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ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
4.0
My heart hurts right now. That is all I have to say. I’m speechless
authorofcrows's review against another edition
2.0
good concept but could have been written a lot better
alongreader's review against another edition
3.0
I love cult stories, but I feel like this one was confused about what it wanted to say. The rotating PoVs made it difficult to develop any attachment to any character, and nothing much happened until almost the end, when All The Things happened.
It's not awful; it's a chillingly realistic depiction of a cult, and of how easily a clever con man can keep a whole group of people scared and compliant. It just could have been so much better.
“That’s what I used to think, too. But you know what? There is a choice. I could keep being good Miriam, the girl who does what she’s told. The one who goes along with what everybody else wants. The one who keeps her mouth shut.” I step back, farther into the shadows . But if I keep being this Miriam, I may as well disappear altogether.
“Or what?” he asks, leaning forward. “What else can you do?”
“I can start thinking for myself.”
And there arose a disagreement between them, so sharp they parted ways. —Acts 15: 39
It's not awful; it's a chillingly realistic depiction of a cult, and of how easily a clever con man can keep a whole group of people scared and compliant. It just could have been so much better.
“That’s what I used to think, too. But you know what? There is a choice. I could keep being good Miriam, the girl who does what she’s told. The one who goes along with what everybody else wants. The one who keeps her mouth shut.” I step back, farther into the shadows . But if I keep being this Miriam, I may as well disappear altogether.
“Or what?” he asks, leaning forward. “What else can you do?”
“I can start thinking for myself.”
And there arose a disagreement between them, so sharp they parted ways. —Acts 15: 39
shelf_inspiration's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
“I had a dream and it made me fearful.” - The Virtue of Sin.
Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she’s forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a matrimony, she is thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife. But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question the rules that Daniel had set in place, but also what she believes in and where she truly belongs.
This is a young adult book about a cult, where we follow both Miriam and Caleb during their adolescence. The teens live a sheltered, religious life under the leader Daniel. When a marriage ceremony goes wrong, certain truths begin to arise and Miriam starts to question everything she knows. I definitely picked up this book because of my love for books involving cults, and this one was great! It was a little less dark than others I have read, but it had the cult vibes that I was hoping for. While I did enjoy the story and plot, I found it to be slightly lacking in terms of the characters. Although, this could be because it is a YA novel and the characters were fairly naive. I also thought that the end of the book was super rushed and wished that there was a bit more substance to it. This is a long book, so with the beginning being so detailed the ending just needed more in my opinion. However, I still recommend this book if it interests you, or if you like books about cults! It was an interesting read.
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
“I had a dream and it made me fearful.” - The Virtue of Sin.
Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she’s forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a matrimony, she is thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife. But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question the rules that Daniel had set in place, but also what she believes in and where she truly belongs.
This is a young adult book about a cult, where we follow both Miriam and Caleb during their adolescence. The teens live a sheltered, religious life under the leader Daniel. When a marriage ceremony goes wrong, certain truths begin to arise and Miriam starts to question everything she knows. I definitely picked up this book because of my love for books involving cults, and this one was great! It was a little less dark than others I have read, but it had the cult vibes that I was hoping for. While I did enjoy the story and plot, I found it to be slightly lacking in terms of the characters. Although, this could be because it is a YA novel and the characters were fairly naive. I also thought that the end of the book was super rushed and wished that there was a bit more substance to it. This is a long book, so with the beginning being so detailed the ending just needed more in my opinion. However, I still recommend this book if it interests you, or if you like books about cults! It was an interesting read.
swestlake's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
carrielion143's review against another edition
2.0
I love cults as much as the next gurl but the duel narrators speaking mostly in scripture made the novel more work than pleasure. It took way too long to show the evil of the cult leader and his ultimate goal.
readingnookreviews's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been on my shelf for about a year and a half I think, and I can’t believe I waited this long. The cover is absolutely beautiful and the story inside is captivating. I love a good cult story and The Virtue of Sin did not disappoint, even if it was a little disjointed at times. I loved the alternating perspectives as the characters slowly uncover secrets and lies in the frighteningly-realistic community, and Miriam gradually finds her voice. I think this is one of those books that will be heavily affected by your own personal experience with religion just based on reviews I have read from others. The Virtue of Sin is a fascinating young adult book with a few twists and an intriguing storyline.
viktoriya's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Bookishfirst for giving me a copy of this ARC.
Novel is set in present time somewhere in the desert between California and Nevada, in a secluded settlement called New Jerusalem. Daniel, a self-proclaimed leader and a prophet, declared that God communicates directly through him and his visions. Through the decades of preaching, he was able to gather around a set of very devoted followers who never question anything he says or does. Eventually, Daniel brought his followers to New Jerusalem, to live by God's word and by the Bible, and to completely shut out the "Outside" with all it's sins, violence, greed, etc.
This is the world in which our main character, Miriam, was born and grew up. She's never been outside of the New Jerusalem, she doesn't know what's outside of it's walls, all she knows is that "Outside" is be feared and that she should never ever do anything that will get her banished to said "Outside". Right now she is a happy 16-year old, who is awaiting her Marriage Ceremony. All her life she was told that God will tell her who her husband will be, she will see him in her dreams. And Miriam saw Caleb, a boy who "talked" to her (communication between different sexes is strictly prohibited in this community, unless it's your own family members. However, Caleb found a way to send her sweet messages and Miriam is positive he is meant for her and she is meant for him). During a Marriage Ceremony a man (actually, a boy) calls a girl's name and that's who will become his wife (girls do not have a choice). Miriam is sure Caleb will call her name and they will be married in no time. However, something goes wrong, and another boy, Aaron, calls her name. Aaron and his family are still considered to be outsiders, since they joined their community only recently. Miriam is shocked and confused. Is it possible that God made a mistake by showing Caleb in her dreams? Will Daniel realize this is a mistake and stop the ceremony? Will Caleb now pick a different girl to be her wife? Why did Aaron call her name? Who Aaron really is?
The plot thickens as Miriam slowly start finding answers to those questions. Not everything is nice and peachy in their utopian community. It is possible that Miriam was lied to all her life?
This was a very interesting read. It is told from two perspectives: Caleb and Miriam. New Jerusalem is a very patriarchal community with clearly defined gender roles. So, it was a great choice, in my opinion, to give us both, a male and a female narratives. You can see how different their roles and responsibilities within community are, and at the same time you can see how similar their lives are. Despite the fact that women have absolutely no voice in Daniel's cult, men do not have that much freedom either.
Novel is set in present time somewhere in the desert between California and Nevada, in a secluded settlement called New Jerusalem. Daniel, a self-proclaimed leader and a prophet, declared that God communicates directly through him and his visions. Through the decades of preaching, he was able to gather around a set of very devoted followers who never question anything he says or does. Eventually, Daniel brought his followers to New Jerusalem, to live by God's word and by the Bible, and to completely shut out the "Outside" with all it's sins, violence, greed, etc.
This is the world in which our main character, Miriam, was born and grew up. She's never been outside of the New Jerusalem, she doesn't know what's outside of it's walls, all she knows is that "Outside" is be feared and that she should never ever do anything that will get her banished to said "Outside". Right now she is a happy 16-year old, who is awaiting her Marriage Ceremony. All her life she was told that God will tell her who her husband will be, she will see him in her dreams. And Miriam saw Caleb, a boy who "talked" to her (communication between different sexes is strictly prohibited in this community, unless it's your own family members. However, Caleb found a way to send her sweet messages and Miriam is positive he is meant for her and she is meant for him). During a Marriage Ceremony a man (actually, a boy) calls a girl's name and that's who will become his wife (girls do not have a choice). Miriam is sure Caleb will call her name and they will be married in no time. However, something goes wrong, and another boy, Aaron, calls her name. Aaron and his family are still considered to be outsiders, since they joined their community only recently. Miriam is shocked and confused. Is it possible that God made a mistake by showing Caleb in her dreams? Will Daniel realize this is a mistake and stop the ceremony? Will Caleb now pick a different girl to be her wife? Why did Aaron call her name? Who Aaron really is?
The plot thickens as Miriam slowly start finding answers to those questions. Not everything is nice and peachy in their utopian community. It is possible that Miriam was lied to all her life?
This was a very interesting read. It is told from two perspectives: Caleb and Miriam. New Jerusalem is a very patriarchal community with clearly defined gender roles. So, it was a great choice, in my opinion, to give us both, a male and a female narratives. You can see how different their roles and responsibilities within community are, and at the same time you can see how similar their lives are. Despite the fact that women have absolutely no voice in Daniel's cult, men do not have that much freedom either.
energyrae's review against another edition
4.0
I thought at first from the blurb that this would be Dystopian, but it's about a cult, the lengths a person in power will go to keep their followers in line and the sheer delusion of those trapped on the inside.
New Jerusalem sits out in the desert in California, set apart from the rest of the world, the inhabitants live a very secluded lifestyle. No reading, no tv, no music, no singing, women are kept repressed, encouraged not to speak, the focus of learning is on scripture and Daniel's interpretation of scripture, how he applies it to his followers and their lives.
Miriam is a second generation member, her mother was with Daniel when New Jerusalem was formed. She sometimes questions why certain things are the way they are, but she isn't supposed to. Her mother is very tight-lipped when it comes to revealing her past, her life on what they call "the outside", something she's not supposed to talk about. But Miriam is a bit headstrong, and sometimes she's able to get her mother to open up about certain things. But this is her way of life, and she's a devout follower, most of the time. Until her day of Matrimony when she weds the foreigner and not the man she thought she would, Caleb. Her new husband, Aaron, isn't all about the rules, and his ideas might just chip away at Miriam's beliefs.
There were times in reading that I cheered Miriam on, for doubting what she's been told, for wanting more, for questioning things she thought she knew. Then other times I just wanted to hit her for her blind regurgitation of Daniel's words. It's easy from the outside to judge and say Miriam should have known, she should have just believed Aaron because he knew the world "outside." But the level of brainwashing that happened here (and in cults such as this) is unimaginable. The new generation was born into this cult and being cut off from the outside world, they don't know any better, they have no way to know any better.
I enjoyed both Miriam and Aaron's characters, much more so than Caleb. But I think that was because Miriam already had her doubts, so it made it easier for her to trust in Aaron, whereas Caleb scared me towards the end with how strong his faith was after everything he had seen. The Virtue of Sin is well-written, it's an engaging story with wonderful characters, a good read.
New Jerusalem sits out in the desert in California, set apart from the rest of the world, the inhabitants live a very secluded lifestyle. No reading, no tv, no music, no singing, women are kept repressed, encouraged not to speak, the focus of learning is on scripture and Daniel's interpretation of scripture, how he applies it to his followers and their lives.
Miriam is a second generation member, her mother was with Daniel when New Jerusalem was formed. She sometimes questions why certain things are the way they are, but she isn't supposed to. Her mother is very tight-lipped when it comes to revealing her past, her life on what they call "the outside", something she's not supposed to talk about. But Miriam is a bit headstrong, and sometimes she's able to get her mother to open up about certain things. But this is her way of life, and she's a devout follower, most of the time. Until her day of Matrimony when she weds the foreigner and not the man she thought she would, Caleb. Her new husband, Aaron, isn't all about the rules, and his ideas might just chip away at Miriam's beliefs.
There were times in reading that I cheered Miriam on, for doubting what she's been told, for wanting more, for questioning things she thought she knew. Then other times I just wanted to hit her for her blind regurgitation of Daniel's words. It's easy from the outside to judge and say Miriam should have known, she should have just believed Aaron because he knew the world "outside." But the level of brainwashing that happened here (and in cults such as this) is unimaginable. The new generation was born into this cult and being cut off from the outside world, they don't know any better, they have no way to know any better.
I enjoyed both Miriam and Aaron's characters, much more so than Caleb. But I think that was because Miriam already had her doubts, so it made it easier for her to trust in Aaron, whereas Caleb scared me towards the end with how strong his faith was after everything he had seen. The Virtue of Sin is well-written, it's an engaging story with wonderful characters, a good read.