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stephslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Initially the premise of this books is what drew me in, as someone who isn't religious at all it's fascinating to me to see how people can be drawn into a cult like The Kingdom. But in getting to the end of this book it just feels so incomplete.
I don't think this book was bad, in fact I think the way it had me feeling on edge and unsure of who Emily could trust was done really well, I just think that overall it needed more time for these ideas to develop and I can't help but feel like I'm missing pages when we don't really get much of a conclusion. Overall I think the idea of it was really interesting, I just wish there was more time to really flesh out the story and give us some closure by the end.
I don't think this book was bad, in fact I think the way it had me feeling on edge and unsure of who Emily could trust was done really well, I just think that overall it needed more time for these ideas to develop and I can't help but feel like I'm missing pages when we don't really get much of a conclusion. Overall I think the idea of it was really interesting, I just wish there was more time to really flesh out the story and give us some closure by the end.
lavoiture's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting topic, but I thought the book was just ok.
bookstobarbells's review
4.0
Wow. What a read. I was debating going 5 stars, but the beginning was a little slow for me. Otherwise, I loved this book.
First, this totally feels like a therapy session the entire time you’re reading it. It’s happening real time, but because of the way the MC, Emily, is sharing everything, it feels like you’re being walked through a play-by-play. It makes you really see how easy it was for the cult to take her in without suspecting any foul play.
Second, it felt genuine and authentic. Being a bit cult obsessed and recently having been real deep into the NXIVM trials, I was constantly on the lookout for both signs and slip-ups. I didn’t see any slip-ups. Even using college students felt smart. You want people who are in the midst of a change and to seek them out. That’s exactly what this book does.
Third, I loved the breakdown and style of the story. You have it in parts, as those who leave cults often feel their life is broken up when looking back. I also loved the addition of the “breaking news story” that was scattered throughout. Again, it made it feel more like narrative non-fiction than a YA fiction piece. You can tell that Moffett did her research before writing the book.
Overall, this is a fantastic choice for any true crime fan. I’m definitely going to look into other books by this author now too.
First, this totally feels like a therapy session the entire time you’re reading it. It’s happening real time, but because of the way the MC, Emily, is sharing everything, it feels like you’re being walked through a play-by-play. It makes you really see how easy it was for the cult to take her in without suspecting any foul play.
Second, it felt genuine and authentic. Being a bit cult obsessed and recently having been real deep into the NXIVM trials, I was constantly on the lookout for both signs and slip-ups. I didn’t see any slip-ups. Even using college students felt smart. You want people who are in the midst of a change and to seek them out. That’s exactly what this book does.
Third, I loved the breakdown and style of the story. You have it in parts, as those who leave cults often feel their life is broken up when looking back. I also loved the addition of the “breaking news story” that was scattered throughout. Again, it made it feel more like narrative non-fiction than a YA fiction piece. You can tell that Moffett did her research before writing the book.
Overall, this is a fantastic choice for any true crime fan. I’m definitely going to look into other books by this author now too.
hitbooksnotgirlz's review
5.0
First of all, I should mention that I have zero interest in religion of any kind, and don’t often care to read about it whatsoever.. But the concept of these monster manipulators is far too terrifying and enticing to pass up. Besides, it’s not *really* about religion. It’s just so much darker than that. Secondly, I have a serious aversion to period pieces - I wasn’t aware this novel was set in 1994 until I read the first page. So, going into this - I wasn’t really sure how much I was going to enjoy it. But it was easy to look past the era the story is told in, and it was so fucking GOOD.
meghans_books's review
3.0
As a high school student, I participated in a religious retreat that people jokingly called a cult. After reading this book and reflecting on my experience, the jokes hit a little too close to home.
The protagonist, Emily, finds herself without any friends, thousands of miles from home during her freshman year of college. She’s quickly adopted into the Kingdom, a group of students belonging to a strict Christian religion. Thrilled that she finally has friends, Emily overlooks some pretty egregious behavior from those in the Kingdom. But everything is not what it seems, and the Kingdom might just push Emily past her breaking point.
This book is incredibly haunting. The author does an excellent job of showcasing how a few bad people can take religion and spirituality too far, morphing it into something manipulative, sick and twisted. It forced me to reflect on some of my own religious experiences, questioning if any of the tactics used to sway Emily had ever been used on me.
That being said, I thought the book’s climax was jumbled and confusing, leaving me to question what really happened; I would have liked for it to be laid out more clearly (though I understand there was an unreliable narrator). At times, it felt like the story was dragging … I think it certainly could have been told in fewer pages to better hold my attention.
Overall, though, it was a solid read, and I enjoyed this look into the world of a member of a cult.
The protagonist, Emily, finds herself without any friends, thousands of miles from home during her freshman year of college. She’s quickly adopted into the Kingdom, a group of students belonging to a strict Christian religion. Thrilled that she finally has friends, Emily overlooks some pretty egregious behavior from those in the Kingdom. But everything is not what it seems, and the Kingdom might just push Emily past her breaking point.
This book is incredibly haunting. The author does an excellent job of showcasing how a few bad people can take religion and spirituality too far, morphing it into something manipulative, sick and twisted. It forced me to reflect on some of my own religious experiences, questioning if any of the tactics used to sway Emily had ever been used on me.
That being said, I thought the book’s climax was jumbled and confusing, leaving me to question what really happened; I would have liked for it to be laid out more clearly (though I understand there was an unreliable narrator). At times, it felt like the story was dragging … I think it certainly could have been told in fewer pages to better hold my attention.
Overall, though, it was a solid read, and I enjoyed this look into the world of a member of a cult.
gothdess's review
5.0
This is amazing and gripping story thats hits my religious traumatized heart. Honestly love the story line and the feelings conveyed in this book. 100% recommend reading this book.
_camk_'s review
3.0
This book is quite long, being just over 400 pages, but I completed it in 2 settings.
+The book is frustrating in a good way. You can see Emily is being manipulated and you want to be like 'nooo don't do it' but at the same time, it easy to understand how a girl like Emily, isolated, lonely, directionless could be sucked into the idea. She is presented in a way that doesn't make you write her off for being 'stupid' for staying there - she can see warning signs but she cannot correlate them with ideas of Kingdom and what they stand for.
-The ending is a little anti-climatic because of how the blurbs build up the story.
-
+The book is frustrating in a good way. You can see Emily is being manipulated and you want to be like 'nooo don't do it' but at the same time, it easy to understand how a girl like Emily, isolated, lonely, directionless could be sucked into the idea. She is presented in a way that doesn't make you write her off for being 'stupid' for staying there - she can see warning signs but she cannot correlate them with ideas of Kingdom and what they stand for.
-The ending is a little anti-climatic because of how the blurbs build up the story.
-
Spoiler
I get this is Emily's story but it would have been nice to get something more concrete on Kara and her ending. I also really wanted to know what was on Josh's tape.kthornette's review
2.0
2.5 ⭐️ (rounded; half for the pretty cover)
This cover is so freaking beautiful. Is the title a play on prey/pray? If so, then I really loved that with the whole religion theme. It was very creepy and made me uncomfortable with the brainwashing and manipulating due to my own religious beliefs, but it got to the point where it felt like it was dragging. I was about halfway through the book waiting for the murder to happen or to be prominent. And when it did happen? Underwhelming. I understand the heavy focus on the cult which I appreciated since it was very interesting, but I was waiting for more to happen.
This cover is so freaking beautiful. Is the title a play on prey/pray? If so, then I really loved that with the whole religion theme. It was very creepy and made me uncomfortable with the brainwashing and manipulating due to my own religious beliefs, but it got to the point where it felt like it was dragging. I was about halfway through the book waiting for the murder to happen or to be prominent. And when it did happen? Underwhelming. I understand the heavy focus on the cult which I appreciated since it was very interesting, but I was waiting for more to happen.