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faithsbookreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Self harm, Miscarriage, Murder, and Physical abuse
mmarquis1158's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Vomit
kiirsttyb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping
toxxicwasste's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Medical content, Rape, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Mental illness
ventellina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship
killmoore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Check your trigger warnings. Be prepared to be livid. Meredith is one of the most despicable fictional characters ever.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Confinement, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Child death, Gaslighting, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
thatbookmarkbabe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I would say if you are looking for a short book with an interesting premise, you should give this one a try.
Spoilers ahead:
-I felt like Meredith's character served no real purpose (aside from maybe a voice of reason? But this could have been anyone really, even Dean) and would have rather heard from Scott
-I really wish Kate's indoctrination was more fleshed out. I felt like it went from "i'm writing this story" to "i'm leaving everything behind for you" real fast
-Kate's "then" narrative doesn't really seem to line up with her actions later in the book (kidnapping Abbi and getting back in contact with Ray/Abner). You could see her start to become disillusioned with him after Willow, Beckah and Sam died, as well as encouraging Margo to leave with her and the babies.... and then goes back? I mean I get its probably complicated, but it just didn't match and was pretty jarring
-Also she was so mad at Ray for killing people and tricking her... but slept with him willingly which I was confused about
-Scott alludes to hiding something and I thought it was going to be some big twist and then ended up being kind of inconsequential (as with the online forums, like who left the death threat?)
-A few glaring issues of pure stupidity as others have mentioned: not looking into a sketchy "religious organization" that Kate was getting more and more involved with when she disappeared, letting her stay in the house instead of trying to help her adjust and be evaluated mentally in a safe place, Scott letting Abbi go with Kate
-I wish we got to find out more about what happened to other members, what happens to Kate, Shiloh & Ray, etc
-I was pissed that Dean actually let Abbi get kidnapped
Graphic: Confinement, Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Torture, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit, Animal death, Addiction, and Death of parent
yuyuv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, and Confinement
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
- A discontent journalist who married young and recently had a child. They are starting to feel stifled (a mid-life crisis?). They feel there’s something more for them beyond just parenting and spousing. In pursuit of this newfound dream, they go missing.
- A widow who met and married a person from a grief support group (the one whose spouse went missing). They are trying to support their spouse and teenage stepchild.
- The teen stepchild. They were too young to really remember their missing parent and the circumstances of where they went. Though polite and respectful, they don’t seem to like the stepparent – maybe thinks they’re trying too hard?
- Set in California, but it could be anywhere. Very little description of setting and people. “The” syndrome (“the compound”, “the office”, “the house”).
- The dialog and character decision overall were unrealistic and robotic…and often infuriating.
- Cult recruitment, manipulation, and brainwashing may be on the realistic side.
- Very little character development. I can barely assign them traits beyond “nice”, “sometimes nice", "rarely nice".
- The stepparent has good intentions but is met with polite indifference by their stepchild and childish rages from their spouse. They basically think, “I’ll just keep supporting my husband while his once-missing mute wife is in the other room and he’s pining for her. I can’t wait to help rehabilitate her with him. I wish he would hug me and sleep in the same room with me. He must be stressed? I’ll make an extra big breakfast tomorrow for everyone!” I was wondering if we’d find out she’s a polygamist or was in a relationship with the wife at some point. I think we were over 75% in before she was like “wait, now that his first wife is back, is it possible he will want to be with her instead? Is that why he won’t touch me anymore?”
- The role of the FBI and law enforcement was weird. Would they really orchestrate putting a minor in danger with NO ONE else knowing or approving just to gain an additional charge?
- This story felt like a cheesy example in a high school psych class of how cults happen. Our MC seems to acknowledge the “textbook” points about this charismatic leader then continues to go along with it all, and I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works (isn’t the whole deal that you don’t realize it’s just charm with smoke and mirrors?)
- Cult recruitment and lifestyle
- Family drama centering on return of a missing member
- A quick, simple story with a bit of “fight for your life” trope
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
heather_harrison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Kate disappears from a shop car park and returns years later with a newborn baby. I went into this story blind, but it became immediately apparent this was going to turn into a cult situation.
Meredith may have gone about things the wrong way, but she seemed to be the only one with half a common sense.
There were a lot of plot holes and the ending & resolution seemed a bit forced. But it was an enjoyable read.
3.5 stars
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Confinement