Light (Gone, #6) in It's not just a FAYZ

Mar 31, 2013 Crazyjamie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

There is not a lot of point going into the plot of the final book in a six book series. All I really need to say is that Light is superb and fitting ending to this series.

In many ways it would have been very easy for Grant to not hit the target with this book after everything that has come before, but thankfully he has managed to create one of the most accomplished final books to a series that I have ever read. It is a fast paced finale that manages to pour a lot of emotion into an action packed ...more

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Jun 16, 2017 Astoria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: wishlist, books-by-a-favorite-author

This book has been sitting on my shelf since 2013. Getting myself to read this book was so hard. I loved many of the characters that didn't make it, and reading this book and knowing even more would die, was so hard.

description

This series has been a blast. Is not for the faint of heart. The things that happened throughout the series were both good and bad... and brutal and just horrifying. No matter how bad things every book, Michael Grant always managed to deliver something even worst the next time.

Ligh ...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Kissie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

i fucking love this book so much
so many gross things did happen and i wasnt liking this book as much as the previous ones (view spoiler) im glad all the powers and everything (view spoiler)very good ending to the series. im also happy brianna (v ...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Jessye rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, dystopia, epic-series, tough-stuff, romance, fiction, emotional, supernatural, dark-style, fun-to-read

Not only did I read and review this book for my own enjoyment, but this book is formally reviewed for my English class.

“You are now free to leave the FAYZ” (Grant, 413). When I finished reading that last sentence of Light, it was hard to believe that I had just finished one of my favorite book series ever. I actually started to tear up and sat at my desk staring at the page for a while, taking it all in. For the last six years, the Gone series has been an ever present existence in my life, somet Not only did I read and review this book for my own enjoyment, but this book is formally reviewed for my English class.

“You are now free to leave the FAYZ” (Grant, 413). When I finished reading that last sentence of Light, it was hard to believe that I had just finished one of my favorite book series ever. I actually started to tear up and sat at my desk staring at the page for a while, taking it all in. For the last six years, the Gone series has been an ever present existence in my life, something to look forward to every year. With a thrilling plotline and a large diverse cast of characters you learn to love throughout all their mistakes, the Gone novels tell an unforgettable story about kids trying to survive in a world gone mad. A world where everyone over the age of 14 has disappeared, and where the struggle between right and wrong, good and evil, is not just on the battlefield, but is also within themselves. The final book, Light, concludes the series with the full intensity of the previous books combined and gives us hope for the remaining characters as they finally escape the FAYZ and try to move on with their lives.

Just like his previous books, Grant does not disappoint with Light. The style of writing is fast paced and fluid without any unnecessary description muddling the action. Although at times I did grow impatient for the story to move on, there was never really a dull moment while reading. Unexpected jaw dropping moments kept me on edge and many times I gasped aloud in shock or horror at a particular scene. I had to take a break from the book when I read the sentence “Gaia stepped in, grabbed the man’s hand, then shifted her grip to his wrist, put her other hand on his bicep, and with one swift, sudden movement tore his arm off at the shoulder like she was ripping a drumstick from an overcooked turkey” (Grant, 49). Not even 50 pages in and this novel had already proved to be a high impact story that wouldn't be leaving my mind any time soon.

The main theme prevalent throughout Light was the classic struggle between good and evil, both externally and internally. Examples of external struggle would be the power struggle between Little Pete and Gaia, and the numerous battles fought between Gaia and the kids of Perdido beach. The internal struggle of right and wrong for certain characters, like Sam and Caine, was to decide whether to kill innocents and flee for self-preservation or to fight Gaia, an evil monster in the body of a young girl, to save the town. Some characters within the story were already inherently evil, one of the main antagonists since book one of the series, Drake Merwin, is cruel, sadistic, and a psychopath who enjoys torturing people. On page 321, Drake says to another character who is trying to talk him down that “…it’s fun to hurt people. It’s such…it’s such joy, Astrid. Such joy realizing that all the power is yours, and all the fear and pain is right there, in your victim.” Light explores the question of whether all human beings have the capacity to be evil, Drake also saying “Evil. It’s in all of us…We all want to have someone powerless beneath us while we stand over them” (Grant, 331).

What I really loved about Light was the character development. Throughout the series we’ve watched the characters grow and take actions that have either made us cheer them on or shake our heads in disappointment. We’ve been able to become strongly attached to these fictional characters as though they were real people. One of the best character developments in the book was for one of the main antagonists named Caine. In the first book, he tried to take control of the town by force and as a result was the one responsible for the town’s descent after shutting down all the electricity. In this last book, Caine gives himself up in order to defeat Gaia and save everyone, granting himself last minute redemption with his sacrifice. Not only does Michael Grant give Caine’s character one last chance to atone for his mistakes, but also a righteous death as well.

The greatest strength of this novel was the strong and diverse cast of characters. Although they’re different, they’ve all been through the same living nightmare and have learned to depend on and trust one another, forming tight friendships throughout each book that were very prominent in Light. From what I read, I saw no weakness in the writing. I loved everything about this novel and book series, and would definitely recommend this to anyone who is into sci-fi, suspense, dystopia, or horror. It does have pretty strong and grotesque violence for a young adult novel, so I would not recommend this to the faint of heart or squeamish. The Gone novels are unique, breathtaking, and awesome books, with Light being a gripping final installment.

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Apr 27, 2013 Zack rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite-books

Words cannot even express my feelings now that I have finished this book. I've never cried about a book before, but (although I'm not crying) this is the closest I've been. *wistful sigh* I feel like I've lost a friend, someone I've had since year 6, this book was just so great. I loved the characters, I loved how religion is portrayed so accurately; how Grant knew everybody loved Edilio and so made him gay, I think that was ingenious; I loved Astrid's everything; I loved how Grant killed so man Words cannot even express my feelings now that I have finished this book. I've never cried about a book before, but (although I'm not crying) this is the closest I've been. *wistful sigh* I feel like I've lost a friend, someone I've had since year 6, this book was just so great. I loved the characters, I loved how religion is portrayed so accurately; how Grant knew everybody loved Edilio and so made him gay, I think that was ingenious; I loved Astrid's everything; I loved how Grant killed so many characters and that he didnt go easy on the reader; I loved that bit where we meet Drake's grandad; I loved Drake; I loved how Caine ending becoming the good guy; I loved the POV's, I love the quote; "Then there was a judicial panel that took statements from eminent scientists and concluded that the FAYZ was in fact a deprecate universe and thus not covered under California law". In short, I loved everything.

Actually, I almost love everything, I didn't like how Gaia only had the powers of the moofs. It was my understanding that she gave them the powers, so why is she dependent on them? I think she should had powers we cannot even fathom, powers not limited to labels or something. Something different, because I predicted she had all of the powers before the book even started, and I was feverishly hoping she wouldn't. Bit cliqued. I also didn't think it was realistic that the people from the FAYZ would be charged with their crimes. That wouldn't happen. They were in a place where starvation was rampant or at least always threatening, where people had evil powers, more importantly, they were children who didnt have any parents. That's a breeding ground for crime, and because they were in a situation where survival was everything, I can promise you, they wouldn't go to jail. I mean, a lot of them would be sent to psychiatric wards, but only on the grounds that they've been traumatized. Also , there's a law where if you're like in a dangerous position then self-defense isn't illegal and basically the entire time in the FAYZ was a dangerous position.

But that doesn't matter because I loved it.
Still think Gone was the best of the series though.
You know what? I'm going to read Gone again.
:D

EDIT:
I forgot how fucking awesome Gone is ...more

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Jul 27, 2013 Lexie rated it really liked it

lot of people died, as expected. didn't feel gratuitous; just sad, and real. pretty fantastic ending, all things considered. ...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Hollie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, signed

One of the best books I have EVER read, definitely the best in the series! Just... EPIC. Michael Grant managed to make me love Caine and Diana, as well as many other characters! Now all I need is a film series! :)

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Jan 30, 2012 Shyla rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, children-teen-favs, dystopia-utopia, ya, kick-butt-heroine, survival-tale, its-the-end-of-the-world, best-characters-ever

Amazing! Very good ending - full review to come after I have finished letting this series skip around in my head and contempleting the beginning to the end....not quite ready to let it go yet.

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