Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
Total page-turner. I felt a little guilty at first reading something that felt like it was exploiting the Waco seige, but as the author notes at the end, it is really a story that deals more broadly with themes of control, fear, and ultimately, survival.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
I WILL LEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE IT IS SO GOOD!!!
I was using After the Fire in some focus groups with children, and they kept raving about it, so I decided to keep a hold of it and give it a go. I started it yesterday morning on the bus and had finished it by bed time. This is a really great, addictive, well-written and (just to reiterate) GREAT book.
The book focuses on the character of Moonbeam, a girl living in a religious cult, ruled over by a ruthless man called Father John. They live in the desert behind a fence, cut off from the world. The cult believes the end is coming. However, Moonbeam is starting to doubt and to see the lies behind Father John’s words. We meet Moonbeam as the cult is going up in flames, and is then told through before (the fire) and after (the fire), as Moonbeam reluctantly shares her story.
However, the reader knows that Moonbeam is keeping secrets about the cult, the fire. What happened during the fiery moments? How did it get to this?
Moonbeam is a great character. Well written, a clear voice and I just all-round love her. It is so interesting to see her conflicted thoughts on her faith and how she grows as a character in the aftermath. Will Hill also does a great job at writing the cult as a whole. It sounded so insane, but also I believed it. He wrote the convincing nature of evil Father John and how people blindly followed him so so well and respectfully, considering it was based on the real-life Waco Siege in 1993. It didn't feel exploitative to me.
I was utterly engrossed by this book and there is also no teen romance in it other than a little crush (HOORAY!). It is so suspenseful and even though it is a YA book, it doesn't have any of the shitty YA tropes. As well as that, it's subject matter really made it stand out to me. I can't recommend this enough, whether you like YA or not. It is so so so worth reading.
I was using After the Fire in some focus groups with children, and they kept raving about it, so I decided to keep a hold of it and give it a go. I started it yesterday morning on the bus and had finished it by bed time. This is a really great, addictive, well-written and (just to reiterate) GREAT book.
The book focuses on the character of Moonbeam, a girl living in a religious cult, ruled over by a ruthless man called Father John. They live in the desert behind a fence, cut off from the world. The cult believes the end is coming. However, Moonbeam is starting to doubt and to see the lies behind Father John’s words. We meet Moonbeam as the cult is going up in flames, and is then told through before (the fire) and after (the fire), as Moonbeam reluctantly shares her story.
However, the reader knows that Moonbeam is keeping secrets about the cult, the fire. What happened during the fiery moments? How did it get to this?
Moonbeam is a great character. Well written, a clear voice and I just all-round love her. It is so interesting to see her conflicted thoughts on her faith and how she grows as a character in the aftermath. Will Hill also does a great job at writing the cult as a whole. It sounded so insane, but also I believed it. He wrote the convincing nature of evil Father John and how people blindly followed him so so well and respectfully, considering it was based on the real-life Waco Siege in 1993. It didn't feel exploitative to me.
I was utterly engrossed by this book and there is also no teen romance in it other than a little crush (HOORAY!). It is so suspenseful and even though it is a YA book, it doesn't have any of the shitty YA tropes. As well as that, it's subject matter really made it stand out to me. I can't recommend this enough, whether you like YA or not. It is so so so worth reading.
Told from the perspective of a 17-year-old girl who just survived the "End of Days" within her cult, the story moves back and forth from "before" the End and "after" the End - where she sits in a psychiatric facility under evaluation and treatment for her awful experiences. A decent enough book with a plot that kept me reading. My main gripe was that it was really too long - the last chapters just dragged on and on like the editors forgot they were editing and left a bunch of extraneous chapters in there to stretch it longer. Chapters even repeated themselves, word for word, as if trying to employ some kind of literary device, where we come upon the same story after learning all this stuff from Moonbeam - but it just didn't work for me. By this time I was wondering why I was re-reading chapters when it was already much too long, and getting on towards obvious, monotonous activities seemingly like "filler."
I've also just begun the second season of "The Sinner" (tv show), which is also, coincidentally, about a cult - tis the season for cult tales, apparently. An okay book, but not the best.
I've also just begun the second season of "The Sinner" (tv show), which is also, coincidentally, about a cult - tis the season for cult tales, apparently. An okay book, but not the best.
As the whole book revolves around a singular character perspective it was a little bit of a slow starter for me. I did like the concept initially and having read the author notes at the end once I'd finished, the story meant a great deal more to me as it is (very loosely) based on a true story.
I really enjoyed the ending and the style of the 'before/after' chapters of the book, revolving around the main incident of the fire.
Worth a read but wouldn't need to read again!
I really enjoyed the ending and the style of the 'before/after' chapters of the book, revolving around the main incident of the fire.
Worth a read but wouldn't need to read again!
Five super culty and messed up stars!
I've always been one for books with a cult premise, but this one totally took it to the complete next level. Moonbeam's story and all she endured in her short life is one that I will not soon forget-it takes a certain level of talent as an author to write a completely fictionalized story and make it feel as if it is non-fiction.
While in the author note he explained that the overall story was loosely based on the Waco Seige, I thought this story had it's complete own feel and direction that differentiated it from the true story. This book gave me MAJOR true crime vibes and I think will be a major hit with readers who normally read those types of books.
I went into it not knowing much at all aside from the fact that it was culty and I recommend going into it that way if you can. Definitely give this one a read!
I've always been one for books with a cult premise, but this one totally took it to the complete next level. Moonbeam's story and all she endured in her short life is one that I will not soon forget-it takes a certain level of talent as an author to write a completely fictionalized story and make it feel as if it is non-fiction.
While in the author note he explained that the overall story was loosely based on the Waco Seige, I thought this story had it's complete own feel and direction that differentiated it from the true story. This book gave me MAJOR true crime vibes and I think will be a major hit with readers who normally read those types of books.
I went into it not knowing much at all aside from the fact that it was culty and I recommend going into it that way if you can. Definitely give this one a read!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was definitely a hard read but the characters were well developed. I did have two small problems with the book. One were a lot of characters and sometimes it was confusing to get them all sorted out but mostly the author kept teasing at moon sharing things which was held off till the end which got kind of irritating after once or twice. The short chapters were amazing and the concept of before and after was done so well. I enjoyed it….. although I have to say I don’t know if enjoyed is the right word for this book. (As it’s a lot and hard to read mentally) I am super grateful that most of the questions we had throughout reading the book were answered at the end or towards the end whereas a lot of books leave more of a cliffhanger.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book could have been 200 pages or less.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great read! I really loved the main character and the detail and backstory of her life and how she came to where the book was set. Some very painful moments however the writers carried it out in a really powerful and meaningful way. Lots of twists and I was constantly in suspense. Read this in 5 days I could not stop reading it and would race to bed at night!
Compelling page turner that really leaves you thinking about human nature and psychological conditioning. I read this in just two sittings because the books just spews energy, would recommend.