Great premise, slightly shaky execution, overall an intriguing read
As soon as I read the promotional blurb about The Virtue of Sin, I knew I had to read this book! I've been a fan of YA fiction for a while now and the thought of a book that centered around a teen girl named Miriam who has grown up in and is still enmeshed in a cult was too exciting to resist.
I enjoyed this book a good deal. Schuren (the author) does a good job of introducing the characters and the environment of living in this particular religious community. The mid-section of the book drags a bit as the plot slows down rather unnecessarily, but the end makes up for it with rapidly developing drama. There are some segments of confusing dialogue where the author does not clearly communicate who is speaking, which is annoying and slows down the reader's comprehension. As I read an ARC, these issues may be ironed out by the time the finished version is published.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for fans of YA fiction, particularly those that enjoy contemporary settings or are intrigued by cults. The author does a great job of developing the main character as the book goes along. There were definitely times, early on, that I wanted to shake Miriam and tell her that she was being completely illogical but then I checked myself and realized that was the whole point. She starts out as naive and fully invested in the religious ideology peddled by the leader, Daniel, but by the end she has begun thinking on her own and seeking for personal autonomy and agency.
I enjoyed this book a good deal. Schuren (the author) does a good job of introducing the characters and the environment of living in this particular religious community. The mid-section of the book drags a bit as the plot slows down rather unnecessarily, but the end makes up for it with rapidly developing drama. There are some segments of confusing dialogue where the author does not clearly communicate who is speaking, which is annoying and slows down the reader's comprehension. As I read an ARC, these issues may be ironed out by the time the finished version is published.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for fans of YA fiction, particularly those that enjoy contemporary settings or are intrigued by cults. The author does a great job of developing the main character as the book goes along. There were definitely times, early on, that I wanted to shake Miriam and tell her that she was being completely illogical but then I checked myself and realized that was the whole point. She starts out as naive and fully invested in the religious ideology peddled by the leader, Daniel, but by the end she has begun thinking on her own and seeking for personal autonomy and agency.