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What Remains When Flowers Fade

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In this sequel to What Remains in the Wilderness, Vala Lee must face the aftermath of painful discoveries, mourning one man's imprisonment, and celebrating another's freedom. When a young guardsman, sworn to imprison or eliminate Remnant Christians, grows close to the family and the diner she once called home, Vala must decide if the life God called her to is one of hiding for the sake of survival or of living boldly in faith.

Thomas Reid has made a name for himself with the Guard and his Commander, when he is instrumental in bringing in one of their most wanted Remnant followers. But one mission that leads him to a small diner and an encounter with its proprietors, Micah and Sarah Joyner, could cause him to question everything he's promised his life to, and the God he suspects they're guilty of following.

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2022

6 people are currently reading
145 people want to read

About the author

B.R. Goodwin

10 books254 followers
B.R. Goodwin is a Georgia native, married to her college sweetheart, and the mother of three wild animal children she adores. When she isn’t writing Christian Fiction, she’s reading, hiking, bee-keeping, soccer mom-ing, homeschooling, or planning her family’s next big adventure while drinking copious amounts of tea and coffee.

Above all else, the heartbeat of everything she does in life, friendship, and writing is with an eye to sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with everyone she meets.


She recently dove head & heart first into the contemporary rom-com genre and is having the time of her life cackling at her own jokes and dreaming up swoon-worthy storylines for her characters.

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101 (85%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Heather Wood.
Author 7 books257 followers
January 20, 2023
Unputdownable story about living boldly and faithfully for Christ in the face of persecution. This one needs to be read hand in hand with the first one in the series, but know that the story and writing improves as it goes, and the characters mature. I accidentally saw the last page before I was far into the book, and knowing what happened helped me get through some of the hard parts. But seriously am going to need the next book asap.
Profile Image for Carrie Cotten.
Author 9 books440 followers
August 16, 2024
Another excellent and poignant novel from BR Goodwin. Heartbreaking and healing, WR 2 leads us in a journey to the comfort and sustaining hope that only Jesus can provide.

I’m eagerly awaiting book 3!
Profile Image for Stephanie Daniels.
Author 2 books98 followers
January 16, 2025
Update: I just reread this book in preparation to read Book Three because it had been over three years since I’d read it. I really have no idea where my brain was to only have given this 4 stars originally. (Although it appears I somehow only left a review on Amazon—so more evidence that I was in some kind of brain fog). It’s a beautifully written story and the characters stay with you. There were several places that I was barely able to hold it together. Powerful. Emotional. And full of the gospel message which really resonated with me the first time as well.

This second book in the series delivered some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. One in particular that might have deserved a book being thrown. But that’s what makes a book worth reading. What I love best is that Goodwin never holds back on proclaiming the gospel. Just like some of her characters, there’s bold faith and a clear presentation of the salvation message. And characters who struggle with decisions of sharing that message during times of oppression and persecution. We need more books in YA that mean something. And this one achieves that.

I received a complimentary copy and was asked to leave a review.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Williams.
9 reviews1 follower
April 5, 2024
I am loving this series and cannot wait for the third book to come out! Love this fictional storyline and the underlying theme of living for Christ in the face of persecution. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books!
Profile Image for nicolelauren.
242 reviews12 followers
Read
October 14, 2025
Nothing against the book or author, the little situation in the middle threw me & I didn’t like it 😭
Profile Image for Jenny Whitley.
12 reviews
February 6, 2026
The Epilogue!!

WHAT?!? Oh my gosh!!! Now I HAVE to start the 3rd book!!!

That was a lot of emotion wrapped up in this book! So so good! And to God be the glory!
3 reviews
February 18, 2026
Amazing continuation of the What Remains series! The unexpected twists put the reader on the edge of their seat! Love this one!
136 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2024
Another 5 Star Young Adult Novel by B. R. Goodwin

This book continues the saga of Vala Lee and her friends as they find themselves united with others like them. Vala must face more hardships and learn lessons on what it feels like to be loved and protected, even when it breaks her heart. Starting over and being grateful is not always as easy as it seems. Rejoicing and pain sometimes go hand in hand. But when the guard again inserts itself into the diner will their safety be threatened again? What will Vala Lee do? Can she move forward in boldness, or will she succumb to the anger and pain that plagues her?

I loved this book and hope there is a book 3 in the series!
Profile Image for Emilie.
82 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2025
If you haven’t read book 1, do so now. It’s a must!

Book 2 finds us in the hideaway of the Remnant in the Appalachian mountains. Vala and Luca are separated. He is in prison with The Guard and she is in the mountains with her brother and Brian - the two young men Luca traded himself for.

Thomas Reid, a Guardsman, is unsure what to do with his growing feelings for Sarah, who he suspects is Remnant and with Luca, who refuses to recant the faith he found while undercover with the Remnant. How can Luca be so committed to a faith, a book, a man Jesus Christ?

Vala finds that she doesn’t want to hide anymore, she wants to live and spread the gospel. So she does, with the woman married to the man who ruined her life. What will happen to Vala now?

This book had me in tears about 90% of the way through it. As a believer, you know that the events in this book, though fictional, are all plausible events we could see in our future. It was a good reminder for me to be careful what I cling to.

The ending was perfection and I cannot wait for book 3!
Profile Image for Ashton Dorow.
Author 9 books186 followers
October 21, 2022
Eeeekkkk!!! I have been waiting and waiting for this sequel! After that cliffhanger in book 1, I have been positively dying to know what would happen next to Vala and her friends. Luckily, the waiting was worth it!!

Book 2 opens a bit differently than expected, giving you insight into previously unknown scenes leading up to that big climactic ending of the first book. After that “big event” that changed everything for Vala (can’t say what it is because MEGA SPOILERS!), our beloved heroine is much changed. For a while, the book takes a more character-driven approach, I’d say. You really get into Vala’s heart and head and see life through her eyes as she grapples with her internal struggles. Then all of a sudden, things take a turn, and when that happened… oh, boy. I kept scrolling through the pages, anxious to see what would happen. I truly had no idea what to expect or where the author would take the story. Of course, I had my hopes of how things would turn out, but I really feared there wouldn’t be a happy ending! To find out if there did end up being a happy ending… well, you’ll just have to read the book yourself! But I will say… THAT ENDING 🤯🤯🤯 I have SO many questions!!!! I need book three STAT!

I loved revisiting Vala and seeing her grow and mature in a beautiful, inspiring way! We also get to meet new characters as well as get to know previous characters better, which was fun! The sibling relationship between Caleb and Vala was so sweet! Though, my favorite relationship in this book was between Reid and Sarah. 😍🥰❤️ They are an unexpected pair with a bit of an unconventional romance, so I loved seeing their journey, along with Reid’s character arc!

Bravo, Brianna, for another excellent YA dystopian that not only captures the reader’s imagination, but their heart as well. Thank you to you and Vala for challenging all of us to be better and bolder Christains, no matter the cost!

If anyone is looking for a Christian dystopian thriller/adventure/romance… um, what are you waiting for? Get this book (or both books, if you haven’t read book 1) and start reading ASAP! You will not regret it! 5/5 Stars!
Profile Image for Kayla Stewart.
334 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2025
If you are looking for a YA series that focuses purely on Christian Faith and holding to your values through turmoil, this is the series for you.

I should have been clued in with that title and with the brutal road book one took me on. But I was not prepared to FEEL so much. Mostly sadness, fear, and pain. How numb you can be when someone you love is gone. All the wishful thoughts of the things you would have done differently. But through it all a I felt the redeeming truth and light that kept me hanging on. Hoping for everything to end happily. All I can say is, not yet.

And on top of all that we experience what happened to her love, Luca. Painful. It was Painful to read. He was tortured until the end and the one solid truth was his faith and how it held him up. 😭

“You traded everything. Your entire life…for what?” Luca looked at me with understanding. “For the Truth.”

We are also introduced to The Guards side of things. One boy in particular, Reid, feeling unsure and everything he was taught feeling wrong and stuck in an awful situation. He breaks and sees and feels the truth in the end.

This book was even more heartbreaking than the previous book and idk how fans waited so long for book three. It’s been just as disheartening, but with the beautiful hope for light and things to heal and for a HEA. If only I didn’t get so invested in the characters I read about. 😅
Profile Image for Brittney (booksta.britt).
178 reviews19 followers
December 2, 2024
I mean.. WHAT? Brianna does it again. I am truly blown away. Add this series to your TBR right now. I felt every single emotion in this book. I cannot express how amazing this series has been. I finished this one in the same day I started it because I couldn’t stop. I’m on a book hangover and this is one that settles deep inside of your heart and you won’t ever forget it.
I am SO EXCITED FOR BOOK 3!

—Quotes
✨ “On hikes, he always… he’d find stray wildflowers. Ones that didn’t stand… that weren’t in bunches with others… And he’d slowly weave together bouquets, presenting them to me at our final destination. A gift of lonely flowers, made whole together.”
✨ It had been as if God himself opened my eyes. No fever or flu could have prevented me further from seeing my need for a savior. For Jesus. Not for salvation from a fever or sickness, but from myself and my own sin. The relief in knowing that I didn’t have to save myself by being good had felt all-consuming. That night I’d committed to follow Him, no matter the cost.


—Content
Violence
No foul language
Profile Image for Jersey Rae.
41 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2025
INCREDIBLE SERIES ♡♡♡
Read and then listen to these songs after, and you'll see why I put them here. Grab your tissues! It's a sad, sad story 🤧😭 but it is so worth it.

Songs to go with characters and chapters -

Luca and Vala- The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham 💞

Mae-
"She never let our circumstances hinder her joy. It just consumed her, and poured out. Overflowed."
Song- Can't Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen

Luca-
"He may kill me, but only my body. I am not afraid to die, Thomas. Are you?"
Song- The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham because of these lyrics, "If you strike me, I will embrace you. And if you chain me, I'll sing His praise. And if you kill me, my home is heaven. For I choose the Jesus way." ✝️

Chapter 11, pages 116-118 (Luca)- Still Waters (Psalm 23) by Leanna Crawford

Chapter 12, pages 127-129 Love You to Death by Josiah Queen and Die A Begger by Josiah Queen

Chapter 32, page 320 (Reid)- Jesus's Fault by Zach Williams

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU B.R. GOODWIN for writing this series, it has done more for me than you will ever know 💔🫶🏻
Profile Image for Lesley Barklay.
Author 9 books17 followers
April 17, 2025
I devoured this book in one day!

This book developed the characters a lot more, and deals with issues of faith, grief, loss, and doing what is right even at great cost.

Book two introduces a new perspective: Thomas Reid, a member of the guard, who also happens to have a little crush on Sarah Joyner. It was interesting getting Thomas' perspective as he grapples with his work, and the faith of those he has been sent to investigate.

Vala is struggling with the guilt of her last moments with Luka, the joy of being reunited with her brother, and the restlessness that comes from feeling that God has called her to so much more. I loved the way Goodwin used dreams as a way for God to speak to and direct Vala.

A great Christian dystopian read.
3 reviews1 follower
October 13, 2022
This was a fantastic succession to book 1. The pacing is different but well-timed with new characters, relational intrigue, emotional process, and some of that high-suspense action we got lots of in book one. We get to take in more of Vala’s story now intertwined in someone else’s. It’s a wonderful tactic that keeps pulling you back to see where things are going. Then, right when you’re in the midst of it, things pivot. Goodwin has done a great job in her debut series, leaving you wanting more. This storyline is built solid on themes of grief, relational process, faith, redemption, and intrigue.
Profile Image for Latisha Sexton.
Author 11 books440 followers
August 29, 2024
I am completely wrecked. Shattered. Oh, my goodness. I have never had to stop reading a book so many times to ask myself if I should keep reading through the pain. And man, was this painful. I'm surprised I could even see the words through the tears. But this book is so rich with faith and hard truths. My heart was shattered so many times, but the author constantly pours Truth into the heartache, slowly healing you.

If you love dystopian, strong faith, flawed characters, and books that will rip you to shreds and then slowly, achingly stitch you back up, piece by piece, then read this series!
Profile Image for Ashley .
33 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2024
Just brace yourself with this one!

This story is beautiful. I loved the ending. Did it make the heartache worth it? Maybe, maybe not, but it was still beautiful. And forgive me for preaching but that is exactly what God does. Can God erase our unwanted past, can He erase our mistakes? No. But does God turn our mourning into dancing? Our sorrow into joy, absolutely. Just like the characters learned, no one is out of God's reach to redeem.

I can't stress this enough. I don't cry, rarely and maybe three times in my life it was from a book. But this book!!! Multiple. Multiple times.

So to recap: It was good, I recommend!
Profile Image for Kathryn Edwards.
72 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2025
Absolutely Devastating in the Best Way

I have been waiting to read this book for a while now and it was quite the rollercoaster!! At times I wanted to give up on it, but I am so glad I didn’t. Vala really matured in this book. I loved seeing her obedience and faithful commitment to God and the way He spoke to her in dreams. There were lots of heartbreaking moments and the most gut wrenching cliffhanger, but I’m a real sucker for books where believers walk out their faith inspite of all the challenges and that’s exactly what this book was. Can’t wait to read more!
Profile Image for Phoenix.
13 reviews
May 2, 2024
*crying into the abyss* Wow. That’s it. That’s all I’ve got.
This is the second book of a gripping series, I loved it from the first line. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve sobbed and been ready to throw the book at the wall. I love when I read a book and I learn so much. These books have a special place in my heart they’ve challenged my faith and have helped me grow closer to God. I’m so grateful I got the chance to read these and I can’t wait for book 3.

B.R. Goodwin, you are one of a kind.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
136 reviews
November 20, 2024
I love the faith content in this book so much! This is the second book in the What Remains series and it wrecked me in the best way, but the faith was so beautiful and unapologetic, it eases the pain you feel for the characters. The redemption story in this book has all the tension and conflict that reality brings with struggle, especially when love is involved. I cannot wait to read book three when it releases in January!
Profile Image for Drew.
Author 24 books439 followers
December 26, 2025
Sometimes middle novels of a trilogy lag.

Nope. Not this one. Full steam ahead.

In fact, I liked this one more than the first! And I have a feeling the third book will top this one judging by the set up.

Goodwin is a masterful storyteller. I love her romcoms, but I need more dystopian from her! Read this book in one day; I couldn’t put it down. So so so good!
Profile Image for Aline Guedes.
51 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2026
This book left me even more speechless than the first one. It also deeply challenged me, as I kept asking myself, Am I bold enough for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Wow… this is definitely a 100% recommended read. The emotional depth of the story pulled me in completely, and by the end, I was turning pages with tears in my eyes.
Profile Image for Courtney Dawn.
782 reviews11 followers
February 10, 2026
Wow. Just wow. This sequel to What Remains in the Wilderness is powerful, gripping, and impossible to put down. As Vala Lee faces loss, freedom, and the cost of faith, the story presses hard into what it truly means to live boldly for Christ rather than survive quietly in fear.

The addition of Thomas Reid’s POV adds incredible depth. Watching a devoted guardsman—tasked with hunting Remnant Christians—begin to question his loyalty, his purpose, and the God he’s been taught to fear was fascinating and heartbreaking in the best way. The truth and wisdom woven throughout every page make this story feel both timely and timeless.

This is a series that demands to be read in order, and the growth in both the writing and the characters is so evident here. The themes of persecution, obedience, and courageous faith are handled with care and conviction. And that epilogue? Absolutely mind-blowing. I need the next book immediately.
2 reviews
November 19, 2022
Amazing

A beautiful well written story. The characters are honest and relatable. It was a great overall message to trust in the Lord. The loved the u
nexpected ending. Thank you B.R.
Profile Image for Tara.
59 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2024
A surprising rich depth

I liked this better than the 1st. Characters were better developed and I like where she took the story. Was a little surprised by the ending. Not sure if I'm happy with it - we'll see where she goes with the 3rd book - there BETTER be a 3rd!
Profile Image for Hannah Hood Lucero.
Author 10 books99 followers
August 22, 2024
Best dystopian novel I've ever read. Need book 3 stat. Someone send a comfort sandwich. And chocolate. I need a hug.

The writing, story, and faith are all so beautiful. You have to read this book. All of you.
6 reviews
November 4, 2024
I cannot say enough about this book. It keeps you wanting more with each page you read. Goodwin has a true gift for writing a gripping series that will give you more than you could ask for. You won’t be able to put this book down!
8 reviews
January 22, 2025
Wow, the emotions in this book are impossible to put into words. From crying, to laughing, to sobbing… this book will take you there. But through it all, B. R. Goodwin manages to beautifully show that God can make something beautiful from something painful. Highly recommend this book!!
650 reviews7 followers
August 9, 2025
Wow !!

Wow what a faith based and inspiring story.
Keep tissues ready but know that God doesn't leave His children alone. This is edge of your seat page after page. I wish there was a book 3 . Is it really Luca ?
I highly recommend this story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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