Take two star-crossed teens, a cult set in Waco, in 1993, a sheriff trying to stave off a massacre and a current day podcast examining that point in history and you have a masterful story told by a masterful storyteller. Roy, a fourteen year old son of the sheriff, a lock picker and an optimist meets a girl at a gun show. The girl, Jaye, also fourteen, moved to Waco with her mother who was enamored with Perry, aka the Lamb, the leader of a cult waiting for the world to end.

Through Jaye we gain an understanding of what life was like in the shoddily built compound sans toilets but significantly armed to fend off intruders and how Perry seeks to increase the following generation with children from children. Jaye, a nonbeliever, wants to protect her mother and at the same time tries to steer clear of Perry. While he leads his study group she enters his room, steals food and calls Roy with whom she has fallen in love. She creates opportunities to see him outside the compound and share a kiss.

Roy’s family have always been macho. Dad and grandfather were sheriffs and his brother is a Marine. Roy perceives himself as less. He and his best friend Coop are constant companions. After meeting Jaye, he tries to keep that a secret from everyone. He joined his sheriff father at the compound to suggest Perry keep everything aboveboard. While exploring the property, Jaye finds Roy. Their feelings are reciprocated.

The sheriff is concerned that the FBI wants to get involved and takedown the cult. There is nothing he can do to stop the oncoming siege. Jaye is trapped inside and Roy winds up at Coop’s house watching and waiting and hoping Jaye gets out. What is going through his mind? How can he deal with the trauma of it all?

While their love is intense, it does not overshadow the bigger picture of what is happening. The insightful glimpses into a cult, the emotions on all sides and a thought provoking sense of what is right about this, what is wrong with this keeps the reader captivated. The interspersed excerpts of a podcast have participants on all sides giving their historical perspective. Does time change people? Are there regrets? Read to find out!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this amazing ARC.

This fictionalized account of the Branch Davidian disaster in 1993 just never came together for me. In some places and in some speech, I felt like I was in the 21st century, but most of the time, I felt like the time period depicted was the 1950s. For example, in one place one of the characters turned on the TV and was pleased to note that the test pattern was still on (therefore it was prior to 6 AM). I can’t remember how long ago it was that TV stations began staying on 24 hours, but it was definitely much earlier than 1993.

Many of the other depictions were definitely over the top, as well, making the story less believable or even, downright cartoonish.

However, it was a worthy read. It was also interesting to me, personally, since I’d just finished Victor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Yes, Man searches for meaning is eternal and knows no bounds.

I appreciate this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Random House, in exchange for an honest review.

Wowzers! This book was written in a way that made me feel like I was there living it all first hand. I loved the different viewpoints of the two teens navigating first love somewhat in a fantasy haze juxtaposition to the podcasters interviewing key characters and bringing it back to reality.

I just reviewed We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston. #WeBurnDaylight #NetGalley

Disclaimer reads that this is not about David Koresh but it really does feel like true crime. Very well written, especially with volleying between viewpoints and current podcast interviews. This book was fan-freaking-tastic!!!

I was provided with a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

Gen Xers remember the siege at Waco all too well. Cult leader (and I do use that term advisedly as a religious scholar) David Koresh was under siege at his compound in Texas, accused of hoarding firearms and abusing children. Rather than listening to the advice of religious scholars (come ON, people), the FBI led an ill-advised charge that resulted in the burning to death of dozens of innocent women and children. In some ways, the assault on Waco led to the radicalizing of the far right in America that we see today.

Johnston provides a sensitive and humanized look at Waco through the eyes of two fictional teenagers orbiting the lives of a Koresh-like figure named the Lamb. Roy is the younger son of the local sheriff, who inherited the job from a long line of sheriffs and whose son is currently stationed in Afghanistan as a Marine. Jaye is a rebellious teen whose mother is captivated by the Lamb and leaves her father to join the group in Waco. Roy and Jaye soon fall in teenager infatuation and then genuine love - but the cost of their relationship lies in the Lamb's increasing instability and interest in child brides, the potential smuggling of guns and grenades through the camp, and the awful reckoning that will spill the blood between them.

Johnston is a master of individual voice, differentiating Roy and Jaye as well as the sheriff, the Lamb, and Jaye's mother. He intersperses short vignettes from the main characters with podcast interviews from 2024, a writing device that never feels gimmicky but helps move the plot along. The reader alternately sympathizes with and condemns every character in the book, including the sheriff and the Lamb. And it all builds to a totally unexpected twist as the FBI storms the compound, and what happens afterward.

I realize it's only April, but of the 28 books I've read so far in 2024 "We Burn Daylight" is the best. Definitely five stars.

Bret Anthony Johnston is a superb storyteller. His character development is only topped by his ability to weave multiple storylines into a superb tapestry. If you like good stories, recent history, interesting characters, and suspense . . . . give "We Burn Daylight" your attention.

The basis for the book is the true event-David Koresh and the Branch Davidians and the siege of their compound.
In this fictionalized version the main characters are two 14 year old children-Roy-son of the sheriff- and Jaye-originally from California but living reluctantly in the compound when her mother becomes entranced with the Koresh like figure Perry Cullen(the LAMB). Interspersed throughout the book are podcasts of all of the essential characters 30 years later-with their divergent points of view as to what transpired. The book ends with the siege and the horrific events well portrayed but the epilogue is wonderful and inspiring. To appreciate it you’ll have to read the book.
WELL DONE Bret

While the writing in this was good, it always felt like I was reading a badly crafted documentary. I just could not connect to the characters. I think it was the relatively clinical "podcast" interruptions that kept me from actually caring about any of the characters because Roy and Jaye were worth caring about. I also think that because of the "podcast" pieces, it seemed to slow down the pacing and break in the action. The premise was fascinating, although I never could understand how Perry was so charismatic which, in a way, was also a fault. I was going for 2.5 stars but upped it to 3. Thanks to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. This was just not my cup of tea.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
When I saw that this book was about a cult, I was so excited. I think cults are very interesting and I love hearing about them, the leaders, and the people that join them. I was nervous that maybe this book wouldn't meet my expectations, but wow,was I wrong! I loved everything about this story. Every character had a very distinct voice that added so much to the story. I loved all the foreshadowing, and I lived how similar the story was to the actual Waco cult incident in 1993. I loved how we don't know the identity of the podcast host until much later in the book. I think the only thing that could make this book better would be to hear it on audio. If it was done in a way that each character had its own narrator (especially in the podcast portion!), it would make an audie award worthy audio book.
Absolutely recommend!

Although author Bret Anthony Johnston states in his Acknowledgements at the end of We Burn Daylight that this “is not about David Koresh”, this is the story of a charismatic leader — named Perry Cullen, aka “The Lamb” — and the doomsday religion that he founds on a shambolic ranch outside of Waco, Texas, which was eventually subject to siege and deadly raid by government forces in March of 1993. Told in short, alternating chapters by a pair of fourteen-year-old “star-crossed lovers” (hence the source of title) — Roy is the upstanding son of the local Sheriff, and Jaye is the (barely) more worldly daughter of a woman who was drawn to the Lamb from California; both Roy and Jaye being good, innocent kids, hungry in that familiar adolescent way for love and validation — and although the reader knows where the escalating standoff between law enforcement and the residents of the highly armed ranch must lead (and to be sure, there is plenty of foreshadowing along the way), this is a heart-wrenching, pulse-pounding, deeply philosophical exploration of faith and social constructs and the real limits of freedom. Johnston’s prose is clear and propulsive — the cold, barren landscape is masterfully captured without a hint of sentimentality — and his characters are real and relatable; even those who would knowingly follow what others might call a “cult”; even the so-called cult leader himself is simply following his own fate. Thirty years after the raid on the Branch Davidians, it might be easy to blame the debacle entirely on government overreach, but here Johnston explores the events that led up to that day — the growing unease of the local community (I hear he has illegal weapons, I hear he’s impregnating underage girls), the mounting paranoia within the ranch (These are the end times, the prophesied opening of the Seventh Seal), and a government that feels its authority under scrutiny (with recent fiascos in Montana and Idaho) — there’s an inevitability to the ensuing tragedy that feels Shakespearian in the end. This was an outstanding reading experience (especially for someone like myself who watched the raid on the Branch Davidians with confused horror as it played out in the day), and it could have rated five stars, but I did not like the way that Johnston wrapped his story up. Still: Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 30, 2024
Bret Anthony Johnson’s new novel, “We Burn Daylight” brings two star-crossed lovers learning about love, and themselves, in a coming-of-age story with a doomsday cult in Waco, Texas as the backdrop (no, not that one).
It’s 1993 and Roy is the son of the local sheriff. With his older brother away in the military, Roy sometimes helps his father out when he goes to deliver warrants to the community. Roy’s mother is a health aide and her schedule shifts around which patient needs her the most, so it is often Roy and his father in the sheriff’s pickup. Roy’s father, and the community at large, are convinced that Perry Cullen and his “followers” living in the half-decrepit place on the hill are up to something. Some people think it’s something sinister, some believe that Perry Cullen’s people are nothing more than religious zealots. Jaye is a reluctant member, having been brought to Cullen’s property after her mother fell prey to its charming and provocative leader. Jaye was forced to leave everything behind, including her father, and has to watch her back at every turn, knowing Perry does not have good intentions. But then Jaye meets Roy and she feels hope for the first time- but there is a war brewing and although Jaye and Roy can feel the undercurrents, they live on the edge of their seat, hoping they can make it out alive.
“Daylight” is narrated by the two fourteen-year-old protagonists, but by no means is it a young adult novel. Anthony Johnson’s writing is poetic and descriptive and his novel brings out complex emotions. Young love is a theme, as is loss, but so is fear, power and deceit.
There was no question I was going to read this one (there’s a cult in it, after all) but it exceeded my expectations all the same. Anthony Johnson is a new author for me, and “Daylight” has only made me want to drop everything and immediately read everything else he has ever penned. I found his wording graceful without being thick or overly intellectual, and the dual plots of the Cullen cult as well as the star-crossed romance intertwined effortlessly.
The cult mentioned, obviously, will bring to mind the Waco, Texas chapter of the “Branch Davidians”, led by David Karesh, but it is not based on it, only loosely influenced by. I didn’t mean the symmetry and in fact, I found the setting and background easier to visualize if I had a concrete example to create from.
“Daylight” is unique and unsettling, and I loved every minute.

Set in the early 1990s in Waco, TX, We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston is a retelling of the Branch Davidian tragedy that many of us will never forget. I was a child at the time and I vividly remember watching the events unfold from my home in Houston.

Perhaps it is because of my memory of the event that I was able to picture The Lamb, the ranch, the raid, and just the setting and characters in general. But more likely it is Johnston’s mastery with words and storytelling.

Halfway through reading this, I entered a busy week and it pained me to even miss a single day reading this. I ultimately stayed up past my bedtime many nights to read as much as I could, and absolutely followed my husband blindly around the hardware store with my nose in this book (on my Kindle?) when I could NOT put it down even to tend to my responsibilities.

The story of Roy and Jaye, teenagers with stars in their eyes for each other, is told in alternating points of view. The first part confused me a little bit, as I thought the POV switching didn’t match up on the timeline. It seemed like Roy’s telling was slightly ahead of Jaye’s, but I couldn’t place why. By part two and beyond, I did not feel that way anymore and was never distracted by that again.

Speaking of distractions, I felt that the inner monologues of these 14 year olds were a little too mature for kids of this age. It just seems a bit far-fetched in my experience that kids use this kind of language (even if they had been gifted students, though I don’t believe this was ever mentioned). However, I wasn’t mad at it. The writing is beautiful and it wasn’t so unbelievable — just a little side eye sometimes!

I love when I learn something from a book. The epigraph references the title, and so I revisited Romeo + Juliet to familiarize myself with the context. I learned about the origin of colloquialisms “burning daylight” and “carrying a torch”. Pretty fun!

I absolutely recommend this book for literary fiction fans, as well as those who like historical fiction and need a break from all the WWII books. Though it is a teenage love story, it feels very mature and intelligent. I’ll definitely purchase the hardcover for my favorites shelf.

We Burn Daylight" by Bret Anthony Johnston delivers a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of a doomsday cult in Waco, Texas, during the tumultuous events of 1993. Johnston intricately weaves together the lives of two star-crossed lovers, Jaye and Roy, whose budding romance unfolds amidst the turmoil of their families' involvement with the charismatic yet ominous figure known as the Lamb.

Through richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, "We Burn Daylight" transcends the boundaries of genre to explore themes of faith, family, and the sacrifices we make for love. Johnston's masterful reimagining of the events at the Branch Davidian compound offers a poignant reflection on the human condition and the enduring power of resilience in the face of tragedy.

This mind-bending, meticulously crafted thriller delves into the tragic events unfolding in Waco, Texas, in 1993, through the star-crossed romance of two teenagers. Roy, the son of the sheriff, grapples with the absence of his elder brother, who is serving in Iraq. Meanwhile, Jay's mother finds herself drawn to a charismatic cult leader, Perry Cullen (based on real-life figure David Koresh), disrupting Jay's life and drawing her into a dangerous web.

The narrative unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Roy and Jay, offering insight into their respective journeys. Roy navigates the complexities of law enforcement, seeking to fill the void left by his brother's departure, while Jay struggles with her mother's newfound infatuation and the allure of a life beyond her grasp.

Short, poignant chapters interwoven with podcast segments from the present day create a sense of foreboding, driving the narrative forward and keeping readers engaged. Despite knowing the historical backdrop, the fate of the two teenagers remains uncertain, adding layers of tension to each chapter.

The novel excels in its pacing and character development, offering a realistic portrayal of the tragedy and the cult leader's manipulative influence. David Koresh's fictionalized portrayal sheds light on his apocalyptic vision and the fervent devotion of his followers, exploring the dangerous consequences of unchecked manipulation.

The heart-wrenching conclusion leaves a lasting impact, underscoring the novel's emotional depth and resonance. Overall, this is one of the best historical fictions I've encountered recently, and I highly recommend adding it to your reading list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a digital review copy of this exceptional novel in exchange for my honest feedback.

I've been a fan of Johnston's stories and writing since his first story collection. He has a way of making his character come alive in visual and evocative settings. His writing is flawless and his characters aren't static or ones that sit around feeling sorry for themselves. I loved the alternating points of view in this book, and there are characters I'll be thinking about forever. My only reason for giving four instead of five stars is that the use of the setting of Wacoo and the historical background of this event was hard to parce with my knowledge of the real facts of this event. There were times when the real facts seemed to invade, and while I understand how Johnston played against my expectations, there were moments when I was a bit taken out of the story. But I'm glad I read this, and I'm sure I'll read it again in the future!

Reading about Waco fiasco through the eyes of two teenagers that fall in love offers a different perspective of this cult disaster. The novel alternates between the two main characters, a 14 year old girl who lives at the compound with her mother and the 14 year old boy who is also the father of the town sheriff investigating the compound. Then, to fill in the gaps, someone starts a podcast thirty years later and interviews people who were involved, either as someone who had lived at compound or someone from the government involved in the shootout that lasted weeks. Since most people probably remember the events of this situation, I won't go into those details , but I did find it interesting how we did learn a rather large surprise via the podcast. I wondered why we heard so much about Mason, the son who had joined the marines, yet, he doesn't really enter the novel until we get the update of what happened thirty years later. I was hoping we'd see the daughter, Jaye, and mother engaged in more conversation about why the mother fell for Perry, the cult leader, and why they didn't leave when offered a change. I also wondered why Ray didn't provide his father with more information that he knew about the cult. I'm probably wrong assuming many people know about this historical event, and for that don't know much, they may find this novel more interesting than those of us who were hoping to see characters more fleshed out that were involved in this mess.

Set in Waco Texas, teenager Roy is the son of the local sheriff. When he meets mysterious Jaye, he quickly falls for her charm and beauty. When he realizes that she is one of David Karesh’s followers, and the FBI has begun their siege, he is rocked with fear.

I had some trouble with this book. I thought the teenage characters were much wiser than their years. I just didn’t buy them as characters. I don’t want to give anything away, so all I will say is that I thought the ending wasn’t very plausible. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

Should you tell a teenage love story in the context of one of America’s most horrific law enforcement overreactions? Well, probably not. Merging these two disparate plotlines presents with some writing problems that unfortunately Johnston does not fully resolve.

The novel focuses on a fictional retelling of the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas as told through the eyes of two love-besotted 14-year-olds. These kids just don’t have the life experience to understand what is happening before their eyes, thus making them less than believable narrators.

Based on information regarding a weapons cache, the ATF mounted an extended siege against a religious cult lead by David Koresh culminating in a massive fire and multiple deaths. In this retelling, the Koresh role is played by a former landscaper and con man posing as a prophet named Perry Cullen (“the Lamb”). The Cullen character displays few of the charismatic qualities one would expect to find in a convincing cult leader. Instead, he seems to be a pretty ordinary guy on the make.

Jaye Carroll is a bold, back-talking girl who is wise beyond her years. Her mother uproots her from her newspaper deliverer father and a California lifestyle to join Cullen’s cult. Her mother’s motivations are never very clear, yet Johnston suggests she may have been involved romantically with Cullen. Notwithstanding his relationship with her mom, Perry clearly has eyes for Jaye. She, on the other hand, sees through this and takes advantage of him by using his pick-up truck and phone to communicate with her real boyfriend, Roy Moreland. Johnston’s failure to evoke much of a loving relationship between Jaye and her mother or even between Jaye and Roy seem to be important shortcomings in his narrative.

Roy is the youngest son of the local sheriff. His older brother is off in the military and his mom is otherwise involved. His dad is his strongest familial connection, but this evaporates when the shooting starts at the cult compound. Unlike Jaye, who plies him with witty banter and daring exploits, Roy is naïve and malleable. Once the stand-off begins, Roy also loses connection with Jaye. His heroic behavior to save her seems inconsistent with his mild persona.

Most of the minor characters in the novel, including the teens’ parents and the members of Perry’s cult, are not well developed. Cult participation in gun shows and Roy’s discovery of grenades suggest some truth to the notion that the commune had weapons, but ultimately Johnston seems to waffle on this point. Clearly, weapons and ammunition eventually were discovered at the actual Branch Davidian site.

The two first-person narratives lead to a disjointed storyline, a flaw that Johnston compounds by interspersing a series of podcast interviews throughout to novel. These interruptions, along with the unreliability of the two teenaged narrators and the unconvincing presentation of Perry as a charismatic cult leader detract from enjoying of this novel.

Loved this book! Fictional take on Waco, dual timeline and multi POV. The multi POV is very creative and new to me. I loved the depth of the characters and how Texas itself felt like a character. There is a mystery aspect but in a stressful way. I loved the coming of age aspect from both of the main characters. My only criticism is that it felt a little long/drawn out at times.

(4.5 stars) This book attracted me from the start. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Branch Davidian tragedy outside Waco, Texas in 1993. The story is told from the points of view of two 14-year-olds – Roy, the son of the local sheriff, and Jaye, the daughter of a Branch Davidian convert. The two meet and fall in love, with Roy not realizing that Jaye is intimately involved in the crisis unfolding near his home and consuming his father.

Jaye is bold and daring, opposing the “Lamb” at the center of the Davidians (Perry Cullen in the novel, David Koresh in real life) and sneaking out of the compound to meet with Roy. The Lamb has big plans for Jaye, moving closer to her as the crisis grows. Jaye cannot leave her mother, though, even as the tension builds and the Lamb continues to amass weapons for the End Times. As the situation culminates, Roy risks all to try to save Jaye.

I loved the way the author approached the telling of this tale. Between the teenagers, the two sides of the conflict could be thoroughly explored in an organic way. While not exactly sympathetic to the Davidians, the story that is told allows the reader to come to their own conclusion as to who was at fault. The writing feels authentic for the time and place. It brought me back to that time 30 years ago when I watched it all unfold on television. This was a page-turner of the best kind.