Do you enjoy cult reads? I hadn't read a good one for a while, and this is a book that has been sitting on my kindle at least three years. Minnow Bly grew up in a cult under a prophet named Kevin. As Minnow got older, she discovered more about the outside world and started to question what she was being taught. When she is called up for being too curious, the prophet says that the Lord has spoken to them and that she is to become his latest wife. For Minnow, this is the worst outcome, and she disobeys his word. Her punishment results in her father chopping her hands off, and she is left with stubs. The book then jumps to Minnow being placed in Juvie as someone has burned down the cult and killed their leader and since she was found with blood on her, she is a suspect. Though the blood belongs to Jude - the outsider she fell in love with. He also grew up off the grid. This book follows Minnow life as she recounts her experiences and life are growing up in the cult and how she tried to save the ones she loved but failed. This book was an eye-opener and shows the way people can easily be manipulated when they want so desperately to follow something and have something important to believe in. This book reminded me of Fleur Beale's series I am Not Esther which is one of my favorite NZ stories.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust.
And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too.
Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

*4.5 stars*

From the opening sentence, this book promised so very much...and it certainly delivered.

The blurb above tells you the story pretty well so I will focus on the other stuff that I really appreciated.

Minnow Bly - what an excellent character. She was everything I didn't expect. For her history (and lack of hands), I was expecting a needy, whiny character that we come to expect in YA fiction sometimes. Instead, we got an introspective, intelligent, knowledge-seeker who just happened to have lost her hands and been in a religious cult. Don't get me wrong - she can be sad and withdrawn as well, but that IS NOT her character.

The Kelvanian Cult - what a creepy bunch! The Prophet was a real piece of work that probably deserved more than he got...and the way Minnow's father followed him was heart-breaking.

Angel - While Minnow is languishing in 'juvie', she shares a cell with hardcore Angel. A tough, take-no-prisoners (pardon the pun) character, her friendship with Minnow is a real standout in this book. Angel, despite her outward appearances, is a softie and wants the best for Minnow, even if it is at her own expense. I really liked Angel. She rocked!

The plot - the beauty of this style of storytelling was the unravelling of Minnow's story. But, rather than just being a 'flashback' book, Minnow tells her story to a number of people, at different times, and gives us a glimpse of her past, snippets that make us want to know more. The tension, mystery and suspense was built brilliantly and I couldn't stop reading...

Detective Wilson - what started out being a little like Agent Starling from Silence of the Lambs but it never really quite reached the relationship I was hoping for. It sort of petered out to nothing at the end (in my opinion.)

Jude - a boy who Minnow meets in the forest on her long walks at night while she is in the cult. They develop a relationship that eventually becomes love. The best part about that is that it doesn't get right in your face. It just IS. That's all we need to know. However, one of the biggest reasons this didn't get 5-stars is what happened when Minnow and Angel are out doing community service. That was just so random and unbelievable, it lost quarter of a star in rating.

The ending - was a bit of a letdown, really. Everything had built so well, the tension etc was so high and then...it just ended. I felt a little ripped-off to be honest - just felt like there was so much more that could have been done with that ending. Lost quarter star for that as well.

Overall, one of the better books I have read this year - and an author I will certainly be following to see where her career goes.


Paul
ARH