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The Australia Trilogy #2
Long Dark Dusk
The moment she learned the horrible truth about her life on Australia, the derelict ship overrun with violent gangs, Chan Aitch made it her mission to save everyone she could from their fate worse than death. But her efforts were in vain. Now, everyone she cares about is dead or in prison, and Chan is more alone than ever before.
As the only person to have escaped Australia's terrible crash-landing back to Earth, Chan is now living in poverty on the fringes of a huge city. She believes Mae, the little girl she once rescued on the Australia, is still alive - but she has no idea where Mae is, or how to find her. Everything on Earth is strange and new, and Chan has never felt more lost.
But she'll do whatever it takes to find Mae, even if it means going to prison herself. She's broken out of prison before. How hard could it be to do it again?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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August 8, 2017Gotta love it when you don't realise the second book is coming until the week before it hits. No desperate count-down here... Now I just need to find some space in my schedule for it.
September 4, 2017
"I've really only ever known three places property: . And really they're not so different.
They're all prisons in their own way."
This is a very good book 2 in a series. So book 1 ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. We weren't so sure how things were going to turn out. But Chan is still her kick-butt self in this one. She is stranded again, and barely surviving. She's learning with the new area she's in and trying to figured out how to find those she's lost.
Because not everyone stayed together. Chan has had to make friends with those who should not be and learned to fight harder and faster with a technology she doesn't know. But she's still determined.
I want this review to remain spoiler free, for both one and two so I'm staying vague but I buddy read it and made a lot of notes, so I'll remember for book 3 (and I'm definitely continuing)
but I can say - I'm sad for the one who had to stay behind and take on the birds, I'm sorry for the one that has so many scars and cannot seem to find herself (but I'm so glad she's found a way to be an ally and not an enemy) and I'm not sure the last decision Chan made was a smart one but it was the last option she had left. And who, oh who, was Z? I can't wait to find out!
They're all prisons in their own way."
This is a very good book 2 in a series. So book 1 ended with a bit of a cliffhanger. We weren't so sure how things were going to turn out. But Chan is still her kick-butt self in this one. She is stranded again, and barely surviving. She's learning with the new area she's in and trying to figured out how to find those she's lost.
Because not everyone stayed together. Chan has had to make friends with those who should not be and learned to fight harder and faster with a technology she doesn't know. But she's still determined.
I want this review to remain spoiler free, for both one and two so I'm staying vague but I buddy read it and made a lot of notes, so I'll remember for book 3 (and I'm definitely continuing)
but I can say - I'm sad for the one who had to stay behind and take on the birds, I'm sorry for the one that has so many scars and cannot seem to find herself (but I'm so glad she's found a way to be an ally and not an enemy) and I'm not sure the last decision Chan made was a smart one but it was the last option she had left. And who, oh who, was Z? I can't wait to find out!
January 3, 2018
Really enjoyed this. Roll on Dark Made Dawn!
May 14, 2016
This review contains spoilers for Way Down Dark.
I'm going to be honest. I absolutely raved about Way Down Dark last year, but the first novel in James Smythe's Australia trilogy was so perfectly executed that, coming into Long Dark Dusk, I was afraid the sequel would suffer from the Glass Sword -effect and fall short of my expectations.
It turns out, I had nothing to worry about.
I admit, I miss the Australia spaceship. I really liked the complex lore the inhabitants had created, their rules and customs, their religion and harsh way of life. There was so much more that could've been explored, so setting Long Dark Dusk in a devastated post-apocalyptic Earth was initially a little disappointing to me - but Long Dark Dusk has its own story to tell, and it's incredibly engaging.
Chan is back, a little more fragile than Way Down Dark. She's still a fighter with killer instincts for survival, but after losing the three most important people in her life -- foster-mother Agatha, almost-daughter-substitute Mae, and potential-partner Jonah -- she's more emotionally invested, and thus, a little more human. Gone is her Christ-the-Redeemer feeling from the first novel, instead replaced with a rawer image of revenge.
The post-apocalyptic Earth has been given a lot of attention. Generic Climate-Change-ravaged worlds are scattered throughout the YA SF bookworld, so seeing a version with actual detail was a refreshing change. Washington D.C. has been rebuilt as a small bastion, with a massive wall surrounding the city, using air-conditioners to keep the city cool - because out in the wasteland, the searing heat is enough to kill.
Gut-churning bloody violence makes a heroic return, and feels like one of the more defining features of the Australia trilogy. Bones break, blood sprays, bodies decompose, and eyeballs are gouged out routinely - and all of this is toned down from Way Down Dark. Sometimes the action is off-screen, showing only the aftermath of Chan's violence, which helps break up the fight scenes.
Not everything is completely new - old characters return in several jaw-dropping plot-twists, and an intriguing middle arc delves into psychological and neurological manipulation. The concept of prisons and the abuse/neglect of prisoners returns, in both the fate of Australia (and its sister ship, South Africa), as well as the newer prisons built on Earth to confine the new criminals.
I'm finding it hard to really criticize Long Dark Dusk. Although I preferred the setting of the original, Long manages to hit high notes that Way never could, especially in terms of character evolution. Long does have the unmistakeable "middle book" feeling, but that's expected in a trilogy, and the new characters and history it introduces are clearly setting up for an impressive finishing act.
If you liked Way Down Dark, you're going to love Long Dark Dusk. The sequel delivers the same brutal action, clever backstory, and break-neck pacing that made the original shine. Australia ends April 2017 with Dark Made Dawn, and I can't wait to see how the series finishes.
The Good
The Bad
The Verdict
5/5 Stars
I'm going to be honest. I absolutely raved about Way Down Dark last year, but the first novel in James Smythe's Australia trilogy was so perfectly executed that, coming into Long Dark Dusk, I was afraid the sequel would suffer from the Glass Sword -effect and fall short of my expectations.
It turns out, I had nothing to worry about.
I admit, I miss the Australia spaceship. I really liked the complex lore the inhabitants had created, their rules and customs, their religion and harsh way of life. There was so much more that could've been explored, so setting Long Dark Dusk in a devastated post-apocalyptic Earth was initially a little disappointing to me - but Long Dark Dusk has its own story to tell, and it's incredibly engaging.
Chan is back, a little more fragile than Way Down Dark. She's still a fighter with killer instincts for survival, but after losing the three most important people in her life -- foster-mother Agatha, almost-daughter-substitute Mae, and potential-partner Jonah -- she's more emotionally invested, and thus, a little more human. Gone is her Christ-the-Redeemer feeling from the first novel, instead replaced with a rawer image of revenge.
The post-apocalyptic Earth has been given a lot of attention. Generic Climate-Change-ravaged worlds are scattered throughout the YA SF bookworld, so seeing a version with actual detail was a refreshing change. Washington D.C. has been rebuilt as a small bastion, with a massive wall surrounding the city, using air-conditioners to keep the city cool - because out in the wasteland, the searing heat is enough to kill.
Gut-churning bloody violence makes a heroic return, and feels like one of the more defining features of the Australia trilogy. Bones break, blood sprays, bodies decompose, and eyeballs are gouged out routinely - and all of this is toned down from Way Down Dark. Sometimes the action is off-screen, showing only the aftermath of Chan's violence, which helps break up the fight scenes.
Not everything is completely new - old characters return in several jaw-dropping plot-twists, and an intriguing middle arc delves into psychological and neurological manipulation. The concept of prisons and the abuse/neglect of prisoners returns, in both the fate of Australia (and its sister ship, South Africa), as well as the newer prisons built on Earth to confine the new criminals.
I'm finding it hard to really criticize Long Dark Dusk. Although I preferred the setting of the original, Long manages to hit high notes that Way never could, especially in terms of character evolution. Long does have the unmistakeable "middle book" feeling, but that's expected in a trilogy, and the new characters and history it introduces are clearly setting up for an impressive finishing act.
If you liked Way Down Dark, you're going to love Long Dark Dusk. The sequel delivers the same brutal action, clever backstory, and break-neck pacing that made the original shine. Australia ends April 2017 with Dark Made Dawn, and I can't wait to see how the series finishes.
The Good
A detailed post-apocalyptic Earth, surprising plot-twists, and newfound emotional depth that really humanizes the characters. The unashamedly brutal violence makes a return, which matches the overall bleak tone.
The Bad
No spaceship. That's really my only complaint here, but the new setting is deep enough to replace it.
The Verdict
A thrilling break-neck ride, with brutal action scenes and plenty of conspiracy and betrayal. An excellent sequel that can't be put down - easy to read, impossible to forget.
5/5 Stars
May 11, 2016
Way Down Dark dealt with the idea of being punished for the crimes of your ancestors, being unable to escape your circumstances in life, and the themes of incarceration and rehabilitation are explored a bit further in Long Dark Dusk. As well as people an action packed ride through a future earth where populations have plummeted and every human being should be a productive member of society.
Chan finds herself living in the docks, surrounded by those at the bottom, the junkies, the criminals, those that just can’t get ahead in this highly controlled city. She feels like she has made a few friends, Ziegler, a reporter keen to tell her story of life on board Australia and the crash that has been kept secret, and Alala, a woman who trades in anything that might be needed, be that information or drugs. I’m not quite sure why the slums at the docks were left to run riot if this is a future where every human life is precious, where the state wants every to contribute. It is reflective of the kinds of places where the poor end up, but it seemed at odds with what the people in charge said they wanted. Maybe that’s the point.
It's amazing how fast peace can turn into a riot, how quickly a single violent act can upend the status quo.
I was really keen to know what had happened to Earth to lead it to send prisoners into space. Chan reveals plenty of snippets about the history, through visits to the museum and things Ziegler tells her. Overpopulation and global warming has changed the face of the Earth, now the obliging live within walled cities, the air filtered and every move monitored. Some of the constraints of the new world are shown through encounters Chan has. As the book opens she is trying to help a girl with an illegal baby, suggesting that reproduction is now strictly controlled. These things aren’t central to the story but they help to shape the world it unfolds in.
I liked the evolution of some of our familiar technology now into Gaia, the Siri/Cortana of the future, and driverless cars. The augments might seem further fetched but there are already bionic limbs and you can have your retinas zapped with lasers to help you see better.
Just as the second part of the first book made more of an impact on me, the things I really liked about the second instalment fell in part two. Again! So I don’t feel I can talk about much without dropping some spoilers. The people from the Australia are still considered criminals, even though they were never sentenced, not in a court of law at least, and there is no proof of what they did on board the ship. They deserve the chance at rehabilitation but not without the chance to be themselves, to prove that they can be better without state intervention.
Chan is a good person at heart, despite what she may have done to survive. She wants to help other people, keep her people safe and ultimately keep her promises, no matter how hard that might be. Her treatment feels a lot like an injustice, her past clouding the judgement of those who might otherwise see her as an individual.
I did find it a bit slow to get going, like I said of the previous book, action isn’t really my thing so I was glad that it was in three distinct parts, with some of it being a bit more introspective. I am still excited to read the third book, Dark Made Dawn (that's a positive title, right?), which is out October this year. So not too long to wait!
Review copy provided by publisher.
Chan finds herself living in the docks, surrounded by those at the bottom, the junkies, the criminals, those that just can’t get ahead in this highly controlled city. She feels like she has made a few friends, Ziegler, a reporter keen to tell her story of life on board Australia and the crash that has been kept secret, and Alala, a woman who trades in anything that might be needed, be that information or drugs. I’m not quite sure why the slums at the docks were left to run riot if this is a future where every human life is precious, where the state wants every to contribute. It is reflective of the kinds of places where the poor end up, but it seemed at odds with what the people in charge said they wanted. Maybe that’s the point.
It's amazing how fast peace can turn into a riot, how quickly a single violent act can upend the status quo.
I was really keen to know what had happened to Earth to lead it to send prisoners into space. Chan reveals plenty of snippets about the history, through visits to the museum and things Ziegler tells her. Overpopulation and global warming has changed the face of the Earth, now the obliging live within walled cities, the air filtered and every move monitored. Some of the constraints of the new world are shown through encounters Chan has. As the book opens she is trying to help a girl with an illegal baby, suggesting that reproduction is now strictly controlled. These things aren’t central to the story but they help to shape the world it unfolds in.
I liked the evolution of some of our familiar technology now into Gaia, the Siri/Cortana of the future, and driverless cars. The augments might seem further fetched but there are already bionic limbs and you can have your retinas zapped with lasers to help you see better.
Just as the second part of the first book made more of an impact on me, the things I really liked about the second instalment fell in part two. Again! So I don’t feel I can talk about much without dropping some spoilers. The people from the Australia are still considered criminals, even though they were never sentenced, not in a court of law at least, and there is no proof of what they did on board the ship. They deserve the chance at rehabilitation but not without the chance to be themselves, to prove that they can be better without state intervention.
Chan is a good person at heart, despite what she may have done to survive. She wants to help other people, keep her people safe and ultimately keep her promises, no matter how hard that might be. Her treatment feels a lot like an injustice, her past clouding the judgement of those who might otherwise see her as an individual.
I did find it a bit slow to get going, like I said of the previous book, action isn’t really my thing so I was glad that it was in three distinct parts, with some of it being a bit more introspective. I am still excited to read the third book, Dark Made Dawn (that's a positive title, right?), which is out October this year. So not too long to wait!
Review copy provided by publisher.
April 17, 2016
Last year I read the first book in The Australia trilogy, and loved it. After the shocking events that led to the conclusion, I was very excited to read the next installment.
Chan is now living inside the secure walls of Washington. She lives on the fringes, in the shanty towns where the poor survive and try to stay out of trouble. She's an outlaw and knows that if she's found, she'll be captured. So she stays in the shadows and has a few allies.
Alala buys what she steals, and has helped her survive in this dangerous world. She's become a less-than-perfect substitute for Agatha. Ziegler is a writer who reports what others deny. He helps and educates Chan however he can while she tells him her story about the prisoner spaceship she lived in most of her life. Everything else about this alien world, and it's disturbing history, she's learned from museums.
Chan is resourceful and strong. She knows how to take care of herself, but she's very much alone. She lost her mother. Lost her guardian, Agatha. She thinks Jonah is dead. There's only one person left: Mae. She's obsessed with finding the little girl she promised she would take care of. But Mae is impossible to find, so when Alala strikes a deal to help her, she takes the chance. And it leads to a whole lot of trouble. The kind of trouble that could lead to fighting, murder, and getting captured.
This new world she lives in might seem protected, modern and comfortable but it's also capable of hiding as many secrets as Australia...
Okay.
*takes a deep breath*
This book is as amazing as the first one. It's written in three parts, and each one throws Chan into a multitude of problems and situations that'll get your heart pumping. It never lets up. Even the narrative keeps the pace going.
Chan is as awesome here as she was in Way Down Dark. She's as totally motivated, dedicated and still wants to save everyone. One of the best things about this book was just how different it was to the first one. It's full of twists and turns. And when you reach a certain part, you can't help but think: OMG. What just happened? Did that really happen? And of course it did, because this story is that brilliant!
Long Dark Dusk is an incredible, unpredictable, fast-paced adventure featuring a tough and very likeable heroine. This story pushes you onto the edge of your seat and keeps you there the whole time. It's like an adrenaline shot. An emotional roller-coaster ride. An awesome book that keeps the reader guessing every step of the way and constantly shocks you.
I absolutely LOVED everything about this story, and cannot wait until the third/final book.
Chan is now living inside the secure walls of Washington. She lives on the fringes, in the shanty towns where the poor survive and try to stay out of trouble. She's an outlaw and knows that if she's found, she'll be captured. So she stays in the shadows and has a few allies.
Alala buys what she steals, and has helped her survive in this dangerous world. She's become a less-than-perfect substitute for Agatha. Ziegler is a writer who reports what others deny. He helps and educates Chan however he can while she tells him her story about the prisoner spaceship she lived in most of her life. Everything else about this alien world, and it's disturbing history, she's learned from museums.
Chan is resourceful and strong. She knows how to take care of herself, but she's very much alone. She lost her mother. Lost her guardian, Agatha. She thinks Jonah is dead. There's only one person left: Mae. She's obsessed with finding the little girl she promised she would take care of. But Mae is impossible to find, so when Alala strikes a deal to help her, she takes the chance. And it leads to a whole lot of trouble. The kind of trouble that could lead to fighting, murder, and getting captured.
This new world she lives in might seem protected, modern and comfortable but it's also capable of hiding as many secrets as Australia...
Okay.
*takes a deep breath*
This book is as amazing as the first one. It's written in three parts, and each one throws Chan into a multitude of problems and situations that'll get your heart pumping. It never lets up. Even the narrative keeps the pace going.
Chan is as awesome here as she was in Way Down Dark. She's as totally motivated, dedicated and still wants to save everyone. One of the best things about this book was just how different it was to the first one. It's full of twists and turns. And when you reach a certain part, you can't help but think: OMG. What just happened? Did that really happen? And of course it did, because this story is that brilliant!
Long Dark Dusk is an incredible, unpredictable, fast-paced adventure featuring a tough and very likeable heroine. This story pushes you onto the edge of your seat and keeps you there the whole time. It's like an adrenaline shot. An emotional roller-coaster ride. An awesome book that keeps the reader guessing every step of the way and constantly shocks you.
I absolutely LOVED everything about this story, and cannot wait until the third/final book.
May 31, 2016
The Australia series is one of the most explosive, enthralling and confident young adult series that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from our dystopian based reads. Long Dark Dusk continues shortly after Chan has disembarked from the Australia, and Mae torn from her arms. Still aching with grief of all she's lost, Chan is determined to rescue the young girl from captivity. Her only ally is underground reporter Ziegler, who teaches Chan about her new world and provides assistance in exchange for her story. With the aid of local trader Alala, Chan is now indebted to the ruthless merchant as she plans to access the Achieves where it is believed she will find Mae's whereabouts.
As on board the Australia, Chan will again need to fight against the oppression of her new world and her own sense of self.
With so few words, James Smythe is able to create an incredibly vivid world of brutality and oppression. From the addict lined streets of the outer slums, to the opulence of the wealthy citizens and stark, desolate landscape beyond the city walls. It's breathtaking. Where Way Down Dark was fiercely brutal and raw, Long Dark Dusk has a quiet and ruthless determination, intricate and devious as Chan needs to navigate this world with cunning.
One of the qualities that sets the Australia series apart is how unpredictable it is. It doesn't rely on romance to further the storyline, nor does it follow the standard young adult format of instant love and overwhelming blocks of world building. Chan is a character who knows how to adapt. On board Australia it was fight or flight, but on the ground she's aware of how the new society works through observation of others. She knows she no longer needs to defend herself and although risking being captured, her life isn't being challenged by those determined to dominate. I love her. Fiercely.
Buy it, read it, love it. A strong female character, intricate world building, a raw determination and written to perfection. The series is phenomenal.
As on board the Australia, Chan will again need to fight against the oppression of her new world and her own sense of self.
With so few words, James Smythe is able to create an incredibly vivid world of brutality and oppression. From the addict lined streets of the outer slums, to the opulence of the wealthy citizens and stark, desolate landscape beyond the city walls. It's breathtaking. Where Way Down Dark was fiercely brutal and raw, Long Dark Dusk has a quiet and ruthless determination, intricate and devious as Chan needs to navigate this world with cunning.
One of the qualities that sets the Australia series apart is how unpredictable it is. It doesn't rely on romance to further the storyline, nor does it follow the standard young adult format of instant love and overwhelming blocks of world building. Chan is a character who knows how to adapt. On board Australia it was fight or flight, but on the ground she's aware of how the new society works through observation of others. She knows she no longer needs to defend herself and although risking being captured, her life isn't being challenged by those determined to dominate. I love her. Fiercely.
Buy it, read it, love it. A strong female character, intricate world building, a raw determination and written to perfection. The series is phenomenal.
April 28, 2016
It was such a pleasure to slip back into Chan's world and I enjoyed the second installment of the Australia trilogy just as much as the first.
James continues to draw his icy fingers of prediction down my back as I consider what it would be like to live in a Smythe created future. In a world that's moved on, humans have practically destroyed everything we thought was important with greed and hubris and we're left clinging to pockets of civilisation surrounded by walls and devastation. Really, what's not to love?!
His ability to paint a picture of a world that feels so familiar yet so alien is a testament to his skill, and my growing sense of unease while immersed in the story only adds to the atmosphere of this excellent series.
One to watch.
James continues to draw his icy fingers of prediction down my back as I consider what it would be like to live in a Smythe created future. In a world that's moved on, humans have practically destroyed everything we thought was important with greed and hubris and we're left clinging to pockets of civilisation surrounded by walls and devastation. Really, what's not to love?!
His ability to paint a picture of a world that feels so familiar yet so alien is a testament to his skill, and my growing sense of unease while immersed in the story only adds to the atmosphere of this excellent series.
One to watch.
May 20, 2016
I wasn't a fan of this and I am giving it a reluctant 3 stars. The overall experience was very disappointing considering how mind-blowing the end to Way Down Dark was and I may have to revise my star rating down once I've fully processed my thoughts.
April 21, 2016
Excellent EXCELLENT book 2 in the Australia trilogy. Full review to follow Monday. **Little happy book dance**
April 13, 2022
Spoilers!
There is simply too much going on in this one to really hone in on Chan's experiences. The first half is slow...then BAM!, it turns into a hot mess of action all at once. I want to be able to focus on the world that she is thrown into after her ship lands and she escapes authority, but its challenging.
There is no defined shape to this book. It jumps from one primary scene to another without smooth transitions.
It is violent. Rex is back and her violence (and her ease with the action of it) is startling. She is in this personal conundrum of not knowing who she is, but not really wanting to remember, but then not questioning the violence that exists within her.
The cop? What is this character's role in the next book? I suspect some sort of love triangle thing between Chan and Jonah and she will have to choose, but why? Do we need this? I do not think he is a quick character, even though I cannot remember his name. Oh! The Runner.
There is the third, still out there, waiting to be read. I will read it as I need to know how this ends, although I feel it is going to be another book that contains too much in sporadic bursts. Mia- she has to be found, otherwise this all is for naught. I imagine there will be some sort of "happy" ending, but cannot see how that will be fully realized without an additional book. Who knows, maybe my next review will apologize for this one.
There is simply too much going on in this one to really hone in on Chan's experiences. The first half is slow...then BAM!, it turns into a hot mess of action all at once. I want to be able to focus on the world that she is thrown into after her ship lands and she escapes authority, but its challenging.
There is no defined shape to this book. It jumps from one primary scene to another without smooth transitions.
It is violent. Rex is back and her violence (and her ease with the action of it) is startling. She is in this personal conundrum of not knowing who she is, but not really wanting to remember, but then not questioning the violence that exists within her.
The cop? What is this character's role in the next book? I suspect some sort of love triangle thing between Chan and Jonah and she will have to choose, but why? Do we need this? I do not think he is a quick character, even though I cannot remember his name. Oh! The Runner.
There is the third, still out there, waiting to be read. I will read it as I need to know how this ends, although I feel it is going to be another book that contains too much in sporadic bursts. Mia- she has to be found, otherwise this all is for naught. I imagine there will be some sort of "happy" ending, but cannot see how that will be fully realized without an additional book. Who knows, maybe my next review will apologize for this one.
May 18, 2020
A really good 2nd installment. Having made it to Earth, Chan has to fight for her freedom and search for Mae. A little less action but still a good amount. There are some interesting characters and a simple plot. This book is a bit more about setting things up I felt and there are some definite lose ends here. The romance is totally abandoned and I feel like it's being set up for something big in the third book. Not entirely sure how I feel about Rex yet. The only thing I don't like is the sudden move in part two to this weird facility. Maybe because it's been done before or because less happens, I'm not sure. It felt under developed like it was there to set this GS up but not really developed, like why does Chan end up on the roads team? And if they know she is remembering why not sedate her again. And before that how come she suddenly knows all about computers despite never having seen one before? A good read with good action in places but a little less storyline. I will be reading the final installment.
May 31, 2017
What is it about?
This is book two in the Australia Trilogy. If you haven't read the first book, then you should go read Way Down Dark now.
This book takes off a short while after the other ended. Chan is looking for a little girl named Mae, whom she promised she would protect. In her effort to do so, she seeks help from a shady person and ends up in over her head. Some characters from the first book reappear and help keep the story interesting.
Is it good?
It was excellent! It is packed with action and has lots of twists that keep you interested all throughout the book. I think that Chan tries to learn from her mistakes and I really want to find out what she will do next.
For more reviews, please visit my blog.
This is book two in the Australia Trilogy. If you haven't read the first book, then you should go read Way Down Dark now.
This book takes off a short while after the other ended. Chan is looking for a little girl named Mae, whom she promised she would protect. In her effort to do so, she seeks help from a shady person and ends up in over her head. Some characters from the first book reappear and help keep the story interesting.
Is it good?
It was excellent! It is packed with action and has lots of twists that keep you interested all throughout the book. I think that Chan tries to learn from her mistakes and I really want to find out what she will do next.
For more reviews, please visit my blog.
February 19, 2020
A typical dystopian story with a bit of a twist. A prison ship falls to the Earth, and we have our main character, Chan, 4th generation, young girl, searching for others from the ship, Australia. She is now a felon, on the run. She meets a good "Samaritan" who helps her, and a not so nice woman, who lives outside the "city" that helps, but with ulterior motives. Too much violence for me, so the two-star rating, but a good premise for a book.
June 9, 2017
Very Awesome and thrilling, but the book ends abruptly and I can't wait to find out what happens!
August 3, 2017
STILL. SO. GOOD. Cannot. stop. Never want it to end.
October 24, 2017
There is so much happening in these books.
December 26, 2022
For a second book this took us to Earth and the adventure of surviving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
loved it, i just didnt really like jonah’s character in this. he didn’t feel right. idk it’s probably just me. i’m sad he got captured though
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2018
2 stars.
This is all my fault, really. I read the summary and thought: "Ooh, that sounds cool and original!" Space, dystopias...the series was compared to the Hunger Games and Divergent. While I wasn't a fan of Divergent beyond the first book, I loved the Hunger Games. Sadly, the book took more after the last two Divergent books for me.
But again, I repeat, this is my fault and not the book's. See, I didn't realize that this is the second book in the series. I saw the simple cover, kinda liked it (since covers now seem to be gorgeously deceiving), read the summary, and requested it from Netgalley. I totally overlooked the whole '2nd book in the Australia series' part. My bad. Sorry, book/publishers/author. I try not to request books that I haven't read the others in the series. Keyword there is try.
Anyways, let's do a quick little talk about Chan. From what I gather about the first book, she's been through a lot. She's seen a lot, done a lot - quite like Katniss - but as for her character, I can't say i really connected to her. Again, this could be because I didn't read the first book.
Let me get into my main gripe with the book before this starts to look like a rant: the writing. The writing is so stilted and flat. You know the old saying, show instead of tell? This book is all telling. I noticed it within the first few pages. Maybe subconsciously I wrote the book off at that point and was never going to like it. Maybe it was a lost cause from the start. If i don't like the writing, it's insanely hard for me to end up liking the book.
Ah, well. Like i said before, and I'll say it again, it's my fault. I glossed over the fact that this is book two. My advice? If you liked the first, read this. If you didn't read it, don't read this.
Something that is obvious to everybody but me.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
This is all my fault, really. I read the summary and thought: "Ooh, that sounds cool and original!" Space, dystopias...the series was compared to the Hunger Games and Divergent. While I wasn't a fan of Divergent beyond the first book, I loved the Hunger Games. Sadly, the book took more after the last two Divergent books for me.
But again, I repeat, this is my fault and not the book's. See, I didn't realize that this is the second book in the series. I saw the simple cover, kinda liked it (since covers now seem to be gorgeously deceiving), read the summary, and requested it from Netgalley. I totally overlooked the whole '2nd book in the Australia series' part. My bad. Sorry, book/publishers/author. I try not to request books that I haven't read the others in the series. Keyword there is try.
Anyways, let's do a quick little talk about Chan. From what I gather about the first book, she's been through a lot. She's seen a lot, done a lot - quite like Katniss - but as for her character, I can't say i really connected to her. Again, this could be because I didn't read the first book.
Let me get into my main gripe with the book before this starts to look like a rant: the writing. The writing is so stilted and flat. You know the old saying, show instead of tell? This book is all telling. I noticed it within the first few pages. Maybe subconsciously I wrote the book off at that point and was never going to like it. Maybe it was a lost cause from the start. If i don't like the writing, it's insanely hard for me to end up liking the book.
Ah, well. Like i said before, and I'll say it again, it's my fault. I glossed over the fact that this is book two. My advice? If you liked the first, read this. If you didn't read it, don't read this.
Something that is obvious to everybody but me.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
July 11, 2016
Reviews can also be found on my blog Escapades of a Bookworm
So thank goodness I had this book next to me to read straight after the first one in the series. Because let me tell you this is a corker of a series. And the last book left me wanting more and this book delivers. It is so much better than the first one and it is longer so yay! (Something I thought I would never say yay about).
There are three parts to this book, and each part has it own problems for Chan and each one shows just how resourceful and capable she is. It was like reading three adventure stories. But the pace of the book is relentless, it will keep pushing you forward to the end and the reveal. This is as heart-stopping and heart-racing as the first. And when you finish you will need a moment to sit down and take it all in.
I liked that we have moved on from Australia and get to find a little more about the world and what has happened. And there are new obstacles to overcome and new people that we need to be aware off. Earth seems a lot more safe and secure than Australia but secrets are hidden. And who should we really trust?
If you adored the first one of the series then this is a given to read, and if you haven’t read it yet what are you doing?! Go get this book, this series now. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
And the ending is such a tease! Oh my days I need the next book in my lap now! (But I promise no spoilers) And there is still a year to wait. Time to sit around impatiently.
So thank goodness I had this book next to me to read straight after the first one in the series. Because let me tell you this is a corker of a series. And the last book left me wanting more and this book delivers. It is so much better than the first one and it is longer so yay! (Something I thought I would never say yay about).
There are three parts to this book, and each part has it own problems for Chan and each one shows just how resourceful and capable she is. It was like reading three adventure stories. But the pace of the book is relentless, it will keep pushing you forward to the end and the reveal. This is as heart-stopping and heart-racing as the first. And when you finish you will need a moment to sit down and take it all in.
I liked that we have moved on from Australia and get to find a little more about the world and what has happened. And there are new obstacles to overcome and new people that we need to be aware off. Earth seems a lot more safe and secure than Australia but secrets are hidden. And who should we really trust?
If you adored the first one of the series then this is a given to read, and if you haven’t read it yet what are you doing?! Go get this book, this series now. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
And the ending is such a tease! Oh my days I need the next book in my lap now! (But I promise no spoilers) And there is still a year to wait. Time to sit around impatiently.
January 31, 2019
This review was originally posted on OhBookish
Actual rating 2.5 stars
After finishing the action-packed, gritty and surprising Way Down Dark, I was eagerly anticipating its sequel. However, unlike its predecessor Long Dark Dusk fell incredibly flat.
Long Dark Dusk picks up a little while after Way Down Dusk ended. Chan is the lone escapee of Australia’s crash landing to earth, and is now living on the outskirts of the city in poverty. Whilst struggling to adapt to life on Earth, Chan is also determined to rescue Mae, who she believes to still be alive.
This book definitely felt like a filler book and I really don’t have too much to say about it. Whilst the action and the grittiness is reminiscent of the first instalment in this trilogy, it ultimately led to nothing. However, I did enjoy the world building in this and I think wanting to find out more about the world is what kept me reading. I loved learning about what really happened to earth, how they’d overcome that, and why Australia was built.
We were introduced to a few new characters in this book and reintroduced to some old ones. Whilst no character really stood out to me, I would like to see more of Ziegler in the future and I hope he’ll play a larger role in the story.
Since this is a trilogy, I do still have hope that the third and final book will be much better than this one. So I will be continuing on.
Actual rating 2.5 stars
After finishing the action-packed, gritty and surprising Way Down Dark, I was eagerly anticipating its sequel. However, unlike its predecessor Long Dark Dusk fell incredibly flat.
Long Dark Dusk picks up a little while after Way Down Dusk ended. Chan is the lone escapee of Australia’s crash landing to earth, and is now living on the outskirts of the city in poverty. Whilst struggling to adapt to life on Earth, Chan is also determined to rescue Mae, who she believes to still be alive.
This book definitely felt like a filler book and I really don’t have too much to say about it. Whilst the action and the grittiness is reminiscent of the first instalment in this trilogy, it ultimately led to nothing. However, I did enjoy the world building in this and I think wanting to find out more about the world is what kept me reading. I loved learning about what really happened to earth, how they’d overcome that, and why Australia was built.
We were introduced to a few new characters in this book and reintroduced to some old ones. Whilst no character really stood out to me, I would like to see more of Ziegler in the future and I hope he’ll play a larger role in the story.
Since this is a trilogy, I do still have hope that the third and final book will be much better than this one. So I will be continuing on.
April 11, 2018
Life on Australia was hell. Life on Earth isn't any better. The only one of the Australias survivors to have escaped after the ship's crash landing, Chan is barely scraping by on the outskirts of a big city. All she wants is to find Mae, the little girl she promised to protect, but she can't do it alone. With no other options, she makes a deal with the devil that might get her killed - but she's willing to try whatever it takes to get Mae back.
Brutal, disturbing and uncompromising like the first book. I got into this one a lot easier though, and the characters are starting to grow on me.
Brutal, disturbing and uncompromising like the first book. I got into this one a lot easier though, and the characters are starting to grow on me.
June 13, 2016
I'm actually ridiculously happy I have started this series.
It's so full of action and tension that I was slightly overwhelmed when reading, but it was a good feeling. I finally got attached to the main character, which resulted in a few cases of major feels along the way...
A few of them moments messed me up completely, and I cannot wait to continue the story in the next book .
My Rating: 4/5 Stars.
FULL REVIEW TO COME
It's so full of action and tension that I was slightly overwhelmed when reading, but it was a good feeling. I finally got attached to the main character, which resulted in a few cases of major feels along the way...
A few of them moments messed me up completely, and I cannot wait to continue the story in the next book .
My Rating: 4/5 Stars.
FULL REVIEW TO COME
April 17, 2016
Another incredible instalment. Packed full of action and violence, the story compels you to read the next page. Great stuff.
April 30, 2017
Compelling and very-well written. It's a tad bit middle-booky, but it seems to set things up well for a finale I'm looking forward to.
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