ARC Review: The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren

Book info:

Title:  The Virtue of Sin
Author:  Shannon Schuren
Genre:  YA contemporary
Release Date:  June 25th, 2019
Publisher:  Philomel Books, Penguin Teen
Source:  ARC won through Bookish First giveaway which did not influence my opinion.
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:
A compelling novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free -- perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale.

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she's forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a Matrimony, she's thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife and they can finally start their life together.

But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else, she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question not only the rules that Daniel has set in place, but also what it is she believes in, and where she truly belongs.

Alongside unexpected allies, Miriam fights to learn--and challenge--the truth behind the only way of life she's ever known, even if it means straying from the path of Righteousness.

A compelling debut novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free.

Praise for The Virtue of Sin

"Shannon Schuren weaves a complex tale of love, faith, and lies in her thought-provoking debut The Virtue of Sin. As important as it is entertaining, this is a must-read for anyone who knows that independent thought trumps fitting in. One of my favorite reads of the year." --Christina Dalcher, bestselling author of VOX


My Review:
I'm always intrigued by any story about a cult, don't know why, it's just something that grabs me.  And this book did just that from the time I read the sneak peek, and then once I actually had the book in my hands and started reading, it was so hard to put down.  This one was even better than others, because while I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author threw in several twists and turns that I did not see coming.  My guesses as I went along were either so on track, or just to the side of what was actually happening.  It all made sense as the twists were explained, and made the story, the cult itself, that much more devious.  It also made you think about how what you've been told your whole life is always dependent on who is telling you those things, and what more is out there that you don't even know about it, if you don't look beyond what is easy and normal.  I definitely will be recommending this for my students, as well as at the bookstore where I work.   
 

Review: The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie

Book info:

Title:  The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe
Author:  Ally Condie
Genre:  YA dystopian
Release Date:  March 26th, 2019
Publisher:  Dutton Books for Young Readers/Penguin Teen
Source:  ARC won on Bookish First which did not influence my opinion
My rating:  4 stars

Synopsis:
Who do you become when you have nothing left to lose?

There is something Poe Blythe, the seventeen-year-old captain of the Outpost’s last mining ship, wants far more than the gold they tear from the Serpentine River. 

Revenge. 

Poe has vowed to annihilate the river raiders who robbed her of everything two years ago. But as she navigates the treacherous waters of the Serpentine and realizes there might be a traitor among her crew, she must also reckon with who she has become, who she wants to be, and the ways love can change and shape you. Even—and especially—when you think all is lost.

Ally Condie, the international bestselling author of the Matched trilogy, returns with an intricately crafted and emotionally gripping story of one young woman’s journey to move beyond the grief and anger that control her and find the inner strength to chart her own course.


My Review:
Honestly, when I first started this, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I had really enjoyed the author's first series, or at least the first book in that series, Matched, but I hasn't read anything else by her since then.  I got the chance to read a snippet of this on Bookish First, and it was intriguing enough that I wanted to read more and find out what this world was really all about.  The book kept my interest as I tried to figure out what exactly was going on in this world.  And honestly, a lot of that was kind of kept vague, so not sure if it would really be a dystopian, as I'm not sure it is an Earth like world really.  The further I got into it, it got better and better, so many twists and turns and who was really an ally and who was really an enemy, and how would it all end up.  Definitely a unique story with a lot to keep your interest as you read.  I'll put it in my school library for students who enjoy this type of story, or her other books, although as I mentioned, this isn't quite the same thing as that first series.