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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
"On the way back to our hotel, I bought a notebook, and (...) I scribbled the outline of a character. A teenage girl, who has survived the end of her world but is still far from safe. A girl whose own faith had failed but had been surrounded by the truest of true believers. A girl who had seen the truth, but not until it was too late. A girl with secrets she has no intention of telling anyone. "
This book is an extremely good depiction of the effects religion and cults can have on someone. How some people have the ability to manipulate others with their interests in mind, without any hesitation or remorse.
It also is able to show how someone's beliefs can truly blind them from reality, even if it clear as day to most people.
All in all, it shows that religion is a really powerful thing: either for good or for bad.
This book is an extremely good depiction of the effects religion and cults can have on someone. How some people have the ability to manipulate others with their interests in mind, without any hesitation or remorse.
It also is able to show how someone's beliefs can truly blind them from reality, even if it clear as day to most people.
All in all, it shows that religion is a really powerful thing: either for good or for bad.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
There were some strong pros and cons that stood out to me as I read this book and I would like to talk about a few of them.
Starting off, the parallel drawn to the Waco TX incident were well done. The implication was clear without being heavy handed.
The pacing was... fine. The 'before' and 'after' was placed nicely IOT break up the action and the speaking scenes. I wish the 'after' chapters would have progressed more in MCs life, not just the short time she was in the hospital. I think it made the plot feel kinda slow and tedious with her just going back and fourth between her room and in the therapist office; maybe that was the point, however I think it was to the detriment of the story.
I think the professionals in this book were unrealistic. I don't like how the therapist acted towards MC it broke emersion several times for me. His personality seemed to be inconsistent, and TBH he just didn't seem like he was good at his job. Additionally the officer who was interviewing her was equally as inept. He brought a gun into the office the first time he met her, which in itself wasn't the problem, the problem is that he was shocked about MCs reaction and claimed he just forgot to take it off or some nonsense. He is supposed to have almost 20 year experience yet he acts like an amateur. The interview process was also strange and I found it to be unrealistic.
The MC was inconsistent with her view of authority. Most of the time she was spilling her guts and trusting them completely, but over a few random things she just kept lying. It felt weird, maybe it just could have been written better I suppose.
Over all I enjoyed the story. I always wanted to continue with it and find out what was going to heppen next. I'm glad I kept in on my TBR all these years and finally picked it up.
Starting off, the parallel drawn to the Waco TX incident were well done. The implication was clear without being heavy handed.
The pacing was... fine. The 'before' and 'after' was placed nicely IOT break up the action and the speaking scenes. I wish the 'after' chapters would have progressed more in MCs life, not just the short time she was in the hospital. I think it made the plot feel kinda slow and tedious with her just going back and fourth between her room and in the therapist office; maybe that was the point, however I think it was to the detriment of the story.
I think the professionals in this book were unrealistic. I don't like how the therapist acted towards MC it broke emersion several times for me. His personality seemed to be inconsistent, and TBH he just didn't seem like he was good at his job. Additionally the officer who was interviewing her was equally as inept. He brought a gun into the office the first time he met her, which in itself wasn't the problem, the problem is that he was shocked about MCs reaction and claimed he just forgot to take it off or some nonsense. He is supposed to have almost 20 year experience yet he acts like an amateur. The interview process was also strange and I found it to be unrealistic.
The MC was inconsistent with her view of authority. Most of the time she was spilling her guts and trusting them completely, but over a few random things she just kept lying. It felt weird, maybe it just could have been written better I suppose.
Over all I enjoyed the story. I always wanted to continue with it and find out what was going to heppen next. I'm glad I kept in on my TBR all these years and finally picked it up.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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:
Complicated
Really enjoyed this book! Well-written YA at its finest. The words fly off the page but they're good words! The main character is loveable and complex. The story dark and tense but also compassionate and reflective. Would recommend!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated