Shannon Schuren

This surprised me and wasn't quite what I expected. I was expecting a really scary kind of story and while there is some of that with the urban legend of the ghost bride and the atmosphere of the town and the woods what came across more and made this book great was Rena and her finding herself, figuring things out and all the family drama and such. I related quite a bit more than I expected to this book and to Rena with her story. There were quite a few times while reading this story that I wondered if the author had seen parts of my life while writing this - it was uncanny some of the similarities for me to myself and parts of my life in the past and such. This was one of the first books in a while that I can remember feeling compelled to keep reading, wanting to finish it and know what would happen - it really kept my attention and interest.
This story is about Rena and her family and life. In this book, Rena is excited to have a summer trip that she's going to go on with her Grandma, but at the last minute, it gets canceled by her parents. Then when she is stuck at home helping out with the family business, she goes to talk to her Grandma who tells her there is a curse on their family related to this urban legend of the ghost bride who jumped off the cliff to her death whichever version you've heard of the story. Rena spends the summer trying to figure out the truth behind the story at the root of the ghost bride legend along with navigating her way through finding herself and coming into her own. She has to learn to assert herself and deal with her mother and family and their different views and beliefs on things as well as trying to improve things so she doesn't continue the negative cycle she's in with her mom/parents.
It's all very well written and a low-key spooky story woven into helping to tell about Rena's coming of age experience as she's growing up and figuring herself and other things out. I enjoyed this story and felt it resonated with me on varying levels. This is a great book that I would recommend checking out.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for letting me have the chance to read and review this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.… (more)

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and cruel world. Under the eagle eye of New Jerusalem's found and leader, Daniel, Miriam feels safe and cared for. Even though, as a girl, she isn't allowed to speak her mind and must quiet her tongue, especially around men. When God calls for a Matrimony, Miriam is excited to finally be with Caleb, the boy she loves and knows will call her name to be his wife. But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with Aaron, a once outsider, she can no longer be silent and begins questioning her way of life.

The Virtue of Sin starts out as being told in Miriam's perspective but then begins to alternate between hers and Caleb's, the boy she should have married, as they live with the after effects of the ruined Matrimony Ceremony. Throughout the novel, the two begin to discover secrets within their community, especially ones centered around Daniel and how he might not be the prophet they think he truly is.

I've read a few cult books and I'm always very interested in seeing how the author goes about establishing the community. Shannon Schuren does an excellent job at explaining both Mariam and Caleb's outlook on it. Even Miriam's mom's explanation as to how they (their parents) became the first generation was interesting and informative as to exactly how this community was formed. The psychology aspect of it is particularly interesting to me.

Miriam is an incredibly strong female lead at the very start of the novel. Growing up she had a hard time keeping tight lipped and was told constantly by the elders and Daniel himself about it, but that doesn't really stop her much. She gradually finds her voice throughout the novel and once she starts finding out about the lies, she stands up for not only herself, but for everyone under the control of the so-called-Prophet. She's a great female lead character.

"...I didn't think that was the kind of thing any man would concern himself with. A woman's happiness?..."

Now Caleb I struggled with throughout the book, and I know that was partially the point since he is also under the influence of the teachings of New Jerusalem. He definitely bounced back and forth and sometimes said things, usually about women, that I wanted to scream at him for. But, it was great to see things from a male perspective of what was happening as well. Near the end, my heart ached for him to be able to find his peace.

This book was super easy to get sucked up in, special thanks to Schuren's excellent world building. I found it rather hard to put down at times. Wonderful, strong, female lead, and a look into a world of growing up and living in a cult. I highly suggest this book to anyone who wants to open a door to a world not many see.… (more)