December's #ReadWithMC is Lily Brooks-Dalton's The Light Pirate. A four-part story of power, water, light, and time, the film depicts a Florida family preparing for an approaching hurricane in a landscape already destroyed by destructive weather patterns and rising sea levels.

Readers especially appreciated Brooks-Dalton's vivid brushwork, reminiscent of Delia Owens' "Where the Crawdads Sing," which @abookandadog said was "beautiful and kept me glued from start to finish." She added, "The characterization felt very realistic, and near the end, a tender moment between two characters almost brought me to tears." Meanwhile, @bibliokyra echoed similar sentiments, praising "Brooks-Dalton's imaginative and atmospheric writing completely immerses you in this unlikely and terrifying world."

And while some #ReadWithMC readers thought the pacing slowed down in the second half, the first half of the novel was truly intense and gripping for readers. bookedwithrook wrote, "The first half took my breath away. I never expected to suddenly experience such tension and emotion," he wrote. Additionally, @whatstephisreading wrote, "The pacing slowed down a bit for me once I finished the first part, but it was still a beautiful story of survival and resilience as Wanda is forced to adapt to her rapidly changing surroundings."

Each month, we collect book reviews from our Virtual Book Club members to share their recommendations for those looking for their next great read. Here's what #ReadWithMC readers had to say about "The Pirates of Light."

"4 ⭐️ - Literary Fiction/Dystopia This story is set in the not-so-distant future, where climate change is causing devastating storms and rising sea levels. As Florida is lost, Wanda adapts to the changing landscape. I had to pick this one up because wilderness and survival stories are one of my favorite themes. Wanda is a special and brave protagonist, reminding me of Kya in Where the Crawdad's Sing. The first half took my breath away. I don't want to say much about the plot. The action slowed down in the second half, but I still enjoyed the film's exploration of the themes of community and survival/resilience. Overall, it is a poignant, frightening, yet hopeful story. I really appreciated the paean to nature and the call to protect the planet. Climate change, found families, introspective.

-@bookedwithrook

"'Pirates of Light' is set in a future Florida that is mostly submerged due to rising sea levels and the increasing destructive power of natural disasters. The story follows Wanda, a young woman tragically born into this uncertain world who must learn how to adapt and survive. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking novel that establishes the connection between the health of the environment and the health of society and government. Brooks-Dalton's imaginative and atmospheric writing allows us to become fully immersed in this unlikely and frightening world. I loved it and highly recommend it to fans of books incorporating Cli-Fi and magical realism.

-@bibliokyra

"Add this to your BOTM box is your signature. Publication Date 12/6 I didn't get this book because a friend said she hadn't heard much about it. What a beautiful masterpiece. I can't believe how much the mood of this story changes and transforms. As I got into the "after" of the story, I began to notice the differences between the two "halves" of the story and how they felt like two different books, but it was fate because the world had changed so much. The writing was beautiful and kept me glued from beginning to end. The characterization felt very realistic, and near the end, a tender moment between two characters almost brought me to tears. I felt the need to re-read the book right away and absorb it all. And I am also terrified that if the world ends, I will not be saved. Great book."

-@abookandadog

"Book Review. Pirates of Light is a beautifully written story of a family and community devastated by an ecological disaster. This was not the book I was expecting. I had not read much about the book and assumed it was somehow a sci-fi dystopian book like "Waterworld". It is not. The book consists of four parts (power, light, air, time...) It is composed of four parts (power, light, air, time...) and begins with a series of catastrophic events in the southern United States (Florida). As climate change wreaks havoc on the land, it also destroys the lives of the protagonists. We follow young Wanda as she grows up in abandoned Florida amidst a changing landscape and lifestyle. She finds family among her neighbors and those trying to survive. Impressions. This book is written in the same vein as Joyce Maynard's "Count the Ways," almost an observational retreat, but very moving and affecting. I love the characters, the story, the atmosphere. Everything is beautiful and heartbreaking. The descriptions of the land were so well done that I could picture new landscapes and imagine the stifling heat. After all, this is a book about adaptation and change in the face of unpredictable and constant chaos. It is definitely a warning cry, and it is heartbreaking to imagine that this is our future. The book can be read in both audio and written versions. My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. (4.5/5 stars)"

-@elizabookworm

"Pirates of Light" by Lily Brooks-Dalton This story follows a Florida family as catastrophic weather patterns wreak havoc on the state's infrastructure. I wondered what would happen, but I found it very interesting. The tension and impending doom drew me in within the first 100 pages, and the short chapters made it easy to flip through. Once I finished the first part of the book, my pace slowed a bit, but it was still a beautiful story of survival and resilience as Wanda is forced to adapt to her rapidly changing surroundings. The style of writing and the swampy setting reminded me a bit of Where the Crawfish Cry. Overall, it is a fascinating story that offers a glimpse into the devastating effects of climate change and what can happen as nature evolves.

-@whatstephisreading

"This gorgeous, meditative novel by @lilybrooksdalton was a great listen. In the not-too-distant future, a girl is born in the arms of her dying mother as a tropical storm batters Florida. Wanda bears the name of the storm that took her mother from her. As she grows from infancy to adolescence, Wanda experiences the loss and surprise that comes from growing up in a coastal area devastated by climate change. From an early age, Wanda knows that the loss of her mother is not the only thing that makes her different from other children. The book is not a typical story. It does not have a major climax or a solid, satisfying ending. The reader is given a snapshot of the life of Wanda and her family (biological and chosen). It is a quiet but powerful experience, an exploration of what our world will look like when natural resources and habitable land diminish. I highly recommend listening to this piece on @librofm or as an audiobook at your local library.

-@rinpwithbee