We Burn Daylight A Novel
We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston, published by Random House on October 7, 2025, is a novel that explores the complexities of love and sacrifice within the confines of a doomsday cult in Waco, Texas. Set against the backdrop of a community drawn to a charismatic leader preparing for the End Times, the narrative follows Jaye, whose mother becomes a devoted follower, and Roy, the sheriff’s son, as they navigate their burgeoning romance amidst escalating tensions and dire circumstances.
Readers will find a gripping tale that delves into the lives of its characters, from devoted cult members to conflicted law enforcement. The story unfolds with themes of faith, family, and the moral dilemmas faced by those caught in the cult’s influence. As Jaye and Roy’s relationship deepens, they confront the potential consequences of their love, all while the cult’s leader orchestrates a path toward violence. This edition spans 352 pages and is presented in English, offering a profound exploration of psychological and spiritual themes intertwined with elements of mystery and suspense.
Official synopsis Publisher
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An epic novel of star-crossed lovers set in a doomsday cult on the Texas prairie that asks: What would you sacrifice for the person you love?
“Symphonic and suspenseful . . . In an epic act of empathy, Bret Anthony Johnston inhabits every point of view, from doomed devotees to perplexed law enforcement.”—Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of March
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
Waco, Texas, 1993. People from all walks of life have arrived to follow the Lamb’s gospel—signing over savings and pensions, selling their homes and shedding marriages. They’ve come here to worship at the feet of a former landscaper turned prophet who is preparing for the End Times with a staggering cache of weapons. Jaye’s mother is one of his newest and most devout followers, though Jaye herself has suspicions about the Lamb’s methods—and his motives.
Roy is the youngest son of the local sheriff, a fourteen-year-old boy with a heart of gold and a nose for trouble who falls for Jaye without knowing of her mother’s attachment to the man who is currently making his father’s life hell. The two teenagers are drawn to each other immediately and completely, but their love may have dire consequences for their families. The Lamb has plans for them all—especially Jaye—and as his preaching and scheming move them closer and closer to unthinkable violence, Roy risks everything to save Jaye.
Based on the true events that unfolded thirty years ago during the siege of the Branch Davidian compound, Bret Anthony Johnston’s We Burn Daylight is an unforgettable love story, a heart-pounding literary page turner, and a profound exploration of faith, family, and what it means to truly be saved.
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