The synopsis:
Before, she lived inside the fence. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. Because Father John controlled everything—and Father John liked rules. Disobeying Father John came with terrible consequences.

But there are lies behind Father John's words. Outside, there are different truths.

Then came the fire.

My thoughts:
This book was crazy good! I am fascinated with books about cults and will read pretty much any book about them. I would have read this book a lot sooner had I remembered! When I requested it I knew it would be something cultish but mostly I just expected a thriller. Moonbeam is a teenage girl who lives on a compound as a member of the Lord's Legion. She recounts her story as before and after the fire, alternating on each chapter. We know something bad happens but she is too traumatized/scared to tell her story. It isn't until the end where she comes to a realization that it's okay to speak and finds the courage to face her fears, come what may. The BEST thing about this book? It's based on a true story! I knew that it sounded familiar but I just couldn't place it until I read the afterword, It's a work of fiction, of course, but there are tidbits based on the actual massacre that happen in Waco, Texas in 1993. It was 4/5 star read for me.

My Review: This was an amazing and powerful story. In the aftermath of a cult burning to the ground, we are given clues about how everything went down and what was really going on inside the walls of the Legion. It is told in alternating chapters of After the Fire and Before the Fire. I really enjoyed how this story was told. It gave me information about the story in a way that it didn't feel like info dumping and really made the story flow.

I really loved Moonbeam and how she dealt with the situation and as the story unfolds you just fall in love with her even more.

I really thought this story was very powerful in its telling. Everything that we learn about what each character was going through in the cult and everything that unfolded made this powerful, intense and horrifying.

I will say that this felt like a one time read for me. It's not the kind of story you read again and again. It's like the news you watch it then you move on and you don't watch the same story again. It was really good and I will be keeping my copy but I don't think this will be something that I read again in the future.

Do I Recommend this book? Yes!

Go Into This One Knowing: Rape, Imprisonment, No Real Romance, Cult, Survivors Guilt, PTSD

The riveting account of a teenage girl who survives a government siege on the cult community she lives in. She is keeping terrible secrets and doesn’t know if she can trust the doctor who is trying to help her recover. It’s both chilling and hopeful in places. Loosely based on the events near Waco, it’s an interesting examination of the aftermath and after effects of living under the spell of a charismatic leader who isn’t what he seems.

This book sucked me in right away. I was so interested in learning about the events that lead up to this big fire and why the fire happened. The religious cult aspect of the story seemed very well done and researched. There was a quote in here about grief that really stuck with me and is probably one of the best descriptions of grief I have come across. There was one aspect of the story that I picked up on right away that was revealed later in the book. There was also something that was revealed that I didn't see coming. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

Just fantastic!! I was hooked on this thriller from the very beginning!

This is a realistic and modern story of a US cult. The children and adults there have been brainwashed into fearing anyone outside their compound. Some of the children had never even seen Outsiders. It's fast paced with the timeline switching from "Before" to "After" frequently, but always in the same voice: our main character Moonbeam. She's had to endure way more than any teenager (or person) should ever have to. Her power struggle is as much internal as external throughout the story as she processes the horrible events.

I was truly captivated by this story and highly recommend it!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book will hook you from the very beginning and won't ever let you go. The world of cults fascinates me and even though this is a work of fiction, it's so well thought out that you'll have no choice but to believe that it's real as your heart breaks for Moonbeam and the torment that she and her Brothers and Sisters were forced to endure at the hands of a so called "Messenger of God". This is definitely one of my all time favorite books and I hope that anyone who ever comes across it reads it. Hill opens your eyes to what the world really can become when people put too much faith into a person who has only their own interests at heart.

This book had me hanging on the edge of my seat. I just had to know what would happen next. I loved that it went back and forth between before and after. It gave you just enough to want to keep reading. There were a few things I was disappointed in but overall, it was a great read. It made me cry, laugh and want to scream.

Generally this is not the kind of book that I would choose to read. It fell within the YA genre, though... after reading it I am not sure. Anyway, because I wanted a chance to read something different I asked to read and review this title. And... I am glad that I did.

"After the Fire" was an excellent book. It was "hard" to read because of the content but the plot and character development made it an "easy" read simultaneously. I wanted to know about Moonbeam, our protagonist, and her processing as well as what would come next for her.

Well, let me stop there for a moment and explain some things a little more--the brief synopsis doesn't really tell you much.

Father John is a manic, religious cult leader who overtook the formerly, seemingly peaceful Holy Church of the Lord's Legion. He throws around proclamations from The Lord and condemns The Serpent and The Governments (The Serpent's task force).. Through fear tactics and manipulation Father John has brainwashed the brothers and sisters of the Lord's Legion into believing a time will come when The Serpent will come to them and they will have to rise up and fight--for only after can they Ascend and sit by The Lord's side.

The government does step in and there is a kind of battle-- we read the after through the telling of Moonbeam. Moonbeam's father moved her family to the Legion when she was a baby so her memories of the outside are few, but she remembers the Legion from before the time that Father John wrestled power and closed down their home. These memories, coupled with the anger and resentment she begins to feel, are enough to question the True Faith. During her interviews and counseling sessions we are given a glimpse into what life on the base was really like. We aren't told everything, some secrets she still wants to be her own.

This was so very well written--I'm glad that I got to read this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

4.5 Stars

After the Fire was the twisted cult book that I needed to read! The formatting, the characters, and the writing style all added to the story.

The formatting allowed the reader to get and stay immersed in the story. I loved how one or two chapters were in the present, as Moonbeam is working through what she has experienced, and then there is a chapter that talks about life in the cult. Sometimes, I felt as if I was there, with Moonbeam, as she was retelling a day in the compound. That's how immersive it felt. It also gave the story more suspense and mystery, as well as providing insight into Moonbeam's recovery process. As the book progressed, the stories became more recent as well as revealing. It would show an aspect of a character, and then, in the next chapter, Moonbeam and that character would interact.

And the writing! It was superb! I felt as if I was in Moonbeam's head and I was able to see all of her inner thoughts which gave her a fascinating side. It was also super easy to get the sense of how much Moonbeam looked up to Father John, the cult leader. There were moments while Moonbeam was talking to Doctor Hernandez and all of a sudden the voice of Father John would be in her head. And he would scream at her at how "she was betraying her brothers and sisters," how "nobody could be trusted," and "how dare she not be faithful to the church."
I also was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I wanted to put the book down but I couldn't. The descriptions of the cult, of the metal boxes, of the respect that Father John demanded all made it seem so real. I was freaked out after reading this, to say the least.

While the characters were strong and distinct, they didn’t seem all that complex. I would say the only character that felt real and tangible would have been Moonbeam. And yes, I’m glad that she felt real, but it did slightly get on my nerves how one-sided the other characters seemed. While I understand that in the cult, people had to act a certain way, I was just missing the depth during interactions. However, that being said, I fell in love with some of the characters. I just loved watching them interact and grow, especially during the group therapy sessions. And even in the cult, just the small, and not so small, things that they would do to protect each other from harm made my heart so happy.

The only part that irked me, which led me to take off half a star, is how some things were just perfectly set up. There was one part where Moonbeam wants to see someone, and this person consequently has a lot of inside information about the cult, and oh no look at that, they're dead. It just seemed too convenient; it seemed like an out to avoid further explanation or detail.

Overall though, I would highly recommend this book! It always had me at the edge of my seat. I loved how Hill wrote the book, the flashbacks to cult life made it seem more realistic and much more frightening. The cult itself was done very well. It was easy to see both the admiration and eventually the fear that all of the members had of Father John. There were only small things that bothered me while I was reading, but nothing was taken away from the story. If you are looking for a creepy cult book to read, this will most definitely fit the bill.

Wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but it quickly grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the book.

The book is told through [he eyes of a 17-year old girl that has survived a fire in a religious cult / compound. The book's chapters are designated as "Before" and "After" for her life before and after the fire.

The book is well written and does an excellent job of developing characters the reader can both empathize with and also despise.

Living in Dallas during the time of the Branch Davidian / Waco Siege fire the book had similarities to those events and after finishing the book I learned the author loosely based the story on Waco after doing extensive research on that event.

Moonbeam is recovering from a fire that occurred at the compound she lived in. Dr. Robert Hernandez has been appointed to help her recover. The treatment is realistic and Moonbeam begins to remember what happened before.
The reader is lead through her life with chapters before and after. As story unwinds the reader will recognize a familiar story. The government move on the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas in the 1990’s.
Well written, characters are well developed. YA readers will gain a view of history from this novel.

I had no idea what this book was about when I started it but it quickly captured my attention. The main character, Moonbeam, has escaped from a religious compound
after a huge fire that destroyed it. The story goes back and forth from before the fire and after the fire which I liked. There are so many great characters in this book. The author does a great job capturing the different aspects and people that make up a cult situation. Pastor John was such a creepy guy and so well written! I couldn't stop turning pages to find out how the fire started, why it started, and who started it.

After the Fire by Will Hill

Have you ever wondered how people end up joining extremist religious cults? How are they drawn in and why do they stay? What is life really like? During a visit to the Newseum in New York City, author Will Hill, discovers a wall of newspapers covering the story of the 1993 U.S. Government 'raid on the Branch Davidian compound led by David Koresh (commonly known as the Waco siege). Hill's interest in this siege and in-depth research resulted in this well-written novel. As he mentions in the epilogue, this story is not about the Waco siege as he wanted to protect and not exploit the trauma of the survivors, but it does serve as a framework for this novel.

After the Fire is told by a 17-year old survivor as she recovers from her injuries and is questioned and counseled after surviving a raid on the Lord's Legion compound where she was raised. We get to hear both her internal dialog as well as the story she relates to the officer and her counselor. At times, I questioned whether her intellect and insights were rather advanced given her captivity and limited exposure, but it didn't distract from the story. Her maturity made for a character who was engaging for adult readers without losing teen readers. This book will be devoured by both teens and adults.

Her story is told in chapters of "Before" and "After" the fire. The changing time periods flow smoothly and add to the suspense of the story. There are many suspenseful chapters where I had to jump ahead a few paragraphs because I just couldn't get there fast enough - then I would go back a few paragraphs to read more carefully. My impatience, not the fault of the author!

The author does an excellent job of showing the reader how cult leaders indoctrinate their followers without glorifying them. He helped me understand the thinking of the members of the Legion and how the children were programmed. I think it is important to note that this story was in no way offensive to one's religious beliefs as it showed how the "prophet" was in no way an adherent to biblical teachings.

I highly recommend this book. I found myself thinking about the book days after completion and I was inspired to learn more. Kudos to the author.

Thanks to #Sourcebooks and #Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
#AftertheFire #WillHill

A fun but dark look into the life of a [former] cult member. Topics such as teen worship, fanaticism, survivor trauma are all addressed and well done. After the Fire was based on the infamous Waco Siege, and makes you want to turn the pages as fast as possible, but also to learn more about real life cult situations.

A harrowing accounting of life in a cult. Good teen read. Interesting viewpoints of before, during and after the fire. I would recommend.

I received and ARC for honest review through NetGalley! Thank you.

I really enjoyed this book.. Very dark.

A great story of what fear and persuasion can do. "After the Fire" was inspired by the 1993 Waco siege. Keeps you wanting more information, turning the page. Definitely recommend to read.

First time reading from this author. Thank you.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this title!**

Before the fire, Moonbeam lived in a walled compound with the Holy Church of the Lord's Legion - a religious cult. She is promised to become one of the leader's many wives once she gets older, and has to follow a long list of rules in order to remain one of God's chosen people: she can't go into town or even outside the fence; she is only allowed certain foods at certain times of day; she must practice using any number of automatic weapons. The Government is not to be trusted, ever.

Our story actually begins after the fire, when Moonbeam is telling her story to a therapist at the treatment facility where the survivors - a small number of children - are housed during the federal investigation. As her story unfolds, so do the realities of the neglect and abuse that Moonbeam and others suffered. So do the secrets that she holds close, and the fact that the fire itself maybe - just maybe! - was all her fault.

**My Notes** This book was a fascinating, if sad, look into survivor's guilt and trauma.

Even though this is not a genre I normally read, I wanted to read this because I've been pretty obsessed with cults lately. This story was everything I had hoped it would be. It's heartbreaking, brutal, and honest. I held my breath until the very end. Definitely purchasing!

Moonbeam is a survivor of a horrible fire that took place at the compound of a strict religious group-- all controlled by a Prophet-- Father John. Told from solely Moonbeam's perspective in a "Before" and "After" format, this book explores the psychological damage that a cult can inflict on a young person. As she speaks with and to the detective on her case and the psychiatrist assigned to her, she slowly begins unfolding a story about the Lord's Legion and its true colors, along with the devastating fire that ended it all.

If you are familiar with the Branch Davidians and their standoff with the FBI in Waco, this book will ring similar. I have definitely gone down a rabbit hole before, exploring the Branch Davidians and watching the latest mini-series. Anything from the perspective of a cult follower, survivor, bystander is bound to be fascinating. However, all of these stories need a strong storyteller to make the book (or show) effective and entertaining.

And that's what this is ultimately lacking: a good storyteller. Moonbeam is interesting, but she lacks any depth. I know that she was questioning the Lord's Legion, but I am not really attuned to any of her feelings or adequately told how she got there. Everything is very surface level and dialogue driven.

My recommendation? Maybe lower level readers. There's some disturbing stuff about polygamy and how the Prophet used women of all ages-- so be aware of that.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I learned not just about mind control in cults (as well as cult-like groups), but I also learned about PTSD as it is associated with children who live through a horrible experience. I have already recommended this book to several students who have reported that they couldn't put it down. This one is a winner.