The story is told from the perspective of Moonbeam, who is a 17-year-old who has basically grown up in the cult and has gone through a rather magnificent character arc of her own. Or at least it rings true, though granted, I’ve never been in that situation myself. ❧ The story is based on the real-life events of Waco and the tragedy that ensued there, but it does so tactfully, while remaining true to the experience of those who have been in cults. Disobeying Father John came with terrible consequences.īut there are lies behind Father John’s words. Because Father John controlled everything-and Father John liked rules. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.īefore, she lived inside the fence. *A big thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.* I don’t know, but this fit the bill beautifully with both the subject matter and the way it was told, with everything unraveling bit by bit.Ĭontent warning for abuse (physical and psychological) and mildly graphic depictions of death.

I was also really in a thriller mood, okay? It happens every now and then, because after all the death and war and fire of YA fantasy, sometimes you want … more death and fire? Plus, the idea of After the Fire being written from the perspective of a cult member was really appealing. Second … have you read the summary?! I’m a big sucker for duplicity and lies and things not being as they seem. It’s no secret that a lot of people have a sort of fascination with cults, and I’m no exception-though I don’t normally read fiction about cults.īut with this one? First, I read some positive reviews about it from people whose opinion I respect, and that goes a long way.

After the Fire by Will Hill