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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a difficult book to read, made more difficult by the beautifully lurid writing. The poverty, despair, and violence of this world are described unflinchingly-- it is almost too much to bear. You will mostly likely feel deeply disturbed and uncomfortable as the tale unfolds, although (like me) you may also find it impossible to put down.
The saving grace is the clear eyed bravery and unconditional love of the main character. She is imperfect (just a child!) and does not follow a straight line to freedom, but she is more human for all that. I won't spoil the ending here, but I will say not to give up hope. If the main character can hold onto hope through everything she endures, so can we.
The saving grace is the clear eyed bravery and unconditional love of the main character. She is imperfect (just a child!) and does not follow a straight line to freedom, but she is more human for all that. I won't spoil the ending here, but I will say not to give up hope. If the main character can hold onto hope through everything she endures, so can we.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Oof. I’m going to need time to process for a full review, but overall this was a gripping story that’s going to stay with me for a long time. An uncomfortable, poignant commentary on cults, mothers and daughters, religious trauma, womanhood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Incest, Rape
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Simply, wow.
Some may say this book over explains and goes into far too much detail. By the end of the book, every single little detail has circled back and become a crucial piece to the breathtaking, heart aching, pulse spiking finale.
This book kept me on my toes and kept me turning the pages.
If you have ever learned of a cult and asked “how could someone POSSIBLY fall for all of that?” Then dive into this book. You’ll quickly learn the slippery slopes of culthood and all the entrapment that lies within it.
Eager to read more from this author!
Some may say this book over explains and goes into far too much detail. By the end of the book, every single little detail has circled back and become a crucial piece to the breathtaking, heart aching, pulse spiking finale.
This book kept me on my toes and kept me turning the pages.
If you have ever learned of a cult and asked “how could someone POSSIBLY fall for all of that?” Then dive into this book. You’ll quickly learn the slippery slopes of culthood and all the entrapment that lies within it.
Eager to read more from this author!
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
This book jumps right into crazy in a way that you can’t tell where it’s headed exactly. It’s a story about fanatic religion and Thea author, Chelsea Bieker, takes you down a road that illuminates the depths of brainwashing and how it can start our feeling normal but then progresses in such a way that folks are sucked in and can’t find their way out. The eternal labyrinth. Some of the imagery is beautiful and some of it is ugly and horrifying. It is an interesting twist on the American coming-of-age novel and taps into many sensitive social and economic issues that can grip onto individuals and a community.. Bieker also conveys both endearing and harsh realities of the mother-daughter bond.
Themes include faith, healing, religion, the natural world, womanhood,and feminism, and patriarchy.
Issues tackled include: region/faith, suicide, rape/incest, pedophilia, abortion, sex, drugs/alcohol, mental health.
Themes include faith, healing, religion, the natural world, womanhood,and feminism, and patriarchy.
Issues tackled include: region/faith, suicide, rape/incest, pedophilia, abortion, sex, drugs/alcohol, mental health.