Review of the Secret World of Twilight

In a world where light is available at the touch of a switch, meaning that we have no more reason to fear the darkness, we can do anything, at any time, surely that’s a good thing, right?

You may be surprised.

From the cover of the book, I’d imagined that this would have been something more to do with nature and how animals and plants rely on the natural cycle of sunlight and darkness, but it turned out to be something more interesting. 

To be sure, some of the book does deal with the natural world, and how animals and plants don’t just want, but need those patterns, and how the abundance of unnatural light is becoming something that causes them to lay eggs at the wrong time of year because they think that a different season is upon them, and how plants don’t grow as well as they should because the light they’re receiving doesn’t nourish like the light they need.

And then of course, there’s humans, and our reliance on light at any time of the day and night, and in our need to be able to do anything, anytime, and the revelation that this causes both short and long term damage to our health, understanding that being able to push beyond limits isn’t always a good thing and sometimes that remembering how we evolved (and why) is a better thing that seeking better, faster, sooner.

At no point did the narrative becomes preachy, despite having a serious message with consequences that should not be ignored at any point, and it’s told in a way that is both whimsical and serious in equal measure, enjoyed it greatly.

Thanks to Head of Zeus and the Author for the Free ARC, my views are my own, no incentive offered or accepted.