Summary (from the back of the book):
Her birth was shrouded in mystery and tragedy. Her destiny is beyond comprehension. Her pursuers long to see her broken. She fights to soar.
In the rough, shadowy hills of Appalachia, a nation carved from the United States following years of government infighting, Caitlyn and her companions are the prey in a terrifying hunt. They must outwit the relentless bounty hunters, skirt an oppressive, ever-watchful society, and find passage over the walls of Appalachia to reveal the dark secrets behind Caitlyn’s existence–and understand her father’s betrayal. In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous culture a few steps removed from our own.
The Good:
There are only a few authors who have such a profound effect on me, and Sigmund Brouwer is one of them. I loved his other books. The stories are strong and captivating. Likewise, Broken Angel is a well written, action packed book. I kept turning the page burning to know why Caitlyn’s pursuers were wanting her death. The ending of the story will blow your mind. It is unexpected and yet foreshadowed.
The Bad:
The storyline pummeled forward like a freight train. You will fall in love with the characters, weep for them, and want to help them, but you are torn because while Appalachia is legalistic; the Outside is equally horrible the other way. Brouwer does not seem to have any gray. He said in this book (as spoken by another character) how he disagreed with religion becoming political. Immediately, the hairs on the back of my neck bristled. Obviously, I do not agree with him. Political is not the right word and to give this good author his due, perhaps it needed more explanation or to be left out entirely?
The Ugly:
The book left me teetering on the edge of a cliff. It felt unfinished. I wanted to find out what Caitlyn is going to do on The Outside. I went to his website and scanned through his list of books, but a sequel does not seem to exist. It is begging for Sigmund to finish Caitlyn’s story. Her companions are also begging for sequels. Life on the Outside is as bad as life in Appalachia. Also, will Caitlyn’s reluctant male companion fall in love?
The book was a prize given to me by Waterbrook Press. I am grateful and thankful to have a chance to read one of his books. They asked me to do a review. I am a loyal reader of Brouwer in spite of our disagreement in principle. He is a good writer. He knows how to spin a story and relay Biblical principles in the story without getting preachy. However, I have to say that ultimately this wasn’t his best work. It needed something more to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment