How High We Go in the Dark

A debut novel that is bleak but compassionate. While Sequoia Nagamatsu isn't afraid of delving into dark and uncomfortable topics, the underlying big beating heart of humanity that he seems to truly believe in is ever present.

How High We Go in the Dark is told in a series of semi-interconnected vignettes and tells the story of humanity over hundreds of years after a climate plague begins wiping out huge swathes of the population. Some episodes were stronger than others, but overall the quality was consistent and creative, leading to a surprising but satisfying payoff. The prose is contemplative and at many points beautiful. Maybe on a reread this could be pushed to five stars. For now, 4.5/5.