Tag: cults

The Gods Who Want to Die by Luke McCamley Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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A woman must navigate her way through a dangerous cult and the killer going after them in author Luke McCamley’s “The Gods Who Want To Die”.

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The Synopsis

A devoted mother is torn between love of family, and loyalty to a religious cult leader whose demands become increasingly bizarre-and deadly.

To all appearances, Shelly Grinstead is a happily married woman with three children. But appearances can be deceiving. There’s a dark past behind her, and a greater darkness looms ahead. Shelly is a firm believer in Necrotheism, a religious cult that helps immortal gods end their lives through the ceremonial mock-deaths of cult members. The only problem is, the latest deaths aren’t just ceremonial; they’re real. Someone is killing those who kill the gods, and no one knows who, or what, or how to stop it.

Shelly is also in love with cult leader Magnolia Blanchot, whose increasingly bizarre demands threaten to rip Shelly’s family apart. The police are just as bad in their own way, blackmailing Shelly’s son into playing bait for the killer. Whether that killer be god or man, Shelly’s not sure.

When tragedy strikes close to home, Shelly is forced to choose between loyalty and betrayal, faith and disbelief, life and death-before her tenuous grip on reality slips away….

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The Review

This was a gritty, yet wonderful blend of dark psychological horror and fantasy. The harsh realities of cult life and the psychological trauma and mind games that occur for people lost in these groups were extensively explored in this novel, allowing the more fantastic and supernatural elements of the mythos of this world to feel grounded and engaging to readers.

The author did a remarkable job capturing gripping character development and vivid imagery in this novel. The passionate and cruel reality of protagonist Shelly and her situation within the cult and her family really highlights the horror of this storyline and the depth of the world-building that went into the author’s narrative, allowing the gripping psychological drama to take hold in the reader’s mind.

The Verdict

Memorable, captivating, and entertaining, author Luke McCamley’s “The Gods Who Want To Die” is a must-read psychological horror and fantasy read. The twists and turns in the narrative, the grim horrors that the author brings to life through captivating detail, and thoughtful looks into the narrative made this a brilliant read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Luke has a background in teaching philosophy, religion, and ethics. He has written two novels and is currently working on a third. Formerly a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Luke left the cult in 2014 and experienced a profound transformation in values and outlook. He has two children, and currently lives in the west midlands in the UK. Major influences on his work are authors such as Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Alissa Nutting, Marisha Pessl, Iain Reid, Matthew Stokoe, and William Burroughs. His style is one that typically blends elements of true crime stories with philosophical, moral, and supernatural themes including fantasy horror. On a personal level, Luke subscribes to the philosophy of Absurdism, inspired by the writings of Albert Camus.

A Break in the Fog by Molly Salans Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman with a complicated family history finds herself swept up into a new religious group, and discovers things are not what they seem in author Molly Salans’s “A Break in the Fog”. 

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The Synopsis

A family in turmoil, a dangerous cult, and God at the center of it all, A Break in the Fog is a psychological novel that explores how faith can be used to heal, but also how abuse and how family is all that matters in the end.

With her mother dead, her sister Wendy addicted to drugs, and her father condemning her every decision, Clara Greenwood shoulders the weight of all her dysfunctional family’s problems. Desperate for a way out, she is reluctantly goaded into attending a meeting for a secret school, The Ancient Side of Ideas. She is quickly swept up in the cult, however, when she meets the charismatic Damien – one of its teachers. His charm and good looks melt her skepticisms away, convincing her to give up everything in her old life. But when Clara finds herself in too deep, can she find her way out before it’s too late?

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The Review

This was such an emotional and chilling read. The author’s personal experiences with cults and psychology added a depth of authenticity to the narrative, giving readers an insight into the mindset surrounding those who are drawn to religious movements and the impact that psychological abuse and trauma can have on a person overall. The tension and atmosphere the author builds throughout this narrative made this a truly compelling read.

The character development and layered storytelling of the narrative really kept me as a reader invested in the book. The detailed background of the protagonist and the multiple perspectives as Clara falls deeper and deeper into this cult and her family is left desperate to find her made this an adrenaline-fueled ride. The setting and timing of the narrative around other infamous cult movements allowed this particular story to hold more gravitas and keep the reader immersed in the chaotic world that Clara is drawn into slowly.

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The Verdict

Memorable, engaging, and thoughtful, author Molly Salans’s “A Break in the Fog” is an honest and captivating look into the tragic world of cults and the psychological impact that past trauma and cult mentality can have on a person. The background of Clara’s family and the shocking revelations that abound in the final pages of this story will keep readers invested until the very end. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Her love of literature and deep spirituality brought Molly to earn her M.Ed from Cambridge College in 1989. She then went on to obtain her license in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Family Kantor Institute in 1991 and a license in Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work in 1995. Her first book, Storytelling with Children in Crisis, is based on her social work experience in home-based crisis intervention.

Prior to pursuing her education in counseling and social work, Molly was a member of a prominent cult for seven years. Though she left in 1982, her experiences of the group haunted her, leading her to write her newest book, a psychological novel titled, A Break in the Fog.

Though not autobiographical, her inside understanding of the way cults operate informed this integral part of the dysfunctional family narrative. Feeling this was a story she had to tell, her wish is for her readers to find hope in the family’s quest for redemption.

https://mollysalans.com/