit.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on the Branch Davidians and Waco disaster. I like the alternating perspectives from the different characters. I liked how many were on the outside looking in. I thought the story flowed well and was very descriptive. It really made you feel that you were back in that time and place.

Jaye comes to Waco in 1993 with her mother who is swayed by the words of The Lamb- a charimatic but unreliable, self-proclaimed prophet. They don't realize that are joining a cult until The Lamb starts having trouble with the law. Roy's father is the local sherrif and is watchful but concerned. He is not ready to cause major conflict with The Lamb and his followers, until the matter is taken out of his hand by ATF and the FBI.

Jaye and Roy meet in secret and start to fall for each other but are caught between a cult she doesn't want to be a part of and the law that he doesn't think is handling the situation correctly.

This is being billed as Romeo and Juliet with the Branch Davidians. I liked the premise and storyline, but the writing was so slowly paced and drawn out- I almost quit this book many times. I only finished it to see how it turned out. So, I thought the premise was better than the book itself, but I think many people will really like this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This novel had me consumed from start to finish. Told using dual narratives, short chapters and a present day podcast/interview style, the story is centered around two teenage characters who are love struck upon meeting for the first time. They each tell their perspective of their journey during the Waco siege. We Burn Daylight is more character driven and even though we all know the outcome of the story, some chapters were intense enough that I couldn’t stop reading. I highly recommend this unique and captivating story!

The title, description, and the cover all pulled me in from the start. There were a few slower moments for me while reading, but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it for others with similar tastes.

This story revolving around two young teenage lovers set in the backdrop of the siege in Waco, TX was interesting and devastating as one would imagine. Roy is the son of a local sheriff participating in the siege and Jaye is the daughter of a woman convinced to move to Waco by the charismatic leader of the compound in Waco. The two meet and are soon “star-crossed” lovers.

The story was interesting and tough to read but I enjoyed the podcast interspersed throughout the story giving context to the love story. The ending was great and redemptive.

I rate my historical fiction based on whether or not it makes me want to learn more about the actual events that took place.

Well, I have been reading all about the Waco Texas standoff since reading this book. This book is fictionalized account of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. I remember seeing it on the news when it happened, but I didn’t know any of the specifics.

To personalize the story the author tells it through two teenagers, Roy the son of a local sheriff and Jaye who’s mother belongs to the cult.
The book is really creatively presented. We get the two perspectives of Roy and Jaye leading up to the standoff and also the transcript of a podcast recorded after the event.

The book reads almost like a thriller and even though you know the ending, it is riveting. While I was reading it, I kept looking things up to see how it unfolded in real life. Very good historical fiction.

This story, thought not entirely based on the Waco siege in 1993, does take heavy inspiration from it. Perry Cullen is a guy that travels around, preaching the bible, he eventually ends up on a rural abandoned (seemingly) property outside of Waco, TX. Here he gathers a number of individuals who voluntarily sell all their worldly possessions and give the funds to him. And what do they do on this property? The 'flock' as Perry calls them work, hard at building a house for the flock to live in, though this house does not follow any sort of building code and doesn't have toilets, a kitchen, running water or anything else that would make it a house. However, the flock move in and sleep in rooms with no doors or heating. Perry does bible study and he eventually tells them he wants to be called "Lamb". How there people survived in such deplorable conditions is a credit to their unfailing belief in Perry and his knowledge of scripture. Into this comes Jaye and her mother who has fallen under the spell of Perry, who actually is more interested in Jaye than her. Perry has a thing for young girls and the idea that he alone should procreate with females. Jaye is a really cool kid, she's fourteen going on 20 with the knowledge of someone who's been around. She can also tell that Perry is interested in her and she does everything she can to avoid him. The other youngster is Roy, also the younger son of the local Sheriff, Roy and Jaye meet by chance and he is star struck. The story is told from Jaye and Roy's point of view with podcast interviews conducted after the events happened with people that were there. It is a fairly quick moving story and I really enjoyed it and would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Randomhouse for the ARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Bret Anthony Johnston’s We Burn Daylight is a gripping and poignant exploration of love, faith, and survival set against the backdrop of a doomsday cult in Texas. This novel, inspired by the true events of the Branch Davidian siege, masterfully intertwines historical reality with a compelling fictional narrative.

The story is set in Waco, Texas, in 1993, where people from diverse backgrounds converge to follow the teachings of a charismatic yet dangerous prophet known as the Lamb. The plot centers around Jaye, a young girl whose mother is deeply devoted to the Lamb, and Roy, the son of the local sheriff. Their romance is fraught with peril as the Lamb’s influence grows increasingly sinister. Johnston’s narrative is engaging and suspenseful.

Johnston excels in creating multi-dimensional characters who are both relatable and deeply flawed. Jaye’s skepticism and inner conflict about her mother’s devotion to the Lamb are portrayed with nuance and sensitivity. Roy, with his innate sense of justice and burgeoning love for Jaye, provides a stark contrast to the oppressive environment of the cult. 

We Burn Daylight delves into themes of faith, family, and the lengths to which people will go for love and salvation. Johnston’s exploration of the psychological grip of cults is insightful and disturbing.

Johnston’s prose is lyrical and precise, capturing the stark beauty of the Texas prairie and the intense emotions of his characters. His ability to weave historical facts with fictional elements creates a compelling narrative.

We Burn Daylight is a powerful and evocative novel that offers a profound look at the complexities of faith and love in the face of extremism.

Johnston’s storytelling is compassionate and unflinching, making this book a memorable and a thought-provoking read. Whether you’re drawn to historical fiction, psychological thrillers, or love stories, We Burn Daylight has something to offer.

There’s a Place for Us

The pitch is fairly simple: a Romeo and Juliet romance set in Waco, Texas, during a scenario much like the Branch Davidians siege. Author Bret Anthony Johnston was in Waco on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy and met with a number of the survivors and people involved– here the story began germinating in his imagination.

Jaye, the Juliet, is a teenaged girl who has reluctantly moved with her mother to the compound run by a religious zealot, Perry Cullen or “the Lamb” – a character similar to the real-life David Koresh. The members are permitted to go into town and Jaye meets the Sheriff’s son, fourteen-year-old Roy (our Romeo). Roy falls heavily for Jaye but has no idea she lives in the compound that his father and other law enforcement officials are investigating.

So, the real-life events of 1993 provide the skeleton for much of the setting. As such, we know how things ended, and we know there was a lot of controversy about the way the government handled the situation. In between Jaye and Roy’s chapters there are episodes of a podcast, “On the Lamb,” a modern-day investigation to find out what really happened. These are short and refreshing breaks as the pace seems to sputter at times. The kids are creations and not historical figures, so a driving motivation to keep reading is to discover their fates.

The sense of place is intense– this is Texas and cannot be confused with anywhere else. The people here are all understandable, if not sympathetic. The Lamb is extreme, of course, but the followers are multidimensional and not painted as mere zombies or robots. If anything, it is the federal government officials who are portrayed as a bit shady.

Overall, this is an interesting depiction of the Waco setting and the people there. For anyone who cares, the Romeo and Juliet theme was all right, with “Easter Eggs” scattered throughout. Knowing the probable outcome only made it drag out to a longer journey than necessary.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #WeBurnDaylight #NetGalley.

A beautifully written love story set against the backdrop of a tragic standoff in Waco, TX in 1993. Though it is not specifically the Branch Davidians led by David Koresh, the characters and events are clearly inspired by that event. I liked how each chapter would switch between the viewpoints of Jaye and Roy, with current day podcast interviews spliced in. Highly recommend!

This love story was beautifully written! I feel like everybody loves a good cult story from an insiders perspective and this book did it in the best way! There is no way you cannot fall in love with the two main characters. There were so many times that I felt like my heart was going to stop and I had to keep reading. I didn’t even feel like I was reading most of the time!

Bret Anthony Johnston is an author whose work leaves me breathless. Taking on difficult—impossible—human experiences and tragedies, he narrows perspective to one or two people. In We Burn Daylight, those perspectives come from two teenagers experiencing a Branch Davidian-like charismatic leader, law enforcement and the inevitable destruction of what each represents.
Roy is the second son of the small-town sheriff father and hospice nurse mother. There older son is in Iraq, first as a marine, but after his deployment, as a contractor. Roy is close to each of his family members, in the realistic way a teenage boy has. They don’t shelter him, but his parents and grandparents clearly cherish him. Jaye, a teenage girl who wants to be desired by her peers, is ripped from her California home when her mother, perhaps in a midlife crisis of her own, wants to be closer to Perry, also known as the Lamb.
Through the two of them, we meet townspeople and followers of The Lamb. We go to prayer meetings and gun shows and abandoned malls. Life in rural Texas in the early 90’s, before cell phones and iPad and social media, is engagingly depicted, and our imperfectly perfect characters, ultimately wanting mostly to be loved. In Johnston’s words, “Love is equally dyed in faith and fear. One life is always another life, another thousand lives.”
Along with the engaging story, Johnston’s writing is exquisite.
While I wanted to put the book down at the halfway point, where the downward spiral accelerates and leaves the reader believing there is only one end, as there was in Waco 1992. I admit to reading the author’s note before I went any further, where it was clarified that this was in fact fiction, though reliant on many of the details of reality. So, I kept reading, and found myself speeding through to find out what happened, I won’t spoil it, but I encourage you not only read the book, but by all means, to finish it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the review copy. We Burn Daylight was published on July 30, 2024.

This is a fiction book based on the Branch Davidian's and the subsequent siege that took place in Waco Tx. Back before Waco was known for Chip and Joanna Gaines they were known for what happened between the Branch Davidians and the US government.

This book centers around a young girl and her mother who follow "Perry" to Tx. Jaye doesn't like Perry and is only there for her mother. She meets Ray, the Sheriffs son, at a gun show and the two are drawn toward each other. She is given a truck to drive to make pick up and deliveries for the religious organization and often meets up with Ray. When the siege happens Ray is left to wonder about not only his father's health but that of Jaye. 

This was a fascinating glimpse inside a cult and while I know it was fiction it felt very real. I don't think I will ever understand how someone could fall for someone randomly calling themselves a prophet that speaks for god but then I'm not a super religious person. Anyone who sleeps with underage children and claims to have a moral high ground I will always have issue with. The story between Jaye and Ray was a little bit of a leap for me, particularly in the end but it was still interesting and I kept routing for them. 

If you have any interest in cults, doomed love, and interesting take on what happened that fateful day in Waco, Tx this is a good read.