The Season of Light and Darkness

By Jillian Cantor
** Publication Date 4 August 2026 **
​4 stars




Clearly this is book one of a series to come, as the end is a total cliffhanger. That being said, I cannot wait for book two. Honestly, leaving us that way is cruel.


This novel really touches on the craziness of living in a dystopian world ruled by a fascist. It mirrors a lot of things going on in our own world right now, which is mighty frightening. It is a world where women leave school at 14, and men are immediately sent into the military. A world without medicine or science. A world where women are forced into domesticity, faith, and beauty. Where all women are blond and wear white.


Ellie wasn’t supposed to experience this world. After President Lyon was elected, her scientist father decided to freeze the entire family for 10 years, with the hope that when they thawed, the world wouldn’t be as it is before the freezing. Only something goes very wrong. Ellie is suddenly thawed after only three years. Three years and now is in this crazy, authoritarian world that her family hoped to avoid.


Ellie’s brother Scott ran away prior to the freezing. He couldn’t bring himself to be a part of this idea. Fortunately he ran into their old neighbor Mateo. With Mateo, Scott fled into the hills to an abandoned boy scout camp. There along with other escapees, they have been living for three years. Hunting squirrels for food and using fake IDs to buy supplies down in town. It’s precarious, but it’s better than being sheep.


Until Scott hears that Ellie is alive. Now his mission is simple, to save Ellie from a fate worse than death or freezing. Only it’s risky and frightening, and Scott is merely 19. He knows where Ellie is being kept, and nothing will stop him from trying to rescue her.


Really great dystopian novel. Terrifying as can be, if you think about how easy this would all be. There is good character development with Ellie, Scott, and Mateo, even the minor characters are believable in an unbelievable world. I think this book will be popular amongst teens. 


As I always say, YA is for everyone! Hopefully book two won’t be too far away.