Will Hill (1)

Update with CW: child abuse, gun violence, psychological/emotional/sexual abuse, sexism, misogyny, slut shaming, suicide

Well that made for a challenging but gripping read.

When reading about cults the two elements that strike me as the most interesting are the levels of control that leaders have over their communities, and the blind faith and devotion practiced by their followers. This book was a window into how control is exerted and devotion obtained. The threats, lies and deception used show more to control members in this book was sinister in nature and was aimed at supporting Father John's own narcissistic agenda. Even though, due to the dual timeline, I knew the outcome of the showdown between the police and the Holy Church of the Lord's Legion, I was still filled with a sense of dread whilst reading. The way that the girls were treated made me angry and uncomfortable and I was concerned for their safety throughout the entire novel.

We all search for meaning and purpose. So when the people in the story felt that they had found their 'place in life' under the leadership of this 'messiah-like' being I was overwhelmed with sadness. It must have been quite soul destroying for those whose elation and joy turned to confusion, disillusionment and disappointment as the truth was laid bare. I can't imagine the terror they must have felt at the thought of their loved ones being hurt for their own disobedience or dissenting opinion.

This story unfolded quite slowly but I don't think it would have been quite as impactful had it moved more quickly. We as Readers needed to follow Moonbeam's journey as she slowly began to awaken to the truth of her community and the lies it was built on. We also needed to see the path she followed to get to the point where she could finally reveal what happened during the raid.

An interesting and well written novel. show less

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

There was a fire, a terrible fire with gunshots and people dying all around her. But Moonbeam made it out. Now she has to figure out a life outside of the compound, outside of Father John's control, all while holding two secrets inside her that refuse to let her go.

The opening is so powerful, it had me sucked in right away. Hill then brilliantly show more uses the trope of Before and After to build up the suspense. Before takes readers back to the events leading up to the fire of the title, while After details the life of Moonbeam after everything she has known is gone.

Moonbeam is a great strong female narrator fighting to get her life back and help her fellow survivors while trying to deal with the two secrets inside her. She is telling her story to two other great characters, a psychologist and an agent, and readers get inside her head and her feelings through the first person narration.

The very end felt a little pat, but I loved it anyway.

This is a well-written, suspenseful look at a cult and how someone tries to rebuild their life when they suddenly find themselves on the outside. show less

I had been excited to read Department 19 ever since I came across the synopsis many months ago. But once I got my hands on it, the cover threw me. This definitely appeared to be a "boy book," something I don't have a great track record with. Happily, Department 19 turned out to be a "boy book" in the same way Harry Potter is a "boy book." Yes, boys will enjoy it and yes, the protagonist is of the male persuasion, but the action, adventure and even a little romance is clearly gender neutral show more in appeal.

I try not to read anything that has a military theme involved in the story line. Just, not my thing. Military is definitely a huge part of Department 19, but the story was just so mind blowing I didn't even remember I normally dislike military books until I sat down to write this review.

Jamie Carpenter watched as his dad was gunned down by the government after they deemed him a terrorist. Two years later, his mother is kidnapped by a vampire. Seems like two completely different stories, but like everything in this book, these events are shockingly and beautifully linked. Jamie is saved by Victor Frankenstein (yes, I did just write that) and whisked away to Department 19, England's super secret supernatural slaying branch of the government.

As Jamie hunts for his mother, we learn much about Department 19. The paranormal, both in myth and literature, come to life as the history of Department 19 unfolds. Those who love classic horror stories are going to love the way big name favorites are peppered throughout.

I'm not going to lie - I experienced the big ugly cry at the end of Department 19. Not just weeping, but full on sobbing, gasping for breath, snotty mess. Going into this book, I had no idea how much I would become attached to the characters. It was amazing. And heart-wrenching. I'm actually tearing up just thinking about it. Oh, why, Will Hill, why?

Department 19 was phenomenal. I devoured the entire 500+ page book in one sitting and don't think I could have put it down if I had to. This book has all the makings of an epic series and Will Hill is definitely an author to keep your eye on. show less

Moonbeam was a member of the Lord's Legion cult until a fire destroyed the cult compound. She, and the other members, had lived totally controlled by cult leader Father John. As the fire is investigated, facts about the cult, its leader and members, and daily life in the compound are revealed.

Although this book is a little confusing at first, as Moonbeam reveals more and more about the compound and cult before and after the fire, the story becomes more clear. She is a strange and disturbing show more main character because all she knows is the Lord's Legion. She distrusts anyone who isn't a cult member and displays some strange behaviors. Her strangeness just adds to the suspense and slow reveal of facts, making this book disturbing, emotional and mesmerizing. The author does a great job of depicting the story of a controlling cult and its long-lasting effects on members. The tale is not without hope though....which made it easier for me to read.

When I was a child back in the 80s, there was a cult compound raided by the feds near where I lived. The cult leader murdered a man and a 5-year old boy on a rural farm. The trial and all the mess that followed completely shocked everyone in the area. It was mind-numblingly awful. Even as a child, I remember being so surprised that people would follow such a nasty (and crazy) person, and even more shocked that parents brought their children to this weird rural compound led by a nut in overalls ranting strange racist, pseudo-religious crapola. So, this book really hit home with me and made me see things from the other side. As an adult, I live in a town 1200 miles away from where I grew up.....and a local cult (disguised as a church) is being investigated for fraud, abuse, and other crimes. Again, I am shocked that people actually follow the craziness taught by this cult (they scream at people to release demons from them, require people to give all their possessions to the church, control members' finances, etc) and its leader -- an old woman who is just completely disgusting. How do people like this gain control over so many?? It still boggles my mind. I kept thinking about this local cult the entire time I was reading this book. It really hit home with me. Groups like this are more commonplace than anyone would like to admit. I've personally encountered three such groups in my lifetime and heard about so many more.

Definitely an emotional, hard-hitting book! I'm definitely going to read more by this author!

*I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less