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Every year, Jess and Storey have made an annual pilgrimage to the most remote corners of the country, where they camp, hunt, and hike, leaving much from their long friendship unspoken. Although the state of Maine has convulsed all summer with secession mania—a mania that has simultaneously spread across other states—Jess and Storey figure it’s a fight reserved for legislators or, worst-case scenario, folks in the capital.
But after weeks hunting off the grid, the men reach a small town and are shocked by what they find: a bridge blown apart, buildings burned to the ground, and bombed-out cars abandoned on the road. Trying to make sense of the sudden destruction all around them, they set their sights on finding their way home, dragging a wagon across bumpy dirt roads, scavenging from boats left in lakes, and dodging armed men—secessionists or U.S. military, they cannot tell—as they seek a path to safety. Then, a startling discovery drastically alters their path and the stakes of their escape.
Drenched in the beauty of the natural world and attuned to the specific cadences of male friendship, even here at the edge of doom, Burn is both a blistering warning about a divided country’s political strife and an ode to the salvation found in our chosen families.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 13, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593907061
- File size: 232930 KB
- Duration: 08:05:15
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 17, 2024
A Maine camping trip turns into a fight for survival in this meditative dystopian thriller from Heller (The Last Ranger). Best friends Jess and Storey are headed home from their annual moose hunt when they find their route cut off by a bridge that appears to have been recently demolished. On foot, they arrive at a scorched village littered with corpses; with no phone signal, they speculate the violence is linked to the “secession mania” that’s been spreading through Maine. Further hiking takes them to a lakeside hamlet, where the friends exchange fire with hostile locals and steal a boat to pursue their attackers. They lose their quarry, but discover a five-year-old girl named Collie hiding in the boat—and now, in addition to finding their way home, Jess and Storey must locate Collie’s parents. Despite the high stakes, Heller gives the narrative plenty of space to breathe, allowing him to cast a haunting, immersive spell as his heroes traverse the ruined landscape. Painterly descriptions of nature and sparkling philosophical ruminations (“You are alone under the wheeling seasons, and the best memories are drained by loss”) elevate the proceedings. The result is a wilderness adventure with real emotional depth. Agent: David Halpern, David Halpern Literary. -
Heller returns to the beauty and challenges of the wilderness in his latest audiobook. This time hunters and lifelong friends Jess and Storey encounter the deadliest and most unpredictable of predators: man. Mark Deakins delivers an excellent performance. He captures the intense action without tipping into clich, and his pacing is perfectly attuned to the story in which Maine secessionists unleash drastic action against the U.S. The resulting conflict places the two hunters in the line of fire. The audiobook holds the listener's attention--even with some uneven plot elements--thanks to Deakins's experience. His narration is strong and capable, much like the characters he brings to life. L.B.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine -
December 6, 2024
Returning from their annual hunting trip in northern Maine, Storey and Jess realize that something has gone terribly wrong with the world. As they make their way south, they find razed villages, burnt-out cars, and signs of violence everywhere. They have no idea what happened, although they suspect that rumors of secession may have led to an all-out civil war. Stealing a boat, the pair unwittingly pick up a terrified girl named Collie, who becomes their responsibility. As they journey on, attempting to reunite Collie with her parents, Jess and Storey begin to encounter other people, all of whom are hostile and violent. The contrast between the mayhem of the human world and the peace of nature could not be more striking. Mark Deakins narrates Heller's (The Last Ranger) thriller with quiet subtlety. He portrays Collie beautifully and makes the friendship between Jess and Storey utterly believable. The men's voices are especially effective and gently understated as they shield Collie from the violence all around. VERDICT The fact that nothing is really ever explained and the novel ends before the men escape Maine adds to the helpless feeling conveyed by this dystopian novel that strikes a chord.--B. Allison Gray
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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