A review by joshgauthier
Last Ones Left Alive by Sarah Davis-Goff
4.0
Stark, sparse, brutal, and bleak, Last Ones Left Alive is a post-apocalyptic novel that nevertheless believes in hope, in beauty, and in goodness--however small these things may appear in the moment. Consistently dark and often unsettling, Davis-Goff's characters find themselves trapped between isolation and trust, between desperation and survival. After the end of the world, there are few choices for how to respond, and this book brings to life richly-detailed characters in the midst of a world undone as they face the tension between what they strive for and the pull of circumstances trying to tear them away.
Irish writers consistently use language to remarkable effect, layering richness and character into every page. Davis-Goff's novel is no exception. The story is striking and powerful, and her skillful delivery draws the reader in to a novel that is simple in detail, yet bursting with humanity, pain, and the simple belief that good can outlast even the end of the world.
Irish writers consistently use language to remarkable effect, layering richness and character into every page. Davis-Goff's novel is no exception. The story is striking and powerful, and her skillful delivery draws the reader in to a novel that is simple in detail, yet bursting with humanity, pain, and the simple belief that good can outlast even the end of the world.