2016.Ĭhance Ripley can’t recall anything about his past, but dreams about women in the act of being murdered. I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I found the back-and-forth timeline to be very confusing, and think it would have been easier to follow if chapter titles had the character’s name with the year.ĭespite that concern, I will recommend it to Adult readers – especially to see how easy it is to be led astray when one is lost and hurting. It really turned my stomach, especially because there are similar cults all over the world. Summers was very realistic in the way she depicted Lev and his controlling ways. It’s only a matter of time before he’ll make sure she’ll never be lonely again. She hates that Bea left her behind for The Project, but doesn’t know that Lev has his eyes on her. She is committed to everything he does and says, because she loves him and she knows he loves her too.Īfter years of being alone, without the sister she loves, Lo has become bitter. Lev’s Unity Project, whose mission is to do good works and find lost and hurting souls, is your road to Paradise.Īfter Lev answers her desperate prayer to save her sister Lo’s life after their parents are killed in a car accident, Bea leaves her old life behind and joins Lev and The Project. If you forsake all others and follow him, your life will be made whole. Lev is God’s Redeemer, has God’s ear, and can take away your sins. When there’s no hope where can you turn? When you’re all alone, who can help you? When you don’t see a future for yourself, who can give you one? Who can make things better? Lev is the answer. My 3 star rating was due to this, and because the ending should have had more “oomph!” for Lucien after everything he’s been through. Descriptions of our dying planet are true, but it seemed as if he was bludgeoning the reader with too many facts. decided everyone needed to drink the kool-aid, as was done in 1978 Jonestown, Barkan made it clear why they would mindlessly hold out cups for him to fill. Lucien was curious but, when he discovered what was really happening at the House of Earth, his life would never be the same.Īs I read this book I realized how easy it is for people to follow cult leaders. Rules of strict punishment for small infractions soon followed while children and their parents began to disappear. Televisions and books were removed, and Lucien was forbidden from going to the town library where he had struck up conversations with a local girl.

It was an innocent time, but things slowly began to change when he turned twelve.

At the House of Earth, Lucien and others learned to take care of the earth, practicing sustainability and not eating meat. Lucien was a little over six years old when his mother brought him to the House of Earth founded by O.C.

The night burns bright by ross barkan