Wow! I felt so weird reading a historical fiction book based in 1993, but here we are!

What a great novel. The last 20% was a trip and I was buckled in. I knew nothing about the David Koresh cult and now I need to do a deep dive to see the similarities! There’s something so special about historical fiction that is well done and this book is one of them. Jaye and Roy are like modern day Romeo and Juliet and my heart broke for them every few chapters.

Pick this one up- it’s so worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this fantastic Noel! I knew nothing about this book other than the cover art was gorgeous. I looked at premise and “historical family drama” and “cult” were the words that drew me in. So so happy! This is slow burn. This is poetry (well not actual poetry) about Roy and Jaye, and how one’s beliefs whether they be completely misguided or not can completely alter everyone around you. The horrific incident in WACO in the 1990s obviously influences this novel. But again like poetry this books narrative makes you feel the Texas setting.
I would state that it took me a minute to get into the book. For the first 10% I was slightly confused on POV, but this book lives in the land between historical and literary. Really recommend!

We Burn Daylight is based on the events of the 1993 Waco standoff and massacre but it is fictional and names and some events have been changed. Still, the basis of the plot is that there is a Doomsday cult in Waco. We know things have ended badly for the cult and like the Branch Davidians, the US government laid siege to this cult as well.
Jaye and Roy are both young teenagers. Jaye is the daughter of a cult member but never got sucked into the belief system. Roy is the son of the local sheriff. They’re in love, in a sort of Romeo and Juliet separated by circumstances way. The story alternates between their two perspectives, along with interviews done by a podcaster 30 years later which allow for a broader picture to be developed.
The character development is rich and one can’t help but feel for the two teenagers. This reader wanted to think how it could have ended differently. Yet, how could it when delusional beliefs faced off against “The United States government does not retreat.” In addition, at every turn, Roy and Jaye are forced to make decisions that their youth has not adequately prepared them to make. The pacing of the story really picks up once the siege begins. I was reading as quickly as I could; I wanted to see what would happen to the two young lovers.
The writing is forceful, yet often philosophical. The scenes inside the compound are graphic and well drawn, from the grip of the cult leader on his followers to the violence of the attack by the government forces.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

A dooms day cult story told from the perspective of two young souls that meet by chance. This was such an excellent story of two people trying to get to know one another while standing opposite sides of this cult. I really enjoyed the fact that this also had a podcast theme to it. With shorter chapters it felt like a faster paced book, although there was some scene setting. This story is told from two different POVs Jaye and Roy whom are the star crossed lovers. I would highly recommend this read if you are into historical fiction books about cults.

The book was good. It definitely has the connection to Waco, regardless of the intent. I was excited to read it, but then had a bit of a time getting into it. I definitely like the idea of the alternating points-of-view, the narration, and the podcast, but was a bit dismayed when everything was revealed. Worth the time and because of the writing style I will definitely read more from the author.

It took me a minute to get into this book, but that was mostly because of how emotional I knew it would be to really sink into this book. It’s the story of Roy and Jaye, who are caught up in a cult and the government’s action against it. Beautifully written, yet hard to read, it is definitely worth your time.

This was a powerful story that centered around two young teens coming of age during in Waco, Texas in the early 1990s. It was powerfully written, and full of heartbreak and managed to make people who get caught up in cults seem relatable and sympathetic. I was moved.

I was expecting Romeo and Juliet via a cult, however instead I felt like I got a fictionalized re-telling of the Branch Davidians. Not that its a bad thing! I loved the dual perspectives and slowly figuring out who everyone was in the story, and that the main characters were lovely. If you are familiar with the Branch Davidians story you will know what's coming most of the time, which isn't bad necessarily. If however you are not familiar with the story I think this will be a page turner!

Remembering the Waco debacle in the 1990s of the standoff between the Branch Davidians and the US Government makes the last 30 years seem like yesterday. The author successfully bases this historical novel as a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with all of the intrigue and tension of that 30 year old siege. The characters’ emotional lives are well written and plot moves along at a good pace. The inserts of podcast recordings of participants’ memories didn’t add much to the story however.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group for the ARC to read and review.

We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston is intense. Although the story is not about the Waco tragedy and David Koresh, it is the story of a cult and its leader and followers. Treated sympathetically, the characters are not people to scorn, but people to sympathize with, who got caught up by a charismatic figure. These characters don’t follow blindly to death, but they’re caught up in a situation they can’t free themselves from. The novel focuses on a young couple, Jaye and Roy - see the allusion to Romeo and Juliet? - with almost insurmountable odds against them. The novel pulls the reader into their story with a realistic setting, intense, tight plot, and endearing characters. It’s a great story.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 round up!

This book drew me right in being a love story set against the backdrop of Waco, Texas. We get two perspectives as well as podcast chapters which gives you a very well rounded feel of the whole story!

Overall, I enjoyed reading the events of Waco through the eyes of characters that were living in the midst of it all. Certain story lines fell short for me, especially the ending.

I’m having some issues rating this book and knowing what to say about it. To quote the author…”this book is not about David Koresh”. But it is a similar story. It’s about a cult in Waco, Texas. I have always wondered how someone could allow someone else to control their mind - their life. After reading this book, I understand a little more. It is a well told story, the characters are well written. I got a little lost close to the end of the book and may go back and read it again - but then again, I may not. That’s the kind of book it is. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced reader copy of this ebook.
I heard about this book from Elizabeth Barnhill on the Currently Reading podcast’s Patreon episode of All Things Murderful.
This book is influenced by the Branch Davidian tragedy in Waco from the early 90’s. I’m an elder millennial so I can remember some parts of this event. The book’s two protagonists are from both sides of the standoff and gives a human side to the story from each side.
There were a few Texas-specific references to things I had to look up, but not many.
I thought the epilogue was a little far fetched/too neat of an ending but wasn’t terrible.
4⭐️

Honestly, I began reading this book because I thought it was about David Koresh. Not until the afterword are you told it’s not. If it’s not, then why make Waco the setting? It’s a very involving read at times. But it definitely leaves you wondering why it was written, what the author actually thinks about the Koresh story, and why the fanciful, unrealistic ending was felt necessary?

We Burn Daylight is a fictionalization of the Waco, TX siege on David Koresh and his religious followers. That said, as someone who was quite young when this happened, prior knowledge of these events is not required. In this book, we have Jaye, a teenage girl who goes with her mother when she leaves California to follow "The Lamb" to TX, and Roy, a teenage boy who lives in Waco, the son of the sheriff, and their star-crossed romance. They are our two main protagonists, which therefore means we view the events around the Waco siege from the perspective of two kids who don't always know and understand everything around them.
As I previously mentioned, I had no real prior knowledge of the events that inspired this novel, and overall enjoyed this fictional take that attempts to illustrate what it was like to live in Waco at the time of the siege, and also attempts to elaborate on why the Branch Davidians were so inspired to follow the Lamb, despite quite poor living conditions. Both Jaye and Roy felt like authentic teenagers, behaving and talking ways that a teenager would. My one main criticism would be the jump forward in time and the final chapter, as it felt like a departure from the previous book stylistically, for me.
Thank you to Random House Book and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Remember Waco and the Branch Davidian situation back in the '90s? I do, although it's becoming a distant memory. The "doomsday cult" members living on their own compound ... the Feds moving in ... Janet Reno ...

Well, Bret Anthony Johnson found the whole thing interesting enough that it inspired him to write "We Burn Daylight." Young teen Jaye moves with her mom from California to Texas, following Perry aka "The Lamb." Perry is into Jaye's mom, but also kind of takes a shine to Jaye herself. Meanwhile in town, the sheriff's young teen son Roy has a few meetings with Jaye and the two fall in love. As you can imagine, this leads to trouble. If you know the Waco story, you can guess some of what happens. But this book goes its own direction in an extended epilogue.

I enjoyed this book's throwback to the early '90s. The lack of smartphones, computers, and the internet was refreshing and made me nostalgic for that time. The writing was good.

For me, there were more things I didn't enjoy than I did. Jaye is confident in the you-go-girl way that is so popular today, but I found her brash and kind of annoying. I also found it off-putting that she kept referring to Roy as "my pilgrim." Their "romance" seemed based on very little other than its necessity as a plot device, and I think comparisons I've seen online to Romeo and Juliet (the origin of the title quote) are totally over-the-top. Perry, the David Koresh figure, didn't seem very charismatic and it was hard to imagine what the others living there saw in him. I wished more about the "services" or daily life in the compound had been fleshed out.

The pacing of the book was very slow, and podcast interviews interspersed between chapters broke up any momentum the story might have otherwise had. If you're interested in the Waco situation, you may enjoy this.

Loved the scope and sweep of this story. Found the characters engaging and story about religious fervor compelling. The sense of place and time were spot on and would recommend this read to anyone that likes William Kent Krueger or Mark Spragg.

"We Burn Daylight" is a masterfully crafted literary work authored by Bret Johnston, delving into the poignant events that unfolded in Waco, Texas in 1993. This compelling novel intricately explores the lives of two young individuals hailing from opposing sides of the situation. Roy, the son of the local sheriff, and Jaye, whose mother is entangled with the leadership of the cult, find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another amidst the chaos. As the narrative unfolds, the story adopts an enthralling thriller-like atmosphere, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they ponder who will ultimately emerge from the tragedy unscathed. Seamlessly blending elements of romance and historical fiction, "We Burn Daylight" offers a profound depiction of a somber chapter in our nation's history. I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in this remarkable book, which I personally awarded a solid four-star rating.
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC to read and review.

This story begins with a mother and daughter who leave California, heading to Waco, Texas. Jaye’s mother has learned that a man she knew in California has formed a religious community where he plans to share the word of God, or at least his version of God. She’s heard the word about <i>’the Lamb’</i>, and is eager to become a part of this new community. Set in an isolated area, far from anything resembling a suburb, he is treated by some as a god, and where his followers, eager to follow, believe his words, and follow him.

When Jaye and her mother arrive, Jaye meets Roy, the son of the local sheriff, which slowly becomes somewhat of a love story.

Part of this story is shared through podcasts, although the main part of the story is shared through Jaye’s perspective and Roy’s, as well.

The longer you read this the more you begin to believe that it is one of those stories that will likely end badly. After all, put together a cult and Waco, and what else would you expect?

I enjoyed this, if somewhat unevenly, as the story continued, but while the podcast transcripts offered insight to some degree, it also felt like I was being taken out of the story to ‘listen’ to the podcast.


Pub Date: 30 Jul 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random Houses Publishing Group - Random House / Random House

Great premise and execution, I loved the alternating perspectives between Roy and Jaye. This is a bit of a slow burn (you know, in broad strokes how this story will end) but it there is great character building and a deep backstory created on the way there.

Overall, I wish this story was not set in Waco. This appears to be a fictionalized account of the Branch Davidians' standoff, but it's also not. There is no David Koresh leading the group. The standoff ends similarly, but there are also many differences and we view the story through the lens of unique characters. Personally, I would have liked I firmer line between fact and fiction. I kept wanting to look up facts from the actual events to compare the two rather than becoming lost in the story.

But when I decided to just pretend this was a unique story, it was easier to get into. The tender, growing love story really anchors the book and gives the standoff much more heft. The fact that Roy's family is in law enforcement added another layer of stress to the events unfolding. You're not really clear on what this group actually believes in (other than judgement day) but do we ever? Cults are founded not on practicalities but on their leader's charisma (though this one seemed a bit of a distracted mess).

The final quarter of the book was tense and action packed, taking twists and turns you might not see coming. I think this was was my favorite part of the book. (It's hard to make a very long standoff dramatic since it is by nature a slow, boring process. You're intrigued during those scenes, but it inevitably slows the story down.)

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.