The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

Title: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly
Author: Stephanie Oakes
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of publication: July 1st
Source: Review copy courtesy of HarperCollins

Blurb:

The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, and her ability to trust.

And when Minnow rebelled, they took away her hands, too.

Now the Kevinian Prophet has been murdered and the camp set aflame and it's clear Minnow knows something. But she's not talking. As she adjusts to a life behind bars in juvenile detention, Minnow struggles to make sense of all she has been taught to believe, particularly as she dwells on the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of; if she is willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

Powerful and compelling. this remarkable and brave debut novel reveals the terrible dangers of blind faith. And the importance of having faith in yourself.


My review of this title is over on Reading Lark today, so head over and check it out. I won't replicate it here, but will just share some thoughts.


I've been lucky enough the past couple of weeks to read several books I enjoyed immensely, and that have stayed with me after finishing them, and this is one of them.

I find the cover image very interesting, and also very poignant. It heavily features a girl's hands, and the first thing we know about Minnow is that she doesn't have any. Minnow feels this loss keenly, but it doesn't stop her from taking action.

I think one of the things I liked most about Minnow's character is that she is a doer. She doesn't sit around and wait for things to happen, she makes them happen.

As well as looking at faith and its dangers, the book also deals with justice and vengeance, and the appropriateness or otherwise of punishment.

It really is a multidimensional story and I highly recommend it.