After the Fire by Will Hill

Rating:

Published: 1st June 2017
Publisher: Usborne
Pages: 476
Synopsis from Goodreads: 

The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade. 

Father John controls everything inside The Fence. And Father John likes rules. Especially about never talking to Outsiders. Because Father John knows the truth. He knows what is right, and what is wrong. He knows what is coming.
Moonbeam is starting to doubt, though. She’s starting to see the lies behind Father John’s words. She wants him to be found out. 

What if the only way out of the darkness is to light a fire?

You may or may not have noticed but I've been on a blogging hiatus for a few months and I am pleased to announce that with the end of my undergraduate degree and the help of this book I am finally out of the reading slump of the century and I am back!!

After the Fire had been on my TBR since YALC last year (or maybe longer) and I had heard nothing but good things about it, yet I still didn't pick it up! I'm cross that I didn't read it sooner but equally I think I picked it up at exactly the right time because it's really helped me to regain my reading motivation.

The book follows the story of Moonbeam who's been living in a remote location as part of the Holy Church of the Lord's Legion, we meet her after The Base has been destroyed and many of her Brothers and Sisters from the Legion have died. It quickly becomes apparent that all was not as it seemed within The Base (even though a lot of what it seemed was also super dodgy...) and the horrifying truths of what her life was like are gradually revealed.

Chapters switch between before and after the fire which destroyed The Base and I loved the way that this helped to show more about what life was like for Moonbeam but also the psychological impacts it had on her and the other survivors.

After the Fire is a really thought provoking book. It's super shocking and dark but in a way that made it fascinating to read and I was completely hooked. I needed to know what happened as soon as possible!

I particularly enjoyed the way that Will Hill writes about such horrifying stuff in a way that is still sensitive. Psychologically it's a really interesting read and I feel like it really investigated the difficult topic in the best way possible!

Overall, After the Fire is one of my favourite reads of the year so far and I really recommend it! It's a super gripping read, very emotive and thoughtfully written and if you've not already picked it up then please do!

Have you read After the Fire? What did you think? Let me know in a comment below.