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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This kept me intrigued but just felt like it was slow. And then just had a mediocre ending and mildly enjoyable feel.
After the Fire by Will Hill is a hard read. Telling the story of the rise and fall of a cult through the eyes of a teen girl who has no memory of living in the Outside, this book raises a lot of painful issues. Very well written, the evocative text carries the reader along through her recovery and experiences. Hard to put down even though you know from the beginning where everything is headed. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in understanding the mind control that can be inflicted, especially in the name of religion, to an extreme level.
If my future self ever reads this review, I want you to read this book again. It was absolutely amazing. The characters were compelling, and I remained shocked and horrified by the crimes carried out by Father John. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fictional account of what it’s like to survive a cult.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Better than I was expecting. I think that if I had read this when I originally wanted to, at 15, I would've thought that it was absolutely amazing, but being that I have practically no interest in young adult fiction anymore, I'll consider this being an enjoyable read a win.
Books that you can tell are very obviously inspired by a single real life event are always a little strange to read, for me. It's a little distracting. I think that if this novel was less obviously ripping from the headlines about Waco, it would've been easier to fall into, but being that it was so blatant about its parentage, it was hard to take it seriously. It sort of just felt like someone cheating on their homework, but changing the words around so the teacher doesn't notice.
Not to say this was poorly written, or uninteresting. Just "perfectly fine". Probably going to be my last young adult for a very, very long time. That's just growing up, I guess!
Books that you can tell are very obviously inspired by a single real life event are always a little strange to read, for me. It's a little distracting. I think that if this novel was less obviously ripping from the headlines about Waco, it would've been easier to fall into, but being that it was so blatant about its parentage, it was hard to take it seriously. It sort of just felt like someone cheating on their homework, but changing the words around so the teacher doesn't notice.
Not to say this was poorly written, or uninteresting. Just "perfectly fine". Probably going to be my last young adult for a very, very long time. That's just growing up, I guess!
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I didn't like the style of this book. It's done in an interview style and made it feel more like a documentary (which I love in their own medium) but when I'm reading a book it takes away ALL the tension. I clearly know she lived and she's got nothing to fear now.
However, I will read anything that involves cults, so that aspect was fascinating to me.
However, I will read anything that involves cults, so that aspect was fascinating to me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This isn't exactly what I thought this was about but it wasn't disappointing. This follows our protagonist Moonbeam and her survival outside of a cult. The story goes between two narratives, before and after the fire went off. I liked Moonbeam as a main character and definitely liked the writing style the author did with it. I kinda wish it was more paranormal like I was told it was when it was just mostly talk of reglion. Definitely not a bad read though.