After the Fire

By: Will Hill

Narrated by: Devon Sorvari

A teenager's world is shattered in a devastating confrontation between the cult she grew up in and the forces of the US government.

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.

Then a fire engulfs life as she knew it, and Moonbeam is forced outside The Fence into a world she does not recognize.

Alternating between Moonbeam's life before the fire, and her time spent in a government-sanctioned facility afterward, After the Fire is a fascinating look at life inside a cult and its harrowing effects on survivors.

©2017, 2018 Will Hill (P)2018 Recorded Books

Great book

Loved the ending. Cried a few times as everything wrapped up. I thought it started rather slow, but not drudge through slow. I really liked how it flipped back and forth between before and after the fire, giving a clear view of what it was like to be Moonbeam both in her current mentality and before her world burned. I agree with another review that “the voice in the back of my head” became repetitive and a bit excessive, but I never got schizophrenic vibes, just a need for a change of wording. Overall great story and quick read.

Recovering from a cult

This story is inspired by the real events of David Koresh and what happened in Waco Texas. I personally am fascinated by cults and how members believe in something so strongly that they will give up anything for that belief.
The story surrounds the cult Holy Church of the Lords Legion. The chapters are broken into before and after with the main character Moonbeam recalling events in her therapy sessions.
I really enjoyed the story and was thankful for the ending.

riveting

a compelling story of life inside a religious cult and the healing that begins after it's fiery end

Thoroughly Enjoyed the Story

Yes, the language may be simple, but remember that a 17-year old girl with no formal education is telling it, which made perfect sense to me. I found it easy to follow...each chapter happened either before or AFTER the fire. Details are slowly revealed as Moonbeam works through her trauma and recovery with the help of her doctor. She is also gradually building a trusting and respectful relationship with the FBI agent while helping him with his investigation.

I lived just outside of Waco, TX when the Branch Davidian Cult nightmare happened and I've always been interested in that story. Now, I live in an area of Utah with a plethora of polygamist families and I've heard stories about girls and boys and women who have escaped from those situations; in fact, my mother worked directly with a group of "Lost Boys" who were kicked out of their polygamist families when they hit puberty. They were viewed as "competition" to the older men in the community who wanted to marry the young girls. These boys were driven into St. George or even to Las Vegas and dumped on the streets. Many turned to drugs and alcohol, crime, and prostitution just to survive. She worked with a group who helped them find housing, get GEDs, taught them interview skills, helped them dress for job interviews, etc.! It is always shocking to me that people will follow these sociopaths! They must be completely trusting and gullible, or so desperate to belong to a group or a family that they gladly accept the crazy rules (or "proclamations") that are imposed on them. And for parents to subject their children to this kind of madness is just unbelievable!

Anyhow, I am just an avid reader/listener, NOT a book critic. I read books or listen to books for enjoyment and relaxation. Some of the reviews on here make me wonder if some people think a little too highly of themselves.

Gives you all the feels

Oh what a well written book. I listened to After The Fire because my 14 year old daughter is reading it and wanted to talk about it with me. It’s a beautiful story but will make you feel so many things for each of the characters.