Welcome to my eight-part blog series about the main themes in A Long Lost Time. You may have read my previous blog series on the themes in the other books in the series so now it’s time for the final one. You can find the links to the previous blogs at the bottom of this blog post. The first theme is self worth, there will be some crossover with previous theme blogs, but this one’s a big one for A Long Lost Time.
Warning: This blog contains spoilers.
Throughout The Luke Bright Series, we see Luke change a lot. Initially in Atlantic Split, he’s doing his best to impress the people around him, despite knowing he’s settling for a job that’s not what he wants to do. He’s desperate to do the right thing, and when James and Steve show up, he’s certain as to what that right thing is. However, becoming a killer and being feared and hated by his whole country sets him back and soon, that’s what weighs heavily on him – the fact he’ll never be accepted.
Over time, he starts to gain more confidence as he grows, especially over At Liberty To Live and in the beginning of An Undercover Dream. He really starts to believe in himself and his abilities to change the world. Others do as well which really motivates him, but in his setback in An Undercover Dream that all comes crashing down again. He becomes a version of himself that he loathes and loses all confidence in himself and fighting against the Atlantic Split. It’s the lowest point he’s ever been at, and he never really quite recovers from that. He hates who he is, and he carries that throughout A Long Lost Time when he sees his friends and prepares to see his family. He’s terrified of who he is, and he’s scared they won’t like him either.
However, as Luke grows and starts to discover more about himself and the fight he took on, how important it is to keep persevering and the significance it holds, he realises he can’t keep doubting himself. Sure, he believes he’s a killer, but he knows that he’s in reality just a young man fighting for something better. He understands the power that he holds and what he can do for the world. It’s a lot to do with his self-recovery, but in the end, he realises something important – everyone in the world is counting on him to make this change, and if he doesn’t believe in himself, how can the rest of the world do the same?
My favourite scene in A Long Lost Time, and the whole series, is the scene where Luke stands up to his brother in law and family and tells them about his struggles. I think it’s such a fantastic way for him to take all the emotions he’s been hiding inside and really show them he’s proud of who he became, even if it hurt everyone else. He stuck by his actions and he did something that could change the world. And that carries on throughout the book especially towards the latter part when he has time to recollect on his actions and realise how important he is as a person for doing what he did.
I’ve always said that The Luke Bright Series is actually a love story, and it is a love story – because Luke learns to love himself. From the person he began as, trying to appease everyone else and living under his parents’ rule, to becoming the confident young man that broke out and took on a challenge to reunite the world, he’s realised this version of himself is so much better than the one he could’ve been. Sure, he’s rough around the edges and filled with self-loathing at times that weighs him down, but he’s a fighter. A brave fighter with a lot of guts and courage . And that’s what being a hero is all about.
I end this blog with a quote from A Long Lost Time about self worth. It’s a pivotal point in A Long Lost Time and in the whole series. It’s where things come full circle and Luke finally chooses to accept and embrace who he is.
“Sometimes, I hate who I am and just want to hide from everything, but this is who I had to become to get through this. And I have. I’ve made it through and I am making it through every single day. You may not like who I’ve become, but I am done with seeking your approval, and if you don’t like it? Tough. I am proud of who I’ve become. I’ve been through so much shit and I deserve to finally be able to appreciate who I am. And I do.” Luke Bright – A Long Lost Time
Thank you for reading this blog, and next Thursday I’ll be back to discuss the next theme in the series: persistence. See you then!
Atlantic Split Theme Blog Series Links:
At Liberty To Live Theme Blog Series Links:
- New Beginnings
- Inner Strength
- Following Your Passion
- Rushing in too quickly
- Feminism
- Self Discovery
- Making a Difference
- Previous Themes
An Undercover Dream Theme Blog Series Links:
All four books in The Luke Bright Series is available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post
N.A.K
Neil A. King 