A World We Never Knew: Chance by D.R. Long

 Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

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Quick Summary:

In Boone, North Carolina, Autumn, Nova, and their dog Rusty are trying to survive a sparsely populated world after the Vanishing. Living in a dangerous world where they must be resourceful and cautious, we watch these two women endure so much in a short span of time. Encounters with other survivors, odd happenings, and a medical emergency drive the story forward.

AWWNK: C is a post-apocalyptic novella with short chapters and an eerie tone. Themes include: post-apocalypse, survival, adaptation, found family, and connection. Quiet themes are how loss and silence affect survivors.

The Review:

I had no idea what to expect when I downloaded this book, but I am glad I did! The pacing was spot on, creating a constant sense of urgency. At times, I would find myself skimming to make sure the outcome I didn’t want to happen stayed off the page. I had to force myself to slow down so I wouldn’t miss anything. Throughout it all, I had a kaleidoscope of emotions: curiosity, anxiety, anger, and relief, just to name a few. 

The characters are what made this story land for me, though in such a short book — 178 pages — I don’t always get to see as much backstory as I’d like. Even so, AWWNK: C utilized each page to give us the most important information about our protagonists. Both Nova and Autumn thrive together because of their differences. Nova is protective, steady, and ready for a good fight. Autumn is compassionate and passionate, often seeing the best in others. Both are strong and independent, yet rely on one another. I would love to learn more about Chance’s story, and I hope we see Harry again—just under better circumstances. Luckily for us, Long is making this into a series, so I expect future books will add even more context. 

I enjoyed Long’s ability to write vividly and dramatically, with scenes playing like a movie in my head as I read. We’re taken through the settings of a North Carolina woods, a small town, and a big ol’ city. As a result, that clarity made the silent, abandoned, and desolate locations Nova and Autumn experienced easy to picture. However, there were a few issues that I came across while reading — but they didn’t take away from the story. 

One qualm I did have was that there were a handful of misspelled words—a couple that made me slow down and say what on Earth? Chapter 4 had a “sying tree,” which, after staring at it for a few beats, I realized Long meant dying — hey, future Sam, read the whole sentence before staring at a word next time! You’ll figure it out more quickly.

A more noticeable issue was that a few chapters ended one way, and then the next chapter opened similarly, just with a little more detail. For example, Chapter 19 ended with: “And then the door exploded inward, wood and metal cracking against the wall. The sound hit like a gunshot.” Then Chapter 20 started with “The door slammed open with a crack like a gunshot, ricocheting off the wall.” I am not sure if this was intended for dramatic impact or simply missed in editing. 

Even with those little blips, I absolutely would recommend this book! A World We Never Knew: Chance is tense, immersive, and compelling enough that its flaws barely register. My rating is a 4.8 out of 5. This novella made me want to read more of Long’s work. The best part is that the next installment of AWWNK is out: A World We Never Knew: Faith. Hopefully, this next novella will give me more answers than questions — though I have a feeling Long isn’t going to do that! If you are searching for a page-turning thriller that will keep your attention until the very end, do yourself a favor and READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 

Up Next: Dark Age by Pierce Brown