What is Sarah Combs's highest-rated book?

"The Light Fantastic" is Sarah Combs's highest-rated book on LuvemBooks, with a reader rating of 3.9/5.

How many Sarah Combs books are reviewed on LuvemBooks?

We have reviewed 1 book by Sarah Combs.

What genres does Sarah Combs write?

Sarah Combs's books span genres including Fiction, Fantasy.

We've reviewed 1 Sarah Combs book. The Light Fantastic is a YA novel that interweaves seven narratives across three harrowing hours on a single April day, as coordinated school shootings are planned across the country. It does not have a reader rating on our site yet.

Sarah Combs

Sarah Combs leads writing workshops at a nonprofit literacy center in Lexington, Kentucky, where she lives with her husband, their two young sons, and two pacifist bird dogs. Her debut novel, Breakfast Served Anytime, was a Kids' Indie Next selection and a VOYA Perfect Ten. She is also the author of The Light Fantastic.

Biographical details sourced from Penguin Random House.

On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed The Light Fantastic.

1

Books Reviewed

The Light Fantastic

3.9/5

reader rating · 18 ratings

The Light Fantastic by Sarah Combs is a YA novel that unfolds seven interwoven narratives across three harrowing hours on a single April day, tracing the perspectives of would-be perpetrators, potential victims, and bystanders as coordinated school shootings are planned across the country. Kirkus Reviews calls it "a worthwhile, chilling novel that makes demands of its audience and rewards them richly in return."

Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

Ask LuvemBooks about Sarah Combs

Sarah Combs is a Lexington, Kentucky-based YA author whose debut, Breakfast Served Anytime, was a Kids' Indie Next selection and a VOYA Perfect Ten. We've reviewed 1 of Combs's novels: The Light Fantastic, which compresses seven interwoven perspectives — would-be perpetrators, potential victims, and bystanders — into a single three-hour window on a day when coordinated school shootings are planned across the country. That multi-voice, real-time structure is the defining feature of Combs's work here; Kirkus called it "a worthwhile, chilling novel that makes demands of its audience."

Where should I start?: The Light Fantastic is the natural starting point, since it's the only Sarah Combs book we've reviewed on LuvemBooks. Be ready for an intense read: it braids seven perspectives — would-be perpetrators, potential victims, and bystanders — across three hours on a day of coordinated school shooting plots. If you'd prefer to begin with Combs's debut, Breakfast Served Anytime was a Kids' Indie Next pick, though we haven't reviewed it.
What's their writing style?: Based on the one book we've reviewed, Combs favors ambitious structure: The Light Fantastic unfolds through seven interwoven narratives compressed into a single three-hour window. The approach shifts among would-be perpetrators, potential victims, and bystanders rather than following one protagonist. Kirkus Reviews called it "a worthwhile, chilling novel that makes demands of its audience," which suggests fiction that asks readers to sit with discomfort rather than offering easy resolution.
Books we've reviewed: We've reviewed 1 Sarah Combs book. The Light Fantastic is a YA novel that interweaves seven narratives across three harrowing hours on a single April day, as coordinated school shootings are planned across the country. It does not have a reader rating on our site yet.
What genre do they write?: Sarah Combs writes young adult fiction. On LuvemBooks, The Light Fantastic is shelved under Fantasy, though its premise as we understand it — seven voices across three hours as school shootings are planned nationwide — is a contemporary, real-world scenario. Combs's debut, Breakfast Served Anytime, is also a YA novel.
What is The Light Fantastic about?: The Light Fantastic unfolds over three harrowing hours on a single April day, as coordinated school shootings are planned across the country. It weaves together seven narratives, moving among would-be perpetrators, potential victims, and bystanders. Kirkus Reviews called it "a worthwhile, chilling novel that makes demands of its audience."
What should I read after The Light Fantastic?: Combs's debut, Breakfast Served Anytime, is the only other novel we know of from them, and it came with strong credentials — a Kids' Indie Next selection and a VOYA Perfect Ten. We haven't reviewed it on LuvemBooks yet, so we can't vouch for its content beyond those honors. Check back as our coverage of Combs grows.

Who is Sarah Combs?

Where should I start?

What's their writing style?

Books we've reviewed

What genre do they write?

What is The Light Fantastic about?

What should I read after The Light Fantastic?

Who is Sarah Combs?

Sarah Combs leads writing workshops at a nonprofit literacy center in Lexington, Kentucky, where they live with their husband, two young sons, and two pacifist bird dogs. Combs's debut novel, Breakfast Served Anytime, was a Kids' Indie Next selection and a VOYA Perfect Ten. Combs is also the author of The Light Fantastic, the one book we've reviewed on LuvemBooks.

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