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A review by zaiphon
American Rapture by CJ Leede
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Officially finished out the year with one of my more recent Aardvark picks. I was skeptical at first, but I highly recommend going into this blind. I only read the book sleeve summary and wasn't sure what to expect. We follow our MC, Sophie, an extremely sheltered Catholic school girl. Her parents control the media she consumes and all she knows is the teachings of her parents, schoolteachers, and other members of the religious community. Because of this, she has no idea that a new deadly virus is spreading across the US.
This story plays out as a coming of age story that happens to unfold during a crazy, apocalyptic world. Sophie is just experiencing the secular world for the first time in the midst of all this chaos. During her journey, she meets other characters who trek across the Wisconsin in an attwempt survive. As we learn more about the characters, their stories open Sophie's eyes as she questions the existence of hell, sin, her moral upbringing, and the feelings of being a teenager. Other topics are discussed through the eyes of Sophie such as love (in all its forms) and grief. At first, I wasn't super invested and wasn't sure if I would enjoy. However, once it pickups, it sure does pickup, and I wanted to see how the story would end for all the characters we meet along the way. Wish that it didn't have to take over 100 pages to pull me in.
TRIGGER WARNING - this does contain a SPOILER but there is an animal death that is described by our MC.
While this was described as akin to "The Last of Us", it is so much more. I can certainly draw the parallels, but go in with an open mind expecting a slow start that will eventually draw you in and make you feel connected to the characters lives.
This story plays out as a coming of age story that happens to unfold during a crazy, apocalyptic world. Sophie is just experiencing the secular world for the first time in the midst of all this chaos. During her journey, she meets other characters who trek across the Wisconsin in an attwempt survive. As we learn more about the characters, their stories open Sophie's eyes as she questions the existence of hell, sin, her moral upbringing, and the feelings of being a teenager. Other topics are discussed through the eyes of Sophie such as love (in all its forms) and grief. At first, I wasn't super invested and wasn't sure if I would enjoy. However, once it pickups, it sure does pickup, and I wanted to see how the story would end for all the characters we meet along the way. Wish that it didn't have to take over 100 pages to pull me in.
TRIGGER WARNING - this does contain a SPOILER but there is an animal death that is described by our MC.
While this was described as akin to "The Last of Us", it is so much more. I can certainly draw the parallels, but go in with an open mind expecting a slow start that will eventually draw you in and make you feel connected to the characters lives.