Book Review: The Only Safe Place Left is the Dark by Warren Wagner

“They lived for those they lost. Until they could live for themselves again.”

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The Only Safe Place Left is the Dark is a debut horror novella set in a post-apocalyptic, pandemic-ravaged America. Alternating between modern-day 2023 and 1980s–1990s flashbacks following the AIDS crisis, the storyline follows protagonist Quinton Booker, an HIV-positive man who lives a self-sufficient life in the isolated wilderness. Having resided in a one-room cabin for nearly 30 years haunted by memories of his partner, Frankie, who died from AIDS, Quinton operates on autopilot, roughened from years of solitude, embittered over prior injustices, and hardened against the idea of humanity, love, and community.

After he is attacked by a group of ruffians who destroy his supply of lifesaving medication, Quinton is forced to embark on a dangerous journey into zombie-infested territory in search of more. What follows is a devastating, page-turning read that offers several unique twists on the zombie apocalypse, including the most horrifyingly visceral take on zombies this reader has yet experienced. Brutal realities are presented with stark clarity and ease, allowing the reader to make it through absolutely gut-wrenching sections seemingly unscathed, only to have the insurmountable degree of horror take root immediately after. Brief moments of humor, kindness, and empathy balance the gore and brutality, while sadness, cruelty, and desolation underscore the entire narrative, made even more disturbing by their basis in reality.

A longer length would have allowed the author to give more depth to certain characters, which in turn would have enabled the reader to become more attached to and invested in them; it would also have made one particular section more plausible. However, the main characters and surrounding sections are effective, moving, believable, and fantastic enough to pull the reader back into the story and through to a really powerful conclusion.

This was a tense, dark, thrilling, and terrifying read filled with eerie, haunting scenes of devastation, ruin, and death. Those elements coupled with a compelling title and cover art — both of which are expertly woven into the narrative — produce a downright amazing and unforgettable novella filled with impactful moments and resonant themes.

Thank you to Ghoulish Books and BookSirens for allowing me to read and review a digital ARC of this forthcoming release.

❤Amanda

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